Gustamundo Bistrot sede Cipro — Restaurant in Rome

My grandmother and I have been in Rome for a few days and - keen for a break from pasta and pizza - found Gustamundo via Airbnb's 'experiences' section.

It was hands down the best of all the meals we have had in Rome, and not just because of the delicious food. Gustamundo, run by owner Pasquale, is a restaurant with a twist. It's very valued employees are refugees and migrants who have come to be in Italy from all over the world, and many have experienced extremely challenging life circumstances in order to arrive here.

When we arrived we were warmly welcomed and shown immediately to our table, offered beer or softdrink and were soon served the first of four delicious courses - for me babagnoush, hummus and bread (vegan) and for my grandmother, some meat/pastry delicacies (not vegan!). Over the course of the evening we met a number of employees, all of whom were generous in sharing information about the dishes we were enjoying as well as their own stories and how they came to be working at Gustamundo. In particular we spoke a lot with Buba who shared his experience about coming from Gambia in extremely trying circumstances.

Overall we are treated to four delicious courses! Regrettably, it was too much for us to enjoy on the night however the staff were kind enough to pack it in 'to go' boxes and it was amazing the next day for lunch (the baklava was supreme!!)

We left buzzing from an incredible night of conversation and tasty food. Honestly, we felt privileged to be able to peel back the tourist veneer of Rome and come to understand another very human dimension of the city and its inhabitants. We were both impressed with Gustamundo's concept of healing, support and advocacy through the magic of food. It's great to hear that they also cater for events, and I'd love to see more people making the slight detour out to experience their hospitality.

If you are after a 'traditional'/touristy meal in the main tourist drag in Rome, this experience might not be for you. If, however like us you are keen to head off the beaten track a little, support a social enterprise and learn something about some amazing fellow humans you will not be disappointed.

Practical info:

We travelled to Gustamundo via taxi, however you can also take public transport. On the way back I found it difficult to order a taxi via the MyTaxi app, and so we got an Uber.

Gustamundo was happy to accommodate my dietary preference with warning (vegan) and were also happy to offer my grandmother the regular menu (thank you!)

We enjoyed four dishes each: an entree, two mains and a dessert. I wish I had fasted throughout the day to make more room - there's always next time!! :-)

The total cost of our meal was very reasonable through the Airbnb app.

They also have social media and advertise special dinners and events: Instagram is...

This restaurant is a bit atypical as it offers a diverse range of cuisines and cultural influences, thanks to the fact that the management hails from various corners of the world. In fact, it's essentially two restaurants seamlessly blended into one. The predominant Mexican cuisine is not only respected in terms of ingredients and flavors but also skillfully integrated with variations and influences from other countries. The management style is informal and incredibly friendly. An additional noteworthy aspect is the restaurant's active involvement in social support and cultural integration for immigrants looking to make Italy their home....

We had a Fantastic experience! The owner greeted us with a smile and the server was super friendly! FYI - great prices too! We had dinner and drinks for an average of 10-15 euros each! The food was DELICIOUS!! We have been traveling through Italy (started in Florence, went to Venice and ending in Rome) over the last 10 days and were ready for something other than pasta or pizza. This place delivered the most tasty meals! I definitely recommend a visit while you enjoy Rome! We will be back sometime this week during our visit to...