262746 Sun May 25 21:47:25 -0700 2003 7 26 International 0 1388315 Fellow food lovers: I need information on great restaurants in or around these locations, along with the Cinque Terre region, San Gimignano, Urbino, and . . . I guess that's it! Sounds like a good trip, but I need to have good food, and I know you're the ones to tell me where it is. Thank you in advance!!! Sun May 25 21:47:25 -0700 2003 0 bbbbbuuuuuuddddddyyyyy 1 1388316 start working search these boards, and get some books, ie faith willinger, fred plotking have fun Sun May 25 21:55:00 -0700 2003 1388315 0 doc 1 1388320 We had a great lunch in Montepulciano at the Ristorante ai Quattro Venti directly on the main square (Pizza Grande). It's a very small place with a lot of locals and it was full so we took their only outdoor table and were nearly rained out but the food was wonderful. I had gnocchi with arugula, perfect, cloud-like pillows of potato pasta in a wonderful creamy sauce with parmesan and a couple of sage leaves. We stayed in Pienza and so ate several meals there. Il Prato is in a hotel outside the town walls. Very pretty dining room with high ceilings and arched windows. I had rabbit with garlic and rosemary and a potato stuffed with cheese. A fine dinner. Next night we had dinner at Del Falco, also outside the walls and recommended in most guidebooks as fun and good value. That it was. For about $50 US for two of us we had Tuscan appetizers and roast suckling pig with tomato salad and french fries. Two other meals in Pienza, both inside the walls. One was at Trattoria del Fate, typical Tuscan roast meats, tasty and plain with house wine for $30 US for two. The other was at our hotel, Il Chiostro, where we splurged on the famous Bistecca Fiorentina, a gigantic steak a good two inches thick and served very rare and well-seasoned surrounded by veggies. I never expect great meals in hotel dining rooms but this was. In Montalcino we followed the advice of Wine Spectator and had lunch at Osteria di Porta al Cassero, right in the middle of town. Had bruschetta and tuscan sausages with white beans and wild boar stew. Washed it down with their wonderful Brunello di Montalcino. The town is a wine lover's dream. Unfortunately never wrote down name of place we had lunch at in Siena so can't help you there. In Positano we like the La Cambusa and Buca di Bacco on opposite sides of the steps leading down to the sea. Much prefer them to the more touristy Chez Black and the other place next door to it whose name I can't recall. For a really interesting lunch get the little boat that bobs around off the beach with a sign saying Da Adolpho. It will ferry you to their restaurant across the bay. This place is amazing. I believe it is the Cadogan guide that describes it as inhabited by aging beauties who led La Dolce Vita in the 60's there and just stayed. Food is prepared in a kitchen in the rocks up from the beach and brought to you by the aging beauties wrapped in beach sarongs as you sit on picnic tables with beach pebbles beneath you and chickens running about. I do, however, recall the pesto pasta as some of the best I've ever had. While we were there a storm blew up and carried away the dock made of a couple of two by sixes and so after many glasses of sangria and trays of figs passed by the lovelies we decided that the dock would not be restored and we'd need to hike up over the mountain to return to town. We were issued garbage bags to fend off the rain and followed the leader of the group (loosely assembled) up the hill until at the top I spied civilization in the form of the Fleur de Lis emblem on the Relais and Chateau flag of the San Pietro--which is apparently just above the spot of beach that Da Adolpho occupies. Quite an experience. Mon May 26 09:03:55 -0700 2003 1388315 0 Julie 1 1388326 Ostreria La Logge in Siena. It's just off the main piazza (Il Campo?), with terrific food and wine list. Mon May 26 11:23:47 -0700 2003 1388315 0 rcc 2 1388346 I second La Logge. Had dinner last fall, and due to friends needing to depart early by train, we reserved for their opening time (ca. 7:30). Friends left at 9:00, but we were having such a great time, we stayed until close to closing (pretty much continuously eating and drinking), and there was never any pressure to turn the table. When we left (@ 11:00), there was still a line of people waiting to get in. They had even set up a table in their reception area to accomodate the overflow. So, for the food: malfatti (do not miss if you're there) and the chicken livers were outstanding; rabbit and quail were winners for secondi. Great desserts, nice, affordable wine list. The owner appears to be quite a character, too, keeping guests and staff alike pretty amused. The reception features oversize photos of him w/Castro and, I think, Le Duc Tho. Link is to another traveller's record, w/pix. Link: http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/food/restaurant_photos01.htm Tue May 27 11:50:41 -0700 2003 1388326 0 cinghiale 1 1388364 La Logge (Siena) was one of the best meals we had in Italy. See my March post (link below) with more about Tuscany dining (including Montepulciano, Montalcino, etc.). Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/262560#1387377 Wed May 28 12:39:20 -0700 2003 1388315 0 Samovar 1 1388388 If you're in Montepulciano.. a neighboring town is Montefollonico. We had a fantastic dinner there (while staying near Pienza) at La Chiusa. It was truly an extraordinary meal and well worth every lire (before Euros). Thu May 29 14:47:01 -0700 2003 1388315 0 zuriga 1 1388403 DON'T miss booking a lunch reservation before you leave US at Castello Banfi outside Montalcino. A MUST!! For a set price/go for the 55.00 Euro menu, you will feast on delicious simple Italian home cooking coupled with Banfi's wine (a bottle per course for the two of us!!) to accompany each course. Go at 1 pm, relish the lunch and then take a siesta amidst the estate vineyards before tackling any journey thereafter---or a stay at a VERY local inn. Great memories! Here's a note from their website. Note they now seem to have higher end restaurant at the estate, but we ate and recommend the more simple menu at the Taverna for a rustic wonderful experience with LOTS of great wine! http://www.castellobanfi.com/tour/rest.html Taverna Banfi Taverna Banfi is a casual setting in the vaulted cellars of the building, with sturdy wooden tables placed under the brick arches where oversized wooden casks of the area's traditional Brunello di Montalcino once rested. Castello Banfi wines compliment the 3-course and five-course tasting menus as well as la carte selections of traditional Tuscan dishes and delicacies. The three-course tasting menu with wines at the Taverna costs 40.00 Euro, including a serving of each of three wines paired to the meal. The five-course tasting menu with wine pairings costs 55.00 Euro. The Taverna is open for lunch Monday through Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Thu May 29 21:20:54 -0700 2003 1388315 0 christinet