We are going next week to Italy and will be looking for restaurants in Venice and Florence that have good food and service without breaking the bank. Any thoughts?

go up to the search box and type in Restaurants in Florence- then in the box to right of the search box ,click on Italy and hit go....

Scroll down to "absolutely best restaurants in Florence" and it will all be there.....

Hi
follow andy's advice and you should get lots of past postings on favorite restaurants in Venice and in Florence

additionally, at the top of this screen, click on Restaurants and go to the listings for those cities, you will find customer comments

What budget do you have in mind for not breaking the bank?

enjoy your trip

I can, with pleasure, nominate an outstanding restaurant in both Venice and Florence.

I suggest Avogoria in Venice. Going from Accademia toward Campo Santa Margharita, take a hard left after you cross the bridge into Campo San Barnaba and continue on until you cross a bridge. Avogoria will be on your left after another hundred or so feet. The interior is stunningly modern, the food, wine and service exceptional. There will be no tourists. I ate there eight days ago.

In Florence I enthusiastically recommend Il Ritrovo, at Via de' Pucci 4/A. (A block or so from the Duomo.) Rosetta is a beautiful ex model and her husband runs the kitchen. If you bring your biggest appetite order Bistecca Fiorentina.

Avogoria is closed Tuesdays.

In Florence I highly recomend La Giostra Club (I might not be spelling that exactly right, but it's in Fodors restaurants as well.) Everything about it was wonderful!

Good evening, Hernor
Here are ones which we have used over
the years and that we had returned to.
VENICE-DA RAFFAELE, Ponte Delle Ostreghe,about twoblocks west of the
Pza S. Marco $$$
BAR AL TEATRO, Compo San Fantin about
two blocks from the west end of the Pza
S. Marco in same square as La Fenice
Opera hours...CHAT QUI, San Marco Frezzeria 4684, about one block from
S. Marco, cafeteria style ristorante with excellant pizza, lunch and dinner..
FIRENZE
MAMA GINA, Borgo S. Jacopo, 37r, just
over south end of Ponte Vecchio, turn
left about half block down on left.
CELESTINO, Pza S. Felicita, 4r just over
south end of Ponte Vecchio little square
to the left...IL BARGELLO, Borgo Die Grechi, 37r labout one full block east of the Pza della Signoria...
Richard of LaGrange Park, Il..

Our favorite in Venice is Alle Testiere. You can find lots about it on this site. It is quite small so reservations are necessary.

We loved Baldovino (both the enoteca and the trattoria) in Florence. At the enoteca, we had wonderful salads - best sun dried tomato I have ever eaten! And at the trattoria, I had fantastic pizza. Also do not miss the chocolate cake.

www.baldovino.com

Hi hernor,

The book "Great Eats In Italy" by Sandra Gustafson focuses on great restaurants for a good value. It covers Venice, Florence and Rome. I've used it for all three cities and found the suggestions to be excellent.

Cheers!

Daria

Just got back from Venice and there are a ton of touristy places with very poor quality food you should stay away from. We found some excellent places that were off the beaten track with mostly locals.
One was Osteria Al Sacro. It's on E Profano Di Constantini in S.Polo. It's just over the Rialto bridge on the left, hidden behind the markets. It will probably be difficult to find unless you have a good map or show a local the address.
For some amazing pizza go to Pizzeria Al Vecio Canton in Castello. It was the best.
For an expensive treat , go over to the Cipriani Hotel. There is a private launch they offer from San Marco each evening. We ate outdoors at Cips Club (which breaks the bank less than the main Cipriani Hotel restauarant) there and it was top notch.

Oops, almost forgot another one of our favorites....we got a free motorboat ride over to Murano (a promo offered by the glass makers from out hotel). We got a tour of a factory and saw all of the exquisite pieces--although it is much cheaper to buy it on the mainland. The island is so adorable and charming and definitely a worthwile visit. After the tour, we wandered around the little town and had lunch right on the canal at a place called Dalla Mora (Fond. Manin, 75). We had some of the best pasta and freshest seafood there of our entire trip. It was very reasonable and a great spot.

Two I'd recommend for Florence:

Il Fagioli
Corso dei Tintori 47/r (S. Croce)
Tel 24 42 85, closed on Sunday
Traditional Tuscan

Boccadama
Piazza Santa Croce, 25-26
Tel: 055-243-640
Closed Monday

Both small, reasonably priced, great wine selection and wonderful food --
enjoy!

Hi

For Florence, I second IL Ritrovo. A great restaurant where it was hard to spend 100E on dinner for two.

In Venice, try Cantinone Storico. Great food and excellent service for about 125E.

Both prices include wine.

hello from florence. just got back from il ritrovo.... fantastic is the only word. we managed to spend €90, but we had so much food it is ridiculus. Tell Marco you heard about him on fodors (or chowhound or slowtrav.com) and he'll treat you well. actually, i know he'll treat you well no matter what. in venice our favorite meal was trattorio de remigio in the castello area.... reservations necessary. Follow their suggestions for a great meal (fish only). enjoy!

Florence: Cafe Za Za. Inexpensive and good.

My wife and I just returned from Venice/Florence on Monday. My advice, despite the efforts of the others, is to just wander around and pick at random... we enjoyed every place we ate at?

Hi

My wife and I went to Venice in June this year. We had our best meal at a place called Trattoria Antica Bessetta in San Polo. I have posted a "review" and some pictures on the food on my homepage. On the homepage you can also find a trip report and some pictures from our stay. The address to the page is www.gardkarlsen.com I hope that it can be of some help to you

Have a great trip

Regards
gard
Stavanger, Norway

We visited Florence & Venice in May.
The food is unbelievable at all of these restaurants.
Florence
Beccofino, Baldovino, 13 Gobbi, Osteria del Cafe Italiano
Venice, Caffe Quadri (I think this one was overpriced but the location and atmosphere is amazing)We went to and amazing italian resturant there I forgot the name... very famous Antico "something" up a street by St Marks Square towards the stores. It has a indoors and outdoor patio. Our last night we just tokk it easy walked into a restaurant & spent the rest of the night with a bottle of wine in St Marks with the orchestra that has the funny violinist.