Meridionale Restaurant — Restaurant in Rome

A gem in the Trastevere

A very charming restaurant in the Trastevere, classically decorated yet still slightly revisited.

The menu was varied and catered for various tastes. Almost everything sounded great and it was actually difficult to make a choice. We were a party of three and had three antipasti. Caponata di melanzane con bufala which, though interesting (it was sprinkled with cashew nuts), was a bit too sweet for my taste.

The Polpo Rosticciato was good and actually very interesting. It was accompanied with roasted potatoes and cherry tomatoes and had a herbs breadcrumbs that elevated the dish to a higher level. The third and best of the three antipasti was a sea bass carpaccio with orange generously sprinkled with roasted pistachios and pink peppercorn. This dish was original in terms of ingredients and flavours and beautifully presented.

As for what followed we had two pasta dishes: a perfect carbonara; orecchiette with tuna filet, 'Nduja (the famous Calabrian sausage), and aubergine, which were good. The third dish was a tuna filet with a beautiful sesame and pistachio croute.

Both the orechiette and the tuna were slightly overcooked. However, I'm certain this was our own fault because we took forever with the antipasti.

Their list of wines is unbelievably large, and we settled for an excellent Aglianico.

If the food was excellent, the service was even better: welcoming, friendly, and extremely patient with my butchering of the Italian language.

A brilliant experience...

I've been to Meridionale 3 times now, so time to review. Meridionale is one of, if not the best, restaurant in Trastevere.

Its checkered tables and decor are classic but still classy. Service is uncharacteristically friendly for a place that represents southern Italian food. And unlike the common wisdom that the best food in Italy comes with lousy service - I'm looking at your da Michele - this is not the case here.

The food is exceptional in great portions. Definitely get one of the dishes including pumpkin, I've not found it as an ingredient in many places elsewhere but its typical and delicious. The mains are well proportioned plates of comfort food. For desert, I'm a huge fan of their apple crumble pie which comes with great vanilla gelato. But you would be a fool not to all have something else and share the food around. Spoon by spoon until you finally succumb to the culinary bliss I've...

I am writing in relation to faulty food that you are serving. You replied to my friend (Rum) with no apology and rudeness. Her and I haven’t met in weeks, and we met right infront of your restaurant and went in opposite directions after eating at your restaurant. We are not delusional. There is no way that two people who don’t live together, haven’t shared a meal in weeks, or even met, to have the same (copy/paste) skin hives (specifics, upper legs, lower arms, abdomen and neck) from stress, or something else. In what world does that happen pls? Also I have checked with a medical allergist and immunologist and she said it’s the food that you serves and most likely the type of preservatives used. I would highly suggest that you also throw away your semifreddo dessert (the only food item we shared). Happy to provide photos of the skin...