Rome Restaurant Tips by mccalpin

Tre Scalini: Tre Scalini in Piazza Navona Tre Scalini Review

A romantic time in Rome itself...hmmmmn...I would make it part of an evening.

One afternoon, after your siesta, when you're done window shopping and all, wander over to the Pantheon and admire it inside and out. Then as darkness falls, go over to Piazza Navona. Make the circle around the whole piazza arm in arm, like other couples. You may see kiosks set up to sell stuff, you may see artists selling caricatures, you will definitely see lots of other people seeing and being seen - it's a car free zone (except for the lone police car that wanders slowly through).

When you've done a circuit or two admiring the fountain of four rivers and the buildings around the Piazza, sit in the bar next to Tre Scalini (it may be Tre Scalini's bar, I don't remember). Tre Scalini is a long time restaurant that all Romans know (even if they don't go) on the west side of the piazza.

Tell the waiter that you would like a drink, and that you would like to have dinner inside afterwards. If you can, sit outside with your drink and your better half, and admire all the people walking by. This evening promenade is quintissentially Mediterranean.

When you're ready (or the waiter comes to tell your that the best table - in the window - is ready), go into the restaurant and have dinner. It will not be cheap, but, frankly, it's more expensive at trendier places. For dessert, be sure to have tartuffo al cioccolato (sp?), a homemade chocolate bomb that was home-made by this restaurant.

After dinner, make another circuit of the piazza (to aid digestion), then have an after dinner drink at the bar across the piazza (perhaps a shot of Amaretto or Tuaca - Italian servings are not as large as American) or a digestivo - Italians are big into herbed drinks to aid digestion.

Then stagger home. ;-)

Favorite Dish: Tartuffo cioccolato...'nuff said...

Address: Piazza Navona, west side

Comparison: more expensive than average

Price: US$41 and up

Rating: 5

Theme: Local

Frederico's: Frederico's

Absolutely none. This is an ordinary, middle class, Roman restaurant which happens to be near Castel Sant'Angelo. However, even though it's near a tourist area, the clientele is mostly Roman off season, and I ate there monthly when I lived in Rome.

Favorite Dish: Anything, but especially pasta. Always drink the house white wine (it's good advice in most restaurants in Rome since the wine comes from the Alban Hills around the city - including Frascati).

Directions: Follow the wall which contains the pedestrian walkway from the Vatican to Casel Sant'Angelo (off limits to you and me - you have to follow it at ground level). Near Castel Sant'Angelo, look north from

Other Contact: I couldn't find a number or a we

Rating: 0

Theme: Other