Where to Eat Tasty and Inexpensive in Rome – Top Restaurants

One of the most popular questions asked of our guides during tours is:

1. Where can we eat delicious, affordable food in Rome?
2. Where do Italians themselves go? Recommend non-touristic restaurants in Rome, please.

Dear friends and readers, it’s time to share with you my favorite best restaurants in Rome at affordable prices. For a long time, these addresses were available only to our friends and customers and were shared directly as secret and exclusive.

An important point is that it doesn’t matter whether we go to the same places as tourists, or tourists go to the same places as us. The main thing is quality, delicious, and affordable food.

Word of mouth naturally advertises the right places, and many of the establishments mentioned below are quite popular, while some are still to be tested for quality and stability over time.

Tip: You can discover more cool and atmospheric places during our personalized tour: “IMMERSION IN TRASTEVERE WITH TASTING”.

How Much Does a Meal Cost in Rome?

Also, you need to understand that in the historical part of Rome, the average check for a modest dinner for two will start at a minimum of 50 EUR. Are you doubting? Try to dine, for example, at Piazza Navona or near the Pantheon for less than 60-70 EUR, and share your experience in the comments. Moreover, there’s a high turnover at the main attractions, which means that in most cases, owners don’t care whether you return or not. And, of course, they will take a good percentage or a fixed fee of 5-8 EUR per person for the service.

In Rome, all locals know that the Trastevere district is a gastronomic paradise. For delicious, inexpensive food and the real atmosphere of the old city, this is the place to go. In the selection, I also included several tested restaurants near the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain – the average check there is slightly higher, but not extortionate, as in places oriented only for tourist flow.

I also recommend reading about:

• My Favorite Craft Beer Places in Rome
• Where to Eat Near the Spanish Steps
• Traditional Food in Florence and Tuscany – What to Try?

Pasta e Vino Osteria

The name of the restaurant, Pasta e Vino, speaks for itself – only pasta and wine. The pasta is made by hand from eggs right before your eyes. To start, you need to choose one of six types of pasta: fettuccine, gnocchi, ravioli, tagliolini, strozzapreti, or spaghettoni. Then choose a sauce for the pasta, for example, Carbonara or Pomodoro.

The prices are very democratic – from 8 to 12 EUR. Homemade lasagna costs 10 EUR.

Address: Via della Pelliccia, 12, 00153 Roma RM – this is the restaurant. There is also a more democratic self-service option nearby at Vicolo de’ Cinque, 40
Working hours: daily from 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., after 5 p.m. the queue is for about 20 minutes. You can reserve a table by phone at +39 06 6456 2839.
What to try: all kinds of pasta, everything is delicious.
Cost for two: 25-40 EUR.
Website: www.pastaevinoroma.it

Antica Osteria di Pietra

This is a Roman cuisine restaurant located in the historic center, close to the Pantheon and the church of Sant’ Ignazio di Loyola. It offers tasty pasta, beautifully served, and in large portions. It’s better to reserve a table in advance for Friday evenings and Saturdays.

Address: Via di Pietra, 88
Working hours: On weekdays, lunch is from 10:00 a.m. to 1 p.m., and dinner is from 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. On Saturdays, it’s open from 3 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Closed on Sundays. You can reserve a table by calling +390639751564.
What to try: Everything is delicious.
Cost for two: 35-45 EUR.

Trattoria Dal Cordaro

This is a family-run restaurant serving Roman cuisine in Trastevere. It has a beautiful courtyard with a pleasant atmosphere, perfect for lunch or dinner in warm weather.

Address: Piazzale Portuense, 4
Working hours: 12:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m., 7:45 p.m.–11 p.m. You can reserve a table by calling +39065836751 or through The Fork.
What to try: Meat dishes, to get acquainted with traditional cuisine. Pasta and desserts are also excellent.
Cost for two: 25-40 EUR.
Menu: www.dalcordaro.it

Nonna Betta

This is an authentic restaurant located on the busiest street in the Jewish Quarter. It’s perfect for those who want to try traditional Roman Jewish cuisine. Nonna Betta is a Kosher-style restaurant with 2 separate menus. Respecting the Jewish rule from the Talmud, which forbids mixing meat with dairy – the Torah verse says: “Do not cook a kid in its mother’s milk” – at Nonna Betta, you can choose from two separate menus: one with meat dishes, and another with fish or cheese dishes.
Moreover, even modern nutrition suggests not mixing meat protein, and dairy products.

