The one thing I was wary about on booking a tour is being locked into eating at the most touristy places on the map. The great thing about Contiki that maybe some wouldn't appreciate is that they keep all the lunch dining choices open, and offer some included as well as optional dinners. I ditched the optionals except for the Rome one, and after trying the included dinners twice (not that great) I skipped the last one as well.
Me and a group of tour friends got a little more adventurous and decided to forage for meals on our own. Although at times it got taxing on our tired walking-around-the-whole-day feet and out huge appetites, I must say we came upon some highly recommended local flavors in the best cities in Italy!
Birreria Centrale in Piazza di Cimatori, Florence for beautiful interiors, juicy Florentine steak and authentic Chianti Classico...
The best gelato store in Florence: Vivoli (ok this was recommended by the Contiki tour guide):
I passed the wonderful restaurant Trattoria San Toma on my first night in Venice and though it was already closed, it looked so charming because it was open air seating in a secluded little square bounded by a church and some old Venetian buildings. And of course I remembered the name of the square easily! Piazza San Toma. Going back the second night was difficult, it was a 45 minute walk from Piazza San Marco through winding streets and bridges but it was worth it. The elderly Italian waiters were perfectly charming, funny, jolly and oh-so-Italian that they even broke into song while taking orders. The pizza and pasta were pretty good and the best touch was the roving musicians which even had the kiddie diners dancing.
Some really tasty Osso Buco in La Carbonara, Campo dei Fiori, Rome:
The best ever porchetta sandiwch from Cantina Foresi by the Orvieta duomo, washed down by a frothy capuccino!
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