This is very well hidden treasure, we stopped here accidentally on our way to Via Appia Antica, and it was our best luck of the day... from the gastronomic standpoint, best luck of the entire visit to Italy, actually. We even had to return later to have dinner here, despite our strict rule to eat in different places (yes, we do take our taste buds to travel with us!). You can definitely find many much fancier places in the center of the city, and if you are ok with 2 inch steak on the 2 foot plate for 200 of its real cost (just because chef artistically painted the rim of the dish with some brownish substance, may be sauce, that you wouldn't even touch) to impress your lady, then don't bother. Or you may like regular Barilla bought in the analog of an "everything-for-99" store, slightly boiled and mixed with "Ragu" for 1.99 and served to you on, say, Piazza Navona for 18 euro. But if you are, like us, all for the authentic, restaurant quality home made delicacies for the reasonable price, then this is going to be one of your favorite places in Rome. Chef (and owner, two-in-one) cooks to please your belly, not your eyes. Although food does look good, too.
Pro's:
1. Everything is fresh and made from the scratch. Juicy. Tasty. Not over-salted like i found in many Italian restaurants. Just right to my Americanized taste.
2. Size of the portions were good, too.
3. Kitchen was clean (I poked my nose in there).
4. Restroom (oh, my God, such a problem in Italy!) was clean and well maintained.
5. Ambiance: 10 out of 10
6. Friendliness of the family of owners: 100 out of 10.
7. Parking, parking, parking!!!!!!!
8. Bus stop right there, for those of us who enjoys risk-aversion and choose not to drive in such city like Rome.
9. "You get what you pay for" as the universal law does not work here. You get more.
Con"s:
1. Location: it is a little on the outskirt and you need to spend about half an hour to get here from the city center (i.e. Teatro Marcello) on the public transportation. But if you do, you will never regret.
P.S. Not everyone may like this place, of course. We are traditional couple of middle age american physicians, liking good food and good hearted people more than loud music, color of the plates, or size of an outside banner. read more