Sora Lucia

Sora Lucia is a family trattoria on Calle dei Saoneri in the San Polo sestiere of Venice, in Italy's Veneto region, a short walk from the Rialto and the Frari church. It is described as a no-frills family trattoria loved by locals, with generous portions, and it serves traditional Venetian cooking rather than a modern or fine-dining menu. The signature dishes reflect the classic repertoire of the lagoon and the Veneto interior: risotto al nero di seppia, coloured and flavoured with cuttlefish ink; polenta e baccalà, the pairing of soft polenta and salt cod; and bigoli in salsa, the thick whole-wheat pasta with an anchovy-and-onion sauce. Together these give a compact introduction to Venetian home cooking. The atmosphere is simple and unpretentious, with a dining room built for feeding neighbours rather than impressing visitors, and it draws a local crowd. Noise levels are those of a busy, friendly trattoria, and dress is casual. The trattoria opens Monday to Saturday for lunch (12PM-3PM) and dinner (7PM-10PM) and is closed on Sunday. Reservations are recommended, and calling ahead is sensible for dinner, as a small popular trattoria can fill quickly, though the item record does not list a phone number. Prices are mid-range ($$) for Venice, and the generous portions make the meal good value relative to the tourist-oriented restaurants around Rialto. Visitors can share a pasta and a main course to keep the bill down. The location in San Polo places it within reach of the Rialto Market, the Frari and the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, so it fits into a day of sightseeing on that side of the Grand Canal. It suits those who want a plain, filling Venetian meal rather than a scene.