Favorite Rome restaurants

Hi, Giangilberto from Milan, I really love Rome, I use to go there several time a years for work and I If you want to try Roman cuisine, go to "Checco Er Carrettiere" in Trastevere, just cross Ponte Sisto and you're there, close to the city center.

https://www.checcoercarettiere.it/en/checco-er-carettiere/

But the real advice I can give you, if you want a unique and authentic experience, is to go to the Testaccio neighborhood, where true traditional Roman cuisine was born. Below are some of my favorite restaurants:

Da Felice, Via Mastro Giorgio, 29
https://feliceatestaccio.com/en/

Augustarello, the best one for me to eat the famous roman dish "Coda alla vaccinara", if you are vegetarian of vegan don't go here.
Via G. Branca, 98

Checchino dal 1887, Via di Monte Testaccio, 30, just one tip, ask them to let you visit the beautiful wine cellar dug into the Monte dei Cocci. Right now is close for the holidays, it will open again on August 22 as they report on their official website.
https://checchinodal1887.com/en

Was updated in March of this year.

https://www.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-rome-italy

Here are some suggestions:

https://viarosaitaly.com/guides/where-to-eat-in-rome-by-neighborhood/

https://viarosaitaly.com/guides/where-to-eat-roman-pizza-in-rome/

https://viarosaitaly.com/guides/where-to-eat-gelato-in-rome/

https://anamericaninrome.com/category/rome-restaurant-reviews/

We had many fantastic meals in Rome, but our favorite was at Trattoria Pennestri in Testaccio. It is in the Bib Gourmand, it was reasonably priced, and the food was out of this world. I would describe it as a modern trattoria - a lot of classic dishes with upscale twists. You need a reservation and you have to call to make it.

Grazie Giangilberto and others. This forum never disappoints.

We used to live in Rome and went back a couple of years ago for an extended visit. Here’s my report on places we enjoyed https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/rome-again-restaurants-worth-seeking-out.

Taxi driver on the way to the Rome airport last fall: "The worst restaurant in Rome is better than any other restaurant in the world." So you won't have any problem!

Boom, boom, boom. We'll be trying out an AirBnB in Testaccio for (only!) a week next March, and already I have three places within a 5 minute walk that are recommended 'have-to-try's' by multiple people--Augustarello (for the oxtails), Pizzeria Remo (for the pizza), Trattoria Pennestri (for the classics).

And...I just found out that the Roscioli family has a bakery around the corner in Testaccio. Wonderful daily Roman-style pizza slices by the inch for lunch, pastries in the morning. Dirt cheap. And the Testaccio Market is 2 blocks away. Before we even leave the neighborhood!

Such are the problems of dining in Rome. Oh--one more place. We visited twice in 2015, then upon my recommendation friends tried it this June--Elle Effe, a Sicilian place near Campo de' Fiori. Said it was their best meal of the trip.

Thanks for all the recommendations. I will definitely explore some of the suggestions in Testaccio, a neighborhood I've never visited.
Elle Effe is one of my recent favorites near Campo Dei Fiore, along with Margot near the Vatican area.

There are many places to get expensive - but good - meals throughout Rome. I've noticed that many are also almost filled with tourists. Sorry but I don't usually want to be eating near a couple or family that are complaining about prices, slow service, crowds, sore feet etc etc. Several years ago I saw a place in Trastevere but decided not to eat there because the line was so long. One year I decided to wait and see why it was so popular. Carlo Menta. It has become my 'go to' place. The food is honest, prices are more than reasonable, service is attentive (from a distance), and most of the conversations around me were lively. I see groups of young people (teenagers too), extended families and older couples - everyone seems to be known by the staff so I assume they are locals and regulars. This past July I ate there 3 times in a week both alone and with friends. I did notice more tourists. I did notice the menu had English subtitles, which I don't remember from previous years. But I also enjoyed that the hostess greeted me with a hug and the server came and called me by name. 2 1/2 hours later I left happy and full. But I left only after another hug from the hostess and server. I wish you a similar experience wherever you eat in Italy!

And...I just found out that the Roscioli family has a bakery around
the corner in Testaccio. Wonderful daily Roman-style pizza slices by
the inch for lunch, pastries in the morning. Dirt cheap.

UPON FURTHER REVIEW...just found out that Roscioli is NOT part of this Pizzeria Antico Forno di Testaccio.