Hostaria La Casetta

I ended up there because RomaToday had listed it among Rome's best carbonaras. Let's just say it doesn't quite make the podium, though.

The guanciale is outstanding, I'll give them that. Top quality, cooked almost to perfection. It's just that the cream sauce... well, never mind. Thin, forced, practically borderline scrambled. I reckon I caught them on an off day, because you can tell they know what they're doing. Oh, and they bring the pepper on the side. Personally, I'd already have it mixed in.

We also tried the amatriciana with the same quality guanciale and beautiful tomato, except the bucatini were slightly overcooked. Then the house antipasto and fried seafood—nothing spectacular but honest.

The real winner? The carciofo alla giudia. And the ricotta with honey, incredibly fresh. The tiramisu and strawberries with cream were decent enough.

But here's the thing: what really strikes you is the atmosphere. Real family, genuine food, people who actually care. That counts for a lot and overshadows the rough edges. It's that classic spot where you eat traditional Roman cuisine made with love, not chain-restaurant stuff.

The place is tiny, 35-40 seats max. Book ahead. And be prepared to spend fifteen minutes hunting for parking because it's a nightmare around there.

24 euros per person—totally worth it. I'll be back to try the gricia, curious to see if they redeem themselves with that one.