5. Il Matriciano

I felt I had to review this restaurant as I'd picked it up from the website as one of Rome's best and was so disappointed. We ate in four different restaurants whilst in Rome and this by far the worst. Generally felt our custom was unwelcome - packed in like sardines (there was a whole section with hardly anyone in it yet I was sat next to 2 other couples so close I could touch elbows!) and we were rushed through our meal. Food was average (could have made the pasta myself and I'm no great cook). I had better food at cheaper prices. I think the experience was probably made worse as I had high expectations as this was editors pick and I was so disappointed.

We stumbled across this charming restaurant and loved it so much we went back the next night. We had the same waiter who not only remembered us, but also everything we had ordered from the previous night.

True Roman food, excellent service good wines. Not many tourists. Near the Vatican.