Cpessagno

We are coming to Rome for our anniversary. We have originally booked reservations at both La Pergola and Ad Hoc. Ad Hoc, we wanted to do the truffle tasting menu with wine pairings - which is 120 for Black Truffles or 190 for White Truffles. For La Pergola, it is 220 Euros per person for the tasting, excluding all wines/etc.

I am wondering if we should just opt for the 120 Euros for Black Truffle Tasting at Ad Hoc or if we should splurge and do La Pergola.

Have you been to La Pergola or Ad Hoc? What types of pricing is there for a moderate or low priced wines/pairings? What was the total bill? Was it worth it?

I have read many reviews on both restaurants but just cant decide. We are going to a restaurant in Siena where we will be able to do truffles for lunch. We originally wanted mainly a truffle menu that was not crazy expensive (like La Pergola) but was really nice and more classic Roman cuisine.

We love tasting menus and wine pairings. Do you have a different preference for this amount of money? Any suggestions or reviews will help!

jamikins

We haven't eaten at any of those places...or this one but this one gets great reviews

http://www.glass-restaurant.it/en/

annhig

jamikins - I could only get the dessert menu to open - the others seem to be stuck.

do they have wine-pairings? it looks as if the OP is keen on that. [I sympathise!]

jamikins

It opens fine for me...strange!

It doesn't say anything about wine so guess they would have to check on the wine pairing...

vinoroma

Was a not as clearly worded version of this request not on the board earlier, with some responses? Or was it over at chowhound (where i can't find it anymore, either). In any case, in addition to my earlier response here or at ch, i also answered on TA.

sandralist

Cpessagno,

If you click on your own screen name you can find the other threads you've started on this subject and the various answers you received regarding this issue.

In general, you really need to be careful about truffle menus in Italy in May. There a VERY few places in Italy that have black truffles in May, and Siena isn't one of them. Most of all, most people do not find the taste of late spring truffles or summer truffles to be anything like the potently aromatic truffles white truffles one finds in the winter months. So whether you are talking about an expensive menu or a cheap menu, you need to step back and think about whether as foodies you want to eat an out-of-season tourist menu in a tourist city or whether you want to eat locally and seasonally wherever you go in Italy, which can be the most interesting and certainly the only unique way to eat in Italy.

You can get an imported out of season truffle menu wherever you come from. When you are in Italy it makes more sense to eat the best of the local food in season cooked by people whose cooking needs to please the local knowledgeable standards, not the preconceptions of passing tourists about what's special in Italy.

sandralist

Just to be clear:

I don't know where Ad Hoc is, but no matter where it is in Italy, there are no fresh white truffles in May. As for black truffles in May, you won't find them in most places, certainly not in Rome or Siena. The truffles have been imported in from someplace else or frozen.

sandralist

Before you start dropping all this money on high-end restaurant food, you might consider spending the same money on some food tours that include a lunch made of ingredients produced right outside the kitchen from family recipes.

sandralist

As for Glass in Rome, if you like sous-vide, molecular, international styled food, whether it is in London, or Rome, or New York, fine. Eat at Glass. But it seems to me rather silly to spend all that money to get to italy and then rely on internet posters who know nothing about Italian food to recommend restaurants to you that serve food that isn't traditionally Italian. The chef at Glass went to school in the US and learned to cook in the US and Paris. Yes, restaurant groupies love that food. By why go all the way to Italy to eat it?

jamikins

And the nastiness again Sandra...you are so amusing! Starting to look forward to your predictable jabs at me

Cpessagno

I am currently looking at the Ad Hoc menu and only see black truffle tasting menu- but I beleive that this must be year round as all TA states they have the truffle tasting menu during that time. I am suprised because TA has Ad Hoc as #19 in all of Rome with hundreds of reviews. I am not sure if this is just because its touristy or good, which is why I originally made the reservations.

I have come up with a few other restaurants in Rome I am interested in. Michelin Star with high reviews. Glass, La Pergola, Metamorfosi are the mains I am interested in.

@Sandralist- you are right. I am not going all the way to Italy to get an American style tasting menu or something I can get somewhere.

I want real Roman food & wine. We are leaving open two nights in Rome to just explore and go where our senses takes us.

I do want to book 1 nice restaurant dinner for our anniversary though- I am just not sure what is upscale but also classicaly Roman or Italian. I originally thought Ad Hoc as the reviews stated more typical Italian, not Michelin, and amazing reviews on TA.

jamikins

Have you posted on chowhound? It sounds like you are interested in higher end food? You may find more people who have eaten at starred restaurants or higher end than on this site.

Cpessagno

I have not really used chowhound before and did not post there. We aren't necessarily for or against high end food, but want something that is nice. We are spending 3 days in Rome. Two nights we plan to just explore the city and eat out wherever, but one night we would like something nice. It doesnt have to be Michelin but can be classic food of Rome but something that is nicer dining experience and food overall.

annhig

and amazing reviews on TA.>>

mmmm.

jamikins

They discuss all kinds of restaurants on chowhound - I am sure even just reading some of the posts will give you some ideas.

johnnyomalley

another vote for Chowhound.

if you look up lowcountryislanders trip reports. she has details about the restaurants in Rome she visited. I am pretty sure she has been to Glass and Metamorfosi

annhig

johnny - that's who i was trying to think of!

well done!

Leely2

I use Chowhound for restaurant recs. Have only occasionally been disappointed. I've liked Antico Arco several times--nice service, good wines, delicious, slightly modern food--but I've not been to Rome in a few years now.

socaltraveler

Sandra and her constant swipes at anyone else's opinion aside, there are many guides to dining well and with respect to Roman food in Rome (Elizabeth Minchelli is one). I think you are confusing 'nice' and 'haute cuisine'. Many here eat well in Rome, but prefer the excellent neighborhood trattorias to the ultra fancy. Chowhound is better than TA. I do agree with Sandra about the truffle menus - Italians eat to the season, I would not spend $$$ for a truffle menu out of season, in either Rome or Siena.

Cpessagno

I have posted on chowhound late yesterday, but no responses yet.

So the only restaurants that are recommended to this post is Glass and Antico Arco. Anyone else with recommendations?