Arnel E.

Our second time in this historic and very old Roman restaurant. Came at opening time at 12:30 without a reservation (just like the first time but it is highly recommended) and got seated immediately with the tables being quickly occupied as patrons were trickling in. I had ample time to snap indoor photos of this establishment and I noticed that time stood still since we came here in October of 2019. Our funny server got us the English menu of the day and I immediately ordered a glass of the house red which I distinctly remembered as enjoyably cheap. Out it came with a generous pour and I was cheek to cheek happy. My wife tried to order the Limoncello, but she got a naughty finger wagging no from our server as it was meant for "digestivo" or after meals We ordered the Fritto Misto, Rigatoni alla Coda and Bistecca (cooked medium duh) and our boy got the Quattro Formaggi (four cheese pizza). The Mixed Fried Seafood did as advertised and we were dreaming about it since we booked Italy. The Oxtail Rigatoni was surprisingly delectable w/ the pasta cooked al dente. The Steak was what I was expecting and still ranks in the top 10 steaks I've had. No A1 steak sauce needed. Our boy inhaled his pizza and mind you, the cheese ingredients they use in Italy are way better that the States. Which is why we lovingly ask our son for little bites every time. We ended the lunch with a Tiramisu and this sweet caffeine dessert capped another adventure here in La Campana. Can't wait to go back.

Judy T.

Roman friends took me here after we visited Caravaggio nearby. This long established (500 years they say) restaurant offers classic Roman food. We had a reservation. We had excellent service. The waiter gifted me a book about the history of the place. It's definitely old school and I'm here for it. We had incredible artichokes to start. My favorite season lives another day. Incredible Misto, delicious arrancino, heavenly melanzanne. Wonderful vibes, enjoyed ourselves thoroughly.

Soo L.

Purely based on the food, I had the artichoke and rigatoni alla carbonara. The artichoke (side) was cooked and drizzled in olive oil. It was bland but that's how it's supposed to be and was delicious nonetheless. Now the carbonara, best pasta dish I had so far in Rome and that's saying a lot. I kept on finding the food salty or overly cheesy or creamy but this was perfect. Remember, in Italy the pastas are cooked al dente so don't expect American soft pastas. I personally prefer my pastas al dente. The house / table wine was delicious and they do offer it by the glass. This is Rome oldest restaurant and it's so old school inside. Love love love. You are not in a touristy place. Also, I love the old Italian male waiters as you don't see that often anymore. They are terribly friendly and I find them charming.

Will S.

La Campana is the oldest restaurant in Rome, opened in 1518. Wasn't that before pennicilin was invented? For a restaurant to have survived this long, there had to be some beneficial mutation living in the kitchen, I could sample to help with my quest for "that" windmill. That fact with my trusty reservation, via my hotel that led me here (for the pasta ai carciofi), there was no way I would miss this meal. Hidden on a side street, you will easily miss it but as you see it's somewhat humble door, it's myriads of Yelp, Zagat, Michelin, Yelp, Tripadvisor stickers, you will have gone Eureka! I'm here. I came here on purpose, to sample the last of the artichoke season (carciofi) a dish with artichokes in pasta. Rome has 2 traditions with artichokes: 1) The meal side dishes called controni (Carciofi alla Romana: steamed and drizzled with olive oil and Carciofi alla Giudia, deep fried and battered artichokes) are both excellent and worth trying during artichoke season. 2) Pasta ai carciofi (pasta with artichokes).....My favorite First course: Salad bar. Sumptuous display of Roman antipasti: carciofi (artichokes), fava beans, egglplants, spinach. This is a vegetarian hangout and is more than sufficient to make any veggie happy. Second Course: Pasta ai carciofi. Yummmm. This is what I came for, artichokes with a nice home made pasta, delicious, not extraordinary as I had hoped but I got it. Love that pronounced aftertaste only fresh Italian artichokes impart on your palate..... Heaven. Third Course; Arrosto di Maialino: Waiter recommended: roasted baby suckling pig. Genius crispy skin, unctuous tender meat. I loved loved loved this plate....albeit huge again. The plate atypically was huge again, could not finish this plate. I loved the crispiness of the skin, reminiscent of my favorite roast pork of all time, the Philippine lechon Dessert: Orange Tart, very good, nice fresh tart flavor. I came here to savor my fave dish and I got it. I didn't get the eternal windmill I had hoped for. It makes a bit of sense that the oldest resto in Rome would still have it. I loved comfort level to the resto, the professionalism of the waiters, the vibe and plethora of options. By mid-hour of 1p, the restaurant was packed with local families after Sunday church, feasting on the dishes here. Visits: a handful in college, Yelp=1 Tip: I loved the pasta with truffles here but did not have it this time. This is an old school restaurant, the waiters have worked here for centuries and they are older men. Seasoned Italian wait staff appear brusque and rude compared to American standards. Not! That's just the way it is. Here's how to disarm an old school Italian waitperson: First speak Italian if you can. If not, politely say "il menu in inglese, per favore?" See, that's not so cryptic.... They have English menus in most restos in Rome. Then point to the dishes you like.. They'll fall in love with you for trying to survive in their resto. Then you'll see a smile and the fun begins.

Ratika N.

