No Early Bird Specials in Rome by jungles
Most Italians do not eat dinner until around 9pm, and it is not uncommon for people to linger over a meal until after midnight. Consequently, it's almost impossible to find a restaurant that opens before 7pm, and many don't open until 7:30 or 8pm. It's best to adjust your schedule accordingly and, you know, do as the Romans do. If a restaurant looks empty or if the only people eating there are tourists, this is not necessarily a sign that it's a bad restaurant; it could just mean that the local crowd hasn't arrived yet. Also, be aware that most restaurants close one day a week. The most common closure day is Monday, right after they've made a lot money on the weekend. Restaurants will usually have a sign out front (in Italian) stating when their closing day is.