Tonnarello

I discovered this place for the first time on Boxing day as I wondered around Trastevere with my family trying to burn all those calories from Christmas. We had been walking around Rome for a few hours and it had got to lunchtime. I am one of the first people to admit that hunger turns me in a bad mood; therefore I was having difficulties with finding where to go and have some food that would not be too touristy in this particular touristic area of Rome. Usually, when looking for a restaurant, my biggest red cross is on places that have individuals placed outside trying to push you to go to their restaurant. For me, that just means they just do not get enough customers because their food quality is not too high. My second red cross is seeing “set tourist menu’s”, or menus with pictures of food on them. This also means it is aimed at tourists and therefore their quality-price rapport is not very good.

Anyway we walked all the way through from Piazza Trilussa down to Piazza di Santa Maria. On our way to Piazza Santa Maria, in Via della Paglia, we saw a restaurant called Tonnarello. It must have been the only restaurant in Trastevere to not have someone outside calling you in. I took a quick look at the menu outside and to be fair they had a vast selection of options. The waiter came and sat us down on a table outside (yes outside! it was warm enough to sit outside on the 26thof December! ).

Tonnarello is a tavern situated in the heart of Trastevere, the most cultural and historic part of Rome. The restaurant aims to serve traditional cuisine with its own interpretation. They have recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation, which they use to create traditional Italian plates. Their traditional dishes include “Tonnarelli”, which is what gave the restaurant its name. Tonnarelli is homemade pasta that resembles spaghetti but is made with eggs and has a thicker squared shape. They make this homemade pasta every morning.

The Food:

The menu, as I previously stated is very varied. Therefore you can choose from a range of starters including a trio of bruschetta, fried calamari, ham and melon (typical summer Italian starter). However only order a starter if you are really hungry, as they bring a complimentary basket of rosemary focaccia which is absolutely divine. As a main course you can either chose Pasta, Pizza or Meat/Fish. You can also choose meatballs, which seems like an interesting dish as you can choose between broccoli and sausage meatballs, classic tomato sauce meatballs or aubergine and potato meatballs. They are served with vegetables and roast potatoes. Unfortunately, even though the meatballs sound beyond delicious I opted for a steak to try and save calories from the Christmas meal. The veal steak though was absolutely delicious, served with rocket and Parmesan slates. My cousin chose the “stracetti al Vino, Rucola e Grana con Patate al forno”, which is thinly sliced pieces of beef on a rocket salad. This is a very tasty, light option for lunch as it is not overly heavy. The pasta is also an interesting option as it is fresh and homemade, and their “Cacio e Pepe” is delicious. The pasta is served in a little frying pan which is a fun and unique way to serve a dish, and certainly keeps the pasta warm!.

At the end of the meal, I asked for a coffee and with that, they bought a large jar of homemade biscuits that we could just help ourselves to for no extra cost. It is these small gestures that really make a place memorable! The staff is very friendly and surely attentive to all needs. Furthermore, the restaurant has free Wi-Fi. If you find yourself in the area and are unsure where to go for some food then I would highly suggest you try here, you would be fully satisfied!