7 Heads are Better than 1
Venice is a beautiful city. It has history, culture, and an endless supply of places where you can sit and peruse endless menu upon menu of Venetian cuisine. However, sometimes it becomes difficult to find a truly authentic restaurant where the price is low and the quantities are large, especially in Venice. More than likely, if you stick to the main streets you are going to pay a lot more than what you should for a lot less than what you should get. Unless, of course, you know where to go.
Located not in Venice at all, but only a short 25 minute train ride away in the city of Padova is the restaurant called Trattoria Le Sette Teste (Literally translated: Trattoria The 7 Heads). This little restaurant located in the historic center is affordably priced (€20-30/ person) and the portions will satisfy just about anybody who thinks that they never get their money worth. If you are planning on ordering the traditional first and second plates with desert and wine...perhaps sharing a dish is the way to go.
If you are planning on heading to Padova on a Friday for a day trip and you're thinking of stopping in for dinner before heading back to Venice, I suggest calling and making a reservation because you will absolutely need to. Walking in the front door on a Friday night and expecting to get a table is impossible. This is a local restaurant and you'll be contending against the population of Padova for a table.
The atmosphere is not as cozy as some other places in Venice or Padova, but the food more than makes up for it. There is no outside seating, so if you're looking for that type of atmosphere, you're probably better going to Piazza Singori. After the mean, I suggest trying one of the many liquors that they serve that are in the same category as Limoncello, but made with other fruits such as Peach, Strawberry, and Coconut...you won't be disappointed and the "digestivo" is exactly what you need after the meal.
Trattoria Le Sette Teste
Via Cesere Battisti, 44
35121 Padova (PD)
Phone: 049 664 753
Open all Year, closes at 2am
If you would like to contact me directly about this, or anything else going on in Venice or northern Italy, visit me HERE.