National Martini Day on the Patio at Venezia

Social media can have some serious influence when it comes to purchases and actions. Case in point, last Tuesday was #NationalMartiniDay, and when I saw a Facebook post from Venezia Restaurant tempting followers with martinis on their deck, I knew exactly what our after work plans entailed.

Venezia has a pretty incredible patio that’s right on the water. We have boated there before and sat inside, so this was my first time enjoying the sun-soaked spot, which also featured large umbrellas to keep us shaded if we wanted. For the martini holiday, I went with a classic gin martini with a twist. Service was so warm and welcoming, and my drink was a cold, crisp summer treat.

As martinis tend to do, it spurred on an appetite, and though we had dinner plans at home, we shared two small plates, Coccio Tradizionale (Fried rice arancini with peas and Bolognese, potato croquette with prosciutto and scamorza, cheese polenta) and Shrimp Scampi (U8 jumbo shrimp, white wine, lemon, garlic and fresh parsley).

How beautiful are these dishes?! They were as delicious as they were pleasing to the eye, with the golden fried bites perfect for dunking in a homemade tomato sauce and substantial shrimp offering up a heavenly, garlicky sauce that we soaked up with bread.

Venezia is just down the road from us, but we often overlook it since it’s a bit tucked away. They have a full bar with great cocktails and an extensive food menu that makes ordering a bit difficult, since you’ll want everything!I will definitely be keeping this Dorchester gem in mind for patio nights going forward this summer, especially now that we finally have a boat in the water!