Parma accommodation and restaurant suggestions?
 

I will be in Parma in early September for 3 days recovering from jet-lag before commencing a walk from Fidenza to Rome. Can anyone suggest any apartments/ B&B ? I will be travelling with my 2 sisters and one adult daughter so an apartment would make the most sense. I would also love some restaurant recommendations if anyone has any. However, it can't be too "dressy" as we will be kitted out only in the pilgrim gear we will be carrying on our backs. Not very glamorous I am afraid:)
Thanks so much for any help.

I've been to Modena, but not to Parma.

Here's Mario Batali's comments, as he lived in the region for several years.

http://www.mariobatali.com/exploreItalyDtl.cfm?rid=6

Parma, trattoria "Rigoletto" in borgo Ronchini, near the Teatro Regio

For lodgings, take a look at Parizzi Suites or Rubra. You might need to get more than one room, but in the case of Rubra, prices are so modest, might work out for you.

Although I've enjoyed cooking a lot of Mario Battali's recipes, I have found him a poor guide to restaurants in Italy, including in the Emilia-Romagna.

Parma is a great city! Here are some of our favorite restaurants:
Gallo D’Oro. Borgo della Salina, 3. 0521/208846. They serve all the classics and the food is very tasty.
Trattoria Corrieri. Via Conservatorio, 1 Tel. 0521/234426. Basically the exact same typical food as Gallo D’Oro, except it is a little more casual. We actually like the feel of this restaurant a little more, but for all intents and purposes, they are equivalent.

Thank you so much everyone! I will work my way through the restaurant suggestions. Yum:)
Rubra looks good as an accom option.
Has anybody heard anything about Palazzo dalla Rosa Patti?

You can look up reviews, which are generally stellar. Look at prices too. If you can afford it, it has a sublime location in the center of town. If you can't afford it, the other places have fine locations, and doing a bit of walking to and from restaurants will be good practice for what lies ahead.

When in Parma a few years ago, I stayed at the Hotel Button, one of the few hotels at the center of town. (There are more on the outskirts; Parama is a convention town, I think.) The Button is a classic old hotel of sorts - a bit pricey for what it is but the location can't be beat. Parma itself is a nice, lively town.

Parma is a convention town but the real reason the town is ringed with business hotels is that it is ground zero for one of Italy's most important food export sectors. A very large part of Italy's economy rests on the export of Parma cheese and Parma pork products, plus vinegar from the region, and a fair amount of inexpensive wine that goes around the world.

We stayed at Della Rosa Pratti a couple of years ago and LOVED it! We would stay there again in a heartbeat. The room we had overlooked the Duomo/Baptistry and had a little kitchenette.

We enjoyed aperitivo at Gran Caffe Orientale on Piazza Garibaldi and a casual dinner at Orfeo, a pizzeria ristorante on Via Carducci, both within walking distance of the hotel.

Astoria is very close to train station and city center and has hotel rooms and apartments. Clean, simple and great staff http://www.astoriaresidencehotel.it/

Thank you again everyone, I have booked Della Rosa Pratti! I think I may also book a Food N Walk tour with Caterina which was also recommended here unless anybody has other suggestions:)