La Matriciana dal 1870 — Restaurant in Rome

I would like to preface this review with the following: My wife and I are both American; I am white, she is black. We make our best attempt to speak Italian in a foreign county.

This establishment presents itself as an upper-middle to high-end location. At a glance, this would be accurate. However, our experience could not be further from this presentation.

To start, we were not greeted with a smile but rather a bitter reluctance to be seated. We were walk-ins but had done our best to arrive as early as possible. A slammed water bottle on the table was a jarring reception. I did not think or feel that our ethnicity/nationality or race had any part to play... yet. After we were seated, we observed an Asian couple be denied entry. They were told, "Reservation Only". This initially struck us as 'good fortune'. Perhaps we had been lucky enough to be last 'walk-in' to be seated?

This perception was soon to be challenged. The next couple to arrive was visibly of European descent, also without reservation. They were immediately seated in the table next to us... odd. As if to test a budding theory, the next couple to arrive was Asian. Denied. "Reservation only." Afterwards, Several other couples and groups arrived. Many of these people announced that they had 'no reservation'. All of which had a visibly European aesthetic. All of them were seated immediately.

Having just arrived in Rome from Florence. We were eager to taste the flavours of the city. Florence had gifted us with so many new and exciting culinary experiences; the imagination was our only limit to our expectations of Rome.

As for the food. Sub-par, at best.

Bland (unless you love salt). Poorly prepared (could very well have been reheated in a microwave). Over priced (seemed to be +30% over the regional averages).

This is a Tourist Trap of the worst design. Pretentious and...

This lunch struck a satisfying balance between rustic comfort and culinary precision, though not without a few small imperfections.

The sourdough bread arrived fresh, its crust firm and deeply satisfying, a confident start to the meal. A small bowl of olives sat beside it – untouched, though that speaks more to my palate than the kitchen’s performance.

The zucchini and eggplant chips showcased a deft hand with texture – paper-thin slices encased in a crisp, tempura-like batter that delivered a satisfying crunch. They were nicely salted and carried a light oiliness that, while slightly indulgent, made each bite more compelling.

The Cacio e Pepe confirmed why this dish remains a Roman benchmark. The homemade spaghetti had near-perfect tension – neither underdone nor limp – and the sauce struck a beautiful equilibrium between creamy Pecorino and assertive black pepper. It was rich without being heavy, though the portion bordered on excessive; reluctantly, I had to leave some behind, a rare occurrence for pasta this well-executed.

Dessert arrived in the form of a tiramisu that can only be described as a masterclass. Entirely homemade, it balanced delicate coffee notes in the sponge with cream that was at once airy and indulgent. The cocoa powder, faintly bitter, played a necessary counterpoint to the sweetness, resulting in a composition that was harmonious, elegant, and remarkably fresh. Each layer felt purposeful – no excess, no shortcuts – only confident craftsmanship. It may well be the best tiramisu I’ve tasted in Rome, perhaps even in Italy.

This may be my favourite food...

Phenomenal Italian restaurant with amazing food and a cozy, intimate ambiance. I visited La Matriciana dal 1870 for dinner immediately after my plane landed in Rome, and it was such a delightful introduction to the city. The staff was incredibly inviting and friendly; there was a group of five or six servers standing by the front door as we entered, and they all gave us a hearty, warm "buonasera" before guiding us to a cute little side room with six small tables. The full restaurant is quite large, but I love that it was divided into several smaller spaces to create a more intimate dining experience.

My friend and I both ordered a pasta dish (of course), and they were both phenomenal. The pasta was perfectly al dente and had absorbed so much flavor from our respective sauces. My friend ordered their rigatoni alla carbonara, and I got their linguini con spigola di mare e limone. The deep grooves and large hole in the center made the rigatoni the perfect shape to soak up all the rich, velvety carbonara sauce. It was super creamy and flavorful from the guanciale and egg yolks, and the black pepper and salty, slightly funky pecorino romano gave it a great bite. I loved my linguine; the pasta itself was perfectly cooked, and I loved the little chunks of sea bass. The fish gave the pasta a great umami, savory flavor, but the lemon kept the dish bright and from tasting fishy.

We finished our meal with the semifreddo al pistachio, which was rich, slightly sweet, and so creamy. The pistachios gave the ice cream a delightful nutty flavor and crunch, and the ice cream was perfectly...