This site has been such a wealth of information for planning (my daughter and I are going in Jan.) I need some recommendations for meals in Venice (economical; daughter not an adventurous eater!). We're staying at Antiche Figure. That area sounds pretty 'touristy' and we'd prefer to stay away from those kinds of places. Any thoughts?

No doubt: "vecio fritolin".
The owner is Lady Irina: very kind, very smart and, overall, delicious meal not expensive.

Vincenzo

You won't be too far from La Zucca....one of my favorite restaurants in Venice. Great food good prices!

http://www.lazucca.it/index.htm

You would do well at the sidewalk cafes where they have sandwiches made up in the glass cases. I was at several nice little spots in the central area, they were a mix of people, not just tourists there. That way your daughter can see and point. Delicious bread, various fillings, inexpensive (and a good place to use a restroom while you're there).

La Zucca was also my favorite restaurant. We had lunch and then had to go back next day for dinner. Had pumpkin flan twice. We also just happened upon Osteria Al Portego, a very small place, quiet, locals, even though it was close to the Rialto Bridge going towards S.Stae stop. The young couple cooking and running the place barely spoke English but we stood wide-eyed in front of the glass case full of everything and just pointed and was served. 2 glasses of wine, huge plate of eggplant parm, 4 slices of bread topped with meats, cheese, fish, side of fried shrimp, = 13.80euros. I was just as full as my 7 course meal in Montalcino. Fresh! Fresh! Fresh!

topping

You should read the post by Franco on his favorite Venetian food and restaurants. Search on "Franco Venice" and his thread will come up. I have saved it in a Word Document for our trip to Italy and Christmastime (and his threads on Rome & Florence too!).

Note to Franco: You should write a book on this topic!!

I personally don't find much of any of Franco's restaurant recommendations to be all that useful, particularly since I don't think he's been to Venice in quite a while, and Venice is a city that as ancient as it is, still has a changing food scene, a restaurant that was excellent years ago can be quite at the other extreme in the present time, and there have been a lot of additions to the food scene in Venice in the last few years as well.

But Gor, you'll be staying in a wonderful hotel, elegant, great views, and right in the heart of where the Venetians live (my friends live about 5 min. away from the hotel). Santa Croce is NOT the touristy part of Venice, for that, you need to be around San Marco/Dorsoduro!

I want to suggest 3 restaurants for you to try, besides Alla Zucca, (the pumpkin) which Bailey suggested and it is an excellent choice (very close to your hotel-like, a 3 min. walk). I try to suggest restaurants in Venice that are relatively close to where people are staying, if I know the place, as most people, myself included, don't usually like to wander too far away from their hotel looking for some out of the way restaurant for dinner

1. TRATTORIA ALLA MADONNA, on calle Madonna between San Silvestro and Rialto bridge-(vaporetto Rialto) is one of the best, and most popular restaurants in Venice for Venetians and tourists alike. Very charming Venetian interior, THE freshest seafood (try the zuppa di pesce-fish soup-very rich!) and any prawn dish-you will love this place, Venetians probably recommend this place most frequently-great for lunch and dinner

2. AL NONO RISORTO, Santa Croce (like alla Zucca, a few minutes walk from your hotel) in warmer weather this place has a wonderful garden, but otherwise, it's a great not too expensive place for pizza and other seafood dishes -no credit cards here, a very local hangout.

3. CANTINA DO MORI-you have to do at least a couple of "bacari" (wine bars) while you're in Venice-if your daughter doesn't drink wine, no problem, it doesn't have to be alcoholic. At a bacaro you can have the wonderful "cichetti" (little tapas like servings of meatballs, and antipasti, like grilled zuchini, the most famous Venetian dish "sarde en saor" (my favorite-grilled sardines in a onion and golden raisin mixture-I eat it most every day when I'm in Venice-I go to the deli section at the Billa supermarket and bring it back to the apt. for dinner, I even like to have it for breakfast sometimes!) There are all kinds of cichetti in the window to choose from-just point to what you like and looks good, and you can make a lunch or dinner of it. Do Mori is the oldest bacaro in Venice, some SIX HUNDRED years old! -very atmospheric with its copper pots-great place for tourists and locals alike. Another bacaro very close by (all of these bacari are behind the Rialto vegetable and fish market) BANCOGIRO-with tables right on the Grand Canal. One day you and your daughter might want to go shopping on the Rialto bridge area, and then stop in to Bancogiro for lunch (which is just next to the bridge).

we just returned from week in venice, renting apt in san polo sestiere. we loved la zucca, vecio fritolin, osteria ala botte, il refolo. we didnt get to several others that were recommended, including those that girlspytravel suggested, also antico sancresto, la piscina, due colonne (pizza) da silvio, and taverna san trovaso. an absolute treat is having lunch at ai nomboli - a sandwich shop in san polo - we ate lunch - take out and eat in several times- always saw the local gondoliers there...

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