1jan1

After much research I finally narrowed my restaurant list for Venice down to several great choices. Then doing more reading on this board as well of a few other sources I decided that Alle Testiere sounded like the perfect place for our first dinner in Venice. (We will only be there for 2 nights before beginning a cruise. July 31 and Aug 1)

We love seafood and the atmosphere sounded perfect. Just contacted the restaurant and they will be closed for holiday. Following is my list - I would really appreciate any comments on what I have listed or any new ideas.

We didn't want to go as elegant at Da Fiore and yet we don't want a super casual pizza. Any price range is fine - we are celebrating a 30th anniversary and afterall we only have one night in Venice.

Da Fiore
Corte Sconta
La Piscina
Antiche Carampane
Gondolieri
Vini Da Gigio

Thanks for any help.
1jan1

greg

Gondolieri does not serve fish. Game is their speciality.

laclaire

La corte sconta is an amazing restaurant with a beautiful atmosphere. The food is absolutely delicious. If I had only one night, that is where I would go.

LoriNY1

Not on your list, but we loved Osteria Di Santa Marina

GirlTravel

1Jan1-

I hate to tell you this, but some or all of the really popular restaurants on your list may be closed-restaurants in the big Italian cities generally close for a few weeks in August, or for the entire month, then open back up around 8/27-28, some sooner.

Check Fodor's destination guide for Venice-some of those restaurants are listed, and see if it gives their seasonal closures.

Grandma

If you can get to Corte Sconta... that would be my choice. Lots of people "dis" it.... but we return every trip to Venice and are never disappointed.

Holly_uncasdewar

Lori: What type of menu at Osteria Di Santa Marina?

shadowcat

I went to Antiche Carampane in February and loved it so much, I ate there twice (my traveling companions actually ate there three times!)

If you want seafood, theirs is the freshest and most delicious. There isn't a printed menu, they will tell you the daily specials, based upon availability.

If you need anymore of a recommendation, the owners of Alle Testiere held their own Christmas party for their employees last year at Antiche Carampane.

1jan1

Thank you all for your helpful responses. Here is my udate: I have contacted Antiche Carampane, Alle Testiere, Corte Sconta, Da Fiore Antica Besseta and all are closed. Tried to contact Linea D' Ombra and La Riviera with out success by email.
Looks like I am running into not only the usual closings for August but we will be in Venice for only Mon and Tue nights for dinner.

I am thinking that maybe I should make a reservation at one of the restaurants within a hotel...any suggestions here? Again, it is our only two nights in Venice and we are celebrating an important anniversary so price is not such an issue...it is however our fly in day so I know that we will be really tired. We want a great fun meal to kick off our vacation but don't really want to set through a long formal type dinner.

What about a good spot that the locals who are remaining in Venice for the month of August would go to for a nice summer dinner?

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
1jan1

missypie

We enjoyed Osteria da Carla - it's near St. Marks. The Rick Steves Venice book has good directions. He calls it a hole in the wall but it's now. It is small and pretty (but not fancy) and has really good food; we especially enjoyed the creative salads.

Lexma90

Alla Madonna is a fun, not-too-formal seafood restaurant. Their website (http://www.ristoranteallamadonna.com/eng/locale.htm) says their closing day is Wednesday and that they're closed two weeks in August - but it doesn't say which two weeks. This was the first restaurant we ever ate at in Venice, quite a few years ago, and we had a great time (and the food was good, too)! You could give them a try. (My other suggestion would have been Osteria Anice Stellato, but their closing days are Monday and Tuesday.)

Good luck!

anna_roz

I would highly recommend Fiaschetteria Toscana, Campo San Giovanni Srisostomo, Cannaregio 5719; Tel. 041 5285281, near Realto. One of my friend's favorites in Venice is Da Remigio, but I do not know its whereabouts. We did not care much for Alle Testiere, but then tastes differ.

