Saturday night, 8 p.m., our first night in Rome -- our first time in Italy. We noticed the restaurant listed on the board in our hotel lobby. When we rolled up, we thought it was closed: the dining room was empty, and the door seemed locked. As we stood there debating what to do, the door was opened by a stranger who expressed amused surprise at our apparent inability to open a door and walk in. Meet Sabatino, our new best friend. We sat down at a two-top in the cozy, charming restaurant, and I wondered if it would be awkward being the only customers. I never found out. Within 15 minutes, two parties of eight showed up, and very soon every other table was full as well. Sabatino expertly handled the entire room with effortless grace. He has a gift for making every table feel special and welcome, taking his time with everyone in at least three fluent languages. We saw his generosity, kindness, passion for the food, and sly humor in every interaction and felt lucky to be there. And the food. Oh, the food. Sabatino pretty much told us what we would eat, and we were happy to obey. That first night we started with, what else, the cheese, jam, and cured meats platter. Delicious! Then came my husband's sheep specialty, a house favorite, and for me, delicate, puffy pillows of ravioli with a cream sauce and lots of pepper. Heaven. The second night, we had the pleasure of meeting the queen of the kitchen, Giulia. Compared to Sabatino, anyone would seem shy, but within minutes we were sharing photos of our pets and laughing about what fools we are for them. We also happened to be seated next to a fun couple from New Zealand we'd run into earlier that day outside the Vatican, so the serendipity continued. We happily dove into the charcuterie platter again, followed by lasagna, penne, and panna cotta with sour cherries -- silky, decadent, and the perfect ending to our last meal in Rome. Thank you, Sabatino and Giulia. We can't wait to return, and when we do, Osti Matti will be both our first meal and our last! xo read more

See all

Love love love this place! Sabatino is an amazing host and Cook. Highly recommend and will return next time I find myself in Rome. He totally helped us understand the culture and what Romans do with Italian food that we do not do here in the US. Thank you, Sabatino! read more

See all

Located in a nondescript street, found great reviews on yelp and just had to try it. First, Sabatino is a great host, he welcomes everyone and very friendly towards tourists, unlike other restaurant workers. He is the owner and works at the front. The FOOD! The best ravioli, pasta griscia, amatriciana, and pork shank with balsalmic-cherry sauce. The house white wine is great with pasta and husband was able to try local beers. Affordable prices too! The place is cozy and comfortable with just enough tables. Sunday night was full, we liked it so much we came back the very next day. Off the beaten path but definitely worth the time. Best restaurant in Rome! read more

See all

I still dream about the food I had at this place. It was our first night in Italy and we were starving. We randomly chose this place, and NOTHING has compared to this food yet!! This was two years ago and I still can't forget the amazing service, the delicious food, and the cozy vibes. Don't debating it, please eat here ASAP!! read more

See all

This restaurant was recommended to us by our AirBnB hostess. As Americans visiting the area (which is predominantly local Italians) we were unsure what to expect. Sabatini (the host, waiter, and general everything) was responsive and patient with us, as the menu was in Italian. We ended up dining here FOUR times in the 2 weeks we were in the area. The food is amazing-the chef (the only other employee here) can create local dishes that are an experience. The shortest time spent enjoying dinner here was two hours; while it may not be fast, it IS authentic. Highly recommend! read more

Sabino makes you feel like at home! You may want to make reservations before ha d and they have very different hours. Once inside he will connect with you, recommend items (I would follow his recommendations) and take you on a journey! I really enjoyed the carbonara, bread and pana cotta. Didn't like the roastbeef in balsamic with parmesan as much. read more

See all

Simply beautiful. Authentic handmade heart warming dishes indeed. Owners are lovely. Added to my list of place i must go when i am in the city. read more

This place is a hidden gem in Rome! You must check it out if you are ever there! The food, wine and the owners are all amazing!

