La Tartaruga in Rome
 

The last time we were in Rome a year and a half ago, we ate at this wonderful, little (and I mean only seating for 24!) retaurant on a hard-to-find street near the Campo dei Fiori. We are finally headed back and wonder if anyone has eaten there lately. I gustatorily (is that a word?) remember the mountain nettle risotto and the braised beef in Bartolo and would love to try it again. Thanks in advance.

I unfortunately haven't been there lately, but I am definitely a member of the fan club, as I mention it ad infinitum on this message board.

You might check also for some recent comments in the fodors Restaurant section where it is listed; click at the top of this screen.

What I remember is the mandarin sorbet and the risotto also. And the pleasant homey service.

We dined there in May of this year because of the reviews in the Fodors restaurants section and on this forum (Elaine's included). We reserved for 8pm on a Thursday evening and were the ONLY table served the entire evening. I felt bad for the owner and his kitchen help. When we arrived, his father was seated at a table reading a newspaper, and a few minutes later his sister came in for a few minutes (presumably to wait tables or help in some other way) but both father and sister were gone by 8:30. We had excellent service and delicious food, and bought an extra bottle of red wine to bring home. In conversation with the owner, he indicated that most nights were good, but a few had been sparse - tourism was a bit down this spring. He said Friday night was already booked up. I wonder if the locals abandoned him when the tourists found him? Too bad if that is the case - we enjoyed his hospitality and our meals. I would go back again, and I would definitely reserve in advance.

Ate there in May as well and were only 1 of 6 tables served that evening. The food was well-prepared and delicious as everyone had mentioned. Easily the best meal we had in Rome; made me regret my other choices. Service was friendly, attentive yet unobtrusive.

I too can't comprehend why the place was uncrowded as it seemingly deserved to be overflowing with patrons and liveliness, but at least it turned out to be a welcomed sanctuary in the boisterous city.

oh, no!
I"m worried they'll go out of business!

WE ate here in July of this year. It was wonderful especially the tangerine sorbet. The bread was the best of our whole trip. Everything was delicious. As with others we were the only people in the restaurant until 10 p.m. when another couple came in. That was okay with us because we were with our two children. The owner was wonderful and we asked him to sit with us whiich we found enjoyable and interesting for the children. You will not have any regrets, just beware that it is really on a small street and you would never guess that a restuarant as nice as la tartaruga is on that street. (my husband kept on saying we were lost.) enjoy a great meal.

address

via Monte della Farina, 53

The address is a small street that starts next to the church of St Andrea della Valle immediately south of Corso Vittorio Emmanuelle, a 10-15 minute walk from the Pantheon/Piazza Navona/Campo dei Fiori area.

PS
that's TWO of us that have mentioned the mandarino/tangerine sorbet.
Don't miss it!

I really just want to thank you all for the great data. I will be in Rome in late Oct for the 1st time in 30 yrs, alone, after a week in Tuscany. I will look forward to dinner at La Tartaruga (what does that mean?) and report back.
Thanks again to all....any other great suggestions?

La Tartaruga means "the turtle".

Nnrobnz, other places you might want to try are Nino, near the Spanish Steps, la Rosetta near the Pantheon, and Bucca di Ripetta at 36 via di Ripetta. Nino and Bucca are closed on Mondays.

Buon Viaggio & Buon Appetito,
BC

My daughter and I ate dinner there in March of this year, based on recommendations from Elaine and the reviews on Fodor's. We also were the only customers that night, and the owner's family was ensconced at the only other occupied table.

We enjoyed everything; I am especially remembering my daughter's fish soup, which was quite a production, and the mountain nettle risotto, which I ordered mostly because I figured I'd never see it anywhere else.

We took a taxi there, and the driver had to check his map to figure out where it was.

There are turtle artifacts around the restaurant. We took a picture of a large turtle shell by our table.

What is the average price for a meal and some wine at La Tartaruga?

I don't have a trip to Rome planned for the rest of the year...and you all are making me regret that!!

Thanks elaine, I copied the directions along with the address, We'll try to do our part in the next few months!

Thanks everyone. It's good to know that they are still there and still good. I will give a report after our trip (ony 2 more weeks!)

Can you please give me an idea of the price range of La Tartaruga?

I have tried to find my credit card slips from that trip, but can't. If I remember correctly (please don't hold me strictly to this) it was about 80=100 Euro. for 3 of us with primi, secundi, a bottle of wonderful wine (chosen by owner) and dolci. We were very full and not planning on dolci, but everything sounded so good, we could not resist. Of course this was a year and a half ago and the dollar vs. the Euro was much stronger. They also gave us a free glass of limoncello when they heard us discussing it. However, even my husband (who is notoriously frugal - read cheap) agreed that it was worth every penny! Hope this helps.

Hi
My first time there was about 2 years ago, in my head I remembered it being the equivalent of $40-$45 for myself--I had a full meal including a glass or two of wine. The second time I went there (on the same trip, this time with friends) it was a bit more pp because we shared a bottle of wine--I'd say, perhaps $60. On each occasion, the meal was worth imo twice what it cost.

We went to Tartaruga when we were in Rome during the Christmas & New Year Holiday this past season. I read all the reviews from this board and could not wait to try it. My husband and I both agreed the food was average at best. I did not think that any of the dishes were memorable. On a scale of 1-10 I would give this place a 4 or 5.
I guess it is all just personal taste!

I ate at La Tartaruga in May 2004. I had a pasta alla salsa fresca, grilled funghi porcini as a secondo, a gelato ai frutti di bosco and a coffee as well as an inexpensive bottle of Frascati. The meal was good but not extraordinary, and I found it somewhat overpriced at 46.50 Euros, even though funghi porcini are always a relatively expensive second course.

We arrived in Rome for a week in June of this summer on a Saturday. We walked toward Campo Fiori in the evening planning to find a spot for dinner, and passed La Tartaruga quite by accident. It was on my "must do" list, so popped in to see if there was anyway they could fit us in -- it was about 8:30 or 9:00 at the time. No problem. We had a good dinner, nothing fantastic, but nice and pleasant and good food. We had a bottle of Puglian wine, both had a special roast veal tenderloin with mashed potatoes, one had tagliarini with porcini and one had asparagus soup as starters. And my partner had chocolate mousse with fresh berries while I had a nice cheese plate. The total bill was 84.50 euro. This ended up being our second most expensive meal in Rome, and probably about our fifth or sixth favorite. We ate at several places for less that we liked a whole lot more, including Pancrazio, Osteria del Pegno (probably our favorite), Fiametta, and Il Bacaro, all of which were less expensive and we enjoyed just as much or more.

Incidentally, the place was practically deserted on that Saturday night. There were only two other tables in use most of the evening, and when we left there was one other couple still there. All of us were American tourists -- never saw any locals there at all.