Restaurants to avoid in Rome?
 

Seems like I've read posts that say that all of the restaurants near the Colleseum are bad/tourist traps. What other areas should be avoided?

Anywhere within a few blocks of the Vatican. If I were starving & about to pass out, I would walk as far as I could to get away from there! I was a sucker & paid something like 19 Euros for 2 pieces of pizza, a fruit plate, and a coke! The buffets are also mad traps. Actually, inside the Vatican museums, you can get a nice meal, so eat in there if you are touring the Vatican.

Around the major piazzas, most restaurants that are right on the square will be higher than if you go one or two blocks away. Just read the menus, and walk around until you see some locals actually eating at a place.

I was just about to post a question about eating at the Vatican. We are taking ain Icon tour that starts at 12:45 pm. I'd like to climb the tower at St. Peters, then eat an early lunch, then take the tour. Sounds like it will be hard to find something decent to eat.

Missypie, I have been to some lovely restaurants some blocks from the Colleseum. I am sorry I tossed all my information after I moved some years ago (before I knew about Fodors).

I agree with amp, walking and seeing restaurants where the locals eat is a good sign. Often seeing the various dishes diners are enjoying, smelling the aromas etc. really helps in finding restaurants you should enjoy.

tledford,

Planning a trip to Rome and Florence in the Fall. After reading your trip reports, I am even more excited about my trip!! Thank you for sharing.

Missy, other people have posted about good places near the Vatican. I'm just saying that I really got scammed twice, because I didn't do my homework, and was stuck starving, so I gave in to the nearest place! I know there are some places around there, and since you are doing your homework, we'll find you somewhere decent to eat. I had a nice meal a few blocks down towards the river, but have no idea what it was called. So, maybe post another thread about the Vatican area, and see what happens..

Missypie, You'll have a very hard time finding a decent place to eat if you want to have lunch before joining a tour at 12:45. Most Roman restaurants open - very reluctantly - at 12:30, and the Romans start strolling in at 1:00.

You'd probably be best off grabbing a bite in the cafeteria or whatever on the roof of St. Peter's.

AMP322, I couldn't agree more. We had an interesting experience at a small Trattoria a block or two from St Peter's. The name of the place seems to be ROMANELLA (at least that's what the sign said) and it is on the Borgo Pio.

We had just gotten into Rome and wanted to grab a quick bite so we choose this one over the other 6 or 7 on the same block. The food was mediocre. This was unfortunate, but what was more unfortunate was the slimeball move they pulled on us. They not only told us that the tip was not included in the price, but they also added 10 Euro to the bill saying that it was tax. There is no tax.

Now I'm not an idiot. I realize that with 7 other places on that block and a hundred within walking distance, the odds of us returning to the restaurant was nil, so they make it a point to rob the tourist. So, buyer beware. If you are looking for a nice little place to eat, a stones throw from St Peter's, this is one to avoid.

In the vatican area there are two good restaurants: Tre Pupzzi and Dino & Tony's Hosteria so don't avoid that area totally.

More restaurants to avoid:

Any that posts a plasticized menu outside in English.

Any that is in a neighborhood but is empty at 9:30 at night.

Any that has a man standing out front clutching at you and telling you to come in and try it.

Any that has a big sign outside that says "real spaghetti and meatballs".

missypie,

I realize you are asking about restaurants to avoid, but this might be helpful information. I have not eaten at this places, but they are on my list for June. If any other Fodorites want to critique this list, please do so. I have no problem cutting any restaurant from this list if it is a tourist trap.

Also, I have a list for the Colosseum area if you want me to post them.

Vatican:
Dino & Tony’s, Via Leone IV, 60. (this street is right off Viale Vaticano). Great for lunch.

Vatican:
Castel Sant’Angelo (museum) near the Vatican. You pay an admission to the museum, and you can have lunch on their roof-top restaurant. It is supposed to have a fabulous view of Rome.

Vatican:
Trattoria Dino, Via Tacito, 80. off Via Crescenzio. Tiny place opens only for lunch. Jammed with Romans on their lunch break. Good menu, and inexpensive.

Vatican:
Alfredo e Ada, Via dei Banchi Nuovi, 14. Tel. 06-6878842. Closed weekends. A hole-in-the-wall across the river from Castel Sant’Angelo. NO MENU. Everyone adores Ada, and she serves whatever they are cooking for the day. This kind of place is fast disappearing from Rome. Paper on wooden tables. No coffee, even if you beg. Fixed 15€ per person. No credit cards.

