Ristorante Alvaro Al Circo Massimo — Restaurant in Rome

I discovered the restaurant when it was mentioned in the comment section on a food blog and I’m so glad I did.

It’s located next to the old circus Maximus in an otherwise non-descript street corner. It doesn’t look like much on the outside, but the interior is cutely decorated and it has a very nice ambiance to it.

It appears to be family run and the matriarch seems to cook each meal to order.

My wife and I ordered a pasta to share (Fettuccine with mushrooms) and each got a meat dish. My wife ordered prawns and I had the beef filet.

Food was simple but absolutely wonderful. Pasta was delicious and my steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare ( Server didn’t ask how I wanted it cooked fyi… but they nailed my preference anyways). We both got the Tiramisu for dessert and it was excellent!

I’ve eaten in small Trattorias in Sicily and elsewhere in the Italian countryside and Ristorante Alvaro had the same feel and quality of food. It seems like a place where locals come to eat.

If you are from out of town and want a traditional meal, give this place a shot, you won’t be...

Went here for lunch. Got tomato sandwishes that tasted burned fat. From using old burned fat or not cleaning pan.

I've never before left food uneaten on a restaurant but the pasta i got tasted so bad i couldn't take another bite. (Later found out it was because of mold in cheese)

When i politely told the staff about the food An older lady (the owner?) Bursted out and started to yell at me in italian. I asked if she wanted to taste and quickly she got quiet.

We payed our food and left. I felt sorry for the staff because you could see that they were ashamed, but the old lady that yelled at us made this my worst restaurant experience ever. Even when they found out about the mold we didnt get...

We stumbled into Alvaro Al Circo Massimo on our last night in Rome… turned into a night we will never forget. This restaurant is 3 generations of family. The atmosphere is authentic Italian and feels like you’re in someone’s cozy kitchen!! The food was delicious, the service was exceptional and the family that owns the restaurant was warm and inviting and made us feel right at home! We just had the best time. Thank you Angelo and Gianmarco! (Favorite dishes were the caprese salad, ravioli special, spaghetti with clams and spaghetti with lobster sauce.) You must end the night with the limoncello...