Are you planning a visit to Venice, FL anytime soon? If so, you’ll probably want to know what affordable places there are to eat. After all, it can get pretty expensive when you’re out on the town trying to find something good and cheap at the same time. On the flip side, LOCALS, are you getting tired of your meals costing $50+ just to get something yummy? Read on for some great budget-friendly ideas for meals and snacks when you’re in Venice.
Dining on a Budget in Venice, Florida
Eating out in Venice, FL can be expensive if you don’t know where to go or what to order. With so many restaurants, cafes, and bars to choose from, it can feel overwhelming when deciding where to eat. Thankfully there are a few tricks to ensure you don’t spend all your money on food. This post will help you find cheap places to eat in Venice and save money while doing so.
Let’s face it; food is expensive! And eating out at restaurants every day of the week isn’t exactly affordable for most people. However, this doesn’t mean that you have to give up eating out completely. There are ways to eat out in Venice on a budget and still have enough money left over for other activities or expenses. Read on for the best restaurant deals in Venice.
Yummies Donuts and BBQ
If you’re looking for a sweet treat to start your morning, Yummies is the place to be. Not only are their donuts fresh, warm, and delicious! Donuts range in price from 1.79 to 5.95, which many may say is a high price, but when you see how high quality and HUGE they are, you’ll gladly take them. Even better though, on Saturday they also serve BBQ! If you want a full meal, you can also order sandwiches like the infamous “Sticky Pig” which is pulled pork on a glazed cinnamon bun or indulge in their other smoked meats or side dishes. I would also recommend trying their Piggy Tails, a hefty amount of ribbon sliced french fries topped with either pulled pork or beef brisket and then topped with cheese, green onions and sour cream for under $10!
Local Spot 941
Discover affordable dining in Venice without breaking the bank at Local Spot 941, a fantastic fast-casual restaurant that’s sure to satisfy your cravings. Nestled in the Ark Plaza alongside Yummies Donuts & BBQ, Local Spot 941 offers a comforting menu of familiar and beloved dishes. One of the greatest places in Venice to find budget-friendly meals, owned and operated by a local family: Dad and son run the back of the house, while Mom and daughter manage the front!
Open Monday to Friday from 11am to 8pm, and Saturday from 11am to 4pm, Local Spot 941 has curated a lineup of weekly specials that will leave your taste buds delighted and your wallet happy. Since they opened at the very end of 2022, they have quickly risen to immense popularity to become a hometown favorite, especially for their Famous Reuben Tuesdays! They boast to have the best Reuben sandwich around, and our entire family agrees. (I’m also slightly obsessed with their tater tots…)
$10 Weekly Specials
- Monday: Any Wrap
- Tuesday: Reubens or Corned Beef Sandwiches
- Wednesday: Any Philly
- Thursday: Any Burger
- Friday: Grouper Reuben or Grouper Wrap
- Saturday: Changes Weekly
Big Mike’s Pizza
If you love pizza, you’ll be happy to know that there are quite a few places in Venice that offer it on the cheap. One of the most popular is Big Mike’s Pizza. Big Mike’s has many different types of pizzas to choose from, so you’re sure to find something that suits your taste buds. They also have pastas, salads, appetizers, calzones and strombolis, so you can get a little variety if you like. Take advantage of their lunch special, 2 slices and a drink for only $7!
Bodrum Restaurant
While the prices are higher for dinner, you can still experience the extraordinary flavors that Bodrum has to offer with their lunch specials. The various pitas like the Gyro, Chicken, Bodrum or Falafel are generously portioned and are served with fries for between $12-$15. You can also add a cup of soup for only $4.50 and if the soup of the day is the yellow lentil soup, you will NOT want to skip that!
Sicilia Italian Pizzeria
While Sicilia is widely known as a Pizzeria, there’s another item on the menu that shines as something budget friendly for the family to enjoy. It’s called the Pane Condito, It’s this scrumptious sandwich made with freshly baked ciabatta bread soaked in extra virgin olive oil and tomato juice all crisped up in the oven with parmesan cheese and herbs on top to make a crispy bite. Each one has a base of sliced tomatoes and mozzarella, but then you add two toppings of your choice for $21.99. This sandwich can feed 2-4 people and feels like an indulgence but is packed with fresh and healthy ingredients. If you manage to save room for dessert, you can grab 3 mini cannoli or any of the desserts for $6.50 for a sweet ending for your meal to share.
Venice Ale House
Venice Ale House is in the same plaza as Sicilia. They are a hotspot for craft beer as they boast having over 20 craft beers on tap, many local to our area, but more than that, they are known for their incredible Greek dishes. With price points that make it affordable to frequent, this is a go to place for families to eat good food. With brunch, lunch and dinner options, there’s something for everyone on the menu. One of the best deals you can find is their Platters for 2 (but can easily feed 3-4, in my opinion):
- Greek Meze Platter: with moussaka, spanakopita, grape leaves, hummus, tzatziki, Greek salad and warm pita, served with baklava for only $32.99.
- Gyro Platter: Giant platter of 3 grilled pita loaded with gyro meat, topped with feta cheese and banana peppers and tzatziki for dipping, served on top of a huge platter of Greek Fries for $23.99
Their Mediterranean Brunch Menu served Thursday through Saturday from 9:00AM – 2:00PM, has many options like the Greek Spanakopita Egg Bowl, Greek Pita, Mediterranean Omelets, Cheesesteak Omelets, Venice Ale House Greek Breakfast Pita, Spanakopita and Eggs, Signature Gyro Bowl or Greek Avocado Toast for only $10.50!
