Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The grand Masonic Hotel.
Napier Art Deco Historic Precinct
Military Cemetery for North Korean Soldiers
Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts & Crafts
Caesars Palace Spiral Escalators
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.
C'è Pasta... E Pasta!
Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.
Giano Restaurant
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Our producer Manolo Morales would spend his final days perusing the shelves at Book Off.
Where Would You Go to Wait for the Apocalypse?
This event showcasing the bounty of the Traverse City region’s amazing agriculture, craft, and creativity culminates with a Grand Tasting on August 23.
The Atlas Obscura Guide to Traverse City’s Event Season
She’ll get you and your little dog too.
Dear Atlas: Where Can I Explore Witch History Without the Kitsch?
How to Turn Your Road Trip Into a Nature Scavenger Hunt

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Italy Rome C'è Pasta... E Pasta!
AO Edited Gastro Obscura

C'è Pasta... E Pasta!

Fried artichokes and other Roman–Jewish classics are executed with care at this no-frills cafeteria.

Rome, Italy

Added By
Anya von Bremzen
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Cacio e pepe lasagna combines two classics.   Alberto Blasetti for Gastro Obscura
All of the dishes here are certified kosher.   Alberto Blasetti for Gastro Obscura
Fritters here are wonderfully light.   Alberto Blasetti for Gastro Obscura
Pro tip: Pack your roasted, marinated vegetables to go and eat them in a park.   Alberto Blasetti for Gastro Obscura
Pay close attention to any fish offerings.   Alberto Blasetti for Gastro Obscura
Come here for the tavola calda, a spread of cold appetizers and sides.   Alberto Blasetti for Gastro Obscura
Skip the tourist traps in the Roman Ghetto and head here instead.   Alberto Blasetti for Gastro Obscura
Cacio e pepe lasagna is a clever mash-up.   Alberto Blasetti for Gastro Obscura
Sea bream is roasted under a layer of thinly sliced potatoes.   Alberto Blasetti for Gastro Obscura
Be prepared to order too much and joyfully eat it all anyway.   Alberto Blasetti for Gastro Obscura
  Alberto Blasetti for Gastro Obscura
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Jewish people have been living in Rome for over 2,000 years. In 1555 a Papal decree confined the entire community to a ghetto near the Tiber. Here, some of the city’s cucina ebraica staples were perfected and codified: chrysanthemum-shaped carciofi alla giudea (fried artichokes), puffy fritters, rich ricotta crostatas. Lately, alas, Rome’s Ghetto Romano has been resembling a stage set for tourists with restaurants resting on their greasy laurels, and lines at the classic Pasticceria Boccione stretching for blocks.

Where do actual Romans go for cucina erbarica? Follow them to this no-frills cafeteria in the unglamorous part of Trastevere near its famous Sunday flea market, Porta Portese. A combination tavola calda (deli with prepared food) and fresh pasta takeout shop (the name means “there’s pasta ... and pasta!”) the homey spot with a few tables inside and some on the sidewalk delivers a primer of Rome’s Jewish flavors undiluted for tourists—and certified kosher.

The huge selection behind the glass counter is daunting but the briskly friendly young staffers will annotate the food in English (or Spanish or French). Yes, there are fried carciofi in season (from winter to early spring) as well as blazing-red roasted peppers, fried marinated zucchini called concia, and plump rice-stuffed tomatoes. Among the pastas, choose the delightful cacio e pepe lasagna. And pay special attention to fish specials, such as orata (sea bream) roasted under a layer of thin-sliced potatoes, and aliciotti con indivia, an iconic Jewish dish of fresh anchovies baked in a casserole under a cap of slightly bitter green curly escarole. No way around it, you’ll order too much and won’t regret it a bit.

Related Tags

Restaurants Jewish Food

Know Before You Go

Do visit during the Sunday Porta Portese market, but arrive before noon, before the crowds get close to impassable.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Italy: Roman Carbonara, Florentine Steak & Venetian Cocktails

Savor local cuisine across Rome, Florence & Venice.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Anya von Bremzen

Published

June 3, 2025

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
C'è Pasta... E Pasta!
Via Ettore Rolli, 29/35
Rome, 00153
Italy
41.874176, 12.462934
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Flavio al Velavevodetto

Rome, Italy

miles away

Monte Testaccio

Rome, Italy

miles away

Piatto Romano

Rome, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Rome

Rome

Italy

Places 149
Stories 25

Nearby Places

Flavio al Velavevodetto

Rome, Italy

miles away

Monte Testaccio

Rome, Italy

miles away

Piatto Romano

Rome, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Rome

Rome

Italy

Places 149
Stories 25

Related Places

  • Spaghetto taratatà is named for the sound of rattling sabers.

    Rome, Italy

    Giano Restaurant

    Inventive Sicilian specialties are executed with flair at this restaurant overseen by chef Ciccio Sultano.

  • The gnocchi here get blanketed in a sugo with braised oxtail.

    Rome, Italy

    Cesare al Pellegrino

    Chef Leonardo Vignoli subtly updates Roman classics in a storied space.

  • Romans insist you should feel the cracked peppercorns and cheese grains on your tongue.

    Rome, Italy

    Flavio al Velavevodetto

    For one of Rome’s finest renditions of cacio e pepe, head straight to this osteria.

  • Tripe is fried to a crisp.

    Rome, Italy

    L’Osteria della Trippa

    Everything from fried brains to stewed lungs are on the menu at this nose-to-tail spot.

  • Pizza al taglio is done right here.

    Rome, Italy

    Fratelli Trecca

    Roman-style pizza al taglio arrives here with magnificent, crackly crust.

  • A slice of cake is the perfect coda to a meal at Piatto Romano.

    Rome, Italy

    Piatto Romano

    Once the home of a renowned slaughterhouse, formerly working-class Testaccio is still the place to go for Roman offal dishes.

  • Khao soi, the popular northern Thai noodle dish, comes with a richly spiced coconut broth here.

    New Orleans, Louisiana

    Budsi’s Authentic Thai

    Dine on Isan-style specialties lovingly rendered in all their fiery, umami-loaded glory.

  • BBQ shrimp braised in beer are a popular menu item.

    New Orleans, Louisiana

    High Hat Cafe

    Southern comfort food is on the menu at this neighborhood favorite.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.