1) Roscoli, great deli/restaurant near the Campo Fiori, amazing carbonara and burrata. The tomato soup is wonderful and so are all the cheeses. They have a nice wine selection. I actually like dining in the basement for dinner and upstairs for lunch.
2) Romeo, a 5 – 10 minute cab ride. Same owners as Roscoli and Glass. Modern, upscale. Great food, pizza or for apperitif 3)Glass, one star Michelin by Cristina Bowerman, fantastic food, expensive but not crazy. In the Travestere right in the center of all the action. Nice to walk around afterwards. Not so easy to find but worth it.
4) Antico Arco, a ten minute cab ride. Upscale, modern Italian cusine. Good. Reminds me of a New York style restaurant.
5 )Gelateria Teatro, near the Piazza Navona. It is an amazing ice cream shop. Watch them prepare everything fresh.
6) Ciampinni, another good gelato place in the same square as Bottega Venetta.
7) Life, on via della vite, next to via Fratina. Decent pizza and good fettuchini with porcini. Good lunch choice. Close when shopping .
8) le Sorelli off via Condoti. Good in the shopping area. They have lost their chef and is no longer recommended.
9) L’Arcangelo, refined Italian cusine
10) Al Moro, old fashioned Roman cusine
11) ***Taverna Trilussa, has great pastas in the Trastevere area. One of our favourites.
12) Flavio al Velavevodetto, we were booked to go but had to cancel due to David not feeling well. We will try next time we are there.
13) Peri Luigi, was our favourite last year. This year the meal was not as good. We still love the setting in a square off the Campo di Fiorio. But they try and upsell everything. I found the fish Carpaccio was fishy. The pastas are still good and there is good people watching.
14) ** Emma Pizzeria, is a fabulous new place a short taxi ride away. The pizzas are wonderful and they use the flour from Roscoli brothers. There are a lot of varieties to choose from. It is in a nice, newly renovated cool space. Recommended!
try Trattoria Monti
Pizzarium
Piperno
Nonna Betta
Florence:
1) Osteria dell Tre Panche, literally the 3 benches. Very tiny place about 5-10 minute cab ride from the center. Try the truffle menu and the cheesecake for dessert. Dreaming of my next meal there.
2) Sostanza, small menu, family-style trattoria. Try the butter chicken, the artichoke omelet and the Meringue cake. Loved it hear. You sit at shared tables. The place is tiny, and family run. Highly recommended.
3) Ruggero, 10 minute walk from the city center. Family style trattoria. Nice meaty pastas.
4) Buca Lapi, one of the oldest restaurants in Florence. Typical Tuscan dishes.
5) Mario is only open for lunch and does not take reservations but I hear it is very good.