I’m always torn when writing about favorite restaurants. As a social being, my desire to share what I know and love is strong. And I guess this accounts for my profession, where I get the chance to write about my discoveries, and get paid for it at the same time. Hard work, I know, but someone’s got to do it.
But the flip side is that when I write about my top ten favorite restaurants in Rome I run the risk of letting too many people in on the secret. Reveal my neighborhood trattoria in Food & Wine or Town & Country? And run the risk of never being able to get a reservation again? Been there, done that.
So, as I finish up the work on my App on Rome Food, I have to decide whether or not to include certain places. I guess if no one ever buys the App it’s not going to be a problem. But let’s hope they (and by they, I mean you and everyone you know) do buy my App. Do I include my secret places?
The other day I had lunch at one of my all time favorite places, Settimio. Later that evening, when I mentioned that I had had a fantastic meal there, to friends, they all looked at me, horrified “Don’t put it in the App, please!”
Well, I haven’t decided about the App yet, but for now, I’m figuring that it’s pretty safe to share it here. Settimio is so quirky that there is a good chance they won’t even let you in if they don’t like the look of you anyway.
This place has been around for a few generations, and the marble-lined walls and tiled floors haven’t changed a bit. And the homey old fashioned setting is one of the things I love best. Settimio used to be in the back, but is no longer. His wife is though, working in the tiny kitchen, made of Cararra marble, making fresh pasta every day.
When you go by Settimio it will look closed. They keep the doors shut, and often locked. They’ll let you in, maybe, if they like the look of you.
Once in, the menu is very much typical Roman fare, with gnocchi showing up on Thursdays, fish on Friday. I went on a Friday so the menu was very fish heavy. Baccala al Pomodoro, Alici Gratinate, Calamari Ripieni. Nothing fancy, no whole grilled spigola or dentice, which keeps the prices pretty low. Lovingly prepared standards, served on a thick white plates, no garnish. What I particularly love is that they always have a large selection of vegetables, fresh and simply prepared. Steamed new potatoes, sauteed spinach, brocolo romano.
Besides the incredibly cheerful and friendly service (I guess they liked me and my friend Betta) and the deliciously simple but excellent food and old fashioned decor, want to know what I really love? Even though this is the sort of place that should have paper tablecloths and napkins, they don’t. The thick and heavy, perfectly ironed, pristine white table clothes and napkins, each embroidered with “Settimio al Pellegrino” is proof of the enormous pride this restaurant takes in everything they do. Style, pure and simple. 
Settimo al Pellegrino
Via del Pellegrino 117
06.688.01978
Ahhh. I wish my husband and I had more of a chance to visit as many restaurants as we could when we were there a year and a half ago. We were only there for two weeks, so I’m thinking another trip back needs to happen soon.
Love this place! Totally intimidating at first with the entrance, but after going once they always remembered me and the food is fantastic. Haven’t been for awhile but I’ll have to go back soon now that you’ve reminded me about it. – Jessica
I love the place even I’ve never been there! Look forward to next summer,- I’ll try to get in there with my family:)
My wife & I just ate at Settimio this afternoon. We are staying at the apartment of a friend who lives nearby, and she recommended (insisted, actually) that we dine there. As she suggested, we ordered the hand-made pasta, polpette & the house red wine. Oh yes, the Mont-Blanc aux marrons for dessert. Can’t forget that. Everything was heavenly. When brought to the table, the polpette looked like ordinary hamburgers, but were tasty beyond belief. Artisanal Italian at its best. So good in fact that it made me forget that signed Mark Kostabi print that confronted us as we entered the resto. Kevin @ philologie.com
Glad to hear you had a great experience at Settimio! And the art collection is part of the entire experience!!
We have just visited Settimio after years of watching when passing. Your pictures are really telling the truth! Not so many there for lunch this day some weeks ago, but we had a really nice meal. My husband had a rice soop with vegetables, I had there only pasta with tomato sauce, very tasty. We also had some ham and mixed local antipasti for start. Then came two different weal steaks, very good, and the sauce!! 2 Different green cold vegetables. Three nice ladys including the chef from your picture above stoped for a chat in quick italian. Theire house wine is also good, a local one from the area must be. And then dessert a realy well done pecorino and my husband had the very recomended sweet cake. The menu: written on a typewriter, when do you see that these days! Run, before nobody ring their doorbell anymore and it closes down!
I haven’t visited Settimio yet but I highly recommend Trattoria da Luigi on Piazza Sforza Cesarini.