Stan

Any suggestions on good, casual and inexpensive restaurants in Rome and Florence? I'm not much of a seafood eater and probably looking for pizza and pasta.

Patrick

This may not sound like the type of help you are looking for, but this is my suggestion. Go about a block or two away from the main stream "line of pedestrian traffic". Find a restaurant that looks interesting and is crowded. Look to see if most of the people seem to be tourists (especially tour groups) or if it looks like there are some locals eating (this is easier to tell than you might think). Most restaurants post their menus outside so it is easy to see if you like what they have and what their prices are. If a place is deserted it is for good reason. Go where the crowds are and you probably won't be disappointed.<BR>There are a lot of really good inexpensive restaurants around Campo Fiori, and it would be worth the short trip over to Trastevere to browse some really inexpensive and good restaurants. I think I had too much wine in Trastevere because I can't read my notes, but I think the name of the place we really liked that was super casual and cheap, with a little garden in back in Trastevere is called Buttero.<BR>But you will enjoy most the little place you find on your own. It's part of the fun.<BR><BR>

Betsy

We had a good dinner at I' CCHE' CE' CE' (It's dialect. Say Icky che che) in Florence. Via Magalotti 11r. Tel: 055 216589. Family owned and run. Very welcoming. We stopped in at lunch time and made a reservation for the same evening.<BR><BR>Buon appetito

Anne

Stan, Haven't been to Florence or Rome since 2000 but in Rome we loved L'Insalata Ricca on largo dei Chiavari 85. They have fabulous salads but also have pasta. In Florence we loved La Casa Linga in Via dei Michelozzi 9r but the fun was in the back room.<BR>Boy it takes me back.<BR>Ciao

elaine

Another vote for l'Insalata Ricca, amazingly cheap, but stick with the salads and pasta, avoid the meat and fish.<BR>There's one just off Piazza Navona as well, Piazza Pasquino 72 <BR>Another place to eat right on Piazza Navona, is Ai Tre Tartufi. Next door is I Tre Scalini, famous for its desserts and gelati, but doesn't offer much else in the way of food, at least not at the outdoor tables. Ai Tre Tartufi I had very good pizza. Other food like pastas is available as well. Also, their gelato may not be dubbed the best, but it was plenty yummy as far as I was concerned.<BR>I have a file on Rome with lots of pizza places in it; if you'd like to see it, email me.

Julie

Another good, casual and budget restaurant is:<BR><BR>Hostaria Romana (Budget)<BR>Via del Boccaccio 1 (midway between Trevi fountain and Piaza Barberini, at intersection with Via Rasella)<BR>Roma, Italy<BR>06/474-5284 phone<BR>A fabulous local favorite for traditional Roman cuisine which also has a wonderful antipasto bar. They have a wonderful pasta menu and the wait staff are particularly entertaining.<BR>

Dale

If you want great, inexpensive pizza in Rome, you can't go wrong with Pizzaria Remo in Testaccio. Ask any local when you get in the area. Ciao.

sandi

In Florence, we happened upon the Antica Pizzeria dell’Arte on via del Giglio, 28 where we had the best pizza in our lives, I kid you not. Their pizza Margherita is to die for. Fresh, simple tomato sauce, with thick slices of fresh mozzarella and cooked in a wood-burning pizza oven then drizzled with olive oil. We had this same pizza elsewhere and it never compared to this place. They also had great homemade soups, which was just what we needed on a cool, rainy evening. My son had this pizza 2 nights in a row.