Mouthwatering Italy
When you take your tongue out sightseeing in Italy, what are its favorite taste treats?
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Great Food
Went to Trivoli yesterday and discovered our best meal in Italy! When we were done visting the Villa d'Este we walked up the side street to the left and ate at the outdoor cafe "Frattoria L'Angolino". We ordered the Linguine Bologna and Ravoli with cheese and spinach. For dessert it was tiramusui. It was delicious and very reaonably priced. They had all kinds of fresh pasta, seafood and salads. Very nice staff who wore old world outfits, our waiter spoke English. Would recommend to anyone making the trip up to Tivoli to stop and enjoy the great food.
Stacie <email>
Iowa USA 09/04/2010
Terrible Food Experience
I visited a Rick Steve's recommended eatery in Rome, Italy called Ristorante Pizzeria Da Frencesco. It was mid-August and they informed us that they just had a batch of fresh mushrooms come in. We ordered a mushroom salad as an appetizer. When it arrived, we ate the entire thing. It was a salad made exclusively of shaved mushrooms, shaved parmesian cheese, and olive oil. As we sat admiring the empty plate, I noticed something squirming in the liquid. I looked closer, it was a maggot (or some sort of larvae). There were 15 of them squirming in the leftover olive oil at the bottom of the plate. Who knows how many we ate. They were clear, and small and, although alive, difficult to notice. I immediately informed the waiter and he said, "its possible, they are fresh mushrooms." I left 5 Euro's on the table and we left immediately. I will never be back and recommend that the restaurant be removed from the book. It's one thing to dine on local delicacies, but live maggots is unsanitary and indicates that the mushrooms had not been washed.
Adam
Houston, TX USA 09/02/2010
Best and Worst of Florence
BEST place in Florence, Italy was Rist. Leonardo. Fabulous food - great service. WORST: Tratoria Icche C'e C'e When our family of 3 ordered fixed-price meals, the staff's tone toward us changed immediately. The waiter carelessly placed our utensils on the table and ignored us while he chatted-up other customers. Worse than that, the courses were small, poor-quality and just plain awful. (The tomato sauce on the pasta was thin and watery, the tiny grilled sausages were greasy and gristly, the chicken dish was a frozen, pre-fabricated breaded patty with the same runny tomato sauce, the salad lettuce was old and wilted.) As I went to pay the bill, I asked to not pay for my uneaten chicken dish and expressed displeasure that the food was poor quality. The waiter and chef both made it abundantly clear that I should not expect quality food from the fixed-price menu. They unapologetically [INVALID]d that if we wanted good food, we should have ordered from their other, more expensive menu. Their tone was dismissive as they knew we were tourists and would not return. They offered us the meal at no charge, no doubt to prevent bad publicity. We felt obligated to pay a fair amount for the food we ate, and left money on the table to cover what we thought the meal was worth - around 50% of the cost, though 30% would have been more reasonable. The next night, we returned to Leonardo's and had excellent food at a reasonable price.
A. P. M.
Mechanicsburg, PA USA 08/27/2010
Wine Tour in Rome
We went on several tour with Antiqua Tours in Rome but our more memorable was our wine tour with Ettore, their sommelier, who taught us more about wine than I could have imagined all while having a very entertaining and fun evening at various wine bars in the center of Rome. We also went on a few wine tours in Tuscany, but the wine guides were not wine experts.
Emma Stewart
Pasadena, CA USA 08/26/2010
Emilia-Romagna Agriturismo
Our family of four shared an amazing seven course meal (salad, three pastas, two meat dishes, and dessert) at Corte d'Aibo in Monteveglio. Accompanied by the local pignoletto wine, it was the finest meal we have eaten. The service was outstanding, despite our limited Italian-speaking skills, and the scenery was breathtaking. All for just over 100 euro.
Kelly M <email>
San Diego, CA USA 08/22/2010
Hotels in Italy
Rick, we just returned from Italy, stayed at the Locanda Mastrele in Monterosso and Hotel Al Piave in Venice. Great service and accomodations, would definitely go back!
