Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Rome Fine Dining

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Kate - I'm a "foodie" to the core, also. I'm embarrassed to admit I've missed a number of Italian treasures rather than miss a meal! Some of my Rome favorites are: La Rosetta (near the Pantheon) for seafood. Il Convivio was good - I wasn't so impressed, and I can't really tell you why. But others rave... Quinzi Gabrieli Da Giggetto in the ghetto (don't miss the artichokes) - great for lunch La Terrazza - an absolute favorite for lunch - smoked salmon or great pasta, cold bottle of white wine, in the open air overlooking Rome. Really a treat... Piperno - also in the ghetto - great food. Don't miss the "Palle alle nonno" for dessert. Alberto Ciarlo (a Buon Ricolta restaurant) Haven't been to La Pergola yet - but it's on my list. Have a wonderful time in Rome. Dona

Once Kate mentioned the Gambero Rosso, I may as well expand a little bit on it. It's indeed an Italian guide for Italians. As such a restaurant that is rated outstanding may be rated comparatively quite different by a guide such as, for instance, Michelin. Gambero Rosso's rating system considers the cuisine (max of 55 points), wine cellar (max of 20 points), service (max of 10 points), ambience (max of 10 points) and bonus points (max of 10 for exceeding values in any of the above features or else). The max total adds to 100. According to the total points a restaurant has been rated, it gets the 3, 2 and 1 fork label. To have an idea, the current online rating lists only 17 restaurants as 3 forks in all of Italy. The top rated restaurant is by coincidence named Gambero Rosso and located in San Vincenzo, province of Livorno in Tuscany. It got a total of 94 points (55, 19, 8, 9 and 3 in the order discriminated above). It's a small restaurant with only 32 servings and the average complete meal (antipasto, primo, secondo, dolce e caffe) excluding wine is surprisingly low at Lit 130,000 (also considering that there's a lot of fish and seafood, more expensive, in the menu). Gambero Rosso rates only 4 restaurants in Rome as 2 or 3 forks: 3 forks Hilton's la Pergola - 92 points (52, 19, 10, 9 and 2), 55 servings, Lit 195,000 2 forks La Rosetta - 83 points (49, 16, 8, 8 and 2), 55 servings, Lit 180,000 L'Ortica - 80 points (47, 14, 8, 9 and 2), 50 servings, Lit 95,000 Antico Arco - 80 points (46, 16, 8, 8 and 2), 80 tables, Lit 95,000 I haven't been to any of the above :-( Just for kicks, I checked the fine restaurants I've experimented in the past (some in the very distant past) and the result was (the list is presented in the order I would rate them according to my experience when it happened through the years: Agata e Romeo - 78 points, 35 servings, Lit 135,000 Il Convivio* - 78 points, 60 servings, Lit 140,000 Checchino dal 1887 - 78 points, 95 servings, Lit 90,000 Papà Giovanni - not included Al Ceppo - 79 points, 100 servings, Lit 80,000 Vecchia Roma - 73 points, 65 servings, Lit 90,000 Paris - 73 points, 90 servings, Lit 80,000 Nino - 73 points, 90 servings, Lit 70,000 * new address, much larger than the restaurant I've been to Both the Agata and Romeo and the Il Convivio have been downrated from the time I've been there. The Il Convivio quite a few years ago and the Agata and Romeo only recently. On the Agata e Romeo there's a coment that a restaurant of its class can't afford to have the sluggish service they provide and that the wine list, though outstanding, is marked up exagerately. Paulo

Kate, I have to back up the recomendation for Sabatini's in Trastevere, My mom and I were there in 8/97 and again this past March with my sisters. It is lovely, romantic, the owner sometimes sings with the musicians, the waiters will charm you and the food is wonderful.

(more Rome recommendations - - reasonably fresh) to the top... for David (Arbuddies)

Was in Rome 7/01. If you are a true foodie, you MUST go to EL TOULA--ask hotel for directions; 10min walk from Sp. Steps. Sababtini's in Trastevere is now awful and service is worse.

Can anyone offer a review of the restaurant at the Raphael Hotel? Thanks, j.

How about Camponeschi in Piazza Farnese. It was featured in Gourmet not too long ago, try seaching for it. I walked by and it looked very special and romantic. Other restaurant tips I've followed from Gourmet in Italy have turned out very well...

Kate, La Sorelela is a small restaurant in Isola Tiberina, a small island in the Tevere, the river, between the Jewish Quarter and Trastevere. The food is exceptionally good, and it's a very traditional restaurant in Rome. Romans eat there. Another option is the Aldrovandi Palace hotel restaurant, also very nice, but a little out of hand, since it's in Parioli, on the norteasthern section of Villa Borghese. Surlok

Ok...it's been 4 months since I started this post. After 9/11, I put all research on hold as I wasn't sure as to what we were going to do...would we go...would we stay near our 2 little kids... Well, we have decided to go ( better late than never since we leave NEXT WEEK!!!!!!!!!) That being said...I have NO RESTAURANT RESERVATIONS set up. For those of you who have recently returned from Rome & enjoy fine food, can you offer any advice as to how to proceed? (Of course I can just call the restaurants,) but I was hoping for information on any recent experiences (reservations not a problem? Less tourists but more locals?)) Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks. -Kate

Kate, about 10 weeks ago, we had one of our best meals in Italy at San Teodoro in the Campidoglio section of Rome. Located at Via dei Fienili, 49, with Tel: 06-6780933. We ate outside, and the entire outside area tables stayed full with mostly Italian speaking diners as well as some foreigners. At the high end of moderately priced, or the low end of expensive. Enjoy your trip!

