How many times has it happened to you: you enter a restaurant with the All You Can Eat formula, you have high expectations, but you end up leaving disappointed and bloated. The reason is always the same: they fill your table with fried appetizers, breads and flatbreads to satiate you right away, so when you get to the main courses you are no longer hungry. Or you are forced to follow an obligatory “path” that leaves you no way out.
Well, forget all that.
There is a place in Rome that has decided to rebel against this commercial logic, putting your freedom and, above all, true Roman tradition at the center. Imagine sitting down and being able to say to the waiter, “Let’s skip the appetizers, bring me the Carbonara now and then the Veal Breast alla fornara.” Yes, you can do that here.
Not only do you decide the order of courses, but you find dishes that other AYCE restaurants never serve. And when you finish the first round, if you can make it, you can start over.
We’re talking aboutOsteria Lecri, a place that in its Garbatella and Monteverde locations is rewriting the rules of Capitoline dining with a €24.90 formula that almost seems like a price mistake for the quality it offers.
Absolute freedom: because here the “filler” strategy does not exist
The first thing you notice when you sit down at Osteria Lecri is the absence of “tricks.” There is no that sad buffet with lukewarm food exposed to the air. Everything is prepared express from the kitchen.
But the real revolution is the approach to the customer: they don’t want to satiate you with cheap to save on expensive.
The menu is a declaration of love to the most authentic cuisine of Rome. While elsewhere they offer you the usual three pastas (which are excellent here anyway, especially the Carbonara), here the challenge is on the main courses.
Have you ever had Pajata at an all you can eat? Or the Trippa alla romana with the sauce that calls the scarpetta? And beans with pork rinds? Here they are.
And then there’s him, the Petto di vitella alla fornara: a traditional poor man’s dish, very hard to find in other restaurants of this type because it requires slow, skillful cooking. Here they serve it to you slightly dry as tradition dictates, but with an exceptional flavor that explodes in your mouth.
And if you are a lover of the “fifth quarter,” get ready: the coratella is cooked properly, and the Coda alla Vaccinara is so tender that the meat comes off the bone just by looking at it.
The great thing is that you can order as little as half a portion to taste it all, or do an encore of your favorite dish.
No one will judge you; in fact, the goal is to get you off the table happy (and definitely full).
Beyond meat: the goodies you don’t expect
Don’t think this is a place only for hardened carnivores. Roman cuisine can be amazing with fish and vegetables too, and Osteria Lecri proudly proves it. Between bites of porchetted suckling pig (crispy outside, soft inside) and a saltimbocca, you can veer into unexpected seafood offerings.
Risotto with cooked and raw shrimp is a dish you’d expect at a gourmet restaurant, not a rustic osteria. And what about the linguine butter and anchovies? Absolute simplicity, but executed with raw materials that make all the difference.
The new aperitivoa 12€: homemade chips, cod and the legendary meatballs
There’s another detail that many people don’t know about and that is making the rounds in the neighborhood thanks to word of mouth, perfect if you don’t have the strength to tackle a full dinner but still want to treat yourself.
From 6 p.m. onward, Osteria Lecri throws down a challenge to the happy hour: for only 12 euros (yes, you read that right, consummation included), they serve you an apericena that would make many restaurants envious.
Forget stale peanuts: here, homemade chips, fried and golden cod fillets , zucchini flowers, hot supplì and crocchettoni come to the table.
Or, if you want to totally immerse yourself in Capitoline flavors, you can choose theAperitivo Romano. This option is a mystical journey through meatballs: cacio e pepe, carbonara, amatriciana and even boiled meat.
To close the circle, an eggplant parmigiana with artichoke roselle that is a “little masterpiece.”
A “De Core” experience: atmosphere and service that make all the difference
Often, when you pay little and eat a lot, service is the first thing to lose out. Stressed-out waiters, dishes thrown on the table, a rush to clear the place. Here, on the other hand, time seems to flow at a different pace, that of the Roman stornelli that serve as background music without ever being intrusive.
The ambiance is modern but warm, divided into small rooms that provide some intimacy while avoiding the “cafeteria” effect.
But the real added value is the staff. It is rare to find such friendly, polite and competent guys. The guy who runs the room and the cash register, for example, takes the time to explain the dishes, recommend the right pairing, and make sure everything is going well.
How to get to Osteria Lecri
Osteria Lecri awaits you in two distinct areas of Rome. Choose the one most convenient for you, but remember: reservations are always recommended, especially on weekends, because the secret won’t stay that way for much longer.
- Garbatella location: it is located at Via Bartolomeo Diaz, 36. It is the perfect venue if you want to breathe the air of one of Rome’s most veracious neighborhoods.
- Monteverde venue: the address is Via Federico Ozanam, 92. Ideal for a quieter evening in a residential area.
Final tip: Don’t leave without ordering dessert. The ricotta and sour cherry tart is spacey!