We came here at the recommendation of a local, so we knew we were in for a treat but we were still…read moreblown away. The owners were so nice and the food was spectular! An authentic gem you wouldn't expect to find hidden just around the corner from Piazza Navona.

tl;dr excellent traditional Roman cuisine meets exceptional service, so you are sure to feel right…read moreat home in this family-run trattoria The Roman pasta scene is dominated by four quintessential pasta dishes -- Carbonara, Cacio e Pepe, Amatriciana, and Gricia -- and each is served at any of the countless trattorias around Rome. While plenty of these places are unabashed tourist traps, others are true diamonds in the rough. Finding the gems can be challenging -- so I was relieved that our host in Rome invited us to one of his favorite family-run spots: La Pace del Palato. Just blocks from the Piazza Navona, La Pace makes its home on a slightly sleepy side street. Inside, cool bright colors pop out directly from the walls. Plaster meets exposed brick in a wavy pattern across the walls, themselves only decorated with shelves of wine. Metal stars hang down from the high ceilings. Muted jet-black chairs are pressed up to the lightwood tables, each decorated with a dumbbell-shaped lamp. Just days in advance, I secured a reservation for weekend dinner. The proprietor Renato didn't speak any English, but he was fluent in hospitality. As soon as we arrived, we were made to feel at home, and the staff joked with us like family throughout the meal. Our meal kicked off with two complimentary antipasti: a flavor-packed, Aperol spritz-inspired amuse bouche and a smoky roasted eggplant salad. After that, our group gravitated toward the "Roman Tradition" selection of the menu: classic Roman pastas. My favorite was the excellent Mezzemaniche alla Carbonara. Despite the deep yellow sauce, the flavor was rich and peppery rather than egg-dominated. I also loved the Rigatoni alla Amatriciana for its particularly tomato-forward sauce and plentiful pork. But don't sleep on the generously-sauced Ravioli (prosciutto, ricotta, and thinly-sliced proscitto) or the melt-in-your-mouth Stringozzi alla Gricia (cacio e pepe enhanced by guanciale). Across all of the pastas, my only criticism was that the pork could have been more consistently crispy; otherwise, the textures and flavors were excellent. We completed our meal with a tiramisu -- it is a testament to La Pace that we downed the dessert despite our already-full bellies. Our bill worked out to just over $100 -- on par with some of our least memorable meals in Paris. La Pace del Palato literally translates to "the peace of the palate", and the name couldn't be more apt. This was our final restaurant on a whirlwind trip through Italy, and everything about this meal satisfied. For Roman classics done right, look no further than Renato's humble cucina.

Although Chef Alba Esteve Ruiz left Marzapane in 2018 the Restaurant at Via Velletri 39 has…read morepersevered, and guided by the vision of Chef Francesco Capuzzo Dolcetta, Marzapane now proposes a seasonal menu full of bold flavors at a fair price whether one selects the €50-to-€65 tasting or a la carte options. A Michelin Guide Restaurant, though not currently starred, it is in a Scandinavian-leaning dining room that guests are seated starting at 19h30, the kitchen visible through glass pristine and well-appointed with everything from flat-tops to a Big Green Egg. Best defined as a Trattoria, but more avant-garde than many of Rome's time-tested Restaurants, a quick look at the menu shows several classics alongside more experimental plates, the willingness to test boundaries without eschewing history easily appreciated by those seeking something a little different. Situated a good distance from tourist attractions, and thus a largely locals destination, diners can still expect English-friendly service, Water plus well-priced Wine getting things started alongside complimentary Focaccia and Marzapane's daily "Gastronomia" consisting of handmade Ox Tongue Headcheese, Grilled Eel, Pork Meatballs and Sheep's Cheese. A sizable starter, though that is not to say primi or secondi skimp in terms of portion, Pastas next arrived in two rounds, the Rigatoni slick with Eggs and Pork Cheek a peerless specimen while Candela Spezzata "alla Genovese" took a backseat to more compelling Corzetto with Eel and Ginger plus Capellino that marries melted Beef Fat with a hint of Licorice. Selecting wild-shot Duck to share, three nearly-raw slices defiantly standing alongside smashed Potatoes and reduced Game Jus, Dessert followed as a trio, Quince Confit atop dry Bread texturally odd but nicely flavored while Custard-soaked Brioche and aromatic Crème Caramel each stepped away from the traditional Trattoria with stunning results.

