"Rome's benchmark for thin, blistered pizza romana and a 50 Top Pizza fixture — book a Friday table for a casual first date."
About 180 Grammi
Jacopo Mercuro left a law career to open 180 Grammi in 2016, and he chose Centocelle, a working district on Rome's eastern edge, rather than the centre. The name is the weight of each dough ball: 180 grams, stretched thin and baked until the base shatters. The pizza romana here is the low, crackling kind, and Mercuro's version became the one other Roman pizzaioli measure against. Pizzas run €8 to €18, the room is small, and the address at Via Genazzano 32 has been a 50 Top Pizza listee for years.
The Kitchen
Jacopo Mercuro builds the menu around the thin Roman base and the fried Roman canon. The signature is the Sampietrino, a square of fried dough split and stuffed with cacio e pepe tonnarelli under a smoked-pecorino and pepper cream, at €4. Start there, add a €3.50 supplì and a €6.50 fillet of salt cod, then move to the pizzas.
The Marinara at €13 is the test order: tomato, garlic, oregano, no cheese, judged on the base alone. The seasonal Pizza dell'anno tops out at €18 and the toppings rotate with the market, from wild chicory and harissa to alici and zucchini flowers. Mercuro keeps prices low on principle and credits the suburb openly for the room he built. The kitchen has held its place on 50 Top Pizza across recent editions, and the second site near Villa Gordiani followed during the pandemic. It is the rare Roman pizzeria that earns the queue. For the wider field, see our ranking of the best pizza restaurants worldwide.
The Room
This is a neighbourhood pizzeria, not a dining room. 180 Grammi opens evenings only, 19:30 to midnight, and closes Tuesdays. The space is tight, the sound level is loud and convivial, the lighting is plain, and there is no dress code at all. Tables turn fast and the energy is young and local. Come for the pizza and the fried starters, not for a hushed, lingering meal. Service is quick and unfussy, and the bill stays small even after a round of fritti and a carafe of house wine.
Best for a Casual First Date
Book this room for an early, low-stakes first date because it removes every pretension that gets in the way of conversation. The food is cheap, the fritti are made for sharing, and nobody is dressed up. You will spend €30 a head and talk for two hours over the Sampietrino and a Marinara. It also works for a loose team dinner or a birthday with friends who would rather queue for great pizza than book a tasting menu. For more of the city, see our guide to Rome's best pizza and the wider Rome dining guide.
Not for
Skip it for a quiet dinner or a business lunch. The room is loud, it opens only in the evening, it closes Tuesdays, and there is no lunch service at all.
Frequently Asked
Is 180 Grammi worth it?
Yes. 180 Grammi is the benchmark for thin, crisp pizza romana in Rome, and Jacopo Mercuro has kept it on 50 Top Pizza for years. Pizzas run €8 to €18 and the fried starters are among the city's best, so a full meal with wine lands near €30 a head. For that price and that quality, the queue in Centocelle is justified.
How hard is it to book 180 Grammi?
Moderately. 180 Grammi opens evenings only, from 19:30 to midnight, and is closed Tuesdays, so the small room fills fast on weekends. Book ahead through the restaurant or call +39 06 6932 4986, and arrive early if you walk in. The second location near Villa Gordiani gives you a fallback if the original is full.
What is the dress code at 180 Grammi?
There is no dress code. 180 Grammi is a Centocelle neighbourhood pizzeria with a young, local crowd, and you will see jeans and t-shirts at every table. Come as you are. The point is the pizza and the fried Roman starters, not the room, so dress for comfort and an easy, loud evening.
What should I order at 180 Grammi?
Start with the Sampietrino, the fried dough stuffed with cacio e pepe tonnarelli at €4, plus a supplì and the salt-cod fillet. Then order the Marinara at €13 to judge the base, and the seasonal Pizza dell'anno at €18 for Mercuro's current toppings. That spread shows the full range of the kitchen.
Is 180 Grammi good for a first date?
Yes, for a casual one. The room is loud and unpretentious, the food is cheap and made for sharing, and the bill stays around €30 a head, which keeps the evening relaxed. It is a far easier first date than a tasting counter. See our best restaurants for a first date for more options.
