Platinum Dining credit in Venice

[Paul]

Does anyone know if the offer which covers Ristorante Quadri applies when dinging Grand Cafe Quadri?

Have a day trip at end of month but the Ristorante does not take bookings till 7pm and I cannot find opening hours anywhere. They are both the same owners but was not sure about the billing.

[Paul]

Bumping this…. Any help appreciated

[Paul]

Used my overseas dining credit at Harry’s bar in Venice today and thought I’d share the experience. Oh I gave up on Grand Cafe Quadri as it was closed today and in any event St Marks square looked like a building site. As my wife and entered we turned to one another and said it that it! Never been so underwhelmed by a tourist site.

Anyway Harry’s bar

First up it’s important to book as it gets busy. Second you won’t get much for your money here.

The entrance is very small and unassuming and I almost missed it. It is feet from the Grand canal and two minutes from St Marks square.

On entering it looks rather drab, very cramped and very dated. However I think there is magic here, very very expensive magic. We were greeted by name. (NB just ignore the dress code on the website. No-one cares, I wore shorts as did others.) and escorted to a table for 4, we were asked if we wanted water which was for sure given the heat. While my wife went to freshen up, our table was dressed for lunch with a flourish. Table clothes were wafted, napkins presented, along with bread, butter, water, at the hands of a fleet of white jacketed waiters. There were no woman working front of house in the bar.

The menu arrived and took the breath away. Even in a city known for exorbitant prices this was extreme. A Bellini in a very small glass was €22. The water was €10 and it was cheaper to drink beer at €8. The cover charge was €5 per person. A tomato salad was €22 and a plate of pasta with tomato sauce €44.
I ordered a salad and two mains (pasta with Parma ham which was absolutely delicious) and added a beer and two coffees but no desert. Total €203 which Amex converted to £171. For £21 it was great. For £171 it was an absolutely delicious rip off. While sipping coffee I took comfort from the deal while a couple of Americans got pissed on Bellinis at the bar parting with €60 in cash for each €48 bill. A fool and their money are soon parted!

The place was packed seating around 30 at most. The last lunch booking is 2:30 and from 3pm people arrived just to drink and eat olives. One table of 6 were in and out in 10 minutes and €132 lighter.

It was an enjoyable experience only because it was being subsidised. If I’d paid using my money I’d have been very annoyed. Portions were adequate but the drinks came in tiny glasses. For €22 they could have stretched to a champagne flute but perhaps the glass size is a tradition.

I’d thoroughly recommend spending Amex’s money at Harry’s Bar in Venice.

[JDB]

@Paul – thank you. This prompted me immediately to make proper Bellinis before dinner, better and bigger than Harry’s. Imagine what the place would be like if it were cheaper. After Sunday mass is a good time for a brief visit.

[Paul]

Data point.

Ludicrously expensive but delicious bowl of pasta lunch on the 27th August Credit on the 1st September. Happy Days

[StanTheMan]

Paul wrote:

Data point.

Ludicrously expensive but delicious bowl of pasta lunch on the 27th August Credit on the 1st September. Happy Days

When in Venice and all that….. In my opinion Harry’s is a wonderful experience all round – worth every penny, Amex-subsidised or not….