rome
sunday, june 14, i will be planning a dinner out for 13 adults celebrating a 40th wedding anniversary, would love a place with a good view and/or good atmosphere, also, typical italian foor at reasonable prices....any ideas would be appreciated. we will be staying on the via vento.
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I would break up view from the actual dinner. For the view, I have two favorites:
above Piazza del Popolo, or a short walk from the top of the Spanish steps, you can sit in the garden of Casina Valadier, have a drink and enjoy their aperitivo spread as the sun sets over Rome. From there you can go down the hill to some place nice with a bit of buzz like 'Gusto (you'd probably want to book at the nice restaurant, rather than in the wine bar or pizzeria which are all part of the same mini-empire around Augustus's mausoleum: http://www.gusto.it/).
Alternatively, you could have a fancy cocktail atop the Grand Hotel Minerva, directly behind the Pantheon. I love it for the view of the dome of the Pantheon. From there, you could go to some bustling Roman trattoria like Da Luigi (http://www.trattoriadaluigi.com/). I'm not entirely sure, but they might have a private dining room you could use.
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About 2 short blocks off the Via Veneto is Vladimiro/Marcello. We have eaten there many times and never been disappointed. Below is my original post on the place and you should reserve for that many people. There is little "view" except for a terrace on the sidewalk outside, but I don't know if it would accommodate your entire party. Inside is comfortable. I suggest you request the menu I list below, as they will bring you lots of antipasti to begin, then plenty of pasta nd roasted meat (veal is not the only meat they serve). With house wines to drink there, you should be able to do this dinner for 35-40 Euros per person with dessert included. We had 5 at dinner last time in December 2006 and our bill was in this range.
ORIGINAL POST: Best recommendation for quality, quantity, price, and ambience is Marcello at Via Aurora 37 between Ludovisi and Lombardo, about 2 blocks in from the top of the Via Veneto where the large hotels are. Recommended is a set meal they will probably suggest (if they don’t, ask your waiter for it): antipasti misti (5-6 appetizers served in large bowls from which you take what and how much you wish), followed by a platter with 3 different pastas in 3 different sauces. Next is a meat course (roast veal is excellent ). House wine is excellent and can be had in ½ or full liter pitchers, in white or red.