Bob <email>
Orlando, FL USA 08/20/2010
Breakfast and Dinner in Naples
A nice spot to have breakfast in old town Naples is the Renaissance Hotel. The food isn't extra-special, but the view of the harbor and old-town skyline in the morning from the 11th floor rooftop is fabulous. For dinner, the place I found that serves great Neapolitan Pizza with consistent quality and service is Rosati's Ristorante on the traffic square off the Piazza Plebiscite. They have a diverse pizza menu and the chefs prepare them fresh right in the entry as you walk in. The ristorante is a level above the street and can be a little warm during the summertime if they don't turn on the AC, but I thought it was worth it!
Jason
Colorado Springs, CO USA 08/11/2010
Favorite Florence Trattoria
For wonderful, traditional, "simple" Italian fare, check out Trattoria Marino (Antico Petrolio) in Florence. Just south of the Piazza del Capitolo (Duomo), tucked away down a back street, this was a haven during a crazy thunder/hailstorm in June. Great food, great service, and very reasonably priced.
Barb Watts
Aurora, CO USA 07/31/2010
Cooking-Vacations in Italy
Cooking lessons in Positano, Italy was a great idea. But don't use Cooking-Vacations.com. Buyer beware. Web site has wonderful program and accommodation descriptions - but what you see is NOT what you will get! And don't expect any help or courtesy from Lauren, the owner/operator.
Trudy <email>
Chicago, IL USA 07/28/2010
Restaurant closed - Milan
Please note that the Pastarito Pizzarito restaurant near the Duomo in Milan, recommended in your 2010 Italy book, is now closed.
Anna Neidig
Anchorage, AK USA 07/26/2010
Cinque Terre
Just came out of Cantina di Miky, Monterosso del Mare, sorry Rick. The service was indifferent at best and rude in general. In my time in the Cinque Terre this is the worst service I have recieved.
John
Seattle, WA USA 07/21/2010
Leonardo's in Florence
One of the best and cheapest places to eat in Florence is Ristorante Self-Service Leonardo, a block from Il Duomo. It's been mentioned here many times. It was great! Very reasonable prices, fresh food, cheap wine and when Leonardo saw my RS book he said, "Love that book!" Lunch and dinner.
Andy Perry
Louisville, KY USA 07/21/2010
Sorrento sightseeing
Sorrento is famous for a digestif known as ‘limoncello’ that is produced from lemon rinds, alcohol, water and sugar. The best bet would be to try this concoction at a fun café or bar downtown.
http://www.europevoyage.net/sorrento-italy-tourism.html
Jehnavi <email>
lake city , Fl USA 07/20/2010
Eating in Sorrento
We LOVED Inn Bufalito in Sorrento. So much so that we ate there 3 nights in a row! The best Caprese salad ever! All food there is fresh and locally grown, and reasonable. We look forward to going back!
Beth <email>
Benicia, CA USA 07/17/2010
Great Dining in Lucca
We ate at a wonderful neighborhood restaurant, Leo. The food was incredible and a great price. The service was very friendly. Recommend making reservations if you want to eat outside. Definitely get there about 15 minutes before it opens so you can get a seat.
Teri <email>
bellingham, WA USA 07/15/2010
Ca Mea outside Badalucco, Liguria
My husband, a friend, and I stayed in Montalto, outside Badalucco, in Liguria. By dumb luck we found Ca Mea. By far, the most memorable meal we have ever had. We sat down at the table and the waitress came by and plonked a bottle of wine down on the table. Before we could ask for a menu, food started to arrive. First it was marinated mushrooms. Then came tagliatelli. After that, some sort of ricotta cheese pie arrived, followed by bagna calda (what a treat!). We started counting; writing down each "course"- after 12 (yes, 12) courses, the waitress asked us what we wanted for our primi piatti- a one kilo (2.2 pounds) beefsteak or lamb chop. My husband and I ordered the lamb (against our better judgement because we were full and had been full since course 2)- which arrived cooked to perfection. The waitress asked us what we wanted for our second course (in reality, course #14) and we refused... repeatedly. We also refused dessert but ordered coffee. The coffee came with dessert anyway- an assortment of cookies and petit fours- and grappa. Three kinds of grappa in bottles that had been overturned with taps placed on the end. You could, if you wanted, pour yourself as much grappa as your heart desired. Four hours later, we still hadn't seen a menu and began to worry about the price of this meal. So we started sweating- counting our euros and estimating the price of each course plus wine, coffee, and, let's not forget, the grappa. Finally, we thought, "Well if it's 400 euros, it's 400 euros- what are we going to do, give the food back?" We needn't have worried- the total for the three of us was 120 euros. We also got a diploma for finishing our meal, which hangs in my kitchen. If you go, leave the autostrade at the Arma de Taggia exit. Follow the sings to Baddalucco. Go through Badalucco towards Montalto (Warning! This is a tiny road with many hairpin turns. DO NOT drink as much grappa as you want and attempt to drive this road!) Look for the vintage Studebaker and giant fiberglass mushroom, when you find them, go over the small bridge- you have reached Ca Mea.
