Eating in Venice

You can find seafood everywhere, and multi course meals, but you will have to choose between affordable prices and canal views. You certainly won't get both within one restaurant in Venice!

I ate at trattoria da Giorgio ai greci. It's on a sleepy side canal so the prices weren't so bad, although I certainly spent less elsewhere at a place I found just wandering around outside of touristy areas. Sorry, don't remember the name!

And if you decide to eat in the heart of Venice along the Grand Canal expect to pay an extra charge if the table right along the canal. Food not that impressive; do you go for the food or just to be in Venice? Venice itself is breathtaking if the crowds weren't there but to get out on the GC is fab.

In most locations in Venice you EITHER get good quality or location.

Exceptionally huge amounts of money at very top level hotels can get you both excellent food and excellent views.

http://venicewiki.org/wiki/Mappa_delle_Osterie_e_bacari
This is a website prepared by Venetians. Italian only, but it suggests a bunch of bacari (a bacaro is a non fancy traditional restaurant that serves local food for less). Save the website or print the names and locations, then when you walk by one, try it. The area of San Marco is notoriously a tourist trap, therefore you will see fewer of these low cost restaurants. But Venice is small and within minutes you can walk in other less expensive areas. Below is another one. As you can see many are near the market at the Rialto bridge. As a rule, the farther you are from the Grand Canal and from San Marco, the lower the prices.
http://www.dissapore.com/grande-notizia/bacari-venezia-mappa/

Get off the main tourist paths! Look for places that are crowded, loud and with no tourist menu!!! If you have to wait, all the better! Then look at the menu if cost is a concern, which I bet it won't be because you'll more than likely be where the good food and fun evening is going to be found! Join the party and you will experience Venice as few tourists ever do!!!

I'm a big fan of Paradiso Perduto in Cannaregio. Very popular with the locals. Lots of rowdy fun. Not a place to go for a quiet romantic dinner if you're seated inside, but the outside might cut it. (We love the energy inside.) Here's a photo I took: Paradiso Perduto at night

thanks for the links Roberto,

I have found that the San Toma area and San Polo area is quieter with better food and prices. I really like the Impronta Cafe on Crosera St., near hotel tivoli and pantalon. very clean, modern decor. Very good quality food and friendly staff. Prices are the same as other restaurants, but quality is superior.
No canal view. My favorite for Venice. Our tab was about 45 euro for everything. That was - 2 glasses of wine, one pint can of soda pop, salad of tomatoes, fresh basil, buffalo mozzarella cheese, and two plates of excellent pasta. Not cinchy with portions. San Marco square area was - no surprise- our only "rip-off" meal. Don't believe the posted prices. There are all kinds of add ons. When I left a restaurant after using the bathroom, my husband told me he settled the bill and how much it was. I was highly annoyed. If I got the bill, I probably would have tried to protest it or I would have been just upset. It was very much higher than the posted prices. I wish I remembered the name of the place. Gotta go!

I agree about the bacari but I don't think that they generally fit with the OP original request for affordable prices, views of canal, multi corse meals, seafood.

Gli Schiavoni has a view of a canal, an inner one, and a squero, and has affordable prices, and seafood including tuna tartar, but no tables, no chairs, no menu, no multi course meals in the traditional sense and can in no way be considered a traditional meal.

Similar for do Spade. Tables and chairs for sure, a few, and they have a menu for multi course meals but their claim to fame is the cicchetti. No view of any canal, and they do serve the "crab claw".

Ca' d'Oro - no view at all, don't remember if they do menus and multi course meals.

Al Timon has a small canal and a Cannaregio vibe but the food is not outstanding and I'm not convinced that their menu is very deep.

So, bacari for me, every trip, usually most lunches. But not sure if it is what is being sought.

The irony of Rick's recommendations, in his book, are that while he says to avoid pre-fix tourist menus, menus in English, hosts of restaurants begging tourists to come in and eat, he also does recommend those places. He does also suggest some good places in quieter piazzas, especially in the Dosudoro area. We were staying in the Cannaregio area, and found many good neighborhood eateries, alongside quiet canals with beautiful evening lighting. We only had one bad meal in Venice. Look at the menu, the people, the vibe, and use your good judgement. If you are going from one sight to the other and just want to pick up a quick sandwich, don't hesitate to stop into one of those little places along one of the main tourist drags. It's not a big deal.