Cancel

Open app

Search

Al 42 By Pasta Chef

4.4 (47 reviews)
Closed • 12:30 pm - 3:30 PM, 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Updated 2 months ago

Al 42 By Pasta Chef Photos

AL 42 BY PASTA CHEF ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Good for groups
Dogs allowed

Recommended Reviews - Al 42 By Pasta Chef

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Ploy N.

A small pasta spot right next to the Colosseum. There was a line right when they open but they're efficient with seating people. Inside is small so be prepared to be elbow to elbow with people. You order and pay first at cashier then take your seat. We got the traditional Roman Carbonara and it's thick and rich with parmasan but not heavy somehow. The star though was the Chicken Stew in Olive Oil. Super tender and flavorful. Paired with the bread, it's amazing. Caprese Salad was not bad either but pretty standard. Don't skip on their Tiramisu for the perfect end to your meal. Perfectly creamy.

pesto pasta
Phyllis C.

There's a wait, but it's worth it. The chef cares INTENSELY about his food and his menu, and will be sure to tell you it's like nothing you've had before. I didn't think the ceiling for carbonara went that high, but al42's is intensely flavorful (albeit salty with that 24mo aged parm). I'm not a pesto person, but I also really enjoyed theirs. It was light and not too oily. The generous portions were definitely welcome with the salad, which was consumed immediately after a few days without decent vegetable servings. This casual hidden restaurant is in a neighborhood, so expect to have people coming and going. It's very casual, where you order first, then get seated at a counter. Come right before or when it opens to avoid too long of a line. This is a can't miss in Rome.

Restaurant
Nicholas H.

The location of the restaurant is tucked away on a side street but highly recommend trying to find it. The atmosphere of the restaurant is lively and food seemed mostly made to order. A professional kitchen that has great customer service and the wait time for us was short due to showing up a bit early as the line can grow quite fast during lunch time. It was a great value for the money considering its all chef inspired cooked in the same area you would eat. I would return and recommend.

Fettuccine al ragu bolognese
Karina S.

One of my favorite meals in Italy! I had the fettuccine al ragu bolognese and loved it. The pasta was so chewy and perfectly cooked and the meat sauce and cheese was delicious. The restaurant is on the smaller side and there are limited tables for groups. We had to wait a bit, but really appreciated the amazing service and walkthrough of the menu we received before ordering at the counter!

Christina C.

Get there early if you want to be the first seating and don't want to wait in the line outside for the first seating to be done. You wait outside in a line and they call you in to order and sit down. They will call your number and you pick it up. After you are done you bring your plates back to the counter. Friendly staff that is patient and asks if your first time and explains it all. My son ordered the carbonara and they warn you because of the cheese, it could be salty. He enjoyed it. The only complaint I have is that it's really hot and stuffy inside. Food was excellent! The sea bass was so light and melts in your mouth. All the pasta(truffle, carbonara, pesto) we got were great too!!

Carbonara. Be forewarned, when they say "It's 'peppery'" they mean it. It was still so good!
Aaron D.

This place was a recommendation and it was SO worth it! The food was absolutely amazing and the service was top notch. It's a so unassuming compared to all the other places in Rome but you HAVE to visit this place. There will be a line so I recommend getting there before they open. And if it's a Thursday get the gnocchi before they sell out of it. Which happens.

We loved al42 so much that we came back three times during our stay in Rome! Every single dish was incredible, full of flavor, beautifully presented, and clearly made with care. One thing that really stood out was how the staff take the time to explain everything before you order, such as which dishes are salty, fried, veggie, or meat-based. It really helps you make the perfect choice and try something new. The service feels personal and kind, never rushed, and they seat you when it's your turn, which keeps things organized even when it's busy. My absolute favorite dish was the fettuccine Alfredo, creamy, rich, and unforgettable! If you're in Rome, do yourself a favor and stop by al42. It's small, friendly, and serves some of the best food we had on our entire trip. Highly recommend!

Carbonara
Kim G.

The best Carbonara I have ever had anywhere! And I have had a lot of Carbonara in Rome. The fresh egg yolks, so rich and golden in color, and legit, salty pecorino Romano take this classic Roman dish to the next level. For this dish alone, the wait in line is worth it! While in Rome last year I stayed in the Monti neighborhood where Al 42 is located. I happened upon the place on one of my many strolls thought the charming streets filled with boutiques and restaurants. The line caught my attention and I figured the food must be good if people line up when there are dozens of fabulous restaurants nearby. Yep, there is a reason for the line! Dont let it stop you, the fellow customers are friendly and engaging and time moves fast. Now for some basics. While the food is top of the line, the venue is small and they don't have table service. The owner greets you, welcomes you inside where you are introduced to the menu, make your selections, pay, and then you are seated. I'm down with that! The tables are high tops and the stools are not that comfortable, but it's all worth it for the food. Also, there are no toilet facilities on site. For me, that isn't an issue, but for others with a small bladder, plan accordingly. Now back to the food. The fresh pasta is cooked to perfection with the perfect al dente bite. Cooked in the sauce for the last minute or two so that all the flavor is in the pasta, not just on top, it's sublime. The Carbonara was so good that I had to go back a second time while in Rome. This time I also ordered the fettuccine bolognese. The rich meat sauce was delicious and it was great to enjoy two pasta dishes that were so completely different. Save room for tiramisu! The perfect ending to a scrumptious meal. Oh, and the prices are incredible; you get a 5 star pasta dish for $11 or less. I love Rome!

