What and Where to Eat in Venice, Italy

Venetian Cuisine:

Venetian food has a distinguished culinary history, based on its unique geographical location on the Adriatic sea, and its past as a trading empire. 

Cheap Eats or Aperitivo:

Cicchetti: 

Consider Venice the queen of snacking, as it is famous for what is called "cicchetti", similar to the concept of Spanish tapas. Cicchetti are basically small bites, of local finger foods, imagine "crostoni" or toasted bread with a variety of food on top. It is more of a casual dining experience, where you stand and eat outside. 

In Venice, when the hunger starts to kick in or friends want to get together to catch up, locals head to their favorite bàcaro, or a wine bar, for Venetian tapas, called cichetti. The word comes from the Latin word, "ciccus" which means "little or nothing". 

Usually these include an array of of small finger foods like crostini or tramezzini, small pieces of bread topped with something like fresh fish or cheese, (similar to an open faced mini sandwich), polpette (fried balls of meat, tuna, cheese, or potatoes), or even an array of pickled vegetables. It all depends on the wine bar, or bàcaro you go to, but the dishes tend to be unique and creative. Cicchetti are filled or topped with a range of seafood, cured meats, eggs, cheeses, or vegetables.

Cicchetti are inexpensive, usually just a couple of euros per item, and are traditionally consumed as the perfect snack to pair with a glass of wine, or ombra before dinner. However, they are served all day long, and can be eaten as a quick lunch, especially if you're on a budget, or substantial afternoon snack.