Eat out

Pasta lovers? Four or five suggestions

by Salvatore Dama

Si fa presto a dire pasta, it is easy to say pasta. Boil the water, add salt and spaghetti. But it’s not so simple. Even the recipes that seem easier do need care and attention in the execution. In Rome there are restaurants that cook with passion and others who make it dog fuck, a cazzo di cane. I enjoy my time in the first category.

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I’m not a mangiaspaghetti, a pasta eater. Usually I eat past once a week because I follow a protein diet with few carbohydrates. But when I have to eat pasta, I chose well. There are several pasta fast food in Rome. Where you can eat there on the stool or take it away. Some are of superior quality. I like, for example, Pasta Chef,  42, Via Baccina, Monti district. They cook many types of pasta of Italian tradition. And all are well done. Prices are lower than a restaurant because, after all, it is a self service. You order and they give you a number. When it comes your turn they call you and give you the hot pot.

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Often, after the gym, I stop at Pasta Chef eating a salad. The Nizzarda is my favorite with tomato, boiled eggs, black olives and capers. A very similar place is PaStation, which is about to open in Piazza Campo Marzio, near the Pantheon. It already exists in Florence and is very successful.

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In Trastevere there is the Taverna Trilussa, 23 via del Politeama, which is a landmark for those who want to eat pasta according to the Roman tradition. They serve it in the pan, non in the dish. Another column of the Roman tradition is Felice a Testaccio, 29, via di Mastro Giorgio, in the district of Testaccio. Attention, both places are always very crowded, you have to book a few days before.

Are you lazy? You should try our new service “Eat&Learn”, showcooking and home restaurant in your places. Ask for more informations.

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Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. In Rome.

by Salvatore Dama

Raining meat balls. On Rome. In the Monti district opens the second polpetteria, a restaurant meat balls specialized, within a few months. Here the meatball is a poor food, our grandmothers cooked meatballs mixing the leftovers of the week. So they have become a typical element of Roman traditional cuisine. The meatballs are un classico, a classic. And even the meatballs pasta is a typical Sunday lunch dish in the winter. Polpetta Cucina & Miscelazione in 26, via dei Capocci, has a wide range of meatballs, from salty to sweet, accompanied by a glass of wine or a cocktail. The new one, Viveri Polpetteria (139, via Urbana), offers a easygoing formula, più sgarzolina, It’s open all day long, from breakfast to after dinner. Meatballs are served with drinks and dj set. Prices are low, as raw material is not expensive.

Better pasta? Read my suggestions about: Pasta lovers? Four or five suggestions. Are you searching for the best pizza in the ancient town? Eating pizza in Monti district: four ideas. Are you looking for salami and prosciutto? Check my tips All crazy for the Salumeria. Five places. Hungry for shopping?? Look this Reborn the Rinascente. Make shopping between roman ruins and rooftop with a view.

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All crazy for the Salumeria. Five places

by Salvatore Dama

All crazy about the Salumeria. Many of my guests ask me where they can go to lunch between hams, salami and cheese hanging on the ceiling. I tell you this: once pane e mortazza (the sandwich with the mortadella) was the fast and cheap meal of the worker who did not have lunch break. Today the Salumeria has become a gourmet place. The owners are millionaires and go around with the Ferrari! Save this five places.

Roscioli ristorante, near Campo de’ Fiori, is also a winery and an oyster bar. They serve salami, hand-cut ham, but also fish dishes. Here if you do not book, you will never sit down! Another place is La Salumeria, near Castel Sant’Angelo. They make the tagliere, a wooden boards with salami, ham, cheeses and more. Do not miss Erzinio, near Piazza Venezia, Volpetti in Campo Marzio and Franchi in Via Cola di Rienzo, near the Vatican city.

Near Vatican city, where drink and dine

by Salvatore Dama

Near Vatican city there is a very cool neighborhood with trendy restaurants and bars. I’m talking about the quartiere Prati. This district is full of law offices. In the evening, young lowyers, when end up working, meet each other nearby to drink or dine.

I usually go to La Zanzara bistrot. But even the restaurants that are in via Properzio are at the same level: Calabascio, Il Sorpasso, Sogno autarchico. They serve the typical dishes of italian cuisine revisited in contemporary style. A little further forward there is Porto, specializing in fish dishes. I also recommend taking a look at Borgo Pio, a very characteristic street of ​​Rome, also full of bistrots and restaurants. I know this place very well because my University was right there. But if you want to see the neighborhood from above, go on the terrace of the Hotel Atlante Star at the aperitif time (7PM). The view over roman roofs is imperdibile, unmistakable!

#tramonti

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Are you greedy? At Piazza Risorgimento I recommend two places. The first is Old Bridge ice cream parlor. You recognize it because there is always a long waiting line! Another place is Pompi, where someone says they make the better Tiramisu in the city. Try and let me know what you think about!

lemon mango and berry sorbet 🌟

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Pompi tiramisu 🍓 #pompitiramisu #tiramisupompi #rome #tiramisufragole

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Avoiding sòle in Trastevere: seven tips

by Salvatore Dama

If you ask me about Trastevere, I’ll tell you attenzione, look out! You must be furbo, smart, to avoid le sòle, the scum. The neighborhood is full of bars and restaurants, but not all are worthy of the Italian tradition. I just love some places, here’s the list.

