Trattoria Pizzeria da Alvise

Restaurant Review

ABOVE: A customer dissects a tender steak at the Trattoria Pizzeria da Alvise.

One of the most welcoming Venetian restaurants that my wife and I have sampled in recent years is the Trattoria Pizzeria da Alvise on the Fondamente Nuove in Cannaregio. The location is a pleasant change from the tourist-packed areas closer to the Piazza San Marco and the Grand Canal--and in warm weather, the restaurant's outdoor tables supply waterside views of the Venetian Lagoon and boat traffic at the nearby vaporetto and airport-boat stops.

Atmosphere and clientele

Da Alvise has an attractive interior with plaster walls, wood paneling, and brick detailing. Tablecloths add a touch of elegance, and the friendly but professional waiters contribute to the restaurant (as opposed to pizza parlor) ambience.

The restaurant's clientele is eclectic: During our two visits, we saw Italian couples and families, well-dressed tourists from several countries, and a group of gondoliers.

Whether you're ordering a simple pizza margherita or a three-course meal, you can expect to be treated with courtesy and kindness. (At the end of our first dinner at Da Alvise, we were treated to complimentary sgroppini, even though we'd gone the inexpensive pizza route.)

Menu and prices

Da Alvise has an extensive menu of Venetian and Neapolitan dishes. The house mixed salad is the best that I've had in Venice (where green salads tend to be boring), and the penne with tomato and chili sauce has earned praise from the authors of the Chow! Venice restaurant guide. Da Alvise also does a fine job with steaks (see photo at top of page), and--like many restaurants in Venice--it offers a good range of piatti secondi for seafood fans.

Prices are moderate: My wife and I spent just under €30 for pizza and drinks one night, and about €60 for a more elaborate dinner when we came back three days later.

For more information, including a location map and an online reservation form, visit the Trattoria Pizzeria da Alvise's bilingual Web site.

Tips:

• The online menu doesn't show Da Alvise's long list of excellent pizzas, but you can check the pizza menu in the restaurant's window before going inside.

• I'd recommend booking ahead, especially at dinner or on weekends. We managed (just barely) to get a table twice without reservations, but our second visit required a half-hour wait for seating.

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