Crazy crowded and constantly turning over tables. The food can take quite a while to arrive and the menu is a bit limited, but what they do, they do oh-so-well. All pasta is fatta en casa. The carbonara and, of course, the cacio e pepe both set the standard for Rome. Sadly, they were out of meatballs, but based on the looks on the faces of those who got some, we really missed out. Next time... read more

Absolutely do not reccomend. Owner took our order, when our meal came we only got half our order, he didn't care and was unapologetic. Also tons of locals seem to like this spot so we had about 15 people with no sense of personal space standing around our table within inches smoking. It was disgusting. Also sat a bachelorette party next to us (drunk and smoking while we were trying to eat) horrible dining experience. read more

I studied abroad in Rome this past semester and I ate here 3 or 4 times. I would have eaten here more but theres so many places to try. The service was great. Our server was very friendly, attentive, and gave us recommendations based on what she loved. She also liked us because she recognized us as return customers. Every meal I've had here was amazing. The pasta with red sauce and sausage was a special when I went, and did not disappoint. The carbonara was unsurprisingly perfect. The prices are very reasonable and you will definitely leave stuffed. read more

We came here by recommendation of a couple we met during our trip. They got there by recommendation of their hotel's concierge and they had told us that it was one of the best pastas they've had, so we were eager to try. Unfortunately, our experience wasn't as good as theirs. We arrived at the same time as two other parties, We were told to sit at a table that hadn't been cleaned from the previous guests. That was not an issue, however, we waited for 10 minutes while the other two parties had their orders taken and were even served, and our table had not been cleaned nor we had anyone taken our order. We asked the hostess in our basic Italian and she said that the waiter had to do it. We asked her if she spoke English but she said no. After a while the waiter came and took our order. We ordered the same items as our friends per their recommendation. My husband's dish came pretty fast but after 10 mins mine had not come. They brought me more bread while I was waiting (which of course they charged) and after being patient for a while I asked the other waitress for my dish. She was surprised it hadn't arrived. It took another 10 mins for it to be served. The food was good, not great, not worth the wait and bad service for sure. Price was ok, we paid 24 euros for two main courses, half a liter of wine, water and bread. Too bad for the poor service. Would not recommend this place. read more

So great to get off the beaten path and head into the "newer" neighborhood of Prati. We also heard about it from Anthony Bourdain and it did not disappoint. The service was friendly, fast and the quality of the food was fantastic. When I asked specifically about the preparation of the cacciatore, the waitress rattled off the entire process with precision. And more importantly, you could tell how proud they were of their food. Of course we had their signature dish, cacio e pepe first and I can't stop thinking and or talking about it. Simply the best. The ONLY bummer about the experience was at the end of the dinner because there was a tiny tear in the Euro note we handed them, they almost wouldn't accept. Not sure about the rules over there but make sure your notes are crisp and clean. No credit cards. read more

This was our favorite place to eat in Rome, we dined here 3 out of the 5 day we spent there. The half orders/ mezza were great too for trying lots of the menu. Great prices on their food and wine with good english speaking staff and would love to go there for dinner tonight. read more

My absolute FAVORITE restaurant in Rome. This is a local Italian restaurant that many native Romans love. It was recommended to me by my friend and her mom. I kept coming back to this place time and again... it's addicting, what can I say? I highly recommend the spaghetti carbonara and any other specials that they offer that day. (Everyday, they have different specials.) This place is truly unique because menus are nonexistent.The waiters/waitresses tell you what they have that day and it's usually about four different pasta dishes. read more

Anthony Bourdain didn't disappoint. The menu is simple and portions are rather large so make sure you go on an empty stomach. My friend and I ordered cacio e pepe and carbonara. Both were simple, tasty and amazing. The restaurant has al fresco dining and is about 7-10 minutes away from the subway station (sorry, I forgot which one). It's a pretty quiet neighborhood so don't be alarmed if you think it is unsafe. read more

Delicious signature dish and they made a great dairy free pasta dish for my vegan husband.

A quaint neighborhood joint that has great service and fantastic Cacio e Pepe just as its namesake suggests! Carbonara is also a great choice here, you can't really go wrong anything on it's simplistic menu, definitely a favorite of mine here in Prati and even Rome in general! read more

I had been looking forward to trying some Cacio e Pepe while in Rome, and this place was the perfect place to have it. After spending a lot of time in the more touristy areas of the city, it was refreshing to have dinner in a restaurant full of locals. They opened for dinner at 7, and the tables were full by 7:10. It was a few minutes' walk from the closest Metro stop. read more

Awesome Cacio e Pepe. I ate here. Then tried the same at several other highly rated spots. This is the best!!!!

