Among Rome Restaurant’s, no place gives you the true Italian experience like a neighborhood Roman trattoria. Basic tables and chairs, a family in the kitchen, and packed with neighbors who all seem to know one another, trattorias are Rome restaurants with soul.
Finding a good trattoria among the thousands of Rome restaurants is a pretty easy task, just ask. Every Roman has a favorite and they are so enthusiastic for their local trattoria they are happy to share the secret. Another simple way to find the best Rome restaurants is to follow the crowd, if a place is packed with local people, there is a good reason why.Packed for lunch since 1943, Enoteca Corsi, (Via del Gesu 87-88 between Vittorio Emmanuel II and the Pantheon) is not to be missed. Two dining rooms tucked behind a wine bar, this Rome trattoria is full of business people from noon to closing at 3:30PM. After finding the place, getting a table may be the hardest part of the experience as good food and great prices keep this place busy, the energy in the dining rooms is contagious. Simple, hearty Roman cuisine like bean soup, salt cod, Roman tripe, and osso buco go well with an incredible wine menu. Enoteca Corsi is a classic trattoria amongst Rome restaurants.
Da Augusto (Piazza de’ Renzi 15 in the Trastevere) is another gem of a trattoria when it comes to Rome restaurants. Located on a charming quiet Piazza in one of Rome’s liveliest evening neighborhoods, Tratevere, this place is always busy despite being surrounded by scores of Rome restaurants. If you are lucky, or willing to wait, try and score an outside table, the street and Piazza are relatively traffic free. Of course, an inside table can be just as entertaining, great views into the kitchen, and you will marvel at the Roman Mama who single handedly feeds all the hungry locals. The veal and Caccio e pepe are consistently good. When you ask for the check, “il conto,” the server will calculate your bill by writing on the paper covered table.
Felice a Testaccio (Via Mastro Giorgio, 29; 39-06-574-6800) was anointed in 2009 by the New York Times as the best trattoria in Rome, a well deserved honor for this institution amongst Rome restaurants. You will notice a difference as soon as you enter this Rome trattoria. Modern décor, a website, they take reservations and reservations are strongly encouraged, and the servers use a computerized ordering system, but despite all the modern trappings, the food is traditional Roman cuisine at its most classic. Caccio e pepe made with tonnarelli is a big draw at this Rome trattoria, and for good reason. This classic Roman pasta dish, combining pecorino, cracked pepper olive oil and pasta water is tossed table side and is unforgettable. We also enjoyed a spaghetti dish prepared with tomato sauce and ricotta cheese, well spiced with oregano, basil, and mint. The mint was unexpected and worked superbly especially in the heat of a Roman summer afternoon. The prices at Felice a Tesatccio are very reasonable, just a few euro more than similar dishes at the other trattorias, the location is in Testaccio a neighborhood beside the Tiber, tucked between Trastevere and the Aventine Hill, well worth the trip off the beaten path.
As tempting as Rome restaurants can be, take the time to ask a local where they like to eat and you will have an unforgettable culinary and cultural experience at one of Rome’s amazing trattoria.
