Osteria del Sostegno

A friend of mine recommended this place and I am SO glad he did. He came a few weeks ago with a local and told me about the pasta. It is honestly roman perfection. Pasta is al dente and honest. Service exceptional and funny. Prices reasonable and we had 3 courses in just over an hour. Family of four cost us 200€ with a bottle of delicious red wine. If you like pasta and truffle then look no further. This is honestly fabulous food and a great setting tucked into the tiny roman road. Enjoy!

Absolutely The Best food I had in Rome!! We were the only tourists there, which says a lot! The staff and service were excellent. They even helped to celebrate my daughter’s birthday. We returned the following night because the food was just that good!

I walked in right as the restaurant opened and was lucky to grab a table without a reservation. Within 30 minutes, they were turning people away—so I highly recommend booking ahead. The cacio e pepe was out of this world—perfectly creamy, peppery, and balanced. Every dish I tried was delicious, and the waiter was incredibly helpful and attentive throughout the meal. This place is absolutely worth planning your day around. A must-visit if you’re in town.

Osteria del Sostegno is a charming spot with warm and attentive service that makes you feel truly welcome. The indoor space is intimate and always bustling, but we were lucky to grab one of the few outdoor tables on a sunny February day. Heaters kept us cozy, adding to the pleasant atmosphere. We started with a delicious appetizer of artichokes and mozzarella, both fresh and flavorful. My friend ordered cacio e pepe, and in a delightful surprise, the waiter brought me a small tasting portion—such a thoughtful touch! The parmigiana was incredible—rich in flavor yet not heavy. The staff was engaging and made the experience even more enjoyable. For two people, including starters, pasta, and water, the total was € 73, well worth it for the quality and experience. Highly recommended for an authentic and welcoming Roman meal!

Excellent location setting in a small alley near the Pantheon. Small intimate setting. Fantastic food and friendly service, (thank you Georgio). Reservations recommended and likely needed.

The cacio pepe was amazing, the best pasta i’ve ever had. but small portion. the egg plant parm was tasty, but so much cheese and very little eggplant. the worst part is they charged us 4 euros for stale old bread that we didn’t ask for, they just gave it to us. Sat right away if you go when they open, no reservations have to sit outside though and it was so hot.

Came here in 2024 on a recommendation of a friend for a good carbonara and it was probably and honestly the best carbonara my spouse and I have tried! I remember the tiramisu being quite good as well. Definitely worth a go!

A good restaurant located in a cozy side alley. Everything I ate tasted really good and I highly recommend ordering the bruschetta, it was absolutely amazing. The staff were very nice and without us asking, they put food on a tasting plate, when one of us ordered a pasta, so the other could taste. Recommend to go here and eat.

Excellent restaurant! Service and food was outstanding. We had the artichoke hearts, which were so delicious, Fusilli with broccoli and guanciale, pasta alla checca ( tomatoes, mozzarella, and olive oil), cacio pepe (cheese and pepper), and rigatoni alla arancini amatriciana ( guanciale, tomatoes, and pecorino cheese). All were so fabulous. This place is not to be missed! Ambiance was wonderful too!

Finally catching up on some of the places I've been to these past few months... Food here was fantastic! We started with a pasta course which was their Cacio e pepe, perfectly prepared. Housemade noodles with the perfect "tooth" to them and NOT swimming in sauce like so many other restaurants here in the US. Easily the best Cacio ever pepe I've ever had. For dinner I had the Bisteca, and Mark H had the Veal scallopini. My steak was fabulous (they had run out of ribeye so subbed tenderloin) and pan roasted potatoes were really good. Mark H said his dish tasted great although his veal was a bit tough. We split a piece of tiramisu for dessert and both had a glass of limoncello, this was great as well. A charming, tucked away restaurant with top notch staff and fabulous food.

The food was very good and authentic. The service was very professional and help us pick a local wine to pair with the meal

Sitting at the end of a short lane, Osteria del Sostegno has an unassuming front door, but one crowded with waiting dinners... for good reason. When you walk in you immediately think, this is going to be great.You will not be disappointed. As others have said, this was our best meal in Rome. Hero of the dinner was the artichoke, which was in season in December. As perfect a meal of pasta, chicken and steak as one could hope. Don't miss, but reserve early.

