"Arrival day" restaurant recommendation in Rome

Book Armando al Pantheon online right now! It is a wonderful trattoria, very popular.

Hello fellow Oregonian!

Very casual and around the corner from you, Antica Taverna https://www.anticataverna1938.it/. We used to eat here monthly and encountered more locals than tourists back then (2012 - 2016). Modest prices, classic atmosphere. You can reserve online. Use your browser’s translation feature to make it easy on yourself.

Ownership has changed since we frequented, just FYI, but we fully intend to make a nostalgia visit when we go back to Rome in October.

No matter what time we arrive, the first thing we do is drop off our luggage at the hotel and go to Mondo Arancina! It's pretty much my favorite thing to eat in Rome. More of a hearty snack than a full meal, arancini are fried rice balls filled with deliciousness. My favorite is stromboli. They are pretty big (hence the name...small oranges) so you probably can only eat one or two. You order at the counter, and they hand it to you, so you can either sit there at the few tables if available or take it elsewhere.

I absolutely second Laurel’s recommendation. Antica Taverna is wonderful. I have eaten there numerous times when in Rome. I too usually stay in the area around Piazza Navona. A wonderful area within walking distance of so much. I actually found Antica Taverna one night as I just wandered the area, looking for a place to dine. Saw AT and it seemed worth a try. One indicator was there were what seemed to me to be many locals dining there, not just tourists. I was not at all disappointed. Dined both in the dining room as well as outdoors. Both delightful. I am confident - you will not be disappointed. Great food at a reasonable price.

Thank you for the great recommendations. I think we’ll go to Antica Taverna on arrival day and make reservations at Armando al Pantheon the next evening! We’ll give Mondo Arancina a try too!