Rome:Moderately-Priced Meals/Sunday Lunch in Rome?

[RCF]

I understand that Sunday lunch is a popular time for families to go out. I will be in Rome with my 13-year old son during the last week of March. Do you have any suggestions for a restaurant that is moderately priced?

Also, feel free to mention any other moderately priced restaurants for other meals. I have been looking at the various posts, but have a feeling that many of the suggestions are a bit too pricy for me. No need to mention pizza places - I already have a list of those. Thanks for your help.

[dzier]

On another site, I was directed to Fagianetto one block south of Termini for a restaurant that's open Sundays. I read that its a favorite among locals, which can't be all that bad.

Anybody have experience at this place?

[Sid Cundiff]

On 7 Jan 2007 I had dinner ("lunch" to y'all Yankees) at Ristorante del Pallaro (Largo del Pallaro 15 [behind S Andrea in Valle]; tel. [phone]). It's a fixed price menu, the usual 4 courses and wine for 22 Euro. You eat what they serve, so it's not for picky eaters (who failed to abandoned this bad habit with childhood). Just sit down and they start bringing the food. And good food it is.

-- Sid Cundiff

[RCF]

Thanks for all of these good suggestions.

[bropaul]

The Taverna Cestia, near the Pyramid of Cestia, is a reasonably priced, family style restaurant. The food, while not outstanding, is solid and there's a good variety of dishes. If the weather's nice, you might even be able to sit outside. It's easy to reach on the tram, which most younger people find interesting.

[jbw]

Search for Orso 80. Sounds like what you're looking for.

[jen kalb]

there have been some REALLYnegatives reports on Orso 80 recently.

[jbw]

But also some positive. Check the link below for a taste of both:

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/33073...

My own encounter is two years old, but even then I could see where experiences might vary. On a bad day--overcrowded or antipasti sitting around for too long--it does have the potential for being an awful time. On the other hand when everything is clicking, it becomes, as it was with us, one of our more memorable eating experiences in Rome at relatively little cost. One caveat, if you are expecting innovative cooking and stellar quality of ingredients, you won't find it there. But when I was there on a Sunday afternoon (which would be the prime time to go) there were many Italian families all enjoying the variety and multitude of the dishes placed in front of them. For us, the whole was far greater than the sum of the parts. But again, that was two years ago, and I'd welcome any updates.

[jen kalb]

what do you mean by moderately priced?
Volpetti Piu, the takeout/cafeteria style place right behind Volpetti (Via Marmorata in Testaccio, easy to get to by tram (enjoyable for kids) Metro or walking down from by the Circus Maximus area, offers of find selection of dishes of all sorts, at a very reasonalbe price, including many different varieties of pizza and focaccia by the piece, hot dishes, salads, pastas, desserts, etc. using the wonderful ingredients of the store next door, is open on Sundays. Lots of people picnic in the park right there on Sundays (even in winter!) There are really quite a number of places open on Sunday, but the places in the business center understandably tend to close on that day - move out into neighborhoods where Romans actually live, like Monti, Prati, Testaccio or Trastevere and you will find open restaurants.

Ive recommended before Sora Margherita in the Ghetto, tho they are modest in price they are closed on Sunday. Hiking the Appian way is a good Sunday activity, and the Hostaria Archeologica i(I think thats the name) s a good stop there (not so cheap but reasonable.) right next to the road on the left side after the catacombs and right before "the best part" It may or may not be the sort of place you want with your son - it is warm and the sort of place prosperous looking extended families meet at to settle in for a sociable Sunday afternoon. When we went my husband was impatient and wanted to get out and finish the hike before it got dark,.

[RCF]

thanks for the suggestions. I particularly like the sound of the Hostaria Archaeologica. I'm not sure what I mean by moderate - $60-70 for two? Would we need reservations there? If so, and we get into Rome on Friday, is that too late to make reservations for Sunday? I've read about Sora Margherita, and I will definitely try that one too. Thanks again.

[jen kalb]

I found a link to L'Archeologica (notice name correction)
http://www.larcheologia.it/

If you go out to the Appian Way get started early and make sure you have a good walk guide explaining what you are seeing and info about transportation, etc. Its possible and very interesting to walk all the way out from Rome (the Companion Guide, which is purchasable in a light weight version in Rome has a good walk for this through little old "country" roads within the walls of the city but it can become a LONG walk.

Here's a link to a thread where I put a long post about our favorite Rome restaurants and places we enjoyed with our kids (now in 20s

)

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/348305

[RCF]

Thank you. This was very helpful.