LotsC's Profile
Restaurant ideas for Cascais and Lisbon
Hi,
I am travelling alone and will be spending four nights in Cascais and one night in Lisbon in a few weeks time (first night is a Sunday in Cascais). I am looking for recommendations for restaurants that are good, authentic, reasonably priced predominantly fish and seafood would be ideal....any ideas would be hugely appreciated. I quite like the idea of trying Ramiros in Lisbon for a late lunch on my last day before heading to the airport. I have had recommendations for Dom Pedro in Cascais but would love to hear any other suggestions.
I do quite like southern Indian food so a goan meal might not be out of place.
Thank you very much for your help.
LotsC
Florence: Bistecca and bread? (not quite the same as older posts) - also Rome
I went to Osteria Caffe Italiano beautiful room but the food was not that good. I am the hugest fan of Osteria de Benci and the Buca del' Orafo which have never let me down and have great atmospheres.
Florence: Seeking Casual Dining
Most importantly of all I hope that you have a super time in Florence. I should write up my trip from last year and I was quite organised and wrote up all the costs as well...am off for New Year to Florence and can't wait....
Florence: Seeking Casual Dining
Second the review on the Buca del Orafo, it has a tremendous buzz and the food is excellent. I also thought that the Trattoria dell Carmine is very good, also quite reasonable, try I Raddi as well. Antica restori di Cambi, Vini e Vecchi Sapori are also very good. A former colleague of mine always raves about e che che (spelling needs to be checked) which is near Santa Croce. Am very jealous of your trip and have a super time.
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Vini e Vecchi Sapori
Via dei Magazzini, 3, Florence, Tuscany 50122, IT
Sunday lunch Rome, La Campana vs Perilli?
I went to Roma Sparita last Autumn for Sunday lunch which was great followed by a good wander round Trastevere and back to Centro Storico via Campo di Fiori. It was full and bustling had a delicious lunch the cacia e pepe and the lamb....followed by dinner at La Campana which was then pretty good....
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La Campana
Vicolo della Campana, 18, Roma, IT 00186, IT
Day trips from Florence to Montepulciano? Other Tuscany day trips?
Siena is a good day trip from Florence. The bus takes a little under 1.5 hours and is quite relaxing. San Gimignano is good too although you have to go via Poggibonsi if you are going by train and also think about Lucca. Possibly even Arezzo some trains are very quick.
Florence & Rome area; chef & sommelier want to eat/drink right. (Jan 2012)
To be honest if you say you want delicious food I would probably not think about Nerbone....it is fine for a snack and then I wonder whether fine is the best word,probably an experience comes to mind (will probably be shot by this board). Have a glass of wine at le Volpi e L'Uva not a whole evening. Re food - I get castigated for saying the same places over and over again but they are good, in terms of food and atmosphere and you will be able to soak in the atmosphere - Osteria de Benci, vini e Vecchi Sapori, al Buca d'orafo, Cambi, Trattoria della Carmine, 13 Gobbi. Have a super time. Also think about Hostaria Costanza in Rome, I was surprisingly impressed, and I thought that La Campana has never let me down, Roma Sparita was good too.
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La Campana
Vicolo della Campana, 18, Roma, IT 00186, IT
Hostaria Costanza
Piazza del Paradiso, 63, Rome, Lazio , IT
Suggestions for moderately priced regional wine to accompany dinners in Venice, Florence and Tuscany?
Quite often the house wines are pretty good and ask for recommendations. Re Tuscany - If you are looking for reasonably priced wines rather than Brunello - look for Rosso di Montalcino and Rossi di Montepulciano, Morello di Scansano can also be good and not too expensive. Good names to look out for Fontodi, Brolio, Volpaia and of course the ubiquitous Frescobaldi and Antinori - alll have more expensive and less expensive wines.
Birthday Celebration in Florence
i was at Antico Restoro di Cambi last November and it was very good, good service and very good food with a great atmosphere - noisy but fun. Price was ok too.
Rome - good friends in search of good food and wine
Its a pity to hear a bad review of La Campana, I have never had a bad meal and have always rated the food and service over a number of years. It was excellent last November when I went last and I was planning to go back again. Roma Sparita was excellent. Have you thought about Hostaria Costanza, I went there last year and was very impressed by the food, service, speed and cost?
