Caffe’ Saraceno

Worst meal we had during 2 weeks traveling in Italy.
Pizza was just really bad for Italy standards. The only good thing about it, it’s saving grace was the Quattro cheese combination on top.
Gnocchi was even worse, like flavorless mashed potato balls that stuck to roof of my mouth with every bite. Bolognese sauce was like something out of a can.
Now that’s just the food.
Waitstaff and service was worst of alI! I left this restaurant absolutely angry! Here’s why:
Waiter scoffed when we had to ask for the pizza
menu which was separate from regular menu.
Watched another couple almost get into a fistfight (now we only speak minimal Italian) but watching the whole scenario it seemed as though the couple wanted to sit at a small table canal side but waitstaff directed them to another table not abutting the water. They rightfully looked confused being as its 9 or 9:30pm (They close at 11pm) in December during slow season and it’s probably in the 40’s Fahrenheit. Has to be at least 20+ tables outside and only 3 are occupied. Including ours!
There’s civil talking at first but then seemed as basically they’re told this table or go. Curses fly. 4 waitstaff surround the couple and woman drags man away as our waitstaff seem to continue to instigate and yell. Terrible!
At our disappointing meals end we receive the check. Everything checks out. Food. Coperto (cover charge which is common in Italy) and a ‘service charge’ of 12%. Which was stated in their menu and the first time we encountered this in ALL of Italy. Even in much fancier and expensive places we dined at throughout our trip (tips are not common in Italy). But coming from the U.S. where tipping is common and sometimes automatically added to dining bills. Fine whatever. What really made me livid was when our waiter came over to table to remind us that the ‘tip’ wasn’t included and that the service charge was for the restaurant. Ok pal. Knew we were foreigners and blatantly trying to pad his pockets some more from the unknowing tourist.
From our own terrible experience here and now reading others reviews of similar happenings this is not just a one off night or one bad seed employee. This place is an infection that should be cut from the body of Venice!
So we chose this restaurant solely because of its location (right on canal) and proximity to Ponte Rialto (on southwest bank). It’s the very first restaurant canal side that you would come to walking from the Rialto bridge. We normally check reviews on all of our dining choices but after our original dining destination for the evening was closed for vacation or renovations we chose to walk back across the bridge Rialto to a string of 4 or so restaurants directly on the water. I mean we’re in Venice Italy so who wouldn’t want a canal experience for ambiance.
!!! Don’t go here by any means !!!
Choose another establishment please!!!

In short: nice view, expensive food, and worst customer service ever!
When in Venice, after dinner at the other restaurant, we was walking home and wanted to get some dessert and a bottle of wine to top off the night. We stop by this restaurant because it have a great view to the canal and the bridge. The seating next to the water was flooded by canal’s water at 9pm (high tight) so we sat next to the side walk. The waiter gave us the menu and rushed us to order. It’s ok. We ordered bottle of wine that cost € 52 Euro (FYI the bottle of wine in Europe range from 12 – 30). The best part is when we ordered tiramisu and the apple cake (€ 9 euro on the menu), the waiter took the menu back, yelled at us:” no pasta, no spaghetti then no desert… GO AWAY!” We was like «REALLY?» With our order the bill will get close to € 100 (with 12.5% service charge from them) and they kicked us out? I’m in hospitality business for 10 years, had 2 upscale restaurants, and a coffee/​dessert store, but I never see a customer got treat like this. We walked to the restaurant next door and was treat like everyone when we asked if we can get dessert and wine.