Out for an aperitivo on our first night in Rome, we stopped by La Zanzara before dinner in Trionfale. Crowded, with a sit down bar, La Zanzara looked perfect for our needs. Filled with locals on this Monday evening in February, La Zanzara was a show of hand gestures, and passion for life. Service was professional, although not particularly warm. That was reserved for the locals. Drinks and wine were good, while the food was just okay. I didn't care. There was no cover charge for the la dolce vita surrounding us, and we were distant from the besieged city of Minneapolis. read more

La Zanzara - A Roman bistro and bar reminiscent of the 1950s. Marcello Mastroianni might have been at the end of the bar. - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

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We ate here our last night in Rome. The food was so good it nearly made me cry. The service wasn't the best, but I think they were tired of tourists lol. read more

La Zanzara - Menu - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

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Phenomenal spot with ample outdoor and indoor seating, good looking local crowd, Fun happy hour, good after work bar scene, awesome food, great staff. Very nice experience. read more

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On a hot summer day, La Zanzara was the place to be for lunch. Our party of 4 enjoyed lunch indoors with AC. However, with 99F out, I'm not sure if there really was AC. Nonetheless, we were greeted with warm smiles and good service. The food was good and enjoyed the salad and burger. When in Rome, I suggest you try this establishment. read more

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This is a serious cocktail bar! Our first Rome experience, just a very short walk from our hotel, and a full convenient escape from the rain! We stopped in here and had a couple cocktails and some tapas and we were super stoked! Expecting to just to have a couple drinks, we were pleasantly surprised by the awesome service and constant flow of tasty bites! Admittedly I was not hoping to have any good beer in Italy but this place actually has a West Coast IPA on tap! I asked for a taste just for novelty and went with cocktails instead. My wife loves Gin martinis so she had a couple of those. I'm more of a bourbon drinker (when I'm not drinking beer) so I said surprise me! Although the surprise was a bit obvious, an old fashioned, it was well prepared and I called it a really old fashioned since we were in Rome! Then I switched it up to a Manhattan (which I've never actually ordered) and it was fantastic! I love this was our first Rome experience and it was awesome! Check them out! read more

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Great friendly service and delicious food. A very nice, short walk from Vatican. The fish skewers were very tasty as were the pasta. We made a reservation and had a very nice table next to window. Full bar and air-conditioning. read more

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Great Italien Restaurant, Carbonara was extremely delicious,,fresh bacon makes the difference. Scallops also great. Ladues at the service incredibly kind and respectful. read more

This place was amazing. My mom and I stopped here for lunch before entering the Vatican Museums last month. Everything was priced normal, which is always good to see. The waiter was really nice and accommodating and gave us our check quickly as we were in a tad of time constraint. The food was great. I had the cod stuffed gnocchi with pecorino cheese and truffle caviar. SO good and so fresh. I also had a glass of wine and a spritz. Both were great. When I'm in Rome again, near the Vatican, I'm definitely coming back here for some great food. read more

Worst meal we had. Extremely salty and the food arrived almost 1 hour later. The garlic linguini had 1 piece of empty shrimp mantis shell for decor? The "surf n turf" was not worth eating. The flavor is salt. My husband's food was the only decent one. He had veal and it was soft. Portion was small but good. Overall food was not worth 200. The pasta My kid cooked was better. read more

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Came here for a drink before dinner and had the best aperol of our trip. The staff was super attentive. We had a member who was gluten free and they made sure to explain everything that was on the menu. They even double checked everything was good with me being a vegetarian. Food was light and great. Really enjoyed our time there. Hopefully we can go to dinner next time we are in Rome! read more

We stopped after a tour of the Vatican. We were referred there by our tour guide and it matched some great spots we had already researched. The food was absolutely amazing!!! I ordered the Spaghetti and my wife had the carbonara. Both were the best we had in Rome!!! Our kids were with us and enjoyed their food. This is a great spot just a short walk from the Vatican but in a quiet area away from the crowds. Only regret is that we could not eat there twice. English was no problem and the menus and staff were very helpful. Prices were great and happy we got to stop in!!! read more

