vjd3

My (new) wife and I are honeymooning in Rome, Venice and Florence this week, any outstanding restaurant recommendations?

TIA

Three 997s, an orange Gallardo and a Ferrari 360 so far (day 1) :-)

Terry Adams

http://www.ristorantedamimmo.it/index_en.html

LT1

Check out a place not in the tourist books in Florence called "13 Gobbi" Seriously you wont be disappointed

993-C4S

My last trip to Rome I discovered this place. http://www.alverogirarrostotoscano.com/Home_ENG.html

It's right around the corner from the Westin Excelsior (walking distance).

Highly recommend the (insert your type of pasta) with boar sauce. Very rustic, traditional, Tuscan style. Not fancy, but amazing food and great wine selection.

Okay, separate the comment above from the one below. Why? Because I'm about to recommend a McDonalds

No, no, not for the food, for the experience. Perhaps the most aesthetically appealing McDonald's in the world exists at the bottom of the Spanish Steps. The entire thing is carved out of marble. Worth a walk through just to check it out. Definitely don't recommend the food there.

Florence. Trying to remember the place. One or two stars. just outside the city. On a hill with a spectacular view of the city. supposedly designed by Michelangelo. Very expensive, food was good not great, but incredibly romantic because of exclusivity and view (jacket and tie required).

Enjoy and congrats!!!!

BobbyT

In Rome, we enjoyed Alfredo's, of Fettuccine Alfredo fame, a dish enjoyed by Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, of silent movie fame, who were so impressed with this place that they presented it with a gift of gold cutlery. Since visited by many, many Hollywood stars, featured in pictures on the walls of the restaurant.

Piazza Augusto Imperatore, 30
00186 Roma (RM), Italy
+39 06 6878734

bcameron59

I spent 4 years in Rome in the 60's as a kid, and brought my wife there in the mid-90's. As things do, the city had changed a lot with time, life was faster paced and many of the people seemed more tense and less carefree, some even rude. After a couple of days of this, I was beginning to lose faith in the Eternal City.

Then one cool May night, wandering in the Centro Storico (historic centre of Rome), cold, hungry, and a bit discouraged, we stumbled across a little restaurant on a sidestreet off the Corso. It was warmly lit, enticing smells wafted out the door. It was almost full, and a warm buzz of content conversation filled the room.

On entering, the waiter welcomed us like long lost friends, waved us to the one remaining empty table, then pointed us to the antipasti bar (hint: bring your appetite). The food was excellent (best bucatini all'amatriciana I believe I have ever had), the atmosphere totally relaxing, and our waiter was warmly humorous and generous in equal measure. I left that evening warm, full, and as content as I can ever remember having been, with my faith in Italy and its people restored in full and more.

Re degli Amici, Via della Croce 33, between Via del Corso and Via Babuino, not far from the Piazza d'Espagna (Spanish Steps). It's been in operation since the late 1920's and I sure hope it's still around because I hope to return there this spring with my wife and now my two sons (11 and 7). With any luck, Benito may still be working the tables.

Others:
Might also try going west and a little south to Trastevere (literally "across the Tiber"), several nice places but one of the better ones would be Antica Trattoria Da Carlone, Via della Luce, 5.

Also if you work up an appetite near the forum, try La Traverna dei Fori Imperiali, on on a little side street Via Madonna dei Monti, 16 (one block north of Via Cavour).

Buon appetito!

Monique

bcameron59... well written. I could nearly enjoy the aromas you savored...

OT...OT

dhicks

I envy you Italy is my favorite country!!! I have spent so much time here its like another home. My (new) wife and I had our honeymoon there 5 years ago, Venice, Florence, Lucca, Piza, Viareggio, Rome, Milan....memories flood back......Cant remember any outstanding restaurants in Venice, there were all ok, If you are going to Florence then a must is to rent a car and go to Lucca and Viareggio..............Lucca is an old walled city, walk the walls in the evening for a romantic walk with your new wife and try the restaurant that is actually on the wall....sorry cant remember the name....but everybody knows it....then spend an afternoon in Viareggio, an old Tuscan Seaside town with some great seafood eateries........look for La Bombetta.....does not look much but the food is exceptional.......enjoy....

Floodj

I love Italy too, and I think Venice is one of the best places on earth to visit, but I must say the food sucks. Focus on the sites there not the food, the food in Tuscany is much better. I would recommend a Rick Steve's Guide...my (only) wife and I like his guides the best because he has great walking tours and actually makes recommendations on what you should see and what you can skip.
Congrats and enjoy your trip,
--Joe

climbasky

One of my best meals ever..........and we have been all over the world in the last 30 plus years, was this past summer in Rome.
We ate at a delicious restaurant in Rome, called CASA MIA ROMA. Had the spaghetti carbonara, and a penne pasta with Italian sausage! The restaurant is near Fontana Di Trevi, facing it, you go down the street to it's right, then at the first serious turn, it is right there on your right! Less than a 5 minute walk.

BobbyT

I forgot to mention do Forni (The Oven) in Venice. We went there directly from a disappointing $18 Bellini at Harry's Bar, and as soon as we sat down, Duo Forni served us complimentary Bellinis, bigger and better than Harry's. Like much of Venice, the menu features a lot of seafood, but it doesn't get any fresher.

Review and address here:
http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/gui...=1154654632506

rome

In Florence, I like Buca Lapi for really authentic Tuscan food. http://www.florencetaste.com/en/Buca-Lapi_37.html

In Rome, I like Otello's (on Della Croce, off the Corso). It is a VERY modest, neighborhood place hidden in an alley, but in a very nice shopping area. Not touristy at all, and the saltimbocca is amazing. Nothing fancy, but those who know of the place....well... http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m..._/ai_n15674457 http://www.frommers.com/destinations/rome/D33612.html

EnigmaWmn

Since you did say "outstanding", then in Rome you must visit Vivendo. It's located in Le Grand and has been #1 rated by Zagat. Good food (I'm not a fan of italian, but FWIW liked this place enough to try & celebrate NYE there this year) and excellent decor.

Have a look: http://www.lasplash.com/publish/cat_..._Is_Living.php

http://italy.destinations.starwoodho..._SPECIALOFFERS

rome

Another to add to the list for Rome is San Teodoro. Also not the least bit touristy. Filled with well-heeled Romans. Somewhat expensive, but very, very good.

http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/gui...=1154654632332

http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/i...iew-52711.html

Steve 96C4S

So many overpriced and overrated restaurants over there (we found out the hard way some times). Wish we had known about this website before we went... we would have cut and pasted great places to go.

Italy
Chowhounds - For those that live to eat!
Tips for Dining, Eating, and Food Shopping in Italy (including Rome, Florence, Milan and Venice)
http://chowhound.chow.com/boards/58

Have fun,

Steve R