Hamburgers in Rome {Settimo al Pellegrino}

You have probably heard the stories about how hard it is to have a meal at this historic Roman restaurant. I certainly had. Tales of doors slammed shut and phones unanswered. This has not been my experience.

On a recent summer afternoon, a friend and I rang the bell shortly before 1:00 and and were cheerily given our choice of crispy starched, table-clothed places.

We both snapped pictures, chatted with the staff and decided to celebrate a plain old Tuesday with a glass of cold white wine.

The photocopied hand typed menu is brief and lists the kind of things that your grandmother would make for you. Involtini held together and looking like a porcupine with wooden toothpicks, your choice of boiled potatoes, cicoria or a mix of the two and a comfort food favorite polpette. 

Polpette at Settimo are not round and cute and smothered in red sauce. Instead they are what all the cool chefs in the states are calling smashed.  The two patties that are crisp on the inside, just cooked on the inside and with maybe just a whisper of pecorino mixed in. 

We finished our lunch with a sweet syrupy bowl of fresh peaches drenched in lemon juice and a sprinkle of sugar.

On our way back home we spotted Conan O'Brien having lunch at a tourist spot near Campo di Fiori. We wished we had spotted him sooner to let him in on the Settimo secret. 

Settimo al Pellegrino
Via del Pellegrino, 117

Closed Wednesday