Tucked away in the ‘sconte’ (‘hidden streets’) of Venice, a 15 minute walk from Palazzo San Luca, Corte Sconta is not something you will want to miss. As a local, I have heard talking about Corte Sconta by family and friends ever since I was a child and I recently had the opportunity to dine there.
Something that sticks with you about this restaurant is the contrast between the minimalist, rustic interior, evoking the traditional ‘trattoria’, and the complexity and colours of the dishes that are served there – a true treasure in disguise.
The menu is a mix of Venetian tradition and culinary innovation and you can see and taste that most products have been locally sourced, for example the fish, that comes directly from Rialto Mercato, or the bread selection that is, of course, homemade. A dish that I could not recommend MORE are the sautéed clams, a signature dish of Corte Sconta since its establishment over 40 years ago. Although this dish can be found pretty much anywhere you go, what you get here is TRULY like nothing else. The owner Marco explained to me that it is thanks to his travels to Southeast Asia that he integrated a unique component into this dish – ginger.
Other than that, the best thing you can do when choosing what to eat is to ask the staff for their own recommendations. In this way you will experience the greatest flavours the restaurant has to offer without the pressure of choosing the perfect dish!
Finally, the restaurant offers a really rich wine list, from Italian to high-end French wines and more. Marco has outstanding in-depth knowledge in this field and will be able to recommend the best pairing according to your budget and preferences. Basically, just keep asking!
Dress code: smart casual
Cost per person: €80-100
