Venice Restaurant on Easter Sunday?

Old Feb 9th, 2016, 03:06 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 522
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Venice Restaurant on Easter Sunday?

Hello again my Fodorites!

This time I come to you for advice regarding places to eat in Venice.

We arrive in Venice on Easter Sunday - it was recommended to me that we try to make reservations for dinner because it's a Sunday, AND Easter Sunday at that!

I've emailed several restaurants that are listed on the Elizabeth Minchilli website and they've all responded "we are closed on Sunday", or they've not responded at all.

I don't want to spend the one full day I have in Venice scrambling for a restaurant.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

PS - I've scoured the forums and can't find anything on this specific topic, thanks again for your feedback.
Judy_Rosa is offline  
Old Feb 9th, 2016, 05:39 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 57,091
Received 5 Likes on 3 Posts
Hi Judy,

I'm surprised at what you've found because my recollection is that on Easter Sunday Venice was open for business as usual.

That said, we didn't have a problem as we were in an apartment and had already bought everything we needed to eat in so that it's much help to you.

I'm sure that you will find somewhere to eat, though if you want somewhere special [ie not full of tourists] that might be more difficult. Have you looked at other sources of information like Michelin, Chowhound, etc.?

Are you limited to any particular area? not that it really matters in Venice but where are you staying?
annhig is offline  
Old Feb 9th, 2016, 07:12 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,893
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
"I don't want to spend the one full day I have in Venice scrambling for a restaurant."

You may have no choice. Arriving in Venice on a major Christian holiday, which happens to be on a Sunday in a Christian country, and letting that be your only day in Venice is what I call bad travel planning. Unless you change your itinerary, you're going to need to deal with the issues forthcoming.

I find email and Italian restaurants surprisingly efficient, but not every restaurant places the same importance on internet communication. Your post begs the question: Were your emails written in Italian? The list of restaurants in Venice that employ people who speak/write in English is shorter than the list of restaurants that offer meat.

The best way to find out if a restaurant is open and/or serving on Easter Sunday is to telephone the restaurant directly. With one simple question, you will find out if anyone speaks English. If no one does, it's on to the next place.

I'm sure some places will be open. Whether I would want to eat at them is a different story. If you desire to eat at one of the "list" places, you need to telephone to be sure.
NYCFoodSnob is offline  
Old Feb 9th, 2016, 07:15 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,893
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
And book early, otherwise you will be scrambling to find decent food.
NYCFoodSnob is offline  
Old Feb 9th, 2016, 07:56 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,447
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Here are some places open on Sundays

Estro http://www.estrovenezia.com/
Vini da Gigio http://www.vinidagigio.com/
Taverna San Trovaso http://www.tavernasantrovaso.it

Osteria da Alberto was open Sundays last year, but not sure about Easter. http://www.osteriadaalberto.it/

NYCFoodSnob is right - you need to call. Or have your hotel call.
rialtogrl is offline  
Old Feb 9th, 2016, 08:00 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,447
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
One more - Osteria ai Promessi Sposi
Had a great meal there on a Sunday last October.
rialtogrl is offline  
Old Feb 9th, 2016, 08:43 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,534
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi Judy,

Longtime posters here ignore NYCfoodsnob, who only shows up when she spies a chance to be maximally insulting about places she only pretends to know well. Italy is not a Christian country, Venice is not a Christian town.

My recommendation is that you ask your question on the Chowhound Italy board.
sandralist is offline  
Old Feb 9th, 2016, 08:44 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,534
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
(Oh, and need I say, Judy: Don't defend your travel choices. Just ignore the post rather than create an opportunity for a vicious rant from NYCfsnb, which is what she really salivates over, not food.)
sandralist is offline  
Old Feb 9th, 2016, 08:58 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 57,091
Received 5 Likes on 3 Posts
Arriving in Venice on a major Christian holiday, which happens to be on a Sunday in a Christian country, and letting that be your only day in Venice is what I call bad travel planning.>>

sometimes, food snob, people have no choice, and at least the OP is giving it some thought before she gets there.

