Charades in Belgium: Buon appetito!

Locals enjoying a snack

Here are some restaurants we enjoyed in Venice! (hope you not hungry)

Vino Vino – was written up in a couple of Venice books and it was close to the hotel. Very basic food and mostly tourist but they loved Foxy brought her water right away then the whole staff including the kitchen came and checked her out.

I had pasta with tomato puree & Joe had a salad with octopus (tentacles you could see the suckers and everything) with seafood risotto. Of course he tried to get me to eat one and always pretended it was sticking to his tongue. Thank god the elderly couple from England seated next to us didn’t care that we were being crazy.

Octopus fresh at the fish market

Tavernetta San Maurizio – We just came across this restaurant by accident. We saw they only had 3 booths and one was open so we jumped at it. Later noticing they had a dinning room through a small door. The bench was big enough for all our stuff and foxy to lie down and tap a nap while we ate.

We actually ate there 2 nights in a row and the owner gave us a huge welcome the second time with a free welcome drink.

I had the fried calamari both nights with penne arribata and tagliatelle al pest (fresh pasta, olive oil and fresh basil)

Joe enjoyed caprese salad both nights with tagliatelle al pesto and grilled scampi. Not to mention the ½ liter of wine for 6 euros that Joe loved.

A bridge right by the fish market

Osteria Al Assassini – This place was highly recommended by a local that we met. It is a typical local Venetian restaurant. Actually we were the only tourist in the place.

We entered and were seated at a table for 2 across the way from us was a long communal table filled with Italian men. They were drinking, eating and talking with the hands like crazy. Then to top off that action 10 gondolier guys in their striped shirts came in for lunch.

We decided that we truly were in a local Venetian place and absorbed it all in.

The menu is different every day and was printed in Italian, which usually isn’t a problem but there were some things on there that we didn’t have a clue as to what they were and need a translation. (ahhh the joys of being a tourist)

I had the pasta of the day for my first course – penne pasta with gorgonzola & ricotta cheese for my main course I had fried calamari & shrimp. (yes I will turn into a big calamari but they don’t have it in Brussels)

Joe had a seafood dish (assorted seafood clams, mussels, big and small shrimps and a baby octopus…like 3 inches long.) and a tuna steak for the main course.

The owner asked if we wanted wine and we said no to which he replied O.K. one small carafe. Sure enough a small carafe of white wine appeared.

The restaurant it’s self in on a dead end street with the canal at the end.

It was a wonderful lunch and would go back again.

This was the general lee boat - like the general lee car in "Dukes of Hazard's" get it cause they don't have cars...they have boats

Il Refolo – This tiny pizzeria was hard to find, l I went into a pharmacy to ask where it was. I tested out my little Italian that I know “Dov’e….?” (photo from the first Venice blog)

Once we arrived where it was suppose to be we realized it was be hind the church on the canal. It was really a nice setting with tables under umbrellas next to the canal. Because we were off the tourist path there were only 2 worker boats that went by no gondolas or water buses.

The pizzas were good however Rome has the bet pizzas!!!

Church by the restaurant...you can see the table to the left on the other side of the bridge.

I can’t forget the gelato!! Joe’s favorite is pistachio and I’m a chocolate, lemon or raspberry fan. I can honestly say we have never had a bad gelato in Italy.

We tried to get reservations @ Da Remigio but were unsuccessful…I should have tried earlier but thought a couple day notice was good.

Fresh Cherries from the market

I have always read about table charges in Italy but never experience them in any of the towns we have visited. Venice charges any where from 2 euros to 3 euros per person for the table charges…on top of the 12% service charge. Just an FYI so you’re not surprised when you look at your bill. (Foxy was free)