Scarabeo In Venezia

08/11/2023: I regularly visit the beautiful Cipriani for drinks/cocktails in the bar and by the pool almost every night while I’m in Venice and I’ve been to the Cip’s Club restaurant a couple of times, but this was my first time at Oro and was more than pleasantly surprised at how great the cuisine here is. The food served is modern but pays homage to Venice and the lagoon. We had great pasta and risotto naturally, but some other dishes were very interesting, unique and presented beautifully, such as the Venetian mask shaped cracker topped with flowers and there was also a savoury drink for a course that was presented in a glass that looked like a garden. Presentation here is truly top notch. My partner eats meat, but as a vegetarian I didn’t feel left behind whatsoever. One of the greatest pasta dishes I’ve ever eaten was here at Oro, it was a linguine with smoked tomatoes and if I remember I believe it had sultanas and pine nuts also, so it was a pasta reinterpretation of sarde in saor. This dish was equally as good as pasta I’ve had in Le Calandre and Osteria Francescana. This is a must visit restaurant for vegetarians. The wine list is great and we drank a lovely wine of Veneto, which was a Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone. The décor of the restaurant reminds me of the 50s/60s and the “Dolce Vita” era, which is typical of the whole Cipriani hotel actually. The restaurant also has views of the calm lagoon and across to the Lido. The service was friendly and professional, especially one gentleman stands out who went out his way to chat to us for a while and got us a bag for our finished wine bottle as I like to collect bottles and put them on display. It must be said that I really cannot comprehend the negative reviews for Oro and these must be ignored as I don’t think these people know what they’re talking about. I’ve eaten in one, two and three Michelin star restaurants around the world, including Paris and some of the best in Italy and I can quite confidently say Oro should be at least two Michelin stars. Enoteca Pinchiorri is the worst three Michelin starred restaurant I’ve ever eaten in and Oro is a much better restaurant. I’d recommend taking the complimentary shuttle boat from San Marco to spend an evening eating at Oro and having pre or after dinner drinks in the bar or by the pool listening to the live music and singers. A must visit while in Venice!

16/10/2023: I suspect many guests dining at Oro will be staying at the superb Cipriani hotel so already feel like they are ten feet tall when they enter the lovely space where the restaurant is situated. If they aren’t they will probably have had the experience of feeling like a film star travelling to the restaurant in the hotel’’s iconic speed boat from San Marco. Either is a great prelude to the epicurean magic that awaits. As one would expect from a Michelin starred restaurant food and wine are superb with some dishes being admirably creative. Service is attentive, courteous and unrushed. `Overall a magical meal in a magical setting.