Denise
Baltimore, MD USA 07/15/2010
Beware Extra Charges for Bread and Fish!
Just got back from first visit to Rome. A word to the wise when trying to keep meal costs down: Beware the "scam" of servers bringing bread to the table and not informing that there will be a charge (at least 1.5 or 2 Euros per person, even w/a meal order). Shoo them away if you don't want the bread. More importantly, and I can't stress this enough, ask for confirmation of what you will be charged for any fresh fish meal. I made the mistake of ordering fish in an otherwise reasonably priced Jewish Ghetto restaurant, and got stung for 42 Euros (!!!) for what amounted to 2 or 3 fillets of basic white fish, potatoes and tomatoes (Menu listed item at 4.50 euros). The "explanation" was that it was sold by weight (4.50 per 100g), and they charged us for 800 g, the weight of the whole fish. Server never explained or alerted me about this practice of charging for fish when I ordered. Basically ruined my last, and perhaps best tasting, meal experience in Rome. I had never read anything in any guidebook about such a practice.
Christine
North Reading, MA USA 07/13/2010
Dining near Colosseum
We stayed at Hotel Lancelot a few blocks south of the Colosseum and found Naumachiaroma, a terrific restaurant, 2 blocks south east of the Colosseum. Great Italian food, nice wine list, fair prices, great staff, and not touristy. We ate there 3 times in 3 days it was so good! A hidden gem! fyi it is the name of a Roman navy ship.
Deanne Ealey
Highlands Ranch, CO USA 07/12/2010
Rome Dining in Trastevere
We found a wonderful new restaurant in Trastevere a few weeks ago called "Marco G" on Via Garibaldi,56. We had the pleasure of meeting Marco, the owner, who brought us an incredible selection of appetizers including their specialty; cold, thin sliced octopus. A truly memorable meal, great service, comfortable and stylish decor.
Mary Ellen
Southbury, CT USA 07/11/2010
Il Bandierino at Siena
We watch your show avidly on television and have been using your travel book, Italy 2010, on our trip this summer. However per your recommendation on page 535 in Italy 2010, we went to the Il Bandierino eatery in the Il Campo square in Siena Italy which turned out to be a bad experience for us. The service was very bad with the waiters disregard for their customers and the food was just so-so. Just letting you know so you may revisit your rating of this above place.
Sarada Mohanty <email>
Phoenix, AZ USA 07/09/2010
Rome restaurants
We just returned from a 3-week trip to Italy. All of Rick's recommended restaurants that we tried were excellent. We walked to Perilli in Prati Ristorante near the Vatican on Monday, June 14 and discovered that they were closed for renovation - very disappointing. There was no sign indicating when they would reopen.
If you want a splurge and like seafood, we highly recommend Ristorante Il Tempio di Iside on Via Pietro Verri at Piazza Iside. This is just a few blocks from the Colosseum and a huge improvement over the other tourist restaurants in the area. The seafood was very fresh and beautifully prepared and the service was excellent.
Bonnie Johnson <email>
Acworth, GA USA 07/05/2010
Rome
There is the best wine bar, not far from Termini train station in Rome, where you will not find any tourists! Vineria at Via dei Ramni, 28, in the San Lorenzo district. Wine, salads, bar food, and desserts. All are delicious!
Patricia
Seattle, WA USA 07/02/2010
Roman Food Cooking Class in Italy
Was in Rome last fall and getting ready to go again in a couple of weeks..and taking a class again with Chef Andrea at Il Fate in Trastevere. For 50 Euros, you learn how to make authentic roman cuisine and then enjoy the fruits of your labour! Awesome. I made pasta amatriciana, fried zucchini flowers, tirmasiu and fresh pasta. I have made them numerous times since coming home and am the hit of my family! Cant wait to learn some more recipes! Check out his reviews on Trip Advisor...
