Danilo Valente runs the front of the house in this modern trattoria near Piazza Vittorio, while his mother commands the kitchen. The prices have inched upwards in recent years, challenging the trattoria category's economical character, but the atmosphere and clientele have remained largely the same. Locals fill the ground floor and basement dining rooms and dine at tightly arranged tables covered in red-and-white plaid tablecloths.

Trattoria Da Danilo is like a postcard—exactly what you envision a typical Roman trattoria would look like. The charming room is crowded with wooden tables covered with checkered tablecloths; the walls are decorated with vintage photos. Serious food-lovers flock from all around Rome—and the world—for the legendary carbonara here, which, like the cacio e pepe and amatriciana, is the dish's purest expression.

This trattoria in the neighborhood of Esquilino offers the typical, Roman-style atmosphere: the checkered tablecloths, the handwritten blackboard menu signs and traditional dishes give it a nostalgic and very (family) friendly outlook. The cool part about their cacio e pepe?. The tonnarelli, olive oil, pepper, water, and pecorino are mixed together directly inside the cheese itself (that’s right: they have a big pecorino romano cheese with a hole in the middle and they toss the pasta around inside of the cheese before serving it to you).

Erica Firpo, journalist and Rome expert, admits: “I love cacio pepe but my heart belongs to carbonara. However, I do have two spots I like to go to for cacio e pepe: Da Felice- when I feel like I want home cooking, with a vintage vibe and casual chic- in other words, I want to be a little bet dressed up for my pasta. I love the way they mix the cacio pepe up at the table, and Da Felice consistently gets the perfect balance of pepe and pecorino.

I cannot deny the charm and quality of these three restaurants for my favorite Roman pastas: Il Matriciano's signature bucatini all'Amatriciana, the cacio e pepe at Felice a Testaccio, and Trattoria da Danilo's carbonara. All have a yesteryear vibe, and you half expect Alberto Sordi from I Maccheroni to show up. While Danilo is old-school, Il Matriciano is a bit more formal, and Felice is the trendy bistronomia, a stylish gastro-bistro.

Danilo Valente and his mother Lina make one of the best carbonara in Rome in their traditional, unpretentious osteria that holds a certain understated beauty. A nest of creamy pasta arrives on your plate; spaghetti from Gragnano crowned by a garland of pancetta pieces from Bassiano. The carbonara is served with parmesan (matured for a minimum of 18 months) and a sprinkling of black peppercorns that are ground on the side of the plate.

I love the charm of an old school Roman restaurant but more importantly, I love Roman cuisine and the GOAT of pasta dishes- carbonara, cacio e pepe and amatriciana. Il Matriciano has an unbeatable bucatini all’Amatriciana, the cacio e pepe at Felice a Testaccio is both a show and taste, and Trattoria da Danilo’s carbonara makes me feel at home. All have a yesteryear vibe, and you half expect Alberto Sordi from I Maccheroni to show up.

A post shared by Oslec (@borgescelso10) on Jan 31, 2017 at 2:14pm PST Da Danilo Nothing beats homemade food and the adage follows in Italy. Da Danilo, a trattoria owned by a mother-son duo, whip up some of the best pasta in the capital and as such are always in high demand. Specialising in carbonara, Rome's signature dish, as well as other simple comforts like cacio e pepe, Da Danilo's a perfect place for authentic classics.

Trattoria Da Danilo is like a postcard – exactly what you envision a typical Roman trattoria would look like. The charming room is crowded with wooden tables covered with checkered tablecloths; the walls are decorated with vintage photos. Serious food lovers flock from all around Rome – and the world – for the legendary carbonara here, which, like the cacio e pepe and amatriciana, is the dish's purest expression.

Trattoria Da Danilo is the perfect place to start the evening and any visit to Rome—especially if you’ve never had Roman carbonara before. Da Danilo has one of the best carbonaras in the city and unwavering fidelity to typical Roman dishes like trippa, coratella, and baccalà, and an excellent selection alla griglia (meats from the grill). The vibe is super casual and friendly so that anyone can feel at home.

