Venice restaurants

Vini da Gigio in Cannaregio.

La Bitta VENEZIA
https://maps.app.goo.gl/cFZVRWY7AvWs8KiF8?g_st=ic

Awesome food. Returning in June

I guess any restaurant can have an “off” night, but we had dinner with friends at Vino da Gigio and 3 of the 4 of us were disappointed with the quality of the meal. The German couple at the next table were so upset they complained to the waiter, which led to some unpleasantness.

It is hard to find a “non-touristy” restaurant in Venice, because most of the people there ARE tourists. But things to avoid are most canalside spots (especially along the Grand Canal), tables set in the well-known campos, and places with multi-lingual menus.

To find a place where the locals actually dine, you will have to get into the back streets and find a place with an Italian menu. My brother-in-law did extensive research and found two for us to visit when we were there together, but unfortunately I cannot recall the names. One was in Dorsoduro, west of Campo San Margherita; the other was in Cannaregio on small Calle leading to Campo S. S. Giovanni e Paolo. That one may have been Osteria da Alberto (which I believe is in one of Rick’s books) but I am not certain about that.

Osteria ae Saracche. On Rio Marin. We ate there twice during our week in Venice.

Hosteria Osottosopra-slightly more touristy, but excellent mussels and other too. No children allowed there.

Osteria Mocenigo. Also more non locals, but good.

Advice my daughter received when on a tour: Don't eat at restaurants with picture menus on signs outside. Don't eat at restaurants if someone is outside trying to get you to come in.

We did eat at a great place, but it isn't open anymore!

I just returned from Italy, including a few days in Venice, just two weeks ago. Best meal - and priciest - that I had in Venice was at Osteria Mocenigo. It's three minutes from the San Stae vaporetto stop (and one minute from my hotel, Hotel Al Ponte Mocenigo). You really need to make a reservation at least a day ahead there. In Cannaregio, I've eaten twice at Osteria Ai Pomessi Sposi (a block off that main walking street between the train station and San Marco) and enjoyed it greatly, but when I went by on a Monday, it was closed (as are, apparently, many restaurants specializing in fish). I then ate at a very neighborhood place in Cannaregio where I've also eaten before, and have not yet encountered obvious tourists there, but lots of locals who are greeted like family: Trattoria Cea. It's truly not in a tourist area, but is worth the wandering around to find it. I ate specials chosen off the chalkboard and they were wonderful! Folks who run it were so lovely also!

How do you make reservations? I cannot find a reservation link at most restaurants

Best place for us is Ai Mercanti in San Marco. Great creative food
La Bitta is also good.

I generally make restaurant reservations in Italy one of two ways: either I stop in the restaurant the day before - or even a few hours before - I want to eat or I call ahead. Usually when I call, I start off by saying (in Italian) “I’m sorry I don’t speak Italian. Do you speak English?” Almost always the other person will either answer in English or will get someone on the phone who does so. I am able to find phone numbers online.