Eats: Rome, Rome, Italy (B)

No matter how near or far you are from home, a recommendation for a good restaurant or bar is always nice to have. EATS is a collection of places that I’ve enjoyed during my travels.

While many first time visitors to Rome vie to stay near popular spots like the Colosseum, it’s often hard to find good food in such heavily-touristed areas. Yet just 3 blocks from the Colosseum we found a little gem in Li Rioni. This classic neighborhood restaurant serves up Roman-style appetizers (think fried rice balls and zucchini flowers) and wood-fired pizzas that were both crispy and delicious. It felt like a place locals would go (the table text to us was a family celebrating a birthday) and seems to be run by a father and son team (although I can’t confirm that). You’ll find both outside and inside seating, the latter designed to look as if you’ve been dropped in the middle of a street scene with a brightly painted sky-blue ceiling and working lamp posts, creating a pleasant and casual environment that is matched with Li Rioni’s unrushed service. My order has become somewhat formulaic – house wine, insalata mista and a pizza topped with some sort of vegetables or the traditional Margherita – which did not disappoint at Li Rioni. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).