tl;dr excellent traditional Roman cuisine meets exceptional service, so you are sure to feel right at 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. read more

La Pace del Palato - Mezzemaniche alla Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

This is my number 1 fav restaurant in Rome. If you wanna have the best food experience you have to go here. Everything it's exquisite from food , to wine ,to ambiance, to staff . It's a mix between the Italian old cuisine to the new one. The variety of wine that they serve it's in a perfect symphony with the variety of the food. Renato the owner and his family they gonna make you feel so special that you would like to have dinner always there. The ambiance it's intimate and typically Italian style. You're welcome. read more

Food was very good. Didn't feel touristy at all . Waiter was kind and helpful. The bacon in the rigatoni was delicious. And the tiramisu may be the best I've had. read more

La Pace del Palato - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

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Hands down the best dinner experience during a three week trip in France and Rome. The food was amazing and delicious and the ambience is very Italy. The owner is hands on, welcoming and attentive. He was amazing! I don't normally like eggplant but they prepared two versions that were absolutely delicious and different from each other!! The pasta and lamb was exquisite and their wine selection is pretty good. Overall one of the best meals ever. read more

La Pace del Palato - Meat ball with potatoes - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

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Food excellent , service a bit harried cause of the Sunday night crowds looking for a table but overall competent and caring . The spaghetti and tono was tasty and the meatballs In potato purée was excellent as well the rigatoni in butter and truffles was also a winner but the limited menu was a bit of a disappointment but overall we enjoyed everything read more

The best truffle Alfredo I've ever had and I'm still trying to figure out how the meatballs melt in your mouth. Highly recommend. The service is impeccable! read more

La Pace del Palato - Truffle fettuccine and meatballs - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

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Food was amazing, owner came and talked to us and was super nice. He was clearly very passionate about the food. The service was great and staff was also great. Felt very authentic and everyone was very welcoming. I got the carbonara and everything was so perfect, from the way the bacon was cooked to the texture of the noodles. Couldn't recommend it enough!! read more

A group of 6 of us went here for an amazing dinner. One of the best we had in Rome. The restaurant atmosphere was warm and charming. It was filled with locals. You could tell by the kind and affectionate greetings people were receiving when they walked in that many people knew the owners and server. It is a place for locals, but we were made to feel just as welcome. Our server was fantastic and helpful with excellent recommendations on wine and food. The menu is not long, they limit what they do and do it very well, we ordered almost everything on the menu and ate family style so we could try as many things as possible. It was a delicious and well priced meal. I highly recommend it! read more

Great restaurant with delightful tastes You feel like you are in someone's home by the way the owner his wife and the server treat you Nice selection of wines. Reservation recommended read more

La Pace del Palato - Exterior - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

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La Pace del Palato is a cute little neighborhood restaurant. We really liked their Paccheri Pasta with Baby Octopus and their Grilled Calamari. The owner will even give you couple bites of amuse bouche at the beginning of the meal; we were given a frozen tomato filled with orange juice, which was very refreshing on a hot summer evening. The house wine is fantastic! 1 star: Our waitress never smiled during our meal...maybe she needs some of that house wine too. read more

We truly enjoyed our evening eating outside on the sidewalk. We started with the chef's special appetizers which just kept on coming out with one delicious surprise after another. The service was superb and we would highly recommend La Pace del Palato read more

Great meal! Came recommended by our Airbnb host. Busy place - make a reservation. They made a table for us outside. Food was amazing. Fried eggplant and eggplant appetizer were MUST HAVES!!! Loved everything! Thanks for a terrific meal! read more

Place of our finest meal in Rome! Literally across the alley from our rental apartment, we were welcomed by Renato and his wonderful server for a great evening. We are outside to people watch and tried a pasta and a secondi each. Great fettuccini with mushrooms for me and the pasta with prawns for my son. Renato was impressed with my son's work on the peel and eat prawns and we are now friends for life! Veal with truffle was next followed by the best tiramisu ever. Can't wait for our coffee & dolce nightcap again today. Find this place and enjoy! read more