Khrystyna P.

Al 42 By Pasta Chef was one of the best meals we had on our trip to Rome! The Alfredo and Carbonara were hands down the best we tried in all of Italy--so fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. On top of that, the host was super kind and enthusiastic, which made the whole experience even more memorable. A cozy spot with amazing pasta we'll be dreaming about until our next visit!

Marcin B.

This place is amazing and I can vote it has one of the best pasta in Rome. The idea of this restaurant is a bit different as you order the food , pay, get a number and wait until it is prepared and the you go pick it up. The have small menu with one special that changes from time to time I assume. You can also get a small bottle of wine or o beer. We tried Lasagna, Ravioli and Ragu. Ragu was definitely one of the best I had in my life so far. Deep in flavor served with fresh pasta and juniper berries, it was so good that we went twice to get it :) The place fills super quick, there is no reservation so once the restaurant is filled inside you have to wait outside in line for your turn. We were lucky to get there right away without waiting just at lunch time so the best bet is to be there right at the opening around 1230pm or later at second shift around 7pm. If you visit Rome make sure AL 42 is marked on your list!!

Bolognese
Erfamian K.

If you're like me, part of your Italy trip preparation involves a careful compilation of restaurant recommendations that you must visit. Al42 was NOT on our list. Yet we were fortunate enough to stumble upon this Rome gem early in our trip to eat there twice. This is the part where I tell you the food is fresh and delicious, the value is incredible, and the service is personal and friendly. You knew that with the 5 star rating so let's move on. First, you will need to show up 30 minutes before restaurant opening. This number was an accurate sweet spot for our trip in January 2024. You should be one of the first groups to be seated. Next, visit the restaurant website to check out what should be the latest menu with pictures. If you find itself near the back of the line, perhaps think of a backup dish to order just in case they sell out your primary choice (happened to us). Keep in mind the restaurant may have a daily special that is not described on the website. For us, the pasta was the star of the show. Don't skip it for the meat dishes. The bolognese was divine. The tagliolini (with prawn) also hit the spot. The portions are quite generous so you will be quite satisfied with a pasta and meat. At these prices, I would visit this joint every week if I lived in Rome. Do your research. Eat like a local in Rome. Do NOT miss out on AI42.

Waiting for our pasta
Maria P.

When in Rome.... Pasta is a total must! We found the restaurant tucked away in a side alley among homes and away from the main drag. There was a long line and with only about 1 1/2 hours from closing, I was worried we may not be able to make it in time. After reading more reviews that it was "worth the wait" and a few others in line substantiating that claim, we decided to wait it out amongst the others. We quickly found out that they turned over tables fast and had a great system in place to keep customers in the know and kept the line moving. We waited maybe 30-45 minutes and got a small counter seating against the wall. It's small and the space is tight, but we were happy to squeeze ourselves in. You first order up at the counter and then they bring your food to you. We ordered the bolognese, fettuccine alfredo, ravioli, and the special for the evening -- a fettuccine al tartufo nero. My husband luckily got the last of the special and yes, all this pasta for two adults and one child... lol. We dug into the pasta and oh my goodness, the pastas were completely divine. I honestly have never had pasta this good in my life. Simple, clean ingredients, and balanced flavors with perfectly cooked pasta. Authentic Italian cuisine and TOTALLY WORTH THE WAIT. The manager (i think) came by and chatted with us as well. He was incredibly friendly and brought over an extra chair and stacked it together to give my son an extra 'boost' to reach his food better. Although we visited last year, during the summer of 2022, it was such a great experience and I continue to dream about this pasta and will for many years to come. Highly recommend stopping by here!

Outside
Daisy G.

Pasta texture: 5/5 Flavors: 5/5 Service: 5/5 When arriving to Al 42, there was a short line outside, due to no table service. We were greeted with the chef, as seen in the pictures, he quickly apologized to us for the wait and no table service. The chef explained how this restaurant would work; we come in, he will explain the menu, we order, then pay, and lastly find a seat. While explaining the pasta dishes, Chef made sure that we knew the carbonara would have a strong taste, very different from American carbonara. We decided to try the carbonara (I have never tried carbonara before). The Chef asked us to try with an open mind, due to strong flavors of black pepper. We are glad he prepared us, as it was very strong. The salty meat was a good balance to the melty pasta sauce. This dish felt a little heavy for us, yet still enjoyable. We also tried bolognese. This was my favorite out of the two, the meat was a perfect ratio to the cheese, sauce, and noodles. With every twirl of noodles, we were able to chase it with a fork full of sauce. Personally, my favorite thing about these dishes was the texture in noodles. It was the perfect aldente texture.

