An excellent STARTER can be a bruschetta al pomodoro (toasted bread topped with chopped tomatoes), a caprese (alternated slices of mozzarella and tomato) or, in the summer, prosciutto e melone (ham and melon).
Typical Roman dishes are:
Pasta carbonara (egg-bacon-pepper-cheese), Pasta amatriciana (tomato sauce-bacon), Pasta cacio e pepe (cheese-pepper), Pasta gricia (cheese-pepper-bacon), Saltimbocca alla romana (veal scaloppine-ham-sage in wine sauce), Abbacchio scottadito (grilled lamb chops), Carciofo alla romana (soaked artichoke), Puntarelle in salsa d’alici (roman chicory salad dressed with olive oil, garlic and anchovies).
Foodies should pay a visit to the Old Jewish Ghetto where to taste the dishes of the Roman-Jewish tradition such as the famous Carciofo alla giudía (deep fried artichoke), the Fiore di zucca fritto (zucchini flower fried in tempura with anchovies and mozzarella) and the Filetto di baccalà fritto (codfish fried in tempura).
Classic roman street food is the thin and crispy Roman Pizza as opposed to the tall and soft Neapolitan Pizza, the Supplì (fried rice ball with tomato and mozzarella but some can have veal meat), Pizza bianca con mortadella (focaccia bread with mortadella pork meat) prepared in bakeries (forno), tramezzino (triangular soft white bread filled with different ingredients). You might even find the ancient roman Pinsa, a blend of wheat-soy-rice flour made with a longer leavening and Panino con porchetta, roasted spicy pork meat in a rosetta (rose-shaped roman bread) typical from the town of Ariccia in the Roman countryside.
An authentic Roman pastry is the Maritozzo (soft brioche filled with fresh whipped cream), a traditional gift offered by the groom to the bride, that you can find in some bars and pastry shops; you should of course try the Italian Gelato served with two or three flavors with optional panna (whipped cream) on top or also at the bottom of the cone asking for cono doppia panna.
It’s very typical in Italy to have an aperitif at around 6.30 pm, just before dinner. Try the aperol spritz, a light and low alcoholic drink made with prosecco and aperol which usually comes with some snacks. You will see this bright-orange cocktail sipped in many bars while chatting between friends.
Italian restaurants and trattorias (serving local dishes) generally follow these working times:
12.30-15 lunch time, 19.30-23 dinner time.
Most Italians eat after 1pm and 8 pm so to find a table without reservation (and the kitchen still quiet) just go at 12.30 and 19.30. Better to reserve on Friday evening, Sat and Sunday.
A meal in Italy means time to share with family and friends so no waiter will bring the bill until you ask for it. Tipping is at one’s discretion and if you liked the service, just leave a couple of euros per person on the table: waiters will appreciate.
Curiosity: Where does the expresso coffee come from?
It seems that the coffee served in a small cup is an invention of the ancient Caffè Greco, the famous cafè in via Condotti.
In 1806 Napoleon blocked trade from England which caused an increase in the price of colonial products, including coffee.
Coffee reached prohibitive prices and the Roman Cafès gave up on offering it to their customers. Caffè Greco, on the other hand, found the simplest of solutions: serving it in smaller cups, one third of those that had been used until then.
Inventing the expresso coffee!
Piazza Venezia
Antica Birreria Peroni Via S.Marcello 19 classic roman dishes in the historical and noisy italian brewery. open 12-midnight; closed on Sundays
Trastevere
Ai Spaghettari Piazza San Cosimato 58 a feeling of old-fascioned Rome, since 1896 serving roman dishes and wood-oven pizza
Da Enzo Via dei Vascellari 29 a typican and informal Roman trattoria. No reservations taken, go early (noon or 6.30pm, closed on Sundays).
