Rome Forum: Any nice restaurants near the Vatican?

We just returned home from Rome and enjoyed a delicious dinner at Piacere Molise. It is a small family restaurant with the husband as chef and wife as server. The food was delicious and the restaurant was filled with local people. The only "negative" was trying to pay the bill. They didn't bother you about leaving and were

perfectly content with you staying as long as you wanted. We got up and walked to the rear of the restaurant to get them to give us the check.

The restaurant is just a few blocks from the entrance to the Vatican.

Cross the street, go down the steps (you are on Via Tunisi), two blocks down make a right and the restaurant is on the other side of the street. Address: Via Candia, 60- ENJOY!!

ELM

Thanks for the tip!

Thanks for the tip!

One cultural difference between America and Europe that frustrates the heck out of Americans until somebody clues us in - in Europe, it is considered rude to bring the check until you ask for it. In America, it is brought automatically, and we consider having to wait and eventually ask for the check an indication that the waiter is not doing his job. It took me several trips to Europe (and numerous complaints about poor service) before a tour guide clued me in on this. She was shocked to learn we didn't know this (and rather offended at the American practice). I continue to be amazed that guidebooks don't point out this very basic difference.

I really have to sing the praises of this family own restaurant . We were taken here by a TA regular who lives just outside of Rome. Ivano meet us at the Vatican and we went to lunch at Trattoria da Marco. It's on via Silla between via Degli Scipioni & via Germanico. We weren't offered a menu so don't know if there is one. Just that Mama made Lasagna and Linguini with roman clams. (different from vongoli). So delicious....I wish I could pop in right now for some more....LOL...

we went to la veranda (sp?) which is a restaurant inside hotel columbus. enjoyed an outdoor lunch there.

Les Etolies is fab, view from the Window St Peters Basillica. Very romantic and good value for money

Here are four:

Taverna Angelica Piazza Amerigo Capponi, 6

A more adventurous and contemporary cuisine and decor than the plethora of Trattorie in the area. Often well reviewed. Our best meal in the neighborhood.

Velando: Ristorante della Val Camonica Borgo Vittoria, 26

A regional cuisine restaurant from an area in Northern Italy. Interesting in the context of unrelenting standard Roman menus.

Empty late on a very rainy night but a worthwhile experience in a well tended room.

Hostaria da Benito e Gilberto al Falco Via del Falco, 19

Always busy hole in the wall. Famous for great seafood. Just below our apartment in Borgo for 10 days last fall. Hard to get into without a reservation.

Ristochicco Restaurant Borgo Pio, 186

Our favorite local trattoria where the hospitality of this family superseded any aspects of the food which easily equaled the standards of this neighborhood traditionally set by say Tre Pupazzi down the street. We liked these people and they seemed to like us. Worth a plug in my book.

All these have websites. Since TripAdvisor does not enable links, a Google will do it.

Others given good enough reviews:

L'Arcangelo, Borgo Antico, Arlu, Les Etoiles, Osteria dell' Angelo.

Can't say from experience except that we chose the above (five) based on reviews and scouting.

Osteria di Prati has a great menu and we got friendly, helpful service. Very pleasant atmosphere also.

It is located on Via Tunisi near the corner of Via Candia (a few blocks from the entrance to the Vatican Museum).