If your friends want to do some reading prior to deciding their destinations (so we can then give recommendations), I highly recommend Italy for the Gourmet Traveler by Fred Plotkin. It not only has restaurant recommendations, it also explains the food and traditions by region and even sub-region.

Once your friends have decided on their destinations, I will happily give my recommendations.

Oh, what the heck. Among last year's best meals were

Sora Margherita in Rome, where the "peo" aren't nice or friendly and the atmosphere sucks, but the food is delicious, if you're willing to be uncomfortable for it. Second best thing I ate was the gelato at Gelateria al Teatro. I also had a delicious gnochetti at Ristorante Archimede Sant'Eustachio, recommended by the landlord. The place looked touristy but the dish was memorable.

In Venice, I am going back to Oliva Nera because the Swordfish crudo, the spaghetti with bottarga and the semi freddo were all delicious.

In Florence, I will go back to Il Fagioli for the veal chop and Trattoria i due G for bistecca.

We had a very nice meal at Il Pompiere in Verona. Heavy on meat.

There you go.

OP - once you have the locations and dates then detailed info will surely follow.

Sandralist - I disagree about Tuscany not being appropriate for non-meat eaters. How about:

Ribollita
Pappa al pomodoro
Panzanella
Many dishes with carciofi or zucchine including frittate
Soups with farro
Frittate di ceci (as well as other dishes)
Cavolo nero - alone or in other dishes
Gobbi or cardi

Venice restaurants: Vini da Gigio, Anice Stellato both in Canareggio, and Da Alberto next to Santa Maria dei Miracoli

I actually did say where they would most likely be going -- Florence, Rome, Venice
Maybe a stop in Verona, maybe Sienna, maybe Cinque Terre but more likely the Amalfi coast & staying in Positano

Ackislander -- thanks, that's exactly the kind of suggestion I was hoping for.

Sandralist - I wasn't deriding anyone & I did give peo an idea of where they'd be going. No, the restaurants in Rome & Venice we went to were NOT in any book, we just wandered in & were sorry we did. In Taormina, we got lucky.

And yes, being Italian myself I am very well aware that Italians in Italy do not generally eat big plates of pasta w/ red sauce, I know that in certain areas meat is not eaten much because it's difficult to get a good piece that isn't very expensive, therefore seafood is very popular. I also know that rice, polenta, beans, etc are very popular, as is a butter or olive oil sauce as opposed to tomato.

I personally wouldn't eat donkey. My husband might. The honeymooning couple, him no, her-think she would.

oooh... thanks sandralist... i live in dublin, but am more likely to find myself in new york than in verona... is the NY one any good do you know?

I'm not familiar w/ it