Donna82

Hi guys,
Myself, my boyfriend (both in our 30's) and my 13 yr old will be in Rome for 3 nights mid August (I know - we must be mad - the heat!), staying near the Pantheon/Navona area. I usually go with the rule of go one street back when eating in cities/near major tourist sites so we don't pay to much/get tourist versions of food etc so I would love to hear some recommendations, is Camp De Fiori better for lunch or is it more for dinner after the market closes? I tend to like eating dinner nearer to where we stay when most of the day is spent walking, saving lunch for further afield! Or should we head over to Travestere for dinner?
Looking for places in the pocket friendly - mid-price range so no michelin stars needed
Food is always an important part of our trips so I look forward to your ideas!This is our first time to Rome.
Thanks

catherinehaas

The best place, a bit spendy but SO worth it, is Hostaria Costanza's and 2nd would be Il Barcaro. We go to Costanza's every time we are in Rome. Near Campo di Fiori and a "local's" type of place. We just love it there. Both of those places have websites for you to review.

Also, in the square in front of the Pantheon, and I never have sat in the square to eat (overcrowded), but we did on our last night in Rome. When you are looking at the Pantheon (the fountain is now in front of you), there is a place on your right (the last building on the right in the square with outdoor seating) that has the best dessert. I have tried to find it, tried to have my Italian friends make it, and to no avail. I believe that it is millefeuille with cream. OMG. I was SO sorry it was our last night (and glad in a way as well because no telling how many times I would have gone back)because I could see me eating that daily! Yes, that good.

nini

Navona area: Cul deSac; Pantheon: Armando; Campo Fiori: Ditirambo-all good and these are not large restaurants-go early or reserve.

stevewith

I think unfortunately your "one-back-street" rule is going to lead you to bad food in the specific area of piazza Navona and Campo de'Fiori. You are better off going with specific recommendations (Armando al Pantheon is an excellent one), even if the restaurant is facing directly on a tourist site. A lot of the restaurants in the "cute" alleyways around the famous piazza are actually worse tourist traps than the established places.

You do need reservations, and you probably also could do with some recommendations for pizzerie, which is what the Romans like to eat on hot summer nights in Rome. The Chowhound discussion board for Italy frequently discusses good restaurants and pizzerie in the tourist and non-tourist neighborhoods of Rome, and which ones are open in August, and which ones are best with a younger diner.

hanabilly

I second the recommendation of Armando al Pantheon. As you face the Pantheon it is to your right, not even a half a block away. You must reserve, though. They have a website and you can reserve by e-mail.

indy_dad

We stayed in Piazza Navona area. I discussed our restaurant choices in my TR (photos in blog link):

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...log-photos.cfm

Our favorite was Da Francesco, Piazza del Fico 29

kawh

Well, one of my favorite desserts is right there just to the side of the Pantheon... so if there's room for dessert-- Cremeria Monteforte has "Granita di Caffe Con Panna" which is not written on the board... just ask for it. The most delicious coffee granita with cream on top. On a hot day you will be moaning.

Other than that, have not had truly amazing food right in that area...

Donna82

thanks, will start looking these up, and yes I am definitely looking for great pizza on on evening too!

Donna82

indy_dad I am reading your report with great interest!

Donna82

Armando & Ditirambo are both closed when we are there with is unfortunate..any other ideas ?
Havin a harder time than I though to find somewhere open in August near the Pantheon for our first evening...

Margaretlb

I highly recommend La Campana:
http://www.ristorantelacampana.com/index.php?lang=en

annhig

well, I'm going to disagree with some of the above and say that i've done some great "back street" dining in Rome, and that on the whole, I'd avoid the major tourist sights like P. Navona and Campo dei Fiori unless you have a specific recommendation.

2 places I can recommend near the piazza navona:

http://www.anticatavernamangiabene.it/en/

and

http://www.ilfico.com/ilficoristorante.html

the antica taverna was recommended by the owner of our nearby apartment [it's where she held her birthday party] and once we'd found Il Fico, we ate there twice.

both get pretty good reviews on google. [don't know about TA but you can check there as well].

there are also some nice looking places along the via Coronari and at the end of via del Panico, but we never tried them - we ran out of time!

xyz99

Taking notes...

LowCountryIslander

My friends at The Rome Digest ( www.theromedigest.com ) have a list of places open in August, some are trattorias, cafes or gelato shops. Here is a direct link to the open in August page of the website: http://theromedigest.com/category/open-in-august/

Cesare al Cassaletto listed is a neighborhood place, outside the historic center, but very easy to get to on the #8 Tram. The food there is delicious, very Roman and reasonably priced.

You may want to check out one of my Rome trip reports that has alot of restaurant information. Here is the link to a report I wrote last year.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...cognizance.cfm

sueciv

I liked Tucci's at the Piazza Narvonna.

mmmooommm

bookmarking

Donna82

Will get working on these new suggestions... Another email this morning from Orso 80 saying 'sorry we are closed in August'

Donna82

LowCountryIslander I had already read your great trip report, will go back and look over food options again, thanks!

Donna82

La Campana is also closed, have emailed Osteria dell'Ingegno &Il Fico - fingers crossed
Has anyone eaten in Mesob - seems to get great mention on some apps?

stevewith

It's an Ethiopian restaurant pushed by expats, usually American, living in Rome. Doesn't mean the food is bad. Ethiopia was a colony of Italy so there is a tradition there and standards to be met. But it is also true that the expats bring to Roman eating an American sensibility about wanting lots of novelty when it comes to restaurant going. Romans don't necessarily view eating in a restaurant the same way Americans do.

I tend to think when in Rome it is really fun to eat like the Romans do, not like Americans do. Do you have any feeling for eating pizza in Rome your first night? You might find it is easier and you can eat earlier if you are jet lagged.

I don't know if Sor'Eva is closed in August, but if it is 20 minutes from the piazza della Rotonda and serves very homey Roman food.

http://www.ristorantesoreva.com/

Osteria del Sostegno is close to the piazza della Rotonda. It is somewhat touristy, but might do you for your arrival night if you don't want pizza (and it's open)

http://www.ilsostegno.it/

I want to clear up what was apparently a misunderstanding (at least to annhig) about "back street" dining in Rome. My caution is about "one street back" from the tourist sights, not "back streets."

I think it is a great idea to haunt the back streets of Rome to make your own eating discoveries. What I was pointing out, however, is that in the specific areas of piazza Navona and Campo de'Fiori, a highly recommended restaurant is likely to be a better bet, even if it faces a famous tourist attraction, than most of the restaurants "one street back". The immediate areas of those two places are just dense with lousy restaurants. If you go "10 streets back", you are getting into a much better strike zone.