Sorrento, Rome, Florence & Venice - Where to eat?!

We used TripAdvisor for finding places, reading tons of reviews and looking at pictures before deciding where to eat. I also booked as many places ahead of time as I could.

Rome we loved Osteria Barberini (shrimp and truffle risotto was out of this world, free grappa almost killed us). Florence we loved All'Antico Vinaio (great lunch stop, huge €5 sandwiches and fun standing in line with Italians trying to figure out how to order), La Buchetta Food & Wine (more upscale dinner, steak with bleu cheese and walnuts was amazing), and Cacio Vino Trallalla (must be booked ahead of time through their website.. only has 4 tables, amazing food and the dessert trio was one of the best I've ever had). In Venice we LOVED Panini Lampo for lunch (it was the softest, most amazing bread I've ever had) and Al Bacco Felice had really good pizza.

Do you trust strangers to give you restaurant recs? I don't, lol! But I do trust the work of food bloggers like Katie Parla and Elizabeth Minchilli, who both live in Italy and study its food. Both have apps. The Slow Food guide to Italy is also an app and I always use it.
Some general tips, if you do download those apps, map out places that are close to your lodging. If you've been out sightseeing ll day, it is nice to have something close by in mind. Also, if you need to make reservations in Italian (it happens), I find that easier in person versus on the phone, so I will swing by a place earlier to reserve a table. Keep in mind that dinner hour is later in Italy--and remember you do not have to order all four courses, which is way too much food. enjoy!

ps It is not that I am insulting anyone who helpfully replies--not at all! I just think food is so subjective and how is anyone to know what you like.

For Venice, we've been working our way through this list Top 10 Venice Restaurants. No losers so far, and we've hit 6 of the 10.

In Rome, this list has proved useful to us Rome Taxi Drivers' Tips. We did not really like La Tavernaccia da Bruno but La Fraschetta del Pesce and Pizzeria da Remo are two of our very favorites. Also look at Antica Taverna near Piazza Navona for reasonably priced Roman food, La Pratolina for fine pizza in Prati. Reservations recommended at all of the Roman restaurants, although da Remo does not take them.

You're gonna love eating in each city. I'll give you my favorites after 13 years.
Sorrento: Hotel il Nido is where I stay and where I've always had the best food in Sorrento. It's up the hill, not in town. Another place, down at the water is Trattoria da Emilia. You are literally "at" the water! Wonderful seafood and great atmosphere. I tried a new place this year (new to me, that is): il Bufalito. Actually I was very pleased and will definitely go back.

Rome: Antica-Hostaria Pontesisto is my only recommendation. When I'm in Rome I rent an apartment and enjoy doing my own cooking with the wonderful fresh vegetables and fruits. Pontesisto is on the Trastevere side of Ponte Sisto (the pedestrian bridge near Campo di Fidore). They have wonderful Saltimbocca and Carbornara at very comfortable prices. The house wine is quite good and the chef's mother makes the limoncello, or so he told me last night. There is a nice bar right by Santa Maria in Trastevere (beautiful church!) that is great for people watching. Try an Aperol Spritz or a Garibaldi (campari and orange juice) - both very refreshing drinks. Your drink comes with several kinds of finger food. So civilized!!!!

Venice: Art Blu which is near the Accademia bridge. Marco and the fastest moving wait staff in Venice are the floor show. The food is honest. Nono Risorto is my other favorite. Nice garden setting with very good food. How to get there? Go to the Rialto Market and walk along the water as far as you can then turn left. The first little piazza you come to, turn right and cross the bridge. That's it on your left behind the gated wall. Reservations helpful telephone 0415241169 (yep, I have it on speed dial). I tried a new place this year: Bentigodi which is in the Cannaregio area (Calesele 1423). The seafood was exquisite but don't try your Italian with the waiter - he doesn't want to be bothered. Hope he's gone next year!

Florence: I am not a big fan of Florence in the summer time but I spent a day there last week. The San Lorenzo market has completely redone itself - lots of amazing food stores on the first floor and equally amazing eating possibilities on the second floor. Walk around and make your choice. You can select from different places and then eat in the middle. Or you can order from one menu and watch the cooks do their magic. I'm changing my view of Florence in the summer time. Honestly, it was fun to watch so many happy eaters . . . and to be one of them!