THis time, I am also taking a cooking class in Bologna..really excited to learn about the unique recipes of the gastronomic capital of Italy :) I will keep everyone posted!
Lisa
Lisa <email>
Hamilton, on canada 06/27/2010
Mensa
Larger Italian train stations have Mensa's, employee cafeterias really good affordable food real back door fun too no games plenty of free water. Venice's is really good
john Brangwin
Wa USA 06/26/2010
Finding the Best Gelato
When shopping for gelato, remember that the pistachio should be olive green in color and not bright artificial green. I don't recall where I read this sound advice, but it is a sure indicator of a great gelato shop, even if you don't prefer pistachio. Be sure to eat at least a "piccolo" gelato everyday in Italy!
Judy D
Perkasie, PA USA 06/18/2010
Great restaurant near Santa Maria Maggiore
We just returned home from Rome and found a great restaurant near Santa Maria Maggiore. The name of the restaurant is La Vecchia Conca on Via Carlo Alberto, 26/a. It's located between the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore and Piazza Vittorio Emanuele. You can find cheaper food somewhere else but the food here was amazing and the staff was friendly and helpful. We ate dinner here several nights while in Rome.
Paul
White Hall, AR USA 06/17/2010
Typical Siena cuisine
My wife and I have been living in Siena for three months while I teach in a study abroad program for US students. We have found many wonderful local osterias and trattorias featuring pici (thick spaghetti-like pasta), ribollita (vegetable and bread soup), and other Sienese specialties.
One place I particularly recommend is Osteria Sotto le Fonti, located just outside the city walls on Via Esterna Fontebranda. It's a bit out of the way but worth the walk. Or take the public escalator (risalita mechanizzata) from just below the Duomo (exiting the Duomo, cross the piazza and take the road leading to the right and down, then look for signs). This takes you right to Via Fontebranda (and saves 93 steps up and down the hill). Buon appetito!
Rand Jimerson <email>
Bellingham, WA USA 06/17/2010
When in Siena...
We wanted to post about our experience at the Tuscan Wine School in Siena. We did the afternoon wine tasting class and absolutely loved it! We learned so much about the Tuscan appellations, wines and grapes. They also provided food pairing so our heads wouldn't spin after 6 glasses of wine! I can't recommend Rebecca's wine classes enough and would definitely attend another class if I were to return to Siena.
Lisa Gerber
Toronto, Canada 06/15/2010
Great Restaurant near Rome Airport (FCO)
De La Ville Ristorante, five minutes walk from the Marriot Courtyard hotel at Fiumicino was a pleasant surprise when we were stuck overnight at the airport. It is run by a family from Campania, features Napoletana cooking,seafood, pizza, and excellent house wine. I'd go there again if ever in the neighborhood.
Via Remo La Valle, 3/5/7. Fiumicino, www.delaville.net. tel 066507651
Michael Schwager
Twin Falls, ID USA 06/12/2010
Da Giovanni Restaurant, Rome
This restuarant is recommended in Rick's Italy 2010. The food is terrible. My roasted pig was tough as shoe leather and another diner sent theirs back. Tourists are put in the basement and the locals eat upstairs. Take this out Rick!!!!!
Pamela Raynor <email>
Eugene, OR USA 06/06/2010
Tasty, cheap meal in Lucca
Lucca: We had a nice dinner at Pizza Italia, Via Fillungo & Via San Giorgio. We split water, a bottle of Luccese vino bianca, bruschetta to die for, crostini (excellent) and a pizza, for 29 Euros. Tiny place, all outside seating, happy waitstaff. (May 28)
Michael Chevalier <email>
New Hope, PA USA 06/01/2010
Restaurant
I want to say the best Italian food I have ever had was in Sorrento. The restaurant is named Da Gigino. I had five meals there and could not say anything bad about them. The owner of the restaurant was extremely helpful and the staff was warm, fun and created a relaxing environment. All the food is prepared on site and presented very well. Do not miss it when you to Sorrento
Bruce A. Nelson
Novato, , CA USA 05/31/2010
Great zuppa in Orvieto
The best soup in all of Italy (IMHO) is at Trattoria La Palma in Orvieto--we went twice we loved it so much. This unassuming place is just great for things like zuppa and pizza and we loved Messina Cesarina Teresa who runs it. We share her disappointment that she is not in Rick's book!
