I agree wholeheartedly with the admonition by Gavin McOwan in Eat like a local in Venice (Guardian, February 13, 2010) "Don't spoil your visit to Venice by eating in over-priced tourist traps – follow the locals' lead and graze on bar snacks in back-street osterie"...

Same thing applies to most cities and countries around the world.

Since I have never visited Venice, I went looking for similar stories and found Eat Like a Venetian by none other than Gael Greene (Travel and Leisure, October 2005).

The main difference between these articles almost 5 years apart is that where Gavin McOwan focuses on places that will not break the bank.

Gael Greene first mentions Fiaschetteria Toscana ($168 for two in 2005) as a favorite except for excess of salt at times.

Author says she is shocked at how Da Fiore went in 20 years from nice and simple wine bar to pricey ($240 for two in 2005).

Both pieces are in agreement on a number of places starting with Ca d'Oro famous it seems for their pork meatballs (polpette). Gavin McOwan prices one of these and a glass of house wine as 1 Euro a piece.

Also good for your wallet they say is La Cantina. No menu, the staff tells you what's in that day. I noted the 30 wines offered by the glass. Time Out notes that dishes are 'piled high with food and topped with crostinis'.

I guess I now have to ask some of the wine makers from the area what they favorites are.