Luciano

In the heart of Rome, the celebrated chef Luciano has created a modern, elegant Italian restaurant that serves classic Roman dishes with an upscale, contemporary influence. This spot is pretty popular, so if you want to experience it for yourself, I would highly recommend snagging a reservation, or you might miss out. Both the chef and the restaurant, also named Luciano, are famed for one dish above all: their Carbonara. It’s one of the four classic Roman pastas, and it’s the dish that brings people here and keeps them coming back. Naturally, we knew we had to try it. We also ordered the Cacio e Pepe, which caught our eye, and a beautiful seasonal artichoke dish dressed in flavor.

The Carbonara arrived, and it was exactly as advertised—incredibly creamy and luscious. It was a beautiful execution of the dish they’re so famous for. But then something unexpected happened.

The Cacio e Pepe was the true star of the meal.

It was so unbelievably flavorful. While the Carbonara was great, the Cacio e Pepe was peppery, salty, creamy, and oh my gosh, just truly fantastic. It stole the show completely. We loved it so much more than the dish we had come for.

So here’s my advice: absolutely do not skip this fantastic pasta shop when you’re in Rome. The quality and atmosphere are wonderful. But maybe, just maybe, rethink your Carbonara order. Sometimes the most famous dish on the menu isn’t the one that will capture your heart.