La Pace del Palato - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

Don't underestimate this little hidden gem. It must easily be one of Rome's best and most creative restaurants. Accompanied by extremely warm and friendly staff in a picturesque part of the city, this place is a real memory. Highly recommend the variety starter for 2 people, which features a number of tasty appetizers to sample. With two of us, we could enjoy only two mains beyond the apps, and they were excellent. Palato is a gastronomic experience! read more

Tremendous dining experience! Renato and his staff are very attentive and full of surprises throughout your dinner. A foodie favorite that is authentic and intimate. We will be back next time in Rome. read more

La Pace del Palato - Creme brûlée - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

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Best Food we tried in Rome, great service specially and very well treated by the owners. Recommended two thumbs up! The best Tiramisu that I have tried in my whole life. read more

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Food was definitely above average... had the sausage and mushroom pizza that was not to disappoint. Service was top notch and very friendly waitstaff. Would come back for sure. read more

One of the best place in Rome. The atmosphere is really nice and welcoming and the food is delicious. As soon as you sit at the table they immediately bring you homemade bread and a really unique chips. We asked for some recommendation and we had some starters, caponata, mozzarella di bufala, fagottino with mozzarella and ham, arancino alla gricia and caramelle with taleggio and speck . Then I had gnocchi all'amatriciana which were delicious. Renato, the owner is a really cool guy. I definitely recommend this place, the best in Rome. read more

This review is delayed, we went last year but it was one of the most memorable meals of my life. Everything we ate was delicious.

One of the best hidden gems of Italian Cuisine in Rome. The food is made with very genuine ingredients, assembled with a mix of creativity and tradition which will leave you more than happy to be there. Renato is a great host and he makes you always feel home, even if I have a house in Rome too bad I can only visit then now and then being now based in US. Enjoy your food! Luca read more

This place is amazing! Wonderful service on a beautiful little street, and the food was delicious! The best we've had so far in Rome!

This is one of the best restaurants I've ever been to, not just in Rome, but anywhere. I go to Rome often but had never been here before. Everything was wonderful; most of it is classic Roman cuisine but often with a modern--but never gimmicky--twist. It's small and comfortable, and despite its location near Piazza Navona, it feels like a neighborhood place rather than a tourist location. I plan to return the next time I'm in Rome, and the time after that, and the time after that! read more

Navrona pizza and Ristorante Piazza Navrona Of the four of our meals 3 were excellent (eggplant parm, lasagna and cannelloni. One had veal Marsala and it was awful. It was tough as shoe leather. The waiter, who didn't seem to speak english at all, and the manager just changed the subject when informed. Waiter was not at all pleasant. They also brought the salad quite a while after the main course arrived and added an unannounced 15% service charge to the check. I would look to another ristorante. read more

The food is divine! The service is attentive - keep in mind this is Italy where they give you time to digest and enjoy your meal. They don't hang on you. Some consider that slow. We enjoyed amazing food and gorgeous wine. We didn't skimp on either and managed 3 courses each and a bottle of good wine for 2 people at about 139 euro. Worth every penny and more! Portions were large. Could have gone with just 2 (hint - anything with truffles!! Yum!!) read more

This is truly a hidden gem. It's near Piazza Navona, but secretly stashed away in a corner alleyway. A local dining spot and can certainly empathize why they want to keep it that way. Nice atmosphere and excellent food. They were having a busy night as everyone came in at once, and we're there to enjoy ourselves so "quick" service is not important as quality of service. Absolutely wonderful and courteous staff. They were kind enough to bring out some appetizers while we waited, which was so delicious. The eggplant was so good, if I saw that on the menu I'd be happy with a full plate of it. The orange filled taster was an unexpected surprise. The tortellini with mushroom sauce was perfect and worth the anticipation. Good wine! This place is certainly worth every penny ;) I think they get enough clientele where they don't need much advertising from happy customers, but wish we found this place earlier during our trip, because we'd dine only here. read more

This place was recommended by our hotel. Very good recommendation. It is small but that isn't unusual here. We started with drinks and they brought out an roasted eggplant dish. Very tasty. I enjoyed it very much. Next we had our first course, I had pasta with an Asparagus sauce (loved it). My has and has pasta with mushroom, he said it was very good. I then ordered the meatballs and he the sliced beef filet. Both came with a roasted potato. Again, both were very good. Service was attentive and patient with us. They answered our questions and were very friendly. read more