When I visited: June 2017

Location: Venice (near St Mark’s Square)

Rating in the Michelin Guide: Not rated in the Guide

Dining Owl Hoot rating: 4/5

What to wear: Men – jeans or nice trousers and a shirt; women – jeans and a smart top or a smart dress

Ambience: Fairly formal, canal-side

Course of the meal: Seafood risotto

If I could change one thing: More innovative twists

Review:

There are tons of lovely restaurants in Venice, ranging from very casual to super-formal. L’Ombre del Leone falls somewhere in the middle and benefits from an amazing setting, near St Mark’s Square and with lovely canal views at sunset.

My caprese was classic and tasty if not a fresh take, and my partner Owl’s braesola with rocket and Grana Padano cheese was well-balanced. We shared the special seafood risotto for a main which looked plain but was full of flavour, and the pear and chocolate tart for dessert (chosen from an array of options presented on a trolley) was rich and delicious.

We also enjoyed a bottle of white wine – Jacùss Fruili Colli Orientali 2016 Sauvignon – which was dry and fresh.

I would recommend L’Ombre if you fancy a good meal of classic Italian food a little way away from the usual tourist havens in Venice.