PRICE RANGE: $$$$
AMBIENCE: 9.5/10
LOCATION: 796 Main St, Venice, CA 90291
RESERVATIONS: Book here

RECOMMENDED DISHES: Anything with white truffles, Beet Pasta & Branzino

So I’m not usually one to try new restaurants, but Venice is known for its incredible selection of to-die-for restaurants, and Barrique is no different. The Michelin-awarded chef Antonio Muré spent many of his years working at critically acclaimed restaurants in Italy, and thank God he decided to bring his expertise to Venice. Expect nothing less than the epitome of Italian cuisine when you dine here.

Located in a two-story yellow house on one of the more quieter streets of Venice, Barrique has a rustic, romantic feel, with candle-lit tables and the feeling of total intimacy, despite many other couples dining around you. If you’re looking for a great restaurant for a date night, this is the place. But despite romance swirling around the air, don’t forget to pay attention to the food! The plates were simple, yet delectable – a perfect sign of Italian cuisine executed well. It was the perfect date night.

Insalata di Crescione, Pecorino, Cuori di Palma e Mandorle Tostate (8.5/10)

Watercress salad with pecorino cheese, hearts of palm, and roasted almonds

So I almost always get salads as a starter at restaurants, and while the dish is relatively small, the watercress salad is light and refreshing. The perfect appetizer to what was going to be a hefty, carb-heavy meal. Of their antipasti, I would say that this the lightest option they have, and definitely leaves your palate wanting more.

Polipo alla Griglia con Patate affumicate e Fagiolini con Aioli (9/10)

Grilled octopus with smoked potato, green beans, and aioli

The grilled octopus is delicious! Sometimes when eating out, you’ll come across octopus that’s been overcooked, making it chewy and rather rubbery. Barrique did a great job! Warm and tender, the octopus paired deliciously with the smoked potatoes and green beans. My only quarrel was that I think they could’ve charred the octopus a bit more – but then again, I love to char the shit out of my own food.

Special: White Truffle Pasta (10/10)

Alright, so anything with white truffle is basically guaranteed to be good, and this pasta is no different. Perfectly al dente, not overwhelming with the sauce, the pungent taste of the white truffle… yum. If this is one of the specials of the day, definitely order it. I believe it cost around $48, but hey what do you expect, it’s white truffle!

Tagliolini Rossi con Ragù di Quaglia in Fonduta di Taleggio (9.5/10)

Homemade red beet tagliolini pasta, marsala quail ragù, and taleggio cheese fondue

I’m not typically a fan of beets, but man this beet pasta can’t be beat… get it? There’s not so much of a beet flavor as there is of the delicious quail ragù and the creamy cheese fondue. Fitting in with the romantic air in the restaurant, eating this pasta was sublime. Just like the white truffle pasta, the tagliolini was perfectly al dente. The only reason why I think the dish wasn’t a complete 10/10 was because it was a bit too much of a cream bomb, and my dumbass is lactose intolerant so I was feeling pretty interesting after eating it. But that definitely didn’t stop me from devouring everything that came next!

Braciolina di Cinghiale con salsa di Lamponi e pure’ Cannellini (9/10)

Wild boar chop with raspberry sauce and Cannellini beans pureé

We went hog wild ? and went for a huge piece of meat after our carb overload. Trying to pronounce this dish is a mouthful, but the fancy Italian name lives up to the hype. I always enjoy meat dishes that I wouldn’t be able to make at home, whether the uniqueness is in its preparation or the actual cut or type of meat. One would think wild boar is just a fancy name for a pig, but in reality, since wild boar are not kept in enclosures like pigs and free to roam and forage for their food, wild boar is a dark red meat unlike its domestic cousin.

The raspberry sauce and cannellini beans (I absolutely love beans but my girlfriends hates when I eat too many… for obvious reasons) were the perfect complement to the wild boar chop. The intense, sweet and nutty flavor, due in part to its wild diet of grasses and nuts and forage, really showed through.

And actually, let’s keep calling it Braciolina di Cinghiale, because it makes me feel classy.

Branzino alla Griglia Servito con Cucuzza e Menta (9.5/10)

Grilled mediterranean sea bass with braised Sicilian Cucuzza

I suck at cooking fish – my level of expertise ends at grilling salmon in tin foil… so I want to sing to the heavens “branzinoooo” any time I see it on a restaurant’s menu because I would royally mess it up if I ever tried to make it. Even though it’s a relatively mild, soft fish, the flavors that a restaurant can bring into it is a true showcase of talent.

The branzino was grilled to perfection, with the skin crispy and the flesh soft and moist. Served in its filet form, there was no need to worry about picking out the bones (big plus for my girlfriend who has serious difficulty in eating anything with bones in it). In fact, the branzino practically melts in your mouth. The Cucuzza squash added another explosion of flavor to the dish, and truly brought out the freshness of the fish.

Complimentary Desserts (9/10)

The desserts were the perfect ending to this romantic meal. Light and delicious, I didn’t have to listen to complaints of “I ate too much” leaving the restaurant. Definitely order the desserts if you get the chance – they truly top off your dinner as one for the books. The berries were incredibly fresh and their bitterness contrasted perfectly with the sweetness of the desserts.