Ai Gondolieri

"If I could have one meal before I die, it would be here." We overheard another diner say this at the end of their meal, and I couldn't agree more. This was Venetian cuisine elevated to another level but still approachable and friendly. The potato mousse and mushroom risotto were spectacular... The mousse in particular was unlike anything I've ever had. We paired with a glass of Barbara de Alba at the recommendation of our server, a perfect pairing, with the earthy and black fruit notes of the wine blending seamlessly with the herbal notes of the risotto. We were recommended the restaurant by our hotel, and I can see why. I wanted to clarify a couple inaccurate comments from other reviewers: the restaurant clearly states in bold on the menu that a 5 euro per person cover charge and 10% service will be included automatically. There is, however, zero expectation or pressure to tip on top of that. Also, the restaurant does not have outdoor seating, but the indoor dining room was spacious and lovely. That's no reason to dock a star from a fantastic spot. We found the service to be perfectly paced. Those who are expecting fast food service or cheap eats should go to a trattoria. Slow down and enjoy a refined and friendly meal here.

Arrived when the kitchen had just closed they very kindly still served us, although they could have turned us away and had a split break! Very much appreciated as we were super hungry and had been told of the amazing food here by more than one local! The menu was traditional Italian, wide choice with vegan and veggie options. Crudités and beautiful olive oil, and bread while we waited for the food to be prepared. Must try - courgette flowers, absolutely divine. Sit by the window and you can watch the world go by on the other side of the bridge!

Incredible. So delicious (we returned for a 2nd night) during our short stay in Venezia. Everything was absolutely delicious (the melanese was incredible!... Carbonara~ to die for! Rissoto & potato mouse~ wow! No words! We loved EVERYTHING. staff was wonderful, & patient. They should have had a line around the block (doubled) as the food was fabulous. A must visit when in Venezia.

Recommended by friends we ran into in Venice the day before, this was a perfect spot for our last night in Venice. Greeted very warmly at the door by Franchesca, the service was perfect, food top notch & overall experience flawless.

Ai Gondolieri was a delightful surprise in the heart of Venice. The service was excellent—attentive, professional, and never intrusive. The menu truly stands out: refined dishes, beautifully presented, and full of authentic flavor. It’s not easy to find this kind of culinary offering elsewhere. I left thoroughly satisfied and genuinely impressed. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a refined and memorable dining experience in Venice.

Husband and I had a wonderful experience and we were lucky to order the chef’s Christmas menu with the wine pairing. Such great dishes. It was a beautiful journey. So happy to have found this gem via Michelin Guide.

This restaurant is outstanding. The food is GREAT and the service was even better. We had dishes prepared in ways never even heard of before and they were excellent. I highly recommend it here. The lasagna and eggplant were 2 of the most outstanding dishes we had, but the potato moose was also excellent and I highly recommend it.

It is my third time I am visiting this restaurant. Every time the service and the food is top-notch. I had a beautiful table beside a big window with lots of light. There are no tables outside. I had Vitello tonnato and the veal. Perfect. AND: I loved the music! I will come again. Update: today the fourth time and it was excellent. Believe me, one of the top 3 Restaurants in Venice. All said!

Everything went well! Food, service, ambiance. This really was an exceptional experience. We were lucky to have the Christmas dinner special with the wine pairing. Staff and service was top notch. Will go again and keep recommending .

This restaurant was highly recommend by our bank concierge. The service was very nice, the food excellent and we loved the background music too, old soul. Easy walk back to our hotel near St Marks Square, an enjoyable evening.

Very poor! Has gone upmarket while reducing quality . €230. For a mediocre meal. had to send back the rack of lamb, the .beef fillet was amongst the worst experienced . when the waiter was told this, he shrugged his shoulder and smiled. what used to be a good neighborhood restaurant, has been ruined!

Wonderful! We had the tasting menu with wine pairing and it was our favorite dinner throughout our trip to Italy. The restaurant had a very laid back, and old school vibe, which put us at ease. With each new course and wine pairing, the waiter told us a wonderful story of where the ingredients came from. It was excellent.

If we were grading service alone this restaurant would receive 5* for the excellent staff. Food overall was very good and worthy of 4*. The veal Marsala was very tender and tasty and our kids loved the pasta. But the outrageous 5 euro per person cover charge plus 10% service charge is clearly a tourist ripoff. And deduct another star for the menu prices - almost 20 euros for a tiny portion of artichokes (compared to the 2 massive ones we received in Rome) and another 20 for a tiny portion of duck carpaccio. Wines are also marked up to US prices. In sum - you won't be disappointed with your dining experience until the bill arrives. Also note every single diner was a US tourist.

Don't waste your time or money. My husband and I went to try to inquire about a reservation today. we approached the restaurant and there were two men smoking outside, one was apparently an employee of the restaurant. I noticed the hours on the door said open at 12;30 pm and tried to look inside the restaurant to see what it looked like. He then blocked the entrance with a chain across the door.. however he let us peek inside. I looked at my watch and it was 12:35 so I inquired when the restaurant would open and was given a really arrogant reply that it wasn't open until 1 pm. We walked away and noticed the employee and the fellow he was smoking with laughing and seemingly joking that we couldn't read the sign and that they bluffed us into maybe thinking they weren't opened for another half hour. He was very rude, apparently just wanted to finish his cigarette, talk with his friend and not be bothered. We wouldn't waste our time on the place with that kind of attitude.

Charming ottocento atmosphere. Michelin level chefs making delightful balanced dishes. High prices, small portions, but I didn't leave hungry. Incredible service: friendly, funny, helpful, and adaptable. Best wine cellar I've seen in some time.

Best meal we had in Venice. The tasting menu was phenomenal. The wine was great. The service was unbeatable. The crepes were made table side and just perfect. I can't even find a bad thing to say about it. This will be our go to restaurant when we return to Venice. We didn't even know it was Michelin starred until we got home but can totally see why!

Love this little gem. Reasonably priced, YUMMY food, great service and not touristy!!!! You can't go wrong - some of the pastas are home made, the lunch menu differs from the dinner menu and both offered delicious items. We ended up coming here 4 times during our stay in Venice. Don't miss out on this little gem!

Delicious but pricy! The waiters were fantastic and very nice. Everything was delicious. It's definitely were the cost.

Pretty pricey and it was not good. The ravioli was dry/sauce is weird and the veal/spinach was too salty. We tried to order two other dishes but they "ran out". It was lunch on NYE.

This restaurant has lost its way. We've eaten here, happily for 25 years. This year it is plain bad with exorbitant prices. It seems that a new chef (chef school type) has been hired. Food was mannered, not earthy & wonderful as is so much of the food in Italy. Take a pass on this one.

Fabulous meal! Great menu, excellent service, very good wine list! Wonderfull intimate room, quiet, engaging. The beef was incredibly tender, with mushroom Barolo wine gravy. Ravioli with truffle sauce was incredible as well. Service was fantastic. Always ask for suggestions from the staff, if they are knowledgable or the owner they can be a huge help! Check the mustard in the olive oil for bread dipping, pleasant surprise!

Yeah, great place. I organized a group dinner here for 25 people. They were very accommodating and welcoming. The staff is friendly. The food is good - tender veal, tasty desert. No complaints.