ITALY - Best of Europe 2014 - page 1118

with the restaurants because they fill tables that would otherwise be used only once in an
evening.
If you want a meal with a canal view, it generally comes with lower quality or a higher
price.Butifyou'reaimingforacanalsidememory,thesetwonext-doorneighborsoffergood
value: Ristorante alla Conchiglia and Trattoria da Giorgio ai Greci, several blocks be-
hind St. Mark's, both have a few tables next to one of the smaller canals frequented by gon-
doliers. While tourist traps, they are lit up like Venetian Christmas trees after dark, and you
can't argue with their setting (on Fondamenta San Lorenzo near the Ponte dei Greci bridge).
Unique to Venice, cicchetti bars specialize in finger foods and appetizers that can com-
bine to make a quick and tasty meal. The selection and ambience are best on workdays
(Mon-Sat lunch and early dinner).
Near the Rialto Bridge
North of the Bridge
TheserestaurantsarelocatedbeyondCampoSantiApostoli,alongtheStradaNova,themain
draggoingfromRialtotowardthetrainstation.Unlessotherwisenoted,forlocationsseethe
map on here .
Trattoria da Bepi, bright and alpine-paneled, feels like a classic, where Loris carries on
his mother's passion for good, traditional Venetian cuisine. Ask for the seasonal specialties:
The seafood appetizer plate and crab dishes are excellent. There's good seating inside and
out. If you trust Loris, you'll walk away with a wonderful dining memory (€8-10 pastas,
€14-18 secondi, €2 cover, Fri-Wed 12:00-14:30 & 19:00-22:00, closed Thu, half a block off
Campo Santi Apostoli on Salizada Pistor at #4550, tel. [phone]).
LaCantina isanelegant enoteca —bothrusticandsophisticated.There'snomenu.Rath-
er than cook (there's no kitchen here), Francesco and Andrea prepare wonderful gourmet
plates of meat, cheese, and fish. Though it's not cheap (meat-and-cheese plates-€15/person,
seafood plates-€30/person), you'll enjoy the very best ingredients paired with fine wines.
You can sit inside and watch the preparation scene, or enjoy the parade of passersby from
great seats right on the Strada Nova. For a budget alternative, have a cicchetti (€1.50) at the
bar with a glass of fine wine (closed Sun, facing Campo San Felice on Strada Nova near Ca'
d'Oro, tel. [phone]).
Vini da Gigio has an enthusiasm for good food and a traditional Venetian menu (€12-16
pastas, €18-22 secondi, no cover, Wed-Sun 12:00-14:30 & 19:00-22:30, closed Mon-Tue,
4 blocks from Ca' d'Oro vaporetto stop on Fondamenta San Felice at #3628a—behind the
church on Campo San Felice, tel. [phone]).