Italian€€€san-poloTue-Sat 12:30-14:30 and 19:30-22:30, closed Sun-Mon
Antiche Carampane in Venice's San Polo is the 1983 family-run seafood trattoria the Rialto fishmongers send friends to, the room with the no-tourist-menu.
Signature: Spaghetti with lagoon clams, Fritto misto, Sarde in saor
Order: Spaghetti with vongole, fritto misto della laguna, sarde in saor.
Tip: Book a fortnight ahead. Closed Sundays and Mondays. The dining room has 10 tables, so flexibility on date is more useful than time.
Italian€€€castelloTue-Sun 12:30-14:00 and 19:00-22:00, closed Monday
Trattoria Corte Sconta in Venice's Castello is the courtyard seafood room that locals and chefs in town quietly book first, the canonical hidden-courtyard.
Signature: Antipasto misto di pesce crudo, Spaghetti with clams, Granseola
Order: Antipasto misto, spaghetti vongole, granseola when in season.
Tip: Book three weeks ahead. The pergola courtyard is the seat to ask for in summer. Closed Sundays and Mondays.
Italian€€€castelloTue-Sat 12:30-14:00 and 19:00-22:00, closed Sun-Mon
Osteria alle Testiere in Venice's Castello is the 22-seat room with two seatings, run by Bruno Gavagnin and Luca di Vita on Calle del Mondo Novo since 1993.
Signature: Gnocchetti with calamari, Branzino in crosta di sale, Marinated anchovies
Order: Gnocchetti with calamari and cinnamon, branzino in salt crust, the salty antipasti.
Tip: Two seatings only: 12:30 + 13:30 for lunch, 19:15 + 21:30 for dinner. Book at least a fortnight ahead through their online form.
Italian€€€€castelloMon 11:30-14:30 and 18:30-22:30, Wed 18:30-22:30, Thu-Sun 11:30-14:30 and 18:30-22:30, closed Tuesday
Local in Venice's Castello is the 1-Michelin-star room run by Salvatore Sodano and Benedetta Fullin near the Greek quarter, serving 7 and 9-course tasting.
Signature: Tasting menu of lagoon ingredients, Sea urchin, Risotto
Order: The 9-course tasting menu, the wine pairing from the 1000-label cellar.
Tip: Closed Tuesday and Wednesday lunch. Book a fortnight ahead online. The wine pairing is the move; their cellar leans heavily on Friulian whites.
Italian€€€castelloMon 12:30-15:30 and 19:00-01:00, Thu-Sat 12:30-15:30 and 19:00-01:00, Sun 12:30-15:00 and 19:00-01:00, closed Tue-Wed
CoVino in Venice's Castello is the 12-seat modern bistro with a Slow Food Presidia carte and an ever-changing five-course tasting menu, all paired.
Signature: Tasting menu with wine pairing, Lagoon fish small plates, Slow Food Presidia ingredients
Order: The five-course tasting menu, the natural-wine pairing.
Tip: 12 seats total. Book a week ahead by email or through the website. Set five-course menu only at dinner.
Italian€€€dorsoduroMon-Sun 12:00-15:00 and 18:30-23:00, closed Tuesday and Wednesday lunch
Estro Vino e Cucina in Venice's Dorsoduro is the Spezzamonte brothers' modern bistro with 700 sustainable wines and a Michelin Guide listing for good cooking.
Signature: Pasta with lagoon fish, Cicchetti modernised, Natural wine flight
Order: The pasta of the day, the cicchetti tasting, a natural-wine flight from the 700-label list.
Tip: Closed Tuesdays.