"Tell us about your first impressions when you arrived. At Trapizzino Trastevere, a cavernous entry leads past a marble bar and some seating; beyond that, there's a room with some high-top tables. The decor is a mix of wrought iron, stainless steel—industrial-chic is super popular in Rome now—and an exposed antique wooden ceiling that's original to the building. What was the crowd like? Think of Trapizzino as an elevated fast-food joint. The brand has gotten a lot of national and global press, so diners tend to be a mix of Italians and tourists who have come to try this clever invention. There are, of course, also local fans of the trapizzino, the restaurant's namesake food, who have followed it since its invention in 2009. What should we be drinking? There are a number of Trapizzino locations throughout Rome and most are simple takeaway joints. This location, on the other hand, has a full bar with craft beer, wine from Lazio, and classic Italian cocktails, including a bottled housemade variant of Campari. Wines are all super affordable by the bottle; additionally, there are about 10 by the glass in the €6 range. Main event: the food. Give us the lowdown—especially what not to miss. In 2009, pizza maker Stefano Callegari was playing around in the kitchen and invented the trapizzino, a triangular slice of pizza bianca—his made with a thick, fluffy flatbread—that's been cut open and filled with traditional Roman dishes like simmered oxtail, tripe with tomatoes, and chicken cacciatore. This affordable, portable pizza-sandwich hybrid has really taken off, and now there are locations of Trapizzino all over Italy, as well as in the United States and Japan. The chicken cacciatore (here, made without tomato) is mind-blowing, as is the vegetarian eggplant parmesan. Order a suppli' (rice croquette) to start and eat it while your trapizzino is being prepared. And how did the front-of-house folks treat you? The staff at the counter is helpful and will deliver your order to the table. Another server will take your drink order; most know the menu pretty well and can make suggestions for wine or beer. What’s the real-real on why we’re coming here? This is the perfect spot to pop into for a snack while exploring Trastevere or for a late-night bite after a bar crawling." - Katie Parla
