Tips on How to Eat in Italy on a Budget

You must admit that you have come to Italy to eat. It’s certainly the reason we’ve visited a country like Italy a dozen times and can’t stay away for long. Bars and cafes perform an essential function in the daily lives of Italians as this is where they meet, chat, people-watch, eat and drink often and that too all at once.

You’ll find an authentic and fun culinary world that is easy on the wallet, even with the euro’s scary exchange rate. Food points are a place where Italians go for a quick lunch or to spend large parts of their day sipping a drink and grazing.

Eating in Italy is a serious business and locals have strict food rules and due to this you’ll have to pay over the odds sometimes. But trust me! You can follow some simple tips to eat on a budget in Italy.

Buon Appetito!

First of all, you must know how to decode an Italian menu. It is divided into the following various courses:
Antipasti: It consists of appetizers like toast with toppings, grilled vegetables, meat, and cheese platters. They are fulfilling as well as great in taste.
Primi: The first course mainly consists of pasta, risotto, and soup.
Secondi: The second course consists of meat or fish.
Contorni: It refers to all the side dishes like potatoes, french fries, salad, and grilled vegetables.
Dolci: It’s my forever favorite meal aka dessert. It consists of fruit, gelato, cake, tarts, or some regional specialty.
Caffe: Caffe as the name suggests is our expresso coffee. Everyone loves to finish the meal with a cup of coffee.

Tips to keep in mind when eating in Italy

Always take a food tour to learn more about the Italian food culture and get some local restaurant tips.
Avoid restaurants near major tourist attractions in the city you are visiting. If you do choose to eat on a popular piazza like Piazza Navona in Rome, accept that you are paying some money for the view also and not for quality food. So prefer having a drink instead.
Go for a regional specialty as it will be cheap and best. Whereas if you order a non-local dish, it will likely be disappointing.
Visit bars at any time of day during your trip. They are more like cafes and are family-friendly. But try drinking coffee standing at the bar in order to avoid paying extra to sit down.
If you are looking for a cheap snack then buy slices of takeaway pizza with different toppings.
Always ask for a glass of wine even if the price of a bottle is mentioned. The house wine is very affordable and often the same price as water- Go grab it!
You can also go for the aperitivo buffets that some bars offer for free when you buy a drink in the early evenings.
During my trip, I also went for a wine tasting tour to a vineyard. I would recommend the same to you.

Must-try Dishes
Pizza Margherita: It is found all over the place and it is a must-eat in Italy.
Parmigiana di Melanzana: It is basically made up of layers of fried eggplant with baked cheese and tomato sauce. It is my personal favorite.
Pasta al Pomodoro: When you are in Italy, you just can’t miss the pasta served with tomato sauce. It is simple but so delicious when it’s done well.
Penne all arrabbiata: It is basically short tubes of pasta with a spicy tomato sauce.
Bruschetta al Pomodoro: It is a starter dish that has garlic-rubbed toast topped with fresh tomato, basil, and olive oil.

Best places to Eat in Italy
One of my favourites is Masseria Il Frantoio, an olive farm with accommodation in Puglia It has an eight-course tasting menu using produce and olive oil from the farm. Some of the other best places are Bono Bottega Nostrana, Yo’Fusion and la Nicchia Cafe.

I hope you got some insights about how to eat in Italy on a budget. So, start planning your itinerary for your Italy trip.