ROSSO Restaurant and Grill is at Viale Aventino 32, directly opposite the FAO headquarters, and lunch is à la carte: you can predict timing and cost before you sit down. If you are short of time, the business lunch menu has poke and wok dishes. If you have more, there is pasta rolled in-house and the grill. The kitchen takes orders until midnight, for working dinners that run on.
In an office district, at midday you need somewhere to take colleagues, clients or visitors from abroad without losing the whole afternoon.
Why à la carte works for a working lunch
At a working lunch the questions are always the same: how long will it take, and how much per head? Our business lunch is à la carte, and that is what makes it predictable: everyone orders what they need, the dishes are the ones on the menu, and you can read the bill in advance on the business lunch menu, with prices and allergens for every dish. There is a cover charge of 2 euro per person, as on all our menus.
What to order when time is short
The menu says it in its heading: poke and wok for those in a hurry. They are one-plate meals, so there is no need to choose between a starter and a main.
There are two poke bowls. The Chicken Poke has diced chicken in teriyaki sauce, basmati rice, carrots, sun-dried tomatoes, avocado in a spicy sauce and sesame seeds. The Salmon Poke has marinated salmon, basmati rice, carrots, edamame, cucumber, avocado and teriyaki sauce.
The wok dishes are vegetables stir-fried with bean sprouts, paprika, sesame seeds, white cabbage, courgettes and carrots, finished with soy and teriyaki, with prawns, with chicken or vegetables only. There is also a Thai dish of basmati rice, chicken and crunchy vegetables.
For something more substantial there is pasta, rolled in-house every morning: amatriciana and carbonara with mezze maniche, cacio e pepe with tonnarelli, and a pasta of the day that changes, so ask the staff.
To share at the table
For a lunch with several people the starters are easy to share: the Chupa Chups, golden aubergine with a smoked provola centre and avocado sauce, the pulled pork meatballs on a spicy sweet-and-sour sauce, the Roman supplì and the classic focaccia. The hand-cut 36-month Parma ham can be ordered on its own or with buffalo mozzarella. For those who do not eat meat, the same menu has the Chupa Chups, the vegetable wok and the cacio e pepe.
When lunch runs longer
If you are lunching with a client and have time, the menu is a steakhouse menu: Prussian or Danish fiorentina, the Florentine T-bone, which starts at about 800 grams and is meant for two, or rib steak, fillet and tagliata, which are single portions. For something lighter there is La Leggera, sliced Prussian beef with rocket, cherry tomatoes and Grana Padano DOP. Our steak guide explains how to choose the cut. There are also salads, grilled vegetables and Roman chicory.
For visitors from abroad
For a lunch with international guests or a delegation, all our menus, from breakfast to the wine list, are published in Italian and English, with allergen codes on every dish. We take bookings in English by phone and WhatsApp, and the staff speak English. There is Wi-Fi throughout.
Getting here and parking
At lunchtime parking is harder: this is an office district and the metro (line B) is the better choice, a few minutes’ walk away. In the evening it is different, because once the offices close the paid blue bays and free white bays around us free up, and there are paid garages nearby. If you are driving to a working dinner, the evening is easier than lunch.
Booking, paying and invoices
For lunch with a few colleagues you can usually walk in: booking is recommended for dinner, weekends and groups. To be sure of a table, the booking page has an online form with email confirmation; you can also call or message us on WhatsApp on +39 342 189 9629, or book on TheFork.
For working lunches we issue an invoice on request; just tell us before the bill. The bill can be split however you like, across several cards, and we take the main cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Satispay.
For more than ten people, a team lunch or a meeting with a set menu, write to us from the events page; there is more in our guide to corporate events.
Two limits worth knowing
There is only one kitchen, and bread, pasta and pizza are made in it every day: we cannot guarantee dishes suitable for coeliacs, although some are made without gluten-containing ingredients. If one of your guests is coeliac, tell us when you book. And the toilets are not wheelchair accessible, while the entrance and dining rooms are step-free.
FAQ
Is ROSSO a good choice for a working lunch?
Yes. We are opposite the FAO, lunch is à la carte and timing is predictable. If you are short of time there are poke and wok dishes.
Can I get an invoice?
Yes, for working lunches and dinners, on request: just tell us before the bill.
Do I need to book for a working lunch?
For a few colleagues you can usually walk in. For groups, or to be sure of a table, book online, by phone or on WhatsApp.
Are the menus in English?
Yes, all our menus are in Italian and English, with allergen codes on every dish.
How late is the kitchen open?
Until midnight, every day.
For your next working lunch, book a table online or call +39 342 189 9629, also on WhatsApp.
More practical questions, on hours, parking, dogs and accessibility, are in our FAQ.
