I keep reading these posts about the lousy food in Venice. My husband & I are spending 3 weeks in Italy next May 5 nights of which are in Venice for our 20th wedding anniversary. Also, we are "foodies" from Sonoma County, California so really enjoy eating good local food on our vacations. If you have had good experiences in Venice, please pass along names of restaurants, location, etc. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanx!

Hi Toodie<BR><BR> Food in Venice varies from excellent to soso.<BR><BR> My wife and I liked Alla Madonna. Let the waiter order for you. Use my name. We go there about every 8 years, so they should remember us.<BR><BR> There are other nice places in the vicinity of the Rialto Bridge.

If you spend your time around the Piazza San Marco, chance are that you will have mediocre food at astronomical prices. Since many of the visitors to Venice are cruise passengers who spend all of their time in San Marco, they don't come back with great stories about the food in Venice. There are, however, some great restaurants in Venice.<BR><BR>My choices:<BR>Al Covo <BR>Campiello della Pescaria 3968, <BR>near the Riva degli Schiavona, Venice, Italy. <BR>Tel: 39-041-522-3812. <BR><BR>Da Fiore<BR>Calle del Scalater 2202, <BR>a tiny street off the Campo San Polo<BR>Venice, Italy. <BR>Tel: 39-041-72-1308.<BR><BR>Trattoria Alla Madonna<BR>Calle della Madonna 594, <BR>near the Rialto, Venice, Italy. <BR>Tel: 39-041-522-3824.<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>

Go to the site &quot;Slow Travelers&quot; - Italy. This is a web site -- and message board -- completely for Italiaphiles. This Venice food complaint is a very common one. Particularly look up, under Venice restaurants, &quot;Shannon's restaurant list,&quot; which will be infallable, as she lived there, recently, for a year. Also do a search on the message board. In my (also recent) experience, guide books re Venice are near-useless. Also, you might mention what neighborhood you're staying in -- hopefully not right in the thick of San Marco!!

My husband and I were in Italy for our first time in Sept. Fortunately, we had mostly good experiences...<BR><BR>I wanted to say that we had a very comfortable and pleasant stay at the Hotel Bologna which is a Best Western and across the street from Mestre train station It did not sound at all charming...my travel agent insisted it was a good choice. Like I posted on concierge.com, I'm glad we stayed there because I saw so many people struggling with their luggage in Venice and having trouble finding their hotel...and the food and service in their restaurant was very nice. I recommend staying here if nothing else works out for you.

Like most cities, Venice does have some lousy food, especially around San Marco which is tourist central. If you are familiar with New York, it is culinarily equivalent to the many terrible restaurants around Times Square, or on rue de Rivoli in Paris. On the other hand, there is plenty of excellent food in Venice, you just have to know where to go. Walk a radius 5-20 minutes away from San Marco and you have all of the rest of Venice's restaurants to choose from.<BR><BR>There is a small book published by Thomas Cook called &quot;Time to Eat-Venice&quot; which is very portable, and has excellent restaurant suggestions. Also go to the restaurant Rants and Raves section elsewhere on this Fodor's website. Also just do a search on this message board for Venice Restaurant and you will find many suggestions at all price ranges.<BR><BR>I had one of the best meals in my life<BR>(top 10 in my life, and I'm kind of a foodie too)at Da Fiore in Venice. Reserve in advance.<BR><BR>I have a file on Venice; if you'd like to see it, email me.<BR>at

We had a fantastic meal at Trattoria La Columba in Venice. It's a short distance from the Piazza San Marco.

Try the Taverna San Trovaso, in Dorsoduro, pretty close to the Academia. We ate there two nights out of three while in Venice this past June. Recommended to us by hotel and we loved it. Get there right at 7 PM or you will wait for a seat. Try the Gnocchi Quatro Formagi (Four Cheeses) superb!

For a very special dining experience ... I would recommend Da Fiore (on Sandy's list above.)<BR><BR>I think it would be a wonderful place to celebrate an anniversary ... and it is &quot;foodie&quot; heaven! <BR><BR>We were just there 2 weeks ago and had an outstanding meal with impeccable service.<BR><BR>Not only had I read many good things on this board about it, but also in Wine Spectator and the New York Times (which called it Europe's 5th best restaurant.)<BR><BR>Despite the publicity ... the place was filled mostly with Italians.<BR><BR>It's tucked away on a tiny side street ... and we thought that finding it was part of the adventure. Very romantic. You can't go wrong!<BR><BR>Mmmm ... I am still thinking of the pumpkin soup I had there!

Ooops ... I forgot to mention ... try to make reservations a couple months in advance. The place is small and reservations fill up quickly!

You guys are great! I really appreciate all your suggestions. We will have our anniversary dinner at Da Fiore. We are staying at the Pensione La Calcina,Dorsoduro 780 - Zattere--know you of any good restaurants in this area?<BR>

We ate at Casin dei Nobili in Dosoduru a couple of weeks ago. The big attraction for us was the no-smoking room. The food was great too! Reasonable prices (dinner for 2 under $30 without drinks). Seemed to be a very local crowd (at least they were all speaking Italian). Walk straight back from the Ca' Rezzonico vaparetto stop; in Campo San Barnaba turn left and go through the arches. It's on your right just before the bridge.<BR><BR>Anne

Toodie -<BR><BR>Happy Anniversary. Enjoy your Da Fiore anniversary dinner. I just returned and finally had dinner at Da Fiore and it was really wonderful. Also had a great dinner at Ai Gondolieri in Dorsoduro - it's a change for Venice because it's basically meat rather than fish...<BR><BR>My favorite restaurant in Venice is Al Covo - owned by a couple, an Italian and a Texan [no issue with the language...]. The food is whatever is fresh and wonderful that day. Been there for New Year's Eve and a birthday celebration - and a number of other times - always great.<BR><BR>Also love Fiaschetteria Toscana - not far from the Rialto Bridge.<BR><BR>Enjoy your trip...<BR><BR>Dona

Hi there. If have a spare room in central venice that i let from time to time at very good rates. <BR>If you are interested in such a service then pls send me an email and i will send you more info + pictures since its not allowed to advertise on Fodors. <BR>Thanks and best regards. <BR>Jack <BR><BR><BR>

<BR><BR>Lousy food in Venice? You mean there are people who don't feel that one can get any good food in Venice?

DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT, go to Taverna San Trovaso unless you like large, greasy portions of undercooked processed food that is mediocre at best.