"We 've been nearly a week in Italy and sampled every pasta dish and pizza we could at every opportunity, but this night we just needed protein, some good old American food and just down from the Forum Hotel where we are staying (excellent hotel about 200 Euros/night) was the Old West. It is off the street through a small courtyard sandwiched in between other business, but right there through the swinging doors is a real live Wild West bar in Pompeii, Italy! I asked the learned the owner started in 2012 after touring the US on motorcycle and had the idea for the bar. Dark wood, great wall coverings of old photos of Wild Bill and Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley and numerous Indian Chiefs it is very well done. Their draw may be the bar with big taps and the whole mirror, dark wood, long bar lay out, and their mix of international beers, but the food is American Southwest with an Italian flair. The American rock playing a bit too loudly over the speakers didn 't detract from the conversation, but there were a few times I wish they 'd have changed the song or turned the volume down a bit minor issue and one else had issues with it. Part of the lively wild west flavor of the place. My wife and I ordered the Mexican beans as a starter. It came as a small bowl of black beans, lightly spiced, with large homemade croutons in a bowl next to it and 2 spoons. The waiter said you dip the croutons in the beans and eat it that way. For us it was more realistic to throw a few croutons in the pot of beans like an all swim, let 'em soak a bit, and then with a spoonful of beans also gather a crouton now soaked in the juice. We also ordered the chips 'n cheese 'n pepper and were a bit disappointed nothing more than home made and home fried potato chips with some parmesan sprinkled over the top never did see any peppers...not sure what went wrong there. I had the Cheyenne burger which was a classic bacon cheeseburger with small fries and small slivers of onion rings on the bun. The bun itself was like a light Italian roll, having a nice crunch as it was partly toasted, but very light and a great way to eat this sandwich. Ditto my wife 's burger as well. Not quite like home, but we didn 't want it to be. It was an Italian translation of what Tex Mex might be, so if you want real Tex Mex go to Texas, but if you won 't be offended by 'this isn 't how they make this at home ', you 'll love the character, people, and food of 'Old West '. Had I the time and appetite I 'd sample a stead, but we 're only in Italy another 6 days and there are so many pasta 's and other dishes to sample...but this was a nice change of pace and well worth it. Dinner for 2 drinks and all was about 45 Euros."
Panino Al Pollo
