Chowhound Challenge: 1 PERFECT ROME RESTAUARANT

[michaeldempsey]

Here's the criteria:

I need 1 Rome restaurant for our first night in Rome. Will be with my partner who not only has never been to Italy, he's never been to Europe. I'm looking to inaugurate our trip with a first night dinner at a good moderately priced trattoria/osteria/ristorante, anywhere in the center, that of course has decent to good food, but more importantly is also heavy on cozy old world atmospherics (this could be anything from subterranean vaulted ceilings, the classic checkered tablecloth etc...) I'd love to really immerse him in a visually quintessentially Roman dining experience that is not a challenging experience for weary travelers (negotiating a table...language barriers:we'll be exhausted) and is quite heavy on picturesque charm while still maintaining a reasonable level of quality preparation. IT WILL BE A SUNDAY NIGHT in late AUG. Can you help?

[minchilli]

Sunday in August for an old fashioned type of trattoria isn't the easiest. The truly simple ones will almost certainly be closed. La Campana (as sernoff suggests) is a good choice, but definitely check for August opening hours.
Another good choice, that is definitely open, is Taverna dei Fori Imperiali. Very Italian, a/c inside, but also a handful of tables outside. They all speak English (for your jet lagged brain) and it's very charming. Also great food.
Alternatively I would suggest Flavio Velavevodetto, in Testaccio. Again, open Sundays, but check for August. Very atmospheric, old fashioned Roman place.
Another place that is open on Sundays is Al Moro, but doubt it is open in August.
Have a great trip!
Elizabeth
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www.elizabethminchilli.com

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La Campana
Vicolo della Campana, 18, Roma, IT 00186, IT

Al Moro
Vicolo delle Bollette, 13, Rome, Lazio , IT

Taverna dei Fori Imperiali
Via Madonna dei Monti 9, Rome, Lombardia 00184, IT

Flavio al Velavevodetto
Via di Monte Testaccio 97, Rome, Lazio 00153, IT

[jen kalb]

I think that one of our Rome regulars will be reporting back on which places are open in August - and when - later on this summer - you should stay tuned for that info.

[YounginRome]

Not many places have air conditioning (particularly anything old world) so an any night in August you're going to want to be outside - both for comfort and to people watch. I'd suggest Da Lucia on a small backstreet in the lively Trastevere neighborhood. They have all the classic Roman pastas and everything is very reasonably priced.

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Da Lucia
Vicolo del Mattonato, Rome, Lazio 00153, IT

[sernoff]

There are a number of reports on this board regarding which restaurants are open on Sunday evenings. Do a search combining rome and sunday. See my dining report posted on May 20th for my impressions of La Campana, which I believe is open Sunday nights and may meet your specifications. The restaurant is a few blocks north of the Piazza Navona.

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La Campana
Vicolo della Campana, 18, Roma, IT 00186, IT