http://www.chow.com/boards/58 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:37:29 GMT Keep track of the lastest threads on Chowhound http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/906103#8145612 Have allergy cards so certainly comfortable about going into any restaurant. Because our hotel is near the Gardens ( Parco dei Principi), I wanted a place for our arrival night. After that, anywhere. Thanks. treetops Wed, 19 Jun 2013 12:42:02 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/906103#8145612 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/906034#8145476 For the best advice from this forum, I'd suggest you search the boards for mentions of the specific cities you're visiting. There has been so much discussion of Rome, Venice and Florence, that I'm sure you will find that helpful. In terms of general tours, this board is more focused on food, and so food tours (which have also been discussed a lot) have been recommended in the past. In terms of lunch spots, in general, that has so much to do with where you find yourself, and how you are feeling. It's so hard to plan that kind of thing out ahead of time, it's best to leave it a bit free. Most restaurants (even the popular ones, discussed on this board) will most likely be able to handle last minute walk ins at lunch time. www.elizabethminchilliinrome.com minchilli Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:14:01 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/906034#8145476 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/895029#8144977 Hello...can we get an update!!!! I'm going to Italy next month, Venice, Florence, Rome and sorrento and want to hear ur recommendations!!!! Natalie1217 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:46:52 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/895029#8144977 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/906070#8144323 If you are traveling from Savona to Pisa - in my opinion - one of the absolute MUSTs is visiting Le Cinque Terre. There you will find a vast amount of restaurants for breakfast/lunch/snacks that will fit any budget. You may not have time to visit all five towns, but Vernazza is a must (my heart is beating just writing this - and just so you know, I am insanely jealous). In addition to your meal, you get to visit one of the most beautiful, unique and amazing places on earth - just don't forget NOT to wear high heels :-) acssss Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:54:03 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/906070#8144323 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/905597#8143716 we got some great porchetta from a stand at the sunday trastevere flea market - towards the northern end of the market - and NOT from one of the trucks/stands that had pre-made sandwiches to be put in the press. this was two guys with a table full of breads and baked goods, and a large hunk of porchetta sitting out at room/outdoor temp. he asked if i wanted a big one (i didnt) and charged me a euro for a sandwich made with a single slice of bread - cut in half - with a good bit of crispy skin. an awesome snack. also ate some exceptional porchetta at pizzarium, though my wife thought it was a bit fatty (i said that was the point). would most definitely get some if you make the stop there for the pizzas. tex.s.toast Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:57:03 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/905597#8143716 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/905801#8143374 One of my relatives successfully tricked me out of treating him to a fancy meal at a restaurant in Italy by excusing himself to use the restroom just after the desserts were ordered, and privately handing his credit card over to the owners before he returned to the table. So if you don't have time to visit ahead, you still have a window. barberinibee Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:39:09 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/905801#8143374 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/905667#8143370 I ate at Pascucci mid-May and the more serious lapse was that I had to flag down the server twice to bring me the wine list, and then had to remind them when my antipasti arrived to actually bring the bottle of wine I ordered. (And I was wearing attractive European style shoes.) I don't recall being poured little dishes of olive oil, but had they done so and announced "We want you to taste this oil", I would have found myself wondering what else they thought I'd do with it. Generally I don't thrill to service where I am told what the restaurant wants me to do. Overall, I was underwhelmed with the food at Pascucci. Some of the antipasti were just duds, the pasta wasn't up to my expectations, but generally the fish was extremely fresh and bright. I have to say that almost every Michelin-starred restaurant I have been to in Italy has left me wondering what criteria Michelin applies. The starry places have yet to be outstanding or favorite meals for me. Would be most helpful if posters included roughly how much was paid for meals -- and in my own case at Pascucci, the bill came to something in the neighborhood of 150 euros for 2. barberinibee Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:24:43 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/905667#8143370 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/905448#8142713 It occurred to me to suggest Trattoria Morgana to you because it is only 10 minutes from your hotel (the Ariston, right?) along a wide street with sidewalks. It's always been on my list because they serve snails as a specialty, but I have not eaten there. I imagine that, apart from the snails, it is a fairly ordinary neighborhood trattoria, but it might work for you since that will be your neighborhood! http://www.trattoriamorgana.com/ I noticed in a few other current threads that people are talking about restaurants with outdoor tables, but they are in other parts of town not near your hotel and not necessarily moderately priced. I also don't know if getting to them is at all easy. For instance, PierLuigi is located in a quite nice piazza, with plenty of outdoor seating, but my recollection is that to get there, you need to travel down a very narrow street that has no sidewalks and gets regular car traffic. So I don't know if you would find that comfortable with a scooter. Some of the other restaurants mentioned I just can't remember whether they would work for you. Maybe looking up the addresses of PierLuigi and these places using Google Street View would make it possible to judge in advance. