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Contemporary ItalianParioli
Spazio Niko Romito in Rome's Parioli is the Abruzzo chef's all-day bar and kitchen on Piazza Verdi, running from Italian breakfast to lunch and afternoon tea.
OrderThe fried chicken, the dish the place is known for, with a filled bomba to finish.
TipOpen 07:30-17:00 on weekdays and from 08:00 at weekends, so this is a breakfast and lunch stop, not a dinner booking.
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ChineseCentro Storico
Oolong in Rome's Centro Storico is Jiang Yan's small Chinese dining room on Piazza San Paolo alla Regola, cooking imperial recipes and eight regional schools.
OrderThe lacquered duck served in three courses, ordered when you book, plus the four-flavour ravioli.
TipDinner only, Wednesday to Sunday. The room is tiny and the underground imperial hall seats few, so book ahead.
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ChinesePrati
Song in Rome's Prati is Lin Sang Chu's Hong Kong dim sum house on Via Valadier, steaming xiao long bao and crystal dumplings and roasting duck over 30 hours.
OrderThe eight-piece dim sum tasting, then the Peking duck with crepes if there are two of you.
TipOpen daily for lunch and dinner. The dim sum set is about 29 euros; the duck is 18 euros and worth planning around.
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Contemporary ItalianOstiense
UMA in Rome's Ostiense is the 2024 tasting-menu room of chefs Matteo Taccini and Luigi Senese, built on charcoal, fermentation and single-ingredient plates.
OrderThe nine-course Unico Zar at 85 euros; the seven-course vegetarian menu is 60 euros.
TipDinner only, closed Tuesday; the online booking takes tables from 20:00. The room is small and the menus are set.
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SeafoodMontesacro
Nero di Seppia in Rome's Montesacro is a 2008 neighbourhood fish restaurant on Via Valdinievole, doing crudi, seafood pasta and the day's fry for locals.
OrderSpaghetti al nero di seppia, the house dish, followed by the frittura di pescato.
TipClosed Monday. Far from the centre on the Nomentana side; combine with a walk in the Aniene park. Takeaway available.
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SeafoodSalario
Roma Amor in Rome's Salario quarter is chef Pierpaolo Presta's seafood room on Via Velletri, cooking wild-caught Tyrrhenian fish with small-farm vegetables.
OrderThe barbecued octopus and a plate of crudo di mare, then whatever local scampi came in that morning.
TipClosed Monday; Saturday is dinner only and Sunday is lunch only. Book by phone or through the site.