Rome Guide: Da Augusto

Well, I don't know about you, but I am exhausted! All this walking about on old cobbled streets, and the cheese I bought weighs a ton! Doesn't it? Thanks for carrying that. You're really kind. We should do Rome together more often.

Fancy dinner? I know a great place.



The Lonely Planet says -

"As a concession to the modern age, Augusto has printed a menu on laminated plastic. But don't look for other frills at this long-standing, much-loved trattoria. For a truly Roman meal plonk yourself at one of his rickety Formica tables and choose from the selection of traditional starters, pastas and meat dishes. Everything's good - the rigatoni all'amatriciana and stracciatella (clear broth with egg and Parmesan) are excellent - although the service is sometimes brusque."


And I would go along with that, on the whole, except that I don't want to because I found this place by chance, and I feel like it's my baby. I only googled it to see if anyone else had an opinion, and found, devastatingly, that it was well known.


I'm not surprised; when you have a good lunch, you tell people, right? And I had suspected as much, because you always have to queue for a table. Anyway, we won't let it ruin our fictional day out in Rome, will we? Which is a Thursday by the way. Did I tell you that?


Well, it is a happy co-incidence that we happen to be here on a Thursday, because that means it's gnocchi day in Rome. You can even see on the menu that gnocchi is only available on Thursdays - just in case you find it difficult to believe what an Englishman tells you about Rome. Though, this is me you're talking to; you should believe what I say.


I'm feeling rather peckish as it happens. It seems like such a long time since we had those fantastic ice-creams, doesn't it? Well, not to worry - look what's available here:

Green beans, with lemon and garlic

Fabulous roast potatoes (you need a portion each)

Sausage and puy lentils


Lovely roast pork - seriously good stuff

Now, away from the fictitious stuff for a second. We were there on a Wednesday, which is why there are no gnocchi photos (though frankly, my photos are just snaps anyway, so we don't mind). But I did discover, while there, that Da Augusto is a fan of De Cecco, which makes me feel very happy indeed, because that's my favourite pasta. Knowing that means I can make rigatoni cacio e pepe at home exactly like the one they serve here. And so can you.

Not that they don't make fresh pasta here too - the ravioli is fantastic, truly some of the best I have ever had. I do still normally go for the rigatoni mind you, but I can't help my preferences.

A side note: I love the way they calculate your bill: on the table, with a biro, in front of you. Brilliant!

Da Augusto is where you need to eat should you ever be hungry in Rome. The food, the atmosphere - even the 'brusque' service has its charms. The only bad thing I can tell you about the place is that the desserts aren't that great. But are you seriously telling me that in Rome of all places you'd forgo first course and have a dessert instead?

Didn't think so.

Da Augusto
Piazza de’ Renzi, 15
00153 Rome, Italy