When in Rome, do as the Romans do. And if you happen to be in Rome in the near future, you may like to consider going to two rather noteable restaurants in the city.

The Telegraph recently reported on a Rome pizzeria called Locanda dei Girasoli, where the waiting staff are all people with Down's syndrome. It was set up by a couple who apparently wanted to get their son, who has Down's himself, involved in running the business to give him "a purpose in life" (I'm hoping that slightly cringeworthy phrase has been made worse in the translation). After a shaky start, with some customers regrettably displaying unfriendly, dismissive and even rude reactions to the waiters, the business has now turned around and is now going from strength to strength.

Elsewhere in Rome, the city's first restaurant for deaf people has just opened. Staff at the Ciak Si Mangia eatery are trained to take orders in Italian Sign Language, meaning that groups of deaf people can visit without taking along a signing hearer to translate for them. The restaurant also offers subtitled movies on a big screen. Apparently it's only the second establishment of its type in Europe - do any Ouch readers know where the other one is? Let us know in the comments if you do.

All this talk of food is making me hungry. I knew I should have had something more than just a rather pitiful BBC canteen sandwich for lunch.