We're travelling to Venice with 2 kids (9 and 12). Can anybody recommend a good, friendly restaurant or trattoria that would be suitable for 2, well behaved and restaurant trained kids ?

Mike- Just got back from Venice for the first time last week. If your kids are used to restaurant dining, I can't see any problem taking them virtually anywhere- EXCEPT the best (least touristy) places mostly have untranslated menus which can be a challenge. The food (lots of fish-squid, sardines, black ink etc.) may also not be to their taste. Having said that, most Trattorias have pizza &amp; pasta.<BR><BR>We went with a full list of restaurants but found our most FUN night was without a reservation or destination -just picking a place by looking in the window &amp; walking in. It was mostly Italians with a few other tourists. While the service was slow, the food was excellent &amp; not expensive.<BR><BR>A few other tips if you've never been: Order local wine (house or from the Veneto region). It's much cheaper &amp; very good. Don't be intimidated by the large number of courses offered (hors d'oeuvres, primo piatti, secondi piatti etc.) Order only what you want. Sharing is ok as long as you order enough. For lunch, there are many smallish sandwich shops where you can look in a glass case &amp; choose. Often they sell by the half sandwich so you can try 2 diffrent things. Found tuna salad &amp; shrimp salad delicious.<BR><BR>Have a great trip!

Although this message thread is over two years old, it is still a very good compilation of the kinds of places you are seeking.<BR><BR>http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessages.jsp?fid=2&amp;tid=99856<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

In may we ate at a place call Trattoria al cugnai run by three crabby sisters&lt;it was delightful,inexpensive and verygood.chow

One person touched on my thought... I really like the (either stand-up counter along the sidewalk and/or sit-down often open-air) cafes that have sandwiches made up in a glass case. You can simply point to order if you don't speak Italian. I liked the hardboiled egg/tomato and the roasted vegetable ones.<BR><BR>These places are casual, busy, all over, and I'm sure two kids would enjoy them just like you will. Serving coffees, wine by the glass, and I assume ;-) something for kids to drink too.

We especially liked the Taverna San Trovaso in Dorsoduro, near the Accademia. Inexpensive, good menu variety, bustling friendly atmosphere, large eating areas, etc. Cost for two complete, and I mean COMPLETE meals never cost us more that 45 EURO.

We like good food and we didn't like Taverna San Travosa, as suggested above. We thought it was very average. Maybe it was just what we ordered. ??? Our hotel rec'd it and we thought it was one of the worst meals we had. <BR><BR>Anyway, we loved the food (surprisingly) at a clearly local place (it was filled with them) called ristorante San bartolomeo. It was very casual, more cafe like, and you point to what you want and they give it to you. We sat at the bar and Domenico waited on us. he was fun, the food was outstanding, and it was one of the best meals we had. we drank lots of red wine, too. and, it cost about 35 bucks. Of course, we loved Cibreo in Florence, too. very expensive, not for kids, but if you go there, so worth it --despite that it is in the tour books. have fun. you will love venice. enjoy. <BR>

Second the Taverna San Trovaso in Dorsoduro. This became the place we returned to several times during our stay.<BR> <BR><BR>

Thanks for all the replies folks. Much appreciated.

Agree the al cugnai is a fun way to dine in Venice. Your kids might also like Ae Oche in San Polo. It is a student type pizza place with really good pizzas made at least 50 ways. There is one we had..brie,speck and arugala that was delicious..if your kids are adventuresome maybe they would taste it otherwise it's a good grown up treat. Although the pizzas are around $5-6 euros they are big enough for two people.

I really like the Trattoria Dona Onesta, by San Rocco. Ate their a few times, the food is always excellent.