As a local...this is a place for locals. Hidden gem with classic traditional Roman dishes. Small, quaint, indoor and outdoor covered sidewalk seating. Food and wine is excellent: simple, classic, just like they always made it. read more

Cantina Cantarini - Roman Near Me - Rome, RM

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Wonderful family run restaurant with a ton of history and local Roman cuisine. Our first stop with our family of seven and they were more than accommodating. Our bellies were very happy. Loads of local neighbors dining here too and always a great sign. They serve a bruschetta aperitif while you wait for your order too. Good value and great quality dishes with friendly service. The waiter was patient with us and spoke English with us too - explained the wine and entree items to us when we struggled with translation or google translate. There was a storm that evening and the internet crashed the credit card machine - so be sure to have cash handy when you dine anywhere. Learn from our experience. read more

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we stopped into the Cantina Cantarini tonight. The food was delicious. Our server brought us some bruschetta to start off our meal along with fresh baked focaccia bread. The carbonara was tasty and well done. Surprising was the fried broccoli as it had a hint of red pepper spice. Fried fried with some onions. Totally, something I would do at home. The meatloaf was like having meatballs sliced on the plate. And potatoes, roasted to perfection. Very good meal read more

Cantina Cantarini - Spaghetti carbonara - Roman Near Me - Rome, RM

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this was my favorite meal in Rome. We sat outside and, despite the rain, had a wonderful meal. The food was lovely- we perhaps ordered too much, but it was all delicious. I got the veal and chicoria. I'd like to go back on a seafood day (which I believe is Tuesday and Thursday) when they have a different menu. Don't expect English or a quick check. I respected that the server wouldn't make menu adjustments for a British couple at a table near us. They were going to serve the food the chef made. There were quite a few locals eating there as well, which is always a good sign in my book. read more

If you are looking for an authentic experience, this is the place. All of the food was fantastic. The mussels marinara appetizer was phenomenal. The sauce was delicious and the mussels were plump and juicy. We didn't want to get mussels at any other restaurant after this because we knew they couldn't be as good. We ate this two weeks ago and we are still talking about this dish. There is a display case with all of the fresh fish catches and since we weren't quite sure what to get, the waitress allowed us to look at the case and choose a whole fish to share. She explained what each one was, ultimately choosing Rombo. It was light, flakey and fresh. Served with roasted potatoes, it brought my mother back in time to the way her grandmother used to make. If you are visiting Roma, skip everything near major monuments and attractions and make time to eat here...and get the mussels marinara! *This review was part of a 10-day eating binge, I mean vacation with my mother. The summary here reflects both of our opinions* read more

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This was our last meal in Rome after visiting Trevi Fountain. It was a long walk from the fountain but near a metro station. What drew me in to dine here was the squid ink pasta. Unfortunately, we came too early and could not dine outside and they could not serve the squid ink pasta. I ordered the pomodoro and boo boo got the bacon with oil pasta, and we shared the meatloaf and potato. Overall, it was a simple ingredients prepared correctly that made the food shine but its not worth to go out of the way for. Clean bathroom in the back and CC accepted. read more

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An off the beaten path gem, not too far from the Westin inn, Marriott hotels, what's up. Outstanding food, and a great value. A Family restaurant with great service. You might need your English to Italian dictionary, but I would certainly come back here. read more

We tried this place based on our Airbnb's host's recommendation. Food was very mediocre and underwhelming. Service was also borderline rude. I see most of the positive reviews are from a few years ago so I thought I would add a more recent critique of the place as there are many better restaurants in the area. I would definitely not recommend going here if you're looking for a satisfying experience while vacationing in Rome. read more

This review and rating merely reflect my experience. We visited this restaurant on a Saturday night when there was an average crowd with plenty of tables. There was only one waiter, an elderly gentlemen and he ignored us the first 5 minutes we stood at the opening of the restaurant. He seemed to be very behind and most people appeared to be waiting for their food. After he finally approached us and I asked if he had a table for four his response was that he was only serving fish and turned his back. I took this as he didn't want our business. Very disappointed to not have the opportunity to eat here after reading all the good reviews. I've been to Rome many times and eaten at many local's places but never been brushed off like this. I hope it turns out better for you. BTW, we love fish. I've been reminiscing about the great fish dishes we had in Portugal since we left months ago. read more

