Here are some excellent restaurants that are definitely not tourist traps.  Even if you do not know Italian (several of these did not have wait staff that knew English), you can get delicious meals. The peak lunch crowd is at 2, and most places don't open for dinner until 7 or 7:30. There is typically no smoking indoors, and usually the patio seats were also comfortable without much smoke.

Sora Margherita, Piazza delle Cinque Scole, 30.
Open at 12:30 (was full by 1:10) for lunch daily (41.5 E for family of four).
Dinner Friday and Saturday 8:00/9:30.
From Teatro Marcello follow Via Catalana until it ends.
This is a very small restaurant located on the north side of the Piazza - just a red-bead covered doorway in a crumbling dilapidated old building (There is an unlit flower shaped neon sign above the door and the # 30 to the right of it). It was featured in the May 05 Bon Appetit and is reputed to have the best fried artichokes in town. It was shut down two years ago for being too cramped, thusit became a private club and all guests sign up as members.  It is small but very clean inside.

The menu is handwritten complete with a hand drawn architectural cover.
  • This place is known for the Agnolotti (pasta dumplings filled with seasoned beef) Cacio & Pepe (with cheese and black pepper).  Truly delicious and peppery.
  • Agnolotti Sugo di Carne (in a delicious tomato and meat sauce)
  • Carciofi alla Guidia- fried baby artichokes that can be gobbled up, stem, leaves, and all. The leaves are like potato chips and this definitely appeals to those that do not like artichokes in any other form.Polpette dishes (little meat patties in sauce - ?bianco con paselli?)
  • Marinated zucchini (the vegetable antipasti are great at every restaurant, especially the eggplant)
  • The poached pear in wine sauce for dessert is very tasty - worth licking the sauce off the plate at the end. (Pear uppinca catu with forno al vino russo)


  Ristorante Antica Taverna, Via Monte Giordano, 12.
North of Chiesa Nuova (church on plaza off Corso Vittorio Emanuele II) and west of Piazza Navona at the intersection of Via D. Avila and Via di Monte Giordano. No English on the menu, no bread charge. (Total bill for a family of four = 38 E)

  • The "purses" stuffed with truffles are recommended, but not always on the menu. Each dish had a unique flavor, and all are delicious.
  • Grigliata di verdure (marinated grilled vegetables with some fried)
  • Rigatoni ricotta e melanzane (a surprisingly tasty pasta tossed with cheese and scant vegetables that appeals to adults and kids).
  • Tortelli al ragu (tortellini in meat sauce - good but not as good as the tortellini in cream sauce with ham and peas from L'Insalada Ricca)
  • Involtini con polenta - thin seasoned beef rolls in a delicious red sauce with corn bread.
  • Pomodori e rucola - the most scrumptious tomato and Italian arugula salad with balsamic vinegar.  (Whenever you can find green leafy chicories or rocket/arugula - rucola in Italian- order it!)

  
Ar Galleto (also called Da Giovanni), Vicolo del Gallo, 1. Closed Mondays. Open from 7:30 for dinner, but they will seat at 7:15. (48.5 E & 79.5 E with wine)
On the Northwest corner of Piazza Farnese - the outdoor seats overlooking the fountain are across the street from the indoor part of the restaurant - great view of the beautiful Palazzo Farnese. The involtini is recommended. This is just around the corner from Campo de Fiori, but is nice and quiet.

  • Antipasti romanesque - the best marinated vegetables - especially the narrow purple eggplant
  • Ravioli with cheese and spinach in a yummy tomato sauce\Roast baby lamb (abbacchio di forno) with a crispy crust, gravy and roast potatoes.
  • Piccotine al limone - veal in lemon sauce  and a yummy grilled chicken.
  • Fried zucchini blossoms - stuffed with cheese and probably an anchovy.


L'insalata Ricca, Largo dei Chiavari 85/86 (beside the beautiful church Sant'Andrea della Valle, the second highest dome in Rome and site of the first act of Tosca) on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II) (31.5 E and 33 E).
This is one of a small chain of restaurants that has the most scrumptious cheese and pear salad (fresh mixed greens with shaved pecorino romano, black olives, and pear slices in a fantastic olive oil and vinegar dressing). They pack the leftover salad up nicely and include a fork - and it is even better the next day! Tortellini with ham and peas is also a classic delicious dish. The rigatoni all'Amatriciana is well done, but it is a somewhat salty parmesan, bacon, and tomato sauce dish that may not appeal to all. The hours are convenient for American meal times, which is helpful during the jet lag transition.

