It looks like any other café on St. Mark's Square under its arched-portico canopy that has become an institution of food for up market Venice travelers. While Café Florian gets all the one-cappuccino fame and flashbulbs, Quadi is a regular pilgrimage for celebrities like Brad Pitt and Sophia Loren who are hurried-off the second floor restaurant for cumbersome, foodie feasts. Divided between a first floor café and second floor restaurant, the location offers a mixed experience depending on the time of you arrival. By day the first floor café serves light lunches and finger sandwiches in addition to double-decker tortes and pastries. By night the upstairs restaurant roars from a royal red dining space lined in upholstered high back chairs and Murano chandeliers dangling from above.
The Food
Meals begin with an entourage of waiters unleashing a wind of unwrapped napkins into the laps of couture-clad patrons and the occasional awkward, sticker-shocked American tourist. Appetizers include a selection of salted meats on grilled pollenta, puff pastry stuffed with sea-bass or pear salad over arugula. Homemade pastas are served as an in-between course with gnocchi over shrimp, ricotta-stuffed cannelloni and Tagliolini with lobster. Main course is a menagerie of veal medallions, beef fillet and grilled scampi serves with delicious sides like potato pie, Venetian artichokes and grilled polenta. Dessert is a mixture of café specialties like apple tartan and French gateau or ceremonial tiramisu or crème brulee.
Last Word
Be-seen dining room is popular celeb stomping ground located above casual café in St. Mark’s Square. Visitors should keep in mind that the restaurant is closed from November through March, with the exception of December holidays and Carnival.
