My wife and I will be in Rome at the end of September and I'd like to surprise her and take her out to a special meal. I'd like to go somewhere with excellent food for a memorable and enjoyable meal. However, I don't want to go anywhere too formal as I will not be bringing a suit and while we enjoy eating, three hour meals are not our favorite. I have seen some other posters recommend Pergola but would prefer something more centrally located (we'll be staying by the Pantheon. Please let me know if you have any suggestions, their price range and also please keep in mind that we are going in a couple of weeks so if reservations are required months in advance, that won't work for us.<BR>

Two years ago, we had an excellent dinner at a restaurant a block off the Piazza Navona called Ecce Bomba. We were treating our Roman hosts and this was their favorite restaurant. We ate on the street, but you could eat inside if you wished. It was full of atmosphere and good food and vino. I believe the bill was about $25-$30 a person. I am sure you could pinpoint this restaurant via the internet. Bon viaggio!

You can find some suggestions here:<BR>http://www.romaclick.com<BR><BR>Buon Appetito!

Hi Alex<BR>If you do a search here on Rome restaurant you are going to find many suggestions, some of them mine.<BR>I had memorable meals at La Tartaruga<BR>(informal,simple, but stupendous food)<BR>and Myosotis. Both are close to the Pantheon area,as are many others.<BR>If you'd like to see my Rome file, email me.<BR>good luck

Hi<BR>I forgot to say, in addition to doing the search here, check out the Rome Restaurants Rants and Raves area elsewhere on the Fodor's website

Do not recall the name but we found a really great Irish Pub in Rome about one street over from via Torino that served the greatest food. Plus really good Guinness.....

There is a wonderful little restaurant near the forum called Mario's - don't mix it up with another Mario's that is by Piazza Navona I think. This is on a small street across from the open air opera. Food is wonderful, service is great and fun - ask the waiter what is available since they order at 11pm the night before and may not have what is printed. He will also make "for you a special dinner" - his choices, his recipes and its great - open air porch or inside, casual dress, we went twice.

Ecce Bomba and Mario's sound good. Do you know whether they take reservations? I was hoping to ask my hotel to reserve. I'd appreciate any additional suggestions. Somewhere romantic would be nice. Thanks!

We had a wonderful romantic dinner at Romolo. We sat in the garden with twinkling lights on the trees and there were strolling musicians. Great food, and be sure and have the lemon gelato dessert, it is the best in the world.

We found this wonderful restaurnat called Santa Lucia, it's located right before the hustle and bustle of Paizza Navona. The restaurant is on a corner but the outdoor eating area is a few feet away at a square in the middle of the street. it's elevated and surround by beuatiful hedges and it's all candlelight. food was great, service excellent, ambience perfect. no suit needed but we were dressed nicely. dinner cost us about 150 with 3 courses and two bottles of wine.

Nino, on via Borgognona near the Spanish Steps is great, but casual enough to skip the suit-wear & opt into something more leisurely. They do take reservations, and you will definitely need them on a weekend. Two of us had dinner together for about $50, which included wine and dessert, and the tip for our terrific waiter.<BR><BR>Buon Appetito & Buon Viaggio,<BR>BC