Ancient Romans Preferred Fast Food
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2007/06/18/pompeiifood_arc.html?category=archaeology&guid=20070618153030&dcitc=w19-502-ak-0000

According to archaeologist Penelope Allison of the University of Leicester, the majority of the population consumed food "on the run."

Allison noticed an unusual lack of tableware and formal dining or kitchen areas within the Pompeii homes. Instead she found isolated plates here and there, such as in sleeping quarters.

"Similar to how children today bring a plate of food to their rooms before watching TV or playing on the computer, my guess is that Roman youths would tote food to certain areas where they possibly engaged in other activities," she said, adding that kids might also have dined with slaves in nanny or caretaker roles.

What she did find in the homes were multiple mini barbecue-type fire boxes, suggesting that "BBQ or fondue-style dining" often took place.

I just had a very strange vision of a burly man in Roman tunic trying to get the fire in the grill going but instead smoking up the whole house and cursing up a storm in Vulgar Latin.

[Another researcher, Stephen Dyson] said, "We've also found numerous fast food restaurants in Pompeii and other parts of ancient Rome."

Dyson likened these places to a cross between "Burger King and a British pub or a Spanish tapas bar." Open to the street, each had a large counter with a receptacle in the middle from which food or drink would have been served.

Many modern-day Italian delicacies go back to Roman times, like prosciutto and focaccia, and they're probably served in these ancient fast food joints.  However, one Roman culinary essential item did not survive to the modern age was garum or liquamen, aka fermented fish sauce.  It's pretty much identical to Southeast Asian fish sauce like nam pla.  Romans poured it over just about everything, from steak to bread.  Supposedly it's not fishy or stinky, but whenever my wife sniffs the odd jar of nam pla in the house she turns green and runs away.