I live in North California and love mushrooms. They go great with wine, pasta...well really everything. We will be there around the 12 or so. That is one of the reasons I want to go in October. Fresh vegetables are great for May and June, but there is nothing like fresh mushrooms. I have not had to many truffle experience...yet. I plan on changing that. Thanks for the heads up about October.

I am getting so excited and I still have 6 months before we go. Is there any other helpful advice as far as traveling- not necessarily food related- that would be helpful to know. For example- are nice dark jeans acceptable to wear out most of the time? I plan to dress up for All'Oro. For a man is a suit too much or appropriate. I live in Northern California and in my town people stare if you dress up too much. I still do anyway but casual is way too acceptable. No one ever wears a suit here unless to a funeral, and even then??

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All'Oro
Via Eleonora Duse, 1, Rome, Lazio , IT

I really appreciate all the help and recommendations from everyone. It really has been very helpful. I looked at a lot of the menus and I think my list is now looking like this:
Romantic high end dinner- All'Oro
Lunch on Sunday- La Campana
Other lunch/dinner- Pizzarium, Roscioli, Taverna dei Fori Imperiali,
We might try Cavour 313, I don't mind the crowds or seating.
I will also keep in mind Roma Sparita, Giuda Ballerino/Osteria, or maybe Taverna degli amici.
I think we will make reservations at All'Oro on Saturday night and leave the rest up to what we feel like once we are over there. Of course I also read to make reservations at La Campana for Sunday lunch.

Grazie!

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La Campana
Vicolo della Campana, 18, Roma, IT 00186, IT

Roscioli
Via dei Giubbonari 21/23, Rome, Lazio 00186, IT

Pizzarium
Via della Meloria, 43, Rome, Lazio 00136, IT

All'Oro
Via Eleonora Duse, 1, Rome, Lazio , IT

Taverna dei Fori Imperiali
Via Madonna dei Monti 9, Rome, Lombardia 00184, IT

I am getting a better idea. I have been reading all other posts about Rome from the last month and it is great. So information that is just more than food related too. I love red wine so this will be a real treat. I am salivating already. : )

That sounds utterly delightful. I am probably going to gain 10 pounds in the 2 weeks we will be in Italy. But it will be worth it. I hope to walk alot so maybe only 8...heehehhehee.

This has been a very helpful and not too overwhelming post. I appreciate all the posts and everything that each one says. This one was nice, concise and refreshing. I will further my research and narrow my lists. Thanks

If is was the long one I did and it looks very helpful. I can't wait to go to Parma and Bologna. I am obsessed with cheese. I usually have a minimum of 8 different types in my fridge and that is on a light day. I make my own ricotta often...it is so delicious. Thanks for the post on Parma. It is harder to find information on that region.

I did see Katie's post on Pizza. I plan to check out her suggestions when we get there.

My husband and I will be traveling to Italy for our 14 anniversary. This is our first time out of the US (sad to say it has taken so long) so I really want this to be an excellent trip. We will be in Rome for 5 days at the Bee-hive, and then heading North to Parma and Bologna. I do not want to waste time, tastebuds or money on a bad food experience. We are the kind of people who plan our trips around food, all the more so the older and wiser we get. I have been doing research from various guide books to internet recommendations. I see that there is an overwhelming amount of choices for Rome and that there is equally as many good places as bad. I am trying to learn Italian but I seem to have a language block. The road to fluency is rough ahead. But I am determined.

Anyway, I have a list of places to try. We plan to eat out every night and find either wine bars or picnic for lunch. We do not mind spending between 20-50 euro a person each night and hope to splurge one night at a romantic place up to 100 euro or so per person. We enjoy most varieties of food: pastas, veggies, meats, etc. But not a fan of most items from the sea other than fish and lobster/prawns. I know, so sad. But I am trying to work my way up to octopus and keep an open mind.

So for the list (and I will say that we love to walk and do not mind hoofing it a ways for quality eats):
Taverna Angelica
Roscioli
Maccheroni
Da Giulio Trattoria
Tavern 48
Trattoria Monti
La Fraschetta
The Library
Ristorante Lagana
La Taverna degli Amici

I would like to hear thoughts on these places and an other suggestions. Where would you take your friends to eat in Rome for great food and fun?

I have many more places but this is what I have narrowed down with cross-referencing. I am spontaneous but abhor bad food, so I want to have plans with the flexibility to follow my nose.

PS I would travel the ends of the earth to find the BEST Tiramisu.

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Trattoria Monti
Via di San Vito,13a, Roma , IT

Maccheroni
Piazza delle Coppelle, 44, Rome 00186, IT

Roscioli
Via dei Giubbonari 21/23, Rome, Lazio 00186, IT