Page 306 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Rome

304  TR A VELERS ’ NEEDS
WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK

In Rome, eating out can be both a quality local raw ingredients. Fast food is
gastronomic joy and an entertaining available, but it is fundamentally alien to
experience. On warm summer evenings the Roman temperament and way of life.
tables spill out onto every conceivable The restaurants reviewed in this chapter
open space and diners dedicate long hours have been selected from the best that Rome
to the popular social activity of people- has to offer across all price ranges. Their
watching (and of being admired them- descriptions, including the highlighted
selves) in a confusion of passersby, street DK Choice entries, will help narrow down
performers, rose sellers and traffic. Romans your choice and enjoy a variety of cuisine
have always loved to linger at the table, but types. The section on Light Meals and
the lavish feasts of ancient Rome have Drinks on pages 320–25 has details of
slimmed down and today’s cooking is recommended cafés, pizzerias, wine bars,
based on simplicity, freshness, and good and other places for more casual eating.

Types of Restaurants
enoteca, which doubles as a alla giudia), grilled, or au gratin
In general, a trattoria is a family- well-stocked wine store for vege tables, and sautéed
run establishment with good browsers and connoisseurs. spinach, chard, or chicory.
home cooking, while a ristorante Other places for a sit-down, Vegetables stuffed with rice then
is more upscale, more elegant informal lunch or dinner are baked in the oven are also menu
and thus more expensive. birrerie, which are not only for staples. Most menus are adapt-
Some eating places – where beer drinkers, but also offer pizzas able, as dishes are prepared to
paper tablecloths give a clue to and even four-course meals. order. Tell your waiter that you
low prices – simply have no There is always interesting are vege tariano (female:
name. They offer excellent, basic takeout food for sale – pizza vegetariana) and he will advise
home cooking. A number of rustica or pizza al accordingly.
them offer a great deal more taglio (pizza by the
than that, and your chances of slice) is available all The Price
finding authentic Roman cook- over the city. For
ing are higher in the best of the best full-size of a Meal
these establishments than in pizzas, choose What you pay will
expensive restaurants. places with wood Fresh artichokes, a depend on your
There will probably be times stoves (forno a Roman specialty choice of establish-
when you do not want a large legna). Other take- ment. In a tavola
meal, and Rome offers a huge outs such as a whole roast calda or Roman pizzeria, for
variety of places for more casual chick en, or pomodori al riso example, you can still eat for
eating (see pp320–25). One type (tomatoes stuffed with rice), can as little as €15 a head. A local
of place offering snacks or be had from a rosticceria. A self- trattoria costs perhaps €25,
more substantial dishes is the service tavola calda will serve an whereas in a smarter restaurant
impressive array of reckon on around €30 and up.
hot food and is ideal Bottled wine, as opposed to a
for lunchtimes. jug or carafe of house wine
(vino della casa), will cost more
but should offer a more interest-
Vegetarian Food ing range of tastes (see pp308-9).
Purely vegetarian House wine can be hit-or-miss.
restaurants are few
and far between in Reading the Menu
Rome, but every-
where you will find The waiter will often tell you
pasta and rice dishes the day’s specialties (piatti del
(risotto). Most menus giorno), usually not mention ed
include an extensive on the menu but almost always
list of vegetable- worth ordering. Or, ask for
based side dishes la lista (the menu) and then
(contorni) which allow yourself to be guided.
could be anything A meal could begin with
from artichokes antipasti (appetizers) or primi
(stewed – alla piatti – the latter consisting of
Welcoming trattoria Maccheroni (see p312) Romana or fried – pasta asciutta (pasta with some

US_304-305_EW_Rome_US.indd 304 15/03/17 4:21 pm