Looking for Recs for lunch in Rome…

Osteria da Fortunata near the Campo de Fiori

They actually have 2 locations across the street from each other. Old Italian ladies making pasta by hand in the window. Best Carbonara I've ever had and lovely Tiramisu for dessert.

Since y’all are recommending restaurants near the Campo di Fiore, I will put a word in for Hosteria Costanza which is one of my old favorites. The food is good and the building is historic. It is built on the ruins of the Theatre di Pompeo which is where the Roman Senate was meeting when Julius Caesar was stabbed there.

Another one of my favorites is Enoteca Cul de Sac near Piazza Navona. Small wine bar that serves delicious food.

Another by Campo de Fiori is Roscioli. They have a bakery/pizza to go and a restaurant. I would recommend both, but the restaurant is fantastic. Awesome burrata and pastas.

If you are in the food desert surrounding the Vatican, I would recommend Il Sorpasso.

If you are south of trastevere I would check out la tavernaccia da bruno. They had lardo on the menu when I went last that was a wonderful appetizer.

yes, yes, yes, to Roscioli, whether the restaurant or the bakery. Roscioli family has a small constellation of establishments in the same general area. The bakery is a dream--you can get pizza bianco with porchetta, or al taglio style pizza, or a big bag of cookies, etc etc. Bakery was recently renovated & expanded into the space next door, so it's not quite the crush/chaos that it used to be, pre-pandemic. the Bakery website is here: LINK

A few doors down from Roscioli on via Chiavari is a branch of Fatamorgana Gelato. Getting a pizza bianca sandwich then following up with a gelato might be my favorite lunch in Rome.

If you want sit-down but unpretentious, try Enoteca Corsi, on via del Gesu, right around the corner from the Pantheon. Basic neighborhood joint, with straightforward food; plus it's a wine shop, so lots of choices there.

Off the wall suggestion, in case you're sick of Italian food or need a digestive break: Vega Food, run by a friend of a friend, named Shue. He's one of the many Bangla immigrants working in food service in Rome, and he runs a tiny little vegetarian restaurant & juice bar on via dei Monte Giordano, not too far from Piazza Navona. Samosas, dal/rice lunches, fresh juices. (Sometimes you just need a digestive break, esp if you've been binging your way through Italy) LINK

At the other end of the spectrum is Mami---a haven of fried food. Fast casual sort of place, with pizza and lots of tasty things like suppli (fried rice balls stuffed w/mozz), fried artichokes, zucchini, etc. Website w/menu: LINK

Or try the seemingly gimmicky but delicious restaurant Trapizzino, which has a convenient Trastevere location. Thick hunks of triangular focaccia are split open and filled with Roman classics, like chicken cacciatore, meatballs in sauce, for around 4 euros. Limited indoor seating, but they're easy to eat on the go and Piazza Trilussa with its steps & fountain are just a few feet away. website: LINK

If you are looking for more upscale, I like Casa Bleve, which is open for both lunch and dinner: LINK Run by two brothers, whose mama oversees the dining room. Lots of Roman classics and a good hand with seafood.