Trattoria Osti Matti

Amazing and authentic Italian dishes with wonderful service. I would highly recommend Trattoria Osti Matti. Felt like a was eating at Nana's house.

Saturday night, 8 p.m., our first night in Rome — and our first time in Italy. We noticed the restaurant listed on the board in our hotel lobby. When we rolled up, we thought it was closed: the dining room was empty, and the door seemed locked. As we stood there debating what to do, the door was opened by a stranger who expressed amused surprise at our apparent inability to open a door and walk in.

Meet Sabatino, our new best friend.

We sat down at a two-top in the cozy, charming little restaurant, and I wondered whether it would feel awkward being the only customers. I never found out. Within 15 minutes, two parties of eight arrived, and very soon every other table was full as well. Sabatino expertly handled the entire room with effortless grace. He has a gift for making every table feel special and welcome, taking his time with everyone in at least three fluent languages. We saw his generosity, kindness, passion for the food, and sly humor in every interaction and felt lucky to be there.

And the food. Oh, the food. Sabatino pretty much told us what we would eat, and we were happy to obey. That first night we started with, what else, the cheese, jam, and cured meats platter. Delicious! Then came my husband's sheep specialty, a house favorite, and for me, delicate, puffy pillows of ravioli with a cream sauce and lots of pepper. Heaven.

The second night, we had the pleasure of meeting the queen of the kitchen, Giulia. Compared to Sabatino, anyone would seem shy, but within minutes we were sharing photos of our pets and laughing about what fools we are for them. We also happened to be seated next to a fun couple from New Zealand we'd run into earlier that day outside the Vatican, so the serendipity continued.

We happily dove into the charcuterie platter again, followed by lasagna, penne, and panna cotta with sour cherries — silky, decadent, and the perfect ending to our last meal in Rome.

Thank you, Sabatino and Giulia. We can't wait to return, and when we do, Osti Matti will be both our first meal and our last! xo

The best meal we had in Rome. If you’re looking for a truly authentic Italian dining experience, this is the place to go. Come with an open mind this isn’t for anyone stuck in their ways, but for those who want to fully embrace the experience.

The owner is incredible intelligent, kind, and deeply knowledgeable. We were so impressed that we broke our own travel rule of never eating at the same place twice and chose this for our final meal in Italy.

The food, the atmosphere, and the overall experience were genuinely authentic. This is why I travel to learn, to grow, and to experience culture in its truest form.

I highly recommend this spot to anyone who wants a real Italian experience and isn’t afraid to step outside their comfort zone. You won’t regret it.

Might be the best food we had in Rome! My husband and I came here twice, and the second time, the couple next to us told us it was their second visit too. Everything was absolutely delicious: the house white wine, pork shank, cheese board, potatoes, pasta, pure perfection!

The owner is incredibly lovely and makes you feel so welcome from the moment you walk in. If we could give more than 5 stars, we absolutely would. Don’t miss this spot when visiting Rome - it’s 100% worth it! Would recommend booking a table as it fills up very quickly with people in the evenings.

We enjoyed a delicious Italian meal here on 28/5/2026. The restaurant owner is not only funny and attentive, but also has high standards for his food. For example, when I asked the food to be served all at once for sharing, he suggested that it should be served one dish at a time so that we could really taste each dish. Also, when he knew that we would share, he took the initiative to divide a delicious plate of pasta into two plates for us to enjoy. Highly recommended!