MY GOODNESS I think this place had one of the best Cacio e Pepe dishes that I have ever had! The restaurant is located at the end of an alley way, which transports you away from the busier streets of Rome, and gives you a more private and authentic environment. The wine is extensive and the pasta is deliciously fresh and handmade. The waiters were also great. We stated with the olive bruschetta, which was so delicious. For our entrees, we had the truffle pasta as well as the Cacio e Pepe. Both were amazing but the Cacio e Pepe was definitely the star of the show. We topped it off with the tiramisu which was so good that we almost ordered a second serving. Overall would definitely recommend restaurant to anyone visiting Rome!

The food here and service here was nothing but the best. Came here on a Friday evening for dinner and it was the best dinner we had while we where in Rome. The place is located in like a ally way,kind of had to find there table on the outside and some inside, we where lucky and got a table that night because we had no reservation. As for the food we ordered ,I forgot the name of the chicken but it was really good the sauce was amazing, we also got the Carbonara and it was delicious.. I usually don't get desert but I did here and the tiramisu cake was really good. Next time I'm back in Rome, I most definitely will be coming here. For their great service and great food.

So delicious! We were in Rome 3 nights and came here twice! The bruschetta was the best I've ever had and same with the chicken! You won't regret coming here. Ambiance is nice too

some of the worst service i have ever received. Ive been to hundreds of restaurants and have never received the worst customer service. we waited patiently and sat down for 15-20 minutes with no service. the people behind us sat right next to us and instantly got a menu, wine and water in the span of 5 minutes while we were still waiting for a menu to be brought to us. All of the employees kept looking at us and walked by us multiple times, took the order of the people next to us. and still continued to ignore us. we ended up getting up and leaving because we were so baffled. I wish i could leave a 0 stat review. completely ruined my night.

Food was ok, service was terrible, they lost our order, they did not acknowledged they did anything wrong, we waited about an hour for hour order

Very nice setting in the middle of everything. Efficient staff, reasonable price and great food!

Nine out of ten people I recommend this restaurant say "it was the best food they had in Rome" It's not a Michelin star, this is your families favorite neighborhood restaurant. The one that feels like home. Osteria del Sostegno, unpretentious, romantic, where the locals go to have a nice meal on date night. Frequented by locals, celebrities, and celebrity chefs, but you won't see evidence if this on social media, it's not the owners style. Sarah Jessica Parker ate here every night, while filming in Rome. On any given night you'll see the nicely dressed owner, Marco expediting in the kitchen checking each dish before it goes out, walking around treating guests, and helping where he can. Another fact, locals in shops nearby have told me many times "Marco is a really good guy, he treats his employees with respect" I've tried so many dishes here, please don't miss on his carbonara and saltimbocca, and if season the Tagliilini with black truffle, but truly anything that comes out of his kitchen is wonderful. Open for lunch and dinner, closed on Mondays. Dine in a alley, inside patio or this dining room, all nice seating choices.

This was one of the best culinary experiences of my entire life. The owners were happy to share their authentic and delicious food with us (definitely secure a reservation in advance!). Please please please give this place a try if you are looking to excite your tastebuds-- the white wine and vinegar chicken and potatoes was out of this world. The ambiance was very quaint and lively. I am very grateful to of had the opportunity to share quality food with such quality people. If you have the good fortune to try this place out, bring your favorite humans and be prepared for the time of you life.

This was the best meal we had in Rome, and the ambiance and service make it feel warm and welcoming. A bit hard to find the alley it's located in but well worth the effort!

The food and service were amazing. Definitely leave room for dessert. Highly recommend!

