with time for only one full meal in venice where should i eat. would like somewhere off the beaten path down home reasonably priced and over all wonderful experience
Osteria al Mascaron http://www.osteriamascaron.it/eng/storia.html
La Zucca
If you can only have one meal in Venice, you might try what I believe to be the best restaurant in all Italy: Al Covo. All local ingredients, fabulous fish. No fancy gourmet, just wonderful. Owners are an Italian chef and his wife from Galveston, Tx. Featured on Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations show last year. Located close to the Lagoon waterfront in Castello region, near Arsenal,maybe 10 minute walk east of San Marco Plaza. Actual address is in the first block off the Lagoon on Calle della Pescaria.
We recently had a nice meal at Osteria Al Assassini, San Marco on a street by the same name. It is not far from La Fenice Theater. As part of the meal they helped us pick out four differenct pasta dishes, divided it up amoung four us so we each had a sampler plate. Very good. Reasonable price, quiet and not in a busy area. They have a web site.