Piazza Trilussa (ph Salvatore Dama)

First of all Taverna Trilussa, a typical Roman restaurant famous for its giant portions, serves the pasta directly nella padella, in the pan, not in the dish! Many romans love the restaurant Antica Pesa, famous for hosting celebrities and politicians. Mai coperto, I’ve never been there, I know it’s expensive, but everyone says it’s worth it!

Via di Ponte Sisto (ph Salvatore Dama)

Ti piange la tasca? Your wallet weeping? If you are looking for something economical and typical, choose Augusto a Trastevere, a basic trattoria loved for this characteristic. Do not expect to pay with your credit card! At the end of the meal, the owner comes and writes the bill sulla tovaglia di carta, on the paper tablecloth! Only accept cash.

Tevere river (ph Salvatore Dama)

If you like fusion cooking, I suggest you Coffee Pot, Jap-Mex restaurant, a very fashionable place loved by the locals. If you are looking for a cocktail bar, my tip is Freni e Frizioni, vintage ambience and good cocktails. Or Akbar and, only in summer, Terrazza San Pancrazio. In summer, if you go down to the river quay, there are plenty of places where drink or dine. There are also many on the Isola Tiberina, a small island in the middle of the river.

Discovering Campo de’ Fiori: six tips

by Salvatore Dama

I lived in Campo de’ Fiori for four years. It is the typical neighborhood of the old town: small streets with Sampietrini (stone paved), ancient palaces owned by the ecclesiastical nobility, restaurants with outdoor tables set with tovaglie a quadri (checkered tablecloths). But in some cases, it is an artificial reality created just to attract tourists. So be careful to the sòle (cheats!).  Every day in Campo de’ Fiori square there is an open air market. You can buy fresh fruit, vegetable and spices. Not clothes (often are fake) or souvenir (too expensive).

If you can say NO! to the buttadentro (promoters) of the square bars and restaurants, I suggest to move nearby for eating and drinking. In five minutes you’ll arrive at Salumeria Roscioli. Ham, salami, mozzarella, but also raw fish and ostiche. Good? Locals love this place. Very close there is the bakery Antico Forno Roscioli. Same surname, same owner. A piece of their hot pizza margherita is always a good idea for a morning or afternoon snack. It fights against the Forno of Campo de’ Fiori for who makes the best pizza in the district. I know who is the winner, but tell me you’re opinion about! Another street fooder is Supplizio. Here you can taste the Supplì, a sicilian rice ball cooked in several ways.

 

Other sights nearby are Piazza Farnese (with Palazzo Farnese where is hosted the French Ambassy) and the bellissima Via Giulia. Aperitiviamo?! Funny way of locals to say: lets have a drink! Nearby I usually go at Barnum cafè, good cocktails made by a bartender with vintage moustache 🙂

At late night I have a secret to share with you. There is a small and hidden bar nearby, where can enter only people who know the password: The Jerry Thomas Project. I like the atmosphere and the cocktails they serve. Excellent vermouth distilled from themself and nice preparation. It is the only place where, after three Negroni, I’m still shiny! 🙂 Do you want to know the password?!

Read also my tips about Monti, Piazza Navona, Vatican district and Trastevere.

(Photo by Salvatore Dama)

Five things to do when you’re in Piazza Navona

by Salvatore Dama

Piazza Navona in imperial ages was a stadium. Its baroque layout was commissioned by the Pamphili family. Take same pics with the famous Bernini fountains. Did it? Ok, lets go in via di Tor Millina, searching for Chiostro del Bramante. Here there are always belle mostre, nice exhibitions. Take a look to their dates here. Is it l’ora dell’aperitivo (time to drink)? A Campari Spritz (Campari, sparkling wine and soda) is always a good idea! My tip is Bar del Fico, where locals have aperitivo before dinner. Another place that I recommend is Salotto 42. I often go there in the afternoon for a cup of tea or in the evening for a Moscow mule.

Now you are in Piazza di Pietra, for me one of the best place in Rome. Take a selfie with Adriano temple. Vuoi un caffè? Need an italian espresso? Walk towards Piazza del Pantheon (another pic, clic!). Behind the monument there is a small square, Piazza Sant’Eustachio, where you may found the homonym bar, Caffè Sant’Eustachio. Someone thinks that they make the best espresso in the town. For me is un po’ troppo dolce, sweet a little too much. Try it and then tell me your thoughts.

If you ask me for a typical italian restaurant nearby, I answer Maccheroni. Good pasta and good prices. What else?! Finally, even if you are not interested politics, go through via del Plebiscito. There is Palazzo Grazioli, the house of mister Silvio Berlusconi. Look at the windows of the second floor: one of those is the bedroom where is located the famous lettone di Putin, the canopy bed given by russian president 🙂

Read also my tips about Monti district,