Restaurant Recommendation in Rome

Do you want food or view? Anything in site of the Pantheon will have high prices and ok (not awful usually) food. Go a block away and you'll find busy, loud, and excellent food at more friendly prices. But if you think 40 euro for a half litre of house wine and a piece of foccacia is reasonable, then enjoy the view of the Pantheon - which truly is beautiful both day and night.

Although not strictly in Pantheon neighborhood, but just a short walk away by Piazza Navona, we really enjoyed Il Cantuccio al Senato and L'Orso 80. Of the two, Il Cantuccio al Senato was a little more expensive but the food and service were well worth it. L'Orso 80 is more of a family-run place but the food was amazing and the people are real characters.

Unfortunately there are many tourist trap establishments dotted close to any major attraction. Although not in the Pantheon area I can recommend this place for really really good food:

http://www.trattoriavecchiaroma.it

Most of the time the service is friendly, but on one occasion we had a real sourpuss waitress. Other than that I really do like the place. Make reservation if decide to go.

A short walk from the Pantheon, Renato & Luisa was our best meal in Rome, and one of top three in my 7-week trip. We ate here twice. It's on a small side street, no street/patio seating but melt-in-your-mouth delicious meats, very friendly owners and servers, wonderful pastas and desserts. Price was reasonable for the quality. This is their own website, in Italian only; check Elizabeth Minchilli's Eat Rome app and Trip Advisor for reviews.

Cul-du-Sac. This is both a RS recommendation and a personal one. It's in Piazza Pasquino (Pasquino is a famous statue.). Go around 7 pm or so. It's on the South side of Piazza Navona - a short walk from Pantheon. It's right off P. Navona behind the Brazil building. To select a wine - choose a region of Italy first, then red or white, then price. It's a thick book - the wine list. Good quality, fair /moderate prices, casual atmosphere. I would eat here again.

Cul de Sac has a better selection of wines than most restaurants. They sell bottles to go as well.

Try"Il Buco" on Via San Ignazio #8, about a 7 minute walk from Piazza Rotonda (Pantheon) or 5 minutes from Piazza di Minerva. You won't regret it.
DELIZIOSO!!!!

P.s. Closed Mondays

Al Duello  
Vicolo della Vaccarella, 11, 00186 Roma, Italy
Phone: +39 06 687 3348
http://www.ristorantealduello.com/