Venice restaurants, again
 

Okay, I know this question has been asked many times, but could someone please advise on the restaurants I've selected? Some posts weren't current, so I'm wondering if anyone has visited recently. We have three full days in Venice, Monday through Wednesday, the first week of February. My husband and I are both vegetarian - so seafood or meat dishes aren't a priority!<BR><BR>Al Covo<BR>La Zucca<BR>da Raffaelle<BR>Alla Madonna<BR>Antico Martini<BR><BR>Much obliged for any opinions on the above restaurants!<BR><BR>

Hi Stella,<BR>My wife and I liked Alla Madonna

Good afternoon, Stella Have used the<BR>ristorante La Raffaele for many years<BR>and found it excellant, they also specialize in risottos for two. Another<BR>place is the Chat Qui Rit, San Marco 1131, calle tron, Frezzeria Bacino Orseolo about 1 block from the Psa S.<BR>Marco, is a self service ristorante and<BR>also a pizzeria...Ran across a listing of vegetarian ristorantes in Venice a <BR>while back but can not find, If I do <BR>will send it to your e mail address if<BR>your address is correct.<BR>Richard of LaGrange Park, Il..

We had a delicious dinner at La Zucca this past May. Our only complaint about the restaurant is that their seating is similar to picnic tables, benches and tables which were not very comfortable. Their cuisine deserves a better atmosphere. <BR><BR>Even with that said though, we would definitely go back.

I have had two VERY special dinners at AnticoMartini.com and recommend it enthusiastically.<BR><BR>And a number of people have posted favorably about Alla Madonna, just as Ira has in the mssage above. but on a trip with my wife, and six high schoolers, the rating was universally low, adult and kid alike. Call us snobs, but we thought it was below Olive Garden (and we don't like Olive Garden). And rushed, impersonal service too.<BR><BR>There seem to be a lot of good reports on Al Covo.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Al Covo: SEAFOOD restaurant; when we ate there only a salad and one pasta dish prepared without fish; excellent quality, cash only.<BR><BR>Antico Martini: Great writeups but not to my liking... expensive, Americans only the evening we dined; food OK.<BR><BR>Some of my favorites:<BR>Quadri: VERY EXPENSIVE but great food, service &amp; view. Ask for one of the 4 tables at the window. VERY ROMANTIC!<BR>Trattoria alla Rivetta: Inexpensive, busy place, great attitudes among waiters, you may be seated with another couple- lots of fun!<BR>Trattoria da Remigo: heavy on seafood but lots of other choices too, reservations a must, moderate prices.<BR>Ristorante da Ivo: expensive, romantic place, good food

See my recent trip report called &quot; navigating in Venezia---&quot; Da Raffeale was our favorite.

da Raffaelle is one of my stand bys. I like to go on my first night because I stay in the neighborhood, and you I don't have to dress up much to go there. It is on a small side canal, though there won't be outdoor dining in Feb. They have a large menu, I'm sure that at the very least you could get a pasta with a plain tomato sauce. I have found them to be very accommodating, and the staff mostly speaks English.<BR><BR>Antico Martini is a very elegant place, dressy and expensive, a truly special experience imo, agreeing with Rex.<BR>Can't speak to it from a vegetarian's viewpoint.<BR><BR>Trattoria San Toma, Campo San Toma. 2 minute walk from San Toma vaporetto stop. Pizza and bargain set menu available in addition to other dishes. Simple neighborhood place, very casual, good food, even good desserts. Also recommended in the book Cheap Eats in Italy.

to the top, for Stella<BR>

re: ALLA MADONNA--food was fine but watch the tipping/service charge situation. You pay your cover fee, 15% was added to our bill and then the waiter threw fit when I didn't tip him more as he asked by showing me where to add additional tip. This happened to me twice there, on two separate trips. Anyone else have this experience here? I won't go there again because of it.

Christy,<BR>I'm not trying to start a war here, but<BR>it has been my experience, and has been supported by most guidebooks and other travel experts (even check elsewhere here on Fodors), that in Italy (more so than in France, for example where service charges are also added in) waiters expect tips. Maybe it's just from the tourists, I can't say, but it is often recommended as the right thing to do. I pay the total bill with cash or credit card, and then leave about 10% on the table for the waiter, or give it to him. The mandatory service charge doesn't necessarily go to the wait staff, it often goes directly to management.<BR><BR>This is a sensitive topic for some reason, people fall into the dichotomy of cheapskates vs spendthrifts which is silly. It's an individual decision, but I tip waiters in Italy. If it's not expected, I've spent an extra few euros and made someone else's day. If it IS considered the norm, then I've done the right thing. NO biggie either way.

