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La Dispensa dei Mellini

4.6 (17 reviews)
ModerateItalian, French
Open • 12:00 pm - 11:00 PM

La Dispensa dei Mellini Photos

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Homemade pasta with beans.  Not as flavorful as the pasta with chicken but still a very nice dish.
Jack S.

Really enjoyed this restaurant! We tried to book online through The Fork but it said they were booked until 9:30 (they don't open until 7:30). I called them as soon as they were open and they agreed that if we arrived by 8pm they could seat us. While they're off the main drive along the River Tiber and only 3-4 blocks from the Supreme Court, this stretch of road does not get a lot of foot traffic so this is more of a word of mouth or locals restaurant. When we arrived there were only two other tables but within 15 minutes they were full. The staff was very friendly and tried to accommodate us in English (which they spoke quite well) rather than us struggling to order everything in Italian. They explained what we didn't understand and made suggestions for wine pairing. Our food was prompt and delicious. There were three of us but we'd ordered four entrees so we could sample. We ordered the tuna, the beef filet, and two homemade pasta dishes - one with chicken and one with beans, both of which were excellent. The tuna was wonderful and the steak was the best I'd had in months...truly. This was the best meal we'd had in Rome and likely anywhere in quite some time.

Menu as of 10/25/14
Vanessa K.

I absolutely LOVED this place. It was our second night in Rome, and the food totally redeemed Rome (as the first few meals after arrival were sub par for this foodie who had high expectations for Italian food). This place is definitely off the beaten path and is not dined by tourists, and is rather dined by locals. La Dispensa was a few store fronts from the B&B we were staying at. We walked by the first night and saw how busy it was. It must be good, right? Our B&B helped us make a reservation for the following night. We were actually on our way back from a day trip to Florence and walked all the way from Termini station to the restaurant, made it within 5 minutes of our reservation time. Our waitress was really sweet and patient. She walked through each item in the menu and explained it to us in English. We were so appreciative. It was difficult finding that level of kindness during our trip in Rome. We ordered two apps and two pasta entrees, and a dessert. Apps: Italian vegetable tempura. yes! We did it! After almost 2 weeks in Europe my body was desperately craving vegetable even if it meant it was deep fried. I was REALLY impressed with the batter. It was super light and flavored perfectly. They didn't have the traditional Japanese vegetables, and the vegetables were more main stream: broccoli, carrot, onion, zucchini. It came with this creamy dipping sauce that I wasn't necessarily a fan of. I think I would have preferred tempura dipping sauce. The portion was more than enough for two people. 4 people could have shared it as an appetizer. It was really good and I highly recommend. Apps: Warmed parmigiano and fried squash blossoms. This was AMAZING! I still don't know what it quite was. I don't know if it was straight parmigian regiano heated up until gooey or some mixture of it that was then baked. It was basically a warm, soft block of cheese. That was it. It was so unctuous, it had so much umami, it had that cheesy goodness. You would just eat it by itself. Just scoop it. We ate it with the vegetable tempura :P Pasta: some bolognese sauce with home made pasta in the shape of calamari. AMAZING! I don't even know how to properly describe it. It probably wasn't exactly bolognese. It was some pork ragu sauce. I could definitely taste that the pasta was authentic (not sure if it was homemade) and it was cooked to the prefect consistency. Pasta: linguini with some broccoli sauce. This was more disappointing. Compared to the one above, the flavors here were a little more muted. The flavors were definitely cleaner. The pasta itself was definitely good, but I wanted more wow-factor that the dish didn't deliver. I probably misunderstood what the dish was when we were told. Dessert: tirimisu. It was good, but not necessarily great. Tirimisu in Italy must be different from how I think it is in the states. The custard part is more creamy than it is typically thick in the states. Overall the meal was fantastic and wasn't that expensive. The trip is becoming a blur, but the meal must have been less than 100 euros with two wines each. Oh yea, and sparkling water...see note below In Italy you have NO option of tap water. They don't actually understand the concept. Upon being seated at a restaurant you are asked if you want still or sparkling, and those are your only options for water. Each bottle costs about 3-4 euros depending on where you are, which yield about $5-6 USD. Just FYI.

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4 years ago

Amazing food, and perfect service. We went back to have dinner here twice. The chocolate soufflé is a must have.

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8 years ago

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4 years ago

Great little spot with tasty food! The carbonara was fantastic! Friendly attentive staff!

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12 years ago

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La Dispensa dei Mellini Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - La Dispensa dei Mellini

“She walked through each item in the menu and explained it to us in English.”

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Su e Giu Cucina Romana

Su e Giu Cucina Romana

4.6(238 reviews)
0.5 km•Prati
•€€

I wanted something local, authentic, and no frills for my birthday dinner in Rome and found this…read moreplace with countless positive reviews. We made a reservation online, arrived about 20 minutes early, and they gladly sat us right down. While we were there we noticed plenty of locals eating, chatting with the servers in Italian, and having a blast, which is always a green flag. The menu leans traditional Roman; extensive, with plenty of pasta, meats, and fish. The supplì classico and the cacio e pepe one were both phenomenal. We also had the all'amatriciana and carbonara, and both were divine. After a week traveling through Europe, my husband said this was his favorite meal and restaurant of the trip. It was a top one for me too. We also ordered the oxtail; delicious, but I'm not sure I'd get it again since you get two pieces that are mostly bone. I know that's just how oxtail is, but I was expecting a little more. The panna cotta for dessert was a great choice too. Service was fine, nothing to write home about, but honestly I appreciated how rough around the edges it was. They kept it real; don't come expecting fancy restaurant service. This is a place you go to for authentic food and flavors. We sat outside on the sidewalk, great for people watching, though they had plenty of space inside and even multiple floors. Oh, and the house wine was delicious and a great deal. Our entire meal only came to €70, the cheapest dinner we had in Italy. Definitely try it if you're in Rome.