Wine? I always order the house wine and have only once been unhappy (my fault, I went to a tourist trap in Rome on my 1st visit). Water in Italy is fine to drink but you'll see just about everyone gets bottled water with dinner. The water is getting colder, guess the American tourists have complained a lot. Don't expect large amounts of ice if you ask for it.

Enjoy!!!!!

Thanks everyone, I'll check these places out!

Valadelphia - what is this entire forum for if not to inquire to like-minded strangers about their experiences and recommendations? I appreciate your advice though, and will look into the food bloggers you suggested. :)

Elizabeth Minchilli's blog is wonderful. Also if you can get her book "Eating Rome" from your local library it's a fun and worthwhile read from the perspective of an American who has lived in Rome for many years and loves the food and food traditions.
Cynthia

You will be tripping over good places to eat. Especially in Rome. You won't understand it until you get there.

4Leoni in Florence is really nice, reasonable enough if your looking for the 1.3 kilogram Florentine steak. I would make a reservation for 4Lenoni. You email them and they get back to you. We ate there a few weeks ago. Superb. Not over the top, dinner for three with several main courses, the big steak for two, a couple starters, several side additions, a liter and a half of wine, water and soda came out at 145 euro and we had A LOT of food. Obscene really - but hey we are on vacation!

In Venice our favorite place was in Lido at Parco delle Rose (closed Tuesdays). Take the water bus to Lido, stroll down the main street - its on the left just past the bumper car arcade. Really nice fish as well. Reasonable prices (the fixed menu is great - lots to choose from). This was just so relaxing and comfortable (outdoor dining) in a huge garden. I can't remember what we paid, I think fixed menu was around 20/pp for starter/app, 1st course pasta dish, 2nd course fish dish, salad and desert (very nice),a liter of wine plus a nice cutlet, fries and sodas for the kid total was around 60 Euro at the end I guess. That said you can have a pizza for 8~ Euro there, or a lasagna or pasta for about the same or less. We could easily of halved our food expenditures but why??

Rome - actually the small hole in the wall street food and small places were great.

Sorrento - Inn Bufalito - a little hard to find. Nice food.

Above are the ones we really enjoyed.

Have a super trip!

Venice: we loved La Zucca in the San Polo neighborhood. A little fancier than other places we went. Emphasis on vegetarian dishes but plenty of meat too. Everything we had was delicious.

Florence: Sostanza, a hole in the wall east of the tourist zone famous for Butter Chicken. Only 2 seatings per night, call ahead the day before. And the berry meringue cake was like nothing else I have ever had.

Rome: Da Enzo, a small trattoria in Trastevere. Not fancy, just good.

katie,

I usually get good restaurant recommendations from hotel staff in whatever cities I'm staying in.

However, one suggestion for Sorrento (if your budget will allow) is L' Antica Trattoria. I found the food and service to be excellent, but definitely a "splurge".

If you haven't done so already, be sure to do a bit of research on the "customs" for dining in Italy. Meals are served in different courses including Antipasti, Primi, Secondi, Contorni, Dolci, etc. You don't have to order the "full meal deal" as that will become very expensive and you won't be able to finish it all. I normally just order a salad, Primi (Pasta), some wine and a bottle of water. In some places, you'll also be charged Coperto (service charge) which is perfectly normal. Get used to ordering bottled water with meals (if desired) as getting tap water is "unusual".

If you normally have coffee after dinner, be prepared to pay for every cup (which will be made fresh). The closest version to the coffee we get over here is probably Cafe Americano (Espresso with added hot water). There are no Starbucks in Italy (yet). Cappucino is normally only a breakfast drink.

Katie, have an AMAZING time. Thanks for everyone's input on restaurant recommendations. We are going next year and I can't wait to try some of these recommendations. Katie, if you try any of these restaurants, please report back with your recommendations. :D

We enjoyed all'Amarone wine bar in Venice - San Polo area. We stumbled over it our last night in Venice, and I know when we return to Venice we'll return to this place. Nice portion sizes, reasonable prices, good food and service. And wine tastings, if you like wine (which we don't).

http://www.allamarone.com/

(Ranked 51 out of 1300+ restaurants on TA, which I think is pretty darn good!)

You guys are making me hungry!

Ken - Thanks for the etiquette notes...we'll already look like tourists, so the more we know about the culture, the better. :)

Pilgrim - I will definitely report back when we return! I plan on keeping notes of the places we go.

Thanks so much for all the recs, we have a great list of places to look into now. This is why I love this forum!