 Traveling to Venice / Florence / Rome, Another hopeless Yank in need of advice |
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 Oct 13 2005, 02:19 PM
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Advanced Member  Group: Members Posts: 63 Joined: 27-September 04 Member No.: 186  |
My wife and I are heading to Venice, Florence and Rome for three nights each in November and wanted to check in to get some current restaurant advice.
I have scoured the topics elsewhere on this site, as well as gotten advice from countless friends, but wanted to post here as one last sounding board. We like good food. Food that is fresh, local and unavailable elsewhere. We are not big on critic's ratings, decor and abhore velvet rope "scenes." What we are looking for are excellent restaurants that typify their city/region and/or are such unique experiences, that they are not to be missed. Last year (prior to a London visit) this group talked me into cancelling my reservation at Rasoi Vineet Bhatia in favor of dinner at New Tayabs - and couldn't have been more right! Here are some recomendations I have received (both here and elsewhere): Venice Alle Testiere da Fiore (some confusion here - the casual trattoria, or the place with the cooking school?) Florence Enotecca Pinchiori (I already booked this one - a belated anniversary present - not exactly what I described above, but twist my arm) Pentola d'oro Rome Agata e Romeo Al Ceppo Ambasciata D'Abruzzo Checcino dal 1887 (I worry, is this just, "St. John in Rome"?) Romolo Santopadre Any thoughts? -------------------- |
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Oct 13 2005, 08:30 PM
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#2
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 192 Joined: 17-February 05 From: Jersey Member No.: 426 |
I am going to Checchino dal 1887 and Al Ceppo next week. I will try and report back with updated info on them when I get home.
Edit: Just reread your post. You may also want to research Il Bacaro, Matricianella, and Armando al Pantheon in Rome. |
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Oct 21 2005, 01:42 PM
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#3
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 192 Joined: 17-February 05 From: Jersey Member No.: 426 |
As much as I like offal, Checchino did not do it for me. The service was great, the wine was good, but the food was very mediocre. The dishes did not really highlight the innards, and most dishes were very bland. Maybe we ordered wrong, but I got the Degustation menu and my wife got the buon recordo menu. They did give us a cute dish with a pig and cow on it...that was very nice, although I'm not sure why they did that (because I ordered the largest tasting menu?). The torta di ricotta for dessert was great. Al Ceppo, on the other hand, I would definitely recommend. Very good antipasti and grilled veal chop with delicious roasted potatoes on the side. I also got the cheese plate for dessert and received a bunch of interesting cheeses that I have not had before. The owner was very sweet and the fact that I made my reservation through e-mail seemed to tickle her. I also have to highly recommend Armando al Pantheon. This is a fantastic, no-frills little place right near the Pantheon. I think I found the rec on Chowhound. It was about 75% Italians/25% tourists...many people were turned away who had not reserved a table. Very good renditions of some classics like spaghetti carbonara, ravioli di tartufo, and abbachio. They also had a terrific cake for dessert, torta antica roma, which was made with ricotta and berries....delicious. I always feel that I don't do these place justice with my descriptions...let me know if you want me to try and expand on anything. Have fun! Edit: Here is Armando al Pantheon's web site. |
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Oct 28 2005, 08:16 PM
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 Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 1207 Joined: 28-May 04 From: Seattle, WA, USA Member No.: 136 |
If you're interested in a casual meal in Florence, I highly recommend Hosteria Ganino. It's been a while since I've been there, but more recent accounts have confirmed my opinion of it. It's a great place to try bistecca fiorentina without breaking the bank, the steaks are huge.
-------------------- It may have been Camelot for Jack and Jacqueline
But on the Che Guevara highway filling up with gasoline Fidel Castro's brother spies a rich lady who's crying Over luxury's dissapointment So he walks over and he's trying To sympathize with her, but thinks that he should warn her That the Thirld World is just around the corner |
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Oct 31 2005, 02:04 AM
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 Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 68 Joined: 23-May 05 From: Santa Barbara, CA, US Member No.: 584 |
We had a very nice meal at Al Covo. They have a fine wine list and very good food.
Our best meal was Fiascheterria Toscana. Order the Chianina beef steak. You can get Dal Forno for a reasonable price. |
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Oct 31 2005, 06:57 AM
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 Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 1867 Joined: 15-April 04 Member No.: 92 |
... or you could eat fish 
-------------------- Same shit, different login. [-- Omni]
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Nov 7 2005, 03:12 AM
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 68 Joined: 23-May 05 From: Santa Barbara, CA, US Member No.: 584 |
Yeah, sure. You can eat fish every other meal in Venice, and you can get a fritto misto appetizer if you really must. But if you have the chance to eat great beef, regardless of location, why pass it up. |
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Nov 7 2005, 09:15 AM
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#8
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 1867 Joined: 15-April 04 Member No.: 92 |
If that's your priority. After all, I think Al Covo's gone downhill, so horses for course I suppose.
-------------------- Same shit, different login. [-- Omni]
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Nov 7 2005, 10:47 PM
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#9
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 12737 Joined: 23-March 04 Member No.: 45 |
culinario toscano osvaldo in Florence
Dee and I had dinner at this very small place two weeks ago. It's about thirty feet off the Via de Banci, on the Via Bettacordi (near Santa Croce). Maybe 30 seats, total. I believe it's very new, perhaps open a few months, at most. Stewed roe-buck with pine nuts and juniper, extremely fragrant and meaty. Thick piece of salt and herb crusted beef filet with black olives, medium rare as requested. Chestnut lentil puree, which was excellent. The chestnuts had been reduced to a thick paste, and combined with the lentils coooked in a chicken broth. Pieces of toasted breads were added to this very interesting presentation. Two large ravioli stuffed with spinach, ricotta cheese, and truffle oil. Exceptionally light pasta, contents bursting with flavor. Wine was a '99 Brunello from Capanna (E 55), total bill was about E 120. Not a destination by any means, but a pleasant, enjoyable place to sample Tuscan food. -------------------- "The huge rolls of paper toweling were a little more effective and actually tastier."
Rancho Gordo |
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Nov 7 2005, 10:51 PM
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#10
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 12737 Joined: 23-March 04 Member No.: 45 |
Florence: Cantinetta Antinori
The Antinori wine company occupies a palatial town house in Florence, which features a wine bar serving lunch and dinner. We shared a fettucine with rabbit ragu (thick reduction of rabbit, onions, wine) which was great. Damp night, and this was excellent. We also had a small cold cut platter with several kinds of proscuitto, head cheese, marinated artichokes. Dee had a thick veal chop, which was OK, I had a beef stew with peppoli reduction served over polenta. The wine was a Brunello (Plan delle Urgne, 2000) for E 55 Piazza Antinori 3, near Via de Tornabuoni -------------------- "The huge rolls of paper toweling were a little more effective and actually tastier."
Rancho Gordo |
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