Birraria La Corte

I feel really bad doing this, but there were idiosyncratic things about the service that rubbed me the wrong way and feel potential diners should know about. This was my final meal after 3 weeks of traveling around Italy, recommended by a lot of people, tourists and locals alike. But I can’t help but feel like the restaurant is preying on tourists for three reasons: 1. During my trip, I begrudgingly had gotten accustomed to ordering a bottle of mineral water for my meal, even though I had a perfectly fine bottle in my backpack. However, when I ordered the usual acqua naturale here, I was given what was clearly a heavily reused bottle filled with tap water. And I paid €3.50 for the privilege. 2. The restaurant has its usual coperto, or cover charge, which was nothing out of the ordinary. However, for the first time in my whole trip, I was given nothing for the added charge. No bread. No amuse bouche of any sort. Not even a napkin to place my dessert spoon on between courses (the server just placed it directly on the dusty and dirty outdoor table). €3 3. When paying the server via card, they tried to solicit a tip while entering the amount for payment. Again, something that has not happened in the entirety of my trip. I’m happy to leave some cash on the table, as is the custom, but I found being pressured and put on the spot to be rather tacky and manipulative. The food was fine. Nothing unexpected or mind blowing. Just fine. I would have gone on my way and forgotten about the meal, if not for the marks on service. I ultimately left feeling like I had been tricked into going to a tourist trap that cuts corners and lacks finesse, while still charging those lofty Venice prices. Minus a star for each infraction. Bummer of a last meal in Italy 😔 ____________________________________ Edited to address the establishment’s response because it’s just a lot of excuses without any accountability (and dinged another star because of it): 1. Filtered tap water is still tap water. And why are you spending so much to filter your water, when it’s perfectly fine? If that’s your business model, ok. But you need to communicate that to your customers. Don’t misrepresent yourself and say you’re selling acqua naturale, when you know tourists are basically forced to purchase water and are expecting mineral water. Put it on your menu for people to see. Problem solved. But for now, what you’re doing is extremely shady. I honestly don’t even really believe this whole claim to have an expensive filtration system. 2. Didn’t actually address my concern. Sorry your operational costs are so high, but come on. Not our problem. You’re overly stingy. You really can’t even put a napkin down for new silverware? That’s unsanitary and unreasonable. Also, why isn’t your filtered water included in the coperto charge, then? If you’re just serving us tap water? Feels scammy. You’re double dipping on costs passed on to customers. 3. No to all of this. You are fully exploiting American tip culture, and that is not ok. You were the only restaurant in my 3 week trip to do anything like this. Servers make a living wage in Italy and do not/should expect a tip, nor solicit them. I know better, and shame on you for preying on other tourists that don’t. I assure you I wouldn’t have liked your explanations any better in person. Shady business. Avoid.

We got there completely by coincidence, tired and hungry after a long day of exploration…from there it’s become a habit. Good beer, very good pizza, sun, good vibe around… what else tourists like us could asked for. We are warmly and highly recommend on this restaurant

Impecable service with stunning pizzas. You can tell they use high quality fresh ingredients, one of the best pizzas in Venice for sure! Their home-made lemonade it’s a must too.

First place we have eaten in Venice. It did not disappoint. Excellent pizza, ambiance and service. Too bad we did not have longer in Venice or I would have gone back. My sardine appy picture number 2 was the best.