I am leaving next week for Italy and was hoping someone would have advice regarding good places to eat in Rome, Florence or Venice. Any meals that really stood out to you? Thank you!

I don't know what your budget is, but for FLorence--one of the top restaurants in Italy is there-called Enotecca Pinchiorra--we went about 8 years ago and it cost $150 per couple but was 8 courses including different wines w/different courses.

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Thanks, Andy. <BR> <BR>Any other ideas? <BR>

Marisa, <BR> <BR>In Rome, I really like La Rossetta for seafood (near the Pantheon), Piperno in the ghetto, Alberto Ciarlo, and the top of the Eden for lunch (overlooking Rome - a splurge but worth it to me...) <BR> <BR>In Venice, Al Covo is my favaorite. Also really like Fiaschetteria Toscana, Do Forni (near the Piazza San Marco), and Corte Sconta. <BR> <BR>In Florence, Cibreo, Cantinetta Antinori (for lunch) are 2 of my favorites. <BR> <BR>Have a great time. <BR> <BR>Dona

Hi Marisa, I liked "Orso 80" on Via Orso very much. Their Antipasti special is wonderful. Just get that, and wine and you won't need to order anything else. They even give you melon with the prosciuto(sp?)...that was my desert.... not the proscuit. In fact, all the little restaurants we happened on, in Rome were very good.. IMHO ... those Italians can cook! <BR>Judy

Anyone else have Italy restaurant suggestions?

nope, but I'm getting hungry...

Don't bother with Cibreo. Go instead to the little "sister" Cibreino nextdoor. Lower prices and not the disappointing service of Cibreo. Other Florence suggestions: La Baraonda, Coco Lezzone, Trattoria Pallottino, Al Lume di Candela, Alla Vecchia Bettola,and our very favorite Ottorino. I think Enoteca Pinchiorri is another one of those tortured tasting menus that are just too cute. If you like Charlie Trotter's think, you'll like the Enoteca, but I think it's way overrated. Cantinetta Antinori for lunch is a delight--many wonderful wines by the glass to compare. If you're in Florence on a Friday, have the Cacciucco, a fabulous Tuscan fish soup at the little Trattoria Da Ginone south of the Arno on V. de Serragli. Don't know Rome as well, but can recommend Trattoria Mezzaluna in Trastevere and Trattoria Pasqualino near the Colosseum. I also remember several great meals at Peppone on V. Emilia near our favorite hotel, La Residenza. Never found anything to really love in Venice. Al Covo and La Caravella are both good. Taverna la Fenice was a good lunch and we really disliked alla Madonna, which many will recommend on this site.

Hi Marisa. In Rome, we really liked an enoteca (wine bar) called the Enoteca Antica on a corner on the Via della Croce, near the Spanish Steps. I'm not sure if they have meals or not, but they have a delicious antipasta plate for L10,000 and a fairly extensive wine selection.

Well, we loved Enotecca Pinchiori, but Andy's price estimate is a little too low these days. Especially if you will have wine. I thought there 8 course tasting menu was just unbelievable. We also enjoyed having Bistecca Fiorentina at Buca Lapi in Florence (which is right downstairs from Cantinetta Antinori). <BR> <BR>In Venice we loved Da Fiore for outstanding seafood. We had a very nice meal at Alla Vedova, where we just asked the waitress to bring us antipasto, and tried a lot of different things. The pizza was very good at Bora Bora, not a bad place for lunch.

Marissa- Enotecca Pinchiori is a 2 star Michelin restaurant--hard for an Italian restaurant to get.We went for a SPECIAL nite--not a typical dinner. I am SURE that it more money that I wrote-8 years ago,$150 for dinner was VERY expensive-So I know you'll pay more now. I was looking in timeout.com and they reviewed Enotecca Pinchiori in addition to a few more restaurants. In fact-if you write down the entire list in this sections that you asked about, timeout.com will even give you prices--to help you a little more. It's a great forum for restaurant help. Have a great time and nibble for me.