As one of the world's most coveted cultural and gastronomic destinations, Rome is known for its fairly affordable, yet truly tantalizing culinary offering. From Parioli to Garbatella, and from Trastevere to Pigneto, its 496 square miles are thoroughly dotted in old-style osterias and pizza al taglio ("pizza-by-the-slice") street food bars, each brimming with crowds of tourists, expats, and locals all ready to take a bite of the Eternal City's simply unbeatable culinary tradition.
While in the Italian capital there's no shortage of places to eat, particularly for unpretentious travelers willing to get their hands dirty to enjoy its most delicious supplì (the local answer to Sicilian arancini) and maritozzi (breakfast cream buns), this doesn't mean that the best Rome restaurants are any easier to spot. And when I say "best", I don't just refer to those Roman eateries that live up to the city's celebrated food heritage — whether sticking to the classics or innovating them through contemporary flair — but also to those whose interior game is just as impressive as the plates served.
