We are spending 3 days in Rome and 3 in Florence in June. I have two picky eaters in the family. They like pizza and either butter or tomato based spaghetti in the states. Other than that, they will not eat seafood or anything crazy. Any must eat restaurants that you can recommend in Rome or Florence for breakfast, lunch and dinner for picky eaters? The options are a little overwhelming for a first time visitor.
Thanks for everyone’s opinions.
I think it most restaurants in Italy you can ask for pasta with just butter and grated cheese because that’s what a lot of little kids eat (at least that’s what I ate when I was little).
Something that simple with just butter you can eat anywhere you don't need to have a special restaurant. You can almost always find some time of pasta with a tomato sauce also. Breakfast at your hotel or in a bar and they can pick what they want. Pizza margherita and you are good. Shouldn't be a problem. I don't eat anything crazy or seafood and I live half the year hear - but I do like cacio and pepe!
Been in both cities and enjoyed their cuisine tremendously.
My advice: "Eat Local" ( if it looks like a chain or tourist spot avoid it ). Tell your server of any allergies or other issues....they were very accommodating. They have plenty of options for "simple but delicious" food !
[Raises hand] Picky eater here! We get along just fine in both Florence and Rome. With pizza being one of our fav’s I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the options for pizza, in many places available by the slice for take away.
In Florence we did a lot of sandwiches. I don't have any specific restaurant recommendations I can give for Florence but for Rome, we always try to visit Osteria Da Mario, near Piazza Navona. They have many pasta options, our favorite being the amatriciana (basically a tomato base, with guanciale which is like bacon and thick hollow bucatini spaghetti). They also have a really good “roman chicken” that I love (chicken and bell pepper). Another restaurant we enjoyed is in Trastevere called Caramella. Their amatriciana was great, my hubby loves their suppli and he even got a club sandwich with fried egg on one trip when he was pasta’d and pizza’d out.
You will also find that many restaurants have an “american breakfast” on the menu. Just don't be surprised when the egg yolks are bright blood orange.
Even if there are set menu items Cacio e Pepe is pasta with just pecorino cheese sauce and salt and pepper. This is one of the four core pastas of Rome and you should find it most places. Each of the four core pastas in Rome - Cacio e Pepe, Gricia, Carbonara, and Amatriciana - are all relatively simple and maybe you can encourage them to branch out just a little.
Despite being simple in terms of ingredients they can be inexplicably good.
Good luck,
=Tod
and if they really throw a wobbly there are actually Golden Arches if needed
Food is part of culture and the food in Italy is really a great way to connect with that part of the culture. It's a pretty easy place for picky eaters to find lots of options that they like.
Please no McDonalds. Hold firm. Our picky eaters handled multiple cuisines fine once they realized we weren't gonna roll that way.
