Eating out in Venice

Italian food is, understandably, a class on its own. The unique culinary traditions make themselves felt in Venice and Venetian islands to the great extent. With that in mind, there is no better place to experience traditional Venetian hospitality, comfort and welcome than the Osteria Vivaldi. Its reputation of being the friendliest restaurant in Venice precedes it. At the Vivaldi you will be pleased to discover that tourists are received as graciously as locals. In proximity to the Campo San Polo, this establishment is run by a family and features an inviting environment and warm décor incorporating touches of wood. You can sit at the relaxing wine bar or at one of the twelve or so tables. Service is fast and efficient. The white wine of the house is delightful, and wine is served by glass, decanter or bottle. The menu is reasonably priced. A small cover charge must be paid for bread and cutlery, a feature typical of Italian restaurants. An excellent starter is tagliolini Vivaldi, black noodles with tomato, shrimp, fish and parsley. For the main dish baccala is an appropriate choice - a classic meal, consisting of salt cod with polenta. Seafood and meat dishes are also available. A top choice for dessert is creme caramel, an international dish that is especially tasty if made the Italian way.
Another friendly, affordable establishment is the Taverna San Trovaso, serving pizza and a complete ? la carte menu for lunch and dinner. The specialty is gnocchi al quattro formaggi (a sumptuous dish with four types of cheese). Other popular meals are cuttlefish, seafood platters and various grilled fish with side courses. Naturally you can always go for pizza, but it is not recommended in light of the many gastronomic delights that are in store.
Regrettably it will be hard for you to find a vegetarian restaurant in Venice. Osteria La Zucca isn't a vegetarian restaurant, but its vegetable-based meals are simply heavenly. You will not find common ingredients like eggplant and carrots made into works of art anywhere else. This small, charming establishment has various specialties, including vegetarian lasagne with mushrooms, pumpkin flan, fennel with tomato and curried carrots immersed in fresh, thick yoghurt. There are some excellent chicken and hare dishes as well.
This guide aims to outline the affordable restaurants with the best food. You won't find better food at more expensive joints, but the search may cost you a fortune.
Alle Testiere serves starters, main courses, desserts and all kinds of alcohol-free beverages and liquor. An excellent starting course can be clams steamed with ginger or grilled scallops with brandy. Another option is the tiny baby calamari in seppie sauce, also known as cuttlefish ink. Venetians have made an art of cooking - the swordfish with olives and capers includes an ingredient known as pollinea di finnochio, handpicked fennel flowers.
If you need a quick snack, you can go to one of Venice's wine bars or bacari. They serve delicious triangle-shaped sandwiches with filling ranging from tuna fish to delicacies like calf's liver. A great wine bar is Osteria Al Portego near the famous Rialto Bridge. Among the specialties are boiled shrimp tails, marinated artichokes, sautéed eggplant, whole crabs and sweetened crab legs. If you want to experience the essence of local culinary habits, you cannot miss the Trattoria Due Torre in Dorsoduro. It serves delectable seafood, such as sweet crab, sardines in special sauce, grana padano, boiled shrimp and picked crabmeat. If you come between 12 and 1 in the afternoon, you will see many workers eating away noisily. This is a tradition at the trattoria, and generally visitors wait for the workers lunch break's to finish before coming in, as the place tends to get a bit packed.