Carciofo alla giudia is the Roman-Jewish artichoke dish: a whole Romanesco artichoke trimmed, pressed open, twice-fried in olive oil until the outer leaves crackle like fritters. The Ghetto's classic.
Carciofo alla giudia originated in Rome's Jewish Ghetto, the 1555-founded papal quarter where Jewish cooks adapted the local Romanesco artichoke into a twice-fried dish that softened the heart while crisping the outer leaves to a flower-like fritter. The technique reached its modern form by the mid-19th century; Sora Margherita and Boccione codified the service ritual. The artichoke season runs March to May only, when Romanesco artichokes from the Castelli Romani are at their peak.
4 editor picks for Carciofo alla giudia in Rome, ranked by editorial score. All Rome signature dishes · Carciofo alla giudia across every city.
Da Enzo al 29 ★ 4.4
trastevere · Via dei Vascellari 29, 00153 Roma
Da Enzo al 29 in Rome's Trastevere is the 30-seat trattoria with the longest queue in town. Kitchen leans roman trattoria. At Via dei Vascellari 29.
Antica Pesa ★ 4.3
trastevere · Via Garibaldi 18, 00153 Roma
Antica Pesa in Rome's Trastevere is the 1922-founded trattoria with a hidden walled garden, the celebrity-spot lunch room and the cacio e pepe that critics.
Ba'Ghetto ★ 4.0
jewish-ghetto · Via del Portico d'Ottavia 57, 00186 Roma
Ba'Ghetto in Rome's Jewish Ghetto serves the cucina giudaico-romanesca canon under kosher supervision. Priced at €€. Kitchen leans roman-jewish.
Nonna Betta ★ 4.0
jewish-ghetto · Via del Portico d'Ottavia 16, 00186 Roma
Nonna Betta in Rome's Jewish Ghetto runs the giudaico-romanesca menu with a wider modern carte than the strictly-kosher houses. Priced at €€.