Originally Posted by
RatherGhastly
Yes, the high-speed trains always depart from the principal platforms and not from the piazzali. As for food at Termini, Five Guys is always reliable as an American staple, but do note that some restaurants don’t open until the latter part of the morning, so if you’re there at 9 a.m., you’re largely limited to café-type places.
I think you have to go out of the ticket control area for that. Inside the controlled area is
Mignon, which is perfectly fine if you're pressed for time. The pastries are pretty good. The grilled veggie (eggplant, zucchini, and something else) was pretty good when I was there last week. There is also a pizza place,
Spontini, which serves pizza that would be pretty mediocre anywhere in Milan. It is however, pretty great if you've got limited time. And TBH, it's better than your average american pizza.
If you have a lot of time in between trains,
Terrazagallia, on the 7th floor of the Excelsior Hotel Gallia, has an excellent bar overlooking the plaza in front of the train station. I had one of the weirder desserts I've ever had there, mushroom ice cream. It was actually pretty good with a dessert wine. Looked pretty as well. But I'd only go there if I had
at least an hour between trains. And you'd want to let them know that you had limited time.