Antica Osteria Cera

Antica Osteria Cera: Two Michelin Stars in Lughetto

Antica Osteria Cera is an Italian restaurant with two Michelin stars in Lughetto, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Venice. Its cooking centers on seafood, with a philosophy grounded in respect for ingredients and a history tied to the sea. Chef Lionello Cera leads the kitchen and shapes the restaurant’s cuisine.

A Cuisine Inspired by the Sea and the Land

The restaurant’s philosophy is organized around five elements: water, earth, fire, air, and matter. Water is the starting point—the sea as the origin of everything. Earth represents the best of the Veneto region, though the restaurant’s research extends beyond it. Fire is used through an ancestral cooking technique that includes smoking to preserve ingredients. Air is described as a vital breeze carrying aromas and fragrances. Matter is the substance that gives the chef’s ideas form.

Creativity appears in dishes of varied character, without artifice, in a clean and natural progression. The restaurant describes its interpretations of culinary tradition as complex reworkings and studies of flavors, aromas, fragrances, and colors.

Tasting Menus and Special Offerings

The restaurant offers two tasting menus, “Azzurro” and “Classici,” which it describes as showcasing its cooking from the first course through dessert. Special menus are also offered for selected occasions:

• I Giovedì… “Classici”: A menu devoted to tradition, with dishes such as cold spaghettini with gurnard, prawn, Bronte pistachio sauce, and Pantelleria caper water; fried squid, sand smelt, and shrimp cicchetto; Catalan-style salad with Tropea onion, potatoes, celery, carrots, and Pantelleria capers; and sfoglia pastry with mascarpone cream and strawberry sauce. Listed at €125 per person, excluding wine; reservation required.
• Last Minute Dinner: An eight-course menu by chef Lionello Cera, combining traditional dishes with selections from the new menu. Listed at €150 per person, excluding wine; reservation required.
• Lunch menu: Served Tuesday through Friday at lunch for the entire table. The chef selects two savory courses and a dessert each day. Listed at €80, excluding wine. Guests must request this menu when booking. It is not available on holidays.
• Easter menu: Available on selected dates. Christmas and New Year menu: Also available on selected dates.

Delivery and Wine List

The restaurant offers delivery, bringing its cooking to guests at home with signature dishes intended to provide an authentic, refined experience. Its wine list reflects a deliberate search for quality across the styles of each region, without following fashions or extreme trends.

Regular Hours and Special Openings

Regular hours are Tuesday through Saturday, noon–2 p.m. and 8 p.m.–midnight. The restaurant is closed Mondays and Sundays, except for Sunday lunch in December. It also publishes special openings and closures:

• Summer vacation 2026: Closed Monday, August 17, through Monday, August 31, 2026. Reopens for dinner Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
• Christmas 2025 openings: December 25, lunch only; December 26, lunch and dinner; December 31, lunch and dinner; January 1, lunch only; Sunday, January 4, lunch; and Monday, January 5, dinner.
• Easter 2026: Open for lunch only on Sunday, April 5, with a set menu.
• Additional closures: Closed January 7–13, reopening for lunch January 14. Also closed at lunch April 6–8, 2026, reopening for dinner on Wednesday, April 8, with the new menu.

Directions from Venice

By car, the A4 highway exit “Dolo-Mirano” leads toward Dolo, Sambruson, Calcroci, and Lughetto. The “Mestre” exit, identified as the recommended route, leads toward Ravenna and Chioggia along SS 309 Romea for about 12 kilometers; at the bridge marked “Camponogara,” turn right and continue into Lughetto. A taxi from Venice’s Piazzale Roma takes about 20 minutes. The restaurant offers a private taxi service with Mercedes-Benz vehicles for the route from Venice/Piazzale Roma.

Reservations

Reservations can be made by calling +39 041 5185009 or emailing cera@osteriacera.it. Because of a temporary landline issue, the restaurant also provided +39 328 6017634 for bookings. Guests can also give a dinner as a gift.

Location and Contact

Via Marghera 24, 30010 Lughetto, Venice, Italy · Phone: +39 041 5185009 · Email: cera@osteriacera.it · Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, noon–2 p.m. and 8 p.m.–midnight; closed Monday and Sunday, except Sunday lunch in December.