Warning: Honest review from our experience at this restaurant Disclaimer: Sorry this is almost an essay(long)...... We picked to go to this restaurant because of the great reviews on google and yelp. Beautiful setting, tucked away from the maze of people around the pantheon area. As we arrived at the restaurant, the staff were very nice and set us up with a table for our little group of four. They even offered to move us inside, thereby switching servers. That's when things seemingly went downhill. Our new server seemed immediately flustered (or giving off a "what do you want!" vibe...) while taking our orders, and was fairly short with us regarding whether we would be ordering an appetizer or not. I'm married to a German so I know what direct and to-the-point entails, however never have I experienced this feeling in the Italian restaurant industry before(at least I haven't experienced things like this).... Anyway, we ordered an appetizer (1st to arrive), some wine, four entrees (she pushed back fairly hard on us sticking to 2 of the pasta options only on the menu as from what we could tell others had ordered those two types the restaurant seemingly hedges bets on orders and cooks for what most tables are ordering?)... and a salad to share(she took mental notes of the entire order but the salad never arrived... no biggie, I guess).... We figured it was busy, and they have a fairly small sized establishment, perhaps understaffed a bit I would guess?. Well once we ordered, this server NEVER came back to our table to check on anything (meat under cooked, forgotten salad, water had run dry for our kids), or even made eye contact with us again during our meal. We observed the server being friendly to other tables, checking in on other tables, and we observed her chatting with other patrons and again... literally didn't make eye contact with us again during or after our meal. We then sat there for probably 35+ min observing her and trying to discreet flag her down to either check on the missing salad, or at least pay our bill.... I am not one to snap my fingers to get the waiters' attention, or raise my hand or whatever.... and at all the restaurants I've been over years throughout Europe and the US... I've never felt totally ignored after ordering food, except here. We finally were able to get the attention of what appeared to be the owner(?), and asked for "il conto, per favore" which he then went to get as proxy for our server.... Thats when she came over asking if we wanted anything else like dessert, to which we replied 'no, just the bill so we can leave'. They brought the bill and went back into ignoring-us-mode for another 5-10 mins... I then stood up with credit card in my hand, which is when they brought the payment device over to allow me to pay and leave. Time spent ordering then eating/enjoying the meal: 50min Total time at the restaurant: 2.5 hrs Will never go back again. The food was good, but not good enough to make up for the service. When in Rome, will stick to places like Alle Fratte di Trastevere and /or get some panini or pizza.

Owner refused to seat us despite so many empty tables. The party in front of us got a seat and they also didn't have a reservation. The waiters seemed nice though.

Wife and I came here for a fancy dinner while on our honeymoon, and man was the food good! Especially the tiramisu--if you eat nothing else from this restaurant, eat the tiramisu. You can thank me later lol

I wish I could go back weekly. This food is amazing and it was hands down one of the BEST restaurants I ate at during my visit. I will be back one day..

Went here for date night while in Rome and we were delighted with everything. The atmosphere is quaint and cozy, food was absolutely delicious, and the service was perfect. I would definitely recommend this lovely spot !

Ambiance - 4 stars The table against the wall on the outside was nice but kinda cramped. I like the alley way restaurant and think it's quaint. Food - 3 stars The vegetarian food is mediocre here and we tried most of it. The bruschetta was good but the rest of the appetizers/salads were bland, uninventive or mediocre compared to the area. The truffle spaghetti was really good but every other pasta was commonplace. Would not come back due to the food. Frankly, living in the SF bay area, I've had better in my local city (which I wouldn't say of other restaurants in the Rome, Florence, or Bologna) Service - 2 stars The waiter (maybe the owner in the way he was authoritarian) was odd. He seemed to be well known there. He wouldn't serve bread to our table with hungry kids until we ordered the pasta (even though we ordered wine). Is that true for everyone or just some people based upon how they look? I wondered He insisted that a party of 7 should only be able to order only 3 different kinds of pastas because the kitchen was too small. So we had to order twice as much of the same kind of pasta (and 2 of the 3 were mediocre). We told him that all but one of us was vegetarian so it would be nice to at least get a 4th that was non-vegetarian. He wouldn't allow for it and told us it was our fault for wanting a 4th item (due to of course his small kitchen ) and that we could go somewhere else if we didn't like it. Yikes! We had already ordered appetizers so we continued to sit. With the odd food ordering situation and the attitude, it was like being greeted by the soup nazi. No pasta for you! The thing is there is no need to steal the recipes from this place. In other words, I will return to a restaurant with an attitude if the food is outstanding, but the veggie food at Osteria del Sostegno is really not that good. I think most of the positive feedback is for non veg.

