Eating places in Rome

Last night we walked into a simple restaurant around 8pm, Bella Napoli, Via Simone de Saint Bon. www.ristorantebellanapoli.it It was empty. There were tables of lush platters of baby artichokes cooked four different ways, mushrooms, courgettes, eggplants, and fat olives. More platters of baked salmon, marinated tiny squid, fried octopus, asparagus in bunches tied with string, green beans, spinachi, roasted eggplant, peppers, courgettes and tomatoes. Heaven. We helped our selves. Suddenly the restaurant was full, people talking and laughing and eating. I chose ravioli con noci (walnuts) and Shahla and Maria both had spaghetti con vongole (baby clams) which were sweet and delicious. My ravioli were large rectangles filled with ricotta and spinachi and with a sauce of cream and walnut paste, delicious. And yes we shared deserts too: struddle with apples and pears and pinenuts, tiramisu as it should be, and an apple custard pie. Mmmmmm. With wine, all this came to 29 euros each. Maria said the same three brothers have been running this restaurant for thirty years. This is the authentic food in Roma I have been looking for and not previously found

Handy hints. I have identified at least 10 types of eateries in Italy:

Pizzaria: sells pizza by the slice or whole, to eat in or take out

Forno Bakery with pizzas and breads freshly baked on site, here you buy pizza by the slice or by the weight of the slice

Café e bar: Breakfast places to have a cup of coffee, or a glass of wine with light snacks, sandwiches and usually a fantastic array of pastries called cornetto. Here you stand at the bar to drink your coffee and eat your cornetto for breakfast. This usually costs around 3E. You can pay more if you sit down either inside or outside and exactly the same order of coffee and cornetto can cost you up to 18E!! Don’t be surprised if a bar doesn’t have wine!

Locale: a bar to go for a drink in the evening, also has appetisers

Tavola Calda: Hot meals on the go Italy’s fast food equivalent. The price is often per portion so this can also be an expensive way to eat if you choose several things.

Rosticcheri: hot and cold roasted meats, and vegetables, great for take away or eating at the bar

Osteria: these originated as bars where people had a drink and played cards in the evenings. Over time, a choice of one or two pastas was offered. Nowadays these tend to have local foods, and a small range of specialities on the menu.

Enoteca: More or less the same as above, with a good selection of wines

Trattoria: A step up from Osteria with a large selection of dishes. Licenced.

Restaurante: A more formal choice of dining with higher prices

Then of course there are at least five types of speciality food shops

Salumeria: delis which sell everything: salamis, cheeses, pestos, oils, olives. Here is you buy a container of mixed h'ors d'oevres, you will be charged by weight.

Creperie:freshly made crepes with various fillings

Gelateria with ice creams of fabulous flavours, an essential for every hot day

Pasticcheria with fresh baked pastries and cakes to die for. Eating these require you to walk a lot afterwards