Let me just start by saying the owner Nello, is one of the most authentic Italian's you will ever meet! At this restaurant you will enjoy a lot of seafood, some of the freshest seafood you will ever eat in your life! If I could have, I would have eaten at this restaurant every day that I was in Rome, IT WAS THAT GOOD! read more

Food veri tasty and done according to local tradition. Service excellent. Good atmosphere. Price very honest. For sure it deserves a visit.

So nice. My family is Asian but we live in the US so it can be hard to tell where we're from if we don't speak. Doesn't matter. They treated us like family. Waiter walked by and patted my daughter's head. They made jokes with my 9 year old son. And some special treats at the end of our meal "on the house". My wife did want to try the squid ink pasta but unfortunately it turns out Meat is Sunday - Wed and Seafood is Thur-Sat. None the less the dishes were fantastic. Don't let the 1st/2nd course scare you, the dishes are small enough you can try all the courses. The steaks were excellent and the ravioli was awesome. I love ravioli. Also there were no tables outside when we got there so we started inside and when a spot opened up he moved us outside and we got to enjoy the nice cool evening. read more

Dined her last night! Nelo, the owner, made the full experience even better. Amazing food. Very authentic. Make sure to stay for desert and order the Pannacotta. read more

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We decided to check this place out because of all the great reviews. This place is ok. The people who rave about this place must be from areas that have crap Italian restaurants. Don't get me wrong, food is good... but the service seems to be good towards locals. The old lady just stared at me when we walked in. Hello?? Why do you think I walked into your restaurant?? I mean this place is out of the way with nothing else around. Mind you, their window has Yelp and Trip Advisor stickers on it - really??? The older guy is better than her. If you speak a little Italian it helps. The couple across the way from us seemed to struggle. They do not speak a lick of English and will not attempt to do so. If you want a no frills, bare bone service experience - this is the place for you read more

Bellissima! Amazing authentic food. Easier if you speak Italian but go no matter what if you want an authentic experience!!

This is not your typical Roma tourist dining experience. Almost no English is spoken by the proprietors. It is well off the beaten track but worth the walk. it is a very small tratorria. Nearly every dish involves very fresh fish. Diners in the know, know to come here for the Past with the black squid ink sauce. There is a west coast of Italy feel to everything they serve. We had the Arugula salad, the misto shellfish, the shrimp and of course the pasta sepia. Dessert was panna cotta. All were delicious and fresh. the chef periodically came out of the kitchen to watch the diners enjoying his creations. No need to ask anyone if they were enjoying the food. like my grandmother they knew that if the plates come back empty, the food is being enyoyed. read more

One of the most fun dinners we had in Rome. It's a family run restaurant in business since 1966. It was full of locals and the owner was a delight. Great food and the cherry tart and orange tart desserts were wonderful. The owner kept bringing little treats " on the house" served with flair and fun. read more

We really enjoyed our meal here. The owner basically took over and created an amazing voyage of Roman food over the course of the evening. All fish and all mind blowing. Antipasti, primo, secondi and desert with wine for 3 was 110 euros. Worth every one! Visit this place if you can. Not far from the American embassy. read more

We had a wonderful dinner there. We ask the boss to give recommendations. All dishes are extremely delicious. Also had a set of dessert including pudding, tiramisu, fruit pie and milk cream with cranberry sauce. I was in heaven. A must-go restaurant in Rome. read more

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The pizza definitely the worst I've ever eaten. I ordered "the margarita" but it was mostly sauce with a little bit of cheese. No basil!! That's a cheese pizza folks, not a margarita. The crust was obviously store bought and not fresh. I had one bite and sent it back. The staff was very friendly and my husbands pasta was fine. DO NOT order the pizza!! Buyer be ware. read more