I didn't dare stray from there name when choosing my dish and that was a wise choice the Cacio e Pepe was traditional Roman made best. The pasta was so fresh, Cacio e Pepe (Literally being Cheese and Pepper) was so simple but simply perfect. If your in Rome you must try. read more

Cacio e Pepe is a true locals dining establishment with limited English speaking personnel. But then again its outside the tourist locations so most people won't end up here unless they are looking for it as I was. I was looking for another good place to have Cacio e Pepe outside of "Location X" (LOCATION X - TOP SECRET!!! - HAHAHA) and Yelp had some good reviews about this location northeast of the Vatican. I had the Cacio e Pepe and is was OK - Good, they used cheese and pepper sparely but that could be because the locals don't like it as much as the tourist do. The staff was overall friendly and the location was located on a mostly quiet street with a variety of apartments around. Overall I would recommend this location if you will be around the area but not if you have to make an effort to reach it. read more

Wonderful food - just have to get used to not having a menu (and waiting a bit). We had the carbonara and it was wonderful with the house white. Highly recommended! read more

Awesome place. We came here based on a travel channel recommendation saying they do the pasta that they are named after the best in Rome. It was amazing. The Carbonara is excellent as well. The staff was very friendly. read more

Cacio e Pepe hasn't let us down yet. This was our third trip to Rome and we visit every time. I love the fresh pasta paired with good olive oil,cheese and pepper. Everything is always fresh and perfectly cooked. It's ones of the best cacio e pepes in the city. The service is always good. The only difference we noticed on this trip was that the place is normally full of locals but this time it was all tourists. The food quality and service have not suffered, we will still eat here, but it has lost a little of the Italian charm it had when you only heard Italian spoken. Part of the Anthony Bourdain recommendation influence. It's still a great place to eat. read more

I was so lucky that Cacio e Pepe was walking distance from an apartment I rented during my Roman Holiday. This review won't be long because there isn't much to say except .....delizioso!!!! This was Probably my favorite restaurant in Roma! I ordered the Carbonara since that is what all the locals were eating! It was so simple and so good! Pasta.... Cheese.... Pepper.... Bacon..... Amazing! It was also pretty good value for the money! Finally the restaurant had a wonderful vibrant Italian vibe with more locals than tourist! It was fantastic! read more

My absolute favorite restaurant in Rome! The house special pepper pasta is unbelievable. I also had the dessert that the server recommended and it was nothing short of amazing. read more

So happy I got to experience this place while in Rome! Great great food and a local spot to so no tourist.

Not over-rated in the least. Amazing pasta, reasonable prices. Every pasta dish as good as the others. We arrived early because the place fills up. The staff clearly loves tourists and will really welcome you with open arms. I should have eaten there every night of my Roman visit, it really was that good. read more

We went for lunch twice in the same week because it's that good! No frills-you can sit outside (recommended) or at a small area inside. Read the menu ahead of time, it's posted on a big blackboard and then order & enjoy some of the best real Italian food you ever ate! Make sure you make reservations!! We went in early December which is the "slow" season for tourists but because this is such a popular restaurant with the locals, it was packed! They also have really good wine & desserts if you have any room. FYI-there's a Taxi Stand around the corner in the piazza. When you have the cacio e pepe or the carbonara there, you'll quickly realize that the versions you've had elsewhere pale in comparison. read more

Disgusting military style cooking. Pasta is prepared in giant cafeteria trays. The pasta is gummy and seasoning indifferent. I would not eat here again even if it were free. Anthony Bourdain, shame on you recommending this terrible restaurant. read more

Best pasta dish we have had in Italy. The cacio e pepe is perfect. 3 simple ingredients executed perfectly. One thing I want to tell people is BRING CASH!!!! They don't take card and I had to walk 20 minutes to an ATM. Anthony Bourdain wasn't lying. This place is fabulous. read more

Real authentic Italian cuisine: simple menu, cheap prices, great vino de casa, and most importantly the Best Cacio e Pepe I had in Roma!

Outdoor seating with the obvious Cacio e Pepe dish being the draw. Service was friendly and attentive and the house red was solid. Come as early as they open as the seating fills very quickly. read more

The food is actually really good! The service however is horrible if you don't speak Italian!