This place is always amazing, the staff are always welcoming and the food is excellent. Don't forget to buy a bottle of olive oil when you leave it is the best olive oil I have ever had. read more

This place is next door to our hotel. The food was amazing, ambiance is nice. The service is okay, out server didn't recommend food, appetizers or wine so we just ordered off the menu. He also didn't come back to our table to refill drinks unless you call him. However, i will still recommend this place as food was great! read more

La Zanzara - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

What a quaint little place. My husband and I were touring the area and just walking around the city looking for a place to have some drinks. We walked up to the outdoor podium. Despite not having a reservation, we were seated right away. We were only planning on getting drinks but after seeing people at nearby tables receiving food, we decided on a some dishes of our own. We ordered the spaghetti and it was quite delicious. For drinks, we kept it basic with just gin and tonic but it was mixed very well and so refreshing after a long hot day. The food and drinks seemed to be overpriced for the serving size but I have absolutely no regrets as the presentation and flavor made up for it. The staff was all so friendly and made us feel more like friends rather than customers and to me that's EVERYTHING. If I am ever in Rome again, I will absolutely return and look forward to it. read more

So good!! Food is delicious (maybe a little $$$ but still good) and the atmosphere is very lovely and relaxing. I'd definitely recommend. We got the fries burrata as a starter which was SO. GOOD. read more

Stand out, accommodating, and delicious. The feel of this restaurant was modern and professional. The drinks were well crafted and excellent service was provided by this fine establishment. The food was elevated and pleasing to my palette, I enjoyed the cod stuffed gnocchi made from scratch. The service exceeded expectations while engaging us just enough to make you feel welcomed and taken care of. Definitely make a reservation if you plan to go here. I will revisit when I am back in Rome read more

La Zanzara - Cod stuffed Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

If I were to rate the ambiance alone, then it would be an easy 5 stars. My first night in Rome. All situated at my Airbnb, next up was dinner. 8-ish on a Friday night. This place was hoppin! Packed! Huge outdoor patio...also packed! Oh, the seduction of it all. Surely the food must be better than good, when it's this busy, right? Lol. Remember, it was all so seductive. Evidently, I forgot who I was... Meaning, I forgot that I know very well that you never judge a book by its cover. The vibe was so electric, that even before we crossed the street to the hostess stand, it was crystal clear that this was a "see & be seen" kind of restaurant. That's A-OK w me. I like to see & be seen. We ordered the burrata appetizer to start. It was served on a bed of lettuce. Oh, how the mighty fall. If you're actually going to commit the crime of serving burrata on a bed of lettuce, at least make it arugula for chrisakes! This severely turned me off. So much so, that we finished our glass of wine each & decided to go somewhere else for entrees. The burrata was decent, but I did not want my first meal in Rome to be anything less than stellar. I still loved it here though. I knew I would be back; the vibe just can't be beat. But if you're a foodie like me, this is all posh, no bite. Get your glam on, have some wine & an app like we did, & take it all in. Zanzara means mosquito in Italian...& during summertime the name is painfully appropriate. The food might not be amazing, but if you're near the Vatican, I will say this is a must stop. To see & be seen. 3 & 1/2 stars read more

What an amazing restaurant! The best service and the best mixed drinks that I've had in Rome so far after three days. We went in for a late cocktail and an appetizer and we were so pleasantly surprised by the friendliness and the attentive staff as well as great patronize all around. We had buratta with artichokes sun-dried tomatoes and porcini mushrooms on a bed of arugula (rocket). So amazingly fresh and yummmmm! They have a huge and unpretentious menu - I doubt anyone (vegan to carnivore) would find delicious read more

La Zanzara - Burrata with roasted artichokes sun-dried tomatoes and porcini mushrooms on a bed of arugula - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

Best fish we've had in Rome. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Phenomenal.

The ingredients were fresh. The staff were very friendly. The atmosphere was very cozy and festive.

