Rome & Venice with an 8 month old baby

[schmessie]

My husband and I will be traveling with our baby to Italy in September and would love some suggestions for restaurants (lunch and dinner) that would be appropriate to bring our baby. We will have a stroller, so we'd need a place that's not too cramped since I can imagine that the baby might be asleep sometimes when we're eating. She's not a big crier, but a fancy restaurant would simply not be appropriate. We'll be seeing the major sites in Rome while staying in a house about an hour north of the city. In Venice, we'll be staying in an apartment for 2 nights near Piazza San Marco. We'll be spending one of our days in Venice at the Biannale. Anything near these locations would be a help.

Thanks in advance!
Jessica

[barberinibee]

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[PBSF]

Below are links to a couple of earlier post on eating with a baby in Venice:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/776516
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/797720
There is not much good food right around Piazza San Marco. Aciugheta is large informal osteria that has sitting outside. It is right in the smack of tourist central but the food is decent to good. Much better and more expensive is Osteria San Marco. If you ventured a bit further out, there are many others depending what type of food and budget.
The biannale is on the far eastern end of Castello which is mostly residential; some simple places but nothing gastronomic. Dai Tosi is informal and good, also known for their pizza. Right near the Biannale is ai Pampo, Better is a little west on via Garibaldi are Ristorante Giogione and Osteria ai Garanghelo.

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Dai Tosi
Seco Marina,738, Venice, Veneto 30122, IT

[jen kalb]

If al Pampo is the one over in Santa Elena by the football stadium, we had a good Sunday dinner there a few years back - it is a quintessential unpretentious parish family restaurant (how many of those are left in Venice?] and would definitely suit a family with a baby. Nothing fancy, not great food but a good price for Venice. Dai Tosi is good and would fit too. There is a string of places on via Garibaldi, coming up toward the Arsenale station. and I believe a poster enthusiastically recommended Al Diporto, also in Sant'Elena neighborhood, a year or so ago. PBSF, do you remember? that end of Venice is workaday but it has its own appeal because Venetians are still living their normal life there.

here is a string from 4 years ago on the Bienniale lunch topic. The Venice food scene does not change quickly.http://chowhound.chow.com/top...

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Osteria al Pampo
Calle Generale Chinotto, Castello 24,, Venice, Veneto 30160, IT

Al Diporto
Calle Cengio, 25, Venice, Veneto , IT

Dai Tosi
Seco Marina,738, Venice, Veneto 30122, IT

[PBSF]

I am sure that the Venetians are grateful that the far eastern part of Castello has not been trampled by visitors. Even the Bieinniale has not change it much as most visitors stroll around the Giardini, then hop off and on the vaporetto back to central Venice. The Isoli Sant Elena and San Pietro both have a quiet charm. Just like parts of the Giudecca, there are lots of boats docked and work being done on them, especially Isola San Pietro where there is still a small village feel. Couple years ago, we had lunch at ai Pampo where the food was fine, probably hasn't change from when you were a few years back. Very friendly older couple. Several times a year, we would pack a lunch and stroll from the Rialto to the end of Sant Elena. It's too bad that most visitors are either day trippers or on a very short visit. They miss a lot of 'real' Venice.

[schmessie]

Hi PBSF,
This isn't exactly a restaurant question, but you know your Venice stuff, so I thought you might be a good person to ask. Do you think it's a reasonable walk from the area of Castello, next to Campo della Bragora, where I am staying in Venice, to the Biennale? We will be either pushing our daughter in a stroller or carrying her in a backpack. I figure we can always hop on the water bus if we get tired, but I'd like to wander the back streets and see more of Venice.
Thanks!
Jessica

[jen kalb]

while the area you are staying in is great for a wander if you head away from from the riva and get enjoyably lost - the route between your place and the Biennale site in the Giardino Publico is less suitable, since it forces you down to the Riva, to cross the Arsenale Canal. In terms of distance, if you just follow along the Riva, it looks like about a km. not very far at all.and no reason to get tired.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF...

ps you are staying close to our favorite Corte Sconta, which has a nice garden and very good seafood but not cheap. Since you are going to the Biennale, you might want to consider Via Garibaldi for your shopping needs - there is a largeish supermarket there.

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Corte Sconta
Calle del Pestrin, Castello 3886, Venezia 30122, IT

[PBSF]

I think it is a very pleasant walk from Cp della Bragora to the Biennale. One doesn't have to walk the Riva but can walk straight east through pleasant calles to the Arsenale (interesting in itself with pleasant benches to rest). The area between Arsenale and Bienalle is less interesting but what is left of real Venice. Via Garibaldi is a big shopping street with small open market in the morning, shops, restaurants and cafes.. The alternate route would be at Arsenale, turn down to the Riva and walk next to the Canale di San Marco (the great body of water after the Grand Canal) until one reaches the Giardini. This part of the riva is very wide, pleasant (not many visitors) and great view of the water. I would advice pushng your daughter in a stroller. There will be a few bridges that you can lift the stroller over. It will be much easier on you and comfortable for her. Stollers are not much of a trouble regardless where you are in Venice since there are two of you to lift it over the short bridges. See many of them in Venice.

The walk would take about 30 minutes. From where you are at, I don't think the vaporetto is a great alternative. The nearest stop is Arsenale and you'll have to get off at tne next stop Giardini. Vaporetti are terribly expensive for visitors, 6.50 euros for a 2 hour ticket.

By the way, Cp delle Bragora is a nice area to stay. Around the campo are a few nice shops including pastry and cafes.

[jen kalb]

adding links

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Osteria San Marco Srl
Sestiere San Marco, 1610, Venice, Veneto 30124, IT

Aciugheta (L'Aciugheta)
Campo Santi Filippo e Giacomo,Castello 4357, Venice, Veneto , IT

Osteria al Garanghelo
Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, Venice, Veneto 30122, IT

Ristorante Giorgione
Via Giuseppe Garibaldi,1533, Venice, Veneto 30122, IT

[livingvenice]

The Serra (greenhouse) has been gloriously renovated recently, and now a cafe has opened, run by Massimiliano who also has El Refolo on via Garibaldi. It has a lovely outdoor terrace and a bright indoor seating as well, and offers fresh fruite smoothies, sandwiches, desserts, and otherwise light fare. It's a handy and welcome respite just down the fondamenta from the Biennale Giardini entrance.

I'd also recommend El Refolo halfway down via Garibaldi, and heartily...

[jen kalb]

adding link for El Refolo
here's a nice writeup of it, too.
http://www.simonseeks.com/food-drink/...

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El Refolo
Via Giuseppe Garibaldi,1580, Venice, Veneto 30122, IT

[schmessie]

thanks everyone! hopefully my little one will give me a bit of time off to look into all the restaurants you've suggested.

[livingvenice]

You might also consider a discount vaporetto pass from veniceconnected.com. It's good for public transit in the city and across the lagoon, and discounts on advance purchase can be substantial.

One last option might be Vecio Portale, straightforward fare and decent pizza in a lovely cortile. Reasonable, lots of space -- and lots of families, too.