Venice Resturants

I haven’t eaten at the one that you mentioned, but I can highly recommend Al Covo for your “fancy” dinner. The food is traditional Venetian run by a husband and wife team and their son. It is “fancy” only in that the food and service is exceptional, otherwise it is a very comfortable and relaxing intimate restaurant. They take reservations as well, here is the url: https://ristorantealcovo.com.

They source all the ingredients from local farms and fish from the Adriatic, pasta is house made and their wine list is a great representation of the region. I would definitely return when I visit Venice again.

I am sure others in the forum will also share their recommendations. Bon Appetit.

I always think of Cantina do Spade as a cicchetti place and not fancy.

We did my husband’s birthday at Osteria di Santa Marina a few years ago and it was lovely: quiet, elegant, good food. Reservations necessary.

We very much liked La Zucca although it was years ago and again, reservations necessary several days in advance in this case.

Ai Artisti In Dorsoduro is also very good. Quite tiny, intimate. Again, reserve in advance.

I agree with Laurel about both Cantina do Spade and La Zucca.

If Cantina do Spade has a fancy bone in its body I never saw one. One of my favs but in no way fancy. Do they take reservations? dunno?

La Zucca, again like Laurel, been several years since I've been there - it was very nice.

Don't know any of the others you mentioned.

Not a 'fancy' restaurant but slightly upscale with reasonable prices for Venice, good food and great service we loved Vini da Pinto on the square right behind the fish market building. They had both fresh seafood for my wife and meat dishes for me. You get a flute of Prosecco while looking over the menu and a shot of limoncello after dinner. We went back a second time and were greeted as old friends and the food again did not disappoint.

My list below is from a ten-day spring stay in Venice in 2010, but you still might want to check out these restaurants to see (1) if they still exist; (2) how they seem to fare with diners lately via Trip Advisor, etc. —

Highly recommended:
A Beccafico
Osteria Antico Giardinetto (ate there twice)
La Caravella
Ai Mercanti
Al Mascaron

There was/is a little spot in one of the main piazzas. Don't have the name at hand. It was/is called Antico Capon. Lovely outdoor lunch experience (twice). It served a linguini with clams you dream about finding again (twice).

I know La Zucca gets its share of plaudits, but it didn't from me. I thought it was mediocre at best. Just saying.