There’s one foolproof way to distinguish a serious Venetian restaurant from an imposter: lasagne, spaghetti Bolognese and pizza are not Venetian specialities, and when all three appear on a menu, avoid what is essentially a tourist trap. You won’t go wrong at these five local stalwarts:
Osteria da Fiore: Mara Martin reveals the secrets of her grandmother’s cooking, which inspires the menu at this typical Venetian restaurant, in Televenezia’s video.
Trattoria da Bepi Già “54”: “I come here when I want to eat traditional Venetian food. Trattoria da Bepi is authentic,” writes Nicoletta Fornaro at Naturally Epicurean, “the food is honest, the sort of things an old Venetian grandmother would make.”
La Zucca: “This good-value, alternative trattoria in San Polo has been going for years, but time has eroded none of its charm, value for money, or culinary bravura,” notes Anne Hanley at the The Telegraph.
La Bottega ai Promessi Sposi: The menu is full of typical Venetian dishes such as spaghetti colle vongole (spaghetti with clams), bigoli in salsa (spaghetti like pasta with anchovies), fritto misto di pesce (fried fish) and fegato Veneziana (liver, Venetian style) writes Food Lover’s Odyssey.
Da Codroma: "Located by a quiet canal, the atmosphere at Osteria da Codroma’s terrace is relaxed and laid-back, making it an ideal option for those who want to enjoy a cool glass of wine in peace," says The Culture Trip.
Osteria Ai 4 Feri: Offers the classic Venetian range of fish and crustaceans prepared the proper way at the “most friendly and fun table in Dorsoduro,” according to the Louis Vuitton Guide.
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