Another that's only about a long block from the Pantheon is Antico Caffé Chigi, Via della Colonna Antonina 33. It's in Piazza Colonna across from the Parliament. The first floor is a cafe; the restaurant is on the second floor. The staff were very gracious, nice setting, and wonderful risotto with shrimp and zucchini - and this from someone who's Nonna from Parma set the standard for risotto!

We just got back from Rome Friday evening(Aug 11). We stayed very near the Pantheon and had several great meals in the area.

Maccheroni, Piazza delle Coppelle, 44, ristorantemaccheroni.com reservations recommended
-local trattoria, wonderful food, great crowd and location. We ate here our first night in Rome. We were seated in the middle room with the kitchen and were totally entertained with the hustle and bustle. Our food was excellant and very reasonable. Very casual which was great on our first night. We were a group of four and this was the place everyone wanted to go back to for our last night in Rome. We requested to sit outside and ordered several dishes that we shared...an occassional car or scooter went by but we quite enjoyed it as that sort of thing doesn't happen in our small southern town. Seemed to be constantly crowded from 8pm on into the evening.

'La Campana' - was also on my list for this area but was closed during our visit (Aug) supposed to have delicious Roman specialties and they say the oldest restaurant in Rome
Vicolo della Campana Tel 06-6867820

Also - not close to the Pantheon but if you are going to be visiting the Vatican a great ristorante "Dal Toscno" is just 2 short blocks away from the entrance. Via Germanico 58/60
We had lunch here before our visit to the Vatican. We all four thought it was wonderful. In August it was the coolest (air conditioned) place we found in Rome. I had the pasta of the day (split it with my husband) that was just melt in your mouth...then I had lightly breaded veal on a bed of arugola and cherry tomatoes...my husband had a bite and said it was the best he had in Italy (and he had ordered veal several times). Dessert was a bowl of the very tiny wild strawberries one order with lemon syrup and one order with vanilla ice cream. We could have had two more of those. Again the price was very reasonable and we would definitely try to get back here for dinner on our next trip. If you get here for a meal make sure that you make a trip to the restroom...you get to walk right thru the most amazing kitchen. If you like to cook at all you will be interested.

You didn't ask but the best gelato is just off of the square. If the front to the Pantheon is at your back walk straight across the plazza and vear to the right...I believe the name is Della Palma...most amazing flavors and we tried a lot last week. My final gelato of the trip was creme! What a finish.

Have a great time.
1jan1

Oh yes, we had the same bad experience at Orso 80 several years ago when we were traveling with our two sons...before we could order anything our waiter just started bringing an odd assortment of food and told us that was the way they served dinner to everyone. It was not really disgusting but just very unpleasant.
1jan1

I'm surprised at these bad experiences at L'Orso 80, since we had such a wonderful evening there. The waiter brought only what we ordered, and couldn't have been nicer to our very jet-lagged son, who literally fell asleep at the table!

1jan1, that is so funny that you mentioned that particular gelateria by the Pantheon. That was the first one we went to, within an hour of our arrival. I remember that as the best gelato we had in Italy, but I assumed that it was because it was our first. Maybe it really WAS the best. (We had an "at least one gelato a day" deal with the kids, so we tried lots of places.)

1jan1, I'm guessing that the odd assortment of food the waiter brought you at Orso 80 was the antipasto. Almost everyone orders it, and it comes in many plates of individual items, including about four kinds of eggplant and some melon and prosciutto and fritattas and I don't remember what else. I've been there twice and really enjoyed it.

Orso 80 is a favorite of our family - we love the antipasti (just the vegetarian selection) the bread and a bottle of wine.

Another favorite in the area is Myosotis- it is a bit fancy, very nice service, and delicious food. They are on Via Della Vacarella- it is off of Via Coppelle (I believe around the corner from Maccheroni (I haven't eaten there but also heard great things about it and when I passed by it was always crowded.

Il Bacaro (sp?). Very nice atmosphere and good food.

We loved Il Baccaro as well (on Via degli Spagnoli). Also, highly recommend Obika (Piazza Firenze), it is a mozzerella bar. Excellent mozzerella di buffalo!! We usually order several different tasting dishes (cheese and meats).

We just returned from Rome and stayed in the Hotel Santa Chiara whch is just behinf the Pantheon. There is a wonderful Restaurant just in front and to the left wwwhen you are staaanding in front of the Pantheon. It has a large outdoor eating area. The owners name is Gabriele. I lost the name but if you are looking at McDonald's it will be on your left.

The food is wonderful. Prices are in line and, for Rome, not a rip.

If anyone knows the name of the place I am talking about please let me know as I need to send a picture of the owne's little boy that I took and the Email address bounced back on me.

Thanks,

Our cheapest and most memorable meal was when we watched the moon rise over the Pantheon. We sat on the steps of the monument across the piazza and drank beer and ate pizza.
It was a fabulous experience :)

I can recommend two outstanding, but low key, restaurants near the Pantheon.

1) La Sagristia---
Best baby artichoke/margarita pizza lunch of our trip! Facing the Pantheon, follow the street to the left named Via Sagristia (or Sacristia?). The restaurant is a few doors up on the right. We also had an excellent fish dinner here, but the pizza and artichokes were unforgettable.

2) Fiametta---
Very near Piazza Navona off Pza Fiametta---next to Hotel Genio. We'll never forget the starter we had here: spinach crepe, to die for! The rest of the meal, especially the risotto, was just as delicious. Warm. casual, inviting atmosphere. Well worth seeking out.

Correction: I've struggled witht he name of that street by the Pantheon for months now. So I finally looked it up on viamichelin. It looks like the name of the street is VIA DEL SEMINARIO. I could have sworn the street and restaurant had the same name. Sorry.

I also suggest Maccheroni. It's not exactly Mom and Pop, but it's a great place for local atmosphere and good food. There were other restaurants near it that also looked appealing.

From my May 2006 trip report:

"Later, for dinner, we headed back toward a restaurant where my daughter had eaten earlier that semester. It’s very casual and good, called the Maccheroni Ristorante at Piazza delle Coppelle, 44, phone 06 68307895. It’s very popular with locals and gets very busy. The service is friendly and the atmosphere is lively and interesting. About 47 EUR for two, with one-half liter of house wine."
:)>-

I want to hang on to this!

Maureen,
Good for you, remembering to include the price!

The two restaurants I listed above were about 65 euros for dinner for two (including kir royales and a bottle of wine).

Jeanne, I have to say our price was probably lower than most peoples' would be, because it was my daughter and myself, and we just had a main dish and a salad each. So don't be surprised if your meal is more than ours was.

No surprise. We usually have kirs beforehand, so I'd expect our bill to be a little higher. Overall, we were pleasantly surprised at the price of meals all over Italy (compared to Paris).