It would be a shame for anyone heading to Rome for the rugby international in a fortnight's time not to factor some decent eating into their trip. Of course, there is no shortage of wonderful – and pricey – restaurants there, but the city also has more than its fair share of under-delivering establishments aimed at undiscriminating tourists. Try and avoid squandering your meal opportunities on these places, and check out some of these recommendations instead.

Augusto, Piazza de' Renzi 15 in Trastevere, was the bargain discovery of our last trip – a small osteria offering terrific, simple classic Roman dishes. There's no menu, not much choice and scant English on the part of the charming family who run the place, so the ordering is a bit of a lottery. Think rigatoni all'amatriciana, pasta e lenticchie and pollo arrosto con patate and serious puddings. With good wine in carafes, a three-course dinner for four came in at less than €75. It's worth going early; otherwise you could find yourself queuing outside in the cold for a table – Augusto is deservedly very popular.

Sightseeing may not be a major priority of a rugby weekend, but it would be easy to combine a visit to the stunning Ara Pacis Augustae – the altar of peace inaugurated in 9BC and now housed in a wonderful Richard Meier-designed building on Via Ripetta near the river – with a meal at the buzzy and stylish Gusto, Piazza Augusto Imperatore 9 www.gusto.it (39 06 3226273). There's a wine bar, pizzeria and restaurant. Go for the latter if funds permit. Otherwise the pizzas are generous and good, there is a terrific salad bar and a wide selection of wines by the glass. About €30 a head in the pizzeria, with wine.

A foodie friend with impeccable taste puts Osteria del Pesce, Via di Monserrato 32 (39 06 6865617) near Campo de Fiori (open for dinner only and not on Sundays), on his list of all-time favourite restaurants – definitely worth booking ahead for fish and seafood lovers. He suggests hot fish starters, then pasta, followed by individual fish dishes with roast potatoes, but warns against ordering whole fish to share at the table as the price "goes exponential". The wine list is "brilliant and very reasonable – just thinking about it makes me want to go back. Walking to it at night from the Piazza Farnese after you have walked through the Campo di Fiori is magical."

Peppone, Via Emilia 60 (39 06 483976) (closed on Sunday) off the Via Veneto, about 10 minutes walk from the top of the Spanish Steps, is as far from trendy as you can get – and none the worse for that. On our last visit, other customers included a chic christening party with a very well-behaved baby and a group of snake-hipped and super svelte businessmen eschewing the pasta in favour of huge platters of vegetables. The atmosphere is a tad staid, but the food very good – pappardelle with funghi porcini and carciofi alla romana stood out. You can bank on a bill of about €50 a head for lunch including wine.

L'Orso 80, Via dell'Orso 33 (39 06 686 4904), near Piazza Navona, is one of Rome's most famous restaurants – attested to by the signed celebrity head-shots that adorn the walls. Its antipasto misto della casa (one order is plenty for two – or more – to share), which comprises an endless stream of dishes including zucchine, melanzane (cooked two ways), mozzarella di bufala, prosciutto, carciofi, cauliflower with capers and a sublime spinach frittata, to name just some – is the stuff of legend. The house red wine – mainly sangiovese grape – is excellent. Again, around €50 head, but you might not need to eat the next day.