First time visit to Venice. My husband and I love good food. Need a recommendation for a great restaurant.

Hi <BR>If you search on this forum for Venice restaurant you will find many suggestions. I also have a file on Venice with many suggestions, some gleaned from this forum, which I will send you if you email me. For a <BR>splurge restaurant I have to mention <BR>Restaurant of the Hotel Cipriani, Giudecca 10. phone 041 520 7744. <BR>Exquisite food, perfect service, beautiful room, private launch to pick you up and bring you back to San Marco. <BR> Budget permitting, what more can you ask for? <BR>Here's one that's a couple of years ago was about 75,0000L per person with a couple of glasses of wine: <BR>Restaurant Da Raffaele, Ponte delle Ostreghe, 2347, San Marco. phone 041 523 2317. They don't frown if you just order pasta and no main course in which case the cost would be much less. Attractive setting along a small canal. Casual, but not jeans in my opinion. Dine outside in good weather. Excellent fish, but many other dishes available. Restaurant is next door to Do Pozzi hotel, hotel guests get a discount I was told. This restaurant is often recommended by others on the Fodor's Europe forum. <BR>

Al Cove and Il Fiori are outstanding. But, my first choice is Vinni da Gigio. The accessability of the owners and staff make the difference. The dinner winds up being not only excellent, but great fun as well. The owner, chefs and staff actually came to the table to answer questions about food preperation, ingredients, sources, etc. One of our group is a Pastry Chef at a top rated San Francisco Bay Area Restaurant and she marveled at the overall dinning experience. We literally carried away ingredients they use in their food and dessert preperation and wines they serve in their dinning rooms. We paid for these of course. But, they were so accommodating. In case you are wondering if we got special treatment, we never identified the member of our group nor the Restaurant with which she is assocoated.

One of the greatest restaurants in Venice is called da Ivo. I got it off of the net a few years ago and was very pleased. The food was wonderful and the upper crust Venetians go there. Go to Niko's for gelato (not far from the Guggenheim).

If you like seafood try Corte Sconta. Their seafood antipasto consists of 8 or so different fish dishes. Superb.

Carolyne, <BR> <BR>I second Al Covo (my favorite) and I've heard great things about DaFiore but haven't been able to get a reservation in my many visits to Venice! Next time... <BR> <BR>Al Covo is owned by a Venetian and his Texan wife (so language is not a barrier) - and menu changes daily depending upon what's fresh that day. <BR> <BR>I really like Fiaschetteria Toscana (not far from the Rialto) - they hve an outdoor section in nice weather - and great food anytime. Two of my favoites were artichoke hearts - that were so large, sweet and tender that we ordered a second order before the main course - and, at another time, a large "raviolo" with spinach and a poached egg inside, and grated cheese. (Have been trying to duplicate in NYC, to no avail). <BR> <BR>There's also a place near the Piazza San Marco called Do Forni - looks touristy - but I've had some great meals there. Probably not in the same category as the previous two - but really good... <BR> <BR>Corte Sconta is also a wonderful place. They just keep bringing the fresh fish you'll find... <BR> <BR>Will also have to try Vinni di Gigio next time - sounds wonderful.