Checchino dal 1887
History, Tradition
The Cuisine of the Quinto Quarto
In the heart of Testaccio, where Rome beats strongest, and the old Slaughterhouse shaped a vital chapter in its culinary history,
Checchino dal 1887 has safeguarded for over a century a tradition steeped in memory:
the cuisine of the Quinto Quarto.
This culinary art, passed down through six generations of the Mariani family, was born from a fascinating paradox:
The Quinto Quarto is a mathematical absurdity transformed into a culinary masterpiece
A part of the animal excluded from the noble quarters — neither fore nor hind — yet it fully embodies both the weight and, above all, the gastronomic dignity.
Head, tail, feet, and innards: what was once considered waste is here transformed into culinary art.
The term Quinto Quarto was born within the walls of Testaccio’s Slaughterhouse in the 19th century. The first to embrace this cuisine were the so-called vaccinari — butchers and workers who were paid with what remained after the division of the noble quarters: head, tail, feet, and innards. A reward made of scraps — though scraps they were not.
This is the cuisine of Roman identity — telling the story of a people’s resilience and brilliance, capable of turning simplicity into virtue.
At Checchino dal 1887 , these ingredients become the stars of iconic dishes:
- Rigatoni with pajata
- Coda alla vaccinara (Winner of the “Champion of Tradition 2024” award by Gambero Rosso)
- Roman-style tripe
- Padellotto alla macellara
- Zampi salad
- Sweetbreads, liver, and much more
The newspaper Il Messaggero has named Checchino dal 1887 the finest restaurant for Quinto Quarto cuisine, a tribute to a living legacy, renewed each day through meticulous care and unwavering dedication to tradition
Through culture, dialect, and humor — the Quinto Quarto is a symbol of the Roman soul:
Er Quinto Quarto nun se spiega, se magna e se vive!

Rigatoni with Pajata

Coda alla Vaccinara

Padellotto alla macellara

Roman-style tripe

Zampi salad

Grilled Liver

Mixed Roast of the quinto quarto
Checchino dal 1887 - via di Monte Testaccio, 30 00153 Roma tel 0039 065743816 - 0039 3335855055 email: checchino_roma@tin.it.
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