Trattoria Lilli

On my first night in Rome, I came here and was blown away by the food and service. You could tell that every worker in the restaurant loved it there and was happy to have anyone come in the door. We had a young lady and she was so sweet and told us exactly what to order. Everything was so delicious and authentic. We loved it so much that we came back three days later and ordered the same dishes plus some more!! We only got the tiramisu on the second visit, but it is an absolute MUST!! What made it even more special was that they remember us and the chef even came out to thank us for joining him. It was the best meal we had in Rome with the best atmosphere.

It seemed like a place frequented by locals, but the service was unfriendly. We sat down and waited for about 10 minutes without anyone taking our order. When I gestured to another server, they told me that only our assigned server could take the order. The bowl of ice we requested appeared to be poorly washed, with leftover food residue inside. As for the carbonara, the guanciale seemed extremely dry and tough, as if it had been cooked days ago rather than freshly fried today. The sauce was overly salty, lacking the richness and depth of egg yolk flavor. There was also not enough sauce, so the spaghetti felt dry and sticky. It was my first time trying the meatballs, so I cannot compare them to others, but they crumbled too easily and had an unpleasant texture.

A true gem! Absolutely loved this place! A perfect family-owned, truly Italian restaurant that feels like you're stepping into someone’s home in Rome. The food was authentic and full of heart, and the service made us feel like part of the family. Everything from the pasta to the atmosphere was just perfect. You can tell they really care about what they do. This is the kind of spot you remember long after the trip is over. Easily 5 stars — don’t miss it!

A must! Super nice staff. Incredible food. Good prices and very authentic. The wine craft was cheap and excellent. Tonarelli Cacio e Pepe was one of the best we’ve had. Simple but great alla Arrabbiata. The Polpette were dreamy! moist and soft and was so so good. Perfect Rich and yellowish tiramisu, not too sweet. One of the best restaurant in Rome center.

A bit tired of being stopped by every waiter as we walked through the busy streets of Rome’s historic center, we decided to wander off into quieter alleys, hoping to find somewhere more peaceful and authentic. That’s how we stumbled upon Trattoria Lilli, pleasantly tucked away from the more touristy areas, with a truly local atmosphere that brings you back to the real Italy, far from clichés. The food was excellent, but what stood out the most was the service: the waiter was genuinely kind and attentive. We’re truly glad we got lost in Rome, it led us to this wonderful trattoria!

Food was great. Service was ok Try pasta bolognese. Good wine

Very local, very non-touristy. The food was exceptional, do not miss the tiramisu!

If you’re a traveler who’s keen for authentic, home cooked Roman meals then look no more! We were taken back by the tranquility and quietness of the veranda outside of the place, but took a chance and decided to head inside. Best decision ever! This is where the local Roman eat, homely, traditional, simple yet fresh and delicious. Do yourself a favour and give this place a go, and don’t forget to ask for recommendations from the family members who work there.

I expected better, based on the reviews. Service was bordering on unfriendly. They couldn't make a negroni because they were out of gin, huh?? The antipasti of prosciutto and mozzarella was really uneven, some of the ham had that dry prosciutto texture and some was like sliced ham. And the portion was gigantic. I wouldn't normally complain about too much prosciutto, but this was too much and kept me from ordering another dish, like dessert. The rigatoni with bacon and fresh pepper was excellent though. Perfectly al dente and the cream sauce was fantastic. One drink, a carafe (375ml) of house wine and two dishes was $50, which seems a bit high. Except for the rigatoni, the rest of the experience, including service, wasn't worth it (IMO). I might come back if I were close by and hungry, but I wouldn't make this a destination visit.

Great food. The ravioli with ricotta and spinach as excellent. Only drawback for us is as that there are no gluten free options.

What a quant little gem in Roma!! This restaurant is ram by an older Italian woman and her family. The food is amazinggg!! My favorite was the Cacio pepe soo creamy and flavorful. The service was so nice and attentive. Very nice and clean. Very well decorated. Lots of indoor and outdoor seating. Highly recommend!

I really wanted to like this place. Unfortunately it's a hard no! Small menu and very simple too. With that said, I expect excellent food, super fresh, high quality ingredients. Not the case . Meatballs ... breadcrumbs mixed with some fatty stuff, double coated in more breadcrumbs flattened and fried! Heartburn !!!! Check for yourself if you don't believe me. Oh, I forgot , small sad looking portions.. Taverna agape around the corner is sooo much better! ( I don't work for taverna agape, I'm just a food lover and had my best meal so far at taverna agape)

Small gem of a spot. Small menu, personal and friendly service and yummy pasta! The carbonara was especially good as was the prosciutto e melon!!

Last day in Rome decided to check this place out because it was recommended. We walk here from our hotel and was really hungry. It was a 30 minute walk to get here. We finally get here and it was very crowded inside the restaurant. Looked like no seats. Maybe seating for two people. The waiter finally comes to greet us & he was ok at first then extremely rude after she tells him table for four people and rudely walks away & say NO WERE FULL!! LMAOOOO I'm like WOW!!! BAMBOOZLED ....

We honestly felt like we were in someone's kitchen... in a good way! Our group of nine came after work and a walking tour ready to eat. Their short and sweet menu helped us decide quick. Wave after wave of food arrived, which we shared. We started with two pitchers of house wine - one red and one white - then enjoyed several others. I sampled ever pasta dish they had, and no I cannot pick one as my clear favorite. I went with veal with artichoke for my second and found the portions to be generous. As for dessert, probably the best tiramisu I've ever had.

Uhhhh. I just remember it was so delicious. Simple, Italian fare. Excellent ingredients. Cute restaurant. Quaint. AND DELICIOUS. Try the Cacio e pepe.

My family and I visited Roma for the first time a few weeks ago. A friend of ours who lives in Roma recommended this restaurant. As a family we had lunch at this cute little restaurant. I fell in love with this restaurant right from the beginning. It was cute, and clean. The older lady who assisted us was friendly and helpful with the menu. It felt like a "little hole in the wall" where all the locals ate at! I would definitely visit this restaurant again and enjoyed the environment.

This is one of those hidden gems. We were in a pharmacy and I asked Mary (the local who worked there) where a good place to eat was. She recommended this place and, what a treat it was. The food and wine was amazing, the atmosphere was great if you want true local cuisine. Very reasonable price. Out of three nights in Rome, we ate two dinners at this restaurant. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Recommended by cognoscenti. Realized the clue to great Italian food: great ingredients prepared perfectly. Nothing fancy. And this place nails it. Great location in a small alley by the river. We were the only English speakers at lunch.

CNN travel accurately described this Restaurant as one of the best in Rome. The bucatini all'amatriciana was beyond tasty, I can't even explain how salty and savory the pancetta in my bucattini and my wife's carbonarra was. Before leaving the restaurant we began considering a return to Rome to eat here again.