This place is fantastic. Upscale Italian food with neighborhood vibe. The wine list is nothing…read moreshort of excellent. My favorite is the Conterno Fantino Sori Ginestra Barolo 2003. Marco the chef is creative and friendly and greets many guests by name. I don't speak Italian but every time I have been there they have made me feel welcome, providing help with the menu and ordering. Be sure to make a reservation in advance. The place really starts to hop at 21:00 and goes strong into the night.

Having moved from London to Rome about 9 months ago, I have really been enjoying the Italian dining…read moreexperience. The dishes are almost always a wonderful blend of seasonal, fresh and flavorful ingredients. No over-processing. No overly reduced sauces. However, perhaps because I am living here rather than being a passing tourist, I have been growing tired of the stereotypical trattoria ambiance at most eateries. Therefore, I was ecstatic about discovering Primo al Pigneto. Located in a cool, edgy street in a working class neighborhood, the interior of Primo is like a slice of Soho, NYC or Palermo Viejo, Buenos Aires in Rome. The dishes consist largely of traditional Roman fare with a modern twist. The pasta all'amatriciana I ordered was excellent, as were the lamb shank and game hen that our friends ordered. The tagliata that my husband ordered was a bit less successful, as it had a tad too much fat that I would have preferred cooked at a higher temperature. (We didn't order antipasti and dessert as we weren't very hungry.) The wine list is extensive and reasonably priced. The place is not cheap, but it is all reasonably priced. Expect to spend about 40 euros per person for two courses (including wine).