Is eating lunch in vatican city overly expensive? Am I better off going elsewhere for lunch and then returning to vatican city afterwards

There's no re-entry into the Vatican museums so if you are spending the day there the cafe is the only option. If you tour the museums and then exit you can have lunch at a local place and then return to see St-Peters. Sorry but I haven't eaten in that area so can't recommend anything but Franco's long message about Rome may give you some insight (Franco's favorite...Roman food & restaurants).

The only place for the public to eat lunch in Vatican City is the cafeteria attached to the museum. We didn;t eat there - so I have no idea of prices or what the food was like. We did grab a quick bite in a small sandwich shop on the street that leads to the square in front of St Peter's. It was cheap and fine for what it was.

The cafeteria attached to the museums is a perfect pit stop to avoid overindulging in too much art. Trays, self service, medium level food (they have to make it bland since there are so many different natinolities using it) and prices. The impt. thing is its a break, the prices are ok, the bathrooms are nearby and you can sit down!

I've eaten there a couple of times. Pizza comes right from the ovens and you buy it by the slice, with a drink. I don't recall the price but it was not overly expensive and fresh/tasty. It is nice to have a clean place to just sit after hours of walking.

I have had pizza there & it was edible - a useful pitstop as others say.