Vedere e mangiare bene: eating out at the FilmFest

By Chris Buonincontri

Popcorn and candy bars aside, dedicated movie-goers will need to eat well between the chaos of the red carpet and excitement of the silver screen. Fortunately, Rome is more than adequately equipped to satisfy the palette of even the pickiest critic. From pizza to pasta, trattorie to enoteche, across all tastes and price ranges, there will be something for everyone at the upcoming RomeFilmFest.

Certain eateries near the venues provide discounts and special fixed menus for accredited festival participants for the duration of the Cinemafest.

Walking north toward the Parco della Musica from the station at Via Flaminia, SicilianBocca provides good food in the style of authentic Sicilian cooking. Further north, closer to the auditorium, Cassamortaro has a less costly dinner menu recommended by the locals. Osteria del Frate is a favored local enoteca where, in addition to the wine, si puo mangiare bene; while Duke's, on nearby Viale Pavoli, boasts a full menu, reasonably priced for movie-goers. Finally, just down the road from the auditorium on Via Tiziano, La Greppia is a small place with a friendly atmosphere and good food.

Across the Villa Borghese, at the Via Veneto venue of the Festival, one can eat like the stars amidst one of the most upscale areas of Rome. Just inside the park itself, directly through the arches at the beginning of Via Veneto, is Cine Caffé, also known as Casina delle Rose (recently renovated just for the film festival). "Normally, it boasts a serene park atmosphere where one can dine on a full lunch, small snack, or gelato during the daytime," explains local Roman Alfredo DeNicola, 46. "Notably, while watching films on specially provided indoor screens." At night, however, the café becomes an expensive parkside restaurant. Top-quality cuisine and an elegant atmosphere equals "costa troppo", according to DeNicola.

At the start of Via Veneto is Harry's Bar, followed by Caffé della Dolce Vita further down the road. Both of which, although elegant and ideally located, are extremely expensive. Further on, is the traditional Hard Rock Café. Down Corso d'Italia at Piazza Fiume one can find "more reasonably priced, quality pizzerias," says local Letizia Deluca, 33. T-Bone, just south of the park, is one of the trendiest steakhouses in Rome, and Gusto, to the west near Piazza Augusto Imperatore, has a quality pizzeria, enoteca, and restaurant, suitable for all price ranges.

Mangia!