Rosa Rossa Venice Restaurant Review
Location
Rosa Rossa is situated on San Marco Island in Venice, Italy. San Marco is one of Venice’s most visited islands with many historic landmarks. Wondering through the narrow Italian street of Calle de la Mandola, you will stumble upon Rosa Rossa. This charming pizzeria is open daily from noon to 10:00 PM for lunch and dinner.
Type of Restaurant + Menu
Rosa Rossa was established in 1985 serving authentic modern Venetian cuisine. Rosa Rossa translates to red rose, you will find red roses dancing throughout the rustic brick-lined restaurant. Dimly lit rooms create a romantic atmosphere to enjoy a well-curated meal by Chef Giammarco and his team. Each dish is unique and well made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
Johnny Depp ate dinner at Rosa Rossa during his time in Venice filming the Golden Globe-nominated movie, The Tourist. The restaurant now has a room dedicated to Johnny Depp because of the drawing he did on the ceiling.
“Elegant and intimate restaurant, with a reserved atmosphere and a modern look that does not forget tradition.“
– Rosa Rossa Restaurant
Tasting Menu
Primi – Scallops
One of the top bites during our vacation was the scallop appetizer at Rosa Rossa. This small dish was a mix of flavor and texture. Local scallops were seared to perfection and nestled atop the decadent celeriac cream. Firm bits of al dente carrot added a hint of sweetness and mushrooms added earthiness. Grab a spoon and dig in for one of the best bites of your life!
Pasta – Spicy Fusilli
The homemade fusilli pasta is something unique with a one-of-a-kind look. This stick-like noodle is a bit firmer with a rolled interior that encapsulates any flavor your put with it. The pasta was accompanied by local squid, artichoke, and lime zest. The fresh squid was tender and tasty. I particularly liked the addition of the cooked artichoke. The dish was pulled together with a light olive oil-based sauce and hints of spice with chili flakes.
Secondi – Fish Dish
For our second course, we tried a new creation with white fish, on a bed of cooked spinach, topped with a tangy green sauce. Each bite oozed freshness and lightness. The fish was everything flaky and moist while each crevasse was filled with the acidic sauce. A bed of cooked spinach created a base and was a nice change in texture while complimenting the pronounced flavors.
Gourmet Pizza – Contadina
We could not leave Rosa Rossa without trying one of their famous pizzas. The Contadina gourmet pizza has mozzarella, figs, raw ham, fresh goat cheese, and walnuts. It’s like a charcuterie board on a pizza! The figs popped with a bright fuchsia color and bursted with fresh natural sweetness. My favorite part was the tangy swirls of goat cheese contrasting with the warm melted mozzarella. The raw ham added a great texture and notes of saltiness enhancing each flavor around it.
Rating
Thank you Rosa Rossa team for the wonderful lunch and welcoming hospitality!
San Giorgio Tour and Lunch – Venice, Italy
