Rome: Foodie Must Haves

For me, best pizza by far was Da Francesco's a couple blocks from Piazza Navona. Some of the best gelato I had was in Trastevere across from a church that Rick mentions in his Rome materials - I forget the name but he talks about the cinnamon gelato and it was worth seeking it out. IMO if you're a foodie, you should go to one of the open-air markets. I don't know if they still run every day in February, but I enjoyed watching the locals at the Campo di Fiori market, buying their veggies and trying a few things here and there myself for absurdly cheap prices (even taking the exchange rate into account). Along the same line, when you walk by a random little market/deli walk through and look at the salamis and oils and wines and stuff, see how the locals eat - I learned a lot about the culture and food this way. For dishes, go to the Jewish ghetto and try the fried artichoke, like nothing i've ever had, very unique, cheap, tasty. the list goes on and on Have a great time!

Bucatini all'amatriciana, spaghetti alla carbonara, abbacchio al forno, saltimbocca, artichokes alla Giudia or alla Romana.

I really enjoyed Trattoria der Pallaro, near Campo di Fiore.

Family run, no menu (you eat what they are serving), multiple courses, wine, dessert. Around 25 euros.

It's in the book.

Just got home from Rome a couple of hours ago....you have to try BLUE ICE gelato. We found 2 outlets on the Campo deFiore, and another one on the road from the Spanish Steps to Barbarari Metro Stop (Cappucin crypts)

They have a beautiful display, lots of flavors, and it was really really good! I've tried gelato all over Italy, and this was some of the best!

It's not cheap...in a cone with chocolate/coconut or nuts, it's 3.50E for a medium size, but worth the expense (we ate gelato for lunch one day...so that was a cheap meal!)

Giolitti's gelato - I still dream of the champagne and lemon gelato that I had in 2001. It was to die for. I was taking a university course there and managed to get to Giolitti's for five days (which I believe was a class record) in a row as well as numerous other times.

I'm also looking for great places to eat ........I don't want to be in a tourist trap .....what are some of the best resturants to have food at ...not gelato .....LOL ........thanks in advance

There is a great family-style rest. just out side of the Piazza del Populo on Via Flaminia. Can't remember the name, but it is on the right-side of the street as you leave the P-d-P in the first block; can't recall the name. If you see a stand-up, takeout pizza place, you've gone too far. On Metro, use Flaminia-P-d-P stop.

Look for the daily specials on the posted menu. Great bucatini, wonderful salted cod dishes and other seafood, wonderful roasted lamb dish while we there.

We were the only Americani there, so it isn't a tourist place and the locals seem to love it.

I have to recommend a restaurant we ate at 10 years ago, my son 8 years ago, my daughter last year and friends this year...it's a great place near the Spanish Steps. May be a little pricey, but well worth it. They are famous for their Tuscan Bean Soup (check out the beaker simmering beans all day in their front window), as well as great pastas, steaks, etc. The name is: Nino Ristorante, Near Piazza di Spagna (shopping area) and the Spanish Steps...the address is: Via Borgognona 11, Rome...the phone is: 06-6786752...Salute...

Thanks for the replies so far. I also have been doing a good amount of looking elsewhere and am getting quite a bit of information compiled. I really do not mean to seem quite so obsessed with food, but this seems to be a good opportunity to explore food options as I will have little else to do with my evenings. Some comments so far. Markets: love them, wish I was not occupied mornings, but I will still get to them. Even supermarkets are fascinating to me. Pizza: I think I am up to a dozen potential stops. Dishes: February worries me, not quite the produce season, lots of good meat and seafood,but some treats like squash blossoms and artichokes may be out of season. While a ways off, upon return I will post a summary of my activity to share with all.

Rick mentions an Irish Pub right near Termini. It was a great value. The meals are big so if going for lunch, either split or plan on eating real light for dinner.

Excellent prices.

after a recent two week trip, the food in Italy was the biggest disappointment to me, I had read several books glorifying Italian food and really looked forward to trying some new dishes, only had 2 memorable meals. In retrospect we should have stuck to guidebook recommendation instead of impromptu choices and also realizing that with the sorry state of the dollar to euro you are not going to get a good meal for less than $50 USD. So if you are rolling in money, you will eat well. Gelato was good everywhere! Pizza take away shops abound if you don't mind it has been sitting there all day and they will heat it up for you.

L'archetto near Trevi Fountain. It's in a cozy little alley street and has inside and outside seating. 100+ types of spaghetti with amazing sauces and VERY reasonable. This is NOT overcooked, watery stuff like we get here - it's al dente and wonderful. We heard a fair amount of Italian there too so know the locals go frequent the place. It's away from the tourist madness and our meal (2 appetizers, a pasta entree apiece and two 1/2 liters of wine) was under 50 euro. Via dell'archetto, 26, Rome, Highly recommended.

And be sure to ask the staff at your hotel where they go to eat when they eat out. Stress that you don't want the standard tourist recommendation, but you want to know where the locals eat. We had our best luck doing that - good food at good prices.