Vatican:
Sicilianbocca, Via E. Faà di Bruno, 26. Tel. 06-37358400. No-nonsense Sicilian restaurant. Pasta with eggplant tomato sauce and aged ricotta cheese. Outside seating in garden. Very reasonably priced. Closed Sundays. Credit Cards.

Oh yeah - the restaurants with guys posted outside dressed up in Vatican guard costumes who act really friendly & ask you if you'd like some gelato... now watch out!! They somehow know you are starving, hot, and tired, and try to suck you into their rip off establishment. There were even locals eating at the one that I went to, but they were obviously relatives or friends who were being fed for free!

That's funny -- I was just looking over my guidebooks for Rome and noticed a few recs near the Vatican which I'm not planning to use. Time Out Rome, in particular, has a few recs that look reasonable.

I also looked at Mimi Sheraton's recent rticle, which I didn't find particularly useful. But one or two of her recs are near the Vatican.

http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/03/2...el/26rome.html

Interesting about the cafe atop Castel Sant’Angelo. Does anyone know if it's any good?

I also recommend Dino and Tony's and Trattoria Dino near the Vatican. I've been to both and they are excellent. Also near the Vatican is Dante Taberna Gracchi which is great. I've enjoyed many meals at Alfredo e Ada, unfortunately, it has recently closed.

When I lived next to Castel Sant'Angelo (in the 1970's) we would take the Sunday paper and have our capuccino and cornetto breakfast on the terrace of the Castello. The Vatican staffers (mostly prelates), researchers at the Archives have been eating at Roberto (aka Il Passetto del Borgo) for years...food is good compared to others in the Borgo Pio & Vatican area. Check out Castroni and Franchi on Cola di Rienzo for quick lunch, sandwiches and takeaway. Excellent! More insider info on Rome on www.elegantetruria.com

We went to a place that I think was close to the Vatican. At least we ended up there after our visit. Alfredo de San Pietro. I'm sorry I can't remember where it was but the food was delicious and reasonable.

Grinisa--thank you so much for recommending the restaurant Perilli on Via Marmotta in Rome. We did not expect to find it so easily. Our lunch there was wonderful!

Hi Nini--so glad you enjoyed it!

Grinisa,

Thank you for the information about the closing of Alfredo e Ada restaurant. I believe a Fodorite recently posted a trip report and this restaurant was mentioned as having good food, and I was looking forward to eating there.

Good things don't last forever.

Try a polite request to visit the kitchen. No? Visit the WC. Seated, are extra place settings removed from the table? Is the bread/cracker offering in sealed packages? Appearances count..look about at what is being served and eaten by earlier customers. Really paranoid? Check the back door garbage!

Regarding the cafe at the top of Castle Sant'Angelo, I ate a small meal there in October (was exhausted and was watching the sun set). It wasn't expensive, but was definitely the worst food of the trip (by far). The food had been microwaved and seemed pre-packaged. No one else around was eating ... all were just have drinks. The view of the lights coming on over the Tiber and St. Peter's was gorgeous, though, and I took a few beautiful photos.

Chicago Heather, I concur! Sat at a table with an espresso and a piece of cake as the sun was setting and I hadn't eaten since my "cornetto" at breakfast, but I'd definitely not have a full meal or more than a snack there. View is unparalleled, though, particularly at sunset. Glad you had a chance to enjoy it.

BC

About Alfredo e Ada: On another travel forum, one person posted that it was closed.

A few days later, another person posted to say that she had just eaten there, that she recognized Ada from photographs of her, and that the only change was that the fixed-price menu had gone up to, I think, 18 Euro.

Take your pick of whom you choose to believe...

Okay, a couple of poor reviews on the restaurant at Castel Sant'Angelo. It's coming off my list with so many other options to eat very well in Roma!

Thanks for the input.

I was out of town last week and missed the posts on Slowtalk that indicated Ada's might still be open. If it is, that's wonderful. Anyone going to Rome should try to eat there, as Ada is well over retirement age and whether or not her daughter takes over the restaurant is anyone's guess.

Nerone is very close to the Colisseum and has excellent food...Via della Terme di Tito, 96. They have a large antipasti spread, great gnocchi on Thursdays (gnocchi day in Rome) and some of the best linguine with clams I have ever eaten.

