Finding this family run trattoria was by no means an easy feat - and I blame it on the "200 metres" direction that websites have given. I'll put it simply, walk out from the Pantheon and look left. Easy to find rather than search high and low in all directions (we walked 200 metres nearly in all directions from Pantheon). Reservations are definitely needed - bless their user friendly website and prompt email responses that got us our much coveted table. Two seatings or more at dinner time, it was always filled for the whole time we were there.
Someone claimed that every roman family would have eaten here once, and with such a high claim it better be worth a try.
2 euro each as a cover charge for their bread basket - one that we could really do without.
Sparkling for the night.
The somewhat too arty surroundings.
Reserved tables everywhere.
A random guy walks in with a bunch of roses trying to sell them off to diners - sorry dude, today's not Valentine's.
Spaghetti alla Gricia con guanciale, pecorino romano ed un pizzico di pepe (10.50 EUR)
"bacon" - guanciale, pecorino romano cheese and black pepper
Done al dente, it was so delicious we were just slurping the noodles up in silence for a good while. Anything peppered with cheese works for me and until this dish, chalky parmesan cheese is but an insult to good pasta as it is supposed to disintegrate into nothingness with every savour.
Spaghetti all'aglio, olio epeperoncino (10 EUR)
Garlic, olive oil, peperonicino really spicy
This was truly the highlight of the chef's culinary prowess. Two cloves of roasted garlic made this a plain jane but the spicy aftertaste was pure brilliance. How? What? Why? Questions all unanswered but who cares when it was one dish that made us understand the true essence of pasta in Italy.
Linguine alla Cernia con pomodoro pachino (13 EUR)
cherry tomatoes, fish
Slightly salty and fishy but the noodles were just so addictive!
Spaghetti alla Amatriciana con guanciale, pecorino romano ed un pizzico di pepe (10.50 EUR)
Tomatoes, pecorino romano cheese, guaciale - "bacon" and black pepper
This was the tomato version of the same pasta eaten above. Saucier but I prefer the white version better.
Special of the Day (18 EUR)
A combination of sausages and lentils which was hearty, flavourful and very tasty.
Their pasta dishes get served looking unassuming but the flavours kick in much later which makes it a powerhouse on its own. Armando just shames the pasta dishes that come in all fanciful flavours and displays when simplicity is best.
We were wowed at Armando and it's also there that I realised people eat pasta with knives instead of twirling the way the advertisements say.
Bon Appetit!
Armando Al Pantheon
Salita dè Crescenzi 31
Salita dei Crescenzi 31, Roma
Salita dei Crescenzi 31, Roma
Salita dei Crescenzi 31, Roma
Salita dei Crescenzi 31, Roma
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