I've read that in Venice you can get good food at some "wine bars". Is it like "tapas" when in Spain? Any good or bad expeeriences at these places? Any reccomendations? Can you bring in teen-agers?

The only one I've been to is Vino Vino in the San Marco area. They have the prepared food behind a counter and you tell them what you want and they heat it up and bring it to your table. It was pretty good and not terribly expensive-the people working there weren't overly nice however. I would think it would be okay to bring teenagers in there but I didn't see any.

I can't recommend highly enough the one on Rio Terra Antonio Foscarini - the street running beside the Accademia. As you walk from the Accademia Bridge towards Fondamenta Zattere it's on your right hand side. It may be called Il Rivista (?). Great friendly service, big choice of wines and excellent wine service. We sat outside. Inside looked modern. One night we ate here, another, just stopped by for a drink. We had no problems with teens anywhere.

Part 1 <BR> <BR>The type of place you are talking about is the bacaro, or wine bar. The food is called "chichetti" and the wine is called "ombre". Un ombra is dialect for a shadow. Its thought to be wither from a shadow of a glass or that the original wine glass sellers moved their barrels to keep in the shadow so the wine would remian cool. In either case, its about a tenth of a bottle serving, so its more of a taste than a full glass. Chichetti are assorted appetizers that sell for a few thousand lira apiece. Most Bacari open in the morning and may be closed at lunch time. Some turn into restaurants at lunchtime, offering a limited menu. They usually are open in the afternoon till dinner time. Many do not have good wine selections and some just have frozen foos that they microwave. Beware! <BR> <BR>Some of the best Chichetti are the meatballs, assorted cold seafood options, anchovies of various sorts, roasted grilled or baked vegetables, musetto (a sausage made from parts of the pig) and croquette (various fried things). <BR> <BR>Most Bacari will also make a Spritz. This is a wonderful cocktail consisting of cheap white wine, soda and eiter Aperol or Campari. It is ordered as a Campari Spritz or an Aperol Spritz. The Aperol version is more citrusy in character, the Campari is a bitter. <BR>Our favorite Bacari are: <BR> <BR>Do Mori (by the fish market) where you can either dring inexpensive local wines or rather more expensive big name vintages from the likes of Antinori and Gaja (at prices less that you would pay for these wines at retail in the states). They have amazing little sandwiches called Fracobolli (or little stamps) for less than $1.00 each! Another favorite is the Corno di Toro or horn of the bull. Anchovy, pickled onion and a bit of red pepper on a toothpick that will get your eyes open! The Musetto is available as a plate with beans or as a sandwich. Either way, the rich sausage is served spiked with strong dijon mustard and is just the thing to fortify you on a cold morning. Their meatballs (known as Saltimboca or "jump in the mouth") are an addiction for me. They also have fritattine and various vegetable offerings. We love their Fragolino. This is a local Venetian wine, quiite sweet and a little fizzy. It is available only in the veneto. <BR> <BR>Also by the fish market is Da Pinto. Da Pinto has a very nice wine list featuring the wines of Doro Princic, one of my favorite Friuli producers. There are assorted Chichetti listed on wooden sign hanging from the wall. The bacala alla manteca is incredible, smooth whipped salt cod on bread. The house made salumi is also outstanding. Forget about the pizze and the pasta looked only okay at best. The grilled fish is superb and very reasonably priced. Try a mixed grill or the sole. Pinto himself will be scurrying around taking care of his guests so the service is slow. But the people watching is great, the prices cheap and the locale perfect. On the Campo delle Becarie across from the fish market. <BR>

<BR>The Anchovy or Achiuguetts is on Campo SS Fillipo e Giacomo, just a few minutes walk from P. San Marco. Exit San Marco via the Piazetta and go straight ahead. There is a restaurant as well as the wine bar but just stand at teh wine bar and choose. The wines here are very well selected and change frequently. Gianni is the wine and food maven and will make sure you have a good time. They are famous for their pizette, small pizze with anchovies. They also have anchovies in oil that they put on little rolls. I love their seafood offerings which will vary every time you go there. They make a killer version of Sarde in Saor (sardines fried and marinated in onions) and Alici (white anchovies marinated in vinegar). If they have them, try the canocchie or mantis prawns. <BR> <BR>Ca' d'Oro- right by the museum of the same name, this is a nice place to lunch or just to have some chichetti. <BR> <BR>Have fun! <BR>