Mitch’s Kitchen
Joining Sicilia and Venice Ale House, this plaza is packed with good food at great prices. Mitch’s Kitchen is one of those hole in the wall restaurants that if you didn’t know it was there, you would miss it. However, it’s one of our favorite places to grab breakfast in Venice and they serve Breakfast ALL Day! They are now serving dinner as well on Tuesday through Saturday. The breakfast menu has so many otions under $10, but my favorite is the Bourbon Street French Toast, which has warm peaches and pecans in a bourbon butter sauce for only $9.95. For the lunch menu, there are a variety of sandwiches and burgers for between $9-$13 and it includes a side dish, even salads for $11-13. Dinners are a bit higher, but still an excellent value at meals ranging from $15-18.
If you like down-home, breakfast comfort food like Mitch’s Kitchen, you can also go almost exactly straight across the street to the Wee Blew Inn or over to Venice Ave to either Patches or Flapjacks Cafe for that old diner feel with great prices as well!
Le Petit Jardin Cafe
If you’re looking for something a little more upscale and unique, check out Le Petit Jardin Cafe. This tiny little cafe will amaze you with the quality of their fresh baked scones and delicate crepes. With breakfast prices under $11 for most dishes, you can indulge in the most delicious meal without breaking the bank. It’s one of our favorite places to have breakfast in Venice! If you’re looking for an extraordinary experience, they do offer afternoon teas by reservation on Fridays and Saturdays between 2-4pm starting at $18.99 per person with a child’s option for $12.99.
Gold Rush BBQ
If you’re craving some Southern barbecue, you’ll want to head over to Gold Rush BBQ. Not only is it delicious, but it’s also very affordable. They offer a weekday special of a pulled pork sandwich for only $7.99. One of the things they are most known for is their nationally sold brand of BBQ sauce known as Stevia Sweet BBQ. It’s low in sugar but high in flavor. I always grab as much extra sauce as I can to use at home too! If you’re looking to feed a crowd, Gold Rush also offers a “Pack Mule” menu where you can buy the meats and sides by the pound to bring home for the whole family. This is also a rare find: All You Can Eat options on different days of the week that are served with your choice of two sides and cornbread.
- Tuesday: Baby Back Ribs
- Thursday: St Louis Spare Ribs
- Friday: Whole Fried Catfish
- Sunday: BBQ Chicken
Joy’s Kouzine
A local favorite, Joy’s Kouzine reopened earlier this year with the original owners back in charge. With a menu packed full of delicious offerings at budget friendly prices, everyone can have a delicious meal that won’t break the bank. With the exception of a few larger platters, the entire menu is under $10!
BrewzaBagels
When you need something cheap, filling and delicious, BrewzaBagels is a winner. Looking for a simple bagel with cream cheese? Only $1.49! Plus, they have a variety of specialty cream cheese spreads to amp up the flavors. With a variety of sandwiches available for breakfast, from a simple bagel with egg and cheese for $4.99 all the way up to their “Manhattan” with nova lox, capers, red onion, tomato and cream cheese on your choice of bagel for $10.99. Lunchtime, slices of pizza are only $3 (whole pies available as well) or one of their pizza bagels for $1.99-$2.99. Their sandwiches for lunch are named with a nod to NYC, with items like the “Hell’s Kitchen” (corned beef, saurkraut, swiss cheese and Russian dressing) for $8.99 and many more. Sandwiches range from $2.99-$8.99.
Tikka Indian Cuisine
Much like Bodrum, the lunch specials at Tikka Indian Cuisine are where it’s at for a spectacular meal at a budget-friendly price. The lunch specials include a great mix of an entree choice, a samosa, papad, rice, naan, and a sweet rice pudding for between $12-$15 depending on what your choice of entree is. The lunch menu is available only for Dine-In and is served until 2:30.
Irma’s Tacos, Craft Beer and Tequila Bar
Our family loves Irma’s Tacos in Wellen Park (click to read more about our visit!). While it can be pricey very quickly, if you make a plan and know what to expect, you can enjoy a budget-friendly meal! One of the main ways to save at Irma’s is by taking advantage of their Taco Tuesday specials, they choose 2 different tacos as a special for $1 off with a Chef’s special that changes weekly along with having happy hour all day. You can also enjoy their Sunday Brunch menu from 11-2 every Sunday for between $13-$16 for entrees. If you’re looking to stay cheap, you can pick two tacos for between $9-11(They are either $4.50-$5.50), or choose to turn any taco into a bowl with rice and beans for an additional $5.50 for a hearty meal.
Other Deals Around Venice:
- Italian American Club of Venice: Only on Fridays from 4:30 PM -7 PM, no membership required. $15 per person or $7 for kids 10 and under. Get more info
- Adult: Garden Salad, Fresh Bread, Pasta and Your Choice of either 2 Meatballs, 2 Sausages, Combo of Meatball and Sausage, Chicken Parmigiana or Eggplant Parmigiana with Dessert and Coffee. Drinks, including beer and wine, are available for purchase, along with extras.
- Kids: 1 meatball or sausage with a bowl of pasta and a piece of cake
- Briandi’s Restaurant – Early Bird Menu 5 pm – 6 pm
Looking For A Cheap Burger?
Now that you know a few of the best restaurants in Venice to eat on a budget, where are you going to go first?
