Best Roman Restaurants in Rome

One of the best kosher restaurants of Rome's Jewish Ghetto, the walls here are frescoed with images depicting the area's fascinating history. Some say the high volume of visitors has compromised the quality, but this is as typical as Jewish Roman cuisine gets, which is notably distinct to other traditional Jewish cooking. Be sure to try the deep fried artichokes (fried for a grand 20 minutes) and fried stuffed zucchini flowers. Obviously classic Roman dishes like carbonara and amatriciana are prepared kosher-style and the gnocchi alla romana (made with semolina), baked in a clay pot until golden are delicious. BUS: 87, 23. TRAM: 8

La Gatta Mangiona is located in the Monteverde neighbourhood, completely away from the historical center and tourist area but close enough and easy to reach. Most of the clientele are locals here and you will truly feel you've ticked 'authentic local experience' off your Rome to-do list. The fritti including the fried zucchini flowers and potato croquettes are delicious and the daily specials for pizza change daily with inventive and seasonal combinations like edible flowers, pancetta and ricotta, plus all your classic Roman pizza topppings. Desserts are all home made and the pannacotta with fresh strawberries is divine. TRAM: 8

No paper menu, fantastic food and typically Roman service defines this no frills trattoria in the heart of the Garbatella district. The service is typically Roman - which means if you're expecting formal and refined, you're probably at the wrong place, daresay, wrong city. The menu is based on what is seasonal and what produce has arrived fresh, so in fact, there is no menu and your waiter will stand at your table for a minute or so, distractedly telling you what's to eat. If available, try the maltagliatti (pasta which translates literally to off-cuts) with pork sausage and porcini mushrooms. Roman cuisine at its best. METRO: Garbatlla.

This popular pizzeria located in the cuore of Trastevere is one of the best when it comes to serving up that perfect Roman pizza: light, thin and crispy crust. It's extremely sought after not only by tourists but by locals themselves. For years, Romans have been calling this pizza joint "l'obitorio" (the morgue) and "ai marmi" because of its characteristic long marble table tops. Aside from the pizza being so good, locals also come here to devour their famous suppl� and fritti as appetizers. Their pizza is certainly not the cheapest by any means, but is absolutely reliable and consistent. Rest assured, your pizza will be cooked to perfection every single time. TRAM: 8. BUS: H.

Located in the heart of the working class district of Testaccio, Remo's pizza is pretty hard to top. This pizza place is most famous for its paper thin(literally) pizza. Menus don't exactly exist here, so be prepared to have in mind what kind of toppings you'll pick out for your pizza. A waiter will come around with a scorecard of sorts where you will check off the ingredients for pizza pie and other items to go along with your dinner order. Outdoor tables available, but expect to wait in line for a little if you arrive late. BUS: 170, 30. METRO: Piramide

Located in the Prati district, Il Bar Sotto il Mare is a Roman trattoria specialising only in seafood. When you think roman trattoria or cucina romana you probably don't automatically think seafood. Yet, as the owners of this place say — historically, Rome was a port and essentially, Fiumicino and other coastal cities renowned for fish, are not that far away. Step back in time to what seems like someone's house from the 70s at this trattoria located centrally in Rome's Prati district. The menu is extensive and features some 10-12 first courses of seafood pasta — all fresh, all seasonal. Their crudi (raw fish selection) are delicious and the classic dessert of ricotta and pear tart is a winner. METRO: Cipro

Take the 8 tram through Trastevere and to the last stop where Da Cesare al Casaletto is just yards away from the tram's terminus. Getting out of the center brings down the price slightly and raises the food's quality. At da Cesare you'll find all of the Roman pastas and meat dishes like beef involtini, rolled beef cooked in tomato sauce, though don't leave without trying some of da Cesare's fried foods, like calamari, baccalà (salted cod) and even fried gnocchi. Though the food is homestyle, the look of the place is less hole-in-the-wall and more open bright space. Make sure to try the panna cotta topped with caramel for dessert. Reservations necessary. TRAM: 8

With a perennial presence in Trip Advisor's top 100, you may dine amongst more foreigners than locals, but as one of the city's chief slow food exponents, it's worth following the masses. A family affair, chef Eliana Catalani's husband explains the history of the often-ancient dishes on the menu while her son oversees the wine cellar. Their menu changes regularly featuring the very best of local, organic produce. The building is imbued with history, once housing the oldest synagogue in Rome and with a wine cellar that is around 160 years older than the Colosseum. BUS: 3, 23. TRAM: 8

It's not often you can say you've eaten in an ancient landfill site. Located within Monte Testaccio, this entire hill was created from Romans dumping their amphorae (pots used to store liquids), and the dining room is decorated with these terracotta fragments. Now an institution, their carbonara, amongst other Roman classics, has made it famous amongst gastronomes. Other dishes to try include the cacio e pepe, a pecorino cheese and black pepper speciality and the polpette di bollito (breaded meatballs made with braised meat). The tiramisu is a winner with a secret center surprise. In the summer, book in advance for a table on the romantic patio. METRO: Piramide. BUS: 3, 75

For traditional cucina romana (Roman cuisine), the best place to go to is Da Enzo. It's literally a hole-in-the-wall with maybe about 10 or 12 tables. Da Enzo definitely does up the most mind-blowing carciofi alla giudia (Jewish style fried artichokes) and keeps it real with their classic pasta dishes like carbonara (egg and pork cheek), amatriciana (tomato and pork cheek) and cacio e pepe (pecorino cheese and peppper)and local offal dishes like tripe and braised oxtail (coda alla vaccinara). Throw in a bottle of house wine and dessert and you might walk out only spending about 20 euro a person! BUS: 23, H. TRAM: 8