Restaurants in Italy

People who know Italian dishes only as they are served in other countries will have a pleasant surprise in Rome. To be sure, pasta is an essential of lunch and dinner, but it comes in so many forms that its versatility is amazing. It often is "merely" an entree, with the main course consisting of meat or poultry. Italian cuisine is remarkably varied and certainly the most sophisticated in Europe apart from that of France. Because this is a guide for business travelers, we've listed restaurants suitable for entertaining.

The Roman business executive likes to cat well, even conspiciously well, with little regard for expense. Lunch starts around 1:00 p.m. and dinner around 9:00 p.m. The Roman is particularly anxious to have a good lunch, because breakfast was probably nothing but a cup of coffee and a pastry.

Alberto Ciarla, Piazza San Cosimato 40.Many connoisseurs rate this as the best restaurant in southern Italy, not just Rome. Specialties are fish and the choicest game and meats. Situated in the old quarter of Trastevere, across the Tiber; outdoor eating in season. Very expensive.

AlMoro, Vicolo delle Bollette 13.A Roman classic, just a stone's throw from Trevi Fountain. Great food, but there are too many people and too much noise for really serious business talks.

Bacaro, Via degli Spagnoli 27.Near the Pantheon, Bacaro specializes in fish, much of it cooked nouvelle cuisine style and in a superior selection of Italian wines.

Charles, Roof Garden dll' Hotel Eden, Via Ludovisi 49. A favorite with politicians and top businesspeople. Excellence of the food and service is rivaled by that of the ambience. Very expensive.

Dal Bolognese, Piazza del Popolo I. Tel.: 361 1426. Wonderful view from the terrace of one of the world's handsomest squares while you savor one of Italy's greatest regional cuisines, that of Bologna. Good, thoughtful service.

Elefante Bianco, Via Aurora 19.A natural for expenseaccount meals, with luxurious food and surroundings. Not quite great because its formula lacks imaginative touches.

El Toula Via della Lupa 29. Exceptionally fine cuisine, with waiters who read customers' minds. The English style bar is cozy and intimate.

11 Drappe, Vicolo del Malpasse 10. Sardinian regional cuisine from a trio of enthusiasts who treat their island's superb produce with the respect and inventiveness it merits.

La Rosetta, Via della Rosetta 9. Probably the city's top 40 fish restaurant; the seafood and raw fish starters are famous. Is very expensive.

Pianeta Terra, Via Arco del Monte 94.The temple of nouvelle cuisine Italian from a genial husband and wife team. Elegant bar for pre meal lubrication. Very expensive.

Quinzi e Gabrielli, Via della Coppelle 5. A great, elegant, and very popular fish restaurant with a superb wine list. Reserve well in advance and check your credit card limit.

Relais de Jardin, Hotel Lord Byron, Via Giuseppe de Notaris 5.Creative cuisine of the highest order. The Relais is in the rich Parioli district, out of the city center, but is well worth the journey.

Sabatini, Piazza Santa Maria.Another good fish restaurant. Delightful outdoor dining during the summer.

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