WHERE TO EAT
   

EATING OUT

There is a wide variety of places to eat in the area, with bars and restaurants to suit all tastes. In most places the house wine will be most acceptable and in some cases exceptional. The red will usually be a locally grown Montepulciano d’Abruzzo.
All restaurants have different closing days so you will always find somewhere to eat - in the evenings that is!  So ingrained in the culture is the Italians’ habit of eating lunch at home followed by a siesta, that finding somewhere to eat in the middle of the day is often difficult.  There is a pizzeria and a self-service restaurant in the BORGO shopping mall towards Sulmona as well as a good Chinese in the town, all of which open at lunchtime. 
When eating at self-service cafes you will need to see what is on offer first then order and pay at the ‘cassa’.  Finally take your receipt to the person behind the servery who will give you your food items.  Just point or say ‘questo’ for this one or ‘quello’ for that one.
WHERE TO EAT IN AND AROUND ROCCACASALE  
LA ROCCA DELLE STREGHE      

It is possible to reach LA ROCCA DELLE STREGHE by foot taking the steps down from the lower car park opposite the house and then finding the wide staircase down to the road whereupon you turn right and the bar is on your right. It is only a small bar but there is quite a wide choice of food including arrosticcini (delicious lamb on skewers), hamburgers and patatine (chips) as well as pasta. However it does tend to have a younger clientele and the large TV screen is impossible to ignore while you eat.
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MARYTOWN BAR

A short drive to the bottom of the mountain takes you to the MARYTOWN BAR where you can enjoy a drink in friendly, modern surroundings. Your early evening drink will usually be accompanied by a selection of complimentary stuzzicati. The bar stays open late.

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LE GINESTRE
Right next door is the elegantly modern LE GINESTRE hotel.  The restaurant is always open to non-residents and serves a very wide selection of local dishes as well as a 2-page choice of pizzas cooked to order in the new pizza kitchen.  The house red wine is very good and sold in quarter or half litre jugs.  The hotel usually runs Saturday dance nights with live music but be sure to book.
Closed on Fridays.
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LA TAVERNA VECCHIA
One of our favourite places to eat is LA TAVERNA VECCHIA which is just a short distance down the road towards Popoli.  You can try all the local dishes at very reasonable prices.  Their house wine is a light red from Vittorito, just across the valley. They also have menus in English.
Closed on Mondays.
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LA FENICE
This has become our favourite restaurant due to its unique atmosphere and charming service. If you order an antipasto you are treated to a sequence of mini taste experiences all personally introduced by the host. The house wine, a montepulciano from Pescara, is probably the best we have tasted. The restaurant is just down the road in historic Corfinio.
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LO CHALET
Raiano is one of the villages you can see from the house.  It is a pretty place to explore and has one of the best places to eat, LO CHALET.  So called because it is built in the style of a ski chalet, it has an outside eating area which is wonderful in the summer. They will always try to find you a space but it is best to arrive early and definitely book on a Saturday. The antipasto misto is highly recommended. The pizzas are huge.
Closed on Wednesdays.
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POSTA PACENTRANA
This is an excellent modern restaurant on the outskirts of Pacentro. The portions are huge so we recommend having just the special antipasto and then deciding whether you can eat anything else. The steaks fill the plate! You can eat inside where there is a huge wood stove in the winter or enjoy a meal on the terrace in summer.
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BIFFI’S is just off Sulmona’s main street and is run by a mother and her son. Mamma makes the pasta while her son is the wine expert and does a very theatrical uncorking of the bottle.  There are some imaginative appetisers while the main menu depends on what Mamma has chosen to cook that day.  A bit pricey but very enjoyable.
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FRANGIO’S is a bit further down the same side street and is rather more upmarket. Here it is possible to taste a rather more adventurous set of dishes than is the norm.  If you are a wine buff then the wine list displayed on the wall should more than satisfy you. 

Nearby there is the famous Chinese restaurant where a budget meal is possible. You must try the deep fried ice cream!!
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RISTORANTE CLEMENTE has been highly recommended to us; we look forward to trying it next time we visit.

Sulmona has lots of lovely bars and cafes which look rather posh but just try them and you will find friendly service and reasonable prices. And of course, people watching while you drink is the best free entertainment there is.

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