Duke's (Parioli)

I love going to Duke's in the Summer since I love their outside garden area. Duke's is obviously, from the name, not an Italian restaurant. It started off originally with California cuisine, and more recently transformed into an International restaurant. I find the menu to have remained pretty much as it was before, with the addition of an international dish here and there. They have an extensive cocktail list, and the ones I've tried are really good. It's a good place for an aperitivo or as an after dinner hangout, as the bar is quite popular. I tend to go to Duke's for the food. The menu changes depending on the season, but their classic dishes can be found year round. Appetizers include sushi, ceviche made with watermelon, sweet potatoes, and swordfish, nice salads, while main courses include Indian spiced chicken, bacon wrapped tenderloin steak, pineapple marinated swordfish. They have two or three pasta dishes, and even though they are good, I prefer to have pasta elsewhere. Dessert is something I can't resist, and my favorite is the chocolate freakout, which is a Valrhona chocolate mousse cake served with chopped hazelnuts and chocolate sauce. Duke's has an extensive wine list, which includes, Californian, Australian, Chilean, and of course Italian wines. Great place to consider when one wants a break from Italian cuisine.  www.dukes.it

Ondanomala Restaurant (Fregene)

If you are not familiar with it, Ondanomola is a stabilimento (beach)-bar-aperitivo spot-restaurant-tavola calda. Four years ago they started a restaurant in the evening, which was not very well known but slowly picked up since their value for money was better than the Fregene average. I went several times the summer it opened but, after learning that the nice man who was running it was not running it anymore, I wasn't in a hurry to go back. For some reason we ended up there a few weeks ago for dinner, and while there were some disappointments, overall, we ended up satisfied.

We ordered a bunch of their appetizers which included cooked and raw seafood to share for the table and then continued with a dish they called fish soup. In reality this wonderful dish was more than a fish soup, it was more a seafood extravaganza in a seafood broth. I can explain it away but I think the photo will speak louder.

This dish was for four adults and included shrimp, scampi (langoustine), mussels, clams, crayfish (astice), and two whole fish.

 So, on the food front, very good. We had a lovely Lugana wine from Lombardia area to accompany the meal. We were all stuffed by the time we were done with the "soup", but happily stuffed. We were expecting a killer end to the evening, considering the amount of seafood we were presented with, but were blown away when we paid 35 euros a head. Note: Usually in Fregene a 50 euro a head dinner for an average meal (drinks included) is standard.

Now the bad. We arrived with two hungry kids (ages 2 and 5) and we ordered for them immediately in order to get their food as soon as possible. The service was strange, the waiters seemed to be confused and we had to ask several times for the kids pasta. Our starters started coming out, even though we made it clear that we wanted the kids to be served first. After all, it was about 10pm, and way past their dinner time. My baby saw the raw stuff come out, and tried to reach for something to eat and was very angry when I took it away from him. I was doing it for his own good, but obviously he didn't understand, and so this led to a mini melt down. This in turn set me off, and I had a go at the waiter, stressing that I asked not to be served before the kids get their pasta. Long story short, the kids got their pasta at 10.30 pm !! For some this would automatically cancel out the place. I think I would probably not go there again with a hungry baby, but may give the place a second chance considering the good food and value for money.

If you are in Fregene, give the place a try, and leave me a comment about your experience.