need suggestion for tonight

[salsadoc]

Hi Chowhounders....
Last night in Rome, and my bday dinner tonight.. Been in Italy 2 weeks, I'm all 'pasta-d' out. Had some ideas originally -- but most are the traditional menus that I have seen everywhere. We are staying near Termini and Repubblica Station. Could go for a great steak... tried the fried artichokes - - and it was mostly burnt - - would love to erase that memory with a stellar substitute :-)

Any recommendations for a spot with atmosphere? Wine not too important as I am preggo :-)

Doesn't have to be top end either... just somewhere we can enjoy, and preferably not super far... A nice dinner away from the tourist traps.

GRAZIE!!!
Jo

[Octavian]

In the meantime, it's 4 pm in Rome and no one else has replied, so here are my thoughts: Steak is not something that is done very well in Rome, except at Tuscan restaurants, although almost any restaurant can do a fairly acceptable filetto di manzo. The closest Tuscan restaurant to Termini is probably (the fairly pricey) Da Nino on Via Borgogna near the Spanish Steps. Further away is Cesare on Via Crescenzio in the Vatican area; it's possibly a little less expensive. There's an Italian chain of "American" steakhouses called Roadhouse Grill. Its closest branch is on Via Galvani in Testaccio, but it's generally considered mediocre to gawdawful. Or you can try a "French" restaurant called Charly's Sauciere on Via San Giovanni in Laterano; their steaks should be acceptable, and it's the closest to Termini.

Edited to add: I didn't see Jen's reply when I started writing.

[jen kalb]

Have you been to Trattoria Monti yet? Its in your area and very good , but you would need a reservation.
Il Pompiere in the Ghetto has steaks, artichokes and a nice atmosphere (set in an old palace)

Pipero al Rex is near you - would be a more expensive meal, however (I havent visited but others here have praised)

[jen kalb]

ps the steak we had at Al Pompiere a few years back was not a thick rib steak etc such as we would expect in the US - nor was it a big bloody fiorentino - but it was a very beefy and tasty cut of meat - but its been a few years and they may not be offiering it now so thinking about this some more, I would not count on it as a steak destination....