The blue-grey cloudy sky, the Grand Canal swelling up, and the narrow alleyways compose the mystical city of Venice. The city built upon water is one of the most romantic cities in the world unlike any other due to magnificent architecture and artwork set within the Venetian lagoon. Whether it’s taking a gondola ride across the Grand Canal, sipping on a Bellini in Piazza San Marco, or dressing up to attend the world’s largest masked ball at Carnevale, this city has a lot to offer. I’ve visited Venice three times already and I know I’ll be back.
One of the most busiest and hectic times to visit this marvelous city is the season of Carnevale, an annual festival where people dress up in elaborate costumes and decorative masks. Tourists swarm the town like a beehive, people in every street you turn and in every piazza. My second and third visit to Venice was during Carnevale and it was definitely a memorable experience. Here are some snapshots of some awesome costumes!
Now onto Venetian cuisine…my first two times in Venice I had some pretty bad luck with food. I didn’t do any research and ended up eating at touristy spots with mediocre overpriced food. I knew that my third visit I needed to spend the extra time to research to find some delicious grub. The first night we were there happened to be Valentine’s Day so we ate at Il Ridotto, a one Michelin star restaurant.
Amuse Bouche: Chickpea Soup with Mixed Seafood (7.5/10).
Langoustine with Cauliflower and Almonds (7.5-8/10).
Vegetable Aspic with Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese Fondue (8/10).
Modern Cacciucco with Mixed Seafood, Pasta, and Lime (6.5-7/10).
Ravioli stuffed with Polenta with Radicchio and Taleggio Cheese Sauce (8/10).
Sea Bass with Celery Root and Chicory (7.5/10).
Suckling Pig with Green Apple Sauce and Raspberries (8/10).
Pistachio Mousse with Orange Jelly (7.5/10).
Finally a good meal in Venice! I was so happy with our dinner there especially since it was Valentine’s Day and the year before in Florence we didn’t have the best dining experience. All the dishes were elegantly presented and more importantly tasted divine. My overall score is an 8/10.
The second night we ate at Trattoria Antiche Carampane, a cozy restaurant tucked behind an alleyway where we tried some delicious seafood!
Raw Seafood Platter (8.5/10).
Grilled Octopus with Wasabi Mashed Potatoes (7.5/10).
Tagliatelle with Crabmeat (8/10).
Spaghetti with Clams (7.5/10).
Mixed Fried Seafood (6.5-7/10).
Pear Crumble with Ice Cream (8/10).
We were more than satisfied with our experience here so I’d score them at a 7.5-8/10. The raw seafood platter is a must if you go there!
Our last day we ended up trying Osteria Oliva Nera for lunch. Here we tried traditional Venetian cuisine.
Fried Zucchini Flowers (7.5/10).
Polenta with Sweet and Sour Vegetables and Seafood (7.5-8/10).
Typical Venetian Pasta Dish with Anchovies and Onion Sauce (8.5/10).
Squid Ink Tagliatelle with Zucchini and Prawns (7.5/10).
Warm Chocolate Cake (7/10).
Semifreddo (7.5/10).
Overall I really enjoyed Osteria Oliva Nera but the portions were slightly small in comparison to the prices. Due to this, I’d give them a 7.5/10 rating.
I have to admit that all my hard research paid off! All three restaurants we tried were all delicious! I highly recommend trying any of these places for fantastic tasting food.
2 thoughts on “Venice.”