La Flaca

I visited this place because it ranked third as Rome's best Carbonara according to RomaToday's social media rankings. The restaurant is quite charming, well-decorated, and has a few tables outside. It's located in a decidedly non-central area, specifically just a short walk from the Porta di Roma shopping center. It has that classic look of a place suitable for both aperitivo and dinner, and the menu—decidedly fusion and eclectic—confirms this, ranging from fried foods, pasta dishes, meat, hamburgers, pinse and poke bowls. I tried the supplì, which was good, crispy, generous and flavorful, though I didn't quite appreciate the mozzarella being too mixed into the filling rather than classically stretchy in the center. The carbonara is undoubtedly good, abundant, generous and tasty—I'd call it solid quality—but also a bit too clever for its own good. It winks at the more "unpretentious" side of the dish, with plenty of creamy sauce that's not silky but rather foamy, abundant guanciale that's cut so thin and fried that you can't quite make out any nuance of flavor or texture. So good, yes, but clever—appreciated and enjoyable, but better suited for a fun evening with friends than for other occasions.