ITALY - Best of Europe 2014 - page 1032

RistorantedaGiovanni, well-wornandold-fashioned,makesnoconcessionstotourism
or the modern world—just hardworking cooks and waiters serving standard dishes at great
prices to a committed clientele. It's simply fun to eat in the middle of this high-energy,
Roman time warp (€6-10 pastas and secondi , daily specials, Mon-Sat 12:00-15:00 &
19:00-22:00, closed Sun and Aug, corner of Via XX Settembre at Via Antonio Salandra 1,
tel. [phone]).
Annicinquanta Pizzeria, big and classic, serves the neighborhood's favorite pizzas in
a calm ambience with outdoor seating (€8 Neapolitan-style pizzas, daily 12:15-15:30 &
19:30-24:00 except no lunch on Sat, Via Flavia 3, tel. [phone]).
Ristorante la Pentolaccia, pricier and more romantic than the nearby Da Giovanni, is
a dressy, tourist-friendly place with tight seating and traditional Roman cooking—consider
their daily specials. This is a local hangout, and reservations are smart (daily 12:00-15:00 &
17:30-23:00,ablockoffViaXXSettembreatViaFlavia38,tel.[phone]).Tostartthings
off with a free bruschetta, leave this topic on the table.
I Colori del Vino Enoteca is a modern wine bar that feels like a laboratory of wine ap-
preciation. It has woody walls of bottles, a creative menu of meats and cheeses with differ-
ent regional themes, and a great list of fine wines by the glass. Helpful, English-speaking
Marco carries on a long family tradition of celebrating the fundamentals of good nutrition:
finewine,cheese,meat,andbread(Mon-Fri12:00-15:00&17:30-23:00,closedSat-Sunbe-
cause Marco doesn't cater to noisy weekend drinkers, corner of Via Flavia and Via Aureli-
ana, tel. [phone]). Remember Shakespeare's sage warning about drinking: “It provokes
the desire, but it takes away the performance.”
More Eateries near the Station
(See “Restaurants near Termini Station” map, here . )
Target Restaurant seems to be the favorite recommendation ofevery hotel receptionist and
tour guide for this neighborhood. It has reliably good food, a sleek look, capable service,
and practical prices (€8-12 salads, pastas, and pizzas; €20 secondi, daily 12:00-15:00 &
19:00-24:00exceptnolunchonSun,reservetospecifyseatingoutsideorinside—avoidget-
ting seated in basement, Via Torino 33, tel. [phone]).
Hostaria Romana is a busy bistro with a hustling and fun-loving gang of waiters, and
noisy walls graffitied by happy eaters. As its menu specializes in traditional Roman dishes,
it's a good place to try saltimbocca alla romana or bucatini all'amatriciana . Their €10 an-
tipasti plate, with a variety of vegetables and cheeses, makes a hearty start to your meal (€9
pastas, €14 secondi , Mon-Sat 12:15-15:00 & 19:15-23:00, closed Sun, reservations smart, a
block up the lane just past the entrance to the big tunnel near the Trevi Fountain at Via del
Boccaccio 1, tel. [phone]).