Originally Posted by Perche

Remember you'll get lost a lot in Venice. If money is not an object, the easiest really good restaurants to get to near you are Al Covo, and Il Ridotto. Al Covo is a 10-15 minute walk straight Piazza San Marco, keep walking along the water until you get to a street called Via de la Pesceria, and make a left. It's right there. Il Risotto is a 5-6 minute walk. Go through the Piazza staying towards the left and just follow the crowds and keep walking straight till you run into a canal and have to go over a bridge. Just keep following the crowds and going straight ill you get to Campo Sani Fillipo e Giacomo. It's right there, just look around. Venice doesn't have good gelato. The best of the bad is a place called Alaska, but it's a long way, not too far from the train station. You'll need to take a vaporetto. Several pastry places have macaroons. I Tre Mercanti is five minute walk, through Piazza San Marco. It will be a little tricky to find, but if you keep asking directions, you eventually will. Simplest for macaroons if money is no object is Cafe Florian, right in Piazza San Marco. You might want to think about why you want a French desert in Italy, although Italian chefs invented them, they are not a Venetian dessert.

Originally Posted by obscure2k

A Covo is a short and pleasant walk, excellent food. The restaurant is not open on Sunday. No authentic gelato in Venice. .
Osteria Santa Marina is another restaurant I would recommend. It is in Castello, a few minutes walk and definitely not a tourist trap. Food is excellent. On a lovely square.. Macarons are not a typical pastry in Venice.