Ranked by TableJourney editorial score.
Saltimbocca alla romana is Rome's veal scaloppine: thin veal escalopes layered with prosciutto crudo and a sage leaf, pan-fried in butter and finished with a white-wine pan sauce. The dish jumps in the mouth.
Saltimbocca (literally jumps in the mouth) appears in Pellegrino Artusi's 1891 cookbook as a Roman dish, though the technique of veal-with-prosciutto pan-fried under sage is older and likely Lazio-rural in origin. The 20th-century trattoria form sets the recipe: thin veal escalopes (about 80g each), a slice of San Daniele or Parma prosciutto, a single sage leaf pinned with a wooden toothpick. Butter pan, brief cook, white wine deglaze. Felice a Testaccio, Armando al Pantheon, Matricianella and the city's bistro canon all serve the dish; the no-flour version (avoiding the saucy gravy) is considered the canonical Roman form.
4 editor picks for Saltimbocca alla romana in Rome, ranked by editorial score. All Rome signature dishes · Saltimbocca alla romana across every city.
Armando al Pantheon in Rome has cooked the four Roman pastas and the quinto quarto canon since 1961, a few steps from the Pantheon. Located in Centro Storico.
OrderCacio e pepe, coda alla vaccinara, and the abbacchio when it's on the carte.
TipBookings open exactly two months ahead on the website. Walk-up tables exist but only for lone diners and only at 12:30.
Felice a Testaccio in Rome has served the Testaccio working-quarter cucina since 1936. Kitchen leans roman trattoria. At Via Mastro Giorgio 29.
OrderThe tonnarelli cacio e pepe tossed at the table, then saltimbocca alla romana and tiramisu.
TipBook a fortnight ahead on the website. Lunch is calmer; the 21:00 dinner sitting is the longest wait.
Matricianella in Rome's Centro Storico runs the canonical Roman trattoria carte: amatriciana the dish that named the house, saltimbocca alla romana.
OrderBucatini all'amatriciana and saltimbocca alla romana, with a quartino of house Frascati.
TipClosed Sunday all day. Book a week ahead for the courtyard terrace; the indoor room is calmer.
Trattoria Da Teo in Rome's Trastevere is the family-run pasta-and-pizza room with a piazza-side terrace, classic Roman primi and a quiet wine list of Lazio.
OrderCacio e pepe, saltimbocca alla romana and a half-litre of house wine.
TipBook a fortnight ahead for the piazza terrace. Closed Sunday all day.
Saltimbocca alla romana makes more sense with someone from Rome explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
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