Simply amazing, great authentic food. Make reservations! Traveling through Italy, this was the best food we had. Try a coursed meal and the house wine was amazing! read more

Osti Matti - Trattorie Near Me - Rome, RM

See all

This was our last night in Rome and this place did not disappoint. The food was absolutely authentically amazing. Ravioli, lasagna,wine, cheese and honey...a wonderful experience. The food is to die for but the owner was so nice and made you feel like you were eating in your Grandmaw's kitchen. Our only regret was we didn't find it sooner. Don't miss out on this gem as it is an absolute must while in Rome read more

See all

Wait time is long but definitely worth your time!!! I suggest making a reservation. It is very laid back. The owner does everything so don't expect fast orders or check out. He runs the shop in the front and I believe his wife is in the kitchen. This place is organic and the menu isn't in English but he takes the time to describe them. Menu can change daily. I Definitely felt at home here and he was very welcoming. The food here is the best I have tried in Rome!!! Go for the lasagna! Main entree serving size is small so definitely get side dishes! Such a gem in the area! read more

See all

This will be a long review but it's well deserved for this hidden gem! Not only was the food incredible but the entire experience itself was unforgettable. Sabatino, the owner, has managed to create a uniquely warm environment in the small, quaint space located semi off the beaten path. We had popped our heads in on our last day in Rome while walking back to our hotel and Sabatino happily took our names for a dinner reservation. When we returned, we were seated along with several other couples who had arrived at the same time. He took a few moments to ask each couple where they were from and from there Sabatino explained every item on the short but ample menu in detail to the group as a whole. He took every order and served the entire meal personally as him and the chef are the only employees. He says he can't guarantee any outsider would work as passionately as he does each day and i believe it. The tempo of the meal did not suffer due to this and each course was served at an appropriate interval. The food itself was exactly as it should be. Simple, full of flavor and homemade. By far my favorite item was the mixed meat and cheese plate. I've never had anything quite like it. Sabatino carefully explained in what order to eat each item and which things should and should not be paired with the others. The Rose hip marmalade served on the side was to die for. In addition we ordered sheep lasagna a tagliatelle with sheep meat. I had a delectable dessert of chantilly cream with chocolate and berries that I wish I could have again! After our meal we stayed at the restaurant chatting with Sabatino and the chef, whose name i regretfully cannot recall, for over an hour. Both are so passionate and you can feel the love they put into their food and service. This restaurant will take you slightly outside of the city but if you have the opportunity to visit, i highly recommend doing so for a truly individualized experience and homemade cooking read more

Osti Matti - Sheep lasagna and tagliatelle with sheep - Trattorie Near Me - Rome, RM

See all

I loved this place! The owner is hilarious and explained the menu to us foreigners in full detail. We ordered the tagliatelle based on his advice and were not disappointed. The cheese and meat plate was also amazing. We got to try six different cheeses. This was definitely one of my favorite dining experiences in Rome. read more

See all

Osti Matti was our first meal in Rome and we couldn't be more pleased. Our host described the menu in English and he was so welcoming and had a great sense to humor. We (my husband and I) got a half pint of wine and the cheese and meat board to start - omg the cheeses were so on point. Next, we both got the half and half tagliatelle, one with the classic Bolognese sauce and the other was the house special made with sheep. Both were sooo delicious! The highlight for me were the fresh noodles. They were perfect in every way- al dente, yet delicate and chewy at the same time. We ended with the Panna cotta and let's just say I was about to lick it clean but didn't want to look like "that person" What a great way to start off our trip! read more

I loved eating here!!! It's been over a year but I still think about this beautiful experience I came to Roma with a friend and we had no idea what we were doing. We happened upon this restaurant that was around the corner from our hotel and absolutely fell in love! The food was fantastic! The "Crazy Host" was so welcoming and kind! He taught the proper ways to order meals and gave the best recommendations for entertainment in Italy! I wish you could give more than 5 stars We enjoyed it so much that we ate there 3 days in a row! read more

See all

The eccentric owner is super interesting and funny! My friends and I were the first people to walk in after opening and the owner spent about an hour just talking to us and introducing the menu. All of the recipes here are passed down from his grandmother! The owner is kind of a troll which is super funny and he specially had my truffle risotto made with half pasta as well; I personally liked the pasta noodles even more than the risotto. The wine was very average, but the food more than makes up for it. Definitely give this place a try; it offers authentic Italian style food that isn't centered around tastes that appeal toward tourist, but rather true Italian tastes. I loved the food and the service so much, I wish I could have gone back one more time! The bill ended up being around 80€ for 4 people, but we also ordered wine and a meat and cheese board. I estimate it would be around 13€ for each entree on average. read more

See all

Best food I've had during our one week stay in Rome! The location was very convenient as it was in the same block as our hotel. The restaurant is very small, only has about ten tables, and gets very busy, so reservations are highly recommended especially on the weekends. Our host/server was very friendly and animated, spoke English, and explained to us what's on the menu as well as some history of the food. My favorites were Tagliatelle al Ragu Emiliano (pasta dish) and panna cotta con crema al cioccolato (dessert). Will definitely come back! read more

