Seeking “trendy new places” that are genuinely good in the Eternal City is usually as futile as searching for Andy Warhols at the Vatican Museum—and yet. Those craving a break, dreaming of Italian menus will be thrilled with the vivid modern Sicilian flavours of Giano located on Via Liguria, in Rome.
The main thing to know about Giano is that it’s the first Roman outpost of the unstoppably creative Sicilian chef Ciccio Sultano, who holds two Michelin stars at his restaurant Duomo in Ragusa.
Restaurant Review: Giano – Sicilian Brilliance Finds a Roman Home
Located in Rome, Via Liguria – In a city oversaturated with “trendy” openings that rarely live up to the hype, stumbling upon a restaurant that actually delivers is a rare treat.
Tucked behind the Spanish Steps, this glamorously wood-clad dining room with its plush seating and modern clubby allure provides a seductive backdrop for what’s to come. A perfectly balanced Negroni kicks things off while you contemplate a menu that sings with the sun-drenched flavours of Sicily—almonds, citrus, and seafood, refined yet reverent.
Start with the white grouper carpaccio, accented by wild fennel and orange, or go bold with silvered sardines wrapped around a pine nut and raisin filling—a nod to the island’s Arab influence. But the showstopper here is the spaghetto taratatà,(if you say pronounce it like an Italian, you’ll get extra points) a dish as dramatic as its name implies: lemon-slicked strands laced with pine nuts, shaved bottarga, and a scoop of grouper tartare beneath a veil of crunchy breadcrumbs. It’s a contender for Rome’s most exhilarating pasta.
Main courses showcase the richness of Sicilian produce—melting tuna belly or the prized Nero dei Nebrodi pig—delivered with understated precision. Desserts are delightfully presented via Polaroids, but the real star is Sultano’s decadent ricotta cannolo with an Avola almond sorbet that lingers like a Mediterranean sunset.
Verdict: A rare fusion of bold creativity and disciplined technique, Giano may just be the most exciting Sicilian table in Rome. Michelin pedigree without the pretence.
Recommended Dishes:
White grouper carpaccio
The spaghetto taratatà
Melting tuna belly
Avola almond sorbet