Web Analytics

Great Food on Vacation in Venice, Italy: Enjoying Seafood and Cicchetti

Great Food on Vacation in Venice, Italy: Enjoying Seafood and Cicchetti

Historically, Venice thrived as being one of the maritime republics of Italy. The bustling city brought in many mainlanders during the rapid development of trade on the island. Nowadays, Venice continues to buzz with the sound of visitors; however, the visitors now come for a different reason. Like many, I came to the Venice to see the beautiful canals and gondolas that weave through this fascinating city of water. Of course, I wasn’t alone. Herds of people come stumbling into this tiny island on a daily basis during cruise season.

Although the crowds seem unavoidable in Venice, that is not always the case. During my voyage to find good eats in Venice, I forced myself to venture away from beaten path. The key is to walk away from the train station area and the large bridges and streets that lead to St. Mark’s Square, which where everyone else is headed. Venice, after all, is an island so it’s okay to get a little lost. Also, Google Maps doesn’t cover Venice very well so getting lost is kinda inevitable.

Great Food on Vacation in Venice, Italy: Enjoying Seafood and Cicchetti

About a 15 minute walk away from the crowds, I found Anice Stellato. Located in a quiet part of Venice, the restaurant offers a cozy vibe and fresh seafood with modern twists. I began with an assortment of seafood and vegetable cicchetti; cicchetti is the name for Venetian small plates. The fish was fresh and the vegetables were exquisite. For my entrées, I tried the pasta e fagioli soup which is a bean soup with seafood and pasta, as well as the spaghetti with prawns in a spicy tomato sauce. Being not so fond of beans, I was unsure about the bean soup. Surprisingly, I enjoyed it very much. Unlike any soups I’ve had in the states, the beans were pureed to a nice consistency and cooked with chunks of fresh seafood. As for the spaghetti with prawns, it was very good—simple, fresh, and delicious. I had a great experience at Anice Stellato and hope to come back the next time I’m in Venice. Here, the menu changes daily and reservations are a must.

Great Food on Vacation in Venice, Italy: Enjoying Seafood and Cicchetti

After exploring Venice for several hours, my stomach was calling for another food stop. I decided to go for something quick and casual so I headed to Cantinone gia Schiavi. At this cicchetti bar, locals and tourists come through by the packs to grab a quick bite. Cantinone gia Schiavi offers an excellent spread that includes smoked salmon and cheese, bay shrimp, and mortadella rolls, each for just 1-2 euros. Naturally, I decided to sample all of the above and then some. They were all unique and good in their own ways but my favorites were the smoked salmon and cheese and bay shrimp cicchetti. Oh, and of course, I added a spritz to accompany my meal.

Great Food on Vacation in Venice, Italy: Enjoying Seafood and Cicchetti

My take on huge tourist destinations such as Venice is that there are two types of experiences you can have. The first is to follow the crowds and visit all of the sites that you’ve heard so much about. This is always a safe bet and you will likely be able to check some things off your bucket list. The second is to step outside your comfort zone and discover the hidden gems. This is where your most unique memories will be made. Neither approach is wrong or right, it just depends on what type of traveler you are. For me, I like to combine a bit of both. I always hit the “must-see” sites but try to reserve most of my time for some of the more authentic local experiences.