Eating out in Sorrento / Sant'Agnello

On our last trip to Italy (2010) my husband and I budgeted 50 euro a day per person for sightseeing, eating, transportation and miscellaneous expenses (not counting hotel!).

We ate a light breakfast in our hotel (free).
Lunch usually cost about 5-8 euro each (we mostly had pizza, paninos or simple things we could eat on the go).
Dinner was usually a bit more of a splurge at around 20-25 euro each. This was usually a "2 course" dinner. We usual split an antipasti and then each ordered either a pasta, pizza or a meat dish and bottle of house wine.
We found gelato ranging in prices from 2 euro up to 9 euro depending on the city and how touristy the area was.

By wandering several blocks away from the main sights you'll find lower prices for everything, and food is no exception.

Our food budget left us roughly 20-25 euro a day to spend on tickets to museums/sights, transportation and anything else we wanted (ie. more gelato).

If you have light eaters or very young kids in your family a 8 euro pasta/pizza for dinner will easily suffice. How old are your children? I'm not sure if most restaurants offer a "kids menu" with lower prices for children? I didn't really pay attention to this particular fact while we were traveling. Perhaps some other travelers can give you more detail.

We were walking an average of 8 miles a day and both in our early 20's on our honeymoon so we probably consumed a bit more food (and alcohol) than some younger/older travelers would.

Listings in Rick's Italy guidebook include a price range, usually by course, for each specific restaurant. For instance, a couple of places under "mid-range restaurants downtown" in Sorrento have pizzas and pastas €8-15 and secondi at €10-15 each. You will have both cheaper and more expensive options. For a fish dinner with a sea view, secondi could run €15-30. For smaller appetites, sharing dishes is not unusual.

When reading an actual menu, pay attention to any items that might be priced by weight or served for a minimum of two people. See also https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/rookie-error-know-what-per-kilo-is-in-italian.

Thanks to both of you for your responses.

In response to Back2Italy, my two sons are aged 12 and 10. I wouldn't say they are big eaters, but they do like pizza, which of course is a cheaper option.

I've actually been on my home computer most of the evening, reading recent reviews of restaurants in Sorrento and Sant' Agnello, and am very encouraged by the reviews (very recent reviews - days, or a week or so ago!), in terms of value for money. It would seem it is better to go off the main street, and into the little alleys where the locals seems to go - of course, always a good sign of the quality of food if locals are eating there.

Maybe you would like to check out my two favorite restaurants in Sorrento, "Da Filippo " and "Vero Vero" ...Delicious, full of locals,not expensive (around €50 for two people, and it was so yummy that I think we ordered half the menu! lol)
Congratulations on your trip, you'll love it there!

Thanks for your help.

I've actually upped my expenditure budget to £1,800, which at today's exchange rate, shows as 2,490 Euros, so that works out at just over 355 Euros per day. I am thinking this will now be enough. It's just we are planning to visit Vesuvius/Pompeii in one day (our resort is in Sorrento), then Naples, and finally, the Amalfi Coast. And I am also putting about £200 aside in my bank account, in case I need to use my debit card abroad.

And I will certainly have a look at the places you mentioned - oh goodness, all this talk about food is making me hungry. Can't wait to go now!

Not sure if you are aware of this but since you mentioned the debit card -- we returned yesterday and found that many places, particularly the smaller restaurants away from the sites, either prefer cash or do not even take credit cards. This was new for us since during our trips to England and France the last few years we hardly used any cash at all. We also found that we got the best food just away from the tourist sites. We visited the ATM machine much more often than we had anticipated!

Hi,
I dug up two dinner receipts, obviously three of us, sorry no one drinks wine,
and two just love desserts,

coca cola in all forms add up
Bottled water was always 1 litre

18.05.2015
L'Antica Trattoria suggest booking as it was very busy.
3 coperti 9.00
1 Filetto 35.00
1 baccala 30.00
1 Angello 30.00
2 coca cola 8.00
2 acqua 8.00
1 birra 5.00
2 desserts 20.00
total 145E

20.05.2015
Ristorante terrazza delle sirene
3 coperto 6.00
1 Aqua nat 3.00
1 cannelloni ricotta 9.00
1 Risotto Gamberi 13.00
1 Ravioli Caprese 9.00
3 coca cola 9.00
2 desserts 16.00
1 jack daniels 7.50 (large)
72.50E

also
Foreigners Club also good, but can't find the receipt (booking recommended)
Gelateria David
English inn for breakfast
Ristorante opposite the Men's club (can't remember the name)

missed out on going to Ristorante Delfini in the harbour which was recommended
to us while in Sorrento

Is your budget inclusive of accommodation, travel and meals ?

Off topic, but if you plan on bussing to Amalfi , look into taking the Big Red Bus rather than the
Sita buses which were always overcrowded. Pick up and drop off at the translation.