Bentigodi di Chef Domenico

Bentigodi di Chef Domenico Review

Many Venetians claim that owner Domenico Iacuzio is one of the best chefs in town, even though he hails from Italy's deep south. He has now moved (as of May 2012) his entire operation from La Colombina to this new location just a three-minute walk away. A meal here, understandably, results in a delicious, traditional Venetian meal with slight southern accents: a natural combination, as it turns out, since both cuisines share ties with the eastern Mediterranean (due to their inclusion in the Byzantine Empire). For starters, his sarde in saor perfectly balances sweet and savory, and his diced raw tuna cipolata is enlivened by sautéed onions and oranges. His seafood risottos are always made to order and his preparations of freshly caught—never farmed—fish are magical. For the Venetian traditionalist, Domenico prepares a first-class frito misto (deep-fried seafood) dish. If you've missed his southern accent up to now, you'll find it at dessert with homemade southern specialties such as cannoli or cassata (candied Sicilian cake). Portions are ample, the atmosphere is informal, and the service is helpful.