After several years running the acclaimed restaurant Venissa on Mazzorbo Island in Venice, Antonia Klugmann decided to pursue her own culinary vision, opening L’Argine a Vencó in the winter of 2014. Serving elegant, creative dishes with a strong emphasis on fresh local produce, the restaurant doesn’t need a spectacular city location to entice gourmands.

Situated in an old mill which Antonia and her husband Romano lovingly restored and extended, the restaurant's rural, off-the-beaten-track location only adds to its charm. Although the dining room is small – there are just eighteen covers and six tables – wall-to-ceiling French windows provide spectacular views of the rolling countryside and give the restaurant a bright and spacious feel. Its intimate size also adds to the restaurant's charm and enables guests to watch Antonia first-hand as she creates their chosen menu.

The menu is comprised of three different tasting menus: the reasonably priced five-course ‘Small Menu’, a more creative six-course menu and the signature ten-course menu named ‘Life in Motion’. This is ‘freehanded’ by Antonia, who will create ten dishes to best reflect the season and produce available to her. Typical dishes may include Beef carpaccio with bone marrow and cavolo nero, Baccalá with Jerusalem artichokes and smoked herring and Chicory ravioli with fig, lemon and greens.

Along with Veneto and South Tyrol, Friuli-Venezia forms the Tre Venezie wine region, which is known for producing some of the finest Italian white wines. It is therefore no surprise that L'Argine a Venco has an excellent wine list. Roman is an experienced sommelier and will recommend a wine to best match each of Antonia’s dishes. The front of house staff are courteous and prompt, working closely with Antonia in order to effectively communicate her frequent menu changes.