Venice...is it really a romantic city?

I have discovered that you have to be very selective as to which travel sites you use to find things like restaurants. Marco and I went to Venice for the last two days - for a kind of romantic trip, which is actually a lot harder than you think in Venice. Even though it is considered to be one of the most romantic cities in the world, it has several romantic obstacle for a number of reasons:

1. There are so many sites, and when you go there you feel like you have to see the sites. That means you're squished in the crowd of 2398723712894 other people that feel the same way and there isn't much alone time.
2. Venice is like a labyrinth - there are streets that dead end into bridges, bridges that dead end into buildings, and so many turns that its sends even those with impeccable internal compasses spinning. And if you have a map - it's even worse. Therefore, even if you want to have a relaxing time and just go to one or two places, grab some dinner or a drink, or go to a peaceful church, you will inevitably get lost and end up walking in circles, which can be tiring on the legs and body. This in combination with number 1 leads to both people ready to go to bed at 5pm instead of start a romantic dinner some place.
3. Venice is also like a huge Disney World in terms of restaurants. You know you are going to pay too much for bad to decent food. If you look on the travel websites for top restaurants, it's even worse. I looked on the websites for a restaurant that seemed out of the way, was rated well for local cuisine by French, German, Italian, and English speakers, and was not unreasonably priced. We ended up eating at a restaurant with Turkish proprietors, over-priced dishes, and decent food. Failed. I would say next time we'll wander until something catches our eye.

In sum, the experience was good, but a bit like whenever you drive a long way to a specialty store for a certain product that you have researched and have made the decision to purchase. You buy that expensive product and then return to see the exact same thing in a bonus pack at Target for $50 less. However...as tiring as Venice can be, and as confusingly winding as the streets are, you can't help but want to go back. Despite the tourism industry doing its best to exploit this 1500 year old civilization, it still maintains that famous feeling of enticing mystery and foreign elegance that tugs at the heart and leaves you wanting to return with someone you love.