| Eating out in Venice can be a very unsatisfying | | | | chance to eat some food in a less formal context. The |
| experience for the casual traveler. With a local | | | | busy Venetians frequently eat quickly and lightly, |
| population of only 60.000 people and several millions | | | | selecting snacks called 'cicchetti' from a display at the |
| tourists to feed each year, most restaurant owners in | | | | counter, then eating them standing or seated on stools. |
| Venice couldn't care less if you feel ripped-off when it | | | | In Venice restaurants (but this is true for the rest of |
| comes the time to pay the bill. Fortunately this attitude, | | | | Italy as well) you should expect to pay as much as 2 |
| while not uncommon, is not generalized. There are still | | | | Euros per person on top of the price of what you |
| some 'local' places to eat, and it is possible to eat a | | | | have ordered. This is called 'coperto' and it accounts |
| good meal while paying prices that are only slightly | | | | for the table dressing and the small basket of bread |
| higher than elsewhere in Italy. | | | | you will be provided. A few restaurants also add on up |
| To get a truly Italian experience it is always best to eat | | | | to 12% as an additional service charge although this is |
| where locals eat. This means that the menu will be | | | | unusual and should be stated in the price list. Italians |
| written only in Italian and you are expected to know | | | | tend to tip a few euros rather than the 10% or more |
| what all of the items on the menu are. You should also | | | | which is common elsewhere: However, there is no |
| keep in mind that Venice is a popular destination for | | | | strict rule about tipping and in family-run restaurants |
| Italians as well as foreigners. If you see a crowd of | | | | where you are served by the proprietors it is common |
| Italian speaking people seating outside of a restaurant, | | | | not to tip at all. |
| do not assume they are 'locals'. Chances are they are | | | | As you may expect, in Venice you will find a lot of |
| tourists just like you. | | | | seafood and lagoon fish on offer. 'Polenta', a coarse |
| As a quick rule of thumb: you should avoid all the | | | | ground cornmeal generally made into a mush-like |
| places where a 'tourist menu' is advertised as well as | | | | porridge, is a regional specialty, often served with fish, |
| those with pictures of the food on the outside. Waiters | | | | meat, mushrooms or 'gorgonzola' cheese. Seasonal |
| in bow ties or who tout for customers outside the | | | | specialties include peas and 'radicchio', both of which |
| door are also warning signs. Wine prices are another | | | | used in the preparation of rice based dishes ('risotto'). |
| useful indicator. In an average restaurant you'd expect | | | | Pasta is not as widely used as it is in other Italian |
| to find house wine (vino della casa) listed by the | | | | regions but there are a few typical recipes like 'bigoli in |
| quarter and half-liter. Half of a liter should only cost | | | | salsa' (thick homemade spaghetti in anchovy sauce). |
| something like 5 Euros. Watch out if they only serve | | | | Other local dishes you might see on a menu include |
| bottles of wine at 20 Euros and above. | | | | 'sarde in saor' (marinated sweet and sour sardines), |
| Although Venice is not considered to be one of the | | | | 'castraure' (baby artichokes), 'seppie in nero' (cuttlefish |
| capitals of the Italian cuisine, it is nearly impossible for a | | | | in its ink), 'granseola' (spider-crab), 'fegato alla |
| traveler to miss one of the most rewarding holiday | | | | veneziana' (calf's liver with onions) and 'carpaccio' |
| experiences: enjoying a good meal in a truly unique | | | | (thin-sliced raw beef). Desserts are not usually terribly |
| surrounding. At the very least, an evening meal | | | | good in Venice - typically the choice is something like |
| represents an opportunity to refuel after a day full of | | | | dry local Burano cookies, panna cotta or tiramis?r /> |
| activities. Being in Venice, you have to do your | | | | The area around Rialto is chock full of eating places |
| homework. Search the Internet for comments coming | | | | and the most popular food shops and bars are here |
| from people that has already been in Venice or ask a | | | | as well. Needless to say, this is also the area where |
| local contact if you know someone you can trust. | | | | most tourists use to gather. If you are adventurous |
| Booking ahead is always a good idea, especially for | | | | enough to wander around, you may be rewarded. |
| evening meals, at busy times like summer weekends, | | | | Venice lies on an a small island so you really can't get |
| and if you want a special table. | | | | lost and chances are you will bump into the thriving little |
| As for the various kind of food establishments, Venice | | | | 'baccaro' where you can get a plate of assorted |
| is no different from the rest of Italy. A 'ristorante' | | | | appetizers for less than 10 euros. Quite often you |
| generally indicates an upscale establishment, while a | | | | won't find tables in there and no waiter service as well, |
| 'trattoria' is a more humble, traditional eatery, serving | | | | so simply go to the counter, have some snacks and a |
| simple filling dishes. A pizzeria is a place where you | | | | glass of wine, and enjoy the taste of the hidden |
| can eat pizza; not really a specialty in Venice although | | | | Venice. |
| there are a couple of decent pizza places. An 'osteria' | | | | This article is part of a series covering the most |
| (or ostaria) is similar to a trattoria, but with a slant | | | | important Italian travel destinations and regional cuisines. |
| towards drinking: instead of a full meal, you might have | | | | You can find similar articles about eating out in |
| some wine along with a plate of food or a lighter | | | | Florence, Naples, Milan and Rome. |
| snack. Like the osteria, a Venetian 'bacaro' offers a | | | | |