We are currently experiencing an amazing apertivo and dinner experience. Started out with two rounds of excellent and imaginative craft cocktails, followed by one of our best meals of our 2 1/2 week Italy trip. So close to our hotel, but nobody barking at us to get us to come into their restaurants. Our waiter was perfect, and the entire staff was running around like crazy to make sure everyone was taken care of. Our food was absolutely incredible - all four entrees were amazing, and the carpaccio appetizer was a unique and delicious twist. Cannot recommend this place enough for an overall fantastic experience. read more

The best meal I had in Rome. Beef carpaccio, potatoes, and seafood risotto (came at the recommendation of my waiter). All three were to die for. Atmosphere is lovely (I sat outside), and staff were great. I saw about 10 groups being turned away at 7pm, which is when they reopen for dinner, so please try to get a reservation. read more

La Zanzara - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

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Properly prepared Italian classics. Chill atmosphere. Seems expensive until you factor in that they don't nickel and dime you over bread and water like many restaurants. Also, the bread is superior to typical bread I've had during my trip. read more

Very great flavor to all of our dishes. Great atmosphere, friendly staff and clean establishment. read more

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Lovely place for a night out! We just had a fantastic dinner there. The wait staff was super nice and attentive (possibly the best food service experience we've had on this visit), the dishes came out quickly (I should note that this is a weeknight so the large space was just half full) and were delicious. The place had a nice jazzy vibe. My S.O. had the hamburger, I had the agnolloti, both contained juicy, well seasoned meats. For starters we had the patatas bravas and a cheese platter. Everything we had made us close our eyes in delight. The menu contains some Roman classics but also some unique variations and entirely non-roman dishes, so I think there's something for everyone there. We chose this place because it was close to our hotel, but it was such a nice surprise that I think I'll probably come back here especially the next time I'm in Rome. read more

Enjoying dinner with my family of 13 from California. Thank you Federico for recommending the fresh pasta with goat cheese and red wine. Looking forward to coming back on my 4th trip read more

La Zanzara - Fresh pasta with goat cheese sauce. Thank you Fredrico for the recommendation along with a bottle of wine tonight - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

My favorite happy hour spot in Rome. Recommended by my future in-laws, my partner and I came here no fewer than three times during our five-day trip to Rome. It was here that I became acquainted with the charming aperitivo, and filled up on delicious bites and innovative cocktails that spoiled my dinner. It was also here that I practiced my Italian with the patient wait staff (I do apologize--I hadn't practiced in a while), and though I thought I became more fluent with each cocktail, that might not have been the case. The drinks were strong! My favorites were the almost savory Italian 75, and The Old Man and the Sea, which was a delicious vanilla concoction with lime blossom foam. The last night we were there, they added a sort of papery net that had a peanutty aftertaste on top of the foam, and that unfortunately detracted from the delicious flavors. They start the happy hour with a plate of breaded meat rolls, small squares of pizza, and a quiche-like treat. What follows varies from night to night, but there were a few staples: the ball of cacio e pepe, for example, and still steaming chicken wings, and a Bolognese ragu. There were also spinach quiche squares, little pizza balls, potato bites, and lots more. When the whole family came one night, we ordered a plate of delicious Italian ham, and the most delicate fresh tomato bruschetta. On another night we ordered thin hand-cut potato chips, and large creamy green olives that came with salty circle biscuits. We never made reservations, but managed to get tables for a full two-hour window each time. They have a large eating area, too. There's the bar upon entry, and then a second and third dining room behind that, with simple black and white tiles throughout and dark wooden tables. For happy hour, each table has a stack of white square napkins with La Zanzara in the middle, topped with a handful of tiny plastic sporks (or, technically, contraptions with a spoon on one side and prongs on the other). Each little appetizer is served in a squat round black or white dish, keeping with the theme. To add to the casual yet classy ambiance, their playlists had songs with good beats that didn't interrupt conversation. They also have a terrace that was closed in the winter, and tables out front under heating lamps. Perhaps I should come at a different time on my next trip to Rome to experience a full meal. I hear they do a decent brunch. read more

I had a great dinner with my family while in Rome. The grilled fish and pasta with shaved truffles were great. The house wine was good too. All sound great meal and great service. read more

