Inexpensive restaurants in Rome

It would help to know where you are staying in Rome. At the price level we like Ricci Est Est Est Pizzeria near Termini.

Try buying the book Food Wine Rome by David Downie, It's a great resource and they list the price range of the establishments. Buy it used online because it is pricey.
Specifically- we went looking for a couple of places and had good luck. We went looking for a place on Via dei Prefetti 19 which no longer exists BUT the pizza place across the street is great and sells artisanal food and wine in your price range. Same neighborhood as below. Nearby parliamentarians and staffers flock here and recommend it.
Enoteca Corsi on Via del Gesu- near the Pantheon ( lunch only) is wonderful and in your price range. Wonderful atmosphere. You are surrounded by bottles of Italian wine!
No reservations for either place and they are both small!
David Fen

Thank you for responding! We are staying at the Dream Station Bed & Breakfast right near Termini Station.

I've used Trip Advisor to find places near where we will stay in both Rome & Venice. Use the map & zoom in to where your hotel or apartment is located and click on the little icon with a fork & knife to see the name of the restaurant and even ratings from other travelers. Some of them even had websites with menus online. Good luck (and bon appetit)!!

I liked La Famiglia on via Gaeta north of Termini. Inexpensive, decent food, tolerable house wine at the right price, busy. Internet reviews are all over the place on this one, but it fit the bill for me. Definitely not a rip-off establishment like many around Termini.

I've noticed that Italian restaurants that have their menus online don't typically include prices there. Guidebooks will normally list price ranges for any recommended restaurants. Walking by and reading menus on the spot (always posted outside) is still an option. Especially when looking for a lower price range, I think you could make your reservation a day ahead. Some places are larger than they look from the front door, with extra rooms in the back. €10-15 is typically the price of a dish, rather than a multi-course meal for one person. This year, I was pleased with the good value of restaurant Miscellanea, generous €8 pastas near the Pantheon, listed in Rick's books.

If you are renting an apartment, you can get great homemade food from a tavola calda and eat it at home (most of these places have limited seating).

There is a place called Filetti di Baccala near Via Arenula in a little piazza (menu is limited). Near Piazza Navona is Navona Notte. Your price range is reallt going to limit your options for full-coure sit-down meals, but if you alternate some inexpensive restaurants with eating take-in, you should be fine. Note that a Coke or two will eat up a quarter to half of your budget.

You can have lunch from a pizza-by-weight storefront, or for about the same price €6 or less), hit one of the kabob places (the latter isn't Italian but it's a great bargain).

Hi - if you have internet access, try using Yelp. Most of the reviews will be from locals (hence in Italian) but you can filter by "nearby" and by price. That should give you affordable options in almost any neighborhood. I did this on my last trip and it was a godsend - I avoided most of the tourist traps and ended up in eating in places I would probably have walked by.

I'll probably have to kill myself for posting this place when everyone shows up, but try Antica Taverna, east of Piazza Navona, just north of Via del Governo Vecchio on Via Monte Giordano. Reserve in advance because of your group size, and at that plan on going early, like 7:00PM. Pastas are €7-8 and adequate portions. There are even some secondi that might be within your price range. Drink water or house wine, not soda. You can order a couple of antipasti to share. Ask for the antipasto della casa (which is NOT on the menu) and order one for every two or three people to share. It is €10 per serving and includes piles of beautiful cooked vegetables plus some salumi.

One of THE BEST gelato shops in Rome is a couple of blocks away on Via dei Coronari, Gelateria del Teatro.

Thank you so much for the advice! I've written down every single suggestion. I'm glad we are planning on walking a lot so that we can enjoy all of the good food! ;)