Lunch at Enoteca Rio Marin

 Bill and I discovered the Enoteca Rio Marin by chance one afternoon in the Santa Croce area of Venice.

It is well known in it's neighbourhood as a reliable family-run restaurant and bar

with great cicchetti (bar finger food).

It is very near two must-sees on even the shortest art lovers itinerary -- Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari (Titian) and the Scuola Grande di San Rocco (Tintoretto).

Bill ordered one of his favourite comfort foods -- Fegato alla Veneziana (liver and onions with polenta) and told me this was the best he has ever had.

 I decided to try the Spaghetti Cozze e Vongole (mussels and clams).

The chef had been very generous with the shellfish.

 I put in my fork and in the depths of the spaghetti hit shell after shell. 

 We went back a few days later. We were lucky to get a seat. Turns out the locals reserve and the place is packed for the noon to 3 p.m. lunch service. We both started with the mussels and clams then had a refreshing salad of bitter greens and tomatoes.

We followed up with a dish we had seen served on our last visit -- a mixed fry of seafood, lightly coated in flour.

 So yummy!

 We dug right in, washing it down with white wine and bubbly water

finishing with the house tiramasu 

and espresso. 

We were the last ones to leave. As we said arrivederci the friendly staff were already unwinding with a drink by the canal.