Once we were settled into our favorite hotel in Rome, the River Palace Hotel near the Piazza del Popolo, we focused on activities that we did not have a chance to do during our Rome excursion in 2015.

For example, my friend decided to sign us up for one of the Roman Guy foodie tours. This tour organization has received rave reviews from travel experts. Here is the link:The Foodies – The Roman Foodie/ theromanfoodie.com

“Your Roman experience is not complete without authentic Roman cuisine.  Tonight we’ll choose the restaurant and even what you eat!  All you have to do is follow our local guide from place to place while he/she entertains you with anecdotes about local Roman food.  Like any Roman meal, libations are included!”

Rome’s Foodie Neighborhoods
“The Trastevere “Locals” Food Tour in Rome is an excellent way to see Rome’s foodie neighborhoods where many of the most authentic & historic restaurants in the center of Rome are located. We start in the area around the famous Campo de’ Fiori where you’ll be shown some of the best places to eat in Rome. Your Roman food tour begins with a glass of Italian Prosecco or wine, after which you’ll learn the true meaning of “Aperitivo.”

Roman Restaurants
“The Italian culinary exploration will continue across the Ponte Sisto bridge into Trastevere, a popular Roman neighborhood. This foodie neighborhood is home to hundreds of outstanding Roman restaurants, where you will eat your way through a myriad of meats & cheeses, pizza and local Roman pasta dishes.”

“This food tour in Rome takes you through the courses and finishes with an exceptional dessert. You have been warned, come only with an empty stomach!”

We did meet our Roman Guy host, Alfredo at the Piazza  Farnese. He escorted us and six other participants to multiple places where we  feasted on various wines along with a variety cheeses, meats, appetizers, wood oven baked pizzas, fried salt cod, fried artichokes, pasta with tomatoes, bacon (pig’s right cheek) and onion (amatriciana sauce), carbonara (easy recipe but difficult to do well). Another popular pasta dish is cacio e pepe pasta (a roman dish made with cheeses and pepper). We topped off our food extravaganza with delicious gelato.

Here are a some of places that we visited:

A food icon item which has Romans frequently standing in long lines is for the fried salted cod or fried fillet baccalà at Dar Filettaro a Santa Barbara, just off the southern corner of Campo Di Fiori at Largo dei Librari 88. We did not have to stand in line to savor this fried treat with golden brown, non greasy batter which was surprisingly tasty. Yes, I would also join a long line.

For the best fried artichokes and a sample of Roman pasta dishes, we were escorted to Trattoria Da Teo at Piazza dei Ponziani 7A in Trastevere;  Phone number +39 06 5818355; Business website trattoriadateo.it. At another table someone was eating fried zucchini flowers stuffed with mozzarella and anchovies which looked great.

For scrumptios appetizers and outstanding wine choices we found ourselves at a Travastere bar, KM0 (zero),Vicolo de Cinque 30/a, 00153 Rome, Italy; +39 06 581 8912. The selections of cheeses, meats, pesto and other spreads on homemade bread were outstanding.

If you check the internet, it will become obvious that you can start a war arguing about where the best cheeses, pizza or gelato (Italian ice cream) is served in Rome. Next June, 2017, I and my 14 year old grandson will be conducing our own taste tests.

Below is a sample of a review of one pizzeria by a very satisfied pizza lover. Others declare their favorite cheese shop, pizzeria or gelateria with equal zealousness.

“I was in Rome for a week and we ate pizza every day for lunch, and pasta every day for dinner, because #YOLO. This was the best pizza we had.  I scoured all of the Yelp reviews and blog posts on “Best Pizza in Rome” and “Where Locals Get Their Pizza” and consulted sites like Katie Parla’s Rome (highly recommended). Everyone mentioned Pinsere…It’s a tiny place and there’s no seats…The staff are friendly and helpful, speak English, and let me take copious photos of their pizza. Grab a counter space outside, take a bite, and another,and thank me later.”

“Favorites: the potato-prosciutto, the margherita, the pumpkin-prosciutto…”

 

Best cheeses, gelato, and pizza in Rome:

The Roman Foodie’s Trastevere Locals Food Tour: The Best … touristmeetstraveler.com/2014/the-roman–guys-trastevere-local-food…… the most authentic has to be the Trastevere “Locals” Food Tour  by The Roman Guy. …

The 15 Best Places for a Cheese in Rome – Foursquare https://foursquare.com/top-places/rome/best-places-cheeseMay 30, 2016 … Roscioli is one of The 15 Best Places for a Cheese in Rome…Via Dei Giubbonari, 21, Roma, Lazio. Gourmet Shop · Sant’Eustachio

Beppe’s Cheeses Come to Campo de‘ Fiori – Katie Parla http://katieparla.com/beppes-cheeses-come-to-campo-de-fiori/Jan 27, 2015 …

Roscioli.com | Top quality food and wine in the heart of Rome http://www.roscioli.com/(Campo de Fiora area)In the heart of Rome, Roscioli is a world of flavours and atmospheres. Discover the  the special foods that we have selected with care …

Pizza – Elizabeth Minchilli in Rome http://www.elizabethminchilliinrome.com/recipes/pizza/Mar 5, 2015 … best pizza in rome {2013}. You asked for it…A list of where to eat pizza in Rome.

Pizzeria in Rome, Italy – Lonely Planet http://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/rome/restaurants/pizzeria32 restaurants in Rome, Italy – including Pizzarium, Da Ricci, and Pizza Ré. … serves some of Rome’s best sliced pizza….

 10 of the best pizza places in Rome | Travel | The Guardian http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/jul/13/top-10-pizza-places-romeJul 13, 2011 … Rome– blogger Katie Parla eats her way around the Italian capital’s tastiest pizzerias…

Forno la Renella – Lonely Planet http://www.lonelyplanet.com › … › Italy › Rome & Lazio › Rome Lonely Planet/ The wood-fired ovens at this historical Trastevere bakery have been going for … Location: Rome , Italy; Address: Via del Moro 15-16; Telephone: +390 6 581 72 …

Best Gelato in Rome http://www.romewise.com/best-gelato-in-rome.htmlLooking for the best gelato in Rome? I’ve done (am still doing) extensive research on this.

The Scoop On The Best Gelato In Rome – Forbes Travel Guide Blog http://blog.forbestravelguide.com/the-scoop-on-the-best-gelato-in-romeMay 23, 2016 … Correspondent Angela Corrias details the secrets to hunting down new (and timeless) shops dishing out the Italian treat.