Originating as a dish of the peasants and shepherds of the Roman countryside, today cacio e pepe is loved by everyone. Its preparation requires the use of readily available products: black pepper, Roman pecorino cheese and pasta (usually tonnarello is used). But let’s see where you can eat a space cacio e pepe in the capital.
Felice a Testaccio
Felice a Testaccio is a restaurant well known in the city precisely for its Roman cuisine. It is no coincidence that it is located in one of the most veracious neighborhoods of the Eternal City. Just think that on its website there is a section exclusively dedicated to Cacio e Pepe (house specialty). The recipe calls for 200 grams of fresh egg and flour tonnarelli, 70 grams of grated Pecorino Romano cheese, 30 grams of Parmigiano Reggiano, 2 tablespoons of EVO oil, cooking water and ground black pepper. The tonnarelli cost 14 euros.
Where: Via Mastro Giorgio, 29, 00153 Rome. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Trattoria da Danilo
If you want to eat a cacio e pepe mantecata directly inside the pecorino cheese wheel, this is the place. We are in the Esquiline and da Danilo is a trattoria that serves typical Roman dishes, including the beloved cacio e pepe pasta. The tonnarelli cost 14 euros.
Where: Via Petrarca, 13, 00185, Rome. Tuesday through Saturday it is open for lunch and dinner, Sunday is closed, and Monday is open only for dinner.
Osteria Bonelli
If you’re looking for a non-tourist osteria, Osteria Bonelli is a real place that serves old-fashioned dishes (stuffed zucchini, meatballs with sauce, boiled meat). In Torpignattara you’ll find burrata ravioli, bucatini all’amatriciana, tagliolini with sausage ragout, and the fantastic tonnarelli cacio e pepe. Prices are lower than downtown osterias, but the quality of the dishes is not questioned.
Where: Viale dell’Acquedotto Alessandrino, 172/174, 00177 Rome. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Pecorino
Here’s another trattoria in Testaccio that offers fried artichokes and fabulous pasta dishes. And the prices are not high either! The restaurant is on two floors and is very quaint. Spaghetti cacio e pepe costs 12 euros.
Where: Via Galvani, 64, 00153 Rome. Open Tuesday through Sunday for both lunch and dinner.
La Fraschetta in Castel Sant’Angelo.
This simple little fraschetta is famous for its gricia. The restaurant has benches outside that allow you to eat outside when the weather permits. Rigatoni alla gricia costs 10 euros.
Where: Via del Banco di Santo Spirito, 20, 00186 Rome. It is open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner.