http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/36512 I enjoyed the decor and also had free wi fi while I dined with a glass of wine.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/36512 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33965 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/33965 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30179 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30179 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30175 Enrica meets her students (five of us in total) at the Rialto Bridge and after quick introductions at a local café takes us to the nearby markets to teach us about the ingredients, where and how to buy them, and how to treat the produce. Next, in true Venetian style, we take our shopping bags full of fresh seafood to a local bacari (Venetian bar) for a post shopping spritz (Aperol, prosecco, orange slice) and a lesson in Veneto wine from Lorenzo of the wine shop MilleVini.
Spirits buoyed, we stroll to Enrica’s light-filled home in the Dorsoduro for a full day of cooking, eating, drinking, and conversation. It's casual and relaxed, like spending a day hanging out in the kitchen with friends, yet still we come away having learned a tremendous amount. Enrica thinks that most cooking courses are too serious and that they should be fun. They are and this was!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30175 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25570
It has no official sign – we only found out its real name after talking to the exceedingly friendly owners, Mauro and Massimo. Their English is limited but it’s possible to get by without having Italian.

It’s a tiny place with a shutter front which, when open, houses an appetizing display of bulging calzone and pizza slices. Calzone are around three Euros and pizzas start from four Euros.
Both are very generous; with a thin, crispy crust and delightfully herby and flavourful tomato sauce.

The place is tiny with no seating so everything is to take away. Buy a soda while Massimo prepares your pizza to order before your eyes; in the light summer months you could just take it across the bridge into the campo to enjoy.

There are no official business hours (whenever the guys feel like opening up!) but it’s usually open every day except Wednesdays.

Undoubtedly some of the best (and cheapest) pizza in Venice. I’ll definitely be going back next time I visit the city, as much to chat to the lovely owners as to sample the mouth-watering fare.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25570 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22804 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22804 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22436 But Cip Ciap is great if you want a quick bite on the run. You can buy by the slice or a whole pizza. I totally recommend the calzone con prosciutto.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22436 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21207 There are no tables here and no waiter service, so simply go up to the counter of the little dark bar, choose your wine, choose some snacks and enjoy a taste of real Venice. Don't expect service with a smile but do expect to feel part of the real city.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/21207 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20545 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/20545 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19361
To be honest, we saw the queue and for a while we thought of not going in, but we waited (not for long, the service is very quick, maybe too quick) and the place was great. Fantastic food, good prices and a lot of locals.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19361 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19080
I've been told since that it's a chain but it's not like places in England. The dishes are simple but tasty and my pasta was cooked fresh to order while I watched.

The salad was also good quality and (another surprise!) we had a reasonably priced beer to accompany it too.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19080 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19077
The food was interesting - as well as the usual pasta there were dishes like beef with nuts and plum - and also quite reasonable. I think it was about 30 euros for three courses.

We ended up staying here all night (with another bottle of wine, of course) as there was live music and were surprised to find ourselves staggering back to our hostel at nearly 1am!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19077 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18243 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18243 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17497
There are no tables here and no waiter service, so simply go up to the counter of the little dark bar, choose your wine, choose some snacks and enjoy a taste of real Venice. Don't expect service with a smile, but do expect to feel part of the real city.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17497 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17490 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17490 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16653 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16653 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16349 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16349 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12855
I requested a taste of the gelato & was handed "chocolate" gelato that was terrible. When I requested a different flavor, the owner became obviously upset, and very reluctantly gave me my taste of mint gelato. Just as I was about to have a taste, I glanced in the case & noticed numerous bugs & flies on the front edge of the cooler. When I pointed them out to him, he became angry & began to yell at me in Italian. I was amazed that he would be angry with me when his shop clearly had major cleanliness issues. Nonetheless, he continued to yell and waved me out of his shop, still yelling as I walked away.

For cleanliness sake, I would avail myself of one of the dozens of other gelato shops around Venice. So many of them are wonderful (and CLEAN) and the people are very friendly. Unfortunately, Venice Cream is not one of them.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12855 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12470 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/12470 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11841
This tiny windswept island in the marshes was the place where the first settlers, fleeing from Attila the Hun, found refuge and laid the foundations for the mighty Venetian republic. Incredibly it once had 20,000 inhabitants before malaria took hold. Now all that's left is a wonderful church with fantastic 11th century mosaics and a bell tower which gives stunning views over allotments, marshes and the distant towers and domes of Venice.

There's also a rather fine restaurant Al Ponte del Diavolo, serving (very) local rabbit and fine pasta with wild fennel sauce (on the day we went). A perfect place for a spring lunch and to reflect on the beginnings and end of the Venetian republic!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/11841