Anna Roz

jan_b

Hi 1jan1. Sorry to hijack your Venice thread, but I found your comment on coats in an old thread while doing a search on a black/bronze reversable raincoat. Since this is one of your recent threads, I hoped you'd still be following it. I have been thinking of buying a raincoat I found on the internet but it is a little pricey and I had hoped to find it cheaper. Is this the coat you have http://www.christinecolumbus.com/products.asp?pID=752 ? If so, please tell me more about it. Did you buy it from Christine Columbus or somewhere else? Is it truly lightweight? I'm interested in the coat not only for travel (where weight is very important), but also for use at home too. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area where it may be very rainy but not usually very cold so a heavy raincoat is not optimal. Does it come out wrinkled after you've had it packed small? Has it worn well? Does it snag easily? I'd really appreciate all your comments about it.

I hope you have a wonderful time in Venice and on your cruise! I leave Sept 2 for 3 nights in Cinque Terre, then Lake Como for 6 nights. (I'm hoping I won't need the coat for this trip!) Thanks for your help.
jan_b

jan_b

1jan1
PS: You can email me directly @[email protected]. Thanks! jan_b

LoveItaly

My apologies for highjacking your thread 1jan1. I hope it is alright.

jan_b, I too live in the SF/Bay Area (well sort of, I moved to Vacaville a few years ago). Anyway I have a similar coat as the one in the website you posted. It is by Linda Richards. I have owned this coat for years and take it every time I go to Italy or anywhere where I will need a coat including SF. I take it on the plane with me (great to use as a coverup if the plane gets chilly). As the coat in the website you showed I can put it on over a heavy winter sweater, a suit jacket etc. It works wonderful with skirts, pants etc. Mine is a very deep charcol grey. If I were you I would buy the coat shown on the website..I think you would enjoy it for years. Best regards.

Thanks 1jan! And btw, I have always enjoyed the Alla Madonna in Venice!!

dickv2

My favorite is and has been for many years the POSTE VECIE, located within the Venice fishmarket. A second is the DA RAFFAELE about two blocks west of the Pza S. Marco that does an excellant job with St. Peters Fish and artichokes.
Richard of LaGrange Park, Il..

Royal

Hi 1jan1

I would second the suggestion of Fiaschetteria Toscana and also make a suggestion for "Cantinone Storico" located in the Dorsoduro area. We had a wonderful seafood dinner there and they have an outdoor seating area on the canal. Their prices are reasonable and the service was very good. I think they are closed on Sundays.

Unlike some others, we didn't have a good experience at Da Raffaele. The service was rude and food was indifferent. The setting is lovely on the canal but our waiter was very condescending. It was obvious he had no interest in tourists.

La Piscina is the restaurant in hotel La Calcina and it has a lovely outdoor floating dock area which is a very romantic setting. The food is good there but not quite as good as Cantinone Storico or Fiaschetteria Toscana.

Have a great trip and Happy Anniversary.

bardo1

Hosteria da Franz
phone 0415220861
map: http://tinyurl.com/oq7o4

From my report...

Before setting out on the marked walk, we slipped down the canal side on Fondamenta San Guiseppe, where we happened across one of Venice’s best restaurants, Hosteria da Franz.

This was a highlight meal, starting with the wine, a dry Prosecco (a traditional Venetian sparkling wine) and a large bottle of water followed by a very traditional dish, sardines soar, which is essentially pickled sardines served with sauteed onions. It tastes much better than it sounds. DW had a mixed carpaccio plate of sea bass, tuna, and swordfish. Then we each had pastas made fresh in-house – spaghetti bursarla, with local shrimp caught that morning for DW; and pappardelle with scallops for me. We had coffee and shared an amazing pan cotte for dessert, and left with smiles on our faces and 127E on the credit card.

And anothers' review:

That night we walk a mile and a half away from St. Mark’s, far off the beaten path, and find the Hosteria Da Franz for dinner. Franco, the owner, adorned with traditional long white apron over his black service uniform proudly greets and serves us, while even prouder Franco, the son, talks to us. There is no menu. Franco, the younger, tells us what’s fresh and what he’d like to prepare. We make our choices and toast to our good luck. The seafood is sublime. We sit outdoors next to the red and white candy stripped canal poles that designate the gondola berth for the Da Franz. The parish Church is across the canal. A gondolier comes home from work and ties up his boat. He shouts to his inamorata who is leaning out the balcony window: a happy homecoming. Franco serves us wine on the house. Venice has been redeemed.