Restaurant for Cacio e Pepe spaghetti in Rome?

Da Enzo, known for Roman-style cuisine, has the dish on its menu. I have no idea whether they do the cheese thing, but I am doubtful because it's a tiny place with tables very close together. Understand that it is quite plain-looking. If you saw it in the US, you'd probably walk right on by. But I've read that it is popular with off-duty chefs, and I enjoyed my lunch there. I think they take reservations only at dinner, and you will definitely need one. Da Enzo is in Trastevere.

Thanks so much! We will look in to it. ;)

Roma Sparita is also in Trastevere. It us excellent and they serve the pasta in a parmesan cheese bowl.

I don't know about the "wheel of cheese" method, or about its authenticity. My experience in the past has been that foods prepared tableside are done that way for the theatrics, rather than the quality of the dish. With that said, I had a very serviceable bowl of cacio e pepe in one of RS's recommendations, Hostaria Romana. http://www.hostariaromana.it/

Anthony Bourdain talks about his favorite version at Roma Sparita, which is served in a bowl made of Parmigiano Reggiano. That's a little too precious for me, but if you are in the mood, here's the information. www.romasparita.com/

Rome is a foodie's paradise, and no one restaurant has the corner on the "ultimate" version of any dish. My own Spaghetti Carbonara is on par with the best I have sampled in Italy, and it is largely a matter of taste. Buon appetito!

Roma Sparita had the best we've ever had. Good to split one, though. It is very rich!

Restaurant Carlo Menta in Trastevere has the best cacio e pepe I've ever had. . . . and it was so inexpensive! I was reticent to eat here even though I passed it several times each year. As a single traveler I didn't want to be put inside when sitting outside looked so fun. But last summer it was just plain HOT and the lure of airconditioning got the best of me. Now the weird part: I went to order something else and the waitress looked at me and shook her head. She pointed to the cacio e pepe on the menu and said 'trust me.' OMG, she helped me order the rest of the meal and I couldn't have been happier! Darn, I only had one more day in Rome! So, lunch (pizza) and dinner (more suggestions but this time from Lily, the manager) the next day. Now it's on my list for this summer - right at the top of the list. No, it doesn't get put together at the table. I don't need entertainment but the pride in the faces of the staff and the chef when I took that first bite . . . hmmm, maybe I was the entertainment! I did notice people around me smiling and raising their glass before they went back to their own dishes of cacio e pepe. I'm sure others here will say their experience wasn't the same. But you know, that just means there will be a table for me!

Wow! Thanks everyone for the suggestions and replies. Yes, we just happened to find Hostaria Romana trying to find another restaurant and walked by. The food looked so amazing, we made a reservation for the next night because we couldn't get in. To this day it goes down as one of the best meals we've ever had. The fried artichokes!!! I didn't see the Cacio e Pepe on the menu that time! Maybe too tired. :)

Another restaurant in Trastevere with wonderful cacio e pepe is Le Mani in Pasta.

I don't remember a cheese wheel, though.

In all fairness, I have never had bad cacio e pepe anywhere in Italy...but the best was in Rome.