See all

Really liked this place but you gotta know what you're getting into! Small family run place. Our waiter was this great high school kid when apologized that his English was so bad (it was actually great) because his English teacher wasn't so good... LOL. Very limited menu. If you want the usual choices this isn't the place for you. We had the meat and cheese plate which had THE best salami ever on it. The served it with honey and two kinds of jam. It was lovely. For dinner we had a bunch of stuff but the stand outs were the lamb tagliatelle, the lamb sausage and the best was the lasagna. It is billed on the menu as the chef's grandma's recipe and it lived up to that! For dessert we had this incredible strawberry panna cotta. Yum! Overall a very nice experience for our last night in Rome. read more

This restaurant is so wonderful that we chose to dine here all 4 nights while staying in Rome. Fresh, organic, and flavorful food cooked with love! We tried many different dishes on the menu and were never disappointed. Sabatino does a great job explaining the menu and giving suggestions on what to try. He goes above and beyond for his customers and he made us feel right at home. Very affordable for the excellent quality of food and wine. We hope to come back again! read more

See all

Amazing food and the staff is so helpful when you don't speak Italian. Wonderful food and wine would recommend to everyone!! read more

See all

Easily the best restaurant we've been to in Italy. The place was quiet, uniquely decorated, and cozy, and the food was incredible! The owner was hospitable as ever and made us feel very welcome. The place seems very known to locals as we did not see many tourists, so the dining felt very authentic to Italian culture. If we were in town for longer I would definitely come back. The panna cotta was the best dessert, i would highly recommend it as well as just about anything else on the menu since everything is freshly made to order. 10/10! read more

A true hidden gem in Rome! The food is as good as it gets anywhere in Rome including the expensive restaurants in the heart of the city. The owner operator Sabatino is so gracious and humorous he makes you feel as though you are dining with family.. If you get a chance check out this place you won't be disappointed! read more

Pick this restaurant to try completely by chance, since we were tired and hungry on our first day in Rome. The food turned out to be amazing and the owner was friendly, funny and super nice. He explained why he opened the restaurant and how he is trying to bring the taste of his home town to the metropolitan big city of Rome. The dishes may not look fancy, but my god are they tasty! The pricing are also very very fair, ranging from 8 to 10 euros for a main dish. 4 to 5 euros for a veggie dish. 1 euro for a glass of wine (It is simply a steal) The lamb Ragu and the pork neck was to die for. The veggie dishes with the owner's own grandmother and his mother's recipe and the charcuterie board were all fantastic. The owner also told us that he sourced all the ingredients from his own farm and farmers that he know, so everything was not only fresh, but very high in quality. To be sure it was legitimately a good tasting restaurant and not just us being tired and hungry on the first day, me and my girlfriend decided to return to Osti Matti for our final meal for the trip. Mind you, we were in Italy for a week, we went to all kinds of restaurants, including one with a Michelin 1 star rating. After our second try, we STILL end up thinking the food was amazing. This place was honestly our favorite place to eat through out the entire trip. Be sure to give it a try! It's worth it. read more

Honestly the best dining experience I have ever had!! Food was delicious and the service was top notch. It's places like this that remind you why you love go off the beaten path. The owner is the only server, so he explains everything to the last detail. We ended up staying for an extra hour that night just to hang out and drink wine him. read more

We found this place by chance and couldn't have been happier for it. It uses only fresh and organic produce, even for wine. Absolutely delicious: fettuccine Bolognese, tagliolini pasta with truffles, home style potatoes, fresh chicory (dandelion) salad, and phenomenal desserts: Panna cotta, tiramisu, some creamy zabaglione-style dessert with dark chocolate and cherries! Amazing local wine from Marche region and rare delectable digestives (after-dinner drinks). To top it off: a warm, caring, and funny owner - what's not to like? Vai! Mangia! read more

Absolute best meal ever! Outstanding service by Sabatino who provided a wonderful (English) explanation of the menu and recommendations for meal choices. Dessert and wine options were amazing to boot. Our overall meal experience here was the highlight to our visit in Rome. This restaurant is a "must do" without a doubt! read more

Good food, friendly and knowledgeable service. The staff speaks good English and helped us pair the wine with the food. Would definitely come back! read more

