CombatCritic's TravelValue™: Italia

Showing posts with label Italia. Show all posts

Monday, October 24, 2022

Naples, Italy: Now I Know Why Caravaggio Went Nuts Here

Locanda del Cerriglio

Via del Cerriglio 3

80134 Naples, Italy

Centro Storico

Phone number +39 081 5526406

Website: locandadelcerriglio.it

Prices: €€€€

In a historic building, dating back to at least 1610 when it was an inn and where the famous, controversial, and reportedly crazy artist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio was reportedly stabbed, you will find Locanda del Cerriglio. It was recommended by a friend and turned out to be a decent find, but with just a few major flaws.

We started with two orders of the Cuoppo di Fritturina Napoltana (€8 each - deep fried crocchè, arancini and zeppoline) to give our friends a taste of these deep-fried Neapolitan specialties. The total of four crocchè (potato dumplings), four arancini (rice balls), and 8-10 zeppoline (dough balls containing algae) came to €16 ($18.30) for an order that would cost 1/4 of that (between €4 and €5) at almost any respectable pizzeria Napolitana.

For our main courses, I had the Puparuolo 'mButtunato (€9/$10.30), eggplant stuffed with pepperoni (sauteed bell peppers) and mozzarella, dipped in egg and coated with breadcrumbs, then fried to a golden brown. I have never had it before and it was quite good. My wife got the Provola Affumicata (€8/$9.15 - baked smoked provola cheese) and my old high school buddy had the Pesce Spada alla Griglia con Insalata (€14/$16 - grilled swordfish with side salad) both of which they seemed to enjoy although there was an unappealing puddle of water at the bottom of my wife's baked bowl of provola when she was done.

My buddy's wife and dear friend, who is gluten intolerant, ordered the 'O Scarpariello (€8/$9.15 - made with gluten-free pasta and cherry tomatoes, peperoncini, parmigiano and pecorino cheeses, and basil). The sauce was OK, but the pasta was not "al dente", it was more like "broken dente". It was well undercooked and closer to raw then the proper texture - quite firm and chewy - not even close. Apparently, gluten-free pasta takes longer to cook as our friend then told us, but any chef worth his or her salt, especially in Italy, knows how to properly cook and taste pasta to ensure it has the proper consistency. This one obviously did not. We mentioned it to the server and then the owner who came over, but all they offered was to cook her a fresh "1/2 portion" of pasta (because we all had tasted it to see how bad it really was), but by that point the rest of us were almost done with our main courses and she refused. She left 3/4 of the pasta untouched as they removed it from the table. Any self-respecting restaurant would have taken it off the bill, offered her a free dessert or maybe an after dinner limoncello, but, to my surprise, none of those things happened - no "mi dispiace" (I'm sorry), nothing!

The tall server/host, who was quite full of himself as he pranced around the room, then brought us the check in a small wooden treasure chest, an interesting novelty, but then told us "take it to the front and tell them table #12". Very odd that a restaurant in Italy of this caliber would make you go to the bar to pay, but I guess that is the way they do it here. Unimpressive, especially his hoity-toity attitude. What an ass.

Had the pasta been properly cooked or had they reacted more professionally for their grievous mistake, I might have given them a decent 6 Bombs Out Of 10 (3 stars - an average rating for average food at slightly above average prices), but because they do not know how to properly cook pasta and do not have the business acumen to make up for a massive mistake such as that ...

CombatCritic Gives Locanda del Cerriglio 4 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Four Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "Bend Over, Here It Comes Again"

Monday, January 8, 2018

Naples, Italy: The Flower Of The Spanish Quarters - Clean, Inexpensive, And Central

Fiori di Napoli

Sunflower Room

€ 30 - One Person (Discount for long stays)

Private Room in Bed & Breakfast

Quartieri Spagnoli, Naples

Contact: Ivo

Airbnb Description: "Sunflower room is located in the heart of this amazing city, close to the historical centre, few steps from the Royal Palace, the San Carlo Theatre, the Castle Maschio Angioino, Spaccanapoli, the sea , the Pignasecca market. It is well connected with all public transports (Funicolare, Cumana, Underground both lines).Daily cleaning of the rooms is provided. The towels will be changed every 3 days."

Palazzo

Amenities

Washer

Heating

Wireless Internet

Breakfast

Smoking allowed

Iron

Hair dryer

Hangers

Room-darkening shades

House Rules

Check-in is anytime after 8AM

Check out by 11AM

You must also acknowledge: Dog(s) live in the house

Spanish Quarters

Nice, clean, simple room, Il Glicine, in a palazzo (palace) in the heart of Naples, just a couple blocks from the architecturally infamous Toledo (Metro) Station and Via Toledo shopping district.

Located in Quartieri Spagnoli, literally "Spanish Quarters", this B&B is not actually a B&B unless your reservation states "Breakfast" is included, otherwise it is €5 per day and very simple from what I understand (coffee, toast and marmalade - typical Italian breakfast). There was some confusion as it was advertised as a "B&B", but my host, Ivo, told me that breakfast was not included in the price of the room I booked on Airbnb, which was very inexpensive by the way, but we made a deal so I could make coffee and buy my own breakfast. Non ce problema (not a problem).

