Friday Fives: Katie Parla's Guide To Rome - New York - The Infatuation

"Perfect For: Impressing Out Of Towners Many visitors still think you can't find a bad meal in the Italian capital. But for reasons too numerous to mention, the quality of food in Rome has taken a nose dive over the past decade and few places manage to hit the spot on all aspects of food and wine service, which makes Cesare al Casaletto an absolute treasure. When I want out of town guests to taste the best of Rome and experience that perfect trattoria they imagine, I take them to Cesare and order all the fried starters--eggplant croquettes, anchovies, squash blossoms, and more--followed by the pasta classics (cacio e pepe, gricia, and amatriciana). The place also has an insanely affordable wine list composed mainly of natural wines from Italy, France, and Slovenia." - chris stang