I am rereading all the threads I bookmarked for our trip (we leave Monday!!!) and had a quick food question about antipasti. I saw a webvision display of a few restaurants and was amazed by the antipasti shown with people filling their plates. It looks like you could easily make a meal just on that course. Since I often just have appetizers for a meal at home, I am wondering if that is considered "OK" in Italy.
Thanks for all the great advice I've received by posting and lurking on this site. Will post a report when I return.

There was a time in Italy when if you didn't eat three or four or five courses, you had the feeling that your waiter was going to take you out back and beat you severly about the head andshoulders. Now they seem to be a bit more relaxed.

I am not sure if your body would consider this type of diet OK.

If we told waitperson we were only having a starter (or whatever), he/she (usually he) never minded.
After 6 hours of walking, we were usually asleep after the first course!

I agree with traveler 1959. Antipasti can be rather concentrated calorie-wise. It might make a "meal" in a pinch, but I don't think you'd want to do that very often.

IMO, antipasti are no more caloric than any other part of a typical Italian meal and I have never had anything but very polite Italian waitstaff who would never consider telling you how to eat.

Also keep in mind that an "unlimited" antipasti bar is not the norm. Some restaurants offer such a bar, although it might be gfrowned upon to pile your plate high and go back for successive servings. At others, if your order the special antipasti, you are brought plate after plate of antipasti in succession. At many, all the antipasti are on display, but you order the ones you want and your server will bring you a serving.

Antipasta does not have to be a unhealthy meal, there are some good choices( just like with entrees and deserts).
I also think " grazing" is better for body then " feasting" . My doctor thinks so too, easier to keep blood sugar level.

Would I feel comfortable going to a sit down restaurant and just ordering anitpasta for dinner, . No, probably not, I could see doing it for a light lunch in a casual place only.

I usually get grilled veggies for my antipasti.

We never just ordered antipasti, I think we would have felt a bit odd doing that. But we did make a meal out of ciccheti in Venice. It's quite common to do a 'pub crawl' going from bar to bar only eating the ciccheti and drinking wine. And the variety was fabulous, including everything from grilled vegetables to seafood to deep fried mozzarella. We only did this is Venice, so I'm not sure if it's possible to do in other parts of Italy.

I frequently only ordered appetizers/starters when we were in Italy last Christmas. I just don't eat that much (in spite of what my waistline says!) - and I can rarely get thru a whole entree.

Antipasti offerings are not necessarily either unhealthy or highly caloric. The selections often lean towards toward vegetables. I think that the unlimited antipasti bars are more the exception than the norm. I've encountered this type of display only a few times, most often in Sicily. Most of the time the bar is there for you to select one or more things that the waiter will then bring to your table. You are then priced for each selection.

Here is a Roman menu in English with a few ideas of what might be offered:

http://www.armandoalpantheon.it/menu.php

I'm having a hard time thinking of many antipasto items that I would call rich or caloric. The ones I've always had were things like marinated octopus, artichoke or eggplant or red pepper dishes, anchovies, and salad-type dishes.

And I never even knew about antipasto buffets before I read about them on Fodors.I don't think they're the norm throughout Italy.

I guess if you do find yourself in a place with an antipasto buffet it would be acceptable to eat only that, but personally I'd never go into a typical Italian restaurant and just order an antipasto. I wouldn't feel obligated to have the full range of courses, though.

IMHO antipasti are rarely unlimited. Often you are served a selection. Or you can go and get one serving - a human serving. If you were to go back several times at most places I think you would find that antipasti as a main course is charged differently than as a starter.

It Italy food is judged by quality - not quantity - and portions are usually much smaller than in the US. Also - the main course often comes "bare" - and you need to order a veggie (but enough for 2 people) if you want one.

If you want just antitpasti it's certainly possible to ask for it - but I would also ask what the cost would be.

I guess I'm alone in thinking antipasti tends to be rich. Whenever I take a small selection of antipasti, I find I don't have room to enjoy my entree, but then maybe that answers the OP's question.

Thank you for all your replies. I guess maybe I am just thinking of large American-style meals instead of smaller portions. Also remembering with delight the tapas in Spain...
I imagine once we have ordered a few meals we will have the hang of it.
As usual, thanks for your advice.

If you want to try the best unlimited antipasti buffet in Rome, go to the restaurant "Alla Rampa" which is right next to the Spanish steps. It's an experience...

Here's a link describing it.

http://www.restaurantsomh.com/r30.htm

This post reminds me of another adventure in Italy. One of the best restaurants I've ever been to is named "Il Nostromo", between Formia and Gaeta. It's a very non-pretentious type of place, where you don't have to be dressed up in your best (however, they don't cater to slobs). The food is great and plentiful, and the prices are very reasonable. What stands out the most is the service. The waiters there all seem to be very professional. One stands out in particular. Every time I go there, which is a few times a year, I ask for Emmanuele. He is exactly what a waiter should be. He's amazingly right there when you need him. but is very inobtusive at other times. No one rushes you in that place, but when you're through, they seem to be right there. For a combination of quality and service, Nostromo can't be beaten.