Favorite Restaurants in Rome?

That is an impossible question to answer without having some idea what part of Rome you are staying in. Most of my favorite restaurants are around the Termini area because that is where we stay. If you are on the other side of Rome there would be equally good restaurants there.

Our rules for dining: 1)Don't overplan 2)Just get off the beaten path, down a small alley and try places that look interesting. 3)If there aren't many people in the restaurant - look elsewhere.
4)Assume any restaurant across the street from a major tourist destination will be mediocre. 5)If they don't speak English, all the better.

Based on your criteria of yummy, pretty and local, here are a couple from Rick's guidebook that I've eaten at, liked and think fit all 3 criteria: Osteria Ponte Sisto (in Trastevere) and Le Coppelle Taverna (great pizza and more near Pantheon). A bit less pretty but yummy and local are: Ristorante Pizzeria "da Francesco" (near Piazza Navona - little English spoken), Osteria da Mario (near Pantheon), Enoteca Corsi (near Largo Argentino - lunch only) and Ristorante da Giovanni (near Termini). A non-Rick's restaurant I really like (some don't) is Ristorante Grotto del Teatro di Pompeo (near Campo dei Fiori). These suggestions are limited to places I've eaten at and liked, but there are many, many excellent restaurants in Rome.

Santa Cristina on Via della Cordonata, near Quirinale Palace. It's family run. They have the best lasagna I have ever eaten and a pasta dish with zucchini flowers that my wife & I still talk about. Good fish too.

I like gusto restaurant..Piazza Augusto Imperatore, 7
00186 Roma, Italia
06 3226273
I lived in rome :)

I'll second Frank's suggestion for Da Francesco. Amazing pizza and cheap. It's on the little Piazza del Fico

This one is mentioned in Rick's Rome book, but it was fab, not sure if it was pretty, though! South of the Pantheon. Trattoria de Pallero. Sit down and let Grandma and Grandpa feed you, no menu. 25E each and we sat for several hours and enjoyed amazing food and wonderful hosts. There's another one similar called Alfredo E Ada that we did not get to, but that gets excellent reviews online.

Across from the Cappuchin Crypt (What neighborhood is this?) there are enclosed sidewalk dining. They didn't look like our kind of place (we like finding the Ma and Pa places), but they were pretty. Crystal chandeliers and great people watching!

I agree. Wander and see where it's packed, read the menu, and go in. We never had a bad meal in Italy.

We liked Armando at the Pantheon. The food was really good and what I ordered from the menu did not have an artichoke and the waiter said no problem and added it to my selection. Arrive early or have a reservation because it is a busy place and people stay for the evening. We also think Pallaro is fun and they serve about six courses and the food is traditional Roman style--nothing gourmet but good and the atmosphere is fun.

"Enzo" in Trastevere. They serve typical Roman cuisine. A very tiny, very out of the way place that requires dinner reservations. People will be standing around outside hoping to get a table. Rule of thumb...if there is a line to get in...get in that line.