Il Quagliaro is a typical Roman ‘osteria’ (tavern) specializing in quails. Here you can choose among all the most popular Roman dishes, such as my all time favourite ‘fagioli con le cotiche’ (cannellini beans stewed slowly with tomatoes, rosemary and pork crackling), but don’t miss the quail, which will come with five mushrooms, five olives and a very oily ‘bruschetta’ (a toasted slice of bread). I always end up eating at the lower floor, which was used as a shelter during the bombings. Quails aren’t so common in Roman cuisine; the reason why they are served here is that, when the place opened, locals, who were poor, were swapping quails –which could be found in the surrounding area in the past- with red wine.

The place is unpretentious and casual, just as you would imagine a ‘Roman osteria’ to be. It still retains the genuine charm of a traditional Roman tavern, perhaps because it’s located far away from the city centre, actually almost outside Rome.