Danilo Valente and his mum Lina make one of the best plates of carbonara in Rome, served in a traditional osteria whose subtle charm lies in its utter lack of pretence. Expect a creamy nest of Gragnano spaghetti garnished with Bassiano pancetta, 18-month aged Parmigiano Reggiano and a twist of freshly cracked black pepper. It’s a simple, satisfying carbonara, without much in the way of frills.

Da Danilo regularly makes it to many "best carbonara in Rome" lists, and they are certainly on mine. But another thing that's a crowd-pleaser is this cacio e pepe mixed at your table inside a wheel of pecorino cheese. I see this question on our Romewise Facebook group a lot - where to eat where they mix your pasta in a cheese wheel right at your table?

Have your cacio e pepe with a side of Roman entertainment at Da Danilo where a huge, hollowed out wheel of pecorino romano is brought to the table, inside of which the waiter mixes the pasta and sauce in front of your very eyes. This is not just a party trick, da Danilo swears that the unique technique guarantees maximum creaminess and freshness!

This family owned trattoria is a definite must if you want authentic Roman dining. With red and white checkered table cloths in a homely dining area, you definitely get the classic Italian vibe. Da Danilo is famous for its beautifully crafted carbonara, but you also can’t go wrong with a more simpler dish of calcio e pepe or plain tomato sauce.

The most difficult part about eating at Danilo is deciding what to get. An ever-so-slightly upscale trattoria, this is a place where the menu encourages over-ordering. Start with polpette all’amatriciana (tiny meatballs served in a sauce of tomato, guanciale and pecorino cheese) or a tartare of Italian beef prepared table side.

De carbonara van Danilo en zijn moeder, mamma Lina, mag in dit lijstje niet ontbreken. De spaghetti komt uit Gragnano, de ‘pastahoofdstad’ van Campanië, en is superromig. Als kers op de spreekwoordelijke taart – of misschien beter nog als kroon op de carbonara – leggen ze bij Da Danilo (Via Petrarca 13) krokant gebakken spek.

It looks small at first glance, but Da Danilo has underground cavern like dining room below that provides this spot with an intimate, romantic ambiance. Expect classic roman dishes, an extensive wine list, and waiters with character, (don’t even think about asking for rigatoni instead of bucatini for your carbonara.)

Another mother and son cooking combo bring this excellent trattoria to life. Here Roman classics are very much the order of the day. Da Danilo serves up a superb Cacio e Pepe and Carbonara, but if you’ve already had those turn your attention to the Strozzapreti al Lard di Colonnata e Pecorino di Fossa.

During the last Valentine’s day, we were looking for a place to have a nice lunch and we made an unplanned visit to Trattoria da Danilo. We had wanted to go there for a while, but we didn’t plan very well and hadn’t made a reservation. We arrived a little early for lunch and we were happy to be seated.

The Trattoria da Danilo, in the Esquilino district, is characterized by a small but welcoming and elegant environment. The restaurant has in fact two rooms: a main room and a private room, which can also be used for special events. Dozens of portraits of celebrities cover the walls of the restaurant.

Danilo Valente and his mother Lina are known for their Roman classics like carbonara and cacio e pepe. And if you visit Da Danilo (Via Petrarca 13, +39 06 7720 0111), you should order those, too. But never skip their Tuscany-inspired Strozzapreti al Lardo di Colonnata e Pecorino di Fossa.

At Da Danilo, it’s all about the homey, heartwarming experience. Think of it like walking into mom’s kitchen after a long day, only “mom” is a burly Italian mama who makes a mean Cacio e Pepe. The restaurant is located in the heart of Rome, just a few steps away from Piazza Navona.

Da Danilo: Another typical trattoria in Rome, this is one of the most perfect carbonara dishes that you will find in Rome. The place is not as popular, but I still suggest booking in advance. The restaurant is at 13 Petrarca Street, and you can book by calling +39 06 77200111.

At Trattoria Da Danilo, you’ll find a rustic, intimate trattoria with classic Roman cuisine and delicious local wines. There’s a main room and a private room (if you want to have an event there). The restaurant is near Piazza Vittorio and the metro B.

We learnt this the hard way: the first thing you do when you arrive in Rome is book a table at Da Danilo. Otherwise, you’re not getting in, and your Roman holiday will not be complete. Because this is the old-school trattoria you have dreamt of.