ye-candy galore at this upscale and stalwart Parioli staple founded in 1959. The father-and-son team of Italo and Fabrizio Santucci, both elegant mainstays, attract a dressed-to-kill crowd as appetizing to behold as the food is delicious to eat. A reliably well-rounded menu and the location along a tree-lined boulevard in north Rome make this a pleasing stop, particularly in summer when it remains open, unlike many of its urban counterparts.
Recommended: Canelloni, tortellini aurora (tomato cream sauce), carpaccio di provola affumicata (provola, pomodoretti and balsamic vinegar), melanzane alla parmigiana. Also, cold roast beef (thin and tender) and straccetti, thin beef slices with arugula and balsamic. Beef cuts are uniformly well-chosen and simply presented (rare in Rome) thanks to the grill. In season, always go for the tartufo pasta, though it’ll cost you (€30 and up). No pizza here! Try Fabrizio’s cheese cake. Or the homemade tiramisu Open all year round, seven days a week. Reservations recommended. A great people-watching summer spot, faux-snob with attitude but minus the bad mood.
— Ristorante Caminetto. Viale dei Parioli, 89, Rome, 00197. Major credit cards. Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Tel. 06.808.3946
