This is my favorite restaurant in Rome. I love coming here. I love bringing people here. This is usually where I bring all of my groups for our final meal together. It’s fun, the food is excellent, and the atmosphere is great.
As for the carbonara… there are few more polarizing statements than claiming a restaurant has the best carbonara in Rome. But, Abruzzi has it.
Carbonara is made with egg, guanciale, black pepper, and cheese. Abruzzi serves it with rigatoni pasta. I’ve been in the kitchen here several times, but I’m sworn to secrecy on their special technique.
If carbonara isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other excellent options on the menu. In fact, everything here is excellent.
After dinner, stick around for a digestivo. Abruzzi has a selection of after dinner drinks, but it’s their famous green sambuca you must try. If you like it, bottles are available for just €20. You won’t find this drink anywhere else. It’s a worthy souvenir. When I visit the States, it’s the number one request I have to bring back.
Abruzzi is no secret. It’s located near the Gregorian University and Casa Santa Maria, one of the Pontifical North American College’s homes for priests studying in Rome.
So, while Abruzzi is not full of traditional tourists, it does get packed with American clergy and their friends and family. It’s not uncommon to see a Bishop or a Cardinal dining here.
I’m here at least once a week with my family and I bring day tour people here almost every single day!
Marco and Fabio run the place, Francesco and Carlo take care of the people.
Carlo is the world’s best (and funniest) server! I told Mark Wahlberg to come here, and he agrees…
Hours: 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. / Closed Saturday
Address: Located on Piazza Santi Apostoli, not far from the Trevi Fountain on Via del Vaccaro, 1, 00187 Roma
Phone: 06.679.3897 (small place, reservations suggested)