The restaurant owner was so nice. He explained the menu and presented us with a complimentaryScandanavian crispbread ("music bread") appetizer. The owners parents are Scandinavian. The grilled sea bass (super simplistic and light) and pasta malloreddus was very nice--the latter reminded me of gnocchi. Good, quality fare. Great atmosphere. It's walking distance from the metro and the Holiday Inn Express San Giovanni. read more

See all

A great dining experience. This restaurant was close by our hotel. Went in and the owner/waiter was so very attentive and he was extremely busy. He took the time to explain everything on the menu with detail in english. Everything we got was delicious!! read more

Osti Matti - Truffle pasta - Trattorie Near Me - Rome, RM

See all

Today I saw the Sistine Chapel in the afternoon for the first time and spent the evening at Osti Matti for the first time. The experiences were comparable and won't likely be surpassed in this lifetime or the next. read more

This is some of the best Italian food I've ever eaten, and being raised by an Italian mom, that is pretty hard to beat! The owner is present and will explain, in detail, each dish. We went twice while in Rome and would go back again if we weren't leaving. They make ciccari so flavorful that I had to get the recipe to make when we get home. Their ravioli is all freshly made with non-traditional stuffing and they have a lentil dish that is so full of flavor I cleaned the dish with bread to get the very last bits! To top it off, the owner recommended the panicotta for dessert, and I politely obliged, and have to say it was perfection, light, just sweet enough and so fluffy! Thank you Sabatino for giving us two enjoyable dinners! read more

Osti Matti - Trattorie Near Me - Rome, RM

See all

This place was wonderful!! Not touristy, more where locals would go. The owner was so friendly, explaining everything on the menu. We was accommodating to everyone that entered. Small quaint, perfect Italian atmosphere! The food was to die for, and at such a reasonable price!! We loved it!!!! read more

See all

I was going to give this restaurant an A+, but I completely forgot about A++. The traditional homemade Italian food was superb and the owner, Sebastino, made our visit the most memorable of our trip. He was funny, patient, informative, and made the best suggestions. He took the time to explain every dish on the menu and even told us the best way to eat our anti pasta of meat and cheeses to ensure the flavors were fully enjoyed. Our food was delicious but I'm sure anything you order here will be amazing. read more

Very good rustic food. The wait staff was so kind and generous. He takes the time to explain every dish. He is also trilingual so English, Italian and French he manages with ease and asks almost every person where are they from. The food was impressive with hearty amounts but very fresh and exactly as described. I would go here again and would bring my family. read more

This place was one of my favorite spots to dine at in Rome. First off the service here is amazing the owner went out of his way and explained each and everything on the menu in English to make sure we are comfortable guests. The menu only has fresh local ingredients which is another plus. I tried the prosciutto and cheese as an appetizer which was amazing. He told us exactly which cheese to eat in which order to soothe the palate the best way possible. I got a lamb bolognese and my fiancée got the beef bolognese both were to die for. One thing I loved is how the owner put goat cheese with the goat and cow cheese with the cow. We even tried a beer which was made for the priest which was so flavorful I couldn't get enough. Overall a great experience! read more

Enjoy the experience of a true Italian restaurant. Food was beyond fantastic. Don't come here to eat in 30 minutes-sit back, relax, enjoy the food and the show. Definitely worth your time. read more

Best place to eat in Italy! The owner was so kind and explained the menu, the food was amazing and the wine is the best I have ever had

We had a wonderful dinner visit and was so happy to have met our amazing new friend Sabatino. He taught us a lot about Italian cuisine and the culture. Very informative and funny guy. To top it off, dinner was so yummy! Everything about the food and place was comforting. This was our last stop before leaving Rome, and we wish we had found this gem sooner. For all visitors staying at the Holiday Inn Express in San Giovanni, it's 4 mins away for the hotel! read more

We were recommended here from a friend who had visited and we are so glad we went. The owner told us about each item on the menu! You can tell everything was homemade and love was put into the meal! We even asked for a drink that wasn't served and the owner ran down the street to get the drink for one of our kids! So pleased!! Definitely give this place a try!! read more

If you are visiting Rome for the first time this is a great place to start your Italian dinning experience. The food is amazing, prices were reasonable, but what made the experience amazing was the host. The host is charismatic, funny, and patient. He explained the menu, gave suggestions,and gave you a little bit of background on Italian traditions and customs. He really made you feel like you were having dinner at your friends house, very welcoming and accommodating. I would definitely recommend this place. read more