Best Foods From Rome, Cultural Quirks, and Essential Travel Tips with Shelley Ruelle

Take advice from Shelley Ruelle, whose 20 years of experience highlights the best foods from Rome along with travel advice, hacks, and tips for exploring the city. Listen to this podcast episode or play it on any podcasting platform. Feel free to jump down to the bottom for Shelley’s restaurant and food recommendations from Rome.

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Shelley Ruelle is the managing director for ItaliaPass, an online community of expert advice focused on helping travelers visit Italy. Over the years, Shelley worked on many projects and jobs helping students and tourists experience the best of the country. With twenty years living in the city, Shelley shares her thoughts on the best foods from Rome, and why every traveler needs to indulge in these local favorites.

Falling in Love with Rome

Shelley’s love for Italy grew from learning and understanding the language, starting Italian lessons during her last year at university, and continued studying as a hobby for two years after. 

To immerse herself in the language and culture, Shelley flew to Italy in 2001 for a month-long trip that would change her life forever. Shelley’s first day in Rome was historic with the Roma football club winning the national championship just the previous day; their first championship in over 20 years. 

The streets came alive with Romans celebrating the victory with singing in restaurants and bars all over the city. The excitement and unity among the citizens made Shelley fall in love. 

“Rome stays Rome. It doesn’t adapt to people who come in. The people who come in can adapt to Rome…In Rome, you can really feel like a local.” –Shelley Ruelle on Roman culture

Travel Tips While in Rome

My first trip to Rome was disappointing and wasn’t what I expected. My unrealistic expectations led my impressions to an unfavorable outlook on the city. Interviewing Shelley was refreshing, and it was exciting to hear the true culture of Rome and confront my own misconceptions. 

Shelley explains that Rome is a “tough nut to crack” because the day to day life is a bit of a challenge, but if you learn to thrive in Rome, you will make it anywhere. Shelley gives the following tips for those traveling to Rome.

Rome Tip #1: Assert Yourself When Necessary

Rome is a little disorganized. Even while getting coffee, lines are obscure and tourists get lost in the process. This is the way it is in Rome. Use your elbows and assert yourself to the front, and make your coffee order. This goes for other places around the city from ordering food to navigating tourist areas.

Rome Tip #2: Adapt Yourself To The City

Buses might run late, food may take longer to order, and asking for help might be complicated. Instead of fighting the circumstances, go with the flow, because it might lead you to serendipitous situations that will make your trip even better. 

Rome Tip #3: Cross the Street With Confidence

First-time travelers visiting Rome will experience the daunting task of crossing the street. This sounds simple enough, but aggressive driving and unfamiliar circumstances will leave any traveler a bit worried. You will understand when you confront the intersections yourself.

– Start by looking at the approaching car.
– Look them in the eyes and make sure they see you. 
– Start walking, and the driver will stop. Sometimes they will slow down quickly at the last second.
– Do not step backwards! This will confuse the driver making the situation more complicated. 
– Reach the other side in victory! 

Rome Tip #4: Take Rome Little By Little

Shelley explains a saying in Italian translating to “little by little” meaning when things do not go your way, take the situation little by little to work through it. In the contrast, there is another saying that translates to “F-It!” If working little by little doesn’t work, screw it and move on without worry. If you can’t take things in stride then let it go. This is a piece of Roman culture every traveler should adopt for enjoying the city. 

Rome Tip #5: Enjoy True Al Dente Pasta

Italian restaurants in Rome usually cook pasta to order and design their whole dish preparation to the exact time needed for al dente pasta. The noodles retain a bite and slight crunch. This is real al dente and isn’t considered undercooked. No mushy pasta in Rome! 

Rome Tip #6: Eat The Street Food

Although some European cities look down on walking the streets while chowing on delicious food, in Rome it’s customary for certain dishes like suppli and pizza. It’s not rude, so take your food on the go.

Rome Tip #7: Use The Drinking Water Fountains

Throughout Rome, drinking water fountains jet out cold, spring water from below the city. Refill your water bottles or do as the Romans and use your finger to push on the hole creating a large arc to sip from. 