Found Marzapane via an Eater list of Rome restaurants to try -- and we were so glad we did!…read more The location is a little unobtrusive but the rooftop balcony is just lovely. Service staff were helpful and engaged but not too present -- lovely wine recommendation to go with our meals. We dined a la crate because I have some food allergies -- we lived most items ans a few were just not to our palates. The dish that stole the show was the Felafel app -- you don't expect that but it was punch full of flavor with herbs running through the entire dough. Next up -- both pastas we're outstanding. The pesto made with Bibb lettuce instead of basil surprised with its freshness. Our mains/secondis were just a little less awesome than the rest of the meal -- but I suspect it's more about comparisons than anything after the first bites raiSed our expectations.

You know that electrifying feeling when you just arrived to your travel destination from the…read moreairport, dropped off your luggage at the hotel, quickly freshened up, and are now wandering a new city in search of your first authentic meal? L'Antica Fraschetta was my introductory gateway to all the pasta I was about to eat in Italy. With its checkered red table cloths, string lights, and charming decor, the ambiance was everything I imagined an Italian restaurant would have. I had trouble differentiating if the decor was authentic or overly cliché. Or maybe just had trouble accepting that I was actually in Italy. I still don't know, but I loved it! I had the CACIO E PEPE as my entree. I opted for the truffled version. So good! That pecorino romano just hits differently when you're in Rome. I also quickly learned the pasta is cooked al dente everywhere in Italy, which means on the firmer side. The patrons at L'Antica Fraschetta seemed to be a mixture of both locals and tourists. There is a bar area as well. I had a cappuccino to wake myself up after a long journey. Despite what social media videos may say, you can order cappuccinos any time. After our meal, we were given complimentary LIMONCELLOS. Great first meal, thank you!

Beautiful outdoor seating. Bread was stale and the replacement bread was the same. The…read more"charcuterie" board, some of the meat was so gross and I've never met a board I've never loved. The lamp chop entree was bad. I asked for my potatoes more on the well side and they were not. My son got the filet with rosemary medium rare of course and they did not have any sour cream or horseradish. Rome is great and a lot to see of course but in terms of quality I wish this dinner was in ny city or anywhere else at this point. Anywhere where you felt like you could get the value, respect and quality you were hoping for. My son's filet medium rare was verh good, my wife's eggplant Parm was great and my son's carbonara pasta was good as well. -All the best BRIAN

This was my first dinner in Rome and I have to say this spot is well worth the visit…read more I had a great experience here with my wife. The staff were friendly, prices reasonable, and atmosphere incredible! We shared a caprese salad which had delicious fresh ingredients and I had the pasta with clams which was honestly the best one out of the many I had in Italy. Overall a wonderful meal at a restaurant that I highly recommend.

Very solid option that is full of locals. They have the classics and some specials as well. The…read morecarbonara and cacio e pepe are solid but the standout was the tagliatelle with veal ragout and black truffle. Among the secondi, the oxtail stew, stewed bone marrow, and pork mailano were excellent. Service is friendly and fast as well. If you are planning on dinner, I would recommend making a reservation as they start getting packed after 7:30 pm.

Catching up on unfinished reviews from 1.5 weeks ago…read more Located steps from were locals hang out. Trattoria Da Bucatino is popular with the locals in Testaccio. Place was packed when we got there around 7:30. Waited for about 15 mins to get seated outside. Friendly service and authentic flavors.

Trattoria Da Bucatino was recommended to us by my husband's cousin's sister-in-law. Though she…read morehasn't been to the place herself, I can see why it's a local hot spot. Da Bucatino was a very cute establishment. Like most Trattorias, the place felt cozy and comfortable like you're having dinner at nonna's. Service was fine. I thought it was funny that the server was taking jabs at us, calling Coca-Cola as American Champagne, for example. We ordered the proscuitto and melon to share. I don't eat pork, but I gladly indulged on the thick cuts of ripe melon. My husband enjoyed the proscuitto and melon pairing, which reminded him of his childhood. My husband got the carbonara, and I got the mushroom fettucine. We both thought our pastas were just OK. I did find my fettucine cooked perfectly al dente, but my husband's rigatoni needed to be cooked 30 seconds longer.

