dining delights (cheap and quick tavola calda in Rome)
 

I am looking for recommendations of places to eat, especially bars that offer tavola calda in Rome (and Florence, if you know of any).

Also, for recommendations on other cheap eating establishments and quick food take out perhaps?

Which are your favorites?

Thanks for sharing your dining delights!
Patricia

Anyone? (pretty)please?

Patricia

Hi Patricia. A place I've been to twice, and love, is the Antica Tavola Calda del Corso. It's on the west side of Via del Corso, a few blocks north of Piazza Venezia. Other people love it too since it's been packed both times where I was there, around lunchtime.

"Bars that offer tavola calda" are enotecas--wine bars that serve appetizers (sometimes free) or a full course meal (never free). A tavola calda is a different kind of place. It is a cafeteria style restaurant where you go down a line and point to the server behind the counter what you want. At the end of the line is the cashier. Some of these can be very reasonable, depending of course on what and how much you order. Delfino on Largo Argentina is a well known tavola calda serving good food but not all that cheap. Dagino in the Galleria Esedra on Piazza della Repubblica is another with excellent food, again, not extremely cheap. Other places to consider are the Autogrille on the Via del Corso near Via Tritone and the chain of Insalata Riccas which are all over Rome.

I second Grinisa's recommendation of Dagino in the Galleria Esedra on Piazza della Repubblica (Grazie, Grinisa; I'd forgotten the name of it) although I preferred the Antica Tavola Calda del Corso (which is also more centrally-located and, I think, less expensive.)

If your're near the Spanish Steps and want a good antipasto plate, duck into the Enoteca Antica on via della Croce. Directly across the street the Pasticceria d'Angelo has some fine food at their tavola calda (also great people-watching from their outdoor tables.)

Hi!

If you do go to Dagino, also treat yourself to one of the Sicilian pastries which they are well-known for!

In Rome, you can also try Al 39. No stuffiness or pretentiousness, just tasty and cheap food - my penne in arrabiata sauce cost about E5.00. The restaurant is at Via Palestro 39, not far from the Termini.

In Florence, Leonardo is a self-service restaurant where we ate dinner at twice. Though it is lacking in ambience, it makes up for that with decent food at cheap cheap prices - primi piatti such as creamy salmon pasta and lasagne for E3.30. The service is friendly and enthusiastic. It is located not far from the duomo, at Via Pecori 5.

We happened along a place called Cafe Aromo on a Friday in Florence. It was happy hour. We were sitting at the bar and they started placing these masses of bowls perched on eachother with snacks/tapas. Some were sausage, tomatoes, cheese, dips etc. Every 4th person had this beside them ar the bar and you helped yourself for free. They also serves tiny dishes of a taste of pasta. It was unexpected and delicious....we could not eat dinner after and just enjoyed the drinks and atmosphere.

When you face the main doors of the Duomo it is to the street on the left side that goes round the Duomo. Have a cocktail for me!

I recommend 'Gusto, a few blocks northwest of Piazza Spagna at the corner of via della Frezza and via del Corea. Strikingly modern interior with many wines by the glass, plates of salumi and formaggio and frequented by many of Rome's young glitterati. Great fun.