We loved this meal - we got lucky and got in without a reservation (would definitely recommend making one - it gets very busy), and had a great experience. The staff was friendly and helpful, and it was clear that there were a good mix of tourists and locals (seemed like it may be a frequent spot for post-work business dinners). Food was also delicious, had several of the starters and pastas, shared dessert, etc. Very cute/cozy restaurant and appropriate for couples, family (older kids), friends, etc.

Great pasta. Not on a main street so you won't just find this by chance. Found in Yelp and directions were right on. Very high end food- love the asparagus lasagna. Service was awesome. Also bruschetta was yummy

One of the best meals we ate in Rome! I visited this restaurant twice, once with friends and once with my family, and it was amazing. Great service, they were able to fit us in on a busy Friday night with only an hour notice. Server was very helpful and gave great suggestions. We enjoyed the fillet and chicken dishes, great break from pasta. This places sits on a quest street down a little ally, super charming!

The food, the ambiance, the service - were all wonderful! In a week, we had to go twice. Loved it.

Oh lord, this is by far the hardest restaurant to find but so worth it once you do! I looked at photos of the front of what to expect (from other Yelpers) but Google Maps literally brought us no where near here. We looked for it for about 15mins walking around in circles. It's actually a restaurant built in an alley between two buildings. The ambiance is quaint and nice as you're away from the main hustle and bustle of the main square. I ordered the carbonara as a whole meal as I can't stomach 4 courses. I really wished I ordered 2 orders of it because it was so freakin delicious! It was by far one of the best pasta dishes I had in Italy and I ate pasta pretty much every day. My husband and I also got tiramisu to share and it was a decent sized portion. It's made in house and the ingredients used were top notch. I definitely suggest discovering this restaurant as you won't be disappointed.

This place is hidden in a small alley way. Everyone is so nice. Place was a little tight. I had a stroller and had to leave it outside. They have a high chair for my toddler. Tables are very close to each other. Besides the food, I love the light brown tinted white color and texture of their table cloth and matching napkin. Looks like family own. Everyone speaks English and very friendly. Lasagna with asparagus tips - yum!!! Lots of cheese and the taste of asparagus. Something very different from the lasagna I used to see in the States. Pasta with bacon - don't remember what it's called in the menu. The red sauce in pasta is so creamy and smooth. Not sour like the pasta sauce I'm used to. Pasta was al dente but perfect. Bread was baked with olives inside. Love! Bread was soft and salty from olives. Artichoke in olive oil - sooo good!! Hot chocolate cake - not too sweet, FULL of chocolate I would love to come visit again if I come to Rome. It is a MUST VISIT restaurant!

Amazing place that we spent thanksgiving at. We stumbled upon it walked around Rome near our hotel. It did not open until 7 pm and we waited outside until it opened. We did not know that reservations were necessary but we saw the awesome reviews and knew this was a great spot. The owner was gracious enough to make a reservation since we walked in before they opened. As we waited outside, another couple from Vienna came up and waited by us. They came because the reviews were good too. The outside was covered with heated lamps. It was a romantic atmosphere. I was able to order a half bottle of their house wine for 6 euros and this was a great deal. Their house wine was delicious. For a starter we got the bruschetta and it was perfect for two. Very fresh with chunky tomatoes. For dinner I opted for their long pasta with a white wine sauce (I can't remember the name). It was good and simplistic. This is labeled as the first course but it satisfied me. The service was fast and a very friendly staff. They have good options and I would return here.

Amazingly delicious food with fun lovely energy. Mushroom pasta, bread, tiramisu and wine all wonderful

It was a lovely location but that was about all that was good about this place. The pasta was not cooked properly. And you best like what others in your party like - they warn you off about ordering different pastas as it will take extra time. Everyone's lunch came out separately. The charge 8 euros for stale bread and don't mention the charge. Wait staff ignored us when we did not order dessert. Needs a lot of work.

A bit on the pricier side, but nevertheless has the Italian charm and the famous amazingly tasting dishes!

