If you have one night in Venice, and wish a spectacular meal....where would you go? As a rule, we prefer a tasting menu, with or without wine.

Thanks
D

Hi d,

Many folks have recommended Da Fiore.

Not Michelin starred like Da Fiore (have heard very mixed things about this restaurant, by the way) but excellent, with a wonderful, reasonably priced tasting menu is:

Ai Gondolieri. But note that the kitchen is meat-focused, unlike most Venetian places.

I loved Alle Testiere as well. It is a tiny place with minimal decoration. It is all about the impeccable seafood here. I would guess that they would put together a tasting menu for you there if you request one.

Corte Sconta is on my list but have not been there yet..also top marks for seafood.

First of all, you may want to check my thread on Venetian food and restaurants: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34791666
The problem with restaurants in Venice is that the good places are usually very, very plain - not the type of restaurant where you'd get a tasting menu. Upscale places are, as a general rule, not as good as they should be, and your only "spectacular" experience might very well be the bill... Like ek, I still have to visit Corte Sconta, though, which should be a tasting-menu restaurant (though I have heard mixed reports about that one, too, yet I do want try it... their prices notwithstanding).
For a really spectacular tasting menu, you'd have to go out of town, and visit Al Cason on the outskirts of Mestre (details in the thread linked above). If you're thinking of spectacular setting rather than spectacular food, and if you don't mind spectacular bills, try the restaurant of the Europa & Regina (details, again, in that other thread).

Corte Sconta's appetizer assortment comes in a few phases and includes a whole lot of exotica from the lagoon - followed by some delicate past and maybe some grilled fish (we never made it to the last) this could function similarly to a tasting menu. We spent several a leisurely lunch on Christmas enjoying this meal a few years back.

I dont remember whether Da Fiore offers a tasting menu, but I suspect they or any number of others would put one together for you. (Im lukewarm on this place, but it is elegant) Also the new "Met" which is much talked about (I havent been)might offer a "tasting" menu.

Finally, you may want to consider simply eating in a bacaro (wine bar), if you can find seats - just sample a series of the bacare snacks (which encompass most of the venetian specialties) - both da fiore and alle testiere started out as bacaris - with the small glasses of wine on offer and put together your own tasting.

Franco, you KNOW that Al Cason is at the top of my list for my next trip to the area. That is a great recommendation for the OP.

I think I should just trot around after you and see there the eating trail leads!!!

To reach Al Cason from Venice..take the train and then a taxi from Mestre station? Sounds pretty straightforward....

I have to believe that even if it is very expensive, you would get better value than in Venice proper...

ek, yes, by taxi from the Mestre station, or from Piazzale Roma like my Venetian friend who brought me to Al Cason for the first time would do - but after all, he is a person who goes by taxi even as far as from Venice to Milano...
Al Cason is a true sensation. I've been there in January, and found that my memory was correct: it's the best fish restaurant where I've eaten in my life. Terrific food, terrific service. Fast two days before going there (you'll eat incredible amounts of food so delicious that you can't simply withstand). No written menu, let your waiter guide you. And don't be shocked when he's bringing the bill - be prepared to pay really much.

Ah, and by the way, I don't take the train to Mestre station. I'm going by bus no. 2 from Piazzale Roma, that's cheaper (which may be ridiculous considering before dining at Al Cason) and above all quicker.

Well than that's the way I will go, Franco! Check the seat behind you!

drd-if you want one spectacular meal, (and of course, that varies from night to night, even at the best restaurants)
then top 3 might be (in no particular order) 1. Alle Testiere 2. Da Fiore (Michelin starred-but a lot of people aren't overly impressed, dinner for 2 with wine about 300E 3. Fiaschetteria Toscana (very busy place, but it does have a tasting menu).

Of those 3, I would opt for "Alle Testiere" without question-their razor clams and spider crab s are out of this world-one of the few relatively expensive restaurants I've been to in Venice, and the seafood was exceptional-I usually just eat at my local bacaro "Ai Promessi Sposi" in Cannaregio-the best, and one of the cheapest places to eat "alla cucina Veneziana" in all of Venice