Places to eat in Italy

Well, we'll try to help you out as best we can in the limited time and space we've got here.

But "best places" doesn't give us enough to go on, to give you useful replies, please reply with another post giving us an idea of your price range--works best if you express it in terms of an approx maximum price per person, for dinner, in dollars or euros.

And just a note: I trust you're not relying on the necessarily few replies you're going to get in this space as your primary method of selecting restaurants all over Italy?

There are far better methods of selecting restaurants. Just one of those better methods would be

Instructions for Finding Stuff on the Helpline

to find the previous discussions had here of favorite restaurants in each of those places.

If you invest 10 minutes doing that, you should come up with a treasure trove of prior restaurant recommendations/reviews had here in the last couple of years. Good hunting.

Hi John,

My all time favorite place we ate in all of Italy was in Sorrento at Ristorante Delfino. It is located in the Marina Grande (if facing the water the farthest restaurant on the right). It was AMAZING. We went there 2 nights in a row it was so good. They had fresh seafood that was caught each morning and you could really tell. The owners also make the place great. Luisa is the kindest women and likes to joke around with the customers. On our final night she was so sweet and gave me a charm for my necklace (it had the Virgin Mary on one side and the cross on the other). It was the sweetest thing anyone ever gave me. I highly recommend you try it out. P.S. Be aware of the other restaurants there as they will try to get you to sit down....just ignore them.

In Venice I would recommend Trattoria da Giorgio ai Greci. This is one that is also recommended in rick steves book. The food was wonderful. And they have great canalside seating off a quiet canal. It's a little tricky to find...follow Rick steves map in the book and don't get frustrated if it takes awhile...the food is worth it.

Have a great trip!

John,

Two places that I enjoyed were This place in Florence and This place in Sorrento.

I'd have to check my notes regarding Venice and Rome.

Buon Appetito!

Hey, John. A few places we've REALLY enjoyed:

1. Florence: Trattoria Gobbi 13 (wonderful place for dinner!); Bar San Michele (the spinach and ricotta focacia is amazing--a lunch place, really)

2. Sorrento: Pizzeria Da Franco - one of the best pizzas we've had in Italia - a very casual, inexpensive place near the lemon grove

3. Venice: been to Venezia twice, but haven't found that magical restaurant, yet. We don't find the food there very good, to be honest, and opt for appetizers, pizza, or a sandwich, instead

4. Rome: no help here - been there once and just didn't find anything memorable during our short stay...others will help here. I'm sure Rome has some wonderful spots.

In Florence, we loved Nerone's. I think we had dinner there 3 or 4 times. Delicious food, GREAT wine and very inexpensive. Hope you will try it. Susan, Raleigh, NC

Venice-Locanda Montin in the San Trovaso area--Rome-Our favorite is Perilli on Via Marmarotta which is near the Pyramid and Protestant Cemetery--food is tradtional Roman and wonderful-Florence--we like the food and fun atmosphere at ZaZa which is centrally located but can't remember exact place. Never been to Sorrento--have fun!

There are several good places mentioned here (for Florence):

http://www.florence-on-line.com/food-drink/dining/

I wouldn't miss a meal at Boccadama if you are in Santa Croce - http://boccadama.com/

Il Giova is another reasonably priced place with very good food:

http://www.florence-journal.com/florence/2006/12/trattoria_il_gi.html

And DEFINITELY have "panini tartufati" at Proccaci:

http://www.antinori.it/eng/attorno_al_vino/procacci.htm

If you have cash to burn and want something different (and usually very good) try Trattoria Garga: http://www.florence-on-line.com/food-drink/dining/san-lorenzo/trattoria-garga.html

This all being said - Florence is full of places to eat and people have favorites that I have never heard of... but there are many places where you will never see a Florentine eating that tourists swear by :)

The NY Times had a great article about Trattorias in Rome in March:

http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/03/22/travel/22choice.html

If you're in the Trastevere area of Rome, check out Ivo Pizzaria. Casual and reasonably priced. Their pizza and pasta is great! Also, if you like olives, try their fried olives....you'll go back for more....
Enjoy!

If you go to the Home page, click on Rick's Guidebooks and then on Share Feedback, you'll find quite a bit of feedback on restaurants listed in Rick's Italy, city and other guidebooks.