Rome, the eternal city, a gigantic metropolis of classical architecture - and a center for pasta! Millions of visitors rave year after year at least as extensively about the indescribable pasta dishes they have eaten in the Italian capital as about the monumental sights, such as the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain. Spaghetti, penne, tagliatelle and co, the choice is endless, as is the number of restaurants serving fantastic pasta in Rome. In a city where excellent pasta restaurants can be found on every corner, is there any restaurant that stands out with its pasta dishes? Culinary experts say, "Yes!"

Roscioli, the (allegedly) best pasta in Rome

Yet one of the best (if not the best) pasta restaurants in Rome is not a restaurant in the classical sense at all: Roscioli, in the famous Via dei Giubbonari is a Salumeria con Cucina - a gourmet deli and kitchen - and according to Massimo Bottura and Luciano Monosilio, two Italian celebrity chefs, the number one destination for pasta in Rome!

Bottura, chef and owner of Osteria Francescana in Modena, which has three Michelin stars and is one of the best restaurants in the world, is highly praised for its Roscioli. "The quality of the ingredients and the technique of preparing the pasta, as well as the degree to which it is cooked, is unmatched in Rome. And I've eaten a lot of pasta in Rome," he revealed in a 2019 interview. Monsilio's Roscioli, better known as the king of carbonara, receives similar praise. "That's where you'll find me when I'm in Rome," raves the storied pasta expert.

A family history

No one could have imagined that Salumeria Roscioli, which opened in 1992 as an offshoot of Marco Roscioli's historic family-run bakery, would become such a success and land on countless best-of-rome lists. During a complete renovation in 2002, the kitchen, and with it the menu, would be expanded. The operators placed the highest value on the quality of the ingredients and the traditions of Italian cuisine. What was a radical idea twenty years ago - a delicatessen with tables and a kitchen - is now an absolute recipe for success that even attracts the best chefs in the world.

The most popular dishes are reported to be the top-notch carbonara (which in Italy definitely does not include cream), spaghetti alla gricia (a classic with pecorino and guanciale), cacio e pepe (a simple poem of pepper and cheese), and fiery amatriciana (one of Rome's most famous pasta sauces). In addition to impeccable pasta, regulars here enjoy delicacies like anchovies with butter, carciofi alla cafona (pickled artichokes) and cherry tomatoes with olive oil. In addition, the more than 300 types of cheese and 200 types of prosciutto meet the taste buds of all lovers of Italian cuisine. As befits a legendary salumeria, the wine selection is also fantastic - you are in Rome, after all. A little insider tip: Locals rarely order dishes from the menu, but rather express their wishes to the chefs, or simply let themselves be surprised. You won't be disappointed here in any case.

Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina

Via dei Giubbonari, 21, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Tel.: +39 06 687 5287
Web: salumeriaroscioli.com