Giggetto al Portico d'Ottavia

Giggetto is in the heart of Rome’s Jewish Ghetto. Once a place of poverty and oppression, this vibrant and historic neighborhood is home to the city’s main synagogue, shops, an ancient archaeological site, and fantastic restaurants where you can try Roman Jewish cuisine. (You can also book a walking tour to learn more about the area’s history.)

At Giggetto, start with traditional Roman Jewish appetizers like filetto di baccalà and deep-fried whole artichokes whose leaves become thin and crispy like potato chips. This is not a kosher restaurant, so you can still try the gricia, a pasta sauce with pecorino cheese and crispy chunks of guanciale, or the amatriciana made with the traditional bucatini. In the warmer weather, try to grab a table outside next to fragments of an ancient temple dedicated to Apollo.