Places to eat in Rome with ASD kids

[Thewindsofchange]

We're heading to Rome soon with the kids (I know, I know, Rome in August, but there are reasons....!)

We're got a central Rome apartment, between the station and the colosseum.

Please give me your recommendations for places to buy food (we're sc) and get lunch and dinner.

The complication is that the kids are ASD/ADHD. They have issues when it comes to food (one reason we're sc so I can at least cook them some plain pasta if needed - fucking waste that it is in Italy!)

I'm looking for non-busy, non-fancy, family run cafe type places that won't bat an eye if we do just ask for spaghetti with nothing on and cheese on the side. I know Italians like their long, leisurely social meals but we need to be in, eat and out without causing offence.

Casa Dante off piazza Dante is in that area. It might tick some of your boxes. It's not on a main road and has outdoor seating so may give you options to manage sensory overload

I think eating when it's off peak would help. Mid afternoon is often quieter

Thanks for the recommendation @foreverbasil, that's not at all far from where we are.
I think we will need to eat earlier but I heard a lot of places close mid afternoon. Fingers crossed that one will be open....

Oh bum. Found them on fb and they're closed for August!!

Rome is well set up for tourists. There are a quite few by the colosseum. Most restaurants won’t bat an eyelid about asking for plain pasta. All the main tourist areas have restaurants like this that are quick and simple.

Many Italian children eat "spaghetti in bianco" or plain pasta. Honestly they wont bat an eyelid.

Thanks @Shibr that's good to know.

Omg @foreverbasil really?!
At least I know what to ask for now, thanks.
I've been prepping them that the pasta won't be exactly the same as at home.

I'd recommend finding restaurants at least a 5 - 10 minute walk away from the main attractions like the Colluseum. The restaurants in the main tourist area are very overpriced and not that friendly. We walked a little way out to eat and it was a much nicer experience.

There are loads of places to eat.

My ASD child had quite a few McDonald's but did also manage some restaurants.

Hi! Mind if I hop on this thread to ask a few questions? Firstly @Thewindsofchange I hope you had a lovely trip to Rome. We're also planning a trip there in Jan with our kids. Would you have a recommendation of where would be a good area to book accommodation please? We are also planning to do self-catering. Thanks a million.

Hello @zoeyclash,
We had a great time in Rome, even thought the heatwave was a killer. I suspect it will be very different in January!
We stayed here www.booking.com/Share-QrX04Sw, which was really good, nice and cool in the heat of summer, not sure what it will be in winter. Definite advantage for self catering was that it was near a decent supermarket. It's not right in the bustle of Rome but close enough and felt authentic Rome, iyswim, unlike some places I looked at which could be in any city.

Link didn't work

www.booking.com/hotel/it/the-avalon.en-gb.html