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La Campana
Vicolo della Campana, 18, Roma, IT 00186, IT
Hostaria Costanza
Piazza del Paradiso, 63, Rome, Lazio , IT
Birthday Celebration in Florence
How about the Antico Ristoro di Cambi.....very close to San Frediano. Good atmosphere and food, traditionally Tuscan and you can sit outside.
Florence - Traveling alone and Dinner recommendations
I have been to Florence by myself several times and haven't had a problem. My suggestions for restaurants would be the Osteria de Benci, vini e vecchi sapori, Antica Mescita, I Raddi, Buca del Orafo, Marione, Antica restori di cambi, (I always suggest the same ones which is pretty sad of me, but when I go off piste tends to be when things fall apart...)
So many great food choices in Florence! Please comment on my list.
Have you thought about Al Raddi in the Via Ardiglione for dinner before the opera? Or if you want another traditional place what about A Cambi near (ish) the Piazza della Carmine, i have always rated Osteria de Benci and absolutely Vini e Vecchi Sapori. The Buca del Orafo is also excellent, Osteria Cafe Italiano is v good too. Vivoli is the tradtional gelateria, Carapina seemed a lot more expensive, I thought Grom was overrated and didn't try Vestri...have a super time and hope it all helps
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Vini e Vecchi Sapori
Via dei Magazzini, 3, Florence, Tuscany 50122, IT
Vivoli
Via dell'Isola delle Stinche, 7, Florence, Tuscany 50122, IT
Carapina
Piazza Guglielmo Oberdan,2r, Florence, Toscana 50136, IT
New Year in Florence
Hi,
I am going to Florence with a few friends (or thinking about it) for a few days at the end of December staying until New Years Day. Are restaurants likely to be open then? Do they offer astronomically priced menus for NYE? Any ideas how to spend NYE in Florence? Any ideas gratefully received. My favourite restaurants in Florence have to date been Osteria de Benci, Vini e Vecchi Sapori, Antica Mescita san Niccolo, Antica Ristori di Cambi, i Raddi etc.etc. Thank you very much for you help.
C
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Vini e Vecchi Sapori
Via dei Magazzini, 3, Florence, Tuscany 50122, IT
La Campana prices
Last Sunday a selection of antipasti, Veal with porcini, puntarelle with alici and some fragolini (wild strawberries), plus 250mls of house wine and a bottle of sparkling mineral water came to 41 euros.....it was as ever very good and completely bustling and filled up to the gunnells.
Not to miss restaurants in Florence, Sienna , Orvieto and surrounding
Thank you Sid Cundliff - another suggestion would be the Trattoria dell'Oste Mezzo on the Via del Fusari, very close to the Duomo in Siena, had a steak with dragoncello oil (tarragon) absolutely delicious. It was recommended (and I presume owned) by friends of the hotel I was staying in......
November Italy Trip -- Help with my list
i totally concur with jla1960's ideas for Florence. I think Energy09 could probably look at them too particularly if you like good food - other ideas might be il Contadino or Marione (particularly if you are thinking of budget....I know some people also rate il Pallotino which is very close to Vivoli. I am off to next week and am definitely planning a trip to the Osteria de Benci where i have not been for 3.5 years and Vini e Vecchi Sapori plus a few others......you could also look at Agostino23 which i have heard rave things about but have never tried....have lovely holidays.
Restaurant in Trastevere
Good Old Tripadvisor always renowned for getting things right!
Restaurant in Trastevere
It sound lovely but is this actually in Trastevere as it seems to be near the Castello san Angelo according to the map on Tripadvisor?
Not to miss restaurants in Florence, Sienna , Orvieto and surrounding
How wonderful and I hope you have a super trip. Re Siena I would recommend the following:- il Caroccio, L'Osteria, Grotta di Santa Caterina da Bagoga, L'Aquila and Le Campane. I used to love Papei but the last time I went standards had slipped. Le Logge is good too but i haven't been since 2006 so I might be a little out of date. Also il Capitani is pretty good too....there is one other place I was recommended to go to by my hotel and I can't remember the name but I will post tomorrow. I was most recently in Siena in August 2009 so I don't think that these suggestions would be too much out of date. Nanini's is great for Aperitivi and to try panforte (although not at the same time!); Enoteca i Terzi good for a pre dinner drink as are all the bars in the Campo (but go elsewhere for dinner). Ask for a campari bitter and soak in the atmosphere. Of the suggestions for dinner the most expensive restaurants would be Le Campane and il Caroccio but even then they are reasonably priced compared with major Italian cities.....
