Fraschetta in Rome is opening three new locations: after Castel Sant'Angelo and Grottaperfetta, it's now opening in Porta Portese

La Fraschetta opens its third location in Rome, bringing traditional Roman cuisine to a stone's throw from Trastevere.

Simple, traditional Roman dishes served in a welcoming, honest, and sincere atmosphere. This is the essence of the long-standing La Fraschetta project, which has brought a replicable format to the capital while maintaining a family feel. Starting with the name. "Fraschetta" obviously recalls the fraschette (restaurants) of the Castelli Romani, a business that the Zappavigna family, longtime restaurant owners, brought to Rome by opening their first spin-off in the city center on Via Brunetti in 2009. This was followed by La Fraschetta di Castel Sant'Angelo in 2015, and La Fraschetta di Grottaperfetta in 2018. The third Roman location has just opened, in the Porta Portese area, at Largo Alessandro Toja 2. "We were looking for another location for our third opening, and we liked the area because it's strategically located between Monteverde, Testaccio, and Trastevere," explain brothers Andrea and Guido Zappavigna.

Over the years, Andrea and Guido's business has been joined by their children: Ludovica, Lorenzo, and Alessandro. A new generation and future goals have sparked the need to create the Romaneria group: "Roman tradition must be felt in both the food and the service. You have to feel like you're in Rome even when you're not in Rome. This feeling must always be felt through the work of the kitchen and the dining room, which must be able to convey the concrete and multifaceted soul of the capital," they explain. These are the reasons that are driving the group to further expand, both in Italy and abroad, thanks to a constantly organized team (employing over 45 people).

Fraschetta in Rome: What to Eat

In the new location of La Fraschetta in Porta Portese we find the same offer as the other addresses. We start with the Fraschetta appetizer (19 euros, for two people), a mix of cured meats, cheeses and pickles, bruschetta (9) with artisanal sauces and the cacio e pepe lingotto (5). Among the first courses there are obviously the classics of Roman cuisine (all 12 euros): spaghettoni alla carbonara (the most requested, they say), rigatoni all'amatriciana, rigatoni cacio e pepe and gricia. While on Thursdays, as tradition dictates, we find semolina gnocchi with oxtail sauce (13). Dishes born from collaborations with trusted suppliers, the owners explain: “For the guanciale and porchetta we get our supplies from Del Ponte, from Cibaria for the pecorino romano, from Delfino di Cetara for the anchovies and their colatura, used for example in puntarelle and pajata (when available), and then we source from many small producers.”

There is no shortage of fifth-quarter-based dishes: Roman-style tripe with pecorino cheese and mint (15), lamb offal (13), oxtail stew (16). The menu also features Roman-style saltimbocca (16) and baked IGP lamb with potatoes (20). For lovers of porchetta, there is a section of the menu (called “Luna Pork”) entirely dedicated to the Ariccia IGP variety: among the options are plated porchetta with hot focaccia and lard (12), fried porchetta meatballs (13), baked porchetta pan with caciocavallo cheese (15) and a revisited Roman version of the kebab, porkettab co' patate (15).

The menu includes around 20 local and international wines, as well as house wine served in vintage vials, and craft and draft beers.

La Fraschetta di Porta Portese is divided into two rooms, one at the entrance and one on the lower level (mainly dedicated to events). There's also a large outdoor area with seating for about 60.

La Fraschetta di Porta Portese. Largo Alessandro Toja 2, Rome. Tel. 06 5813500. Website. Open Monday to Saturday from 12:00 PM to 3:30 PM and from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM. Closed on Sundays.