The statement above that "Romans do not eat pizza for dinner," is contrary to my experience. In fact, many of the more well-known pizza restaurants in Roma, and elsewhere in Italy, are not even open in the daytime, as pizza is considered a dinner meal.

Yes, you can find slices in bakeries such as the famous Al Forno in the Campo dei Fiori, but for a sit-down meal, pizza in Italy is more often eaten in the evenings.

Finally, I cannot think of a restaurant in the area that is MORE touristy than La Carbonara!

Here are my notes on mid-priced restaurants in Rome, which are relatively close to where you are staying (I think!):

This one I definitely recommend for your group:
", for dinner, we headed back toward a restaurant where my daughter had eaten earlier that semester. It’s very casual and good, called the Maccheroni Ristorante at Piazza delle Coppelle, 44, phone 06 68307895. It’s very popular with locals and gets very busy. The service is friendly and the atmosphere is lively and interesting. About 47 EUR for two, with one-half liter of house wine.__"

"we stopped for dinner at Rosa Rosae Ristorante, via di Pietra 88, right by the Trevi Fountain . It was a very nice atmosphere, but a bit touristy, which we expected because of its location. Food was just so-so, but service was friendly. Prices were on the higher side for the quality, at about 52 EUR for two, with a half-liter of house wine. My veal was ok, but a big tough."

This one is near the Vatican:
"We had reservations to meet my daughter’s friend for dinner at 9:00. He had studied in Rome that semester and recommended his favorite restaurant in the neighborhood where he’d lived, called Il Matriciano, on Via dei Gracchi, 49- 61. (Reservations advised—phone 063213040, or 063212327) It’s perfect for a more special dinner, but certainly not over-the-top. For three people dining, we paid just 103 EUR, which included a liter of house wine. We shared two appetizers, and two of us had veal dishes, one had just spaghetti. We each enjoyed coffee and dessert. It is a very, very friendly and pleasant place. "

My experience regarding pizza in Italy matches ekscrunchy's exactly.

bookmarking!

When Motorino is in Italy he eats pizza at ever meal, like fuel for the tank!

Many Roman trattoria have fornos that burn wood very hot, so in reality the ovens are never off. I think you will find on Sunday places like Da Francesco clean the oven during the day so there is no pizza at lunch.

I also agree that the restaurants right in Campo de' Fiori, such as La Carbonara, are too touristy and over priced.

With regard to meat in the sauce - bolognese is certainly a meat sauce served commonly with pasta. Native to Bologna it is found everywhere.

Cingale (pronounced Chingale) is a wild boar commonly served with pasta, probaly most famous in Tuscany.

I love Parpadelle with a meat sauce.

bookmarking.... 237 days.

We had a hard time finding pizza with much substance--mostly crust, a little tomato sauce and a few pieces of cheese--not much meat and if you get meat, not much cheese. My friend thought cheap frozen pizzas were better than any we found in Italy. Very disappointed.

Motorino: The word for wild boar in Italian is "cinghiale."

"Bolognese" sauce is certainly not found throughout Italy.
A true Bolognese (from Bologna) is not distinguished only by the presence of meat, but the use of dairy products in addition to meat.

I also agree with ek. I've seen plenty of Italians eat pizza for dinner!

DaFrancesco is great. I love their Pizza Margherita with Prosciutto. If you like meat on your pizza, go with this one.

Sandi-yes, I am renting the Monte di Pieta with SLI. I was deciding on that apartment or the one on the Pantheon. This one was a "smidgen" less but with the EU a smidgen means alot. I also love the area - near the Ghetto, near my friend's home who lives beside the Pantheon, and near to Trastevere. So...do only tell me good things about the apartment. (Two years ago we rented an apartment in Trastevere through SLI - great location on Vicolo dei Cinque - but the place had a multitude of issues. I will say that SLI offered us another place - but we chose to stick it out - and they gave us some $ back. They were so surprised that I came back to rent with them again that they sent me a very nice email thanking them for giving them another chance...

Blondiepopo: Since I hijacked this post I will add another restaurant comment...
We loved Maccheroni on our visit two years ago - and we ate there twice and both times were good. My daughter spent the summner in Italy and ended her trip in Rome. She took some friends to Maccheroni and while she did say the waiter wanted to take her to the Madonna concert -she also added that she thought the food was not as good. So she said that she wasn't as inclinded to want to return.(but that doesn't mean it isn't worth a try.) On the other hand she happened up on Cul de Sac and just raved about it. It is one of my favorites so I was just surprised when she had found it on her own.
Another good restaurant that is next door to Maccheroni is Myosotis - it is a bit pricey but the food and service is very good.

One last comment (maybe) as for the young adult who like "teenage type food" - so much of Italian cuisine is what I call peasant food or "comfort food." Afterall it's pizza and pasta - it's not just teenage cuisine but "toddler cuisine."

Bon Apetito. Bete Avon.

I just got an email from my Irish friend who is going with me and I knew she didn't like vegetables (me either) but she also doesn't like cheese, tomato dishes. Do alot of the restaurants recommended have steaks, chops and things like that (which she does like)? She said when she was in Rome with her husband earlier in the year for a weekend, that she had trouble finding restaurants that were like steak houses. I like pasta and cheese dishes but I also love meat.

You will have a hard time finding steak houses in Rome!
Your best bet might be to look for Tuscan places that will have bistecca Fiorentina on their menu. Prepared to pay dearly for that dish!

Of course you will find meat on other menus, but not in the form of steak and chops..

This is one of the more well-regarded Florentine places in Rome, where you can get a great steak:



http://www.girarrostofiorentino.it/

risab - Look for my apt review on slowtrav.com or just type in Monte di Pieta in the search field to see my comments..which are positive by the way.

It is very difficult to find steak and chops like an Irish (or American) person is used to. If you like lamb chops, I highly recommend ordering abbacchio scottaditto if you see it on the menu. These are delicious baby (milk fed only) lamb chops grilled to perfection. Tram Tram in the San Lorenzo neighborhood has excellent ones and so does Checchino dal 1887 in Testaccio. Checchino is expensive but it is one of the best restaurants in Rome. Tram Tram is more reasonable but not close to your apartment. Other restaurants may have them but they are more common in the springtime. I seem to recall a steakhouse on Via Crispi near the intersection of Via Capo le Case, but I've never eaten there. Of course, the Hard Rock Cafe on Via Veneto will probably have a steak as well as hamburgers. You could go there if the young adults that like teenage type food get desperate.

Please be sure to check out the neighborhood of Trastevere, which is right across the Tiber and an easy walk from where you will be staying. It's loaded with young people with great, relatively inexpensive places to eat. Dar Poeta is a great pizza place in Trastevere on Vicolo del Bologna, 45 phone is 39 06 5880516 and it's always busy. My husband and I had the good fortune of eating at Pierluigi a few weeks ago and it was fantastic, but it's not cheap by any means...but it was definitely one of the highlights of our many eating fests while in Italy!

Have fun!

I see that Ditirambo was mentioned above, very close to your apartment. I had an absolutely wonderful steak there, cooked perfectly (medium rare). Two courses and 1/2 liter of wine for 39€.

I also had good lamb chops at Antica Hostaria Romanesca, right on Campo de’ Fiori. Two courses and 1/2 liter of wine for 23€.