Address: Via del Portico d’Ottavia, 16
Working hours: 12 p.m.–5 p.m., 6 p.m.–11 p.m. You can reserve a table by calling +3906 6880 6263.
What to try: the most famous dish is artichokes fried in oil (Carciofi alla Giudia).
Cost for two: 30-40 EUR.
Menu: www.nonnabetta.it

Colline Emiliane

Address: Via degli Avignonesi, 22
Working hours: weekdays 12:45 p.m.–2:45 p.m., 7:30 p.m.–10:45 p.m., except Tuesday. On Sundays, it’s only open for lunch from 12:45 p.m. to 4 p.m. You can reserve a table by calling +3906 481 7538.
What to try: The homemade pasta is prepared in the restaurant itself and deserves special attention.
Cost for two: 35-50 EUR.
Menu: www.collineemiliane.com

Osteria Der Belli Piras Valentino e C.

Authentic restaurant – a great choice for seafood lovers. Located in the heart of Rome Trastevere district. The owners are originally from Sardinia (Sardegna), which positively reflects on the menu, dishes, and even the choice of wines. As the restaurant is popular among locals, it’s better to book a table in advance.

Address: Piazza di Sant’Apollonia, 11
Working hours: 12:30 p.m.–3 p.m., 7:30 p.m.–11:30 p.m., except Monday. You can reserve a table by calling +39 06 580 3782.
What to try: Pasta with seafood.
Cost for two: 35-45 EUR.

Impiccetta

This is where I now bring all my friends to try Roman cuisine. Unlike Carlo Menta (below in the rating), you can order any dish here, not just pasta – everything is very tasty! The downside for the mass tourist is that you must reserve a table at Impiccetta at least three to five days in advance. Read my review about the Impiccetta restaurant.

Address: Via dei Fienaroli 7, Trastevere
Working hours: daily from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., on weekends they are open for lunch from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
My favorite dishes: all types of pasta, lamb (Abbaccio), tiramisu
Cost of lunch for two: 30-40 EUR.

Pizzeria Dar Poeta

It rightfully holds the third place in our ranking of the best pizzerias in Rome, without a doubt. I recommend starting your acquaintance with real Italian pizza right here. You can take pizza to go, but it’s better to wait. Yes, imagine, there are queues here, but I advise you to wait 5-20 minutes and dine inside. They’ve been baking pizza at the highest level since 1995. Service, again, depends on your luck, but the prices and quality of the pizza make up for everything.

Address: Vicolo del Bologna, 45, 00153 Roma
Working hours: daily from 12 p.m. to midnight, after 6 p.m. there is a queue for about 20 minutes.
What to try: all types of pizza, but you won’t be able to fit that much.
Cost for two: 25-30 EUR.

Carlo Menta

The first Trastevere restaurant I ended up in Rome many years ago. To date, it’s the cheapest place in terms of price/quality ratio where you can have lunch or dinner in Rome and, of course, it’s very popular. I suggest starting your acquaintance with Italian pasta right here. It’s ideal to come here for lunch as “Carlo” opens at 12 o’clock. Be sure to try the homemade lasagna (lasagne fatte in casa), spaghetti carbonara (spaghetti alla carbonara), penne Carlo Menta. Leave soups, main courses, and pizzas to others – nothing special. Take a liter of red or white house wine (vino della casa) for 8 EUR – Rome will seem even more beautiful to you. Part of the staff speaks English, though they sometimes may hide it. You should not expect a particularly individual approach, but in this case, it’s not the main thing. After all, you want pasta for 5 EUR?

Address: via della Lungaretta 101, Trastevere
Working hours: daily from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.
My favorite dishes: Gnocchi “Carlo Menta”, homemade tiramisu (tiramisu fatto in casa), panna cotta with wild berries (panna cotta con frutti di bosco).
Cost of lunch for two: 25-40 EUR.

La Botticella

This restaurant, run by a good-natured Italian family, only operates after 7:00 PM. It is a bit pricier than average. The steaks are very delicious, as are the ravioli with mushrooms and everything else. If anything is left on the plate, they will not understand! Read the review here.

Address: Vicolo del Leopardo, 39a, Trastevere
What to try: cozze (mussels) and everything else that fits
Operating hours: after 7 p.m., table reservation is mandatory
Cost for two: 40-70 EUR.

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