Da Maruzzella, Milan

A place that wouldn’t be classed with the Dolce & Gabbanas of the food world, but certainly deserves to share the same catwalks. It’s Milan’s Sofia, only tastes at least 6 times better. Probably because it’s got the heart of real Italian cooking and not a western pacemaker.



Diavola – tomato, mozzarella, spicy sausage. Thin base, ample crust, sliced snag that has a bit of bite.



Maccheronicini Mediterranei – chunks of swordfish, eggplant and a thick tomato based sauce clinging to the pasta.



Filetto al pepe verde – good cut of steak topped with a green pepper sauce.



Homemade tiramisu – I’m jealous, and I want more.
 


Pannacotta – how it should be done.

A big, brash, bustling family restaurant. Reasonably priced too, a place you’d happily revisit.


4 / 5 yums!
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Where? Piazza Guglielmo Oberdan, 3 20129 Milan, Italy
What? Around 10-15€

Osteria Sottoriva, Verona

Rustic, quirky. It’s so chilled and laid back it might as well be horizontal.



Mr Ed is an interesting meat. Thinly sliced horse, lean yet tender, with cherry tomatoes, with a light drizzle of balsamic. Goes well with an Italian red.



Baked lasagna




Dolce: apple cake, lemon tart, coffee cream cups



A simple place, with simple food paired with beautiful wine.


4 / 5 yums!

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Where? Via Sottoriva 9/A, 37121 Verona, Italy
What? Plates 8-15€

No Name Coffee Shop, Venice

It’s a wee bit squeezy in this standing room only coffee bar. Talk about space optimisation. But if you can get in, a smashing coffee will knock you right up. Not in the pregnant kind of way.

3 / 5 yums!
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Where? 4665C, S. Marco, Venice, Italy

Trattoria Dalla Marisa, Venice

It’s the kind of place where you’ll get stares as if you’ve walked into an old western bar with fishnets, hot pink lipstick, an afro perm and a corset. And you’re a dude.



But if you can stand the awkward stares, take the 45 odd minute gentle stoll from St Mark’s on a trail where the number of tourists progressively drop off and the number that don’t speak English increases. Right on the outskirts of Venice, a little local treat by the water awaits.



Real family food, straight from the mind and hands of mamma in the kitchen. The menu is compact, but completely satisfying. A choice out of three pastas to start, a meat and side for main, and an espresso to finish.





A real piece of Venice on 3 courses for 15€. Simply cooked with love.

4.5 / 5 yums!
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Where? Cannaregio, 652 30171 Venice, Italy
What? Lunch 3 courses for 15€

Bar Pasticceria Piccioli, Florence

Stand up coffee and pastries to go. Very cute.




3 / 5 yums!

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Where? Borgo Ognissanti, 118 Rosso, Firenze

Nerbone, Florence

This market stall has apparently been here since 1872. Looks like it’s had at least a few paint jobs.



The menu might as well be from those times. I like the bread rolls, the kind with a bit of a “stale” rubbery crust yet medium dense on the inside, sandwiching roast beef or roast pork, slathered with the roasting juices. Very effective.

No need to change the formula for the roast meats, just like si olden times.

3.5 / 5 yums!

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Where? Farmacia del Mercato Centrale, Via dell'Ariento, 87-r, 50123 Firenze, Italy
What? Around €3

Trattoria Mario, Florence

You’d be hard pressed to find a local in here, but who cares.



Widely recommended on the net, word of mouth, your mum… share a table with someone from another country or if you’re lucky enough, your own and grab a caveman sized Florentine steak, ragu and pasta sheets or possibly the most delicious, succulent and crispy skinned roast chicken ever.



Cracking joint if you can squeeze in.


4 / 5 yums!

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Where? Via Rosina, 2, 50123 Firenze, Italy
What? Around €5-10

Osteria del Gallo, Rome

It’s the kind of place that makes you wanna do a mini fist pump under the table as you sit down at Osteria del Gallo, the place that you’ve just stumbled across tucked away in an alley off the beaten tourist routes.

And doesn’t it feel local, not another joint in site, it almost feels like you’ve invaded the courtyard of the apartment blocks above and set up some outdoor settings for a meal.



Steak with balsamic – there’s a soft sweetness to offset the intense tang.

 

Seafood pasta – wishing there were more of the ribbons to soak up the rich seafood based stock sauce



Mixed veg

Simple food, done nicely.

But a closer look some of the tables… a Rick Steves guide here, a Lonely Planet there and some pretty serious cameras. Can you take back a mini fist pump?

Still a decent place.

3.5 / 5 yums!

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Where? Vicolo di Montevecchio, 27 00186 Rome, Italy

Giolitti, Rome

A good old fashioned gelato parlour that employs a no-nonsense approach to move the hoards of tourists who make the pilgrimage for the fabled iced cream.



It’s fair enough to make a beeline for the gelato and push through the throngs to get a glimpse and spend too much time ogling at the numerous flavours on show. It does look pretty awesome.

But that wait to get to the front of the queue could be doubled if you know the ordering protocols.

Order at the register first (scoops in cups or cones) before taking the ticket to be exchanged for the gelato.



Not a must, but worth it if you’re close to check the hype.

3.5 / 5 yums!
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Where? Via degli Uffici del Vicario, 40 00186 Rome, Italy

Il Chianti, Rome

In a city that is around 2764 years old, there’s not much ancient about this tourist friendly restaurant just up the road from Trevi Fountain.

Modern, minimalist but sharp, but the menu is packed with at least one option from most pastas you can think of.



Tasting plate of cheese and meats



Tagliolini with porcini – if it looks sticky, that because it is, much like undercooked hokkien noodles.



Pappardelle with hare ragu – the meat sauce is fine, pasta el dente plus plus.



Tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, basil.

I like it more as a wine bar.

2.5 / 5 yums!
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Where? Via delle Lavatore, Rome, Italy
What? Mains around €15-20