After many days eating moules and fish “a la meunière” we were really craving some meat, so off we went to Vincent, the restaurant recommend for good meat. Surprisingly, it is conveniently located near the Grand Place. If possible ask for a table outside, but only if you do not mind facing the restaurant’s windows with cuts of fresh meat on display. The main room… Read more »
Archives: Eat & Drink
This restaurant has become an exception on our list of suggested eating venues: it is super touristic, but the food was very good, so we decided to include it. Located only three blocks away from the Grand Place, it is an option for a good lunch or dinner at reasonable prices. Chez Leon is very traditional, enormous and serves large amounts of people. If the… Read more »
What an impossible task to suggest one single chocolatier in a city that has dozens of shops serving the best chocolate in the world… How did we choose Chocolaterie Mary? Well, there we had some of the best chocolate we had in Brussels, the service was the most gentle and many of the other chocolateries have become quite international, with branches in other cities of… Read more »
We went to the Anglesea Arms on a Monday and were quite surprised with the buzz around it on a weekday. At that moment we understood the reason for its reputation as one of the best pubs in town to have some food, and no wonder the pub calls itself a gastropub. The ales were, of course, as traditional as you could expect at any… Read more »
What a pleasant lunch did we have at the Ivy Chelsea Garden! Certainly, sunny spring days are ideal to enjoy this restaurant, and this was indeed the case. The main rooms follow a garden themed décor, with flowery wall paper and fabrics, and actual potted plants and flowers. If the weather allows, ask for a table on the terrace, in the garden or orangery to… Read more »
Isabel restaurant has become one of the trendiest restaurants in London nowadays and is both upscale and informal. You will see habitués in fancy fashionable clothing as well as in jeans and t-shirts. The main salon is beautifully decorated, with a magnificent central bar, exquisite lighting coming from black and gold lamps on the ceilings and small table lamps, and the restaurant’s luxurious silver and… Read more »
This delightful little gem, tucked away in a small alley, is quite difficult to find, but the lines at the front give away not only its location but the assurance that good food is being prepared there. To appease your appetite while you wait outside for your table, waiters bring out to the alley pans with small dishes containing typical starters like gnocchi or a… Read more »
Probably one of your best meals in Venice would be at the Antiche Carampane, specialized in seafood, for which the city is famous, but with a modern twist. It is not exactly a fancy or fashionable restaurant, but rather a relaxed and lively family run setting that has become famous for its excellent quality of food. The menu changes regularly, given that they focus on… Read more »
This family run pasticceria has been around for quite some time, according to the family’s own account for over a century. It is a traditional pastry-making venue, an ideal place to stop for coffee and cakes, but they also sell chocolates and other sweets. There is more than one shop in town nowadays, we stopped more than once at the one conveniently located on the… Read more »
The Fiore has become a well-known venue in Venice, and even though it carries Osteria in its name, it is actually more of a distinguished Michelin starred restaurant serving traditional food with a modern twist. We were lucky enough to find available the seasonal granseola (crab meat) for starter, a Venetian delicacy not easily found in some seasons. Main courses included a delicious cod as… Read more »
Marciana was a good surprise for our lunch near Piazza San Marco, an area understandably surrounded by tourist traps. This small eatery, just steps away from the famous piazza and an unpretentious modern flair, delivers very good food, considering its location. We started with some vongole pasta, prosciutto and melon, and scampi (prawns) in purple onion, all appetizing. Following the starters, we had fun with parpadelle… Read more »
Osteria alle Testieri is in almost all experts’ lists when they talk about Venice, but do not expect a starred restaurant with in vogue spheres and foams. This osteria has been operating for decades and has a traditional bias in its offerings. The menu depends on the day since the Testieri cooks whatever comes fresh from the markets. In general you can find different kinds… Read more »
Da Raffaele is a traditional Venetian restaurant with typical food and a lovely canal front terrace, perfect for outdoor seating, weather allowing. The ambiance is cozy with objects on walls, wooden furniture, flowers on the balcony and delightfully tranquil canal views. Everything we ordered was tasteful and delicious, the Zuppe de Cozze (the Italian version of Moules et Frites), the carbonara (one of the best… Read more »
Please keep the secret: this is a small restaurant tucked away in a tiny street, yet Caminetto D’Oro holds what is consider to be one of the best pastas in town (bear in mind that in Bologna the standard of comparisons is extremely high). You need to ring the bell for access to the three very small rooms holding little tables in a charming ambience.… Read more »
In the old center of town this tiny restaurant, a “gourmet trattoria” as it calls itself, is both charming and unpretentious. Good weather allowing there are enjoyable tables outside, but on colder days choose the pleasant and intimate indoor area. What about the food? As is to be expected in Bologna, simply delicious… We started with a mouthwatering board of prosciutto and buratta, followed by… Read more »
In the old days local merchants would gather in tiny streets, with names such as Pescherie, Clavature and Drapperie, to trade goods and render services. Nowadays, the cobbled streets right by Piazza Maggiore have turned into a lively street market with a colorful food display in stalls, and many cafés, eating venues and the typical Italian rotisccerie. Walk around and stop for some eating and… Read more »
If you are in the region of Santo Stefano basilica, the seven churches, and feel like eating something do not waste any time searching and head straight to this tiny trattoria frequented by locals, and living proof that excellent food does not necessarily have to be expensive. Tucked away in a cross street, we were surprised with the very tasteful lunch, as well as the… Read more »
In a city that has a gelato university one expects to find amazing ice cream. Bologna will not disappoint. How to choose the best one to recommend with such good options around? We selected this Cremeria as the ice cream, as the name suggests, is creamy, made with first class ingredients and delicious flavors. The Nocciola from Piemonte was superb, as was the chocolate with… Read more »
The former mansion of the traditional Bentivolglio family is now one of the most beautiful bars in Italy, or maybe in the world (and this is no exaggeration). Located in the propertys old chapel, Le Stanze has afrescoes in walls and ceiling, all of them original, a jaw dropping view as soon as you enter its rooms. Other rooms also carry original works of Italian… Read more »
We stepped into this Osteria by chance and were really surprised to see such a crowd of local Italians considering it is located near one of Bologna’s most popular attractions, the Piazza Maggiore. Two large rooms (the one upstairs is smaller) with a sweet decoration and touches of Italian cucina objects provided for a very good meal. Skip the bread and head straight for the… Read more »
