Will be leaving in less than two weeks now for 16 day Italy adventure by car. We will end up in Venice for two nights and I want to nail down where we shall dine in the evenings!! We want to experiance!! Venice dining and I am not asking for the priciest but the best in terms of food, natural atmosphere and if possible value!! We are staying at the Hotel Flora so not far from San Marco but more than willing to venture out!! We want to stay away from anything touristy!! Put on your thinking caps and share. Thanks so much H

Have you done a search here? I promise you this has been done more times than you can guess. Search box is at the top of the page, and a search for "venice restaurant" will certainly turn up plenty of material for you to chew on over the next two weeks.

Hi reeder,

If I give you an answer to your question, everyone will read it and they will want to go, too.

Thus, it will become touristy and you won't want to go.

ira's remark reminds me of Yogi Berra's
"Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded"

We chose this restaurant from our Fodors guide - Vini Da Gigio. It was a great "find". It is somewhat fancier (white tablecloth) than what the description says and we had an amazing lunch there. (Typically we would have our main "nice" meal for lunch rather than dinner.) You definitely need reservations at least 1 day in advance. This place seems quite popular with locals. If I remember correctly, we had an anchovy appetizer, for entrees fritto misto and black squid ink pasta. It was a delicious meal...

Look this up in the Restaurants section of this site for more reviews. As others have mentioned, search on this site. Venice is a favorite destination and many people have taken time to write trip reports that include restaurants raves.. Good luck!

Reeder,
After several trips to Venice......trying 'em all...including Da Fiore....Al Covo....this trip I got it right!!

My Venetian friends steered me in the right direction.
For a romantic & marvelous meal:
L'Osteria di Santa Marina
www.osteriadisantamarina.it
tel/fax 041.5285239

For the best pizza & HOMEMADE DESSERTS:
Antico Panificio
tel/ 041.2770967
For dessert order...Caprese and/or Pastierei .....also try both the red & white fragolino's.

La Zucca...marvelous food!!
tel/041.5241570

For incredible sweet treats/coffee...(no tourists..terrific prices)
Pasticceria TONOLO

Have a fabulous time in this magnificent city!!

"For incredible sweet treats/coffee...(no tourists..terrific prices)
Pasticceria TONOLO"

Oh, damn. I've been to Tonolo quite a few times. Now I find out that I can't go there anymore because it doesn't have tourists. Even though it shows up on just about every list I've seen (in English!) of the best bakeries in Venice.

In my own defense here I want to say I have been researching lots of restaurants and just became confused!! We are only there for two nights next month and I want to make the most of itandhave among other things the best dining (non touristy) esperience. Thanks for the tips Bailey and KT! H

Hi Reeder,

Promise not to tell anyone else,

Cantinone Storico 041.523.95.77

Go to the Accademia Bridge. Walk away from the canal toward the Accademia. Bear left. Make first left. Go over the bridge to San Vio. Restaurant is on the right, on the canal

Thanks Ira!! I won't tell a living soul!! H

REEDER: I, like Ira, have a secret place in Venice. (You can depend on it since both Ira and I recommend I Sette Consoli in Orvieto and Il Ritrovo in Florence.) Starting on the Dorsoduro side of the Accademia bridge walk toward Campo Santa Margharita. When you go over the little bridge to Campo San Barnaba make an immediate left. Follow that calle until you cross a bridge. A couple of hundred or so feet ahead, on your left, will be Avogoria, a ristorante with a Puglian kitchen. Ultramodern interior in a nondescript neighborhood. I have enjoyed, on two occasions, excellent food, wine and service. (There will be no tourists.)

Hi DRJ,

I've filed the Avogoria forour next trip. Thanx.

I won't tell anyone else.

We had a really nice meal at Trattoria La Colomba, which is relatively close to the Piazza San Marco. Very good food with many local specialties. Also, as it's on a small sidestreet, they have a nice outdoor seating area.

Several guidebooks had given it good reviews.

We went to Venice in 2000. Our daughter was a student at Wake Forest University and they have a house on the Grand Canal. One of the ladies that was running the house told us about a restaurant where all the locals ate. It is called Taverna San Trovaso. It was fabulous and very reasonably priced. We ate there 2 times. I have told my friends about it and they have all loved it too. I can't give you directions but the phone number is 041/5203703 The address from the receipt says Dorsoduro.1016. Hope this helps - it was great.

Heu you guys are really coming thru with your "secrets"!! Thanks a lot! H

Oh come on now Cherie--the San Travaso is in every guide book and is known as a tourist place--albeit a good one.

Corte Sconta. I don't think it's a secret as it is mentioned in a few of the guidebooks. From what I observed, the crowd may have been a mix of locals and tourists, but it was not in any way a touristy place. Also, the owner very generously took her time explaining the specials to us in English (food is fresh, no menus).

With tru 48 hours in Venice we will be eating four meals I figure. Of the ones recommended on this thread (secrets and all) which would be best for lunch and or dinner. Give me an ideaa on prices, difficulty finding etc. Come on guys--you haven't let me down yet! H

Anything guys?? h

My favorite is Alle Testiere a very small restaurant about 5 minutes from San Marco. There are just two seatings per night and it is quite small so you will need to make reservations. The food, mostly seafood, is innovative and delicious.