Roma travel advice

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Yes, the obligatory Im traveling and need the advice of scoopers. Going to Rome in a week, (with a couple of days in Paris wedged in there) and just wondering what to do. More interested in the best place to eat. Saved up a while for this one so budget not really an issue when it comes to food.

Were staying a block away from the Vatican. I try to get the good Pope Francis's prayers for our beloved Marquette basketball team.

[DegenerateDish]

La Gardenia de Olive is fantastic in Rome!

Kidding, hope you have a good time, Vatican is an amazing experience.

[GooooMarquette]

Can't recall specific restaurants, but as far as things to do...there's the obvious stuff like the Vatican, Spanish Steps and such, but the Galleria Borghese is one of the most underrated art museums in the world, IMHO.  Relatively small, but packed with amazing stuff.

[HouWarrior]

Armando al Pantheon is almost next to the pantheon, very busy,  but worth making reservations...try the coda alla vaccinara (braised oxtail), it will remind you of a beautifully cooked osso bucco...lots of flavor

Known for quality cheap but great food is  Osteria Bonelli in Eastern Rome near the Berardi train stop,,,it has paper table cloths and dont expect the menu or anyone there to know English...its a local very cheap high food quality place...Fridays are best for the fish oriented specials...the menu there isn't Tuscan knock offs or some Neapolitan copycat; its true Roman fare ....lots of good fresh vegetables , pasta, and flavorful  sauces

See the sights, but set aside some time to just walk a residential neighborhood during the early evening hours...the old jewish quarter near the Vatican is a multi century throwback . Make sure you read up on Roman architecture, engineering, road building, water systems, etc so you spot the nuances of these at the key sites and fully appreciate the greatest civilized city in the early western world .

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Yes, the obligatory Im traveling and need the advice of scoopers. Going to Rome in a week, (with a couple of days in Paris wedged in there) and just wondering what to do. More interested in the best place to eat. Saved up a while for this one so budget not really an issue when it comes to food.

Were staying a block away from the Vatican. I try to get the good Pope Francis's prayers for our beloved Marquette basketball team.

Best meal I ate was at Mamma Angela's. It's a bit out of the way but the food was excellent.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mamma+Angela/@41.9046512,12.5044054,19.98z/data=!4m22!1m16!4m15!1m6!1m2!1s0x132f610a19acff2b:0xa0fa5cd6b38c670a!2sHotel+Montecarlo,+Via+Palestro,+17,+00185+Roma,+Italy!2m2!1d12.5017116!2d41.906896!1m6!1m2!1s0x0:0x1107be159c41c17!2sMamma+Angela!2m2!1d12.5045005!2d41.9046384!3e2!3m4!1s0x132f61a0668b0cf3:0x1107be159c41c17!8m2!3d41.9046384!4d12.5045005

Best Gelato was here (and we ate at a different place every night):  https://www.google.com/maps/place/Gelateria+La+Romana/@41.907914,12.499032,19z/data=!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x132f61a0668b0cf3:0x1107be159c41c17!2sMamma+Angela!8m2!3d41.9046384!4d12.5045005!3m4!1s0x0:0x43fdabdab2d62dbf!8m2!3d41.9077872!4d12.4990303

Three rules we learned about eating out in Italy:
1. Never eat somewhere where there are pictures of the food outside.
2. Never eat within a couple blocks of one of the major tourist attractions.
3. Never ask for a to go box or fail to finish your plate. They will assume you didn't like it and be very offended.

[mikekinsellaMVP]

Two suggestions for the neighborhood, and one for dessert nearby:

Al Giardino Del Gatto E La Volpe: nothing exceptional, just very good Roman fare with an incredibly nice staff.  Good for lunch.

Ristorante L'Eccellenza: when you're the only non-clergy in a restaurant by the Vatican, it's a good sign.  You gotta like seafood, though.  Tip: we made our reservation through thefork.com and they gave us 50% off of our entire meal.

Gelateria del Teatro: my favorite gelato place, just across the river from Castel Sant'Angelo (stop by on your walk from the Vatican to Piazza Navona).  Some non-traditional flavors, very well done.

I'll also add that you should be ordering local dishes.  "Italian" food is very regional -- a Piemontese dish in Rome may be fine, but it won't be nearly as good as dish from Lazio/Rome.

Otherwise, stick with the rules TAMU outlined and you'll be fine.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

La Pergola is ,I beleive, the only Michelin starred restaraunt in Rome.
Fabulous views of Rome and quite a dinning experience. You begin with a Water menu.
Don't eat for a day ahead of time. When we left the chef presented my wife and I with a copy of the menu and the wine's we had ordered.

[Babybluejeans]

Too many good places to pick just one or two. But, a couple tips:

1) Don't eat a meal on the main piazzas (e.g. Piazza Navona, Pantheon, etc.). Those restaurants are uber-touristy, overpriced, and don't have nearly the quality you'll get on any tucked-away side street. If you want to enjoy sitting in a popular piazza, then by all means grab a table, but have an espresso or a glass of wine. Save the room in your stomach for the good stuff. I love the Trastevere neighborhood for finding good, small restaurants--which you'll be near if staying close to the Vatican.