The waiter knew English too and gave us both Italian and English menus. The mozzarella was the best I've ever had (served with the Caprese), and now I really understand why people eat anchovies. The marinated lemon anchovies were really great. Also, I loved the squid ink pasta and the artichoke. Even the free dessert he brought us, the biscotti, was awesome. The wine is a great price, and the servers are very friendly and helpful. It was my first place to eat in Italy, and it was a very positive experience. Even by the end of our trip, I've decided this is one of the best restaurants we ate at in Italy, and it was also one of the better deals for price. read more

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Where do I begin? What a beautiful dining experience. Coming to Rome I was really looking for authentic cuisine and this place gave me exactly that and more. Our waiter was the sweetest man and he offered us so many great authentic Italian dishes to try. I am from Boston, so I know good lobster, but the lobster dish I had here was the best I've ever had. Everything we had was bursting with flavor. Overall an amazing place if you want a real Italian dining experience. I plan on recommending this restaurant to everyone I know who has plans to go to Rome in the future. As they say, when in Rome do as the Romans do! read more

Cantina Cantarini - European lobster and amaretto! - Roman Near Me - Rome, RM

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Wow. Great Service. Great food! We had the fortunate opportunity to eat here upon the recommendation from the concierge at Hotel Romanico and had the best meal coupled with the best service! read more

We got lost getting here and we got lost when we left. But this place was worth every minute of it! There were a lot of fluent english speakers there which tells me this place is getting around. We had a lot of fun with the owner as he taught us new Italian words, "il conto" (which we used at every restaurant thereafter). He was just the nicest guy and made us feel very welcome. The food was amazing! I had the bean soup with noodles, which I'm hoping to replicate at home. The only downfall was that I ate so much soup I didn't save any room for my pasta. Luckily my husband enjoyed his meal so much he devoured his and mine with no shame. A small, but truly authentic Italian experience. I look forward to stopping in again when we're in town. read more

Stayed 3 nights in Rome. Came here 2 out of the 3. The food is absolutely amazing. Simple. Classic. Delicious. That's all you need to know! Just go with what Nello recommends and you are good to go. read more

My husband and I enjoyed a quiet dinner here in the intimate Cantina Cantarini. It's on a hill top away from the hustle and bustle of the main part of the city. We had the steamed clams and mussels, a side mixed salad, the squid ink pasta (INCREDIBLE), and a risotto. We ended the meal with a tartufo (hazelnut and chocolate ice cream with a gooey fudge center). At the end, you are given a complimentary limoncello to end your meal. Great service, amazing food, and a perfect setting. Thank you for one of the best meals we've had in Rome! read more

Happened upon this place while walking back to our hotel. It's in quiet sallustio piazza, close to the American embassy and across the street from some discovered ruins. A bottle of wine cost about 10-12 euro, so we had 3! The food was so fresh and delicious. What started as a quick cheese and wine stop ended 3 hours later with wine, cheese, pasta, more wine and dessert! By the way the Amatriciana and carbonara pasta were amazing! This was probably one of our favorite "off the beaten path" restaurants in Rome! Highly highly recommend!!! read more

Cantina Cantarini - Amatriciana pasta! Delicious! - Roman Near Me - Rome, RM

What a great find! So quaint, But excellent food! We were the only Americans in the place but we were made to feel right at home. Excellent shrimp, and the cheese plate was amazing. They did not have the Cherry pie for dessert but the blackberry was so good. Fresh made crust and great flavor. Be prepared to wait a little, only the owner knows English is you don't know Italian! read more

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Went there to try black ink spaghetti but found that they only serve seafood menu from Thursday evenings to Saturdays. It was a little disappointing but we still enjoyed our dinner a lot! The owner gave really good recommendations on food and wines. If you are not sure what to get, ask him read more

