• CLOSED: Le Spighe

  • (46)
    65

    Closed

  • White Vegetarian
Italian
Organic
Take-out
European

Small health food shop with a vegetarian deli and salad bar. Choose your food and pay by weight. The seasonal menu changes daily with focus on Italian and local venetian dishes with a few international dishes. Has tables inside, or take to the nearby public gardems (near Venice Art Biennale). Reported no longer fully vegan, Nov 2018. Reported closed, Jul 2020.


Venue map for Le Spighe
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46 Reviews

First Review by Ketty

gvarun

Points +141

Vegetarian
17 Aug 2016

cool quaint little cafe

Small cafe based in a quiet part of Venice. The owner is passionate about eating healthy and organic where possible. Everything is baked not fried. Daily specials offered as a small or large plate. You can pick and choose (hot and cold) dishes (we had about 6 available on the day). Had these felafel type balls, pasta and beans. Taste is ok but more worth it to support a vegan owner. Also has beer, wine etc.

Pros: eat by weight (plate), healthy food

Cons: bit of a walk from central Venice, small number of options

hippywoman

Points +252

Vegan
17 Aug 2016

A nice casual meal

We came here for lunch, it is buffet-style with set dishes. On the day we were there, all of the dishes were vegan. Very conforting, homely, healthy food. Also sells organic groceries so can stock up after eating.

agp91

Points +53

Vegetarian
06 Jun 2016

Go here for lunch.

This is a small shop. I would recommend trying to avoid the afternoon lull (say, between 2 and 5) and to go for an early-ish lunch. Contrary to another review I read on here, I actually found Le Spighe to be a bit of a hike from the main drag in Venice, but it's worth the walk. We had a great small meal of some assorted prepared dishes, but the portions were not very generous--odd, I thought, considering that it's just priced by weight. Anyway, it was nice to find a veg oasis in what is otherwise a very meat and seafood-heavy town.

Pros: decent and variable selection, good international flavors

Cons: a bit pricey for the portions

RobPowderly

Points +30

Vegan
07 May 2016

Awesome find !

Got some amazing vegan food here and had a great discussion with the owner about organic food in Italy. Highly recommended.

WeatherMonkey

Points +53

Vegan
13 Apr 2016

Super veggie & vegan food!

We had a late lunch at Le Spighe and the food was delicious! The lady spoke good English and was extremly friendly and helpful. She served us both a mixed plate of everything which was vegan (all dishes except the lasagne). Good sized portions and there was even vegan apple and sultana cake. Would definitely visit again.

Pros: All veggie & vegan! , Lots of choice, Helpful and friendly staff

midorigreen

Points +299

Vegan
21 Jan 2016

A fantastic find

I staggered in on a hot day after getting lost while trying to find another location. The staff member greeted me and explained the food they offered. It's a hot and cold selection that changes every day with an emphasis on vegetables. I tried a bit of everything that was vegan and was impressed with the subtle flavours. They also had vegan cake!

dkinjer

Points +309

Mostly Veg
24 Nov 2014

Disappointing

We knew from other reviews that this is not really a restaurant, but a take-out deli and health food store, where you can eat the food there, too. But it was quite disappointing. Even as a health food store, the selection was very sparse. The vegan menu items were tasty enough, but the portions rather sparse for the price we paid. There was no bread left of any kind when we were there (the evening hours) and she couldn't even make a cup of hot tea (on a rainy night). They sell boxes of tea bags, so how hard could it be to put on an electric kettle? There is also no rest room there (because it is not really a restaurant), so we ended up having tea/coffee at a different place nearby so we could have a hot drink and use the rest room. Even though there are not veggie or vegan places to eat in Venice, we did not bother going back there. Too out of the way and too expensive to consider it again. We just ended up getting stuff from the supermarket.

Pros: the only vegan hot food in town

Cons: expensive, small portions, limited selection

almondia

Points +17

Vegetarian
07 Oct 2014

A vegetarian gem

Hands down best dinner I've had in a long time, even if eaten from a plastic container. Didn't expect this in Venice, where upon work travels my eats tend to be on the simple side, consisting mainly of fruits and nuts and occasional very simple salads.

The textures and flavors of tonight's dinner- cumin tahini cabbage, almond and. red rice patties, creamy chicory and hearty kabocha squash - were spot on.
The owner also emphasized the organic origin of her ingredients for optimal assimilation of nutrients as we were talking about vegan/ vegetarian eating possibilities in Venice. Even if simple Italian dishes are vegetarianisable, organically grown is hard to find.

Pros: Flavor, Service, Certified organic products

Cons: Limited opening hours, Counter-like seating

EllyK

Points +13

Vegetarian
28 Jul 2014

Best in Venice

The lady in this store speaks excellent English and is very sweet. The food is hands down the best in Venice. The quality, the price and the taste just blew my mind away. My flexitarian father agrees that it was the best place in Venice. Served real food, not just stale pizza made with low quality cheese and veggies. Mostly vegan, raw food. In other words, if you're in Venice and don't give this place a chance, you're crazy!

Pros: Service, Quality, Price

Cons: Location

AlessandroPalmesi

Points +254

Vegan
01 Apr 2014

Good Food , Suggested For Lunch

I went here in March and I found it easy to find, not fare from San Marco square. The owner is a very friendly venetian lady. She's very glad to have vegans as customer and she's happy to explain what is vegan (mostly) and what is just veggy.
Every day there is a different choice. Food is hand made and fresh.
I suggest to go there early at about 12,30 -13 because she only cook once a day: there's no refill.
Just a little bit expensive considering that is not a restaurant, but on the other side the food is mostly organic.
I've also take delicious vegan muffin!

