We arrive in Rome on a Sunday; after resting a bit we will most likely do an early evening walk from P. del Poppolo down to the area of the Spanish Steps, following Via del Corso. Plan to eat dinner, then continue walking to Trevi Fountain, then head back to hotel.

Many restaurants seem to be closed on Sundays...will this be a problem? In general, what do you think of setting out without a dinner reservation. If a reservation is recommended, do you have any suggestions in the following areas? I have a family with 2 kids, not looking for fancy fine dining, just good food in comfortable surroundings.

Spanish steps
Campo fiori
P. Navonna
Trastevere

Thanks

Last Sunday we ate at Pizza Re near Piazza de Popolo. It was on the street that leads away from the Piazza on Via di Ripetta, number 14. This is not exactly in the neighborhoods you mentioned but a lovely walk from the Spanish Steps or Piazza Navonna. We arrived just before the crowds hit. Orso 80, on Via dei Portoghesi near Piazza Navonna is also open Sunday. Da Baffetto on Via dei Governo Vecchio is open Sunday. We loved Pizza Re, though. Or just pop into something that is open and looks good!

I agree with Orso 80. Just order the house antipasto and you will have more food than you could possibly eat. It's actually on Via d'Orso, just north of Piazza Navona.

How old are your children?

If you want good Roman cuisine, I would suggest La Campana, just north of Piazza Navona, not far from Orso 80, which I feel has gone downhill recently.

It's probably best to reserve at La Camnpana.

Read my trip report about Orso 80. Also, I don't know if this creeps anybody else out or not, but when you order the house antipasti at Orso 80, it comes in lots of different cereal sized bowls. As we left the restaraunt, I saw them dumping bowls of antipasti that folks had not been able to finish back into the main bowl (to be served to someone else.)

Just FYI, we went to the Trevi Fountain on Sunday afternoon/early evening, when we arrived. It was BEYOND crowded.

Eloise, is La Campana also on Via d'Orso? I'd like to try it next time I'm in Rome.

missypie, my meal at L'Orso 80 was good in March, but I sure don't like to hear about that practice of passing on leftovers!

SusanP,

La Campana is on Vicolo della Campana, which goes off from Via della Scrofa, just after you pass the awful Alfredo alla Scrofa.

Be aware that, honouring the old Roman trattoria tradition, the waiters tend to be grumpy; even the younger ones seem to be trained to it. You won't get smiles from them, but you will get very professional service.

Thanks, Eloise. I don't expect the waiter to be my best friend.

SusanP, I couldn't agree more! Unlike some tourists, I <b>prefer</b> a waiter who does not try to be my best friend.

We walked past La Campana last Sunday and it was closed. I assume it is always closed on Sunday. About Orso 80. We ordered the antipasti and it did not come in little individual bowls, but was arranged on a platter. We did notice that it was in those little cereal bowls on some other tables. By the way, we were surprised to find that we were the only non-Italians in the room the night we went.

That's a surprise - and a change! For years and years, La Campana was known as one of the few traditional Roman trattorie that was open on Sunday.

Are you sure it was closed? What time did you go by? And even when it's open, it doesn't <b>look</b> very open...