Cantina Cantarini - Rabbit with mixed salad. - Roman Near Me - Rome, RM

Had an amazing meal here last night. My husband was hoping for the Casio de Pepe that he had read about in another review. He was a bit disappointed to hear that Thurs-Sat was fish! Casio de Pepe was apparently a Mon- Wed dish. The hunt continues! That does not mean that we didn't like what we had. He ended up with a mixed plate of fried fish. Yummy! And I had the black ink pasta. Someone had to try the house speciality. Amazing. A mild taste of the sea with perfectly cooked pasta. Their house wines (oops - we had both a bottle of the red and white) were very good! Dinner for 4 was €103 including desserts and those 2 bottles of wine. My Italian is rudimentary. Their English welcoming but not perfect. It was a great time. And my reason for not giving the 5th star was getting the bill. It was a small bit of paper with a little scratched note with total. Hard to decipher but we figured fair enough. read more

The best food in Italy! This is a place we're the locals eat. My husband and I were the only people who spoke english at this restaurant. My husband ordered the squid ink pasta. Looks a little weird but tasted amazing! Also don't miss their tiramisu! It's amazing! read more

Cantina Cantarini - Cuddle fish ink pasta - Roman Near Me - Rome, RM

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A proper family run restaurant in Rome serving absolutely incredible food. The menu is simple and everything is genuinely delicious. The food and the staff here were one of the highlights of my trip and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place to anybody. read more

Excellent service, delicious food,. Our family enjoyed this simple yet tasty restaurant. We highly recommend read more

The dining experience here was amazing. Small space, local feel. Off the touristy path. Really felt like you were dining like an Italian here. read more

Mom & Pop shop with truly excellent dishes. We were probably the only tourists amongst the locals enjoying their good homestyle Roman cooking that night. Don't expect pictures on the menu or an English-speaking staff, but you can expect THE tastiest Cacio e Pepe and Tiramisu in Rome. read more

A real roman gem. Mostly full of italians despite being close to hotels. I was there in Saturday when it's fish night. All the fish was fresh and you could pick it from the counter. We had insalate di mare (squid and shrimp, cold, with olive oil, lemon, and celery dressing), fried calamari and shrimp (perfectly light and not oily), risotto with squid ink, and a grilled flounder with roast potatoes. All was cooked with a light touch with the freshest ingredients. The chef was out and about talking to the guests and service was friendly. read more

Some English spoken by staff, patio area outside this small restaurant was perfect for a September night. The mussels were huge and the sauce was perfect. We had a spaghetti dish and fried fish platter. Everything was cooked well. The sign is hard to see if you're walking on the street, we passed it and doubled back on other side of the street and that's when we spotted it. read more

long over due review... A must must place to try. service excellent just ask... when here twice back to back for dinner

So delicious! My cousin and I dined here on our last night in Rome and it was perfect. Portions were just enough without overdoing it and the pasta with Italian cheese & peppers and steak with tomatoes & olives were perfect. The seasonal vegetables were fresh as well. The waiter only spoke Italian but we were just fine! That's how you know the place is good - when it's filled with locals read more

Thank you fellow Yelpers for all the positive reviews of this place. We went with your suggestions and it definitely paid off. This place was amazing! It was the first great meal that my wife and I had in Rome. It is definitely off the beaten path, but well worth the trip. We were the only people there who spoke English, but it really wasn't an issue. The staff was so nice to us and even gave us a "dessert sampler" and charged us the same price as they would have for one dessert. The food was outstanding, really simple and delicious. We had the spaghetti with clams and the spaghetti with squid ink. They were really different and delicious. The clams were cooked perfectly and the pasta in both dishes was perfectly al dente. Our main course was the scampi and the shrimps were so good. They were also cooked to perfection and had a light olive oil and other spice sauce that was incredible. The tomato and arugala salad was really fresh and also delicious. The house red wine was tasty (and really cheap) and the dessert sampler mentioned before was really yummy. It had two tarts, blueberry and orange, panacota and small piece of strawberry and cream pie. Everything was so good and a way better deal than some of the other places that cater a little too much to English speakers. We would come back to Rome just to visit this restaurant. read more