As you might expect, when it comes to eating out, in Rome you will be faced by a large range of options. Needless to say, the only way to really understand the heart and soul of Rome is by tasting its culinary splendors in a popular restaurant. The key is knowing what to order.

Eating Out in Italy - Rome and Its Cuisine
By Bob McCormack

As you might expect, when it comes to eating out, in Rome you will be faced by a large range of options: from the exclusive cuisine of some of the most famous international chefs to the traditional, hearty 'Romanesca' fare in all its manifold variations. Needless to say, the only way to really understand the heart and soul of Rome is by tasting its culinary splendors in a popular restaurant.

Eating out is part of life in Rome. It used to be said that in Rome it was cheaper to eat out than to purchase the same ingredients in a store and cook them at home. That may no longer be true, but you can still find cheap places to eat if you know where to look.

Testaccio is one of the areas in which to find traditional restaurants serving the local specialities, especially in the area surrounding the disused abattoir The district of Trastevere is also a great place to find good restaurants, and inside the Ghetto you'll find several places offering Jewish cuisine as well as unique variations on traditional themes.

Surprisingly enough, some restaurants in the heart of the tourist centres, where red-checked table clothes swing from tables and waiters try to lure you in with their version of charm, are extremely good value. Via del Latore beside the Trevi Fountain has a number of such eateries.

If you like exotic and oriental cuisine, be advised that restaurants in Rome are pretty much confined to those of the native variety and, while you will find establishments serving Chinese, Indian, Mexican and Thai food, the standard is not as high as other major world cities. However, this is not going to be a real issue, as, once you have eaten in any of the traditional Italian restaurants, you simply won't even consider trying anything different.

Pizzerias and trattorias are definitely the most popular places to dine in Rome: informal, economical and with speedy service, they are home to 'pizza alla romana', which has a thin crust and a crispy edge, as opposed to the soft raised crusts of the Neapolitan variety. You'll find pizzerias in every corner of the city, but Trastevere offers an especially wide choice of pizza places with wood fueled ovens (these give the pizza a more intense flavor).

If you go the pizza route, in addition to the pizza, don't miss other delicious Roman offerings easily found at any reputable pizzeria, such as 'suppl