The Trattoria Rule
"A trattoria is a family-run, casual Italian restaurant serving simple regional food at affordable prices, typically with paper tablecloths and handwritten menus. Real trattorias never advertise, never have English menus with photos, and never seat tourists preferentially. They're loud because Romans talk loudly, cramped because space is expensive, and serve food locals eat daily."
Logistics
Affordable
Vibe
Authentic, unpretentious
Duration
1-2 hours
Best For
Budget travelers
The Backstory
Trattorias emerged as working-class restaurants in contrast to formal ristorantes. In the 1980s-90s, as tourism exploded, fake trattorias multiplied around landmarks with laminated menus in six languages.
Local Secret
"Look for paper tablecloths, handwritten chalkboard menus, and locals dining alone reading newspapers. If there's a 'tourist menu' or photos, it's fake. Authentic spots are in residential areas."