Best Restaurants in Rome

There are a million restaurants in Rome.  The food ranges from good, to better to great.  There’s no bad food in Rome!  While we haven’t eaten in every restaurant in the city we do have a few favorites that we’d like to share with you (in no particular order).  We’ve been to most of these restaurants many times.

It should be noted that all restaurants in Rome prepare all their dishes each day on the premises from scratch.  By law the menu must indicate any item that was previously frozen.

1. Carlo Menta on Via della Lungaretta, 101.  This restaurant, just steps from our apartment in Trastevere, is the first place we ate upon arriving in Rome.  We’ve eaten there at least once a week for three months and the food is always excellent.  The prices are amazing.  They have the best pizza crust around.  A mushroom pizza, enough for two people, costs €4.00.  Most pasta dishes are around €5.00.  They have a daily special that includes bruschetta, pasta, a meat dish and dessert all for €10.00.  Unfortunately for us we’ve ordered that a few times.

(Pizza con Fungi)

2. Art Café Via dei Cerchi, 55.  This cafe is adjacent to the Circus Maximus.  The restaurant is decorated with original art that is for sale.  They have greek style food including phyllo dough pies stuffed with meats and vegetables.  You can get a slice of pie along with a quinoa salad for around €7.00.  It’s a great place for vegetarian and gluten free options, too.  Don’t come too early or the pies won’t be ready. 

3. Restaurant Colosseum “Luzzi” Via di S. Giovanni in Laterano, 88.  This place, near the Colosseum, is well known to locals.  There’s often a long line to get in. The menu is extensive and the food is fresh and delicious.  We had the Chicken Romano, chicken stewed in tomato broth with sweet peppers for €5.00 (there is no such thing as pepperoni here; if you see it on the menu it means sweet peppers).  A bowl of pasta was €7.00.  The staff are very entertaining and seem to enjoy their work.

4. Polveriera Via della Polveriera, 18.  This is just down the street from Basilica di San Pietro in Vincoli.  The cappuccino here is the best in the city (it’s the best foam).  Unlike anywhere else you can get a small, medium or large.   Don’t forget to try their pastry stuffed with Nutella – yum!  In additional to their regular menu they have daily specials.  An enormous plate of roasted chicken with a side of peas cost €7.00.  A plate of pork loin with rosemary potatoes can be had for the same price.  The owner is a real character – I think I’m now considered his cousin.

(Daily Special: Roasted Chicken with Peas.  I wonder who took a bite of it?)

5. Caffè Canova – Tadolini Via del Babuino, 150.  This restaurant, near Piazza del Popolo, is housed in a sculpture museum.  It is a little more upscale than the others with white linen tablecloths and higher prices.  A giant bowl of clams and mussels in a fish broth cost €11.00.  A salad with a 1/2 pound of smoked salmon was €12.00.  Don’t forget to try their hot chocolate (it’s like dark, thick, hot pudding in a cup) or their desserts (we recommend the chocolate mousse).

(Salad with Smoked Salmon)

(Cioccolato Caldo)

6. Hotel Alexandra Via Vittorio Veneto, 18.  This restaurant, which is near Piazza Barberini, is in front of the hotel of the same name.  This area is very touristy so the prices are much higher but they serve some of the best food we’ve had (we stayed in this hotel in 2016).  The lasagna is amazing.  The carbonara, a speciality of Rome, is a close second.  The meat dishes are wonderful.  Do not leave without trying their panna cotta for dessert.  Main courses range from €15.00 – €25.00.

7. Salotto Palatino Via dei Cerchi, 75.  This place is also near the Circus Maxius.  Mom is in the back cooking and Pop is the waiter.  You can listen to live piano music while sitting on the veranda overlooking the circus.  Several times a week they have a buffet which includes pastas, meats and vegetables all freshly prepared.  A large plate costs about €8.00.  You tell Mom what you want and she serves it up right in front of you.  Mom doesn’t speak English so we have no idea of what we actually consumed.  Make sure you try the pot roast (don’t know what they call it) and the eggplant.

Restaurant owners pack as many tables as possible into the space available.  The tables are small and close together.  You really get to know your neighbors.  Meals are served in a leisurely fashion and it’s normal to sit for quite a while.  Waiters will be surprised if you don’t drink coffee after your meal.  You will need to ask for your check.

A service charge is normally added to the bill so it’s not necessary to tip.  If you wish to leave something extra then a couple of Euros is sufficient.  In touristy areas some waiters may try to trick you into leaving an American style tip so be on your guard.

So, the next time you’re in Rome why don’t you try one of these places and let us know what you think.  We’d love to hear your recommendations too.  Mangia!