Looking for eating solo tips

This brings back a memory of my solo visit to a fairly small town, Sulmona in the Abruzzi. I took the train there from Rome for a day. This was in the 1980s, so things have probably changed quite a lot since then, but it was a very traditional town that observed, for example, the evening passeggiata. At lunch time when I stepped into a restaurant, I saw that I was the only female customer in the place. The tables were all occupied by working men having their lunches. They looked kind of shocked and even embarrassed to see a woman!

The head waiter ran and got a female worker from the kitchen, and she guided me to a table. I was treated with great courtesy, but it sure felt weird -- as if I'd been transported into a men's private club!

I honestly don't remember portion size being a problem on any of my numerous solo travels in Italy, maybe because I'd usually just order a salad and a starter pasta dish or something. [[edited -- I understand (in decades past) culturally it's a no-no to ask for a doggie bag (post-pandemic I see they are fine); one European told me the restaurants feed the leftovers to pigs, but I have no knowledge of whether that's accurate.]]

Just adding that doggie bags/takeout boxes are now all the rage post-pandemic. I take out my leftovers every time we eat out and no one ever blinks an eye. They always have suitable, usually compostable containers. Sometimes they ask me before I ask them. Not once have I gotten a stink-eye.

Portions are not always outrageous, it depends on the restaurant, but I personally cannot eat a whole 4-course meal and only very very rarely order one. Again, there is no judgment if you don’t order every course, most people don’t. Choose what you want to eat, and take the rest with you if you want to.

I was solo in Italy December 2019 into January 2020. I too visited Naples and while everyone around me were easily polishing off whole pizzas on their own, I had some zip style baggies with me and just put half my pizza in one and ate it again for dinner in my hotel room. The next day I found a little restaurant in a side street and sat alone, ordered normal items off the menu and they were solo appropriate in their portions. Rome was no problem at all should you happen to find yourself up there. I'm returning to Italy in November and am so excited for you to be making the trip - I hope you'll love it!

I have a wonderful solution that is my favorite when traveling solo - city food tours. You will get a nice variety of local food specialties in a couple of hours with a friendly English-speaking guide sharing food, culture & a bit of history. I try to take one, especially if I will be in a location several days since they share where the best bakery, best gelato, best …. are located, and I like to return to some of them during the next days. I like to try the local dishes, and this gives me a chance to sample several and be full.

Otherwise, I haven’t had an issue with portion size ordering an entree in Italy (usually pasta & sometimes a small salad), other than ordering a pizza for one is always twice what I would want to eat. I try to eat away from the touristy restaurants - not sure if that makes a difference. The entree is usually smaller than what our local restaurants serve, so I don’t need a takeout box.

I ditto what Jean suggested about the food tour - great way to try things out plus get a bit of social interaction. I did that in Iceland and got to try all the local delicacies without a big commitment (fermented shark...you only need a taste of that). I don't really like dining alone so I often go the take-away route or assemble a grocery store picnic. I've had some very interesting/unusual meals that way! I suppose it helps I'm not a night person so an evening dinner in my hotel is ok by me (I usually make lunch my big meal). Best of luck to you!