Kathy Schulz
Santa Fe, NM USA 05/28/2010
Manarola Eating & Sleeping
The LaTorretta Hotel is wonderful.. after your travels to CT the friendly welcome, beverages & snacks take you into a new relaxed calming attmosphere. Well worth the price. Very deluxe rooms with a nice view. We did spend one night at Marina Piccolo as we wanted to be on the harbor. We wished we would have stayed at the La Torretta. It books quickly, so make reservations early. For dinner we ate at Il Porticciolo - good service and food; Trattoria Bily - not worth the price - food ok; Our favorite was La Scogliera - awesome octopus Spaghetti - very spicy and calamari was wonderful. Nice atmosphere.
Susie Deyo
La Conner, wa USA 05/21/2010
Wine Tasting in Rome
We had the most incredible evening on a wine tasting tour with Ettore, a sommelier from Antiqua Tours. We tasted some of the most amazing food and wine in out of the way wine bars i the center of Rome, while learning all about Italy, Italian wine and tasting basics. It was great to learn about "real" Rome from a local Roman and wine expert.
Adam Mascagni
San Francisco, CA USA 05/13/2010
GREAT MEAL IN TREVI
Stayed In Trevi for 3 nights, had a most wonderful meal @ place called LA VECCHIA POSTA located in the old piazza. Very reasonable price, had Wild Boar/roast potatos for the first time, man was it good, wife had an omlet w/tartufo, both had salad and shared bruschette w/fresh tomatos and topped it off w/apple cake w/hot cream and Mousse amaretto w/caramel. Waiter was great, wine was great, total bill E 61.50
DOUG <email>
B'HAM, AL USA 05/10/2010
Best Sorrento Dining
Went for an Easter meal at Restaurant Don Pedro a short bus ride from Sorrento ,but so worth the trip. The excellant food was fresh and outstanding and only surpassed by the friendly family of the owner. For 40 euros we had a 5 course feast bottle of wine and were treated to a tour of gardens,lemon grove and kitchen. Don Pedros son even drove us back to our house. It' not to be missed.
Fred <email>
Philadelphia, pa USA 05/07/2010
Filetti di Bacalla
I was more than disappointed with the experience with Filleti di Baccala in Rome, which was recommended in your 2010 guide book and in the video. I hope there was some reason for the my experience April 12, 2010, I waited an hour past the posted opening time, oh hey it's Rome, then a man came and opened the doors, I finished my expresso in the small piazza area where I had waited, thinking they could use a few minutes, then I went in the door and was hurried out in Italian too rapid for me to understand but in a tone of voice that was clearly disagreeable. I went back out and wondered if I should stay. A group of five went in and they too were hussled out,I felt a little better to find out that it wasn't just me. All of us waited and after about ten or fifteen minutes were motioned in. We were not seated but shown to the back to stand in line and order. I asked a woman from the group about ordering a salad or drink she shrugged and said 'oh you know it's famous'. She did ask the owner? waiter? about my getting something else and she and I were both ignored. I got two pieces of fish that were delicous and were only 9 euros. But I wouldn't recommend this place, unless you travel with a travel guide who has a camera crew in tow. Was sorry to have your account so undermined.
Toni Strasters <email>
Salt Lake City, Ut USA 05/07/2010
Over The Top Meal in Sorrento At A Reasonable Price
We just returned from a week long stay in Piano Di Sorrento a suburb (if you will) of Sorrento about 15 minutes by car from Piazza Tasso. We were recommended to a wonderful family owned restaurant “Il Panorama”. The restaurant is located at Via Pietra Piana 36 – 80065 Sant’Agnello Tel. 081.8083348. The owner Luciano and his family live above the restaurant. They grow all their own vegetables & herbs. They grow their own grapes and make their own wine. Everything on the menu is fresh and outstanding.
We were a party of 5 adults. We had Antipasti of fresh local meats, cheese and bruschetta. Luciano also treated us to a local delicacy (made on the spot by his wife) of zucchini flower stuffed with mozzarella. Yummy! We each had a Primi (the seafood entrees were especially good). Followed by a lemon cake covered in cream (we shared 2 servings) and limoncello (homemade of course), all of this for 97 euros! Plus the hospitality of Luciano and his family made this meal priceless. So, if you find yourself in Sorrento drop in and see Luciano and his family you won’t be sorry!
