rome trattoria: settimio al pellegrino

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