Do you tip the nurse who takes your blood pressure? Do you tip the person who rings up your groceries at the cash register? Do you tip taxi drivers? but not bus drivers? Do you tip the school janitor who mops the floors when your kid throws up in the hall?<BR><BR>Tipping is the lamest excuse in the world for a non-existent policy of employee evaluation and appropriate compensation.<BR><BR>If I ever had anything to do with a business which allowed tips as a substitute for management doing its job, it seems like the shame would be unbearable.<BR>

Stella, my wife and I spent 3 days as well in Venice last Christmas. We stayed an extra day because we liked it so much. Stayed at two different hotels right off the Accademia bridge. One was Pensione Accademia and the other was Ca Pisani. The reason I give you these names is because the restaurants we liked are near both of them. One is Taverna San Trovaso. We ate there twice because it was great. With wine we spent about 80EU. Mind you we drank 2 bottles. Good stuff. The restaurant was a real find. A neighborhood favorite with the locals who probably know best. The other was Locanda Montin which was recommended to us through the Ca Pisani hotel. They had a great Tortelloni stuffed with Artichoke that was to die for(great for vegetarians). Both are in the Dorsoduro area. Take the Accademia bridge stop on the Vaporetto, about a 3EU ride. We tried a couple of more talked about places near St. Marks area that were more expensive. However, the wine was very expensive and the food was'nt better than what we had in the above mentioned restaurants. Hope this helps.

Thank you all for your extremely kind and helpful advice! I truly appreciate all of the recommendations - I will be sure to post when I return and let you know how it went. Hopefully, I can help you all out with my experiences at the places listed, and others. Richard, thanks for the information. Please post if you find the list of vegetarian restaurants you mentioned. Unfortunately, I don't list my email address anymore due to some unwarranted responses in the past ;).

topping

We just got back yesterday from Venice. We loved Al Covo; absolutely hated Alla Madonna. Ditto on the comments about not leaving an extra tip at Alla Madonna. Our waiter picked up the check as we left, looking for extra money underneath...then threw it back on the table when he saw none. Their food was terrible. We always go to Al Graspo de Ua which we think is the best restaurant in Venice.

I agree with Ryan, above - we ate at the trattoria San Trovaso and enjoyed it so much we returned the next night. Great value and friendly staff - and enough pizza and pasta options to keep veggies happy!

Hi. We just returned from 2 weeks in Paris, Venice, Florence &amp; Tuscany countryside. <BR>It was a wonderful trip - all of our hotel choices were great and especially Venice's La Calcina -even though there is construction in front of it right now. <BR>Unfortunately, the worst meal we had was in Venice at the Da Rafaelle. We had stopped by early in the afternoon to request an outside table and found the waiters pretty friendly. However, when we arrived for our dinner around 7:45pm it was a different reception. Our waiter was in a very bad mood - the service was extremely slow and the food was below standard - fish overdone to the point of inedible and a veal dish that was greasy and tasteless.Yes, there were a lot of tourists but Venice is filled with them. <BR>This restaurant was our only disappointment of the trip. We had a very good meal by comparison at a small trattoria with canalside tables almost next to the Hotel American in Dorsoduro. I think it was called Cantinone Storico. Very friendly wait staff, nice atmosphere and the food was very good and reasonably priced. <BR>Hope you have a wonderful trip - Venice is pure magic.<BR>Susan

Hello there.<BR>I live and work in Venice and know the 'Alla Madonna' very well out of the restaurants you have mentioned and i really like that place very much and i consider it very good value for money.<BR>It is also very conveniently located - just around the corner from the Rialto bridge and is a bright and pleasant restaurant. They mainly do fish and have a good selection of wine.<BR>Service is also very good and i strongly recommend it.<BR>I also have a spare room in my centrally located flat that i let from time to time at an extremely good rate. I know its not allowed to advertise here but if you are interested pls send me an e-mail and i will give u more info + photos.<BR>Have a nice day.<BR>Jack

Alla Madonna is not only crappier than Olive Garden. It's crappier than Chef Boyardee.<BR>