I've seen a number of mentions of "Great Sleeps Italy" on this board (not praising or damning, just saying it is a resource). Has anyone used "Great Eats Italy," and if so, have the selections been good?

Hi Bookworm. When in Rome for a week in March, 2001, we went to two places in her book, one in Trastevere and a pizza place near Piazza del Popolo (can't recall the names of either one.) Neither was a "gourmet" establishment, of course, but we found them both to be quite good, and reasonably-priced. <BR><BR>Two places I love in Rome are Marios (a small little place in Via del Moro in Trastevere) and a wonderful tavola calda, the Antica Tavola Calda del Corso, on the west side of Via del Corso, not far from the Vittoriano monument.

topper

I like Gustafson's books very much.<BR>It helps to pay attention to the details she gives: if she says decor isn't much, or cleanliness is not the highest, or the rooms on the top floor are the smallest, pay attention.<BR>Also note for each recommendation whether she mentions that there are elevators and air conditioning, or not.

I took Gustafson's Cheap Eats in Italy with me on my last trip and it was a winner! Every trattoria/ristorante we chose was one of her recommended places and every one was great. I like the less formal, authentic, family owned places with more pesonalized service and many of her recommendations are these kinds of places.

Thanks for the info. I like the Great Sleeps book (I'll like it better after it proves reliable, but the detail lets me know pretty much what to expect), so I will now likely grab the Great Eats book, too.