Le Tavernelle — Restaurant in Rome

My wife & I choose Le Tavernelle to be our first dinner experience in Rome. We heard that this place gets very busy; therefore, we showed up early and waited for them to open.

We then realized we needed to have a reservation and we didn’t make one, but they sat us regardless.

The traditional atmosphere combined with the owners/waiters hugging locals with hugs and conversation sent great initial vibes.

Pro Tip: Don’t be like us and make reservations.

We then sat down and they gave us complimentary bread which was a nice start. My wife ordered a white wine while I started with minestrone soup.

This minestrone soup is the best food item I had in Italy. There is just no comparison. The warm broth delivered with the abundance of delicate vegetables & rice makes every bite perfect. The fact that they nailed this without the broth being overly salty, is mesmerizing.

Now for the main course the wife ordered Fettuccine alla Bolognese while I ordered the Ravioli di Ricotta & Spinach.

The wife enjoyed the sauce the most on her dish. Her fettuccine delivered a light but delightful taste of Rome. The meat sauce paired well with the thicker noodle.

Speaking of the Ricotta & Spinach Ravioli. Flawless. The presentation of the ricotta allowed me to believe this was not just food, but art.

The flavors delivered from this ravioli are simple to describe. Once you bite down, the ravioli makes way subtly with the initial taste of olive oil and semolina flour. Then the filling takes over with ricotta & spinach assimilating well with one another to deliver a remarkable experience.

Overall, we wouldn’t have to be convinced to come back here. Just sit back,...

La Tavernelle offers an outstanding seafood experience, combining fresh ingredients, expert preparation, and a welcoming atmosphere. The restaurant takes great pride in serving high-quality seafood, and it shows in the presentation and flavors of each dish.

The meal begins with a refreshing mixed salad, where crisp greens, ripe tomatoes, and briny olives are lightly dressed to enhance their natural flavors. As an appetizer, the artichoke dish impresses with its tender texture and subtle seasoning, allowing the earthiness to shine through. Moving to the entrées, the grilled fish is perfectly executed, with a delicate balance of charred crispness on the outside and juicy tenderness within. The seafood pasta is generously portioned, featuring a rich medley of shrimp, mussels, and calamari, all enveloped in a well-balanced tomato sauce that lets the seafood flavors shine. The prawns, grilled to perfection, add a satisfying depth with their smoky sweetness.

To round off the meal, the tiramisu provides an indulgent yet balanced finish—each layer harmonizing velvety mascarpone with espresso-soaked biscuits, topped with just the right amount of cocoa for a refined sweetness. Beyond the food, the service remains polished and professional, with attentive staff ensuring a seamless experience from start to finish. La Tavernelle strikes the perfect balance between authenticity and sophistication, making it an ideal destination for seafood lovers. Highly...

We went here because it was close to our rental and had good reviews. The food was good, and the menu had a very good selection of choices. Our only complaint was that our waiter was extremely overzealous. We asked for olive oil and a plate to use for our bread. He brought it, but as soon as you looked away for a second (to look at the celebrity pictures on the wall or something), he whisked away the olive oil bottle. I asked for it a 2nd time, and then a few minutes later I was so focused on guarding the bottle and he managed to grab the plate that I had just poured the oil into for dipping our bread. Later we asked for parmesan cheese for our pasta. I joked with my wife, "You better get all that you want now before he grabs it." And sure enough, 5 seconds after we had each put a few spoonfuls onto our pasta he came by and took it away in a flash. We appreciated that he was available and helpful but the restaurant only had 3 occupied tables at the time so he could easily have let us keep the oil, cheese, and plate until we were finished with them.

All that being said, the food WAS very good and I would recommend the place. Just be sure to keep hold of anything that you don't want...