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/905783 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/905801 and this thread talks about places with good food to take away for a picnic http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/905752 barberinibee Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:15:05 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/905448#8142713 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/905970#8142606 This lucky gal is headed back to Rome for the second time this year! We always stay in the Centro Storico, but this time we are using our Marriott points to stay at the Grand Hotel Flora on the Via Veneto. I've been to Rome many times, but have not spent much time up in that neck of the woods. Any good spots nearby or should we go to our usual haunts in the centro storico? Thanks a bunch! Jane potterstreet Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:33:29 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/905970#8142606 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/905752#8142039 Ah! The woman herself! I'm honored you'd answer my post! Your app has been incredibly helpful!! Thank you! Yes, the pizza Bianca at forno dei campo dei fiori! I'd read about it but couldn't remember the name (should've been an easy one but I guess not lol) Thanks so much for all the suggestions. Much appreciated! I will look into maybe substituting pipero al rex for antico arco this will be, of course, our most important meal so it must be wonderful on all levels! i will try to fit in Localino de Claudio, it sounds great! As for Monday we've decided to daytrip to Orvieto so that eliminates that day anyway so I will definitely drop Colline Emiliane. You all have been very helpful, thank you! MelB5 Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:56:41 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/905752#8142039 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/905783#8141305 I think Flavio might be good for you. Though its off the beaten path, it has good Roman food, an outdoor (as well as spacious indoorm for a hot day) space, and its in an interesting neighborhood to walk through with a stroller (the newTestaccio market, Volpetti, the Protestant Cemetery, the Pyriamid of Cestius and the gate, even the Aventine Hill. jen kalb Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:04:30 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/905783#8141305 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/905151#8137802 Reporting back that I have now settled on an apartment in Monti (best deal, best fit) and I am very excited....Having said no tourist sites, I am literally cheek by jowl with the colloseum but also no more than a few minutes walk from most of Elizabeth's recommendations. I will enjoy searching the board over the next couple of months for great places OUTSIDE of Monti to eat....when my husband comes over, we will certainly be aiming to get out and about. Thanks again to all. PixieM Sat, 15 Jun 2013 10:59:20 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/905151#8137802 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/898739#8137750 We went to Venissa for a beautiful lunch. Well worth 250E if your intention is to sit on the terrace, enjoy the beauty and quiet of the garden. For that much $$ if your only reason is food, best to use your time in Venice proper. Out two best meals were at Alla Testiere and Corta Sconta (sp?), also loved Antica Stella in Cannaregio. chow2chow Sat, 15 Jun 2013 07:59:33 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/898739#8137750 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/904928#8136999 Buon appetito! You have a great blog, by the way. Thanks. Bada Bing Fri, 14 Jun 2013 22:25:59 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/904928#8136999 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/902707#8136081 I would second the comments about Cornelissen's wines. Personally, it's not really my thing, so I'm not really interested in visiting. You could check out the book "Palmento: A Sicilian Wine Odyssey" by Robert V. Camuto -- read up on Cornelissen and his role in the "rebirth" of Etna wines and maybe decide on whether you're interests are piqued enough to visit. I really loved my visit to Benanti. The people who work there are warm and lovely and very fluent in English. And the wine is really, really good. I've also visited Murgo. It's a more "rustic" experience than Benanti in both the winery and the wines. They put out a full lunch of mama's homemade goodies, which was really enjoyable. Wherever you end up going, you will have a great time in a unique and beautiful area. ChowLad Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:57:39 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/902707#8136081 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/904944#8135209 Try Righetti in Vicenza for lunch. Everyone in Vicenza eats there frequently. thebigjelly Fri, 14 Jun 2013 01:30:38 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/904944#8135209 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/905078#8134499 We did have an excellent lunch! Beautiful setting overlooking a garden and vineyard, wonderful flavors and execution. Definitely a destination lunch! Very expensive: 98 euro tasting menu, plus wine. For a day outside with someone you love, highly recommended! chow2chow Thu, 13 Jun 2013 20:05:17 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/905078#8134499 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/904670#8134190 Thanks for these recs G! Based on your and Elizabeth's reviews, I rented the 2 bedroom apartment in Pos and will be there in 9 days. Glad to have more food recs - Bruno was already on my list! ekc Thu, 13 Jun 2013 18:14:07 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/904670#8134190 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/904747#8133526 super idea. thank you! mrsphud Thu, 13 Jun 2013 14:26:01 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/904747#8133526 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/902564#8132917 I just bought a book called "Chow! Venice" that seems to have some good suggestions. I can highly recommend taking a trip out to Burano and having the seafood risotto at Da Romano. I saw it on Anthony Bourdain and took a chance and had an wonderful time. Reservations are a must. We went for a late lunch and caught the wonderful late afternoon light on the trip back to Venice. flirtinfilly Thu, 13 Jun 2013 02:38:33 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/902564#8132917 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/905363#8132343 :) thanks NCW sarahbeths Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:10:37 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/905363#8132343 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/904943#8132148 here's my report...still trying to upload pix...http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/905363 sarahbeths Wed, 12 Jun 2013 21:00:53 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/904943#8132148 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/904116#8132102 Just remind them that "pepperoni" is red peppers, not sausage, on the pizza! :-) ekc Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:43:42 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/904116#8132102 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/889914#8132097 Looks good lux - looking forward to your report! Interested to hear about Da Gemma as we have never been and your meal at Acquapazza, as we will be dining there on the 25th. T-9 and counting! ekc Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:42:34 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/889914#8132097 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/904744#8132091 Allende, thanks for the report! Glad you enjoyed Subida and the osteria as much as we did a couple of years ago. We ate at Terre e Vini and thought it would be a wonderful place to stay. I'll put it on the list for our return trip to Friuli!! ekc Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:40:25 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/904744#8132091