Review # 1200 After…read moresome shopping on the Via cola Di Riemzo, we were ready for lunch. This spot was a Yelp find. We arrived just before they opened at 12:30. We asked for a table outside and the kind lady asked us if we had a reservation (oh oh). We didn't. No problem as we took our pick of one of the tables. Two levels inside with a small Bar in the back. Before we knew it, outside seating was full and inside also filled up-a good sign. We ordered a liter (ended up being too much but when in Rome...) of their house Red and enjoyed it. For starters, we ordered the Fried Artichokes (thick breading and will order the Roman style with garlic/vinegar next time), fried Zucchini and Suppli-Cacio Pepe. The Suppli was delicious and was enjoyed the most. For main, it was Pasta Carbonara (Guanciale )-Proper carbonara and the streak of not having a bad version of this dish in Rome continues. The sliced Beef with mushrooms was also delicious -super tender and thin pieces of beef (medium rare as requested). We asked if the Tiramisu was house-made. Our server answered, "yes, and I am the one who makes it." How could we not order after that?! One of the best Tiramisus we've had. Perfect balance of coffee dipped lady fingers with cream-delicious! Our Server was kind, attentive and full of hustle -she was covering a lot of ground. Don't miss this Gem if you are in the Prati district.

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Su e Giu Cucina Romana - Inside

Inside

Su e Giu Cucina Romana
Su e Giu Cucina Romana

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Trattoria da Alfredo e Ada - Classic Lasagna

Trattoria da Alfredo e Ada

4.6(116 reviews)
1.0 km•Centro Storico
•€€

One of the best meals we had in Rome! This small, mom-and-pop trattoria had such a warm and…read moreauthentic feel, and the pasta was absolutely incredible. I ordered the Arrabbiata pasta and my wife got the cheese, bacon, and black pepper lasagna. Both dishes were packed with flavor and cooked perfectly. Honestly, this was the best pasta we had during our entire trip to Italy. You can really tell there's a lot of care and passion that goes into the food here. If you're looking for a cozy, authentic, family-owned trattoria in Rome with amazing pasta, I definitely recommend giving Trattoria Alfredo e Ava a try. We would happily come back!

Back in 2018, I visited Alfredo e Ada for the first time, and eight years later, I finally made my…read moreway back and I am so happy that it hasn't changed a single bit. It's intimate, cozy authentic Italian charm. The staff here are wonderfully kind and welcoming, making an already memorable meal feel even more special. Show up right at opening if you want to secure a table immediately, as this local treasure fills up incredibly fast! We started with the artichoke, which was quite possibly the best artichoke I've ever tasted in my life. Ubelievably tender and served bathed in rich olive oil that elevated every single bite. The Amatriciana was my personal favorite dish of the night, featuring a rich red sauce packed with a subtle kick of heat and finished with a generous dusting of fresh Parmesan. The stuffed chicken was remarkably tender, juicy, and wonderfully seasoned with delicate flavors that don't overpower. Lastly, the lasagna was everything a classic lasagna should be: wonderfully cheesy and deeply comforting, yet light enough that it doesn't weigh you down. Easily one of my favorite dining spots in all of Europe. I already can't wait for the day I get to return again!

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Trattoria da Alfredo e Ada
Trattoria da Alfredo e Ada - Classic Lasagna

Classic Lasagna

Trattoria da Alfredo e Ada - Oxtail Stew

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Oxtail Stew

Borghiciana Pastificio Artigianale - Interior

Borghiciana Pastificio Artigianale

4.7(61 reviews)
1.0 km•Prati

Yes, it's worth the wait if you go there early. We stood in line at 12:30 on a weekday, as in,…read morelunchtime. We were 2nd in line and waited about 30 minutes. I would wait longer. I had possibly the most amazing chick food pasta a girl could imagine. Girls know what girl food is. The pasta in Italy is just better -obviously. But then put all sorts of girl flavors on it like Lemon and Orange, just lightly enough, zest with a small hint of cheese-..... omgosh. Yes, yes, and yes. Need my hubs to replicate at home. He is going to be busy trying to perfect this. Tagliatelle with orange and lemon parmesan. This was it. It was the best. Everything else we ordered was amazing as well. Wait outside. They don't have a sign telling you to wait, no server telling you to wait. You wait out there, wondering if you're in the right place, but then people stand behind you and you're like - oh! I'm here. This is the place. There are possibly 4 tables inside. It's small. I read about them being rude- we did not have that problem. In fact, they made a mistake and we kindly let them know we ordered something else- they corrected it and were nice about it.

Pasta Heaven. Very small spot not too far from the Vatican and even closer to the Castel…read moreSant'Angelo. We were super lucky that we didn't have to wait too long to get a table and we were sat instantly. They can only seat about 18 total. Both pastas were just absolutely amazing. The wine recommendation to match was equally great. Very reasonable priced. Really nice staff. Very much a self sufficient spot. Loved it and would recommend. The tiramisu had me in love all over again

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Borghiciana Pastificio Artigianale - Amazing pistachio tiramisu

Amazing pistachio tiramisu

Borghiciana Pastificio Artigianale
Borghiciana Pastificio Artigianale

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La Dispensa dei Mellini - italian - Updated October 2026

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