Ai Balestrari a Porta Pia — Restaurant in Rome

The service was very good, waitress super friendly and patient all the way through, even when my dad didn't understand everything on the menu very well and was indecisive. She kept explaining the dishes and offering excellent service. I recommended Pasta Carbonara to my dad and when I took a bite of his pasta, it was sublime!!! So different from the pasta carbonara in Holland which is usually soaked in a bed of cream (and to me that's awful haha) so this was my first experience with a GOOD carbonara! My pasta was great too: tomato sauce, garlic, pepper and finely chopped fresh parsley that despite the tiny pieces I could still taste so very well. But still, I was jealous of my father's plate and I am definitely coming back to get a full plate of Carbonara for myself, haha! Prices also very reasonable, his pasta 9,50 and mine 8,50. I was surprised about the price of a 75ml bottle water: just 2,50 that is a price you pay for a glass of water in Holland. I am very pleased and would recommend this to everyone that is looking for excellent service and Italian food!

My father had the Pasta Carbonara in the afternoon and (after a siesta) in the evening I came back for my OWN plate. I also had Cavalo Nero e patate which was great. It was busier in the evening but still the service was fast and on point. I used to think I "hate" Pasta Carbonara. Because when you order it in many places in Holland the pasta is swimming in a bed of cream. So in my perception pasta carbonara was greasy, excessive, bland and with hard tasteless chunks of improperly cooked bacon. This had completely changed since I tasted it in the afternoon in this restaurant. Ai Balestrari had shown me how a proper pasta carbonara should be like: well balanced, tasting each flavour individually, smokiness because of the slices of bacon which are tender and have a great texture and taste. Not to forget the penne itself, very tasty. However, I liked the slender penne pasta we had in the afternoon more than the thicker one I got in the evening, these were slightly chewier and the overall flavour was still good but it was better in the afternoon. Anyhow, now, I LOVE Pasta Carbonara, can you believe that!? Thank you,...

La Pizzeria Ai Balestrari è una gemma nascosta che ho scoperto solo recentemente e che ha immediatamente conquistato il mio palato con autentici sapori italiani. Situata in una tranquilla strada, l'atmosfera accogliente del locale cattura l'essenza della tradizione italiana. Il menù offre una vasta selezione di pizze, ciascuna preparata con ingredienti freschi e di alta qualità. La crosta è il punto forte: sottile, croccante e leggermente dorata, una perfetta combinazione di consistenza e sapore, tipica romana. La varietà di condimenti è impressionanne, dalla classica Margherita a pizze creative. Il personale di Ai Balestrari contribuisce a creare un'esperienza memorabile. Cordiali e ben informati, sono pronti a consigliare le opzioni più adatte ai gusti individuali dei clienti. Il servizio è veloce e efficiente, senza compromettere la qualità. Il vero punto di forza di questa pizzeria è la loro attenzione ai dettagli. Ogni pizza è un'opera d'arte culinaria, presentata con cura e dedizione. La freschezza degli ingredienti si fa sentire in ogni morso, e il connubio di formaggi di alta qualità e pomodori succulenti rende ogni pizza un'esperienza gastronomica unica. La varietà del menù si estende oltre le pizze, con antipasti deliziosi e insalate fresche che soddisfano anche i palati più esigenti. La selezione di vini italiani è ben assortita, offrendo l'opportunità di abbinare la propria pizza preferita con un vino che ne esalta i sapori. Il design dell'interno riflette lo spirito italiano, con tonalità calde e un'atmosfera accogliente. Il locale è perfetto sia per cene romantiche che per incontri informali con gli amici. In conclusione, la Pizzeria Ai Balestrari è un vero gioiello gastronomico. Con la loro dedizione alla qualità, il personale caloroso e il menù eclettico, questa pizzeria offre un'esperienza autentica che vi farà sentire come se foste seduti a una tavola in un angolo pittoresco dell'Italia. Non vedo l'ora di tornare per assaporare nuovamente questi deliziosi piatti che catturano l'anima della...

Absolutely divine— you must go if you’re in Rome!

The service was amazing. We were instantly seated and our Waiter, Amin, was wonderful. He was very attentive, fun, and spoke great English! Along with the great service, the food was delicious. Not even close to the tourist traps in the city— the food here is on an entirely different level. The bruschetta was spot-on, and the carbonara was absolutely heavenly. Creamy, flavorful heaven for only €12. (And big portions, too!) The house wine was nice and dry, and also came at a great price. The desserts were also excellent. The tiramisu is a must-try.

If you’re in Rome— come here, for sure.

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