Pros: Food, Staff, Location

Cons: Prices

justingross

Points +247

Vegetarian
24 Mar 2014

Very Good (AND ONLY) Option in Vencie

If you want to eat at a place that is only vegetarian and you are in Venice, this is your only option.
We ate there while staying in Venice and found the food to be incredibly wholesome and delicious. The owner, Dorianna, is a lovely woman who really cares about the food she prepares. She makes several dishes per day and serves and you get to pick what you want on your plate. The plate is then weighed and that's how you pay. Be weight. Yes, it is expensive, compared to what you are used to. But keep in mind, she only uses organic ingredients...AND...this is Venice. Everything must be brought in by boat and then hand trucked to the location and everything is more expensive in Venice.
The food that the owner prepares is delicious. It also makes you glad you made the choice to eat here rather than at a regular "meaty" restaurant choice. We ate here 4 times in 3 days. DELICIOUS food.
She is open for lunch and dinner only. For dinner, it's 5:30 to 7:30 pm.
If you appreciate food that is vegetarian, organic, and prepared with care, definitely eat here.

GiraffeGirl

Points +230

Vegan
24 Mar 2014

Lovely but not cheap

Lovely lady who runs this place, delicious food and an eco-attitude. Found it quite expensive for the amount of food you get but it was very nice.

Pros: tasty food, lovely host

Cons: quite expensive, bit out of the way

Senkenberg

Points +105

Vegan
18 Nov 2013

A good option in Venice

A great place for a quick lunch. Effectively a kind of deli-counter with a small but interesting selection of well prepared salads, pizzas, soup and other items which the very helpful owner will serve you, and let you know what's vegan (most of it). You pay by weight and there are group tables where you can sit an enjoy. Oh and the muffins (endearingly pronounced 'maffins' across Italy) looked rather ordinary but were so moist and delicious we bought another two to take away with us. Tasty food and friendly locale and we were glad we went.

As no one other than Venetians can make sense of Venetian addresses, what you need to know is that it's on Via Guiseppe Garibaldi near the corner with Calle Schiavona. An easy walk from the Giardini or Arsenale vaporetto stops.

Pros: Tasty Food, Handy for Biennale, Muffins

Cons: uite small

blueberrypie

Points +28

Vegan
18 Aug 2013

loved it!

I visited Le Spighe some time ago (wow, almost 2 years ago now..) and am finally writing a review; it is one of the good memories of my last trip to Venice and I highly recommend it. Almost all of the food at the deli counter was vegan (the rest vegetarian) so I had a nice heaping plate of different things to try. Apparently some of the dishes are inspired by traditional local recipes which is interesting. Everything was very tasty, made from quality ingredients -- a variety of vegetables, grains, etc; it was healthy and satisfying. You pay by weight - it seems a bit pricey given it's a deli counter, but ultimately I'd say it's worth it considering a) it's Venice and b) this is delicious, lovingly made food.
It's also a mini grocery store, so I purchased a number of packaged snacks (cookies, nuts), which was convenient.
Also, the owner was very nice!
Sure, you could go to any restaurant in Venice and get a cheese-less pizza or plain pasta, but I would recommend Le Spighe - support a veg business and sample lots of unique and delicious food!

Pros: delicous, healthy food, lovely staff

Cons: a bit pricey for deli, but so worth it!

MuK-UK

Points +262

Vegan
27 Jan 2013

A welcome retreat.

It was so cold when we were in Venice, it is easy to be positive about anywhere warm. However, the owner is very friendly, and the food is good, but as mentioned in other reviews, not always completely warmed through, and it is expensive (but what isn't in Venice?).
EDIT: I have since been back a second time, the food was excellent, the owner as friendly as before and this is one of the very few places in Venice where they cater for vegans.

Pros: Friendly and relxed., Good food.

Cons: Expensive

MCsquared

Points +32

Vegan
17 Aug 2012

Vegan food in Venice

We found this place by accident and were very glad that we did. Excellent freshly prepared vegan food with fresh ingredients.

calivegan

Points +42

Vegan
26 Jan 2012

delicious food, nice owner, but EXCESSIVE prices

the variety of options and flavors was great. the food was delicious. 3/4 of the options were vegan and everything was vegetarian. we (two of us) had a good amount of food but nothing out of control. it was well over 50 euros for lunch. i expect that vegan options can cost more but this was definitely excessive.

the owner is very pleasant. the food is fresh that day but not prepared upon your order (so the deli classification is spot on). definitely check it out but bring a full wallet.

Pros: delicious food, great variety, knowledgeable owner

Cons: PRICE, varied temperature of food

fearless

Points +161

Vegetarian
29 Oct 2011

quick and easy

This small shop provides a number of different dishes that are charged based on the weight of the food. Most of the dishes were quite tasty with the only downside being that it is microwaved which provided some inconsistent temperatures for the different dishes on your plate.
Another plus is that the dishes are made with organic ingredients with plenty of vegan options available.

Pros: healthy food, organic, friendly

Cons: inconsistent temperature of food

Ketty

Points +133

Vegetarian
24 Aug 2010

Le Spighe

Most of the deli items were vegan the day when I went, and they had a very nice potato/eggplant tart.
The shop is quite small, but they have a large selection of dry goods (like different flours, grains, etc). They sell the deli items by weight.

Worth visiting -- vegan food is hard to find in Venice!

Pros: tasty food, vegan choices




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