Rome food guidebook

[david kaplan]

I'll be spending a week in Rome this April. I'm unlikely to have Internet access there, so I'm hoping to find a good restaurant guidebook: trustworthy advice, organized by neighborhood, up-to-date information, etc. In northern Italy a few years back I found Faith Willinger's book very helpful; is there a similarly good book that covers Rome in detail?

[mnosyne]

We found many good choices in the Gambero Rosso restaurant guide. Rather than schlepping one, you can pick one up after you arrive in Feltrinelli or at the Anglo American Book Store.

[mastack]

Wouldn't it be nice if there WAS a definitive Rome restaurant guide? I have used the Time Out Rome Eating & Drinking guide; however, it was published in 2002 and some of the info is not up-to-date. But it's compact and fits in a purse or pocket. I just ordered Rome Little Black Book which was recently published. It's organized by section and appears to be geared to a younger crowd -- listing a lot of wine bars and clubs -- but it does list a few of the restaurants seen in most guides. We're going in March so we'll see how good of a guide it is.

[jen kalb]

There is a Gambero Rosso guide specific to rome (Iin Italian but usable with minimal knowledge) you can buy there. It covers food shopping, bakeries, pizzeries wine stores, wine bars etc. in addition to restaurants. Its not a cheap eats guide. A large number or the recommended restaurants are outside the centro, which makes sense since most Italians live out there in the burbs too. We used it lightly on our last trip until everyone got sick (not food related)- I suspect its rather reliable and its certainly more comprehensive than the english language guides. Tends more to upmarket choices . Id be interested in hearing what other users though of this guide.

There are enough recommendations in Rome in the Slowfood guide to get me through the better part of a week. The ones Ive tried are all good. YOu can pull them off the website, but you now have to register first, even on the Italian side of the site. darn.

There are Maureen Fant food resources (she is Rome-based) but I havent sampled her reccomendations so cant recommend firsthand.

We used the Timeout website on our last trip (before they took all the individual content off) I think they do quite well with their Italy restaurant guides.

Here is an online compilation of the top rated Rome restaurants from Espresso, Veronelli, GR, Michelin http://www.2night.it/v2/nazionale/spe...

Its been many years since we used Michelin - it seems to have shrunk its Rome restaurant coverage from past days (70s-80s) when we did use it. And the French are always a bit unreliable on the merits of Italian restaurants.

Lastly, we used Sandra Gustafsons guide - formerly Cheap Eats, now Good eats in 1999-2000. Some of the picks and tips were on the money - one place was bad (near the Vatican) and I suspect it had stopped trying with the tourist pressure - one disadvantage of being listed in a guide. this one is more of a utililty middle of the road guide - very useful, because of its arrangement for finding places to eat near where you happen to be.

[shabbystorm]

Rome Guide a food related MUST TRY LIST:
• Try an Affogato Gelato drowning in Espresso
• Eat an Aranchini while walking the streets
• Try Artichoke and Anchovy Pizza
• Best Biscotti Bakery in Rome innocenti biscottificio artigiano Via Della Luce 21 Trastevere
• Have a picnic in the Borghese Garden - Pick up sandwiches at the local market
• Eat White Pizza for Breakfast
• Have a Cappuccino at a street café
• Eat Chestnuts on the street
• If you get tired of Pasta try Chinese Food in Rome - LOL
• Drink Cinzano Vermouth
• Try Deep Fried Basil Leaves – Amazing!
• Do not eat anywhere where there is English on the menu
• Eat Spaghetti
• Have an Espresso - Double Espresso or Triple Espresso - LOL
• Have Fried Artichokes from the Jewish Ghetto restaurant Pipeno 39 06 68806629
• Eat Frito Pollo (On most menus)
• Eat Gelato from Giolitti The Oldest and the Best – Be prepared the lines are long but worth it
• Hard Rock Café Roma Legendary 10oz Burger - Sometimes you just need a cheeseburger
• Try Limoncello after dinner
• Visit the Oldest Café in Rome Caffe Greco on Via Condotti – Have an espresso
• Order a Big Beer - LOL
• Eat Pizza at Da Baffetto Historic Pizzeria Via del Governo Vecchio, 114 Rome 00186
• Try a Radicchio and smoked provolone pizza
• Restaurant Matricella Al Fresca Via De Leone 4 – AMAZING – Try the Ricotta Fritta - Buffalo Mozzarella and Ricotta Chocolate Cheesecake - Make Reservations
• Super Fancy Eat at Restaurant Quinzi and Gabrieli - Eat Wart Venuses (Scallops) Specialty - Make Reservations
• Restaurant Trattoria Trifone "Thursday is Gnocchi Night" try the Roman Style Artichokes - Spaghetti Carbonara - Gnocchi with Gorgonzola - fried zucchini flowers ricotta and parma ham frittata
• Eat a Tartufo by the Trevi Fountain
• Have Pizza near the Vatican at Pizzarium Via della meloriia 43 (3974-5416) they hand select the olive oil and grains

Most of all enjoy your trip! Be smart - Be Safe!

[Eaterlover]

Shabbystorm, I have to say I really enjoy your compiled "list of things to do," because the general impression I'm getting from these Italian posts are that bad food is rare to find in Italy. I think that I will not be spending time finding SPECIFIC places, but knowing how to avoid the terrible looking ones, and then trying whatever smells good. Thank you!