Actually it amazes me how little a major Christian festival like Easter interferes with normal everyday life in a "catholic" country like Italy, as opposed to a "protestant" one like the UK. I seem to remember that the Academia for example was open on Easter Sunday afternoon, which would be unheard of here. I seem to remember that Good Friday was worse than Easter Sunday itself, and as we had arrived the day before, we had a bit of a tough time, but as we had just over a week, we didn't feel the same sort of urgency as Judy, and were happy with pizza.

Good luck Judy, and if you can bear it, do come back and tell us what you find out.
annhig is offline  
Old Feb 9th, 2016, 08:58 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,534
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Judy.

This is thread, alas, talks about Easter Monday rather than Easter Sunday, but it has lots of good tips about eating in Venice. Even though it is answers a lot of questions about dining out with a small child, you can get in the spirit of relaxed eating during a holiday period:

http://www.chowhound.com/post/venice...-776516?page=2

Also, many restaurants in Venice close for dinner every Sunday, not just Easter sunday, so that is why you are getting some rejections. So here are some past Chowhound threads about restaurants open on Sundays in Venice

http://www.chowhound.com/post/restau...ti-days-986862

http://www.chowhound.com/post/venice...y-night-969209
sandralist is offline  
Old Feb 9th, 2016, 09:24 AM
  #11  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 522
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
sandralist - you absolutely read my mind! I was about to lambaste whoever that 'person' is. And I use the word 'person' cautiously as I don't wish to insult actual humans when I place her in the same category.
Judy_Rosa is offline  
Old Feb 9th, 2016, 09:39 AM
  #12  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 522
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you rialtogirl for the recommendations, will check them out.

annhig, we are staying at the Rialto Hotel, and would like to go to a local, non-touristy place that serves great fish/seafood and, of course, pasta.

We don't mind walking, we will have been on a plane all night! So we're not limiting ourselves to a restaurant near our hotel (unless you recommend a fabulous one!).

Our hotel did make a recommendation, Ristorante Mario Alla Fava....have any of you heard of it? Good/decent reviews on TripAdvisor, your feedback is appreciated.

sandralist - I will take a look at Chowhound, thank you for the tip!

As always, thanks to everyone for your invaluable feedback!
Judy_Rosa is offline  
Old Feb 9th, 2016, 12:05 PM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,893
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Dear Judy_Rosa,

Sandypants is a lonely troll who posts under multiple names, pretending at just about everything. Longtime posters on Fodor's know when and why to ignore her. If you don't believe me, simply click on her name and read her profile. Her Best Travel Tip: "Don't listen to people who post on Fodor's." Which is really precious when you consider she practically lives on this board.

There isn't a member profile on Fodor's that offers more contempt for this board and contempt for the people who contribute to it. You're free to follow her advice, but it's important to know the real deal.

"sometimes, food snob, people have no choice"

Frankly, I thought it was obvious that by posting helpful information to this thread, I did so to help those who have no choice. Pick up the phone and call. To all those who care about the food they eat, DON'T BE A BAD PLANNER and plan on arriving to Venice on Easter Sunday and only staying for one night.

I stand by every word I wrote.
NYCFoodSnob is offline  
Old Feb 9th, 2016, 01:33 PM
  #14  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 522
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I've been planning this trip for many months. I'm not a bad planner. I am, in fact, an excellent planner. It is not BAD planning that causes me to have just one day in Venice.

But since you've accused me of bad planning twice now, please allow me to explain:

Our family trip was originally supposed to have us fly round trip through Rome from the USA.

However, because I'm using FF miles for this trip, and some other PERSONAL issues (that are none of your business), we found that we have to fly into Venice (and out of Rome).

So, rather than calling it bad planning.....I consider it a BONUS and a real treat that I get to spend an unexpected and unanticipated day in Venice before taking the train to Rome the next day.