Da Teo Piazza dei Ponziani 7A an elegant Roman trattoria with outdoor and indoor tables. Large portions of delicious pasta. Closed on Sundays
Supplì Roma Via di S.Francesco a Ripa 137 supplì, crispy pizza and more in an informal location. open all day but not on sundays
Dar Poeta Vicolo del Bologna 45 pizzeria open every day lunch & dinner
Il Tonnarello Via della Paglia 1 typical roman trattoria, pasta served in metal dishes to keep it at the right temperature
Gelateria del Viale Piazza G.G.Belli 9F open everyday 10 to midnight excellent gelato in a little cosy place
Il Maritozzaro Via Ettore Rolli 50 check opening times on google
Monti (by the Roman Forum)
Taverna dei Fori Imperiali Via della Madonna dei Monti 9 typical roman trattoria in the historic centre; open 12,30 to 3 – 7.30 to 10.30. closed on Tuesdays
Grazie a Dio è Venerdì Via dei Capocci 1
wood oven pizza & local dishes-only dinner
Hostaria al tettarello Via dei Capocci 4 wood oven pizza & traditional dishes-only dinner)
Flor Via Cavour 337 excellent gelateria; try the brioche with gelato
Colosseum & Roman Forum
Massenzio Largo Corrado Ricci 2 roman cuisine, woon oven pizza, fish. Closed on Wednesdays
Hostaria Isidoro Via S. Giovanni in Laterano 59 roman & Italian classics in a 16th century convent. Open everyday from 12 to 11 pm
La Naumachia Via Celimontana 7 roman dishes, good wine and crispy pizza. open everyday from 11 to midnight
Jewish Neighborhood
Il Giardino Romano Via del Portico d’Ottavia 18 traditional jewish-roman cuisine. closed on wednesdays
Sora Margherita Piazza delle cinque scole 30 informal, familiar and welcoming atmosphere; few tables, go early
Bona Pizza Via del Portico d’Ottavia 7 ideal for a quick fried artichoke, supplì and kosher-control pizza in an informal atmosphere
Forno Boccione Via del Portico d’Ottavia 1 famous bakery where to taste the classic pastries of the roman-jewish tradition such as the delicious ricotta or cherry pie and the pizza di beridde (Berit Milah which means Alliance, baked during the circumcision)
Antico Forno Urbani del Ghetto Via del Portico d’Ottavia 1 historic bakery, informal atmosphere where to buy a quick and unexpensive lunch (try the pizza bianca and pizza rossa)
Rione Borgo (Vatican)
Cresci Via Alcide de Gasperi 17 bakery and modern restaurant by St Peter’s
Arlù Borgo Pio 135 pasta here is all home-made
Trapizzino Via Vespasiano 2 fast and tasty sandwiches with many different fillings. open everyday 11am-2am
Pizza Amalfi Via dei Gracchi 12 high and soft Southern pizza
Pantheon
Armando al Pantheon Salita dei Crescenzi 31 typical roman dishes; closed sat evening & sunday; reservation required
Alice pizza Corso Vittorio Emanuele II 35 an informal pizzeria where they make thin and crispy Roman pizza and sell it by the weight. Open all day, every day
Tazza d’oro Via degli Orfani 84 historic cafè that offers the best coffee in Town; try the granita al caffè con panna (iced-coffee with whipped cream) and the maritozzo (oval brioche filled with whipped cream offered in the old days to girls as a wedding proposal with a ring inside)
Giolitti Via degli uffici del Vicario 40 a historical caffetteria that offers the best gelato in town. Open all day everyday
Campo dè Fiori
Osteria da Fortunata Via del Pellegrino 31 home-made pasta made in front of you
Emma Via del monte della farina 28 elegant and fancy pizzeria that serves the typical thin and crispy Roman pizza cooked in wood oven. Open every day for lunch and dinner. Reservation suggested
Roscioli Via dei Giubbonari 21 famous for its cold cuts, steaks and long wine list
Antico Forno Roscioli Via dei Chiavari 34 since 1824 the historic bakery of Rome where to taste authentic pizza, suppli and local dishes
Forno Campo dè Fiori bakery. try the pizza
Filetti di baccalà Largo dei Librari 88 best fried codfish. open 17.30-23
Piazza Navona
Da Francesco Piazza del Fico 29 classic roman dishes, thin and crispy pizza. open everyday 12-15.30, 19-24.30
Bona Pizza Via di Tor Millina 34A ideal for trying the typical thin & crispy roman pizza and the supplì in an informal atmosphere
Risotteria Melotti Via della Vetrina 12A risotto and rise academy; open everyday 11-23
Chiostro del Bramante – Caffè Bistrot Via arco della Pace 5 open everyday from 10 to 8 pm; it serves modern dishes in the famous cloister designed by Donato Bramante in 1500; recommended for lunch
Gelateria Quinto Via di Tor Millina 15 small shop with VIP pictures around
Piazza del Popolo
Caffè Canova-Tadolini Via del Babuino 150 former studio of the sculptor Canova. open 8am-midnight. drinks & meals
Venchi Gelateria 1878 Via del Corso 335 best choco-gelateria in town
Pompi Via della Croce 82 best tiramisù
Trevi
Hostaria Romana Via del Boccaccio 1 one of the few authentic osterias left in this part of the city. Right in front of the building in Via Rasella where on March 23rd 1944 the nazi troops were bomb-attacked by the partisans and fired back towards the windows. Marks have been left and still visible.