Lori
San Diego, CA USA 05/06/2010
beware of expensive caffe in Rome
We are presently in Rome and are still recovering from the shock of a 47.50 euro bill from Caffe Accademia on Via del Tritone. We went in for a coffee break, ordered 2 profiteroles, a cafe au lait, a cappucino and a half-liter of water. The price for the desserts was on a very confusing menu given to us on one sheet; however, the price for coffee was not there so imagine our surprise when we found that we had to pay 10 euros for a cafe au lait, and 8 euros for a cappucino, as well as 3 euros for the half-liter of water (double what we pay for a whole liter elsewhere)! On the wall by the door there are prices for coffee ranging from 1.50 to 2.50 but they are "to go" so if you sit you will pay 7 times as much! Beware this place when you go to Rome and get your coffee at other cafes where it is just as good and less than half the price.
Janet Wees
Calgary, AB CAN 05/02/2010
Il Parata, Vernazza - Overrated
Not sure what the big deal is about this place. The owners talk incessantly about their great ratings on tripsdvisor and in Rick Steve's book. They make subtle insults about other restuarants in town which really turned us off. Yes, the food is very good, but it is Sicilian and not typical to the Ligurian coast (nothing wrong with that). If you want to listen to a lot of boosting, this is the place for you.
Luna
USA 04/29/2010
had great time in rome thanks to roman empire tours
We have been home for about a week and have had time to come down from the euphoria of our Italian trip and look back on all that we did and the Roman Empire Tours of the Vatican Museum and the Roman Forum and Coliseum were the hands down favorite of the entire family! That’s a pretty impressive achievement when you compare it against Venice, the galleries in Florence, and a private wine tasting in a castle. Thanks to Jimmy and Alex for the enlightenment and enjoyment of the tours, I have already recommended you to two friends who are coming into town this fall without reservation.
Bart Rose
Houston, Texas USA 04/28/2010
Italian restaurants in Rome are overrated
Somehow my wife and I didn't find any of the legendary Italian cuisine we heard about, despite recommendations from the guidebook and this site. In fact, she got food poisoning on our first day there (not at a recommended site -- it was at Cafe Ivanhoe on Via Urbana), and we lost the first week of our trip to sickness and recovery. I got really familiar with some grocery stores and went on a mad hunt for mashed potatoes when she was finally ready to try solid food again.
What the guidebooks don't tell you is that most restaurants have essentially the same menu. Some places that were decent (but not great): Trattoria Valentino on Via Cavour (two blocks from Via Dei Fori Imperiali) and Ostaria da Nerone (recommended by Rick), which was the better of the two. The staff was very friendly and helpful at both. We also got pizza a few times from Gastronomia Cavour -- not great, but solidly decent, and not sickness-inducing.
We really got tired of starch, meat, and cheese, which seem to be the basis of the Roman diet.
RecoveringFromRome
Detroit, MI USA 04/27/2010
Great red wine and scenery.
If you're south of Naples, stop in Taurasi. Cantine Antonio Gaggiano was beautiful. We had a great tour and taste of the winery. A lot of care has gone into making everything as lovely as it is functional. The owner also has beautiful photographs on display and will soon have a small museum to go with the winery. We can't wait to go back.
Travelmom
Marysville, WA USA 04/19/2010
Dining near Piazza del Popolo
Hostaria al Vantaggio, between Via del Corso and Via di Repetta, barely 2 blocks from the piazza del Popolo. My wife and stumbled upon this place, which dates to the 1920's. We were in Rome for a week, and this was one of our best meals. About 25E/person. We could see why it's been around so long. Nice atmosphere, not too crowded and very good food.
Gary gomby <email>
West Hartford, ct USA 04/13/2010
roman empire tours
just returned from a week trip in Rome - had an amazing time, which was in a large part down to the vatican tour we did with roman empire tours. The Vatican tour we were with Jimmy - absolutely excellent, on what was a very busy day at the vatican - we were able to whizz past what was a 3 hour queue and get straight in (just that was worth the tour fee). Jimmy showed us all the highlights and again shared his very impressive knowledge to bring the place to life - the guys really do add an extra dimension to the trip. What impressed me about Jimmy was the way he navigated the crowds to ensure we saw the best bits - even going as far as to buy a poster of the sistine chapel - so he could explain the paintings and there meanings in a quiet corner as the vatican notice boards outside were so rammed with the crowds. This really added to my enjoyment - as i'd have never noticed things on the sistine chapel like paintings of 'God pulling a moonie' and its really true! both guides were excellent and organising and paying for the trips was easy. We paid via paypal or you can pay on the day. Both days we were with small groups of around 8 in total, and I was so pleased I'd gone with these guys when I saw other tour groups with 25-30 people looking board stiff listening into a microphone as the guide was so far away. Just book with roman empire tours - you wont regret it.
