OTTAVIO – the best seafood restaurant in Rome’s San Giovanni

If the thought of giant oysters and fresh seafood cruditè paired with white wine makes you space out, you need to get yourself a reservation to OTTAVIO, because this is the TEMPLE of seafood. It’s one of the best seafood restaurants in Rome. No joke.

I am a huge seafood lover, and I’ve been to countless seafood restaurants, but this one tops them all. The true Italian Mediterranean cuisine comes to life at this restaurant, offering spectacular yet simple flavours. OTTAVIO is situated in the San Giovanni neighbourhood, between Piazza Maggiore and San Giovanni. It’s not in a super central location, but it’s an absolute must to have dinner here at least once!

What should you order? Without a doubt, you have to have the seafood cruditè platter. That means raw prawns, red shrimp, white shrimp and also an orgasmic shrimp tartare. All of that seasoned with OTTAVIO’s lemon and oil sauce.  Oh, and if you like oysters, this is definitely the place to order them.

If you’re not a big fan of raw seafood, no worries, the fried moscardini (horned octopus) are delicious, as is the shrimp with artichokes and parmesan shavings. For a main course, you can go into two different directions: the seafood pastas or the fish.

My brother is obsessed with lobster so he took the pappardelle with lobster, and by the amount of time it took him to finish them, I can safely say they were heavenly. But heaven on a plate was the shared platter of gamberi, mazzancolle e astice alla catalana (prawns, shrimp and lobster Catalan). It was to die for. I definitely recommend you order this!

The wine selection is also exceptional.  And the desserts are delicious:  you need to try the  sbriciolata ai fruitti di bosco (wild berry crumble).  If you want something sweet to end your dinner, the sgroppino al limone is WOW!

For what type of occasion should you come to Ottavio? Any kind. I think any excuse to dine at this restaurant should be taken! It has a classic decor and the atmosphere is intimate.

But apart from Ottavio’s outstanding food and setting, the other ingredient that adds to its fantastic experience is the service: the staff at Ottavio is extremely professional and courteous, they will help you pick out the best dishes and will recommend the specials of the day.

At this restaurant, the simplicity of the freshness of the products creates exceptional tastes. Don’t forget to make a reservation.

What did you order at OTTAVIO? Do you think it’s one of the best seafood restaurants in Rome?

Address: Via di S. Croce in Gerusalemme, 9

Phone Number: +39 06 702 8595

Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday from 8pm – 12am

Average price: 90+ EUR

Accepted Credit Cards: Visa, American Express and MasterCard