Al Covo
Restaurant · Castello ·
Fresh seafood & Venetian classics, seasonal produce, owner's recommendations
Fresh seafood & Venetian classics, seasonal produce, owner's recommendations
"Operating since 1987 under owner-chef Cesare Benelli, Al Covo is synonymous with excellent Venetian cooking and a legendary dedication to sourcing the best local ingredients (Benelli is a Slow Food associate and involved in the Osti in Orte farm initiative on Sant'Erasmo); I recommend starting with a melt-in-the-mouth raw seafood starter followed by fried mixed Adriatic seafood with polenta, artichokes and white garlic sauce, with Diane’s sumptuous desserts capping a professional, grown-up ambience." - Anne Hanley
"A cozy, intimate, fish-forward restaurant beloved by locals—Chef Cesare Benelli's cooking emphasizes lagoon produce and seafood, and he also founded the Osti in Orto farm project on Sant'Erasmo island." - Jenn Rice
"If you only have time for one dinner in Venice, make a reservation for Al Covo. With a bunch of paintings by local artists on the walls and heavy silverware and hand-blown Murano glasses on the table, the atmosphere really hits a sweet spot between fine dining and a relaxed family restaurant. Look for soft-shell crabs and artichoke hearts in early winter, tiny lagoon snails during the summer, and a wine list that highlights natural and biodynamic bottles from small Italian producers. If you really can’t decide what to get, just order the €98, seven-course tasting menu that gives you whatever is freshest. No meal here is complete without a slice of chocolate cake with fudge icing, studded with salted pistachios." - gillian mcguire, carlo mantuano
"If you only have time for one dinner in Venice, make a reservation for Al Covo. With a bunch of paintings by local artists on the walls and heavy silverware and hand-blown Murano glasses on the table, the atmosphere really hits a sweet spot between fine dining and a relaxed family restaurant. Look for soft-shell crabs and artichoke hearts in early winter, tiny lagoon snails during the summer, and a wine list that highlights natural and biodynamic bottles from small Italian producers. If you really can’t decide what to get, just order the €98, seven-course tasting menu that gives you whatever is freshest. No meal here is complete without a slice of chocolate cake with fudge icing, studded with salted pistachios." - Gillian McGuire
"If you only have time for one dinner in Venice, make a reservation for Al Covo. With a bunch of paintings by local artists on the walls and heavy silverware and hand-blown Murano glasses on the table, the atmosphere really hits a sweet spot between fine dining and a relaxed family restaurant. Look for soft-shell crabs and artichoke hearts in early winter, tiny lagoon snails during the summer, and a wine list that highlights natural and biodynamic bottles from small Italian producers. If you really can’t decide what to get, just order the tasting menu that gives you whatever is freshest. No meal here is complete without a slice of chocolate cake with fudge icing, studded with salted pistachios." - Gillian McGuire