rolyhill

We are looking for suggestions for vegetarian restaurants in Rome. We are staying near the Spanish Steps and want a break from pizza and pasta, fish is ok
Thanks,
rolyhill

bilboburgler

Use what my sister uses

http://www.happycow.net/

sandralist

Try Margutta or Babette. They are not far from you (both on the via Margutta).

nytraveler

The Mediterranean diet is very healthy overall - vegetarian or not. And portions are smaller than the US - so they don;t encourage overeating. Menus outside restaurants are mandatory and in many places vegetarian meals are easy - besides pasta there are often eggplant and other vegetarian dishes in many palces.

One potential issue with fish - you need to understand if you are buying a piece of fish (and how big) or a whole fish. Unlike other dishes they are usually priced by weight and the costs can run up quickly.

sandralist

The "mediterranean diet" can turn out to be quite a misleading term when eating in Italy, where regional cooking rules. Many signature dishes of Rome have what many would term "unhealthy" amounts of cheese, eggs and pork fat, or consist of fried foods. So the above post doesn't reflect the reality of Rome.

Also, if one wants to eating healthily in Rome, one should be eating seasonally -- and eggplants are not in season in Rome right now. (It is also very rare to encounter whole fish being served in Rome.)

As someone who frequently travels to Rome and has done so recently, I don't see anything odd about the original question. I like to eat lots of vegetables, and they are certainly not easy to find on typical Roman menus, and I hardly want to eat pasta at every meal. One nice feature of many Roman pizzerie and a few trattoria is an extensive vegetable antipasti "buffet" (but the waiter serves you). Hosteria Nerone near the Colosseum has a good vegetable table, so I should add that to my recommendations.

But don't let anyone try to make you feel ignorant for asking questions about eating healthy in Italy. Many Roman restaurants serve dishes overloaded with fat, and in huge portions, especially around the piazza Navona or in Trastevere, which is where everybody always tells tourists to stay and eat.

sandralist

nytraveler,

One can't help but wonder how long it has been since you were in Rome, and how much time in total you have ever spent there. You frequently post a lot of incorrect information about it and Italy in general. No doubt whatever experiences you had made a big impression on you, but I think you don't realize how small and limited they were. Other people coming here asking legitimate questions get lectures from you that are full of misinformation.

denisea

We had a wonderful grilled fish with tomatoes and basil at Osteria la Gensola. Very light. Maybe that would work for you.

nytraveler

Sandra - not sure why you insist on calling me out for my experience and opinions. You are certainly entitled to yours but that doesn't make mine invalid unless they are an exact echo. We are all entitled to our different experiences and opinions.

I have been to Italy at least 15 times since my first visit and have spent at least 3/4 weeks in Rome all together. Granted not the same as a resident but way more than most tourists will - and that's who we're talking to.

And since we don;t typically eat in Pza Navona - but in more local restaurants - perhaps I am not seeing these huge portions you mention. And I have seen fish priced by size of portions - in Rome as well as other places in Italy.

And I have never seen a restaurant that doesn't serve plates of contorni if that's what one wants. But there are many options for vegetarians. As for season for eggplant - don;t see where the OP said exactly when they will be in Rome.

And of course if one wants a healthy diet one won't eat just fried foods. But I have not seen anyplace in Rome (except McDonalds) that serves only fried foods.