Rome Spanish Steps Restaurants

We'd like to help you find more affordable eats in Rome. To give the most useful advice, we need to get a little clarification. You used the word restaurant. Rick uses the word restaurant , in his Rome book, to mean a place with table cloths, waiters, etc. Rome offers many cheaper alternatives to restaurants. There are delis, cafeterias, pizza shops, and hot table bars (tavola calda). But these are not restaurants, at least not in the terminology used by Rick in his book. So, we can give more useful advice if you can clarify what kind of establishments you're open to considering for the purpose of reducing your food cost.

There's a McDonalds very very close by...about 150 steps (?). It's the fanciest McDonalds you'll ever see.

ha, there really IS a fancy McDonalds close by, but I sure wouldn't waste my Rome Vacation time at Mickey-Dees

Kent, thank you. We are open to any eateries--which ones are likely to be the best deal for your money. We are splurging with housing already and one nice meal is enough. Otherwise, we will picnic and eat at cafes? Or what are they called, the pick up places?

Do you have Rick's book, Rome? It has an entire chapter, called Eating, that explains about the cheaper eating options in Rome, has Italian phrases for ordering, and makes recommendations.

You may enjoy Alla Rampa near the Spanish Steps. For 10 euros you can have a plate of antipasti that is plenty for dinner. The selection is excellent--lots of variety. Outside dining is available and atmosphere is nice if a bit touristy. Also nearby is Il Gabriello which is excellent and moderate in price. Staff is very attentive and restaurant has a fun atmosphere.

Ironically, a "bar" in Italy is not a pick-up place, but rather a place where you can eat relatively inexpensively, especially during the chiuso when other eateries may be closed.

Sorry, I wasn't going to post here, but I couldn't resist that.

As long as I chimed in, I'll ditto Kent. DEFINITELY, you must buy Rick's Rome book and read the whole chapter on eating. There's more to know than you will get from this thread. You will recover the cost of the book after you buy your first meal.