Originally Posted by TravellinHusker

Well, Venice is quite expensive to live in/own a business, so prices are undoubtedly high. Just the cost of a small apartment alone can be more than an apartment in Manhattan. And given the extremely small area of Venice, there is no room to grow, so costs only go up and up.

As for the quality of food in Venice, you just have to know where to go. Inevitably, places near Piazza San Marco and the Rialto can have some lower standards. Afterall, some Italians have the idea that the daily American diet consists of three meals made at McDonalds. Not exactly gourmet cuisine.