There are good places to eat throughout Rome; there are no areas to avoid, although there are some with a heavy concentration of tourist-oriented places. Personally I do not like the Spanish Steps/Condotti triangle area for eating, although even there there are a few good places.

Two to avoid:

The trattoria where the Context Rome tours for the Vatican museums meet. DO NOT eat here! I knew it would be bad, but frozen, microwave pizza in Italy! It should be illegal! Even their gallato was bad, amazing.

In Assisi - the little cafe in the main piazza where the Tourist Office is. Again, frozen, microwave pizza, but at least they serve Orvieto Classico.

Sacro e Profane-central location -it was a church - has murals
Recommended by Rick Steves
Veal was FULL of fat - ugg! They took away my full plate without a comment

Chances are you wouldn't even end up here, but I grabbed pizza for lunch at Pizza Buono on Corso Vittorio Emanuele near Piazza Navona and it was the worst pizza I've ever had!

Do not eat at Cafe San Pietro!

My worst meal in Rome a few years ago was at Al 34, Via Mario de Fiori. Another reason to avoid the Spanish Steps area for eating.

Great question, Missy, and great answers...thanks...marking for later.

Hi:
There ARE good, reasonable restaurants
on Vatican Hill and near the Forum/Coliseum. Just back from Rome and want to thank I_am_kane for the recommendation of Sicillianbocca on Vatican Hill. You'll need a map, but it wasn't hard to find, in a quiet residential area, nice break after the mobs at St. Peters. It is a few blocks walk, so if you're already worn out from trekking through the museums, you might want to find a closer place. Food was terrific, people nice, no tourists when we were there--just Italians, and lovely garden atmosphere (under roof).
I would also like to highly recommend a place near the Forum: Ristorante Pizzaria Imperiale. the address is Largo Corrado Ricci,37, but it is just where Via Cavour meets Via Dei Fori Imperiali. There are a line of places there and it is 2nd in from Via Imperiale (I think). Very good food--much more than just pizza. I had a seafood risotto that had so many mussels it would have taken me two days to eat it all.
Trip report coming when I've recovered from a bug (not related to food).
Vera

That's good to know. Thanks...we leave tomorrow (yikes!)

Here are two restaurants in Rome that we really enjoyed two weeks ago:

Very casual and good, the Maccheroni Ristorante at Piazza delle Coppelle, 44, phone 06 68307895. Also very popular with locals and gets very busy. 47EUR for two, with one-half liter of house wine.

Il Matriciano, Via dei Gracchi, 49- 61, phone 063213040, or 063212327. For a more special dinner, but certainly not over-the-top. For three people dining, we paid 103EUR, which included a liter of house wine, coffee and three desserts. We order very lightly. Two of us had veal dishes, one had just spaghetti. We shared two appetizers. It is a very, very friendly and pleasant place. You need reservations there. A friend who studied in Rome directed us to it. We completely enjoyed ourselves.

Worst: Antica Taverna
Why: .Waiters are rude ...too many americans (loud)...Lamb ordered was neck bones!!!....what a rip off ..this place is west of the Piazza Navona
Best in Rome: Perilli e prati a few blocks NE of the vatican museum
Why: antipasto was to die for!!!! best ever!!! great freindly service! nice quiet atmosphere...

Near the Vatican family place workers eat there simple good food.
If you happen to be in the vatican area is directly off the via porta cavalleggeri. If you take the pickpocket special (64 bus) to the Vatican the porta cavalleggeri is the street where the bus stops for the vatican. As you get out look ahead you will see a arched train trestle. Its about 2 blocks. The Goose is under the trestle on your side of street. Its a small side street you can't see the sign until your right in front of it.
Your be hard put to spend 20e including wine.

Worst on my trip: something Costanza. Wish I could tell you where it was, but I can't remember the street. Will get this info. Bad service, rude waiter who questioned the size of the tip. Our party was left for over half an hour with no wine. Not fun.

Best on our trip: Ristorante (something like that) la or le Coppelle on a street by the same name near the Pantheon. Also, Virginiae or Virginiale to the west of Piazza Navona. Both were very casual (hey, we have a toddler) warm, welcoming places and the food was great.

Near the Vatican, there is a place called Paolo's where Context Rome meets tour groups. Can't speak about the food, but the bathroom was great (and free) and they were very, very friendly while we bought some water!

Have a nice trip, missypie. If I remember correctly, you are leaving tomorrow?

Yes! 24 hours - and tons of work - to go!