Trattoria Der Pallaro, on Largo di Pallaro (go south on Largo dei Chiavari past the first right turn to the second right which opens onto a small parking area. The restaurant is on the corner and has outdoor seating, enclosed in plastic sheeting. It is a delicious and unique 20 euro per person fixed price five course meal with your choice of red or white wine. They charge a total of 65 E for two adults, and 2 children, giving  servings of the two appetizer courses, and three servings of everything else. For first course try marinated fennel, green olives, prosciutto, and a yummy lentil and olive dish.  For second course, fried cheesey rice balls and fried veal patties. Pasta course: a simple rigatoni with tomato and cheese (similar to Amatriciana but without the bacon). Then there is roast pork with a scrumptious breaded eggplant, small balls of fresh mozzarella (rather bland on their own but good with olive oil and veal sauce) and homemade potato chips. Desert is fantastic - a honey nectory sip of mandarin orange juice and a ricotta pie with orange marmalade.  In the kitchen they also have artichoke cooked roman style (as opposed to fried in the Jewish style) and a deep green sauteed vegetable entrees. They suggest reservations, but may have seats at 7:30, still early for Romans. Very friendly owners and highly recommended.  It is just around the corner from the Hotel Teatro di Pompei.


Great deli sandwiches (2 Euro for a hearty serving) from a place (?Un Petit Cafe or Cafe Fantini) on Via Della Panetteria just diagonally across from the famous gelato place (Il Gelato di San Crispino at #42) east of Trevi Fountain.  Spinach omelet sandwich, sopresseto with large fat droplets,  tuna with tomato and greens, and rosciutto arugula sandwich.  These are tastier and less expensive than the sandwiches on the carts lining the street to the Forum/Colosseum, and better than the TV dinner pastas and plain meat only sandwiches at the cafe in the Castel Sant'Angelo (which does have a great view).  Buying sandwiches from a deli counter is recommended before heading for either site.

Pizza is very good at the restaurant at the southeast side of Campo di Fiori (Total bill 38.9 E). Try the Campo di Fiori pizza with tomato, mozarella, salami and ham. The Penne Marimonti - short pasta with tomatoes, baby clams, porcini (yum) and cream is very good as is the penne all vodka e prosciutto.  The bufala salad with sweet corn, olives, basil and buffalo mozzarella is ok  but not spectacular. Worthwhile for the pizza and pasta. Although the name of the place is not too inspiring (Heartbreak), the sign can not really be seen because of the awning over the patio seats.

Lunch at the Ristorante Galeassi on the north side of the Piazza di Santa Maria Travestere, 3, is pleasant.  There are street musicians and a nice view of the piazza with its unusual looking fountain.  The asparagus looks and tasts awesome - all tender stalks and no bitter leafheads.  The puntarelle (curled chicory shavings) in anchovy sauce is too bitter and salty for American tastes. A light lunch with four vegetables and one pasta shared is about 37 E - pricey)

Gelatarias

Gelateria artigianale, Via Giustiniani 18A that goes west from the northwest corner of the Piazza della rotunda of the Pantheon. 2 E for small, 1-2 flavors. Best vanilla and crema (tastes like custard or eggnog). Best pear and tart creamy lemon (gelato as opposed to the sorbetto many other places serve for these flavors).
   
A place that had the neon word sign "Crepes" that was adjacent to the Heartbreak restaurant in Piazza Campo dei Fiori (on the receipt - Coffea srl partita iva, Piazza campo dei fiori N.49). 1.5 E for a small single flavor, 2 E for multi flavors.Best frutti di bosca (wild berries) and chocolate hazelnut (baccia).

Il Gelato di San Crispino at Via della Panetteria 42 near Trevi fountain. Opens at 11 am. Best overall single flavor - the San Crispino signature flavor of crema with honey. The scoops do not extend beyond the confines of the small cups, but this is a truly delicious and unusual flavor. The lemon is less tart then elsewhere and had zest flavor in it. The other flavors may not be that distinctive.

Tre Scalini had pretty good gelato and large scoops. They are known for the tartufo - chocolate balls around a cherry but STAY AWAY from the tourist trap restaurant with terrible service and oversalted and dry food.