We randomly found Le Streghe after our tour of Vatican City, looking for a lunch spot with outdoor…read moreseating to take advantage of the perfect weather--and THIS is where I was treated to one of the two best pasta dishes i've ever had. This one, surprisingly, did not feature even the slightest hint of red sauce. The restaurant itself is pretty small and there are only a handful of tables outside, which is likely the most they could put out there since the street was so narrow that the cars were driving by just a few feet away from us. I had a gigantic, ice cold Peroni (hit the spot) and we each had a salad, the insalata mista and the rughetta con pere e parmigiano. Both salads were excellent, and the perfect appetizer for our cacio e pepe, which was absolutely insane. I could never have imagined legitimately three ingredients (salt, pepper, cheese) plus perfectly al dente homemade pasta tasting so good. I've never tasted pasta like this at home, ever--it was one of my two favorite dishes in Rome, without question. We ate every single noodle, and used bread to get the rest of it. A quick eye might have thought the bowl was already cleaned and ready to be put away. I saw cacio e pepe on most menus in Rome, but this simple dish would be best had at Le Streghe. I honestly don't think we'll ever be able to order this back home because it, like most things, won't taste the same. That's okay, we'll just have to come back.

Really cute and cozy place that I recommend! Awesome food, we had the Spaghetti Bolognese. Our…read moreserver was also super friendly and funny and the ambiance was nice.

Forbes 100 spot!…read more The food was amazing!!!! The best cheese lasagna I've ever had. The serving was huge and yet after I swallowed it all, I did not feel gross! It was truly life changing. Can't eat Stouffers anymore! The location I believe was either a jail back in the day, or at least is was an administrative office for a jail. I think. It had a dungeon feel to it, but a pretty cool one though. The service was great! Very attentive and very easy to communicate with. It is off the main sites path but it's worth it and close enough to walk off the food to get to next major site. If I make it back to this place I'm for sure coming back.

I found this restaurant on google maps. We were lucky enough…read moreto get the only available table during lunch. We were seated right away. There were several large parties of 8-18. It seems like a hidden gem known only by the locals. I opted for the Burette with Ricotta and honey. The cheese was creamy and flavorful and worked well on the homemade bread. I thought the cut of meat with Parmesan cheese was excellent, but the steak was a tad chewy. The ravioli with ricotta with basil best I have ever tasted. The flavors are hard to describe, but an orgasmic experience comes to mind.

This deserves my two enthusiastic thumbs up and more! At first we weren't sure they were able to…read moreseat us but eventually the team of staff was able to figure it out. Upon entering its coziness oozed out of every wall. Simple but homey it provided us a warm respite to a brisk evening of late October. Everything on the menu was easy to read and understand, and furthermore decently priced without gauging anyone's eyeballs out. The house red wine 1/2 liter was only 6 euros making it impossible for me to decline. The red wine was very juicy and drinkable as it was fruity and light bodied without being heavy on tannins. We ordered an item from each of the section in true Italian fashion as follows: - appetizer - burrata with tomato slices (so creamy and paired so well with the succulent tomatoes) - primi piatti - bucatini all'amatriciana (deeply flavorful and complex tomato sauce!) - secondi - meat/sausage skewers with potatoes (a bit fatty and salty but paired well potatoes and veggies) - contorno - roasted vegetable medley consisting of eggplants, bell peppers, olives, tomatoes and zucchini (scrumptious) And apologies in advance for terrible pictures because I was busy eating - they do not do justice for how truly delicious everything was. We were stuffed to the brim we could not even look at the dessert menu. Our wonderful server who looked like he could be one of Alexander Skarsgaard's brothers was attentive to us from beginning to end. He understood we were sharing everything and went out of his way to make sure all our plates were equally divided upon arrival. Easily hands down one of our favorites in Rome that we would not hesitate to return to. Make a reservation here and you won't regret it.

the best cacio e pepe i had while in Rome…read more the sauce was perfect, the noodles al dente, the guanciale incredibly flavorful. the interior was also very well decorated and had all kinds of cooking literature, agricultural maps, beautiful paintings, and a massive amount of wine.