Colline Emiliane Via degli Avignonesi 22 traditional Bolognese cuisine including home-made pasta, lasagna, tortellini and Lambrusco wine-closed on Mondays-reservation suggested
Termini
Mercato Centrale Via Giolitti 36 large selection of restaurants, trattorias and typical Italian dishes inside the station in a modern architecture. open from 8 to midnight
Roberto’s Via Cavour 49 elegant restaurant & wood oven pizza; closed on Sat & Sun
La gallina bianca Via Rossini 9 trattoria and pizzeria
Pasticceria Regoli Via dello Statuto 60 one of the best pastry shop where to taste the traditional maritozzo and others; closed on Tuesdays
Ostiense
DoppioZero Via Ostiense 68 best aperi-dinner in town
Al Biondo Tevere Via Ostiense 178 1914 historical trattoria with river view
Testaccio
Mercato Testaccio Via Franklin 6am-2pm. best food market
Da Felice Via Mastro Giorgio 29 renowned roman trattoria since 1936; reservation suggested
Il Grottino Via Marmorata 165 specialized in pizza but offers some roman classics; open for dinner only, close on Tuesdays
Flavioalvelavevodetto Via di Monte Testaccio 97 exquisite food surrounded by roman amphoras
Garbatella
Tanto pè magnà Via G. de Jacobis 9 classic roman dishes
Er Panonto Via Cravero 10 best crispy pizza in a very roman atmosphere
Dar Moschino Piazza B. Brin 5 easy roman trattoria
Al Grottino del traslocatore Largo delle sette chiese 2 (family-run trattoria in a natural grotto)
L’isola dei sardi due Vicolo della Garbatella 9 typical Sardinian specialties
Ostia Antica
Arianna al borghetto Via del Forno 11 genuine trattoria in the medieval Borghetto
Monumento Piazza Umberto I 8 restaurant since 1884 who hosted hundreds of VIPs
Lido di Ostia: the seaside of Rome
Battistini Lungomare Paolo Toscanelli 63 informal restaurant by the beach serving excellent Spaghetti with clams and fried sardinas plus tourist menus much more. Open every
Arcobaleno Beach Lungomare Toscanelli 181 front beach, wood oven pizza and fish specialities; reservation required on weekends
Antica Hosteria Sociale Via delle Baleniere 203 roman dishes served inside the pine Grove
Soul kitchen Lungomare Paolo Toscanelli 119 elegant restaurant by the Pier with seaview; open for lunch everyday and Fri and Sat also for dinner
Tivoli
La Sibilla Via della Sibilla 50 elegant restaurant since 1720 by an ancient temple and a terrace looking down the Aniene river; closed on Mondays
Glam Piazza G. Garibaldi 12 cafè bristrot serving all typical italian dishes. Open all day, everyday
Castelli Romani: the eastern volcanic area
Antico Grottino Piazza di corte 15, Ariccia informal trattoria in the center of the town making delicious panino con porchetta (roasted-pork panini) and serving all typical Roman dishes
Pietrino e Renata Via generale R.Lordi 70, Genzano rustic and ideal for barbecue lovers
Dal Contadino Via Appia Nuova 46, Albano Laziale, open lunch and dinner but closed on Wednesday
La Selvotta Via Selvotta 43, Ariccia inside a chestnut wood where to taste pasta amatriciana, roasted pork meat and local genuine dishes. open everyday Apr-Oct; no reservation allowed, just try to show up by 12.45 or 7.45 pm
Bucci Via de Zecchini 31, Castelgandolfo informal, local and with lakeview
Principe Pallavicini – Tenuta Colonna a historical winery in the Campagna Romana where to have a wine tasting
Authentic eastern suburbs (metro c)
Osteria Bonelli Viale dell’acquedotto alessandrino 172 lively family-run trattoria with art retrò furniture
Papanostro Viale delle Orchidee 2 delicious pizzeria making the typical thin and crispy pizza. Open for dinner only
Acacie e pepe Via delle Acacie 27 informal trattoria serving locale dishes. Open for dinner and Saturday all day. Closed on Sundays
Le buone maniere Via Tor dè Schiavi 77 dinner only. bruschettas, supplì, fried fingerfood and an incredibly large selection of pizza. Italian commercial and craft beer, to spend an Italian evening
Exclusive & Panoramic Views
Hotel Bernini Bristol Piazza Barberini 23 amazing panoramic restaurant The Flair on the 8th floor overlooking Rome’s Skyline. Special price menu for lunch mon-fri
Casina Valadier Piazza Bucarest elegant 19th century building by the Pincio Terrace in Villa Borghese
Hotel Forum Via Tor dè Conti 25/30 overlooking the Roman Forum; open lunch/dinner/aperitif
Aroma Via Labicana 125 1-star Michelin, top floor with Colosseum view
Hotel Minerva Piazza della Minerva 69 roof garden serving drinks and light meals overlooking the dome of the Pantheon
Restaurant La Pergola inside Hotel Cavalieri Via Alberto Cadolo 101 3-star Michelin led by chef Heinz Beck
Imàgo Trinità dei Monti 6 Michelin-star Andrea Antonini’s fine restaurant with an amazing panoramic view of the city on top of the Hassler Hotel
Il Pagliaccio Via dei Banchi Vecchi 129 2-star Michelin Led by chef Anthony Genovese
 | Maurizio Benvenuti Official Tour Guide  +39 3275495465 www.maurizioromeguide.com ✉️ maurizio.benvenuti@hotmail.com Rome, Italy |
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