MONTI: recommended RESTAURANTS, CAFES, and SHOPS
In the quarter you will find many restaurants. Of course you will
find all the Italian ones that your heart desires, from cosy family
run "trattorie" and "pizzerie" to fine "ristoranti",
with all the regional variants. You can also find restaurants of
other cuisines (French, Chinese, Japanese, Indian etc.). And there
are also many "gelaterie" (ice cream cafes), bars, pastry
shops, wineries for connoisseurs, "torrefazione" (special
bars where you can drink or even buy the coffee specifically ground
and toasted by the house). You really have the embarrassment of
richness. And if you feel like cooking at home, not only you will
find normal supermarket (in Via del Boschetto towards Via Nazionale,
to the right: "Margherita"), fruit shops, but also cosy,
old-fashioned grocery stores in Via dei Serpenti.
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We recommend "Chicco di Grano"
(Wheat Grain), in Via degli Zingari 5-6- 7-8, corner with
Via del Boschetto 115-114 (tel. 0647825033). They prepare
nearly 30 different types of Pizza with wooden fire oven,
according to the Neapolitan tradition, not the Roman. We recommend
Neapolitan pizza as opposed to the Roman (it is quite hard
to find the former in Rome, and you will generally have to
surrender...when in Rome...).
In the Neapolitan pizza the dough is let aside to raise, the
pizza is thicker and more dressed. "Chicco di Grano"
also prepares 40 different types of Bruschetta, a Roman speciality
of grilled bread dipped in olive oil and garlic (with many
variants). Mind you, it is pronounced "Bruskettah" as the "ch" has a K sound in Italian.
Chicco di Grano is also an excellent restaurant,
with a rich menu, with many Mediterranean dishes. |
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Goffredo, opening
hour:
everyone is ready to go.
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Another restaurant we recommend
is Goffredo in Via Panisperna 231 (tel. 064740620,
closed on Monday). It is very old, as it was founded in 1886. Enrico Fermi, the physicist who discovered the fixation of
Uranium, had his meals here. The restaurant has two halls,
both very well appointed. A large variety of dishes from various
Italian regions are prepared and presented in a very fine
way. The service is courteous and attentive, and the friendly
owner Mr. Roberto Pepi is most hospitable. For a menu "a
la carte" (choosing your preferred dishes) expect to
pay around app. 40 US$ or 26 Euro for a meal with vegetables. |
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Mr. Roberto Pepi
poses proudly near the photo showing him on a Vespa
scooter during his first year in Rome as a child in
1957
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Interior: a cool,
air conditioned hall
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If you are thinking of "Gelato"
(ice cream), we recommend "Il Gelatone"
(The Big Ice Cream), in Via dei Serpenti 28 (tel. 064820187).
The ice cream is not only big, it is just G-R-E-A-T, one of
the best in town! Chef Paolo prepares about 100 variants of
fresh and home made Gelato, including all sorts of fruit ice
cream, more classical flavours, and new ones he creates (for
ex. "Crema Antica" - Ancient Cream). He also prepares
ice cream with soy milk (without cow milk), and also without
sugar for those who are on diet.
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The long counter with
over 100 flavours
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Other shops we highly recommend are:
"Adriano",
Barber shop, Via Panisperna 46 (tel. 064817901). An old fashioned
barber shop, still with the spiral outside, and great atmosphere
inside. Adriano is a talented barber, but above all he is the
sweetest man on earth, you will have the impression of being
served by your best friend. His customers love him, and forgive
him for being a "Lazio" and not a "Roma"
fan (the two teams rival for Rome's supremacy in football-soccer,
with Roma being more popular in Rome and Lazio in its region).
A full hair cut will cost you 13 Euros (app. 18 US$). Shampoo will cost 5 Euros, and a beard
cut will cost 7.5 Euro.
Adriano (right) with the
"Lazio" shirt on his shoulders |
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"Internet Cafe". Via Cavour,
213 (tel. 0647823051). Metro line B, Cavour stop, also buses 27
and 117. E-mail, AOL Netmail, Hotmail, Yahoo Mail. As low as 1.5
Euro (app. 2 US$) for one hour. Also scanner/printer, fax, international
phone service. A ten hour card will cost you 35 Euro (app. 34 US$).
"Maria Teresa's Artshop". Via del Boschetto
1B (corner with Via Panisperna) - Tel./ fax 064744679. This shop
has a wide collection of 19th and 20th century antiques. The lamps
are particularly varied and interesting. The shop also has an ample
supply of various 20th century gifts and curious objects. Maria
Teresa is a very amiable and pleasant person.
Back to the "Monti quarter general
presentation"
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