One of the best lunches we had in Rome...service was pretty nice, even though the waiter did make fun of how greasy Italian food is in the US...he was kinda upset that there is a dish called Chicken Parmesan!! But he was pretty nice overall and pointed us in the right direction each time we wanted his advice. For my starter I had Ovola di Bufala con Pomodoro e Rughetta. Mozzarella and Tomatoes with Arugula (Italian version of caprese salad)....the server told me that the buffalo mozzarella here was so fresh and moist, there was no need to use olive oil. I was AMAZED!! Check out the picture of the salad. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/9j6VnM7LOno9Tf4LpA3ZlA) Damn I miss the buffalo mozzarella now! It was so good that I have refused to eat caprese salad since I've come back to LA (I did order it once and was so disappointed!). This was our last lunch in Roma and yes, we ordered way too much but it was so worth it! The lasagna was perfectly cooked and so tasty. My ravioli was to die for (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/9j6VnM7LOno9Tf4LpA3ZlA?select=pJzKg4J_EqVszXrwLL2vyg) Everything we ordered was so fresh and delicious...it was amazing. This is really a perfect place, especially on Sunday when most other places are closed in Rome. Make sure you make reservations as on Sunday, the restaurant was packed! Most of the tables were occupied with big families dressed in their Sunday best (assuming they were coming here after mass). Overall, this was one of the great meals in Roma....fresh ingredients, delicious food, great service and best part is that it wasn't too pricey...just perfect for a nice restaurant with great food! Go here when you are in Rome, you won't regret it!

RESERVE table before you go... they get full! Restaurant is the oldest in Rome, has a great history. Food was the best we had in Rome, the service was the best in Italy. I had the oxtail and it was perfect. The wine selection is excellent. The dessert was apple pie, unlike any other, simply the best. They know how to treat tourist, people are very nice in there. Nice ambient, very clean restaurant. Must see in Rome. Make reservations BEFORE you go.

Jen H.

I came here on a Sunday and boy was it BUSY! Make sure to get a reservation ahead if you can. The party ahead of us waited for an hour before getting seated. Luckily, I was able to sweet talk my way to a table in ten! The place is filled with locals and what you would imagine what a bustling Italian restaurant should be! The menu only comes in Italian, so make sure to bring a translator. Fortunately, we have so many Italian restaurant in the States that half the menu will make sense to you. If all else fails, ask the waiter for recommendations. We ordered a bottle of wine that was reasonably priced and their entrees was delicious! I don't recall the names of the dish, but I can describe it! The first dish was a fettuccine mushroom, soo good! The pasta was fresh and tender with all the right flavors! The mushroom was awesome and the flavor bursted in every bite. The other dish I got was a seafood pasta with a tomato base sauce. This came out steaming hot and it was yum, yum, yum. Every bite had flavor of the sea without the fishy taste! You can also get their salad buffet where you can go help yourself at the salad bar and pile up the greens! Overall, a great restaurant to check out when in Rome to taste the local food.

Kim N.

I think they let their claim to game get to them. Having read a uk editorial stating this was one of the more solid trattorias i jumped on the metro over. Not well publicized but large and crowded inside. You would not have known it was on a Sunday at 10.30pm. Rigatoni con coda all vaccinara and agnelo scottadita were the traditional dishes i went for . Oxtail rigatoni was good but the pasta wasnt totally hot and brought the temp of the dish down. Well cooked and seasoned though. Lamb ribs grilled with oil and lemon was hot but of the 3 pieces one was really good, one ok and the other mostly bone fragments. Waiter looks beat up and isnt the happiest guy. I hate to say that the cockiness if long tradition has let skme standards slip

Maddy P.

Our hotel recommended this place for dinner. They were friendly when we got in the door and found a spot for us even though we didn't have a reservation. The food at the front looked delicious! Unfortunately, I was disappointed. I ordered one of their pasta dishes. I didn't like it one bit! One of the people in my party liked the carbonara that they ordered. The rest of us did not like our food. Maybe we all just didn't choose the right dishes? I wouldn't come back though.

Simon L.

Awesome spot. Paper menu lists daily specials and prices. Fish and meat prices are listed in euros by the kilo. A cozy place with full salad bar and a surprisingly large dining area. Tables packed closely togetherz Service is quick and efficient. Food is tremendous. Ravioli with spinach and ricotta is the best of the entire trip. Large wrapper made fresh very recently folded over the filling and drizzled with melted butter, Parmesan and diced oregano. An Absolutely stunning dish. Eggplant parmigiana is thick, breaded heavily, lightly fried and has a mountain of cheese melted over the top. Tomato sauce is fresh and sweet. Another winner. Veal cutlet beaded, pounded thin, fried and topped with mushrooms is tender and sweet. The creamy mushrooms envelope the cutlet.

Rebecca B.

We read that this was one of the oldest restaurants in Rome and it was Michelin star rated... So I'll say do not go there if you do not speak Italian, they aren't friendly about translating the menu. The lasagna was average and we thought we were ordering spaghetti but what we got was clam shells minus most of the clams in undercooked spaghetti noodles.

Schelly Y.

The service is friendly but oh so slow here. I think they batch the food so it takes forever to get your food. They did apologize for how slow it was and they gave us some free extremely cheesy fried squash blossoms. The table was not served entrees at the same time and in fact I waited quite awhile for my food to come out. I saw them bring out like 5 other spaghetti vongoles when mine came out. Once I got my food I had tons of shards of broken clam shells strewn throughout. We also tried a chicken dish which was a bit dry. They let us try the "salad bar" area for free but it wasn't that great.