Made a second visit in two years to this restaurant recommended by locals. This time I brought a large group. It turns out one of the people with us knew a Chef in Sarasota Florida who knows the owner and recommended the restaurant. The owner showed up and what a night we had. We sampled many different entrees, all were excellent. My group voted this the best restaurant during our two week stay in Italy. Make a reservation at least one week in advance of your visit. great wine list

One of the best Italian restaurants that I have ever eaten at. The service is immaculate and quick. The waiters are attentive to the tables needs. The food is incredibly tasteful. The menu...the MENU! We wanted to try everything. They have a large selection of wine to pair with your dinner. On top of everything, they are very fair priced! 10/10 highly recommend to anyone and everyone. Come enjoy this very beautiful and tucked away restaurant in Rome. Walking distance to Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon. Reservations only.

Friends who visited recommended we eat here aLeo. We walked by and couldn't find it...it was a Mon nite (when they're closed) and they're down a dark little alleyway. But we came by Tues right when they opened and booked a table, reservations are recommended. Food was excellent. Highlight for us was their pasta w shaved black truffle - which we shared, they did the shaving at the table. excellent! My husband really enjoyed his Veal Saltimbocca, sadly I didn't love my sliced pork roast. Overall, would def recommend- and would return.

One of the best restaurants in Rome. Easily. And the service is excellent. I can't stress that enough, especially in Rome where service is so often poor. And the food is exceptional. I didn't know carbonara could taste like that. We were gifted a bruschetta, as well as extra portions of the two pastas we ordered. The chicken on white wine sauce... I didn't get to have it because my father devoured it. Once it hit the table my nostrils picked up on a scent I'd never smelled. It smelled phenomenal. I leave Rome tomorrow and already want to come back just so I can order the chicken. I'll be back. I refuse to allow this to be one of my life's greatest regrets.

Absolutely our favorite while staying in Rome, so much so that we went back 3 times! Let's talk the logistics, it's situated in the alley, but does have a lighted sign "Trattoria" to guide you down the right path. Walking distance from the Pathenon. They strongly suggest reservation for both lunch and dinner and would turn you away mid shift. However, we found that if you show up right at the time they open (12:30pm for lunch, 7:30pm for dinner), you practically walk in and get seated right away. Food: tagliotini tartufo noir (€20)--sustegno hits this black truffle pasta dish out of the park. We ordered this one dish to try, then immediately ordered another round-- The homemade pasta has nice springy and medium glutenous texture, a perfect vehicle to carry the truffle aroma to your taste buds. This is a must try Amatriciana (€12)- their weapon of choice to carry the angry sauce is Mezze (short pasta). Again, al dente and is the lighter opposite to the truffle pasta-- it's an amalgamation of refreshing tomato sauce with a nice heat and umami flavor of bacon. Again, an awesome option for those who don't feel like rich, fatty flavor tonight Carbonara (€12)- hmm just a well done classic. Theirs is also tagliotini pasta. Lightly coated with perfectly smooth sauce (not scramble-y)-- this is for when you're really want to go big on the rich fatty! Other stuff we tried (secondi) were eggplant parm (small portion, really good so go for it after you're done with pasta), beef slices with artichoke (pretty good 7/10). All in all their food is just fabulous especially pasta dishes. The waitstaff is great at making recommendation for wine based on your price range as well. Order a half-bottle! Dolci -- for dessert we tried tiramisu-- classic Service: as mentioned, come early or make reservation or face being told off. If you're a repeat customers, they warm up with you and give you more truffles!

The atmosphere of the place make it seem very high end, but it's pretty mediocre. I would give it a 3.75. The service was very professional and friendly, and the environment is super romantic. But the food is just so so. The restaurant description highlights the Cacio e Pepe, so I thought it would be amazing; it was very average compared to others I've had elsewhere. The caprese appetizer was just okay; my wife thought the cheese was chewy. The best part of the meal was the chocolate pistachio ice cream but it wasn't incredibly remarkable. There are tastier places in Rome.

