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Roman gastronomic indulgences: the best eateries in Rome

People say that “Rome wasn’t built in a day”…this includes the city’s reputation for epicurean delights. The best eateries in Rome have one thing in common: they have decades of experience and rigorously preserve ancestral recipes – it’s like eating a bit of history. Check out these seven superb restaurant recommendations in Rome. Trattoria “La Sora Lella” Founded in 1959 from Elena Fabrizi, better known as the “Sora Lella”, this restaurant is probably the one that every Roman could mention if you ask for a good pasta plate or any type of Roman cuisine. Prior to opening the restaurant, Sora Lella made her fortune in the film industry where she played the role of herself. She was discovered by Roman actors who were drawn to her personality and immediately cast her. Despite its notoriety, the restaurant has never changed locations and you can still find it situated in the Tiberina Island in the heart of the Roman neighborhood “Trastevere”. If you are new to Italian cuisine, the experience in this restaurant is the best way to begin your culinary journey. The menu offers a plethora of plates and, yes, they all look delicious. If you are thinking about a good pasta plate, there you might find something a bit less traditional such as the potato gnocchi pasta dressed with amatriciana sauce. If this is not enough, try the tonnarelli pasta dressed with a sauce made with sausages, bacon, eggs and a secret ingredient that the restaurant has never revealed. Il Falchetto Located near the Trevi Fountain, this restaurant opened for the first time 103 years ago, in 1916. Since then, every member of the family has respected and preserved the family traditions. The members currently in charge are Donato and his son Gerry. Notorious customers have dined here before, such as the Italian former president Sandro Pertini, the Italian poet Trilussa and even the French author Jean-Paul Sartre. As in every restaurant in Rome, picking something from the menu might be difficult. The restaurant offers not only an enormous selection of pasta and meat, but also an excellent selection of fresh fish dishes. If you want to stick to tradition, the restaurant offers a great selection of traditional plates, from carbonara to saltimbocca alla romana, calf meat served with Parma ham and aromatic herbs. We also recommend choosing from the great selection of grilled meats and fish, such as the famous Roman baccalà dressed with Tropea onions and Sicilian cherry tomatoes. Trattoria Da Enzo al 29 Located in the very heart of Rome, this trattoria sticks to tradition the most, not only in terms of food, but also in terms of manners, warmness, and style. The original owner, or “oste” as you might say in Italian, was Enzo who passed away in the 80s; his legacy remains intact by those who’ve acquired the place after his death and that work every day to honor his memory. The menu offers some of the most authentic and traditional dishes than menus presented by other Roman restaurants. At Enzo’s, the kitchen follows the weekly calendar, fashioning a particular dish for every day of the week (on Thursday, for example, it’s always gnocchi day in Rome). Their philosophy is mostly based on the realization of ancient recipes executed by using the best products that the farms around Rome can offer each day. Enzo only takes dinner reservations. Al Pompiere Parts of the Roman cuisine are deeply connected and influenced by Jewish cuisine. In Trastevere, you’ll discover a quaint Jewish neighborhood with plenty of restaurants that respect the kosher tradition. One standout restaurant is Al Pompiere, or in English, the Fireman. The name comes from former customers of the restaurant – the very spicy arrabbiata pasta that the first owner used to serve was so spicy that it was necessary to call the firemen! Opened in 1962, Al Pompiere is inside the former mansion of a noble Roman woman, Beatrice Cenci. On the walls, people can admire the colorful and spectacular frescos from the 16th century. Once there, it’s impossible not to try the Jewish recipe for artichokes, a classic of the Roman cuisine, not to mention the baccalà fish and fried pumpkin flowers. Sora Margherita Placed in the iconic Piazza delle Cinque Scole in the middle of Trastevere, Sora Margherita is another lovely and historical Roman restaurant. This tiny restaurant has only 20 tables and has remained the same since the very first opening. From the outside it still looks like an ancient Roman trattoria as the family has chosen to keep everything original. At Sora Margherita you will find a full menu of hand-made dishes. From hand-made meatballs to hand-made pasta, everything is prepared using organic ingredients, classic elements from the Roman countryside, and seasonal products. A selection of kosher recipes is mixed with Roman tradition and shows how these two cultures are now deeply connected. Fiaschetteria Beltramme Previously named “Da Cesaretto”, Fiaschetteria Beltramme’s new owner changed its name in the late 90s. This Roman Osteria has said ‘no’ to modernity… you won’t be able to use a credit card so bring cash with you. There’s no menu either. Diners eat what the kitchen has to offer. This way, the restaurants always serve the freshest products that the market offers. In any case, you won’t be disappointed; everything is delicious and sticks to traditional recipes. Visit Fiaschetteria Beltramme in via della Croce 39 if you really want to live a real Osteria experience. Sean Finelli is CEO at The Tour Guy. The Tour Guy and its suite of brands, The Roman Guy and Finelli & Shaw, offer globetrotters uniquely curated experiences across Europe. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