http://romanempiretours.com/vatican_tour.html
helen smith
las vegas, USA 03/30/2010
Rome Wine Tour
We thoroughly enjoyed our Rome by the Glass tour with Antiqua Tours. We visited two local wine bars and had the most incredible time tasting wine and pairing them with cheeses and other food. it was the best night of our entire trip. We had so much fun and felt like we were having a "real" Roman experience walking down side streets and getting to know the flavors of Italy. YUM! Eat and drink in Rome, you won't be sorry. We also enjoyed an Amazing place called Puglia Monti. I had the best artichoke dish there.
Sharron Klein
Boulder, CO USA 03/27/2010
Rome, Italy
Hi All,
Just finished a four day/three night trip to Rome. It was my inaugural trip to Europe and I must say I was a bit apprehensive at first. Well it took all of around 5 minutes in country and I was on a roll. I stayed in the Vatican City area and found it to be very convenient to everything with the subway stop only 1 1/2 blocks from my room. The first night there I was struggling to decide were to have my first meal in Rome. As I was walking from my Hotel a extremely friendly little rotund man offered me a menu and a seat at an outdoor table offering Pizza or Pasta. I figured that as good an offer as I was going to get this evening. I must say that that evening started the beginning of a wonderful if short relationship between myself and Owner/Chef Vito Pescente and his wife Dina of "Da Vito E Dina Hosteria Pizzaria." The food was delicious and courteously served, but the highlight was Vito personally. The consummate restaurateur with a perpetual smile and good food recommendation. If you are in the Vatican neighborhood, I recommend a stop to see Vito and enjoy his hospitality. Da Vito E Dina Hosteria Pizzeria, Via degli Scipioni, 50-00195 Rome, Tel: 06-39723293. Tell him Bulldog sent you around. You will be happy you stopped in.
Creig "Bulldog" Parr
Creig <email>
Glen Arm, MD USA 03/26/2010
Food
I have been watching Rick's Italy DVDs. One of them features roasted goat as one of the regions gourmet favorites. Never tasted goat before. I might try it when I go on vacation. Happy travels!
Betty
Burbank, USA 03/14/2010
Perilli in Prati Ristorante
My family and I recently returned from five days in Rome. Early March weather was cool but comfortable and the sights were uncrowded. As a long time fan of your travel guides, I frequently follow your advice on restaurants. Among your recommendations for a reasonable, family oriented restaurant near the Vatican was Perilli in Prati. Among all of the fine meals we had in Rome, our buffet lunch at this unpretentious local haunt was the most outstanding! My wife and I still are talking about the fabulous lunch we had right down to the Trebbiano by the glass that tasted of peaches and licorice. A few doors away around the corner on the short walk to the Metro stop is a terrific Gelato shop. The flavors of melon, strawberry, and lemon that we sampled for dessert were incomparable to what we have in the U.S. Kudos to you and your team for making our trip through the backdoor of Italy so delicious!
Christopher Redo <email>
Barbizon, USA 03/11/2010
how to learn about Tuscan Wines in a funny and simply atmosphear
Hi ! I'm a french winemaker from St Emilion. Just some words to advise to visit the Tuscan Wine School in Siena.
There whatever your knowledges in wine, you could have a nice time of learning and tasting !!!
During 2 hours, I learnt a lot of informations about Italian and tuscan wines, which will be very profitable for my studies in Master of Wine in London. Thanks a lot to Rebecca, the Master of Tuscan Wines... and cheeses !!!
http://www.tuscanwineschool.com/
Have fun in tasting !!!!!!!
Pierre
Gouttenoire <email>
St Emilion, France 03/07/2010
eating in sorrento
after 2 visits i must recommend Miccio Trattoria, Via Degòo Aranci 36/38 in Sorrento. Friendly Service and a wonderful cook, Anna Miccio with her son Enrico provide great meals at reasonable prices. Ask for the seafood of the day and she will prepare it to your taste. wonderful! Head waiter Rob, a Brit Expat, will handle all your needs.
