Odd's & Sod's in Rome - like . . . . 
 Places to eat. We all have our favorites. I know you do. I will swear by Enoteca Corsi at  Via del 
 Gesu,  88/89, just behind the Pantheon. Established as a wine bar in 1939, this place jumps to a 
 mostly local lunchtime crowd (not open for dinner and closed on Sunday's), so it's advised to be 
 seated at a table before 1.00pm! The menu, scribbled on a couple of boards, is always fresh, simple 
 and very flavoursome.

'Gusto, in Piazza Augusto Imperatore, 9 requires bookings in advance on 063226273. This place has
been open for only a couple of years and is very in! Still, downstairs at street level, its pizzeria is a fun
place to eat and watch the passing parade of Rome's chic. Upstairs is the restaurant which makes no
apologies for creating a style of cuisine that is Italian, married to certain flavours of the east. Think of
London, Sydney, New York style of decor and think of 'Gusto. It's fun and very unRoman!

My old mate Pasquale is still lording over Pizzeria da Pasquale, Via dei Prefetti, 34/a. This place 
has been my oasis in Rome on many occasions. Pasquale and his family adopted me some years 
ago and for that I'm eternally grateful. The best pizza slices in town, the best prices, and if you ask, his
wife or daughter will whip up a bowl of pasta that will leave you smiling. So will the bill!!! Say you are a
friend of mine and Pasquale might even practice some English on you . . . .

A place in the heart of tourist country, close to the Spanish Steps, is Ristorante Alla Rampa. It has, 
surprisingly enough maintained a good quality, with a truly great buffet, at fair prices. The location in
Piazza Mignanelli, 18 is an excellent one, and the outdoor tables for several months of the year do 
beckon you to sit, eat and enjoy. It's closed on Sunday's and all of August. Open for lunch and dinner.
For dinner it's okay to arrive at 7.00pm which is often a blessing for those of us that like to eat a little
earlier than the Italians.

Moving up the ladder a few rungs brings us to L'Enoteca Antica at Via della Croce, 76/b. A lovely place
that prides itself on a great selection of wines, mostly Italian of course. For those wine buffs that like
to quietly take from a glass, and enjoy excellent food alongside, this place is well worth a visit. You 
will be rubbing shoulders with a passing selection of Italian VIP's, mainly in the form of political types,
and the odd Italian television personality. Enough said . . . . . Still, the wines are for real! You can look
at their web site at www.enotecantica.com  Another excellent wine bar (enoteca) is the 
Enoteca Capranica, it's very special.

I'm often asked for restaurant recommendations in Rome and it's becoming more difficult to say with 
surety, try this place. You will love it! Rome and Italy is lazy; fat on a constant stream of tourism.
Considering the often indifferent service, public strikes, museums that never open, and since the 
introduction of the Euro, at times unacceptable inflated prices, I sometimes think this country does 
not deserve that faithful stream of tourist visiting! With that in mind, all that is mentioned in this site
I know, enjoy, and believe each to be good value for money. 

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