Ba’ghetto is a chain of Jewish restaurants found across Italy, and tonight, my friend Brett and I are dining at the Rome location, standing as a renowned Jewish restaurant in the area. It blends Jewish-Roman cuisine with Middle Eastern traditions, offering modern interpretations of classic recipes.

Full disclosure, this post contains affiliate links allows me to sustain this blog, continue my travels, and provide you with valuable content. If you choose to book through these links, I may receive a small bonus, all without any additional cost to you. Your support is greatly appreciated, Matty.

Brett has flown in from Holland while I have arrived by train from Florence. The restaurant, nestled in the once Jewish ghetto, provides a friendly atmosphere with outdoor seating overlooking the Portico di Ottavia. This spot carries historical significance, once used for a unique Roman fish auction known as cottio, it was also the boundary where during the Second World War the Jewish population could not cross.

This post solely focuses on the culinary experiences discovered during my journeys and does not represent a particular political side or opinion. I am only on the side of Peace.

There may be a lost in translation moment, although I am sure we pointed to the right dish…I think we thought we had ordered zucchini flowers, so when this arrives we are a little dismayed. Still, the fried zucchini has a nice interesting, yet mild flavour, which I am sure comes from the added accompaniments.

Another dish we anticipated was the anchovies and endive pie and yet it looks nothing like what we expected. It’s appeal is lacking, yet I surprisingly enjoy the dish. Served cold, it’s soft in the middle, crispy outside with burnt bits of endive. It features two types of anchovy — the smaller brown variety and a larger, sweeter white ones, resembling the flavour of salmon. The pickled flavours add a zestiness and freshness. I’m a fan, though Brett isn’t as much.

Ordering the off menu special, endive salad, we’re again disappointed. Lacking flavour, it tastes like crunchy water dipped in mediocre oil. Even with added salt, the dish remains lifeless. This disappointing salad leaves us somewhat heartbroken.

I’ve got my ‘I want to try something unusual’ hat on and go straight to the section called ‘quinto quarto’ or ‘entrails’ on the menu. There are three dishes, sautéed veal sweetbreads with artichoke, brain and artichokes fried in batter, or this dish, sheep entrails with artichoke. The sauce is delightful, you can tell it has been made with love, or at least, a secret recipe. The braise is rich and flavoursome, but the meat seems to me like thin slices of flank or minute steak. Although it is meltingly soft, it is not what I expected from what one would experience with sheep entrails…Nonetheless, It’s quite delicious.

Despite its appealing appearance, the lamb chops disappoint as they are laden with improperly rendered fat. While melted fat can enhance flavour, chewing on gelatinous globules isn’t pleasant. After a few bites, Brett requests the waiter to replace the dish. The waiters oblige, assuring no charge for the disappointing dish.

Asked if the lamb chops could be replaced with baked lamb, I find it more delicious than it appears. With a mouth melting yet roasted flavour, the accompanying potatoes, while soft, are a bit fatty. I genuinely enjoy the dish as the fat has rendered well and pick my way through the pieces Brett has left behind once he is finished.

Looking to travel? Click here for tours, accommodation, flights and more!

Ba’ghetto, Via del Portico, D’Ottavia, Roma.