Only had the pleasure of breakfast treats. Friendly service, yummy tart & espresso, great location too. Great outdoor seating in the morning you get lots of sunshine. read more

La Zanzara - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

Definitely worth going if you're in Rome. Not only was the food delicious but the service was extremely welcoming and helpful. Try their pistachio creme brûlée! You won't regret it!! read more

La Zanzara - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

This was a very lovely place for a delicious Italian meal. We had an exceptional waiter who recommended a delicious wine and helped us make some great dinner selections. We ordered a tuna pasta dish and meatballs and we highly satisfied. For dessert we did the small desserts of tiramisu a hazelnut dessert. We also purchased a heavenly bottle of moscato. We would go back if we could! read more

La Zanzara - Curry meatballs and tuna pasta. - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

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Seems to be a very popular restaurant since it is often full. And I can understand that, this place has a nice blend of cool industrial looking interior and nice food. They do also have quite a few outside tables. We have been here a couple of times for food, beer and just coffee. Everything was really good; the pasta, the mini hamburgers, the Italian cold beer, the tasty cappuccino and espresso and finally the really delicious creme caramel with ginger-it's a strong recommendation to try that one! The staff are friendly, but sometimes they seems to be very stressed because of all the guests so they can forget about you. But apart from that this place is a recommendation! read more

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We went here for lunch after touring the Vatican museums in the morning. Very nice, large and spacious rooms with attentive, quick service. I had their shrimp salad which checked all the boxes I had, fresh, light, flavorful. Our party of ten really enjoyed the food and ambiance and we'll be back! read more

La Zanzara - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

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Our hotel was almost next to this place so we decided to give it a try. Loved this place! We did the outside seating and enjoyed the time. Our group grew from 2 to 6 of us and then just kept adding tables and chairs. My husband and I also ordered a meat and cheese tray and it was wonderful! They kept bringing us little snacks that we beyond anything we are use to here in the US. The wait staff was great! I wish I could remember their names but when we went back the next day they rememberd us :) If you are in this area go to this place you will not be disappointed. read more

Service was slow. We didn't get our coffee until our breakfast was almost over. They were changing over for lunch. I couldn't even get a cloth napkin. The fries were good and i like that the eggs were organic. Probably wouldn't return read more

Cute little restaurant, and a good place to grab a quick breakfast. They open early, and I had an excellent cappuccino and the only decent croissant I had found in Rome. It was fresh and had a nice crust on it. The restaurant was adorable, and I wish I could have come back from drinks or real food. read more

Okay food. Terrible service! Asked for two glasses of wine that took forever to come. After the first plate arrived we just waited staring at the waiter so he could understand what was happening. After the meal, ordered the tiramissu with coffee. Once again, we ate the whole desert and no sign of the two espresso. Pros: nice tiramissu. Cons: pricey and extremely bad service. read more

This is a great locals spot where they have decent food, but are resentful of foreigners in their midst. We speak pretty good basic Italian and are friendly, but they really had no interest in serving us, going out of their way to wait on 2 tables that came in after we did. The small bites were quite good, as were the main courses, but the service was resentful bordering on hostile. I live in an area that is frequented by tourists and I understand being tired of them, but this was WAY over top. read more

My level of annoyance with this place is through the roof. I came in here after 4 hours at the Vatican Museums to relax, eat, drink a bicchiere or due of wine, and read my book. The service here is prompt, but curt and cursory. With the exception of the fairly good amount of help I received selecting a wine, the service was pretty dismal. The food was okay-tasting. I had an ahi tuna salad. My bread was snatched away without a second look, though. The dessert menu was dropped on my table, and the waitress waited so long to follow up on the dessert, despite pointed looks by me that she noticed, that a waiter who was not my waiter took pity on my neglected self and took my order. The good: the Sangiovese, and to an extent, the tiramisu. And the lightning-fast wifi (indeed, I'm using their wifi to write this review). The bad: everything else. read more

We came here after traveling all day...we u knowingly showed up just before closing, but they welcomed us in and served us with a smile. The meal was wonderful! Great pasta, good sizes and service. The wine was so tasty. This was a great first Roman meal, and we would highly recommend. read more