Going a la carte at La Pergola?

maureen, I'm throwing another quick question in here, if I may. It concerns tipping. The common guidance for Americans in Italy is "Italians don't tip." Then they go into the whole thing about how workers in the service industry in Italy are paid a "living wage" so if you receive great service you may want to tip just 5%, at best.

In the U.S., workers in the service industry get paid next to nothing and live off of tips (you know this, I'm sure, I'm just saying...). I am a habitual 20% tipper, sometimes over 20%, here in the states. However, La Pergola strikes me as a place where the "Italians don't tip" rule may not apply?

I have contacted a few people who insist that even La Pergola falls within the same guidelines, but I would appreciate your opinion, specifically. At the moment, I am thinking of tipping 10% at La Pergola. Is this entirely wrong? Should I tip more?

Thanks.

Sanjuro in Italy

Going a la carte at La Pergola?

When you say "à la carte is almost always a good idea", do you mean in terms of price or that it usually results in a superior meal? Thanks.

Sanjuro in Italy

Going a la carte at La Pergola?

My wife and I are going to La Pergola for our splurge honeymoon meal in Rome, and I have been keeping a close eye on the menu. Apparently it changes each month, which is lovely. Having said that, I thought the 9-course "Gourmet Menu" (tasting menu) looked better in previous months than this one. So, I have a few questions:

1. When going a la carte (three courses, plus perhaps a cheese and dessert course), are the courses any larger? I am dying to try the signature dish, Fagottelli "La Pergola", which on the tasting menu seems to consist of about six pieces of pasta at the center of the plate. Great for a 9-course extravaganza, but a little less great for a 3 - 5 course meal.

2. Neither the fagottelli or the Veal Tail "La Pergola" are on this month's tasting menu, which is why I'm considering going a la carte in the first place. I was wondering if the tasting menu could be customized at all? Could I switch out one of the nine courses for the fagottelli and another, perhaps, for the veal tail?

3. The mystery of the "Grand Dessert". This is a course I MUST have, ha ha. I know it can be purchased a la carte, but I'm wondering what the price is? The cheese course is included as a tasting menu course (25 euros a la carte) as is the Grand Dessert. Nowhere on the menu is the Grand Dessert listed outside of the tasting menu, so I'm curious about its cost.

Thank you for any help and advice.

Sanjuro in Italy

Gnocchi in Rome

Great! Thanks for the info!

Sanjuro in Italy

Gnocchi in Rome

Is gnocchi served at any trattorias when it's not Thursday? I'm leaving Rome on the only Thursday I will be there...

Sanjuro in Italy

ROME: Tough Dinner Choice on Monday Night of Honeymoon Itinerary

Had to revive this thread in order to ask:

Will Giovanni ar Galletto even be doing outdoor dining in mid-October? I admit, that IS the main attraction, so I would like to be sure. If we can't eat on the Piazza Farnese we can forget it entirely. I had chosen Armando for the "trattoria meal" (going to Checchino now as well, and still La Pergola), but stupid ar Galletto keeps popping up in my head. IF the terrace is open...

Sanjuro in Italy

LA PERGOLA: As Good As Ever? Or Not?

Bah, I already feel like an idiot for posting this...

Especially since there are currently only 72 Michelin 3-star restaurants in the world, and La Pergola is one of them. It also bears mentioning that I've seen some average reviews, even by food critics, of El Bulli (which has been #1 on the San Pellegrino list for several years).

Sanjuro in Italy

LA PERGOLA: As Good As Ever? Or Not?

Ok, here we go again... I'm probably making something out of nothing, but I can't help it.

I happened to look into these San Pellegrino "World's Top Restaurants" lists, and first of all, I admit to having no clue why I should care what they say or think. Nonetheless, they fancy making lists, and I noticed that La Pergola was ranked #54 in the world on their 2007 list, #65 on their 2008 list, and is completely absent on their 2009 list.

I would be less concerned, I suppose, had La Pergola been on NONE of these lists. Unfortunately, there is pattern of "decline". The debut with this particular group of voters at #54, a relatively minor slip in '08, then the colossal plummet right off the list in '09...

Many other restaurants on these lists have held steady in their position, or risen higher, over the years. No such fate for La Pergola. Since this is destined to be the most expensive meal, thus far, in my life...I guess I'm just wondering why.

Sanjuro in Italy

ROME: Tough Dinner Choice on Monday Night of Honeymoon Itinerary

Thanks everyone for your help.

Perhaps I'll go with Armando for the Monday night dinner so that all of my choices will have one thing in common:

NONE are Rick Steves recommendations. :-)

That's if I go with La Taverna dei Fori Imperiali, Armando, La Pergola, and Da Baffetto. Not a single one of them is in Rick's 2009 guide. I was a bit surprised to find that Nerone IS one of his recommendations in the 2009 guide, but no matter...

Also, don't get me wrong...I actually like Rick Steves. I have countless guidebooks (Michelin, Blue Guide, Fodor's, Frommer's, DK, etc.), each of them proving useful in their own way, but I think his have the best overall information for itinerary planning. Yet, I must admit, I've heard several negative opinions about his food recommendations.

Sanjuro in Italy

ROME: Tough Dinner Choice on Monday Night of Honeymoon Itinerary

Oh, I forgot to mention that I would also prefer your recommendation to be traditional Roman cuisine since I know that La Pergola is not.

Sanjuro in Italy

ROME: Tough Dinner Choice on Monday Night of Honeymoon Itinerary

Mbfant, any "gastronomic destinations" in central Rome in an Armando type of price range (saving the big bucks for La Pergola) that we could go to on a Monday evening instead? Thanks.

Sanjuro in Italy