I got such great advice on where to stay in Rome, I thought I'd try again. Please post your favorite place to eat, or even your favorite neighborhoods to wander and find a great restaurant in Rome. I appreciate good Italian food but am not rich so meals over $80 for two people will sound great but be over our budget. Cheap eat suggestions welcome too.

Thanks!

We stayed near the Piazza Navona and loved it- easy walking to lots of fun neighborhoods. One of our more simple but fun meals (and the best pizza we had in Italy) was at a very popular pizzeria- Pizzeria da Baffetto, Via del Governo Vecchiho 114. Be prepared to stand in line to get in and if you are only 2, you will probably be seated with others at a table for 6. This only adds to the energy and fun of the place. Dinner was very cheap as well- less than 25E for two.

Thanks - we'll definitely check it out.

Anyone else?

The area from the Piazza Navona to the river has many small streets with excellent restaurants. I favor the Via de Bianci Nuova. Near the end where it joins Victor Emanuelle is a fine small family run restaurant, Pasta E Ceci. Try the Antipasto Vegetale and the Pasta Arrabiata with the house red. Inexpensive and unforgetable.

Head to Trastevere for less touristy restaurants, and less touristy prices.

Here is the restaurant part of my trip report from June:

Our favorite restaurants were Pierluigi (Piazza de Ricci - need reservations), Al Fontanone (46 Piazza Trilussa) and Da Gildo (31 Via della Scala) (both in Trastevere). We also ate at Insalata Ricci (85 L. go dei Chiavani - very close, good, cheap), La Carbonara (in Campo de Fiori - nice atmosphere and very close by, quite good food, hordes of tourists), Hostario Giulio (19 via della Barchetta - decent). Maura (our landlord) recommended a restaurant called Al Ciack at 21 Vicolo dei Cinque (also in Trastevere) which looked great but my youngest son panicked when he looked at the menu. We would have loved to have eaten there. The other restaurant we missed that has RAVE reviews everywhere is Al Bric, which is between the apt and Campo de Fiori on the right hand side of the street. For some reason, we never made it there either.

We had our best meal in Rome at Enoteca 313 near the Coloseo. It's a wine bar (obviously) and serves excellent meats and cheeses, as well. We had a couple glasses of wine, a plate of assorted prosciuttos, and a plate of assorted cheeses for about $40 euros.

A lot of our meals were pretty forgettable, so if food is important to you plan it out. For most of our meals we just walked into a place close by and the food was usually mediocre, occasionally bad, and maybe once above expectations.

ttt. I'm interested in this thread, especially good, reasonably priced meals...those under 100 E for 4 would be great for my trip plan

Mario's near the forum - don't be misled by other 'mario' restaurants. This one is on a small sidestreet just across from the open air opera. The host is the owner and truly wonderful. you can sit outside or inside, mario will come over and sit down for a drink with you,etc. we went back twice during our 6 night stay which is quite unusual for us.

Near the Colisseum, Hostaria da Nerone: Via della Terme di Tito, 96. Wonderful antipasti bar, lots of fish on Tuesdays and Fridays. Among the best spaghetti alle vongole I have ever had. Informal, very friendly. Reserve in advance.

We enjoyed the Parioli area, but many tourists might find it a bit far away from the major sights. Most nights we'd return to the area and just walk the residential neighborhoods until we found some little dining place that looked interesting--we'd usually be the only non-Italians there.

We also had a couple of wonderful meals at the somewhat better known Ambasciata D'Abruzzo, quite reasonably priced.

http://www.ambasciatadiabruzzo.com/i...x.php?cmd=home

get a "Time Out Rome" guide. They have great restaurant recommendations.