Its founder Ernesto Ballarin has been pursuing his very personal idea of a restaurant since 1973.
First, let’s talk about the location. The restaurant is located within walking distance from Teatro La Fenice, but off the beaten track, far from the crowd. Forget about overly luxurious, crowded and noisy places. Only twenty-two seats, only one simply and graciously furnished narrow room.
The cuisine also goes against the tide. In a city where fish reigns, Vini da Arturo proposes itself as one of the few restaurants where meat, vegetables and top quality pasta are the stars of its cuisine. Strogonoff and Voronoff filets are superb. Do not miss the Venetian pork braciola (battered chop steak with vinegar).
Its special salads are such a strong and distinctive point of this restaurant, that it has been included (purists will excuse us) in many vegetarian guides. Homemade sweets and a limited but interesting local wine list complete the culinary experience, which we enthusiastically recommend.
On the walls, there are photos and memorabilia of celebrities, politicians and academics who came and dined here and have always come back when in Venice, from Maria Callas to Luchino Visconti, Tom Ford and Woody Allen. It is said that Ernesto flies across the ocean for some weeks in winter to cook exclusively for a famous Hollywood star…
Cash only.
F.B.
