Roman restaurant for Solo Diner
 

I will be in Rome for two weeks beginning Wednesday. I am traveling alone. I'd like to go out one evening for a nice, dress-up kind of dinner. I'd like a reccomendation for a place not over 50 Euros for one where a woman would feel comfortable dining alone. I am a veteran solo traveler so it doesn't bother me to eat alone, but it does bother me to get poor service while dining alone or to be hit on while trying to have a nice dinner.
Grazie Mille for the advice.

Natalie

Once again, I'll recommend Checchino dal 1887, a place way too professional and also too elegant (though by no means stiff) that I could imagine a woman alone could be poorly treated. Please see my "Roman food" thread for details: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34792415

My goodness, there are so many places, I don't know where to begin. Nino at 11 via Borgognona, Margutta Vegetariano at 118 via Margutta, Girarrosto Fiorentino at 48 via Sicilia, Pierluigi at 144 Piazza de' Ricci, and Cesarina at 109 via Piemonte will all do very well for you.

Buon Viaggio e Buon Appetito,
BC

Also look at some of the info contained within this thread....towards the middle and bottom:


http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34895007

Thanks for the prompt reply. I am taking notes. Checchino dal 1887 looks lovely and delicious. I'm checking out the others too.

Thanks

Cafe Mancini
via Metastasio, 21 (angles off Piazza Firenze)
Tel. 687-2051
www.cafemancini.com

We ate here twice a couple of weeks ago. Excellent food and presentation, leaning toward Nouvelle Italian (if there is such a thing). Kindly and attentive service by a Bebe Neuwirth look-alike. Several fish choices and a nice wine list (including some very good ones by the glass). One night there was a single diner at the next table, and I would say he received as much kind attention as we did. Three courses plus a glass of wine would be within your budget. Clientele was a mix of tourists and after-work Italians, so the dress-up factor is up to you.

The street is very short and hard to find. (It does not appear on the "Streetwise Rome" map.) Look for Piazza Firenze a block east of Via Scrofa at Via Ascianio. We didn't need a reservation, but it might be a good idea for a solo diner.

Another vote for Il Margutta Ristorante, Via Margutta 118 (0632650577) - elegant, vegetarian, hip
and very close to the Piazza del Popolo. I have a great picture of the stuffed zucchini blossoms I ate but have no idea how to post it or direct you to it !!

Ditto for Edy's, Via Babuino 4 - smaller, cosier and make sure you absolutely save room for the most delicious torta di ricotta in the world

Ristorante 34, Via Mario de Fiori 34 (06 6795091), near the Piazza di Spagna and the Via Condotti. Lively, very good food and attracts all ages

Ristorante da Fortunato, Via del Pantheon (close to the Piazza Navona - 06 6792788). Simply but elegantly decorate, again with excellent food and you will be treated like a queen

Buon appetito !!

I may have to splurge on more than one of these!

Ever consider the services of a gigolo?

Ooops sorry about that last post. I was drinking and in a very playful mood.

Kurt

Natalie, I'd like to offer my services. And not to worry, I hit on gals before dinner. Less expensive that way.

Natalie, I can highly recommend Il Bacaro, Via degli Spagnoni, northeast of Piazza Navona, a small, intimate restaurant, maybe 35 seats. I ate there twice, both meals were fantastic and cost around 36E for two courses and two glasses of wine.

I would add that I was in Rome for 5 nights in Sept 2005 as part of a longer trip and again for 11 nights this past March. I was never in a restaurant that treated me any differently because I was alone.

I wouldn't worry about you. You'd just try to get me to invest in talking toilets or 8 track carboard suitcases. Of course I might be able to get you to invest in my underwater mushroom farming operation.

Checchino is great but be sure the restaurant calls a cab to take you home as the neighborhood can be a little seedy (not particularly dangerous) at night and public transportation is limited. Other places to consider are Ditirambo near Campo di Fiore, Alberto Ciarla and Paris, both in Trastevere and both with great seafood in an elegant, comfortable setting. For more casual evenings, there are communal tables which can be fun at Alfredo e Ada and Pizzeria da Baffetto.

Grinisa - is Ada still healthy and still cooking every day? My last visit was in 2003, and I wouldn't have dared betting that this wonderful old-fashioned restaurant still exists, given Ada's age!

We ate there in 2005 and enjoyed it as much as when we first started going there in the 1980s. Some posters on the Slowtrav board ate there this year and thought it was excellent.

Susan P
Thanks for the suggestion and the reassurance on solo service. I looked at the menu for Il Bacaro - it looks great.