“Simple is better…its just the good basic ingredients that are going to carry that dish. You do not need to hide it.” -Shelley Ruelle on Roman food.

Best Foods From Rome 

Italians love to showcase the quality of the ingredients and let flavors shine in their true form, refusing to hide their food under a pool of sauce or mountain of toppings. Italian food is all about letting the ingredients speak for themselves. 

What Food is Rome Known For?

Below, Shelly lists an amazing assortment of local Roman dishes to try. There are countless traditional Roman foods, but this will suffice for the basics. Every dish is a must-try for travelers craving a remarkable culinary tour of Rome. 

Suppli – Fried rice balls with melted mozzarella cheese in the center. These are usually eaten as a snack before pizza. Although variations pop up all over Italy, suppli exists mostly in the confines of Rome.

Pizza al Taglio aka Scissor Pizza –  Large rectangles of pizza line the counters. Tell them what you want, and they will cut off square slices with scissors and charge by weight. 

Amatriciana – Pasta with tomato sauce, diced bacon chunks, and a little bit of chili pepper. A simple red sauce pasta that is a favorite among locals. 

Carbonara – A creamy pasta with egg and bacon chunks. Perfect timing is crucial to carbonara because the egg must be added at the right time or suffer the consequence of scrambled egg pasta.  

Cacio e Pepe – As simple as it gets. Spaghetti with parmesan cheese or pecorino romano and pepper. Starchy pasta water is added to the mix to make the sauce and melt the cheese. 

Porchetta – Boneless pork roast stuffed with spices. The outside turns super crispy and servings are sliced to order and made into a sandwich. 

Must Try Restaurants in Rome 

Yes, there are hundreds of amazing restaurants sprinkled throughout Rome, but Shelley breaks it down to a shortlist so you can sample all the best foods from Rome. 

Er Buchetto – Crispy Porchetta Sandwiches

Via del Viminale, 2F, 00184 Roma RM, Italy

Marco Roscioli Il Forno – Bakery Using Natural Yeast and Sour Doughs

Do not forget the pizza bianca.
Via dei Chiavari, 34, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Nonna Betta – Jewish Roman Cuisine 

Best place for the fried artichokes (carciofi alla Giudia).
Via del Portico d’Ottavia, 16, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Da Enzo –  Roman Pasta Specialities 

Try the cacio e pepe, amatriciana and carbonara pastas. 
Via dei Vascellari, 29, 00153 Roma RM, Italy

Da Tonino – Traditional Roman Dishes

Be sure to try meatballs (polpette) and tiramisu.
Via del Governo Vecchio, 18-19, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Ai Marmi – Roman-Style Thin Crust Pizza 

Also order the typical fried appetizers: suppli, filetti di baccala (fried salt cod), fiori di zucca (fried zucchini flowers)
Viale di Trastevere, 53-59, 00153 Roma RM, Italy

Trapizzino – Unique Roman Street Food

In Trastevere serving up their own style of Roman street food, sandwiches, and variations on Roman suppli. 
Via Giovanni Branca, 88, 00153 Roma RM, Italy

Pizza Florida – Pizza al Taglio with Lots of Options

This is the scissor pizza mentioned earlier that is sold by weight. Try simple pizza Rosso or go for the huge toppings. 
Via Florida, 25, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Favorite Coffee Shops Around Rome 

No trip to Rome is complete without trying the legendary cafes. As a city known for popularizing and perfecting espresso drinks, take the time to sip your way to heaven. 

Caffe Camerino –  Caffe Completo mentioned in this episode

Largo Arenula, 30, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Caffe Tazza d’Oro

Via degli Orfani, 84, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Caffe Sant’Eustachio

Piazza di S. Eustachio, 82, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Don’t Skip The Gelato In Rome

Gelato is an art form in Rome and there are good gelaterias and GREAT gelaterias. Shelley shares a list of her favorites. 

Frigidarium

Via del Governo Vecchio, 112, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Fatamorgana

Via dei Chiavari, 37A, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Gelateria del Teatro

Via dei Coronari, 65/66, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Connect with Shelley Ruelle

Italy travel planning – ItaliaPass Community