Rome Help, Per Favore

originally posted by VLM:
Let me piggy back on this thread.

My understanding is that the best food is actually from other regions.
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Hmm. Don't know about that. Like NYC, there's plenty of great region-focused places but Rome does have it's own specialities (e.g., cacio e pepe and carciofi alla romana) and restaurants that make them really well.

This list has some great places: http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/jul/13/10-best-restaurants-rome
 
originally posted by Sharon Bowman:
I bet.

The first time I went there (in 2004, in May, just a lovely month) I was gobsmacked. I'd been in other places with Roman ruins (Nîmes, Lyon, Naples/Pompeii), but this was just astounding.

Fellini hadn't prepared me for this.
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My one must see in Rome was Fontana di Trevi because of Fellini. Too many selfie sticks there these days and not enough Anita Ekberg and Marcello Mastroianni. I was actually astounded by Villa Adriana just outside of Rome. So many ghosts.
 
here's a few recent experiences:

pizza- Pizzarium Bonci is a must. go right before lunch noon or after 1:30 or 2 to avoid the crowds. the pizza is insanely good.

Food Markets- Trionfale and Testaccio markets are worth going to for just the theatre of it all. the seafood on display is unreal. just go and wander around even if you can't cook while there.

cocktails- Hotel Russie. expensive as hell but worth it for the scenery and ambience. sit outside if you can.

Retail Wine- Les Vignerons is definitely worth going to. great natural wine shop with inventory from all of Italy. i brought home several bottles from this shop.

Restaurant- i cooked in mostly but ate very well at "Cul-de Sac". near the piazza Navona. terrific wine list and you can get bottles to go. food is classic Roman rustic dishes.

Bar Fica near Piazza Navona is a fun place to have a Negroni and watch pretty girls walk by..
 
originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
Abbachio lamb, veraci clams, carciofi alla giudea, puntarelle, salame corallina, and so on, not good enough for you?
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I don't know Roman cuisine. This is what I was told by an American who was an ex-pat in Italy for a little while (though not in Rome).

This will be my first visit.
 
originally posted by Bill Lundstrom:
here's a few recent experiences:

pizza- Pizzarium Bonci is a must. go right before lunch noon or after 1:30 or 2 to avoid the crowds. the pizza is insanely good.

Food Markets- Trionfale and Testaccio markets are worth going to for just the theatre of it all. the seafood on display is unreal. just go and wander around even if you can't cook while there.

cocktails- Hotel Russie. expensive as hell but worth it for the scenery and ambience. sit outside if you can.

Retail Wine- Les Vignerons is definitely worth going to. great natural wine shop with inventory from all of Italy. i brought home several bottles from this shop.

Restaurant- i cooked in mostly but ate very well at "Cul-de Sac". near the piazza Navona. terrific wine list and you can get bottles to go. food is classic Roman rustic dishes.

Bar Fica near Piazza Navona is a fun place to have a Negroni and watch pretty girls walk by..
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We only have a couple of days and are staying in a hotel, so we'll be eating out the whole time.

I think that Stephanie might object to my ogling of the ladies.
 
originally posted by Scott Kraft:
originally posted by VLM:
Let me piggy back on this thread.

My understanding is that the best food is actually from other regions.
Click to expand...

Hmm. Don't know about that. Like NYC, there's plenty of great region-focused places but Rome does have it's own specialities (e.g., cacio e pepe and carciofi alla romana) and restaurants that make them really well.

This list has some great places: http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/jul/13/10-best-restaurants-rome
Click to expand...

Thanks! Any of those you like in particular?
 
La Tavernaccia for simple comfort foods. Family run.

Roma Sparita is similar but more refined. Beautiful location on a summer night.

Il Tempio di Iside for seafood. Make sure you get a table upstairs/outside.

All are reasonably close to where you're staying.
 
I would trust Katie Parla's app, too. There's an I'll Drink To That interview with her. I think I remember her saying that, when in Rome, you should go outside the city center to get really good food.
 
originally posted by kirk wallace:
oh, and by the way; your ex-pat friend is wrong.
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You can tell Stephanie the next time you are down... I may have misquoted a bit too [and she lived in Bologna].
 
I will look forward to seeing you both after your trip. I suppose i've spent as much time in Bologna as Rome over the past 10-15 years (maybe Big Bo has a slight edge) and love both, but I never look for Roman cooking in Bologna or vice versa.
 
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