Pianostrada — Restaurant in Rome

🍝 - Food: 4/5 🛎️ - Service 5/5 📍 - Location & atmosphere 5/5

TLDR: Pianostrada in Trastevere is a gem. The food and atmosphere are excellent. It's worth a visit for an unforgettable meal!

I am unfamiliar with the restaurants in Trastevere, but I consider Pianostrada to be an absolute gem in this district of Rome. I visited it with two friends, and from the moment we stepped inside, we were enchanted by its excellent and stylish atmosphere.

We started by sharing a selection of appetizers, and every bite was exquisite. The highlight? Their homemade focaccia is warm and fluffy, with a crisp crust paired perfectly with high-quality ingredients such as mortadella and Andria’s stracciatella. We paired our meal with a lovely Le Vette di San Leonardo bottle, further elevating the experience. The wine’s bright, elegant flavours perfectly matched the delicate tortelli—pillowy pasta filled with beef meat and Genovese sauce. I was confused by their taste, and I felt like I was eating Asian food. I finished the supper with a yummy chocolate cheesecake and an outstanding mango gel. Every dish felt like a minor masterpiece, bursting with freshness and creativity.

While some may find the prices a bit high for the portion sizes, I felt it was completely worth it. Pianostrada offers a fine dining experience in a relaxed setting where quality and attention to detail are at the forefront. And even the tiny details, like impeccably maintained restrooms, add to the sense of care that goes into every aspect of the restaurant.

If you’re in Rome, try this place—especially if you’re in...

The food is wonderful. Since being in Rome, I've dined here twice in 3 days. This time, I ordered a dessert I wasn't fond of. I asked the server if I could switch it out for another dessert at no charge. He said yes, that it was not a problem. Another waiter comes by and takes my new dessert order. At the end of the meal they bring me my check with both desserts on it. I bring it to the third waiters attention (since we had 3 waiters it seemed). She said she'd check. She came back and rudely told me she wouldn't remove it since we ate it. I explained I had one bite of the first dessert and then I explained my conversation with the other waiter regarding switching the desserts at no charge. She said she'd go talk to him. One of the other waiters then came over and said he never said that. I told him I understood , it was the other waiter. He went to talk to the female waitress. She came over and told me they wouldn't remove the charge, I was lying about the whole thing and "that was that" and walked away. All of this after my card had been charged. Management wouldn't come and speak to me either. Terrible service. So basically I was told by a staff member I could switch desserts since I didn't eat the first one at no charge, but then was charged for both and called a liar. The WORST customer service. As a business owner, I'd never treat patrons like this. Horrible experience. . They should be ashamed to treat patrons this way. Especially since the first meal I spent $86 by myself and on the second meal, over $100 with my significant other and I. I'll...

Best meal I had in my 4 days in Rome. If you want to go for one ‘nice’ dinner on your trip, this is the place I recommend. Food amazing, ambiance great, fantastic service from the staff. Great for both groups and solo travelers.

If you can sit at the counter I highly recommend. Can see the atmosphere of the kitchen up close!

What I ate:

Course 1: Steak Tartare with tomato ice cream- perfect first course. Red onion added freshness and tang that cut through the delicious meat nicely. Tomato ice cream also had a light/sweet flavor balancing out the steak tartare. Overall this was a fantastic first course and surprisingly refreshing after 3 days of heavy meals.

Course 2: Spaghetti with tomato & buffalo mozzarella cheese- best pasta I’ve eaten in my life. Still thinking about it 1 week after my Rome trip. Balance of flavors between tomato, mozzarella and herbs was perfect. I understand why this is their signature dish. Honestly, I’d eaten a porchetta sandwich and a pasta within the 2~3 hours before this meal, I wasn’t even really hungry. But I could have kept eating this pasta for 2 more courses it was that damn good.

Course 3: Sea Bass- Perfect ‘closer’ after a steak and a pasta beforehand. Considered the lamb which looked great but that might have ended me. Fish cooked to perfection.

Course 4: Luce (Ricotta)- holy hell it somehow kept getting better. The texture shift from creamy but light (ricotta) to the crunchy parts was a joy. Peach and grapefruit add zest, tang...