Description: On the Fond. De Vin, just south of the Rialto Bridge right on the Grand Canal, there is a string of restaurants beckoning visitors to enjoy the food and the view. I generally make it a practice not to eat at a restaurant where someone stands in front to advertise the food and draw you in (a.k.a. accost you while you walk by). It usually means the food isn’t good enough to speak for itself. In this particular instance, that wasn’t the case. I was annoyed by the pushy Italian waiter who wanted us to stop and dine on our first pass down the canal, but the menu impressed my friend enough to want to return. So we did, and I wasn’t disappointed.
We ordered a bottle of Italian Chianti and bottled water (naturale) to start. After that, I decided to be brave and go outside my comfort zone. I ordered gnocchi (pronounced nyock-ee) – little potato-filled pastas – with meat sauce. Bread was brought to the table (never with butter, you need to ask for that separately, often at an additional charge. I found the Italian bread to be too chewy and lacking much in the way of taste, and the butter not salty enough for me. That wasn’t a bad mark on this restaurant, just on Italian bread in general.) When my gnocchi arrived, however, I was pleasantly surprised. It had a good texture and a good taste. The meat sauce wasn’t at all Ragu-like, but quite tasty.
I had to take the opportunity to try a dessert other than gelato, so I ordered the classic Italian Tiramisu. The desert was good, but I’m not much of a coffee-flavor fan. So my friend and I split the desert, and even then only ate half.
This was a very nice restaurant, with attentive waiters and good food. Not only that, but you’ve got a wonderful view of the Grand Canal and the Rialto Bridge. The bill for two came to about 30 €, so a decent price as well. I’d give this restaurant an 8 out of 10. It was one of my favorite meals on the trip.
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