There are a number of restaurants around the world that I have visited that I would go out of my way to go back to. From this list is Tonnarello in Rome, Italy.
During my first visit to Rome with my cousin Freya, we had just spent the morning at the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, marveling at the historic architecture and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. It was a very hot day, with the sun beating down on us. At this point, we were starving and looking for somewhere to eat.
We were hoping for a classic Italian meal, desperate for a good plate of pasta. We came across Tonnarello as we were walking around and it was pretty busy, even before the lunch rush hour, so we thought we’d take that as a good sign and sat down. This turned out to be such an amazing decision!
Tonnarello has 4.7/5 stars on Google, with over 70,000 reviews. It is known for its pasta and its meatballs, as well as its other classic Roman dishes. It’s located at V. della Paglia, 1/2/3, 00153 Roma RM, Italy.
There are another three locations around the city that you can also try. To get to this location from the Roman Forum, we walked over the River Tiber, across the Ponte Palatino, and it was about a 20 minute walk.
There is seating both inside and out, but we chose to sit outside under the umbrellas to soak in the Italian weather.
As we were in Italy, I had a large glass of white wine, while Freya had an Aperol Spritz, and we paired our drinks with the fried mix to start. This was a mixture of different croquettes, with an Amatriciana rice ball, as well as bolognese, cheese and pepper, and potato fillings. The insides were very flavorful, while the breading was golden and crisp. There were two of each croquette, making it a perfect sharing plate.
For our mains, we went with the iconic carbonara. The pasta came out in worn silver pans, and was absolutely delicious. The thick homemade noodles were smothered in a creamy sauce, with fatty and savory pancetta pieces and a dusting of a rich and nutty parmesan, making it an unmissable dish.
As we were eating, the tables filled to the point where a line began to form and people were being sent away as the restaurant was full. To me, it didn’t feel claustrophobic however, and the pleasant atmosphere remained throughout the meal. We also didn’t feel like we were being rushed to let someone else come and sit, but rather got to take our time and enjoy lunch.
We loved the meal so much, we went back the next day after our trip to the Vatican. The Tonnarello that we frequented was in a great location, located between both major tourist sites. Freya and I had Google Maps up to see what was in the area, and when we saw that it was just a 30 minute walk away, we knew it was a no-brainer to go back and have lunch again.
The second time around, we each had our own dishes. I went with the bruschetta to start, while Freya went with the calamari. It was a trio of bruschetta - fresh tomatoes, mozzarella and parma ham, and mozzarella with anchovies - served on toasted bread with a small salad pairing. The calamari was crispy and juicy, covered in a fresh batter and served with a lemon wedge.
I would give the edge to the croquettes, but all three dishes are worth giving a try. It would just depend on who you are and what you’re craving for your meal!
For mains, Freya went with the mentality of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’, and had the carbonara again, saying it was just as good the second time. For me, I wanted to try something new, and I absolutely love a pesto pasta. Tonnarello’s pesto pasta was delicious and creamy, served with pine nuts and cherry tomatoes and topped with parmesan cheese.
As much as I loved the carbonara day one, I was so happy I had tried something new. I would definitely recommend both pasta dishes if you find yourself sitting down at a Tonnarello.
Pricing wise, Tonnarello isn't a stop for budget travelers, but it also isn't a place that will leave a hole in your wallet. For us, the bill was around €50 both days, which included a couple drinks, a starter or two, and two mains, making it about €25 each. In my opinion, the food was worth the price, and there were places that we went to on our trip in Italy where we paid more for something that was no where near as nice, as well as paid less for something that was very 'meh'. Each person has their own personal budget, so take this as a guide to Tonnarello and make the decision for yourself the next time you're in Rome!
To take a look at Tonnarello’s menu, click here. The menu is translated to Italian, English, German, French, and Spanish.
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