Trattoria Sora Lella

The staff was super nice and the service was great, but the food missed the mark. We ordered three different pastas, and all of them were way too salty. It was hard to taste anything else, and none of us could finish our plates.

I had the pleasure of dining at Trattoria Sora Lella, a historic family-run restaurant nestled on the picturesque Isola Tiberina. Opting for the “Ambleto Our Dear Father” tasting menu, I was treated to a delightful four-course journey through traditional Roman cuisine. The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the carbonara. The pasta was cooked to perfection, enveloped in a creamy sauce that balanced richness and flavor seamlessly. Each bite was a testament to the culinary expertise that Sora Lella has been known for since its establishment in 1959. Complementing the meal, our attentive server recommended a wine that paired exquisitely with our dishes, enhancing the overall dining experience. The staff’s knowledge and passion for their offerings were evident, contributing to the warm and inviting atmosphere of the trattoria. The ambiance of Sora Lella is both cozy and rustic, transporting diners back in time. Adorned with vintage photographs and memorabilia, the decor pays homage to its founder, the beloved Roman actress Elena Fabrizi, affectionately known as Sora Lella. This connection to Roman heritage is palpable, making the dining experience all the more authentic. While some reviews have noted that the prices reflect the high quality of the dishes, I found the experience to be well worth it. The combination of exceptional food, attentive service, and historic charm makes Trattoria Sora Lella a must-visit for anyone seeking an authentic taste of Rome.

La Sora Lella used to be my favorite place in Rome —until that lunch on May 9th, when I went with a French friend to introduce her to it. I used to go there every year, at least twice, with my Roman husband (he's Italian, I'm French). It was “our” place, and we were always warmly welcomed by the staff. But on May 9th, we were just two French women hoping to enjoy some of the most exquisite Roman food in the city —and it turned into a very big disappointment. Not because of the food, which was as delicious as ever, but because of the way we were treated as foreigners. My friend wasn’t very hungry for "appetizer+main course+dessert", so I suggested we share the appetizer before the main course —the supplì, which I know they are served in pairs— but the waitress refused: “That’s the policy of the house,” she said. So we were forced to order two. Meanwhile, at the table next to us, an Italian couple was allowed to share both their appetizer and dessert, and the maitre d' checking on them throughout the meal. Not a single question for us. Although I speak fluent Italian, the staff insisted on addressing me in English. And to top it off, we were charged for bread we never asked for (fortunately, my friend noticed it). And of course no "goodby" when we left… What a disappointment. I felt both angry and sad, because I truly loved this restaurant and had recommended it to everyone visiting Rome who wanted an authentic Roman dining experience. But now, after witnessing the difference in how Italians and foreigners are treated, I don’t think I’ll ever go back.

The food was acceptable — not remarkable, but decent. Unfortunately, that’s the only remotely positive thing I can say. The young waiter with glasses was aggressively rude from the moment we sat down. I understand English is not your first language (neither is mine ), but I do know how basic courtesy works. You don’t speak to customers using commands, and you certainly don’t slam glasses and throw cutlery on the table. It doesn’t take much effort to say “please.” It takes even less to not be hostile. The waiter’s attitude turned the entire experience into something I had to endure rather than enjoy. The €105 I paid felt completely wasted. To make matters worse, they overcharged us for bread. When we pointed it out, they refunded €5 instead of the correct €5.50. At that point, we were too irritated to argue. Consider that €0.50 a gift. You clearly need it more than we do.

This is my favorite place that we ate at in Rome. It was delicious accessible, friendly, cheerful. What more can you ask so many different options and I like seeing everything that you can order sitting in the steam tray so nice. Everyone was so cordial and we tried so many different things. It was super reasonable and everyone and I mean everyone should be making a pilgrimage to this restaurant. I was not able to meet Gigi on this trip but for what it’s worth I went back a second time to have food at this wonderful place. Don’t confuse it with Lella . It’s Lalla

Definitely overpriced, but because you're paying for the ambience as well. The surrounding area is really very nice, so if you know 30% of the price goes to that and are ok w it then please proceed Coda alla vaccinara(oxtail) is alright. Texture was slightly chewy, the tomato sauce was lacking in body despite being already quite salty. Can skip The meatballs are really not good. The tomato sauce is more strongly herbed in this one, but the smooth texture and the mealyness betrays the use of a lot of filling, you can hardly taste meat. Skip this, it's ridiculously priced Finally the lamb sweetbread does have some caramelised flavour, texture is alright as well but also lacks flavour esp because it's done with such a mild sauce. In particular the centre of each piece is almost tasteless Food is only slightly above average, but very overpriced if you're not here to enjoy the scenery

Loved this place so much. It would be first on my list in any return to Rome. We almost went back twice while here this time. Food is so good and service is great too. We sat outside until it began raining and then the staff took exceptional care of us, getting us to a dry table and making us comfortable. It was packed and I suggest reservations which we had, because many had been turned away. Fabulous!!!!!

So good we had to go back a second time! Sora Lella was the first choice for my boyfriend and I when we travelled to Edinburgh last month and wanted to support the local vegan restaurants. We knew we had made the right decision when we arrived to find a cosy, warm, pleasant restaurant filled with the wonderful scents of Italian cooking. We had the penne arrabiata and the zozzana and both were amazing; the spices were flavoursome but balanced with a fresh and creamy taste. The vegan parmesan was great too. For dessert, we had the white chocolate cheesecake and that was simply the best cheesecake I’ve ever had; I tried going back for it multiple times but there are different, fresh cheesecakes every day and we unfortunately had to return home too soon. I’ll go back for it next time! It was a pleasure eating in this restaurant - the ambience was homely and the service was professional and attentive. We recommend that anyone, vegan or not, goes to Sora Lella for the italian food in Edinburgh!