I have only had the pasta al cacio e pepe e the pasta alla gricia here, but the eponymous dish is simply delicious. The fresh pasta is always perfectly al dente and the cheese crumbly and pleasantly nutty. This is one of my favorite places to go for a casual, inexpensive weekend lunch with friends. You sit outside in a quiet, beautiful residential part of Prati, where the family and staff set up makeshift tables and chairs on the sidewalk that wraps around the tiny restaurant. read more

If you are in Rome you have no excuse but to try this restaraunt. The Cacio e Pepe is excellent. The penne, ricotta and asparagus was equally as good. Would definitely come back. read more

Delicious food, was worth the 20 minute walk. Ordering can be a little tricky, luckily the waiter was very patient. Once it got busy though, he pretty much forgot we existed even when I was waving several times as he walked by. Ordered signature dish, it was excellent. We spent hours drinking and talking, It seemed like we might have been the only non-italians there. read more

Excellent place, far from tourist menus and plastic pizza. The set up is a Italian neighborhood restaurant with tables on the street far enough from the main avenue. We order three dishes with tomato sauce and each one has it's own particular taste. The service was excellent the price very reasonable, less than Olive Garden if you want to compare. We love it! read more

Absolutely it's a must to have at least one meal at Cacio e Pepe when in Rome. The food is out of this world!!

This place is phenomenal. It was a recommendation of a co-worker and she delivered!! We had just finished a Vatican tour and it is a fairly short taxi ride from there. As another reviewer noted: There are no indoor seats with AC! The weather was fabulous so it was wonderful to eat outside. The waitress we had was very polite but knew no English - she did what she could and then found another server that understood English. It was very appreciated since our Italian was lacking to say the least. I can't describe the food and the pleasure your palette receives - read other reviewers notes as well. You won't find a better pasta as cacio e pepe (their restaurant name and signature dish). As a table of 7 we had 4 cacio e pepe, 3 carbonara (equally as good) and the meatballs, house salads - all incredible. If you find yourself in Rome, visit here - you will not be disappointed. read more

Well made food which is liked by locals and tourists. Brush up on your Italian before going or bring Picts from Yelp for what you want because no menus or English speaking service. Service was good and food was really good. Had pasta w/ cheese & pepper. Also, nice simple outdoor seating w/ lots to see w/ bustling streets and buildings. Done well! read more

The best chicken and cacio in Prati!!!! The staff is so friendly and if you are a regular they will even remember what you like. Wonderful place for lunch but crowds start after 14:00. read more

The staff is very nice and friendly. Not the best cacio e pepe I had, but it wasn't bad either.

This meal was unforgettable. After visiting the Musei Vaticani, I found my way over to this spot (as others said, because it came HIGHLY recommended by Anthony Bourdain). It's a little out of the city center, but very worth the trip. I was famished from exploring the museums and climbing the Basilica, so I was more than ready for some pasta when I arrived. I was seated under the cozy outdoor patio and fairly quickly identified myself as the only non-local dining there - which, for me, always means it's going to be good. The menu is simple, and the server came by to gave me the 4 options. Carbonara is a Roman specialty, so of course, I hopped on my chance to get the real deal. This was the BEST pasta I had my entire trip in Italy. Perfectly cooked, fresh, with a rich-tasting yet light coating and thick, salty pieces of bacon on top...finished with fresh parmesan. I am getting hungry again thinking about it. The restaurant was filled with couples, families, and solo diners alike, all happy and lingering over their dishes. When I think about Italy, this place will always come to mind. GO GET SOME! read more

Just what you want to feel Like a Roman. Off the tourist path. Great food and service.

The food was really good. The service was quite underwhelming and the wine was marginal at best. Other restaurants had far better house wine. Loved eating outdoors. Waiter knew English, so that was helpful for this tourist. read more

Pretty darn good! Went around 9pm and seated promptly though all other tables were full. Def a locals spot, I didn't hear anyone else there speaking English. Waiter did not speak English but we knew what we wanted: cacio e Pepe for me and carbonara for husband. Started off with prosciutto and buff mozz app- so delicious. Buff mozz was deceiving as it was a bit tough to cut with the knife but when you did it was so creamy inside. Very flavorful. Ordered a side of meatballs in red sauce... Husband loved them. This is a guy who has an annual meatball cook off competition so he is super into the mballs. To be honest, I thought they were good but not the best I've had. Good, simple flavor and the sauce was out of this world but they were a bit dense (dry?) for my liking. His carbonara was ridiculously delicious- ugh.... So good. My cacio e Pepe was not the best I've had on this trip. It tasted like it may have sat out a bit... Slightly dry. This plus bread and a quart of wine was around 39 eur. We'd go back just for the carbonara! read more