Rocco
At Rocco, a family trattoria in Monti, the potatoes are cut by hand and sautéed in a pan.
Why go
Daria Reina, co-founder of the Roman boutique Chez Dede, names Rocco one of her two must-visits in the city: a cozy little restaurant run by a brother and sister duo. The menu is short, never boring, always changing, and the hostess bakes fresh desserts daily
(The Relisher, 2024). Puntarella Rossa found a family who live in the same building, he in the kitchen and she serving at the tables
(Puntarella Rossa, 2017). Annie Replogle of the Infatuation wrote that you might find a former president or an Oscar-winning director dining nearby, but that's because this is their neighborhood spot
(The Infatuation, 2025).
Order the cacio e pepe (cheese and pepper). Replogle calls it perfectly creamy and peppery with textbook al dente spaghetti
and kept it in the Infatuation's guide to the best cacio e pepe in Rome in October 2026 (The Infatuation). Reina goes for two other plates. The first is the vitello tonnato, a classic Piemontese dish of thinly sliced veal with a creamy tuna and caper sauce,
which she calls, I dare say, the best in Rome.
The second is the potatoes: The hand-cut fried potatoes—sautéed in a pan—might be the best fries ever. And trust me, I lived in Belgium. I know fries
(The Relisher, 2024). The rest of the card changes, so read the day's blackboard (Puntarella Rossa, 2017).
Replogle describes the quintessential Roman trattoria, with polished terrazzo floors and starched tablecloths, but it feels more relaxed than many other spots in the city
(The Infatuation, 2025). Roman-ce saw small tables, a long wooden bar, wine on tap and old photographs of Roma players on the walls in 2017 (Roman-ce). Reina's advice is Go on a weekday for dinner—it's where you'll find the coolest Romans
(The Relisher, 2024). Check the football first. Lauren Canning of Destination Calcio warned in 2026: As Roma fans, they may just shut the restaurant if there's a big game on, like they did for the Europa League final a few seasons ago
(Destination Calcio).
Order this / avoid
- Order: the cacio e pepe, Annie Replogle's standout (The Infatuation, 2025 and 2026).3
- Order: the vitello tonnato, Daria Reina's best in Rome (2024).1
- Order: the hand-cut potatoes sautéed in a pan, for Reina (2024).1
What locals & experts say
- Puntarella Rossa (2017):
Now Rocco has become a family trattoria, welcoming and restful.
Off the day's blackboard it picked the bombette of fried potato with finocchiona (the Tuscan fennel salami):not to be missed.
It found the fried lamb cutletsgood, though very fatty.
5 - Lauren Canning, Destination Calcio (2026):
Pasta is the star, but there are plenty of dishes to tempt you, especially if you're in the mood for a recommendation from your waiter.
7
Good to know
- When: dinner. Replogle wrote in 2025 that Rocco does "a single dinner seating." Destination Calcio printed lunch and dinner, Monday to Saturday, in February 2026. Closed Sunday by the same listing.
- Booking: call +39 06 4870942. Rocco has no website.
- Price: in February 2017 Puntarella Rossa read the amatriciana at 10 euros, the spaghetti with bottarga at 16 and the baccalà in guazzetto (stewed salt cod) at 15.
Verdict
could-visit — A small family trattoria in Monti for a weeknight dinner: the cacio e pepe the Infatuation keeps on its list, then Daria Reina's vitello tonnato and pan-fried potatoes. Call ahead, and check whether Roma are playing.