Italian Foodie Gems: Rome & Florence Edition 🇮🇹🍷

🥩 Rome: Ornelli Black Angus Steakhouse 💸 €51.5/person The only Xiaohongshu-inspired pick on our trip! Highlights: Beef Tartare: Fresh, zesty with lemon, olive oil, and pepper (sadly skipped the focaccia pairing due to post-flight bloat 😅). Dry-Aged Ribeye (600g): Outer crust = crispy, inside = juicy AF. A carnivore’s dream! Hugo Cocktail: Sweet, floral, low-ABV—perfect for lightweight drinkers like me. Drama Alert: Staff tried to upsell us a 1.2kg T-bone (we panicked and settled for 600g 😂). 🍝 Rome: Da Vito e Dina 💸 €29/person A post-Vatican hunger savior! Must-Order: Prosciutto e Melone: “Ohhh, so THIS is how ham and melon should taste!” 🇮🇹✨ Bacon & Pepper Rigatoni: Crispy, savory bacon fat magic (way better than Japanese supermarket versions!). Skip: Pizza. Local Tip: Grandma at the next table swore by the tomato tripe stew—tender but not my texture. Japanese friend loved it! 🍷 Florence: Trattoria da Giorgio 💸 €15/person UNEXPECTED GEM ALERT! Ditched a viral pasta spot (long line = nope) and found this locals-packed trattoria in a back alley. Lunch Course Deal: Appetizer + pasta + meat dish for €15 (yes, you read that right!). What We Ate: Arrabbiata Pasta: Spicy tomato perfection. 🌶️ Truffle Mushroom Beef Short Rib: Umami bomb. Arugula Salad: Fresh crunch. Verdict: Ugly plates, insanely delicious. Ended with a pinky-up espresso sip. ☕️ #RomeEats #FlorenceFoodie #DryAgedHeaven #BudgetFeast #ItalianHiddenGems #SteakLovers #NoRegrets