508911 Sun Apr 13 08:00:59 -0700 2008 5 58 Italy 0 3589317 My husband and I will be staying at the Locanda dell'Amorosa for 3 nights and are looking for great places to eat in the area. We would be willing to make a long drive during the day, but would prefer to stay closer to the hotel at night. We plan on eating one dinner at the Locanda dell'Amorosa. I have been reading the message boards and have found the following places: Montepulciano: La Grotta, Acquacheta, and Ristorante ai Quattro Venti Trequanda: Il Conte Matto, Il Rossellino Pienza: Latte di Luna I did a map search to see how far each of these towns are from our hotel, but I don't know what kind of drive this would be. Can anyone recommend which places (either the above restaurants or any other suggestions) would be the easiest to get to at night from the Locanda dell'Amorosa (near Sinalunga) and which would be better for lunch? We need two places for dinner. Thanks very much! Sun Apr 13 08:00:59 -0700 2008 183169 lindsayr 1 3595192 In Montepulcinao we had a memorable experience at Il Gamba di Gatto. Owned by a woldly fanatical wine lover who appologized to me for only having 20 olive oils open that day because it was past season. Simple food, great wine, cheap. In Trequanda Conte Matto was superb, one of our favorite restaurants in Southern Toscana. That was before the move but I hear things are better than ever. Traditional with a modern twist. I think Il Rosselino is in Pienza, in any case there IS an Il Rosselino in Pienza that looked great and comes highly recommended. We ate at Latte di Luna and had a lovely time. Simple straightforward meat and primi. Not too far,, in Lumpompesi near Vescovado di Murlo, which in turn is not too far from Buonconvento is Bosco della spina which s worth a drive. The food is so simple but so good. Very traditional dishes made with perfect ingredients. Our favorite dish? A basket of fava bean in shell and several slices of wonderful Pecorino di Pienza with a cruet of incredible olive oil. Superb wine list, almost equual to Conte Matto. In Buon Convento Mario is very good for simple foods at reasonable prices. Tue Apr 15 05:17:36 -0700 2008 3589317 59959 deangold 1 3595473 Il Rossellino is, indeed, in the center of Pienza. Enzo and Franca Mariani preside over a half dozen tables seting less than twenty. In my first experience I was shown a little basket of porcini and chose one that was delivered to my table after saute with some thyme. One porcino. Memorable. Tue Apr 15 07:02:03 -0700 2008 3589317 54994 DaleJ 1 3605988 We also stayed at Locanda dell'Amorosa for 3 nights. Wonderful hotel...but were disappointed in its restaurant. While the food was OK...it was nothing towrite to chowhound about. But the kicker was how poor the service was. They were so in the weeds they couldn't get us a bill...we finally had to walk up to the desk to get our tab after about an hour wait. The hotel and grounds....fabulous. The restaurant...skip it. Montepulciano, Pienza and Trequanda are all within 30 minutes and worth the ride. Just be careful driving home at night without a GPS. Thu Apr 17 20:30:17 -0700 2008 3589317 184601 euromaster 2 3607910 Thanks to everyone for the advice! We're looking forward to some great meals. Fri Apr 18 12:32:45 -0700 2008 3605988 183169 lindsayr 1 3664159 Go to Lucignano, a lovely little Tuscan hill town, and eat at the Albergo Da Toto right in the centre. (Next to the church.) This is real Tuscan country cooking at its best. Don't bother with the carte, just have one of the set meals; the most expensive one if you are really hungry. Wine and water are included, as well as grappa at the end, and you just sit and relax while they start bringing the food. No decisions. Sit, relax, enjoy! Wed May 07 06:07:34 -0700 2008 3589317 190220 Tuscanlover