Wild West pizza in Venice

More than ninety types of pizza and an odd Americana theme at Pizzeria Ae Oche in Venice, Italy

This Venetian pizza parlor is far enough from the tourist centers—about halfway between Campo S. Polo and the train station—that the clientele is stil largely Venetians (heavy on the students). They pack this perennially popular pizzeria (and its few outdoor tables), which is done up as a sort of ersatz U.S. roadhouse: rock music playing softly, the rough-planked walls painted with peeling old sports team logos, classic American signs from the era when Pepsi cost 5¢, and a large map of Yosemite. It's a great place to grab a filling meal of beer and pizza—with 93 kinds of the latter from which to choose—for under $15; pizzas start at €4.50. They also offer a fuller menu of simple dishes (fusili in tomato and basil sauce, grilled chicken breast with spinach).

Santa Croce 1552 (on Calle del Tintor, off Campo S. Giacomo dall'Orio, a ten-minute walk north of Campo S. Polo)
tel. 041-524-1161
www.aeoche.com
Closed Monday (open daily in summer)