There are many things that I love about life in Italy (it’s not all about pizzas and gelato! Oh, wait…) but train travel within Italy is so efficient that staying in one place and then exploring other places in the local-ish area by train is very easy.
And so it was that on our recent trip to Verona we decided to head to Venice. I’ve been to Venice a number of times before. Our most recent visit to this unique city was on honeymoon when we caught that train back to London from Venice’s Santa Lucia station. For the record, they provided amazing gluten free meals for me on board the Orient Express, including gluten free afternoon tea. So it was quite exciting to arrive back into the same station, but this time with the mini Ds.
Since we were travelling with the double buggy, Venice has 409 bridges and one of the mini Ds has Bear Grylls levels of adventurousness when freed from the buggy (no chance in Venice, young lady) we were somewhat limited in our explorations to the Cannareggio area. This suited the Mini Ds just fine as they couldn’t have been more excited to wave excitedly at the people travelling along the canals in boats, taxis and gondolas (giving me an excuse to wave away too!).
We’d arrived into the city at lunchtime and a random internet search on the train to Venice had uncovered a pizzeria near to Santa Lucia which offered gluten free pizza.
From the outside Pizzeria Ae Oche wasn’t somewhere I’d usually choose with its sports TV and lots of American memorabilia on the walls. But it seemed kid friendly, they had gluten free pizza and Venice was hot and heaving with tourists that Saturday. We headed in.
Sitting on the next table to us were a group of Venetian gondoliers enjoying their lunch, resplendent in their black and white striped t-shirts which somewhat offset the feeling I could be somewhere in the US from the décor inside.
The gluten free pizza selection was huge.
I chose Gorgonzola with ham, my usual pizza of choice.
Verdict? I thought the topping was just right. You’ll note the pizza didn’t have a great deal of tomato sauce. I think its absence resulted in the base being more crunchy, than thin and crispy albeit perfectly acceptable nonetheless. Whilst the pizza itself was okay, the service was incredibly slow, despite us arriving after the main lunchtime rush when they were less busy.
Where to find Gluten Free Restaurant Venice: Ae Oche Pizza
Location: Venezia S. Lucia, Cannareggio, 158/A, 30100 Venezia (VE) Italy
Cost: Under EUR 50 for 2 adult pizzas (one gluten free) and 2 childrens meals with (non-alcoholic) drinks
Would I go back: Maybe, if I were in the Santa Lucia station area. Ae Oche have several restaurants in the Venice area.
Have you been to Venice? Could you recommend a good place for gluten free pizza in this unique Italian city? If so, please do leave a comment below. I’d love to return to Venice soon.
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