La Rossetta at the Pantheon- order the sea bass, it's the best hands down.

Read on one of those magazines in our hotel room that the Hilton's restaurant received 2 star Michelin star while Eden's La Terraza received 1 star, we ate at the Eden's and it was very good, so can't help but wonder how good the other one must be.

You got alot of great responses for lots of other nights, but for that one special night, I'd go to La Pergola at the Cavalieri Hilton. Everything the four of us tryed was fabulous; the service outstanding, wine list well-done and the cheese cart and grappa cart overwhelming. The view is gorgeous and the meal really does measure up (bring the camera). We had the chef (German!) sign a copy of the menu when he appeared at the end of the meal. Make a reservation from the Hilton's web site. Have a great time and please report back on your choices.

Hi La Rosetta has consistently been a great meal. We ahve dined there 3 times. Spectacular seafood, great whole fished (order something baked in salt). Skip the pasta course. They offer a grand misto antipasto, a collection of 13 items or so from cuttlefish to clams to shrimp to octopus, mostly marinated. The whole fish is presented raw so you can see how fresh it is and then presented again cooked in its covering of salt. It is filleted and served with a sprinkle of olive oil. SUperb. The wine list offers an amazing array of northern Italian whites with particular emphasis on Friuli and Alto Adige. We paid $500 for 4 on our last visit with an absolutely huge meal and superb wine. Agata e Romeo is in a residental neighborhood and our cabbie said there was no restaurant there when we pulled up. The sign is tiny and hard to spot. They lock the door and buzz you in only after they are sure you have a reservatio. They also confiscate cell phones when you enter. We found the service to be quite pleasant. It is a family run operation with Papa the captain, Mamma in the kitchen, the daughter the sommelier and the son is the waiter. There are a small number of seats and the decor is sparse. The food is very modern and flavorful. I remember quite well the smoked duck breast (very rare) with moscato, also a skate wing course that was spectacular. The cheese course is very well selected. As to wine pricing, if you order big names you will pay a lot but if you order lesser know areas and names, it is not too expensive. In any case, the meal isn't cheap. We paid about $200.00 for 2. Checchino dal 1887 is also a very nice place in Testacchio. Here you eat meat, preferablby the odd parts of the animal. We ahd testa (head), oxtail sauce on pasta, sweatbreads and a lamb stew. All very good. The wine list has a lot of selections but was a little tilted to name producers for my taste. The cheese cart was a dissapopintment. They had quite a selection but all of commercial quality. We paid about $130.00 for 2. In Rome, if you are a foodie you must go to Volpetti, especially the location in Testaccio. We spent a fortune there, buying about a dozen cheeses and other items for a picnic. We could have fed 10. One morning you should go to Campo di Fiori for a strolling breakfast. There is one stand byt he statue of Bruno that specializes in berries. They make a great breakfast. also, go to Il FOrno di Campo di Fiori to get a great torta di rocotta and some Pizza bianco or rosso. Both start out as a huge pizze dough cooked in the wood burining oven. The bianca gets olive oil, rosemary and salt. The rosso gets a rubbing of fresh tomato. Tehy are cut and sold by the kilo. Caffes abound around the campo where you can get a good strong caffe to wash things down. Fred Plotkin raves about the Testacchio market and it is much more traditional and more "Italian" You will find more older Romans shopping there, but for my money the quality of the food is better at Campo di Fiori even if the clientele more well heeled and international.

My vote is for La Cisterna is Trastevere. It is the oldest restaurant in Rome - which in itself is an achievement. Our waiter has been a waiter there for 50 years. They have a small band which goes from table to table signing beautiful Italian songs. The food is fabulous. When first arrive you are greeted with champagne. It's a very special place. After dinner you are invited to go to the old Roman Cistern in the basement for more champagne and a history lesson.

Hi Kate, Wow what a lot of excellent replies. Nonetheless I will place my thoughts here as well. I live and work in Rome as a tour guide so know the city pretty well. I would really recommend the wonderful restuarant at the Hotel Eden, La Terrazza. The chef used to cook for Prince Charles & Princess Diana (not sure if he is still there thoug). The setting is so romantic with a beautiful view over the city of Rome. The service could not be faulted. However I also agree that Re Scalini and La Cisterna are fantastic. If you go to La Cisterna ask if you have a good wander downstairs and see what sits underneath all of this area. It is fascinating!!! For a very typical Roman style restaurant try Ristorante del Pallaro in the Piazza of the same name (right by Campo di Fiori). Here you do not need to think about what to order. It is a set price (from memory about £35,000 lire) and they will bring you plate after plate of food. Mamma is running around with a hanky tied on her head checking that all is well while grandpa and husband are in the kitchen. Not a 5 star but well worth it for a typical Roman experience. I would highly recommend that after you eat there you wander through Campo di Fiori and try out one or two of the excellent wine bars in particular Taverno Campo di Fiori and then head off to Blue Ice for one of the best gelatos of your life!! Kate, I hope this gives you some suggestions but if you need to know anything else please feel free to email me. Regards Marianna