My fiance and I are going to Italy at the end of March- his first time ever to leave the country- and I need help planning a special birthday dinner/event for him in Rome. Any special occasion restaurants or ideas would be welcome (expensive is ok).

Unfortunately his birthday is on March 29- a monday- and i noticed that many restaurants are closed this day. He loves "experiences" more than any material gift so i'd like to make this as memorable as possible.

Thank you!

Try a restaurant called Magna Roma. It is located on Via d'Africa on a side street near the Coliseum. It's specialty is ancient Roman cuisine. The waitresses are dressed in togas and when each course is served, the waitress or the chef will explain what ingredients are used and why. If you search "Magna Roma" you should be able to find their website. It was a very unique dining experience.

thank you- that did look very fun- i just found a message that said the restaurant is now closed (too bad i would have loved to have used my years of Latin to try and translate the menu)

<<i would have loved to have used my years of Latin to try and translate the menu>>

Excellent. To bad that it won't work out for you to try it. I would have liked to hear about it.

I am a very strong advocate of trying to learn as much of a language as you possibly can - - but the language of menus is especially daunting, no matter how much effort you put into it.

A good printed crutch resource can be a big help (though even then, not always enough) - - so I recommend an excellent and free one: www.acena.it/dizionario.html

It's also got French, German and spanish in addition to English and Italian, for what it's worth.

My own "special place" restaurant would be Vivendo in the St. Regis Grand - - I'm not sure it would qualify as an experience - - it's sedate, elegant, coat'n'tie, expensive and good, with far fewer Americans than Europeans. The waitstaff are all superb and fluent in many languages including English. It might not be what you are looking for.

Whatever your decision, congratulations on your new life in marriage... and...

Best wishes,

Rex

At Via Appia Antica 87 there is (or was) a restaurant housed in an ancient colombarium (repository for ash urns). Very good food, quite an unusual but somehow romantic setting, at least at night. Might be a bit cool at the end of March but they do have those warming lanterns. Another option is the restaurant at the Cecilia Matella catacombs. Or, for fine upscale dining, go to Camponeschi in Piazza Farnese (gorgeous romantic setting at night) or Checchino dal 1887.

those suggestions look great- i will let you all know how it turns out!