summer08bride

Do you have an absolute favorite restaurant in Venice, Florence, Rome, Pompeii, Ostia Antica that you think a first-time visitor should absolutely check out?

Our 1 year wedding anniv will coincide with our first night in Florence so something extra special in Florence is especially welcome


Thanks!

laurie_ann

No specific recommendations but the following strategies once recommended to us has resulted in some great choices we would not have found otherwise.

1. ask at your hotel, but not just for a recommendation they might make for any tourist but where the concierge or manager him or herself would go for a special occasion

2. ask at a pretty shop such as antique shop or jewelry shop that appeals to you, the proprietor likely has good taste in restaurants too

3. ask another couple like you but Italian that you see while you are out, again ask where they would go for something special not just what they would recommend for a tourist

Enjoy planning your trip!

summer08bride

thanks for the suggestions! I especially like #2

Vincenzoda

if really in Florence it is very important to you, well, I'd suggest the ebst of best: ENOTECA PINCHIORRI.
Anyhow, you should reserve as soon as possible.
In Venice, my place is VECIO FRITOLIN.
In Rome, oh my God, there are many and many to suggest; if obliged to 1 funky name and you enjoy wine, I suggest you LA REPUBBLICA DEL VINO. Look at its website: www.repubblicadelvino.it .
In Pompei, please, do not miss IL GIARDINO DELLE ESPERIDI: very good, chamring, elegant. Look at its website: www.ilgiardinodellesperidi.it
Enjoy your trip, ciao.

Vincenzo

Aussiegirl68

Here are some restaurant recos for Rome, I compiled these folowing my last trip to Rome. You will find budget, mid-range and top-end restaurant suggestions:

http://rome-hotels.tripadvisor.com/S...ome_Lazio.html

http://rome-hotels.tripadvisor.com/S...ome_Lazio.html

In Venice I love the Taverna San Trovaso, nothing fancy but great service, great food, great prices. I ate there 4 times on my last 5 day trip there.

Hope you find something in these selections.

Melissa

zoecat

I enjoy La Zucca in Venice-

http://www.lazucca.it/ita/index.asp?L=2

bookchick

In Florence, I would highly recommend "Da Noi". It's a very intimate setting, and they have fewer than a dozen tables. IMO, very romantic! Because it's so small, reservations are a must.

In Rome, my favorite place is La Buca di Ripetta.

BC

daveesl

For Ostia Antica, bring a picnic lunch and have a fantastic meal sitting atop the amphitheater.

Peter_S_Aus

An extract from my trip report to Venice and Rome.
In Rome, have a meal at Le Tamerici, which is near the Trevi Fountain. Vicolo Scavolino 79, uphill from the Trevi, take via del Lavatore, and first left. Think 120 Euro for two, and we ate there twice in three days. They have a web site, www.letamerici.com. Best food we have eaten in all Italy, ever, and was one of the reasons we went to Rome this time. We were served by one Kate, who hails from the Hunter Valley in Aus, a girl of good humour. (“Would you recommend the pork or the duck?” “Don’t ask me, I’m a vegetarian.”)
In Rome, the bar called “The Glass”, Via Carlo Battisti, left side as you go downhill. It looks very cool and expensive – but it’s not.
La Bitta in Calle Lunga San Barnaba, Dorsoduro, is a good place to eat – they don’t do fish. On the left as you walk west from Campo San Barnaba.
The bar, Ai Artisti in Campo San Barnaba, is fun, and the staff get to know you quickly.

bardo1

In Venice - <b>Hostaria Da Franz</b> (check out the review section, the Fodors reviews are NOT from the guidebook but lifted from my trip report!). http://www.hostariadafranz.com/

In Florence - <b>Ristorante Ricchi</b> (splendid outdoor seating, weather permitting - divine food/wines) http://www.florence.ala.it/ricchi/rist.htm

The old report:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...and-venice.cfm


In Rome: <b>Ditirambo</b> http://www.ristoranteditirambo.it/en/ It's all about the food here. We were just here a few months ago on our latest Rome venture - it's VERY popular - go early (by 8:30pm) or call for table.

sorriso

On the Appian Way, Hostaria Antica Roma http://www.anticaroma.it/en/index2.html. My husband and I have been to Rome twice, the first time we enjoyed a wonderful meal outside in late March. The photo I took of our table set with just the wine, water, breadsticks and sunglasses sits to the right of the computer monitor I'm looking at right now. For us, it was magical. We enjoyed our meal. I'm not a foodie so I can't speak from that perspective.

A year later we returned with our three almost grown kids. The owner remembered my husband (he's quite tall and that seems to make an impression!) and treated us royally. We had unfortunately arrived just after they closed for the afternoon due to some matters we could not control but he offered to prepare us cold plates which we readily accepted. As we left he presented us with signed prints of the ancient interior and a bottle of his wine!

When we return to Rome we will return to this restaurant.

RJD

My favorite in Venice based on direct experience is Al Covo in Castello.
Here's the url:http://www.ristorantealcovo.com/

AndyT

in Florence I would recommend Trattoria Ponte Vecchio http://www.trattoriapontevecchio.com/ the food is fantastic, everytime we go to Florence we eat at this restaurant. I'm not sure if the menu on the website is accurate because many of the main dishes change regularly. the website is poorly done but the restaurant is small and intimate with great food and a good selection of wine. this does come with a high price tag, but well worth it Enjoy your trip.

bfrac

Bookmarking

semensoy

http://www.pbase.com/semensoy/colomb..._great_reality

Vttraveler

Ostia Antica has a cafeteria, no restaurants. I agree with daveesl's suggestion to pack a good picnic lunch (in Rome)

frenchwow

Rome- La Carbonara
Florence -hated Latini

Jean

I second AndyT's recommendation of Trattoria Ponte Vecchio in Florence.

In Rome, I recommend Cafe Mancini:
http://www.cafemancini.com/english/storia.htm

PdxJulie

I will second Peter's recommendation of Le Tamerici in Rome. We had a wonderful meal there in April. They have a sister restaurant that is right across the alley - we ate there as well and it was also excellent.

zeppole

"Ostia Antica has a cafeteria, no restaurants.|

No, not precisely true. Ostia SCAVI -- the excavation site -- has a cafeteria and no restaurants.

The adjacent small town or "borgo" of Ostia ANTICA has the highly regarded restaurant Il Monumento, which I can personally recommend is Il Monumento. It is a 10 minute walk from the entrance to the Scavi.

http://www.deliciousitaly.com/ristorante.php?id=10

Another convenient restaurant is Allo Sbarco di Enea, where the waiters wear tunics and the food gets raves and pans

http://www.paginegialle.it/allosbarcodienea

In addition to Vincenzo's recommendations for Pompeii, there are two highly regarded restaurants in Pompeii, neither of which I've tried.

Il Principe

http://www.pompeii-restaurant.com/re...an_cuisine.asp

and the restaurant at the Santa Caterina hotel.