B&B Fiori di Napoli is actually a very large apartment where a few other people, not exactly sure how many, and a sweet dog, Greg, live. The neighborhood is Naples at its best with narrow cobblestone streets with drivers on scooters, cars and trucks honking at each other in the traditional Neapolitan way.

I read about some concerns about safety in Naples, particularly Quartieri Spagoli, in previous Airbnb reviews as well as from my wife (who grew up in Naples) and mother-in-law (who lives in Naples), but I had no worries having lived in Naples for three years while serving in the military. The palazzo is actually a great base for exploring centro storico (the historical center) with easy access via the Metropolitana (Naple's Subway) to adventures in Naples and beyond (READ MORE On My TravelValue: Bella Napoli Webpage)

Ciro

There is a great little mini-market (Maielo Ciro) right across the street with basic supplies, a deli counter, and a friendly, honest proprietor (Ciro). If eating out, one of the best and cheapest pizzerias in Naples, a city famous for its pizza, is just down the street (CLICK HERE To Read My Review Of Pizzeria 400 Gradi) and there is a great little trattoria, Trattoria da Concetta (CLICK TO READ REVIEW), with decent prices, good food, and excellent service within 200 meters of your room. Less than 350 meters and a 5 minute walk away (toward "Dante" Station) is another good little, and I mean little, trattoria by the name of La Taverna del Buongustaio (CLICK TO READ REVIEW) with low prices and good, traditional Neapolitan food.

The room had everything I needed, including a comfortable double bed, two nightstands, a large wardrobe, shelves, an LCD TV with cable (BBC News in English), a large refrigerator/freezer and microwave. I stayed for three weeks and was very comfortable except for some relatively cold days and nights, but Ivo was very hospitable, turning on the heat (radiators) anytime I asked.

Naples can get rather warm in the summer months, so keep that in mind because there is no air conditioning that I am aware of. The apartment is also on the third floor (U.S. - second floor for Europeans) of the palazzo and this palazzo has 12 foot ceilings. The walk up the three very long flights of stairs was a bit of a workout because there is no elevator, so you had better be in decent shape or take it very slow.

I felt very comfortable and safe with Ivo and Manuela and their dog Greg was quite sweet and very quiet. At just $21 per night, you will not find a better value, particularly in Naples' historic center.

CombatCritic Gives Fiori Di Napoli 9 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Nine Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "U.S. Marine Response To A Verbal Greeting Or As An Expression Of Enthusiasm"

Read Reviews By CombatCritic:

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Reviews

Reviews

Title: Naples, Italy: The Flower Of The Spanish Quarters - Clean, Inexpensive, And Central

Key Words: Naples, Napoli, Italy, Italia, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, hotel, accommodation, Airbnb, room, apartment, palazzo, Quartieri Spagnoli, review, fiori, Yelp, Google, Facebook

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Matera, Italy: Great Food, Good Prices And A View Of Sassi Di Matera

Il Terrazzino

Vicolo San Giuseppe 7
75100 Matera, Italy
Phone number: +39 0835 334119
Website: ilterrazzino.org
Prices: €€€€

Off of Piazza Vittorio Veneto on a small alley on the east side of the piazza, you will find Il Terazzino. Go down the winding stairs to this restaurant and pizzeria of very good quality and reasonable prices with a terrace view of Matera's famous (UNESCO) sassi where Passion of the Christ and other movies were filmed.

A large, nicely appointed interior set in into the cliff has ancient vaulted ceilings and several rooms with plenty of space for 30-40 tables. We were warmly welcomed by the owner who took our order because the servers had not yet arrived. We ordered the house wine (€3.50 per 1/2 litre), a deep red served slightly above room temperature and a good value.

The Tourist Menu is just €18 and includes primo (pasta or soup), secondo (meat dish), and contorno (fries or salad), mineral water, and dessert (spumoni or fruit). I had the Cavatelli alla Boscaiola (€8 ala carte), fresh pasta in a tomato sauce with mushrooms and ham served with grated goat cheese to top it with. The serving was healthy and the flavor delicious. The pasta could have been a bit warmer in order to melt the goat cheese after mixing, but, otherwise, it was a good selection. I also had the Salsiccia di Maiale Arrosto (roasted pork sausage - €8 ala carte) and a side of fries. The sausage was a bit spicy, but flavorful and well cooked, and the fries plentiful, large, and hot.

My wife had the Pizza Ai (Quattro) Formaggi (€7.50) with mozzarella, grana padana, gorgonzola, and emmenthal cheeses and without tomato sauce. The pizza was very well done and comparable quality of those in Naples where pizza was born with plenty of cheese and a thin, yet firm, crust.

We ate extremely well for under €30, the service was excellent and the interior roomy and rustic, and would not hesitate to return in the future.

CombatCritic Gives Il Terrazino 8 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Eight Bombs Equates To:

Read Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp - Elite '14/'15/'16

Tabelog - Official Judge (Silver)

Zomato - #1 Ranked "Verified" Foodie

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Read Chris S.'s review of Il Terrazzino on Yelp

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Title: Matera, Italy: Great Food, Good Prices And A View Of Sassi Di Matera

Key Words: Il Terrazino, il, terrazino, Matera, Italy, Sassi di Matera, Sassi, pizza, pizzeria, view, centro, Italia, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp

Translation for Civilians: WTFO! = "What-The-Fuck ... Over!"

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