Trattoria Dalla Marisa, Venice, 4/13/17

17948718_957728521028249_913257419_o
entrance

Dalla Marisa is a super tiny place that offers a fun, cozy vibe along with great food.  Reservations are a must if you want to sit inside.  Otherwise there are outside tables but the ambiance is so wonderful inside you shouldn’t miss it.  The walls are covered with family photos and drawings of Venice and tables are set close to one another.  No fancy linens just paper placemats and napkins but it’s all works in this welcoming setting. Most tables are for 4 so go with friends or you may get to make some there.  They don’t appear to turn the tables, it’s one seating.  There is a fixed price per person of 4o euros which covers all your food, wine, bread and water.

IMG_2225
entrance before it opens

The waiter brings the food out, served family style and then checks with you to see if you want the next course or if you’ve had enough.  Wine is in a carafe which the waiter will refill when asked. Go hungry because you don’t want to miss anything Chef Vanda cooks it is all so full of flavor.  She is the daughter of Marisa who the restaurant was named for.  I must also give credit to Marisa Convento of Venetian Dreams (a shop you shouldn’t miss while in Venice) for some of the photos used here.

IMG_2241
interior
IMG_2245
interior
IMG_2247
table set up
IMG_2395
Frankie checked out the artwork
IMG_2249
breads

 

The antipasto plates arrive first.  The marinated branzino with arugula is among the best I’ve had – herby with perfect texture and tangy taste.  Polenta is rich, creamy and yellow.  Baby octopus are smothered in a rich, zesty tomato sauce.  Fried sardines are tasty and covered with sweet onions.  Bacala, a Venice standard, of smoked cod is full of fish chunks.  Mussels have been covered with possibly corn and baked, each bite a bit of delight.  Plates are generous and come in a rush.  There is barely room on the table as we passed around and devoured it all.

IMG_2262
marinated branzino and argula
IMG_2264
polenta
IMG_2274
baby octopus in tomato sauce
IMG_2276
fried sardines
IMG_2281
baccalà (salt cod)
IMG_2290
gratined mussels
IMG_2294
Frankie hardly had room to wander around

 

Seafood lasagna is next and it is rich and lovely.  Filled with seafood and soft pasta, it is a lick-the-bowl dish.

IMG_2320
seafood lasagna
IMG_2385
Frankie checked out the bathroom
IMG_2389
Chef in her kitchen
IMG_2300
Frankie liked the little wine glasses

 

Fritto misto follows and it is a plate full of perfectly fried shrimp, squid rings and fish.  There is one fish per person but plenty of the other two.  It is lightly battered and perfectly fresh and tasty.  It was fine with a drop of lemon, a little salt or just grabbed off the plate.

IMG_2336
fritto misto, shrimp, squid and fish
17917022_957725934361841_1498870353_o
from  other end
17949797_957726134361821_1314740702_o
plated
IMG_2347
Did Frankie eat that fish?
17948647_957723594362075_309948512_o
walls covered
IMG_2410
Alvise, Vanda’s family member, and Frankie

 

Do we have room for dessert?  Silly waiter.  It was a dish of mascarpone cream and bowl of amaretto cookies and butter wafers.  They could be dipped in the cream, eaten separately or however.  The creamy mascarpone was divine and the amaretto cookies were meringue like in lightness.

IMG_2352
Chef Vanda comes out to meet her customers
IMG_2359
cookies
IMG_2366
mascarpone cream
IMG_2372
Frankie offered to help
IMG_2375
showing texture
17901933_957726781028423_187932926_o
dessert
IMG_2384
Chef Vanda meets Frankie

 

As an additional piece of information, here are 2 photos of Vanda from 1965 and a recipe (if you read Italian) from an artisans association journal.  (Thank you to Marisa Convento of Venetian Dreams for sharing these.)17838674_957750957692672_283860041_o

17901802_957751754359259_650104307_o
photo of Anna Bianchi aka Vanda taken from the artisans association journal.

 

Leave a Reply