2) Check out the morning market in Campo de' Fiori. Cheeses, meats, fresh bread, fresh produce, etc. Grab a couple rolls, some prosciutto, and some cheese, and toss it in your bag for later. Then have a "picnic" lunch/snack in Villa Borghese or in a piazza with a bottle of wine. Total cost: maybe $10. And it'll be a highlight.

Buon viaggio. 
 

[GooooMarquette]

2) Check out the morning market in Campo de' Fiori. Cheeses, meats, fresh bread, fresh produce, etc. Grab a couple rolls, some prosciutto, and some cheese, and toss it in your bag for later. Then have a "picnic" lunch/snack in Villa Borghese or in a piazza with a bottle of wine. Total cost: maybe $10. And it'll be a highlight.

Buon viaggio.

Excellent suggestion on the Campo de Fiori market.  +1

[JWags85]

Too many good places to pick just one or two. But, a couple tips:

1) Don't eat a meal on the main piazzas (e.g. Piazza Navona, Pantheon, etc.). Those restaurants are uber-touristy, overpriced, and don't have nearly the quality you'll get on any tucked-away side street. If you want to enjoy sitting in a popular piazza, then by all means grab a table, but have an espresso or a glass of wine. Save the room in your stomach for the good stuff. I love the Trastevere neighborhood for finding good, small restaurants--which you'll be near if staying close to the Vatican.

One of my good friends is the son of a father who moved from Sicily, is obsessed with Italian food, and spent a year studying abroad in Rome.  His advice when I went earlier this summer was simple.  Head to the Jewish Ghetto (just across the Tiber from Trastevere) and walk side streets.  Look for a place with an older woman outside prepping/washing vegetables or the like, that looks interesting, and walk in and make a reservation for later that night.  It will be authentic and fantastic and very reasonable.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Is there a bad restaurant in Rome?  Some will over charge, but only those who think they can.  Hint:  Order off the menu and with house wine. 

Best advice in this thread:  Go two blocks from m the nearest tourist attraction and don't act like an Americican.

[Disco Hippie]

Check out Al Gran Sasso just off the Piazza Del Popolo.   Solid reasonably priced Italian staples not touristy at all.

Trattoria Monti in the Monti neighborhood near the main Termini train station

Osteria Tesone  in a quiet residential neighborhood near the Vatican.  Lots of families with young children and not touristy at all.

Would strongly recommend a day trip to Florence.  You can get there in an hour and a half on a high-speed train and it's a relatively easy day trip from rome.  If you go to Florence, Zeb Gastronomia is not to be missed.  http://www.zebgastronomia.com

 

[forgetful]

Is there a bad restaurant in Rome?  Some will over charge, but only those who think they can.  Hint:  Order off the menu and with house wine. 

Best advice in this thread:  Go two blocks from m the nearest tourist attraction and don't act like an Americican.

Yes, there is.  Don't remember the name of the restaurant, but we were exhausted and asked the hotel receptionist of a nice restaurant.  Went to where they recommended and I'd rather eat fast food.  Strange thing, place was packed.

I'm also going to recommend (if you have time) a day trip to Florence, it is my favorite stop in Italy.  You can catch a train that will get you to Florence before 8 AM, and catch the last train out around 9 PM. 

Typically, we would walk around (non tourist areas) and look for places where we didn't hear any english being spoken.  My general rule of thumb when traveling anywhere, eat where the locals eat.

Oh and I'll third the not eating near tourist attractions, especially Gelato, unless of course you want to pay $10 or more for an ice cream cone.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

We did a trip with stops in Rome, Florence, and Venice. Florence was by far my favorite. Less crowded, best food, gorgeous architecture. Would love to go back.

[Eldon]

Well, I've never been to Rome, but I can say this.  Chitown, if you are going because you are hoping to improve your defense, fugetaboutit.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

What's the rules on tipping?

[HouWarrior]

What's the rules on tipping?

Lets turn you over from scooper advice to Rick Steves:
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/tipping-in-europe

[Eldon]

What's the rules on tipping?

Bro, if someone asks you for a tip (or even hints at one), tell them that your tip is that Italy leave the eurozone.

[4everwarriors]

If dey got an Olive Garden, ya at least know the chit you're eatin', hey?

[forgetful]

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/12/supervolcano-campi-flegrei-stirs-under-naples-italy/

Maybe stay clear of Naples. 

True story, got stuck in Italy once because of a Volcano.

[GooooMarquette]

We did a trip with stops in Rome, Florence, and Venice. Florence was by far my favorite. Less crowded, best food, gorgeous architecture. Would love to go back.

Love Florence.  If anybody gets there, Acqua Al 2 is excellent.  They have since opened places in San Diego and Washington, but Florence is the original and best.

[MU82]

When you're chillin' with Fran, tell him that he gets a big thumbs-up from MU82!

[WellsstreetWanderer]

In Fiorenza you must have the Tuscan steak.

[BM1090]

We stayed at Hotel Felice which was a pretty good budget option. There were some really good restaurants we went to right on that street, maybe .75 miles from the Termini rail station...unfortunately the name of the place escapes me right now.

[keefe]

Lets turn you over from scooper advice to Rick Steves:
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/tipping-in-europe

Rick Steves is a f#cking Commie bastard. I wouldn't listen to that guy for anything.