Osteria L'Orto dei Mori

Osteria L'Orto dei Mori faces the small Campo dei Mori in the Cannaregio sestiere of Venice, in Italy's Veneto region, near the old house associated with the painter Tintoretto. The restaurant takes traditional Venetian ingredients and plates them with more contemporary technique and presentation than a typical osteria. The dining room is modern rather than rustic, a contrast to the sleepy square outside. The menu is described as Venetian and creative, and it changes with the seasons. Signature dishes include a seasonal risotto, squid ink tagliolini, one of the kitchen's more elaborate seafood pasta preparations, and a tiramisu veneziano to close. The wine list is a noted part of the offer, with a good selection that suits the seafood-led menu. The atmosphere is calm and civilised, closer to a small contemporary restaurant than a boisterous bacaro. The campo is genuinely quiet, so outdoor tables here are calmer than at most restaurant squares in the city, which makes it a good option for a slower dinner. Dress is casual to smart-casual. The restaurant opens Monday and Wednesday to Sunday for lunch (12PM-3PM) and dinner (7PM-11PM), and is closed Tuesday. Reservations are recommended on +39 041 524 3677, and booking ahead is wise for evenings and for outdoor tables in warm months. Prices are mid-range ($$) for Venice. The location is a short walk from the Madonna dell'Orto church, and the surrounding northern Cannaregio streets are among the least crowded in the city, which suits visitors who want to eat away from the main tourist routes. The osteria fits those who want a step up from a standard trattoria without the price of a formal fine-dining room.