Osteria Cacio e Pepe has that cozy, tucked-away Roman charm, with a simple exterior that opens into…read morea warm, rustic interior filled with wooden tables and traditional décor. Located in Trastevere, one of Rome's most charming and atmospheric neighborhoods across the Tiber, the location is slightly removed from major monuments, and full of winding streets, nightlife, and local hangouts. The atmosphere is intimate and lively, especially in the evenings, with a mix of locals and visitors creating a welcoming buzz.
At around 9pm on a Thursday night, the restaurant was about three-quarters full, and our party of five was seated immediately. The menu encompasses everything you could want from a traditional Italian restaurant: a plethora of pastas, pizzas, and large format entrees; there's also lots of reasonably priced drinks if you're looking for an aperitivo!
Two members of our party ordered their signature Cacio e Pepe (€16.50), which came with a generous portion of housemade tonnarelli pasta, PDO pecorino cheese, and freshly-ground black pepper. Their pasta was perfectly al dente with just the right ratio of flour, eggs (from their own farm!), and water, and the ideal thickness to pair with the creamy sauce. The earthy, woody black pepper also lent an intriguing addition to the rich dish.
Another two friends sampled their Amatriciana (€16), which is rigatoni with guanciale (cured pork cheek), pecorino cheese, and a fresh tomato sauce. Don't let the simplicity of the dish fool you; the ridged rigatoni soaks up the bright, acidic tomato sauce beautifully, and the savory guanciale adds a lovely textural contrast, with parmesan for a rich yet tangy aftertaste.
I ordered their Abbacchio al Forno (€19), which came with a gargantuan portion of roasted lamb on the bone, served with tender herbed potatoes and fresh lettuce. The lamb was flavorful yet not overly gamey, and I appreciated the lettuce on the side, as it seemed vegetables were few and far between during our time in Rome!
Lastly, we ordered four Tiramisus (€7 each) - this was a fairly traditional take on the classic dessert, with pillowy ladyfingers soaked in espresso, topped with whipped mascarpone and a light dusting of cocoa powder. Four orders was probably overkill; each portion can comfortably serve two.
We truly loved our meal at Osteria Cacio e Pepe - the vibe is warm and fun, the food is delicious, and price-wise, it's perfectly reasonable, fitting for a sit-down Roman osteria that balances authenticity with accessibility. We appreciated the complimentary limoncello shots to close out the night - just another example of the Roman hospitality we'd received all throughout our trip!