I've heard a lot about cover charges plus services charges added to your meal and was wondering if anyone has a suggestion for a good value restaurant - especially if it is catering to vegetarians. Thanks!
Irene
Posted by
Carbondale, IL, USA
1201 posts
This place is nice. Not completely vegetarian but a nice vegetarian selection.
La Zucca
Posted by
Petaluma, Northern California
345 posts
Don't be fearful of the dreaded cover charge. Cover charges and service charges do not mean your restaurant bill will be unreasonable. It's just a different way of billing for services than Americans are accustomed.
In general, stay away from restaurants catering to tourists and you can find better food, better service for less money than you pay at home.
Posted by
Chicago, Illinois, USA
586 posts
Apart from the inexpensive stand-up style bars--often with decent little paninis and pizza or small appetizers and good pastries--I don't recommend eating in Venice AT ALL--ever! (: Obviously not possible, but we spent some considerable time in Venice last year, and even with our trusty RS guidebook, we really never found a place to eat that matched the quality we found elsewhere in Italy. So we switched to Spanish-style tapas-like meals...and plenty of delicious beer, wine...and, of course, bellinis!
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
STaying away from restaurants that cater to tourists is very very hard in Venice..frankly I don't mind cover charges etc,, if at least the food is good. I am sorry, I have not had much luck finding truly good food in Venice,, ( but then I am sure there are some very nice places, but out of my more moderate means budget).
I second getting take away pizza slices etc.
Posted by
vero beach, fl, US
42 posts
I have fabulous suggestions... and I originally got them here!
Taverna San Trovaso
and
Pizzeria Foscarini, Accademia Bridge on the Dorsoduro side is a small outdoor pizzaria that is on the Grand Canal
The taverna is not far away from the Pizzeria. Dont underestimate the pizzeria... it is affordable which makes it a great attraction in Venice... AND it is on the Gand Canal just under the bridge... so it is a wonderful place to laze the day and watch the boats go by!
Someone here gave me directions to Taverna San Trovaso... I followed them to the letter and although I completely lacked confidence that I was following correctly, I ended up in front of the rest. Made reserv ations for that night and had a wonderful meal... again reasonable and fantastic!
Posted by
vero beach, fl, US
42 posts
found the directions:
I enjoyed Taverna S.Trovaso Di Cassan Giorgio & C. Snc in Dorsoduro - very good and inexpensive restaurant a very short walk from the vaporetto stop at Accademia. Turn right as you leave the stop and keep veering. Once you get to a small canal head down to the first bridge and you will be in front of the restaurant. It is super popular so best to book.
Also, found many reccommendations for Vino Vino, but never tried it myself. From my notes from other posters that I took with me to Italy:
Inexpensive but good place for dinner our hotel told us about - "Vino Vino" Wine Bar and Restaurant. We sat near some people from Australia who had discovered it and ate there 4 nights in a row. They do not take call in reservations. You have to go and put your name on the their list. http://www.anticomartini.com/vinovino_eng.htm
Posted by
OP
Winter Garden, Fl, USA
19 posts
Thank you all!!!
IRene
Posted by
Vicenza, Italy
319 posts
I agree with Gio. Spend a meal taking a break from Italian food...go for chinese.
Posted by
Connecticut, USA
114 posts
We spent nearly a week in Venice last year, and loved the place, but were really disappointed with the food. Restaurant food there is just plain expensive, and of course, at the time, the Euro equaled about $1.64!!! The best meal we had was when we took the train to Padova to see the Scrovengi Chapel and St. Anthony's basilica. More or less across the street from the basilica is a hotel called Al Santo, or something like that, and they have a restaurant. We were so hungry and everything was delicious and didn't cost a king's ransom! The place was decorated with lots of interesting little glass windows with cleverly enameled scenes, too.
But I digress. We found better food and better value wen we wandered further out in Venice, especially near the university. By the end of our trip, we were a little tired of pizza, but did stop at one last place in Campo St. Margherita. I think it was some kind of sports bar, which was really not our thing. But this place made like 30 different kinds of pizza and many were vegetarian. Mine had buffalo mozzarella, mushrooms, and artichokes! My husband had a pizza with rather weird stuff on it and brie for the cheese! They were huge pies, too. You could definitely share.
Anything in the immediate radius of St. Mark's will be expensive (except McDonald's, which was great for a cup of tea!) --Cheryl