Since we were staying in Rome for 3 weeks, Michele and I decided to try a few restaurants that we had not tried before. Some we always wanted try, but never made it and others we were told about by friends. One was a place we had not been to in a long time.
Flavio Al Velavevodetto – Via di Monte Testaccio 9 Tel 06 57 44 194
This restaurant is around the corner from one of our favorites, Checchino al 1887. It serves traditional Roman food.
We had Bruschetta with burrata and anchovies, bollito meatballs (made from the boiled meats of a bollito misto), rabbit alla cacciatore, fettuccine with pork ragu.
The wines are on the wall in a room to the dining room and diners can go up and choose what they want.
De Cesare Via Del Casaletto, 45-47-49 Tel 06536015
The restaurant is a 20-minute ride from the center on the #8 tram. Take it to the last stop and the restaurant is right across the street. This was our first time here and we really enjoyed it.
Michele and I ate the same things, fried fiori di zucca stuffed with mozzarella and anchovies, fried totani (small squid), skate and broccoli soup, shrimp with tomatoes and sour cherry tart, crostata di visciole.
We drank a Tebbiano di Abruzzo 2014 from Pepe
Osteria Le Mani in Pasta, Via dei Genovesi,37 Trastevere Tel 06.5816017.
We went here on a Saturday and the restaurant was very crowded and noisy. But it was a good noise — that of people eating good food, drinking wine and having a good time.
Many of the customers were regulars who stopped in at the kitchen to say hello to the chef on the way in and on the way out.
Many people were sharing the pasta dishes, as they were very large. However they were not doing it to eat less as they then ordered another pasta course to share.
To start, we had artichokes alla Romana, and octopus and potato salad, one of our favorites.
Michele had Fettuccine with ricotta salata and pancetta, which she really liked and I had spaghetti Vernaccia with white wine, caramelized onions and bacon. It was very good.
We drank a bottle of Falanghina.
Cul de Sac Piazza di Piazza di Pasquino 73 Tel 06 68 80 10 94
On our way to The Piazza Navona, we passed an old favorite, Cul de Sac.
We used to go there often but for some reason we had stopped, so we decided to give it a try. It is perfect for lunch, less crowded than at dinnertime.
The salumi, cheese, and pate is much better than the hot food here and you can make a great meal of them. We had the boar pate, prosciutto, finocchiona salami and an assortment of unusual cheeses. They also have a great wine list and the staff is very nice and interested.
Trattoria Perilli, Via Marmorata 39 Tel 06 575 5100
One review of this restaurant said that they value food over service; therefore the writer did not recommend it for North American tourists who, in his opinion, value service over food. Michele and I do not agree. It is a true Roman restaurant, full of locals that know good food.
We had rigatoni carbonara, and roast suckling pig.
La Tavernaccia da Bruno – Via Giovanni da Castelbolognese 63 Tel 06.5812792
We had Bruschetta with grilled vegetablies, tagliolini with wild boar ragu, roast pork (yes, again),
mand a delicious ricotta torta with pistachios. The owner is from Umbria so there is a mixing of Rome and Umbria in the food.
Charles Scicolone on Wine 