Eating Out in Rome, Italy

The budget traveller must abide by one rule if he/she wants eating out in the Italian capital to be a painless experience which is this: check to see if the restaurant you wish to feast in forces any extra charges, namely cover charges and service charges. Before you bury your nose into the menu with enticing pizzas and pastas and order, ask the waiter, especially if you are on your own.

Surprisingly, some Italian restaurants in the heart of the tourist centres where red-checked table clothes swing from tables and waiters try to lure you in with their version of charm are extremely good value. Via del Latore beside the Trevi Fountain has a number of such eateries. Across the River Tiber around the Vatican museum and St Peters Basilica, hawkers prey on tourists in queues, shaking leaflets with details of their ‘coke and pizza for €5’ deals. Some can turn out to be real finds.

Restaurants in Rome are pretty much confined to those of the native variety. And, while you will find establishments serving Chinese, Indian, Mexican and Thai food, the standard is not as high as other major world cities. This shouldn’t be a problem, however, as once you have eaten in any of the traditional Italian restaurants you simply won’t even want to try anything else.

The aroma of food fills many streets, but not from the restaurants. Instead this is provided by the many pizza stalls and shops where a slice of pizza should cost no more than €2. They suffice when you are down to your last euros but should otherwise be avoided. Instead put that €2 to better use in one of Rome’s omnipresent gelaterias (ice cream parlours).