As we pointed out in a previous article, Venice appears to be no great shakes when it comes to food, or at least that’s the popular perception among the city’s visitors. Getting a great plate of food in front of you is far from a problem elsewhere in Italy, so what’s the problem?

Well, in a nutshell, tourists and the fly-by-night restaurants set up to cater for them. Fortunately for the rest of us (ahem), good eateries do actually exist in the wettest of all towns, and we know where to find them. A word of advice first: book ahead. Booking on the same day should be fine, and it’s much nicer to be assured of a good table than cast adrift on the terraces looking for the nearest tourist trap just to satisfy your hunger. Anyone detect any bitterness here?

That said, here’s our selection of Venice’s finest:

La Zucca

La Zucca is Italian for ‘pumpkin’, so that explains the pumpkin-themed decor. This is a cosy, little place with a nice view, and tends to get quite busy in the peak dining hours (12-3 p.m. and 7-10 p.m.). The menu varies, but the tagliatelle with gorgonzola and pine nuts is a fantastic dish which seems to be something of a constant. Quite a few vegetarian offerings, which is unusual in Venice. Don’t miss the desserts either!

Santa Croce 1762. Tel: 041 5241570.

Ristorante Riva Rosa

Stylish and modern, without being too brash about it

This restaurant is a little more expensive than the Venetian average, but nevertheless represents good value. You’ll notice straight away that a lot of effort has been put into the presentation here, which helps Riva Rosa stand out from the homely, authentic feel that seems to govern Italy’s dining scene. The food is great too: stylish and modern, without being too brash about it. Seafood seems to be the house speciality, but vegetarian options are available upon request. Riva Rosa is located on the beautiful island of Burano, with a great canal view: yet another reason to sample this elegant eatery.

Via San Mauro 296, Burano. Tel: 041 730850.

Birraria La Corte

A round up of restaurants in any Italian city wouldn’t be complete without an ace pizzeria, and Birraria La Corte certainly qualifies. With its large selection of pizzas derived from the Venetian street map, there’s something here to suit all tastes. Pasta dishes and salads are also on offer, but frankly you’d be crazy to stray from the pizza menu. If you still need convincing, check out the image gallery of ’specialities’ on their web site. Yes, those dishes do taste as good as they look.

San Polo 2168. Tel: 041 275 0570.