Restaurant in Rome- Da Pallotta
General Introduction to Ponte Milvio
To reach the Ponte Milvio area from Flaminio by foot or bike you will cross the actual Ponte Milvio, that is, the Milvian bridge. I am always surprised that this landmark is not more popular amongst tourists, especially Christian tourists. The origin of the bridge dates back to 206 BCE, although it has been built and rebuilt over the centuries. It is most famous for the battle of the Milvian Bridge which took place in 312 CE. There are variations on the story, but one of the common themes is the image of the cross appearing to the Emperor Constantine. Often, it is cited that Constantine dreamed he saw the figure of the cross on the night before battle. Also, it is told that before battle, Constantine and his troops saw a cross of light. The words In hoc signo vinces (‘In this sign conquer’) were said to appear and he had the sign marked on his soldiers shields before battle. Find out more here. After winning and becoming the sole emperor of Rome, Constantine also officially became the first Christian emperor, dramatically impacting the course of western civilization and the Christian religion. Now, the literal Ponte Milvio (Milvian bridge) is a popular hangout for adolescences and a spot for selfies destined for Instagram. Another tradition that became wildly popular over the years was attaching a ‘love lock’ to the bridge and throwing the key down into the river. Find out more about the tradition and the controversy here.
A day time view from the Ponte Milvio Bridge
Still, the bridge is a beautiful spot for photos at any time of day, I must say. You will gaze on a lone column in a rather wild yet idyllic northern part of the river. Just in front of the column, framing it, is the Ponte Flaminio (Flaminio bridge) which connects the Corso di Francia from one side of the river (the flaminio neighborhood) to the other. At certain times of day the ponte (bridge) is reflected in the river, forming the mirage of a full circle instead of the half-moon of the bridge.
The architecture on the Ponte Flaminio is often referred to as Fascist (influenced by and sometimes conflated with the Rationalist movement of architecture), and you will find examples of it throughout Rome, but concentrated in the EUR and Foro Italico areas. Construction of the bridge started in 1932 and “it was initially given the name of "Ponte XXVIII Ottobre" (Bridge of October 28) in memory of the date of Mussolini’s march on Rome.” In spite of associations with Mussolini and the fascist legacy in Rome, the view is picturesque. It is made even more complex with the historical layers to uncover. You are standing on Constantine the Great’s bridge admiring Mussolini’s bridge. But I encourage you to embrace the unsullied mirage (at least that is unsullied) and snap a photo for yourself on a stroll over to the piazza of Ponte Milvio.
In the northwest corner of the piazza (near Da Pallotta, the restaurant I will feature), you will see the prominent church of Gran Madre di Dio, built in the 20th century (1931) but commanding a presence over the piazza. In fact, the modernity of the church reflects the culture of the piazza. It is young and dynamic, constantly changing with Spanish, Japanese, American and ‘poke’ restaurants on offer in the current manifestation. There are a number of places that offer ‘brunch’; Bakery House is one, but I definitely recommend Panificio Nazzareno. To start, they offer delicious baked goods, but on Sunday they host an incredible and reasonable brunch buffet. We sometimes ‘cheat’ on Da Pallotta and go to Sugo, also very good quality Roman food in the area. Sugo is quite casual (there are even a few other locations in Rome) but the quality is excellent; all the Roman pastas, especially, are terrific, and they are known for their polpette (meatballs).
Restaurant Specifics
Address- Piazzale di Ponte Milvio, 23
Phone- +39 06 333 4245
Website- https://ristorantepizzeriapallotta.com/en/home-english-2/
Hours- Open every day for lunch and dinner
Price- Middle Range
Reservations-You can make them online through the website
Two of our favorite waiters
This restaurant has a special place in my heart. For about two years I went at least once a week. It became a home away from home, extended living room (really a more comfortable living room in the case of my apartment), and backdrop for some personal conversations about the comedy and tragedy of our lives. My best friend Shelley truly introduced me to the restaurant, as before I had been a few times, but not entered into the ‘family’ per se. We have celebrated birthdays, special dinners with visiting friends and family, the American Thanksgiving and some farewells. Without becoming too mawkish, I hope I have made the point that this restaurant is personal, probably the most familiar on the list. That said, it is also one of the oldest and best-established restaurants in the Ponte Milvio area with consistently good food and a good reputation amongst the ‘chic’ population of Roma Nord (compare with appeal and characterization of Tanto Pe Magna in Roma Sud). It is often referred to as ‘an institution’ in the area. The waiters here will provide quality service, which is not a commonplace assertion in Roman restaurants, even, unfortunately, in all the restaurants on this list. Here, I can (almost) guarantee you will experience great hospitality. Report back to me if you do not!
A dinner with wonderful friends before leaving for my sabbatical
The atmosphere of Da Pallotta is somewhat formal, but still extremely comfortable the frenetic energy of the piazza fades once you enter through the gates and under the grand canopy of vine leaves above your head. It is perfectly pleasant to sit outside at one of the tables on the large patio. You can do this all year long as in the winter there are heaters to keep you cozy. The indoor spaces are also welcoming and tastefully decorated. The restaurant is quite large and is able to accommodate many guests, but it runs with great efficiency and care.
The menu is also quite large with a decent wine list. We often go for the Sardinian whites or the Jermann pinot grigio. The vino della casa is palatable as well. (I would say the red is better than the white.) Da Pallotta is a great choice for a larger group as the menu does offer many choices. The antipasti are good here and we will often order a mix of bruschette for the table or a fritto misto (mixed fried starters) with all the good Roman fried delicacies (suppli, fiori di zucca and baccala). The fried calamari and zucchini platter is also a favorite. For pasta, I go for carbonara, splendidly yellow in color, eggy as it should be. The amatricina is a popular choice. The have a large pizza oven, so pizza is also a great alternative. If you like spicy foods, go for a pizza with ‘nduja. (‘Nduja is spicy spreadable Calabrian sausage, find out more here). The owners of this restaurant are, in fact, from the region of Calabria, so they source the good stuff. A margarita pizza with buffalo mozzarella is also divine. (You just need to request the Mozzarella di Bufala.) Grilled meats are a favorite with my friends (a common theme); if you want some serious meat go for the ‘mixed grill.’ The pepe verde is also a popular choice for steak and would be my recommendation. It has a delicious green peppercorn sauce over a good cut of meat, cooked to your liking.
I love this place because it is one of the few ‘authentic’ Italian restaurants that also offers a solid selection of salads. My favorite is the Insalata Pallotta, which is a simple mix of spinach leaves, shaved parmesan, pine nuts and pears. They also offer a ‘Caesar’ salad. As I mentioned, we frequent this place often, and I try to eat quite healthily, so the Insalata Pallotta is often my choice.
Recommended Dishes
Antipasto-Antipasto misto della casa, fritto di calamari e zucchine or bruschetta miste
Primo- Carbonara or I also like the strozzapretti radicchio e guanciale for something a little different
Secondo- Filetto al pepe verde or saltimbocca alla Romana
Pizza- pizza con ‘nduja or margherita con bufala
Salad/Contorni- Insalata Pallotta for other healthy options, the grilled vegetables
Dolci- I like the crostata di ricotta e amarena
There is also a renown patisserie in the area called Mondi; it is just around the corner. If you want to impress someone living in Roma Nord, bring a tray of the pastries over to their house when invited for a meal.