The BEST Italian dinner I've ever had in my entire life. We were worried we would need a reservation but we're able to walk in RIGHT at 7:30 and snagged a table. We started off with an amazing bottle of white wine and bruschetta. It was lightly drizzled with olive oil and covered in freshly sliced tomatoes. We moved on to a fusilli pasta with bacon and artichokes..wow! So flavorful and the bacon was a nice touch. My bad had a chicken dish with potatoes; to die for! The chicken had a few bones but it was cooked perfectly I was craving more once the plate was cleared. Of course we needed dessert so we decided on a hot chocolate cake; knowing that we would grab gelato after either way. The chocolate syrup was the thick and creamy and the cake melted in your mouth. Make your way to this restaurant and wait outside right when it opens! You won't regret it!

Kind of rude encounter, my girlfriend and I asked to eat here and a guy said no because we didn't have a reservation, then we asked for takeaway and he said "no, bye". I felt like a race thing, but I don't know, maybe he was just rude.

This place was truly wonderful. Tucked back in a short alley not too far from the Pantheon, it was a real gem. A mix of locals and tourists, we were lucky to walk up and get a table, as everyone after us was asked to come back an hour and a half later. Prices were fair and the food was delicious. We had the house wine from montepulciano for only $12/liter, focaccia antipasto, cacio e Pepe, and the chicken cacciatore and lamb for secondi. Both of our meals came with roasted potatoes and they were really delicious. This place is a bit hard to find, but well worth the search. Feels genuine in an area full of touristy garbage.

The real Italian Restaurant! Perfect This place is not a trap to tourists. Local is amazing Italian place. The food is unbelievable good.

I had fettuccine Bolognese last night for dinner. It was tasteless. The color was orange, when, in my opinion, it should be reddish brown, and there was no meat in the dish. For €14, a terrible meal.

This is the place where locals go in Rome. We ordered "mezze maniche all amatriciana" and "spaghetti carbonara," portion can be small, but they are only 10 euro each. will be back if I am in Rome.

Food was good but service at the end was terrible. Owner is a hot head, was getting frustrated with all the customers

Sweet little restaurant, tucked down at the dead end of a tiny alley near the Pantheon, and a bit hard to find. We ducked in on our last night in Rome for a quick, light meal; as others have mentioned, it draws in a lot of locals, and the food is delicious, much better than most places in that area of town. I had the chicken in vinegar sauce, a dish I had never heard of before, and a welcome break from all the pizza and pasta we had been eating. It was unusual and delicious, a bit spicy. We also loved our friendly, kind waiter. Be aware that a canvas "roof" over the tiny outdoor patio, while it creates a cozy atmosphere, does trap cigarette smoke a bit more than usual. I had to forgo dessert for that reason, but of course secondhand smoke is ubiquitous in Rome. A true gem.

Take the time to make a dinner reservation here. They book up. We had a fabulous meal and experience here. Everything was spot on. The food and service were exceptional. Will definitely revisit next time I'm back in Rome.

The service was ok, but not great, we had bread basket €4, water €4, and a bottle of wine €12, all not worth it. Food was below par. Total time since we sat down to pay was 2 hours. Appetizer: The capris salad was normal, nothing special. First course: mushroom pasta was too chewy and bit too hard for me, but mushroom itself tasted like pork belly, and was the highlight of my meal. The bacon and egg pasta was softer, less salty but less flavorful at the same time. Second course: Roasted lamb was dry and salty, greasy, no other flavor. €18 Thin sliced veal was actually salty ham(veal) with over-cooked potatoes. Not recommended at all. €18 Dessert: Chocolate cake was pretty good, but not excellent, I have had better once else where. €7 Overall: not worth the €99 on two person meal. The restaurant La Vecchia Locanda down stairs from the apartment was much better pasta, lentil soup, and service.

A little hidden gem under this big stand supporting the building (Sostegno) doesn't look like much but I had the most amazing pasta Amatraciana right under this huge thing!! If I remember right it's rather close to pantheon? Don't take my word, but if you happen to pass, enjoy the Amatraciana with some great wine!

As the highest rated place on offer near the Pantheon I expected a little better. Upon arrival the staff were too busy in conversation with one another to sit people. As we were seated we had to wait a long time before staff were available to take our order. Slow service & inattentive staff. Food was okay but mostly shadowed by the service.

unforgettable meal in rome! such a cute restaurant we happened upon late at night. it was lively, cozy, fun... and oh ya, so freakin delicious. got me chasin that carbonara dragon for years to come.