Decorated with colorful frescoes, the snack bar was unearthed in 2020 in Regio V, the north-eastern sector of Pompeii spanning some 54 hectares.
Archaeologists believed that, in its prime, the thermopolium would have catered to the ancient city’s poorer residents, offering foods such as duck, paella, and snails.
Diners likely didn’t have kitchens in their own homes, compelling them to frequent such eateries instead.
Pompeii and many of its inhabitants were famously buried beneath pyroclastic flows of scorching gas and volcanic material following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
The remains of an ancient fast-food establishment—or ‘thermopolium’—that was buried in volcanic ash in the Roman city of Pompeii in 79 AD has opened to tourists.
Adorned with colorful frescoes, the snack bar was uncovered in 2020 in Regio V, the north-eastern sector of Pompeii spanning approximately 54 hectares.
“We know what they were eating that day,” said former Pompeii Archaeological Park chief Massimo Osanna in 2020, when the thermopolium was first exposed during preservation work on the buried city’s fragile ruins.
Meticulous excavations revealed a multi-sided serving counter with wide holes in its top surface for holding deep vessels of hot foods, similar to what one might see in modern buffet and salad bars.
In one container, archaeologists found a fragment from a duck bone, while others contained remains of various animals Romans would have consumed, including fish, goats, pigs, and snails.
Researchers also discovered nine amphorae—tall ceramic jars used in ancient times to store food and drink—along with a couple of flasks, a bronze ladle, and a ceramic-based oil container.
One jug contained traces of ground fava beans, which Romans would add to wine to improve its flavor and lighten its color.
Patrons would have been greeted by vibrant decorations, including ornate mosaic floors and interior walls painted in yellow and orange with various frescoes, which also adorned the zig-zag shaped serving counter.
One fresco depicted a sea nymph—or ‘nereid’—riding a horse through the waves, while another, perhaps indicating the menu, showed two upside-down mallards and a rooster with vividly painted plumage in ‘Pompeiian red.’
According to Professor Osanna, the thermopolium was strategically located in the city, situated on the edge of a square with a fountain. Another snack bar has also been found in the same area.
Archaeologists believed that, at its peak, the thermopolium would have served the city’s poorer residents, offering foods such as duck, paella, and snails.
“The painted images represent, at least in part, the foods and beverages effectively sold inside,” explained Pompeii staff anthropologist Valeria Amoretti.
Another fresco featured a dog on a leash. This wasn’t the only canine-themed discovery in the thermopolium remains; archaeologists also unearthed the complete skeleton of an adult canine.
Unlike the large, muscular dog depicted on the counter, this one was small, standing at around 8–10 inches (20–25 cm) at the shoulder—a rare find from a Roman site.
The discovery of such a small pet, Dr. Amoretti explained, suggests selective breeding practices in the Roman era to achieve this result.
Human remains were also found in the thermopolium—one of a man who, based on nails and pieces of wood found under his body, likely lay on some kind of bed at the time Vesuvius’ eruption killed him.
Other bones were found within one of the serving counter vessels, suggesting they may have been placed there in the 17th century when the site was disturbed by diggers searching for valuables.
Excavations in the ancient snack bar revealed a multi-sided serving counter with wide holes in its top surface for holding deep vessels of hot foods, similar to present-day buffet and salad bars.
One fresco on the thermopolium counter depicted a sea nymph—or ‘nereid’—riding a horse through the waves, while another showed two upside-down mallards and a rooster with plumage painted in ‘Pompeiian red.’
“We know what they were eating that day,” said former Pompeii Archaeological Park chief Massimo Osanna in 2019, when the thermopolium was first exposed during work to preserve the city’s ruins.
In the thermopolium, archaeologists found nine amphorae—tall ceramic jars used in ancient times to store food and drink—along with a couple of flasks, a bronze ladle, and a ceramic-based oil container.
According to Professor Osanna, the thermopolium was well-positioned in the city, situated on the edge of a square with a fountain.
Another snack bar has also been found in the same area. In total, 12 thermopolia have been discovered in the city.
Regio V, where the recently opened thermopolium is located, has been the focus of extensive excavation and restoration efforts in Pompeii since the 1960s.
Visitors to the thermopolium will also have the opportunity to see two large villas in the area—the ‘Casa di Orione’ and ‘Casa del Giardino’—which are currently being restored.