Dishes, not restaurant lists
What to Eat in Rome
6 dishes worth ordering in Rome — what each one actually is, what to expect when it lands on the table, how to say it, and roughly what it costs. 5 of them are vegetarian. We rank dishes, not restaurants: a dish is a stable thing you can find in many places, and where it's best changes faster than any list stays honest.
#1 · vegetarian
Cacio e pepe
KAH-cho eh PEH-peh · typical price: €10–16
What it is: Pasta with Pecorino Romano and black pepper emulsified into a glossy sauce — nothing else.
What to expect: The test of a Roman kitchen: three ingredients, no cream. Expect it slightly saltier and sharper than the versions exported abroad.
#2
Carbonara
kar-boh-NAH-rah · typical price: €11–17
What it is: Pasta with guanciale, egg yolk, Pecorino, and black pepper.
What to expect: No cream, no peas, no chicken — ordering it 'with cream' marks you instantly. The guanciale (cured pork jowl) is the flavour engine.
#3 · vegetarian
Supplì
soo-PLEE · typical price: €1.50–3
What it is: A deep-fried rice croquette with a molten mozzarella centre, usually in tomato ragù rice.
What to expect: Rome's street snack, eaten from pizza-by-the-slice shops. Pull it apart to get the cheese string — that's the point.
#4 · vegetarian
Roman-style artichokes · Carciofi alla romana
kar-CHOH-fee AL-lah roh-MAH-nah · typical price: €6–10
What it is: Whole artichokes braised with mint and garlic until spoon-tender.
What to expect: A late-winter and spring dish (roughly February–May). The deep-fried Jewish-quarter version, carciofi alla giudia, is the crunchy sibling worth ordering too.
#5 · vegetarian
Pizza al taglio
PEET-sah al TAL-yo · typical price: €3–6 per slice weight
What it is: Rectangular pan pizza sold by weight, cut with scissors to the size you point at.
What to expect: Lunch, not dinner. Priced per 100 g, eaten folded on the street. Toppings change with the season and the baker's mood.
#6 · vegetarian
Maritozzo
mah-ree-TOT-so · typical price: €2.50–4
What it is: A soft sweet bun split and overfilled with lightly sweetened whipped cream.
What to expect: A breakfast pastry, eaten before 11am with a cappuccino. Messy by design; there is no elegant way and locals don't attempt one.