restaurant recommendations
Florence
Trattoria Acqua Al 2
Try their five-pasta sampler; it was heavenly. Incidentally, they have a branch restaurant in San Diego at 322 Fifth Avenue, tel. (619) 230-0382.
Via della Vigna Vecchia, 40r (right next to the Bargello Museum)
50122 Firenze
+39-055-284-170Trattoria Zà-Zà
The bruschetta was unforgettable, as was the fettucine with clams. Located right next to Mercato Centrale, a five-minute walk NW of the Duomo.
Piazza del Mercato Centrale, 26r
Firenze
+39-055-215-411Trattoria la Burrasca
Their Ribolitta (reboiled bean and bread soup) was y-u-m-m-y! Home-style cooking (and the tiled interior decor made me feel like I was eating right inside an Italian kitchen). The Two blocks away from Mercato Centrale.
Via Panicale 6b
Firenze
+39-055-215-827
Rome
Ristorante Target
This was the best meal I had during my trip. I loved loved LOVED the sea bass carpaccio, the steak fillet with rosemary, as well as the panna cotta. Mmm mmm mmm!
Via Torino, 33
00184 Roma
+39-06-474-0066Hostaria Romana
Most entertaining meal of my life. The four waiters made traffic noises as they walked around the restaurant, served you food then took them away jokingly, and treated many patrons to their house-brewed lemoncello, an after-dinner liqueor.
Via del Boccaccio, 1
00184 Roma
+39-06-474-5284, 06-483-511
Milan
Piccola Tuscia Ristorante
I had sea bass carpaccio (warm this time) here and it was very good. My prawn salad was also delicious. My mouth is watering again even as I type.
Via San tomaso, 8
Milano
+39-02-869-2250Ristorante Nabucco
Located in the Brera district, this restaurant was the only one where we did not encounter any Americans, and we liked that. The orecchiette with shrimp tails, black olives, capers with a light tomato sauce were to die for.
Via Fiori Chiari, 10
20121 Milano
+39-02-860-663
As with popular restaurants in the U.S., you should always make a reservation to guarantee yourself a table. Usually a few hours in advance is enough. Italians tend to eat late, so if you are a good American (like we were), you'll show up at the door at 7 p.m., only to be greeted by the wait staff and other fellow Americans. But that's OK! The restaurant will be quieter, and you get to go home and sleep early so you can be ready for the next day.