Legendary Cheap Meals

Ours was in Bassano del Grappa, in 2003. We spent one night there going between Lago di Garda and our flight out from Venice (Marco Polo). We asked the hotel manager to recommend a nice "local" place, not touristy. He picked up the phone spoke with someone to reserve us a table, and then gave us directions. He said to be there at 7:30.

At the appointed time, we crossed the famous Pallido bridge and found the place. They were still washing the sidewalk out front, and shooed us away. We went and had a glass of prosecco at a nearby bar, returned 20 minutes later, and were promptly shown to our table.

It wasn't fancy---the decor was Tyrolian, and it was brightly lit, with p9ine tables and no tablecloths. There was no menu. The waiter----who spoke no English---gave us a few choices for each course, and fortunately we speak enough Italian to choose. No prices, and we didn't ask. The food started coming---antipasti, soup or salad, then pasta, then a main course (I had veal rolled around asparagus and other things, and thinly sliced), and then dessert. We had a carafe of house red, and they brought grappa with the dessert.

Everything was delicious, perfectly prepared, and well presented.

When we asked for the bill, we wre fully prepared to pay 100 euro or more, based on what we had spent in Venice.

It was 39 euro, total, including the wine.

Great subject. One of the things I'm most excited about for our first trip to Europe this summer - the food!

Mine was at a little hole in the wall pizza shop not too far from the Vatican in Rome. Was one of our free evenings on the RS Rome tour and I wasn't in the mood for a full-out Italian dinner so I decided to wander off in search of a panini, pizza, or grocery store. It was about 8pm or so in December and lots of places had shut down so I ended up going quite a ways.

Went into the place which had about 3 tall bar-style tables with stools and a counter. There were a bunch of locals (mostly men) milling around waiting for their food. With pitiful Italian and lots of pointing, I ended up with enough pizza for 2 people (I misspoke and ordered double what I intended of one type.) Took my booty back home to the hotel which had free bottled water/sodas. Total cost under 5 euro. The pizza was really good, even if it had gotten kind of cold by the time I got back, but between the extremely cheap price and me being proud of myself for successfully navigating Rome on my own, it was one of my favorite meals.

In November of 2008, we spent 13 days in Italy, the majority of them in Florence, however, we spent 3 days in Rome, visited Sienna for a day, and Venice for 2 days. Some of the BEST meals we had were at a restaurant in Florence called Nerone's. I think we ate there 4 times. The food was DELICIOUS, wine was DELICIOUS and the atmosphere was wonderful. It was very inexpensive and I'd highly recommend it. The Pappa al Pomodoro soup is absolutely delicious along with all the other items on the menu.

Susan ,

When how many days did you stay in Florence. I am leaving for a vacation to Italy in 3 weeks. We will have 9 full days there. I am planning on spending 4 nights in Florence and 5 in Rome. I'd like to get out Florence and see the courtyside and possibly some wineyards. Did you do any of that? Also, I am not set on my 4 days either. Is that too much time there?

Hi Chris,

You might want to post your question as a new topic. You'll get more answers that way.

Otherwise, you'll have to hope that people stumble upon your question under the Legendary Cheap Meals heading.

Have a fun trip!

Hi Elizabeth--Most deliciously memorably inexpensive meal in Italy: fresh mozzarella balls, salami, crusty bread and wine, all purchased in Campo dei Fiori and eaten in our hotel room!

Elizabeth,

Picnics!

The most memerable one would be in a park on the very tip of the Sorrentine Penninsula!

Second would be sitting on the lawn beside the Duomo in Orvieto.