Sean Finelli

Sean P. Finelli is the Co-Founder & CEO of The Tour Guy. The Tour Guy is an emerging tour operator and parent to The Roman Guy and luxury travel planning firm Finelli & Shaw offering over 65 curated and tested experiences across the globe. Customers can book online or speak with an English-speaking travel expert, and expect one-of-a-kind experiences at beloved tourist destinations including access to areas restricted from the general public, after-hours and early morning entry, and skip the line privileges. The company’s tour guides are English-speaking locals who know the rich history of their respective cities.

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8 Comments

  1. This amazing selection of restaurants just proves to me that you would have to be crazy to book Dinner, Bed and Breakfast with a hotel, no matter what the deal is. Why stay in your hotel when you can go out to sample the very best that Roman cuisine has to offer.

  2. I have come across these no menu venues before in Italy and generally they have been 5 star superb in their own individual way. I will definitely try Fiaschetteria Beltramme next time that I am in Rome.

    It’s best that you go with an empty belly and an open mind. Frequently the menu will move you out of your comfort zone. My son had always drawn the line at eating calamari but hunger and an amazing aroma
    persuaded him in one of these no menu restaurants in Trieste to give squid a try. It’s a decision that he has never regretted.

  3. Lots of amazing choices for a memorable bite to eat, and it’s great there are so many in good locations, like near the Trevi Fountain and in the heart of Rome. The Il Falchetto must be very popular given the big names that have dined there. That’s very impressive. I really like that so many of these places have such history, a family heritage and a really unique character to them. Very different to the proliferation of chains and brand names in the UK or US. Fantastic round-up for those wanting an authentic, top quality foodie experience!

  4. Good to see gnocchi featuring on some of these menus. I prefer it to pasta as it often has a bit more body and flavour to it. Though I expect much of the pasta is on a different level to the stuff that I experience back in Britain. A couple of weeks ago I had gdudi, I think that’s how you spell it, and it was made with ricotta cheese, absolutely delicious. Yes, I’m a confirmed foodie.

  5. One thing that people nearly always forget is that Rome is so close to the sea and that Italy itself is a peninsula. That is a recipe for fantastic sea-food. Throw in great wines from all over the country and you’ve got one of Europe’s great foodie destinations.

  6. The more things change, the more things stay the same. Almost two millennia ago perhaps the upper classes of the great Roman Empire were the first great foodies. They loved a lavish banquet washed down with lashings of wine. Good to see that Rome is continuing with its gourmet traditions.

  7. The variety of dishes a country has to offer creates an impression to tourists. People always look for authentic local flavors that will satisfy their palette. Rome definitely gives that wide range of flavors that many people are looking for, starting from savory to sweet. A lot of restaurants in Rome serves delectable dishes paired with good wine. I would love to try the spicy pasta being served at Al Pompiere. Knowing that there is a fusion of Jewish cuisine in their menu sounds very enticing and interesting to me.

  8. You can really get a sense of the cultural traditions passed down through generations when it comes to Italian cuisine. My mother is fully Italian, so there’s a history of great cooking among her, my aunt and my grandmother. You can’t get any better when it comes to eating with restaurants like this. Although as I get older I think I’d lend more toward choosing the fish and salads rather than pasta.

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