Good news on Pierluigi! Here's their response:

Dear Mrs. Cindy,
I want to ensure you that the Restaurant didn't move.
You probably tried to contact us durind the 2 weeks that the restaurant has
been closed for holidays after the first day of the new year.

We are still in Piazza de Ricci 144, tel +39.06.68.68.171

Best Regards

Lorenzo Lisi
Food and Beverage Ass.Manager

Thanks for letting us know, wliwl. :)

Pierluigi is wonderful, I was there on my last trip to Rome. Another good spot that may be fun is Sabatini in Trastevere. Both restaurants have indoor and outdoor seating, good service and very good food.

Buon Compleanno to your daughter!

BC

Thanks for the help-could you supply some addresses or what they are near for places like Sabatini,etc.? Do I need reservations at all the places suggested above-are some cheaper if we go for a lunch?

wliwl:

Thanks so much for letting us know. I assume we called during their holiday.

Guess I'll just have to go back. Sounds good to me!

dutyfree (and everyone else):

I want to add another name to the list---even though we didn't eat there:
Ristorante Il Matriciano
Via dei Gracchi 55 (near the Vatican)

I was going through my Rome notes and recalled our tour guide talking about it. In fact, when our group split up, she and two of the young women in the tour were headed there for dinner. She described it as "what you imagine when you think of an Italian restaurant" and she raved about the food.

I just Googled it and found several reviews like this one:

"...a traditional Roman restaurant that opens late and stays open well into the evening. A favorite for many customers is to come during warm weather and dine at the sidewalk tables. Start with the zuppa di verdura, which is a vegetable soup. Follow that with lamb or one of the many types of pasta. Don't be surprised to see many Roman faces inside, including cardinals from the Vatican. The restaurant is small and quarters are close, but the atmosphere is pleasant. Reservations required."

By chance we passed it the next afternoon but it was closed and it was our last day in Rome. It will definitely go on my list for next time.