Restaurant (shortlist)

For in-depth reviews, read "mangiare" under "extras."

SORRENTO Giardinello - Via Accademia 7. Read my review in a previous post.

NAPOLI *Antica Pizzeria 'Da Michele' - Via Cesare Sersal 1/3 (Angolo Via P Colleta) 80100 NaplesIt was by far the best pizza I have had in my life. Same goes for my sister. They only make 2 types of pizza: margherita and marinara, and sell drinks. Cash only. Line outside the door.

PERUGIA
***Pizzeria di Maurizio*** There is no sign on the storefront other than "Pizza al trancio" = pizza by the slice. I discovered that it is "Maurice's" by saving the receipt. Anyway, the address is Piazza Morlacchi 1, north of S. Lorenzo Cathedral.

COOP Centro Italia - Piazza Matteoti 15, Perugia.

SIENA
CONAD (supermarket) in Piazza Matteoti (take the escalators one level down.
Tel. 0577/270806. Conad Supermarket - Piazza Matteoti. Siena.

*Pizzeria il Corso - Via Banchi di Sopra 23. Siena. Tel. 0577/40144. (Across from the famous Caffe' Nannini.) Of all the thin-crispy style pizzerie in Siena, I think this one was my favorite. It tasted the best to me. They can get kind of busy at times. The service is friendly. Each slice (thin) is about 1.25 euros, which was expensive compared to what we were paying in Perugia. But still tasty!Pizzaland - Via Camollia 41/43. Siena. (Via Montanini and Via Camollia are the same streets. They change names sometime past the Bus depot, Piazza Lizza.) I think we had pizza here once or twice. The service was friendly. They had both the thin and thick pizza. Open late, and I believe pizza slices are discounted after 10 p.m. or midnight (?).Pizzeria Forzanti Paola - Via Banchi di Sotto 25. Tel. 0577/40207. We had pizzas at 3 or 4 different places in Siena. This place was ok. It was probably the cheapest, only .80 euros per slice. Their pizzas are really thin, on a square pita-like crispy bread. (I think this is something regional. It is actually very tasty and light snack! We ate like 2 each when we were hungry, compared to the full-sized pizzas of Napoli!) The reason it was so cheap was because they were having a special sale. I think their regular prices are 20-30% higher.ASSISI La Pallotta - Vicolo della Volta Pinta 06081 Assisi (Perugia) Tel. (+39) 075/812649. Closed Tuesday. They give a 10% discount to those staying in their hotel. During lunch they provide several tasting menus, which are good buys. I think my sister and I opted to splurge and do something different. We ordered different pastas and salads. The dessert on one of the tasting menus was "fruit" - but I forget what kind of fruit. What I found was funny - the waitstaff just gave people fruit unpeeled fruit with a knife. I guess here in the States, everything comes prepped all done for you. But there, it was so "raw." It just blew me away. Anyway, other than that, the food was good - I think my sister's pasta was better. The lasagna was nothing special in my honest opinion. Otherwise, everything else was good, especially the tomato salad, which was just fresh tomatoes, olive oil, and salt. Yum. Lunch cost for two, without alcohol, 50-60 euros, I think. Lunch: 12:15 to 14:30. Dinner: 19:15 to 21:30.

VENEZIA *Pizzeria Antico Panificio - S. Polo 945/A/B, 30125 Venezia. Tel. (+39) 041/277.0967. Closed Tuesday. Open 12:00-15:00, 19:00-23:00 (that's 12p.m.-3p.m., 7p.m.-11p.m.).We found this place by luck. It has pages and pages of pizza and pasta, but mostly pizza. Very friendly service. Get there early, because it gets packed. Prices are inexpensive and food is good. I think this was one of the better meals we had. Cover charge was 1.60 euro/person, water 1.90 euro bottle, and pizzas ranged from 5-7 euros/each. The total bill was about 17 euros for lunch. And we were full.

MILANOI'm trying to recall our resplendent meal options in Milan, but right now I can only remember McDonald's, AutoGrill, and other fast food choices because we were in the mood for window shopping and shopping. Maybe we did enjoy a meal, but if we did, I can't remember it now. If it comes to mind, I'll post it later. I have been to Milan twice before and did enjoy some meals there. Once, at a restaurant in Brera, but of course I didn't write down the name of the place.

*Grand Italia Caffe' - Corso Garibaldi 9, Milano. Tel. 02/8646.2414