I Vitelloni SAN GIOVANNI — Restaurant in Rome

I stopped by out of the blue, as I was drifting around the neighbourhood, to ask about the buffet offer listed just outside. The girl was very informative and I decided to come back for lunch a few days later, on New Years Eve. The waitress (the same one as last time) is always eager to inform you that the buffet formula is all-you-can-eat for 9 € water included. The lunch buffet, which I was there for, starts at 12:00 and ends at 15:00. I sat at my choice table (the place was not packed at the moment) after having checked out the food offered in large trays or plates. The variety was scarce, two or three starter choices, a choice of plain rice, focaccia and pizza, a unique choice of fish in rectacungular pieces (merluzzo), a choice of pasta (cappelleti al tono) with tuna and at some point a kind of meat appeared (some kind of mince in patty form, awkwardly soft). There were also two different kind of sweets like tarts with custard and whipped cream. Everything -apart from the meat- was adequately tasty and well deserved to eat. The food in general was not lavish or of maximum quality but it was more than fine for me at the moment. The only thing was that the waitress asked me if I wanted to have the check rather early (for my standards) and I had to say that I had not finished yet. Later on I felt a bit neglected when I clearly nodded to her that my check time had just arrived but she never came to close our business. In the end I had to go myself to the checkout point when I spotted her being there. It felt like she was not happy for me using only the buffet service (or maybe it was my false idea) but everyone else seemed to be cool. This exact rest of the staff were young guys with a fresh attitude and a multiculutral touch.

In a city that the Italians seem to have actually lost it and have the nerve to charge you over 4 € for a small pizza slice (that is for a plain bread with some red sauce on it) whose actual cost does not surpass a 50-cent coin this place puts its foot down to offer a very honest choice of happy, sufficient eating without leaving you with a strong feeling of deceipt after the italian "dolore" (the check). The buffet food changes every day said the girl as I was leaving. I would visit this bar...

When one thinks of foodie neighborhoods in Rome, what comes to mind? Testaccio? Trastevere? What about San Giovanni?

This neighborhood, named after the church of San Giovanni in Laterano, is known for its rich history, sacred landmarks, local markets, and buzzing nightlife. It’s the perfect place to experience the real Rome.

Located on Via Amiterno, it was a very good discovery, and my partner, our friends, family member, and I decided on I Vitelloni, which summarized two passions of the owners, brothers Stefano and Mauro Delli Ficorelli: cinema on one hand and gastronomy, as our last dinner in Rome.

The establishment, popular with the locals, was spread over two floors and doubled as a bar and restaurant area, emitting a casual and welcoming vibe. Their modern interior space, dominated by iron, wood, and typical bricks, spreads across multiple rooms for indoor dining as well as outdoors, which we opted for.

A bar code on their menu translated the Italian to English, showcasing the traditional Italian dishes with a diversity of seafood, meat, and vegetarian dishes from appetizers, pasta, pizza, hamburgers, and main courses with gluten options.

For appetizers, we decided on the Bruschetta, Trilogy Rice Balls, Trilogy Ricotta Cheese, and Grilled Chicken Mix Salad. As a main meal, we opted for Spaghetti Nerano Sauce, Capriccio Pizza, Ravioli, Spaghetti with Clams, and Fresh Pappardelle with Veal Ragout. Complimentary bread started our meal.

We found all the dishes to be well balanced, seasoned well using fresh ingredients, authentic, and delicious. The portions were healthy. The service was good and attentive. The staff was courteous and helpful.

Good restaurant with excellent...

Food was excelent. We has seread tuna, a bruschetta and the best braised cow cheek I've ever had.

No atmosphere because everybody left because of the lack of service.

The problem was the waiter. He was too shy and didn't want to work. We saw the menu and saw fish, steaks, chicken, pastas, pizza etc. but the waiter said "we're only have pasta" I replied that the menu had many non pasta dishes, and he replied " oh, yes, we have meats and fish, but no pizza" I said we didn't want pizza. So he gave us a table. We wanted to make this an experience by trying several bruschetas, cheeses, prosciuto and try several wines etc. The guy served us the wine, bruschetta and mains and left. We were outside and had to stand up for napkins. We ate the bruschetta and went for the mains so they wouldn't be cold. The waiter never came back. No more wine, no more food. At this point several tables left for the stablishment to the right because of the lack of service. I went inside to pay and our waiter was chatting away with the staff. No experience, we were just fed. This waiter is making the place lose a...