In the Montesacro district of Rome, a restaurant that combines tradition, grilled meats, and haute cuisine techniques

Scottadito in Rome is a restaurant in the Montesacro neighborhood that combines the talent and experience of chefs Simone Coletti and Stefano Deli in a unique project, showcasing their creativity and love for traditional cuisine.

In the contemporary culinary world, where we've seen a boom in starred restaurants and refined dishes, many, including chefs, feel the need to return to their roots. The dishes of our gastronomic tradition make us feel at home and pamper us with familiar memories and flavors, often successfully combining taste and emotion. This is precisely the direction chefs Simone Coletti and Stefano Deli have decided to take at their Scottadito, located at Via Veglia 14 in Rome, bringing their experience at prestigious establishments to a cuisine that is both "gut-driven" and authentic, capable of representing them and giving vent to their talents.

How Scottadito was born in Rome

Simone and Stefano's journey has seen a lot of hard work and significant milestones, which have proven crucial to their development as chefs: Simone boasts experience at Convivio Troiani, alongside Angelo Troiani and Daniele Lippi, as well as at Metamorfosi under Roy Caceres (now at the helm of his own Orma). Stefano, too, has experienced the kitchen at Metamorfosi firsthand, but has also traveled throughout Europe, even having the opportunity to work alongside Heinz Beck in Portugal. Their paths crossed for the first time, however, at a Michelin-starred Roman restaurant: "Stefano and I met at the Acquolina restaurant," Simone recalls, "where we worked together for a few years with chef Alessandro Narducci. After that, we separated for a while, and once we reunited, we both wanted to open our own business, so we decided to seize the opportunity: we opened Scottadito in the Montesacro neighborhood (in May 2022, ed.) and embarked on this new adventure, both as chefs. This project took a lot of hard work and sacrifice, but the road is still long and we certainly have a lot to prove. Tired, yes, but happy."

The two friends were driven by the same goal: to create a more inclusive environment, where customers could return regularly and where they could prepare dishes that evoke the flavors of home. "At Scottadito, we want to offer a cuisine that doesn't impose restrictions," Stefano explains, "by offering the professional and technical skills we've acquired over the years to create a beautiful trattoria where you can return with a smile and where the ingredients are of the highest quality. Here, you'll find both traditional classics and others that showcase our creativity, but always reminiscent of familiar flavors."

What to eat at Scottadito in Rome

The dining room welcomes us into a familiar, rustic, and refined atmosphere, large enough to seat 45, plus 20 on the terrace. The decor immediately makes us feel at ease, with dark wood tables and chairs reminiscent of a classic neighborhood trattoria. Exploring the menu, we immediately understand the philosophy of the two chefs, who demonstrate their great expertise in playing with historic dishes. The choice of ingredients, and consequently the recipes, is always based on seasonality and a careful selection of quality, while maintaining a food cost appropriate to their offerings. The pasta, for example, is from Pastificio Duca d'Amalfi, while the extra virgin olive oil is from the Olio Flaminio mill, and the bread is baked by Panificio Marè: three ingredients, in our opinion, fundamental to traditional cuisine and where quality makes the difference. Embers are used in almost every section of the menu, enriching the recipes with the aromas and textures typical of this cooking method.

The appetizer selection is rich and delicious, always with a touch of creativity: from grilled Roman-style artichokes with pecorino mousse and artisanal mortadella (€11) to stewed cabbage, mazzafegata, potato mousse, and crispy cabbage (€9), a reinterpretation of the traditional cabbage and potatoes. We also recommend the purgatory egg with pecorino and mint (€8), a fun and tasty dish where mopping up the bread is a must, or the Scottadito platter (€28), suitable for two people and featuring a fine selection of cured meats and cheeses. If you're unsure of what to order, the Scottadito mixed appetizer (€28 for two) is perfect, where the chefs offer you a tasting of five of the menu's appetizers.

Moving on to the first courses, we can't help but direct you to the semini with Mantua pumpkin, duck cooked ham, black garlic mustard, and Parmigiano Reggiano fondue (€15). This pasta, which resembles rice in shape, is tossed in sweet Mantua pumpkin, creating a clever balance of flavors with black garlic, Parmesan, and slow-cooked duck ham, resulting in a creamy mouthful that truly surprised us. Also worth a try is their cacciatore-style guinea fowl button, with butter and sage, its stock, and toasted hazelnuts (€13), a dish with an intense flavor that envelops the palate.

Main courses include Roman-style tripe and coratella with artichokes, two iconic recipes to which they have dedicated great attention and care. Specifically, in the coratella, all the ingredients of the fifth quarter are cooked separately, ensuring each is cooked to perfection and has the perfect balance of flavor and creaminess. Finally, the artichokes are fried and added to the dish, giving it a pleasant crunch. For grilled meat lovers, we recommend the abbacchio alla scottadito (€22), prepared with IGP Lazio lamb. We also recommend a good wine list, featuring over 50 natural and conventional labels, including reds, whites, rosés, and sparkling wines from all over Italy, as well as a selection of craft beers.

Scottadito. Via Veglia 14, Rome. Tel. 06 97162153. Website. Facebook. Instagram.