Treating my mother to her first trip to Europe/Italy - but where??
Or what about Florence and Rome and they are only one and a half hours away from one another by train? I wouldn't go to Sardinia in November....Venice can be very beautiful and souful but possibly rather damp....Bologna is very beautiful as is Siena. There are so many beautiful places in italy to visit - a very hard decision, but a lovely treat. Also look at the opera in Florence if you are there in December?
Rome and Florence Trip Report. Rome: La Campana, Matricianella, and La Mani in Pasta. Florence: Sostanza, Nerbone, Cibreo Caffe, and Omero
Restaurants have good days and off days; the Chef does need to have the odd night off....and everybody has different tastebuds. Over time restaurants can get complacent and go off and on the other hand can improve dramatically....
Stops between Florence and Siena?
What about stopping off in San Gimignano? Its midway between Florence and Siena....Siena is really very beautiful but in my opinion quite safe...Castellina in Chianti is also lovely. Or you could drive to the Volpaia winery and there is a very good restaurant there (although somewhat a better idea if it is a clear day...). I hope that you have a lovely time whatever you choose to do
Rome and Florence Trip Report. Rome: La Campana, Matricianella, and La Mani in Pasta. Florence: Sostanza, Nerbone, Cibreo Caffe, and Omero
Thanks Porthos - very interesting. At the end of the day people's recommendations are so personal and arbitary. I am off to Rome and FLorence in a fortnight for 5 days which I reckon will be 9 meals - 4 in Rome and 5 in Florence. I always go back to a couple of old favourites in each city....for example this time it will probably be La Campana in Rome and Osteria de Benci (where i haven't been for 3 years) & Vini e Vecchi Sapori in Florence - and the rest will be a (hopefully) successful voyage of discovery. I will probably ask the lady who owns the hotel in Florence as her ideas for non touristy restaurants have always been successful in the past. Likewise with Rome, I will read these boards and speak to the hotel as well...
wine store snubs
I quite agree with Zerlina, vinorama and the others.....normal routine walk into wine shop with big smile, greet owner/assistant buon giorno/buona sera - ask about wines, discuss make decision.....have always found them totally charming, keen to help suggesting the better bottle rather than the more expensive (unlike the US or UK!). and they are prepared to spend the time half an hour and an hour with me, and that is dedicated attention. The whole experience is so much better in the UK/US you just have realise that they have a different approach.
Budget dinners in Florence?
Absolutely Vini e Vecchi Sapori, Fuori Porta is quite reasonable as well....Marione is another cheapy. La Casalinga although the quality can be very good and miss at other times....
Italy Trip Report Part 3 - Florence (Long)
Thank you Dynastar, very interesting. Pleased you liked La Posta - I have always thought it was very good and indeed better than Quattro Leone and CInghiale Bianco's that are always raved about. You sound as if you had a fantastic trip...
Florence for 4 nights
How lovely and I hope that you have a brilliant time. Re dinner in the Oltarno what about Pane e Vino I know some people who think its fantastic; traditional food with a modern twist and a very good wine list. I've never heard of l'Osteria Tornabuoni but have always loved the Osteria de Benci and am looking forward to trying Osteria Caffe Italiano when I am there in 6 weeks (it has been strongly recommended by friends). I also really enjoy the Buca del Orafo and the Vini e Vecchi Sapori, delicious and reasonably priced food, and the atmosphere is fab, traditional Italian chef and a Madonna loving waiter (only in Italy), loved by Rick Steves and more importantly by the locals. Garga I've heard is terribly overrated and not cheap, as is Quattre Leone and Cinghiale Bianco! I always recommend il Posta, which is on Pelliceria and tends to be filled with Italians, is good food and reasonably priced. I've also heard some very good things of Camillo in the Oltarno. Most important of all I hope you have a fantastic time.
San Gimignano - any Recommendations?
San Gimignano by night is a very special place. Al Vecchie Mura is lovely particularly if you can sit on the terrace (weather permitting) and look at the Tuscan scenery and the food is not too bad too....
Venice, Florence, Rome, & Cinque Terre Restaurant Recommendations Needed
Vini e Vecchi Sapori is pretty fab - do they still have all the Madonna posters there! Totally incongruous but the tagliatelle/papardelle con anantra was divine. Have you eaten at the restaurant of Osteria del Caffe Italiano for dinner? Its on my list of possibles to try in November. You've got some great choices although Paoli has a great atmosphere I always feel that the food isn't great
