Tel: +39 041 5274 303
Address: Fondamenta Maschio 20-21, Murano
Notes: Open every day for lunch, Fri-Sun evenings
Tables outside? Yes
Cuisine Type: Venetian
Website: www.osteriaalduomo.com
Vaporetto: Museo, Navagero
Just across the bridge from Murano’s extraordinary honey-coloured Duomo, the Osteria that bears its name is a very handy place. Large and airy inside rooms are supplemented by a pretty walled garden so even though this is a popular place for groups of young travellers, you can usually find a space. It’s not only tourists here either; locals too appreciate the honest, down to earth cooking and the exceptional value from this family-run business.
Many come for the huge range of pizze, just about every combination you could think of, keenly priced at €6.50-€9. Otherwise there’s a good, short menu, with antipasti such as Caprese (the classic mozzarella & tomato mix, €6 or €9 with buffalo mozzarella), involtini di radicchio (I need to try these next time – radicchio and parma ham rolls, €9). Or there’s scampi in saor (sweet & sour) or capesante gratinate (scallops), both €12.
Pasta dishes are also good value, ranging from €5 to €9 for meat sauces and up to €15 for lobster.
I had one of their seriously big salads (€9-€10) – mine was with grilled chicken pieces and cheese – which was good if a little unexciting, in the way of Italian salads in general. David chose orata ai ferri – grilled sea bream – and one of the largest ones we’ve seen was skilfully filleted for him at the table. An absolute steal at €12 – this dish would have been over €20 at most restaurants in Venice.
Puddings have no pretensions – buranelli, the local biscuits, are €3 and panna cotta and tiramisù are €3.50 and there’s a very palatable friulano white wine for €9 per litre.
Service is helpful and friendly and I certainly recommend this restaurant if you’re after a good, straightforward meal on Murano.