Can anyone recommend some good restaurants in Venice? We will be there next month. We are New Yorkers and thus a bit jaded when it comes to tired decor and menus (and especially "famous" restaurants that are just famous, not good).

We're interested in both small, good, off the beaten path trattorie and also upscale places if they are worth the splurge.

Thanks Fodorites!

Hi fellow New Yorker:
a few places in Venice close down for part of the winter, but everything should be open again as Carnevale approaches.

Antico Martini and its less expensive and less fancy sister restaurant Vino Vino are pretty highly thought of.

Worth the splurge: Da Fiore ( one of the best meals of my life) and the restaurant of the Cipriani Hotel (taking the private launch for the five minute water trip to get there is icing on the cake). Reserve at Da Fiore in advance, especialy if you will be there during Carnevale.

Very good: Sempione (touristy before 8:30 pm,not fancy,but good value)
Trattoria San Toma, everything from good pizza to full meals, not expensive

I have a file on Venice; if you'd like to see it, email me at
[email protected]

I highly recommend the book Chow! Venice by two frequent posters on the slowtrav board. I followed their recommendations on my last trip, and never went wrong. Book is great...lots of price ranges, very detailed directions (critical in Venice!). It's available on Amazon. One of our favorites was Casin de Nobili.

Enjoy your trip!

Anne

Elaine - May I impose upon you to send me a copy of your file too. I can e-mail you with this request if you don't mind. I'm going to Venice in April and always enjoy reading your comments. I'd love to have your Venice file. Thanks

AnnO - Casin de Nobili is right near where we are staying. What was the food like? Time Out describes it as a low key student hang out with good pizza and other food. Sounds good.

Hi Traveller. My then-girlfriend & I discovered the Casin de Nobili since we were staying only a few blocks from it. We ate there twice and enjoyed it quite a bit. The food was fine (caveat: we're not foodies.)

I would describe myself as a foodie, but sometimes it is nice to have a simple, cheap alternative when all the rich food and fancy places start to get to you. Has anyone been to Ai 4 Feri in the same neighborhood or recommend anything else in the Campo San Barnaba area? Thanks!

If you plan to visit Lido there is a very good seafood restaurant "Trattoria Favorita" a few minutes walk from the Vaporetto dock. Also, you might like Fiaschetteria Toscana in Cannaregio located a couple of blocks from the Rialto Bridge. Both are listed in Fodors Restaurant Rants & Raves, and both are members of the Buon Ricordo association.

Two other places you might ask this question or search for previous comments are chowhound.com and slowtalk.com.

L'Osteria di Santa Marina....
www.osteriadisantamarina.it
Campo Santa Marina
EXCELLENT!!!
(thumbs up Over Da Fiore...which isn't always consistent)

For the Best Pizza & homemade desserts: Antico Panificio
041 277 09 67 (San Polo 945 A/B)
For dessert...Caprese and/or Pastiere.
They also had both red & white Fragolino....fun to try both!

We also enjoyed Casin dei Nobili. It is low key but I definitely wouldn't call it a student hangout. It has a full range of options, not just pizza. The food was very good. We loved the food and atmosphere at Alle Testiere in the Castello area - about a 5 minute walk from San Marco. The restaurant is very small and has two seatings at 7 and 9 pm. Reservations are necessary.

We loved L'Osteria di Santa Marina...thanks for reminding me, Bailey! The seafood was wonderful.

Yes
I've seen a copy of our own Shannon's book "Chow Venice" and the reviews of restaurants are very helpful, including specific walking directions.
Amazon sells the book, and the first review there is mine.

correction, mine is by no means the first review
when I first searched for the book listing on amazon, the previous reviews didn't show up
now they do

I <b>think</b> I ate at Ai 4 feri. We had seen a place during our walks one day that looked very interesting &amp; wanted to go back for dinner. All I could remember was it was near C San Barnaba. We walked &amp; walked &amp; couldn't find it. In the end, we just went into a place &amp; had a great, inexpensive dinner. I think they were having a service problem that night &amp; because we were patient &amp; helpful (long story) they bought us after dinner drinks. I have the card from Ai 4 feri-so I think that's where we were.

Later, someone posted here about Avogaria &amp; that's the place we saw but couldn't find. It's also near C. San Barnaba &amp; whoever posted ssid it was terrific.

Traveller, if you're a foodie who can also enjoy a simple, cheap alternative then you probably would like Casin de Nobili.

We also liked the pizza at Antico Capon, which is in nearby Campo Santa Margherita.

By the way, on your way from Campo San Barnaba to Campo Santa Margherita, don't miss the great mask shop on the left hand side, shortly after you cross the bridge by the fruit &amp; vegetable boat.

I'm kicking myself for not recording the name of the place we at in October - on Halloween, actually. It is near the foot of the Rialto bridge, I believe on the side where the Disney store is (I seem to remember that in the directions). It has a jazz theme and I think the words &quot;jazz bar&quot; might be in the name.

It was amazing. We had various little seafood dishes and then some little pasta 'sampler's' almost. The staff was wonderful.

If you stay long enough and are friendly, they will invite you to sign their guest books. They have a whole bunch of them for the past I don't know how many years.

Excellent place. I'll see if I can somehow find the name.

Celtic - are you talking about &quot;Bacaro Jazz?&quot;

Traveller - I would definitely check out La Zucca in Santa Croce (off the beaten track, interesting, excellent food at a great price.) You must make a reservation. Another of my favorites is Osteria da Alberto in Cannaregio.

I am co-author of Chow! Venice but I also have a list of restaurants on slowtrav.com you can get for free. I can send you a link if you want - just email me at [email protected].

PS - thanks for the review on amazon, Elaine!

Never knew that about you Rialtogirl! Will have to check it out. Have you been to Avogaria?

What about the ones that seem to come up here often -- Da Fiore, Al Covo, Corte Sconta, Vini da Gigio? Anyone love or hate them?

What about Harry's -- is it worth stopping in just for a drink?