Rome food guide
Rome Food Guide: 12 Dishes + Where to Eat Them
Rome's cuisine is hearty, ingredient-focused, and rooted in cucina povera (poor people's cooking). The dishes below, carbonara, cacio e pepe, supplì, pizza al taglio — are Roman specialties, not Italian generalizations.
Spaghetti carbonara
Guanciale + egg + pecorino + black pepper. No cream. Roscioli (Centro Storico) and Da Enzo al 29 (Trastevere) are the cult favorites.
Price: 14-22 EUR per portion
Cacio e pepe
Pasta with pecorino romano + black pepper. Three ingredients, one technique. Felice a Testaccio for the famous version; Trattoria da Cesare for the alternative.
Price: 12-18 EUR
Amatriciana
Guanciale + tomato + pecorino. Trattoria Pennestri (Ostiense) is locals' favorite.
Price: 13-20 EUR
Supplì
Rice fritters with mozzarella heart. Supplizio (Centro Storico) is the specialty shop.
Price: 2-5 EUR each
Pizza al taglio
Rectangular pizza by weight. Pizzarium (Vatican area) by Gabriele Bonci is THE specialty. Antico Forno Roscioli for daily breakfast pizza.
Price: 3-8 EUR per slice
Saltimbocca alla romana
Veal cutlets with prosciutto + sage in butter wine sauce. Da Augusto (Trastevere) for traditional.
Price: 18-28 EUR
Carciofi alla romana / alla giudia
Artichokes Roman-style (braised) or Jewish-style (deep-fried). Da Giggetto (Jewish Ghetto) for both; Piperno also famous.
Price: 8-15 EUR per portion
Gelato
Real gelato. Giolitti (since 1900), Fatamorgana (multiple), Otaleg (Trastevere) are the three serious spots.
Price: 3-6 EUR per cone
Trippa alla romana
Tripe in tomato sauce. Acquired taste. Saturday tradition. Trattoria Da Felice in Testaccio for the real version.
Price: 12-18 EUR
Cornetto
Italian breakfast croissant (slightly sweeter than French). Best paired with cappuccino at any cafe-bar morning. Pasticceria Regoli (Esquilino) for the famous Roman cornetto.
Price: 1.20-2.50 EUR
Aperitivo
Roman happy hour: Aperol spritz + light bites. Several Trastevere and Monti bars include light food with drink price.
Price: 6-12 EUR per drink
Roman trattoria dinner
Multi-course meal at a family-run trattoria. Felice a Testaccio, Da Enzo al 29, Trattoria Pennestri. All classic.
Price: 35-65 EUR per person with wine