Pretty view of the entrance

See all

Photo of Noah L.
15
74
49

18 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

17 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Jay B.
0
11
6

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Kim G.
1114
2765
22514

3 years ago

Helpful 15
Thanks 2
Love this 15
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Maria P.
1027
866
13253

3 years ago

Helpful 10
Thanks 1
Love this 10
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 2
Love this 2
Oh no 0
Photo of Jon C.
0
10
0

10 months ago

Great pasta at a great price but be prepared to wait. Small place mostly eating on a counter.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Sharon H.
0
79
177

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Joseph C.
396
177
481

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Abhi R.
0
24
22

4 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Yaru Z.
0
26
1924

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Sabrina A.
0
109
255

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Erin C.
327
5
7

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Steve S.
1
124
175

4 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Jia Yi S.
18
19
13

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Chethan N.
211
24
19

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 2

Al 42 By Pasta Chef Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - Al 42 By Pasta Chef

“While we were there a gentleman came up to the owner and said this is the best meal he has had in Rome.”

Mentioned in 17 reviews

Read more highlights

Pico’s - chicken and beef tacos

Pico’s

4.4(54 reviews)
1.7 km•Trastevere

I'm honestly shocked--in the best way--at how good the Mexican food was at Pico's. We weren't…read moreexpecting to find authentic, flavorful Mexican cuisine in the heart of Rome, but this place completely exceeded our expectations. From the first bite, everything tasted fresh, perfectly seasoned, and thoughtfully prepared. The flavors were spot-on--bold without being overpowering, and clearly made with quality ingredients. It was honestly probably the best food we had during our entire time in Rome, which is saying a lot considering how much incredible Italian food we tried. If you're craving something different while visiting Rome, or if you're a fan of great food in general, Pico's is 100% worth a visit. A hidden gem that delivers way more than you'd expect!

We wanted something other than pizza for a change in Rome. My wife and I decided Mexican food…read moresounded great. I would not recommend this place to my worst enemy. Service was poor an extremely slow. We waited about 15 minutes for water and drinks. When I was finally tired of waiting on the food after 40 minutes I got up to pay and leave but it finally showed up. Food was okay but not good. Had I used the bathroom when I got there I would not have ordered at all. I think the worst bathroom I have ever been in at any restaurant. It made a port a potty look like a luxury spa.

Photos
Pico’s - Pico's - interior

Pico's - interior

Pico’s - Steak,chicken,pork belly, shredded pork tacos and Michelada drink... Everything was amazing!

Steak,chicken,pork belly, shredded pork tacos and Michelada drink... Everything was amazing!

Pico’s - Margarita flight

See all

Margarita flight

Ce Stamo a Pensá - Ready to order in or takeout

Ce Stamo a Pensá

4.6(82 reviews)
0.1 km•Monti
•€

**Ce Stamo a Pensà -- Rome **…read more After a long flight and arriving in Rome late at night, we decided to stretch our legs and walk around--and somehow stumbled upon this little gem. There were no tables available when we arrived, but we figured the wait might be worth it. **It absolutely was.** While we waited, they offered us some wine and a little bite--almost like a small pastry filled with cheese and tomato--which was such a thoughtful touch and made the wait feel effortless. Once seated, we ordered more wine along with two Roman classics: **Cacio e Pepe and Carbonara.** The **Cacio e Pepe** was exactly what we hoped for: beautifully creamy, cheesy, and well balanced without feeling overly heavy or greasy. The pepper came through nicely, complementing the richness of the cheese rather than overpowering it. The **Carbonara** was equally impressive. The pasta had that wonderful fresh, silky texture, the sauce was rich and intensely cheesy, and the pancetta was perfectly crispy and salty. Every bite had the right balance of creamy, savory, and salty. Ambiance was quiet, chill and very welcomely.

The food is pretty good. I'd stay away from the traditional sandwich and go for the pita pocket…read moretype sandwiches or the pasta dishes. Also the fried pizza is pretty good. The service is very good and friendly. Now the warning. There is usually a line. There are only enough tables for 15 people and calling them tables is a stretch. As you walk along a thin hallway towards the restroom there are 3 tables for 2. At the entrance there are two counters that have 4 seats on one side and 5 on the other. You also need to have an ass that fits on a small stool. They play great American and British Rock and have semi passable AC.

Photos
Ce Stamo a Pensá - Seating area

Seating area

Ce Stamo a Pensá
Ce Stamo a Pensá - Aperitivo

See all

Aperitivo

Al 42 By Pasta Chef - hotdogs - Updated October 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...