Lot so places I've heard/read about say to make reservations for dinner. How far in advance to Italians do this, is it like here in DC where you shoudl call weeks in advance or shodul Imake them the day before/same day, etc. I'm travelling in November. If I call now and make them will they think I'm crazy?

In Rome I made reservations in the afternoon the same day. No problems in February and March.

If you're looking at some world class restaurant, then maybe you should be booking now. But generally, the average restaurant will think you are crazy. I have rarely had difficulty booking the same day or a day before at most restuarants. Sometimes as we explore in the evening we find a restaurant that is packed and they turn us away. Invariably if we ask about making a reservation for the next night, that is fine and they actually start a list for the next night and put us on it.

We did have one exception though in Bellagio where we arrived and tried to make a reservation for any of the next five nights at the very popular Bilacus. There was nothing they could do as they were already fully booked. We stopped back twice during the week to check again, still without any luck. Although later we were told we should have gone anyway and perhaps gotten in.

Thanks, then we'll book when we get there!

Even for the nicer restaurants, just book a few days ahead when you get there. We did find though, that there were some great restaurants that we just simply walked up to and asked to be seated. There are so many great places to eat that it's not like you have to eat at just a few certian restaurants. Walk around and find something yourself - explore!