13 Rome picks

f you're planning a trip to Rome, here are 14 dining spots to tuck away, mull over, maybe even indulge. In time of "foodie rage," getting a word in edgewise is no easy task. Or maybe too easy. Blogs and tourist sites oriented toward food have crept from the hundreds into the thousands. Some are better than others but most beat a loud drum.

Yes, some restaurants are better than others, but very few make it a mission to serve inedible food at high prices. You wouldn't know that from reading the blogosphere, which seems to have locked step with America talk radio. Harshness is a badge of honor.

Taverna dei Fori Imperiali: A visitor.

I'm no foodie but I do like to eat. The restaurants I list here are places that I've enjoyed over the last year. A few of them are fairly new, others family-run old-timers.

In some cases I fully spell out the content of dishes, in others I just mention name or ingredients. English and Italian names are used interchangeably. I favor impressions more than culinary rocket science. For example, I don't bother explaining famous Rome formulations such as carbonara and amatricana. You can do your own homework.

Booking is a separate issue. Once-upon-a-time, Rome reservations were limited to high-end place. No longer. Unless you're eating pizza, call ahead. Pizzerias in general won't listen reservations pleas unless your group numbers four or more. Even then, some won't touch it. On any given night the best pizzerias will keep you waiting, particularly on weekends.

Pugliamonte: Artichoke stuffed ravioli.

Apart from this whimsical list (which is the opposite of comprehensive), the magazine also has several hundred other reviews — I know, since I wrote some — which you can find in the Food section. Restaurants that have a website have clickable headers. A word of caution: Some online information, while entertaining to read, may fudge on facts. That's because most owners farm out web design and content to outsiders who may know little about the place itself.

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