We have eaten in a lot of good places in Italy but this is the first place that combined good food with realy friendly and helpful service.
Jerry & Stelly
Jerry Hofelt
Dallas, tx USA 03/06/2010
Trattoria der Pallaro - well recommended
Used the 2009 Rome guide and ate at Trattoria der Pallaro (amongst other great eateries). Very impressive food, well presented and great value for money. Would recommend visiting this great food venue.
Steve Butterworth <email>
Atlanta, GA USA 02/27/2010
roman empire tours
just done tours with great new company called roman empire tours and thought it was just the perfect way to see rome. groups are very small as these guys have just started up i think... they will not disappoint!
http://romanempiretours.com/
tom smith
boston, USA 02/22/2010
Wine Tour in Rome
We took a wine tour with Antiqua Tours in Rome and couldn't be happier. The group was small, and we tried many different wines and sampled Italy's best cheeses. It was the best night we had during our entire Italian trip. We learned so much about Italian wine, but also had a "real rome" experience in the wine bars.
Jon Stein
NYC, NY USA 02/16/2010
Artichoke season
Artichoke season is coming up soon. I just discovered a great website listing possibly all of the carciofo festivals in Italy & Sicily. It is http://theartichokeblog.com/. Recipes and everything carciofo. I'm planning our next trip with fresh artichokes in mind.
USA 02/02/2010
Ristorante Grotte del Teatro di Pompeo
Do not go to this restaurant unless you want to be robbed. Any redeeming features of the food were overshadowed by the disrespectful and unethical behaviour of the owner. The manageress/owner and waiters have a tag team approach to inflate your bill.
My husband and I were given two items that we had not ordered. One of these was an opened bottle of wine. A fellow diner said that he also had been given a full bottle of wine when he had ordered a .5l carafe. The waiter feigned a 'no understand English' ruse and confused us. When it came time to pay, the aggressive owner asked if we would pay by cash instead of by card. The service charge was exorbitant and we believe they had added about 10 Euros onto the bill. The owner was a most unpleasant woman, more given to producing indigestion tin her (tourist) diners than a happy and leisurely meal. I understand business is business but this woman's unconcealed greed was quite ugly. I don't care how old the site of this restaurant is. Better to observe it from another, hopefully, more honest cafe..
Maree, Australia
September 2009
Maree
Melbourne, Australia 01/31/2010
Gelaterias
Beware of gelaterias in Florence that display the huge cups on the counter right in front of you and the small cups behind the servers so they are impossible to see until you have been swindled! We inadvertantly ordered gelato for 10 euro each when we really wanted the littlest one for 2-3 euro. Always go to the places with the prices written right on the cups so you know what you are getting. Lesson learned! We put our dunce caps on for that one, but we wizened up after that.
Mary McCluskey <email>
Germantown, WI USA 01/08/2010
Cheap Eats in Florence
Leonardo's cafeteria in Florence has no ambiance, but great food for cheap! The owner is a character and will tell you when you have ordered enough! I had 10-layer lasagna and gnocchi to die for in this great place one flight up from the street level. In Rick's book, check it out. We ate there several times because the food was different each time and you can see what you are ordering before you commit to it. The prices are totally amazing too.
Mary McCluskey <email>
Germantown, WI USA 01/08/2010
A great local Trattoria in Rome
While touring Rome, I found a great Trattoria just 2 blocks from the Colosseum. The Trattoria Luzzi is located on Via di Giovanni in Laterno. The food is homestyle, authentic Italian cuisine. The quality is great, the prices are inexpensive and the service is great. You feel like you are in a friend's home. Search out the waitress Christine - she is a real character. This is a must place to eat. Go early as it gets packed by 7PM
Gerry Franciosa <email>
Downingtown, PA USA 01/05/2010
Great Restaurant in Rome
While in Rome we came upon a great restaurant just a block away from the Termini station. Aquila Nera was wonderful. Food was fresh and excellent, the service was fantastic, and the prices were very reasonable (free bread, no service charge, fix price $15 and menu even better). We were surprised that it was not a RS recommendation because it should be.
Aquila Nera
Via Principe Amedeo, 49/51/53
00185 Roma
Tel. 06.47.44.151
David
FL USA 01/02/2010