Piazza Fiametta 10, Rome

On my first trip to Rome, I arrived in Rome at Aeroporto de Fiumicino at about 4:00 pm and after an exhausting trip to our hotel I immediately set out on foot to explore Old Rome and look for food. After wandering through the Piazza Navona for a short time I found myself passing restaurant after restaurant to find that perfect meal for my first night in Rome. As I searched, I remembered the advise that was given to me which was not to go in any restaurant which did not seem crowded during the dinner hour. So I continued to wander and search.

Tired and hungry I found I had wandered in a big circle and was now at the beginning of the Via Z. Zanardelli in front of the large Genio Hotel. Alongside the Genio Hotel on Piazza Fiammetta is a trattoria with red awnings reading "Trattoria" "Pizzeria" and a smaller sign "Trattoria Pizzeria Fiammetta". I passed this restaurant before but I was not interested, but now the place was beginning to fill up with hungry Romans ready for the evening meal. Since this restaurant has tables outside, it seems like a good choice.

The outside patio of Fiammetta is simple with clusters of tables pushed together so close that you can smell your neighbors pizza. Inside the decor seems to be reminiscent of the old west (or is this a spaghetti western?) decorated with wagon wheel chandeliers and painted murals. With my Italian dictionary in hand I set out to translate the menu and order my meal, but what's this? I've been given an menu in English! Nevermind blending in with the locals, I've already been labeled an American.

The menu seems to be about 50 pages thick, filled with page after page of interesting appetizers, salads, pizzas, pastas and meat dishes. I settle for full meal including bresaola topped with Arugula (called "rocket" in Italian) and Parmigiano dressed with olive oil and lemon, a pasta in a creamy artichoke sauce and a pizza topped with a bit of tomato sauce, cheese and detectable thin slices of prosciutto. Was this the perfect meal? I think so. I will always remember Trattoria Fiammeta, it was my first taste of Rome on my first visit to Italy.

 

Finding Trattoria Fiammetta is easy, simply look for the bright neon sign of the Hotel Genio, Via G. Zanardelli, 28. Fiammetta is on the side of the hotel.

 

The Hotel Genio is part of the Leonardi chain of hotels and offers reasonable rates. The location is very central and just steps away from the Piazza Navona and within walking distance of the best sight and shopping in Rome.