This is supposed to be a judge-free forum, so please do not accuse me of bad planning - you don't know me, you don't know my situation, you don't know my schedule and the schedules of my family.

We are absolutely THRILLED that in addition to spending a week in Rome, we actually get to spend a day in Venice.

Further, you also make mention of my inability to speak or write in Italian. Please allow me to inform you that I speak THREE languages fluently (English, Portuguese and Spanish)...as well as conversational French.

Additionally, there's something called the Internet that offers various translation software (free!) that can translate anything (ANYTHING!!) from your native language to a different language. Imagine that! Crazy, I know....

So....if you can recommend a restaurant that I can contact in any of the 3+ languages I speak (or using translation software) I'd appreciate it.

Otherwise, move along.

To everyone else on this thread, a thousand apologies for my rant, but if you've been following any of my threads about Italy, you will know that I've been planning this trip for months - with a lot of great feedback from many of you.

Thanks for reading.
Judy_Rosa is offline  
Old Feb 9th, 2016, 02:38 PM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,893
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
"But since you've accused me of bad planning twice now"

Judy_Rosa, since I assume you are directing this accusation to me (you don't implicitly say), let me be clear, I did not accuse you of anything. Perhaps you were misguided by Sandypatty's gross mischaracterization of my words. I remind you, Sandypatty is a troll.

The very first line in my first post is, "You may have no choice." That line alone leaves open the possibility. My second sentence does not begin with a pronoun, therefore it is meant to address anyone who comes upon this thread to research the same subject, since it does come up from time to time. The fact that you took my comment "bad planning" personally is on you. I have nothing to do with that.

In addition, I don't require any explanations. I said what I would do in this situation, and there's nothing more that needs to be added.

No one on this board travels to Venice as much as I do or spends as much time there as I do. I have plenty of experience dining in Venice on Sundays and holidays. Many places don't post an "open" notice for holidays until a few weeks before. Some owners either feel like serving or they don't. Unless websites are offering a "Menù di Pasqua" or they stipulate "Chiuso Domenica" there is no way to know if they offer a holiday event unless you telephone.
NYCFoodSnob is offline  
Old Feb 9th, 2016, 03:03 PM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 61,801
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Judy_Rosa,
I give absolutely no credence to trip advisor reviews for food. Chowhound is a much better source. The petty squabbles here are annoying, but pay them no mind.

I would call a few places , or ask your hotel to do it for you if you don't speak Italian. Also , since you are using minchellis list, she posts frequently on Chowhound and might know the answer to your question
jubilada is offline  
Old Feb 9th, 2016, 03:28 PM
  #17  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 522
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you jubilada for your feedback - I will check out Chowhound. Many thanks!
Judy_Rosa is offline  
Old Feb 9th, 2016, 03:40 PM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 7,584
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Ai Promessi Sposi gets a Thin's Thumbs Up!

Thin
Pepper_von_snoot is offline  
Old Feb 9th, 2016, 04:13 PM
  #19  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 6,024
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
"No one on this board travels to Venice as much as I do or spends as much time there as I do. I have plenty of experience dining in Venice on Sundays and holidays."

Oh brother, what a PIA.

Actually I give you points for thinking ahead. And trust me, many of us have found ourselves in similar situations due to the vagaries of using miles and as you say, personal reasons. Some of us coming from the west coast of North America find ourselves in fairly complicated travel itineraries, since we are not as fortunate as those who live in NYC. I say that in jest. We will have two nights in Bologna this June for travel related reasons, and we are thrilled that it actually worked out that way.
socaltraveler is offline  
Old Feb 9th, 2016, 05:45 PM
  #20  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,871
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
With the exception of Carnivale, Easter is the busiest weekend of the year in Venice. I'm guessing you won't have any problem finding a place to eat dinner on Easter Sunday.
Holly_uncasdewar is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -