Restaurant recommendations in Italy

[lauda]

The (soon to be) Mrs Lauda and I will be heading to Italy for our honeymoon next Sunday and will be visiting Venice, Florence, Rome and Amalfi.

We're both quite big foodies and are intending to enjoy the culinary delights of Italy to the full but neither of us know the places that we're visiting that well so I was hoping to get some recommendations from the PH experts!

Whilst there will be budget for a few slap up meals at fine dining establishments, these are generally pretty high profile and therefore easy to find - I'm interested in getting some less obvious recommendations.

So over to you guys, where do we need to go to get fantastic, fresh and tasty Italian food?

Thanks.

[Glassman]

Amalfi: between Ravello and Scala is Infinito. The best antipasti I've had anywhere, homemade wine by the gallon and if you want pizza, they serve it by the metre.

We shared a metre between six and it was awesome - made up of different toppings.

[lauda]

Great shout - exactly the kind of thing I'm after. Thanks!

[Glassman]

There are a handful of restaurants in and around Ravello which have some stunning views - as with most of the Amalfi region. But I Liked Ravello best.

[Dave200]

Positano is another place which is well worth checking out on the Amalfi. Simply stunning part of the world, completely sedentary way of life, and some very fine scenic driving too.
My only advice, eat as much seafood as you can - it doesn't get too much better.

I was there for a few weeks last summer, and I'm insanely jealous of you. I think this year's clubbing trip to Ibiza will probably involve fewer culinary delicacies...

Edited by Dave200 on Saturday 10th July 15:02

[gib786]

Im not exactly a foodie, but I would reccomend Le Colonnine in Florence Via de' Benci, 50122 Firenze. Had some fantastic pasta there a few months ago. Oh and check out festival de gelato, Via del Corso 75r. A FANTASTIC variety of awesome ice cream

[Puggit]

Da Baffetto Pizzeria in Rome.

Put simply, the best pizza in the world, ever...

[Dave200]

gib786 said:

Im not exactly a foodie, but I would reccomend Le Colonnine in Florence Via de' Benci, 50122 Firenze. Had some fantastic pasta there a few months ago.

Agreed.

Also, there's a fantastic little restaurant in a square on via dello Sprone, on the South of the river. Probably one of the best eating experiences of the entire Italian trip.

[forcefleet]

Probably in the guide books now, and not necessarily the hidden gem you are looking for, but I highly recommend "Corte Sconta" in Venice.

A bit hidden away and tricky to find, we went there on a personal recommendation. When we got there the table next to us said we must have the "mixed seafood appetiser". We were be a bit nervous as quite expensive at 20+ euros for a starter. However, a "starter" turns out to be 3 different plates of food, all fantastic.. Probably one of my best dining experiences and we've been to quite a few fancy places.

See http://rwapplewannabe.wordpress.com/2008/06/30/cor... for a write-up on the web.

[lauda]

Thanks everyone for the recommendations, much appreciated!

[jmorgan]

Rome, head for the Trastevere part and enjoy. Forget the ones we used but were not disappointed. Found ones with the locals in and no tourists. Also did a bit of research and found ones that have offal on the menu. Offal being mentioned as part of a staple diet for a while in that part of Italy (may well be bunkum, just read it in a guide). Whilst I did not have offal, the meal was superb and as offal was on the menu outside, locals only inside.

[tomw2000]

Cafe italiano in Florence is ace and reasonably priced for lunch:

http://www.caffeitaliano.it/inglese/home_flash.asp

Enoteca pinchiorri is Italian fine dining (also florence) and expensive. But might be worth this trip if you like tickng off the 'flash' ones?

http://www.enotecapinchiorri.it/econtenuti.html

Agree with the Revello suggestions when you hit the coast. I forget their names, but there's one in the centre - with zero views, but ace food. And one right on the edge of the cliffs -with stunning views.

Enjoy the trip !