Charcuterie in Rome

There is no shortage of fine food in Italy. The streets are filled with small cafe’s, restaurants, gelaterias, wine and cocktail bars, and coffee shops. When there are so many good culinary options, it’s hard to stand out in the crowd. You’ve probably read all the blog pages of the “Top 5 Restaurants in Rome” and “10 Restaurants You Can’t Miss” on other blogs. I’m sure those places are all very well attended and don’t need another review written of them. For us, we like to find the true local joints. The ones where you were probably lost (in a good way) when you found it, only has two tables, and they likely are in the street, and don’t sit level because they’re balancing on cobblestone. The kind of place you might expect Anthony Bourdain to have been to but didn’t put it on TV or in a book because he wanted to keep it to himself. Enter I Pizzicaroli…

I Pizzicaroli

I’ve eaten my weight in charcuterie many times. I make it at home, I take it for snacks at work, I’m obsessed. I could live almost exclusively on it if it weren’t for tacos, but that’s a post for another day. I Pizzicaroli is just a few blocks from the Piazza Navona in Rome. We’ve found the food on the major piazza’s to be good, but not exceptional. They’re also very expensive. Location, location, location as my real estate agent would say. The best local food is always off the beaten path a bit. Simply venturing a few blocks away from the main areas you’ll find a treasure trove of interesting places, food, and culture.

The dishes here are sublime. Their charcuterie boards are bigger than the tables, their prices are surprisingly low, and you can tell immediately when you enter the door that everyone takes incredible pride in the quality of the food, as well as your experience. You’ll find porcini and truffle spread, bruschetta, cured meats and cheeses, and an incredible wine selection. They have traditional cured meats on their charcuterie boards, but if you really want an experience, have the wild game options. Hanging above the entrance is a wild boar, beckoning you to try food prepared as it was hundreds of years ago. This place checks all the boxes for me and if we’re ever in Rome again, it will be one of my first stops. When you go (and you must go), tell them we sent you. They won’t know who we are but tell them anyway! On your way back to the piazza, stop by the Frigidarium Gelateria, a gelato icon in Rome!