I have done quite a bit of searching on this site and appreciate all of the great recommendations for places to eat in Venice.

My sister and I are heading to Venice at the end of July (I know, bad timing, but its the only time we have). We have a reservation at Cip's Club on one of the nights and wanted to go to Vini da Gigio for the other based on recommendations we found here (we've decided on two nice dinners out). I looked at the da Gigio website and liked the menu. My sister is allergic to shellfish, so this limits us a bit. I have sent emails and faxes to the restaurant and have heard nothing back. I have tried to call, but with no success. I am getting frustrated and this is starting to put me off dining there. Provided that I can't get a reservation, can someone else please suggest some places in Venice to eat that have a fairly good menu that doesn't include seafood. We are happy to pay in the 80 to 100 Euro range each.

I am leaving for Africa on July 8, so responses before then would be awesome. Thanks in advance.

Venice is a series of islands off the Adriatic Sea, dear, and I know you knew that. Venetians live for fish.

Most Italian restaurants (especially in Venice and possibly Vini da Gigio) don't book reservations very far in advance. Unless it's Da Fiore, restaurant owners will typically laugh at those trying to book a month in advance and it's usually American tourists who insist on trying. Something to do with American anxiety, I hear.

I understand your frustration but your frustration runs counter to the Italian (especially Venetian) lifestyle, which is to relax and take life as it comes. Frankly, even in July, you will have no problem getting a reservation by calling the day of or the day before you wish to dine.

Vini da Gigio is no Da Fiore. It's a casual place and they do things casually. So, don't fret. Their English is far from perfect, too, unlike Cip's Club, which caters to very few Italians (but I still love to eat there).

Ristorante Agli Alboretti is worth a look if shellfish is your concern. Pierluigi Lovisa is one of my favorite chefs in Venice and he almost always offers several wonderful non-fish choices. It amazes me that so many critics miss this divinely creative restaurant. It truly is a gem in Dorsoduro.

Ai Gondolieri (almost directly across from the Peggy Guggenheim) prides itself, despite its name, on NOT serving fish. A meal will come in at closer to 100 than to 80 Euro. They also have a pointed notice at the bottom of the menu that their (already) high prices do NOT include service. I took them at their word and tipped 15%, and it all adds up...

That said, my a la carte meal was excellent.

A Venetian friend, who is something of a gastronome, later told me that he considers their menu de degustation (whose price I do not remember) good value.

Another restaurant where fish plays a secondary role is the Sardinian restaurant L'Incontro (near Campo Santa Margherita). If you go, be prepared for a leisurely meal: service can be very slow.

For dinner, you would need to reserve at both of the above. Ai Gondolieri has a Web site, as far as I recall; L'Incontro does not.

Hi js,

Is it all seafood or only shellfish that your friend can't eat?

L'Incontro is a great restaurant in Venice and you can avoid shellfish easily with their menu. We had a sliced beef dish that was done with rosemary, but very different than you would have in Florence... I think I have a note with their address, I'll look for it and post again.

L'Incontro, Rio Terra Canal 3062 A, Dorsoduro. Closed Monday. Telephone: (39) 041-522-24-04. It would surprise me if they had a fax number.

Thanks for the great suggestions to date. It is just shellfish that she is allergic to...fish is fine, but anything that carries it's home on it's back will have her adding to the canal pollution very quickly.

Normally, I wouldn't make reservations so far in advance (and I'm Canadian...so can't use the USA as my excuse, it's only that I will be in Africa right up until the day before, so won't really be able to make any attempts to reserve more than the same day. See what happens when you're a type A personality?!

I think that I will just relax and take things as they come. With these suggestions, I am sure to find a great place to eat without any trouble.

Another wonderful place not to be overlooked is the Riviera Ristorante, on the Dorsoduro side of the Giudecca Canal. It is mentioned in the following page from "The Informed Traveler" - http://www.theinformedtraveler.com/e...e000202215.cfm
We ate thers on a visit a few years ago and had a grea tdinner - the best in our three nights in Venice, including at the overrated Cipriani - and wanted to go back for lunch but it was closed that day. Price was in the 85-90 E. range. Highly recommended.

I must tell you that while Ai Gondolieri specializes in meat, I had a terribly overpriced and underwhelming meal there. I would trust NYCFS on this one. Relax and take it as it comes. I think you should have no problem avoiding shellfish. I was there with a friend who is also allergic to shellfish and she had no problem although she did ear regular fish.

I noticed that there's a new restaurant that is getting good reviews called De Plisis. Look here. This menu sounds great.

http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/...4/hottables/37

The other place that I think NYCFS has mentioned that also sounds good is Riviera.

Funny 3gis. Great minds...

Oh boy, the typos. The important one is De Pisis

We loved La Rivista in the Hotel Ca'Pisani. My husband had a wonderful fish called Dentice Bianco or something similar, but I had risotto and duck. Great service, great food, modern decor and an amazing cheese plate at the end of the meal.

Our favorite restaurant in Venice was San Trovaso in Dorsuduro. We had several extremely expensive so-so meals (even though the canal-side dining at de Raffael is nice)and were thrilled to find excellent food at moderate prices at San Trovaso. They are one of the only restaurants that have a no-smoking area. I do recommend reservations. We actually ate their twice...and still talk about the enormous bowl of fish soup we got as a first course (it would serve a family of 4!).