One of Rome's most beloved pizzerias opens in Casal Bertone (it's its sixth location)

L'Elementare opens in Casal Bertone, in the eastern part of the city (we already mentioned it here). Since September 5th, the Roman pizzeria has been at Piazza Santa Maria Consolatrice 1, with a new location that brings its signature Roman-style pizza, shallow and crunchy. This choice also speaks to the way the project has grown in recent years: not just new openings in central locations or those already accustomed to attracting the foodie crowd, but an increasingly widespread presence throughout the city.

Elementary School is growing in Rome, neighborhood by neighborhood: on September 5th it will arrive in Casal Bertone.

Casal Bertone has a fairly distinct identity and a vibrant neighborhood vibe. It's not an area that has seen a significant concentration of large restaurant chains in recent years: the idea is to bring a pizzeria known beyond the neighborhood into a more everyday setting, without turning the place into a destination designed exclusively to attract customers from all over Rome. An interesting move for a group that, in just a few years, has managed to build a highly recognizable identity. L'Elementare opened in 2020 with Parco Appio, initially as a seasonal project. Entrepreneur Federico Feliziani and pizza chef Mirko Rizzo envisioned a simple, easy-to-eat Roman-style round pizza, designed to complement the summer season. What was intended to be a temporary venture evolved first into a Trastevere location and then into a growth path that led to the openings in Tuscolana, Testaccio, and San Giovanni.

A success that required understanding how to grow without losing control over the product. For a pizzeria with multiple locations, maintaining consistent quality doesn't mean simply repeating a recipe: it requires shared procedures, training, kitchen organization, and consistent attention to the raw materials. L'Elementare has therefore chosen to make its working method replicable, while leaving each location with its own unique identity. And this is probably one of the most interesting aspects of the project's growth. The pizza remains the same, or at least recognizable, but the locations are not copies of one another. Even the choice of neighborhoods helps define the character of the different locations: Trastevere, Testaccio, San Giovanni, Tuscolana, and now Casal Bertone are neighborhoods with distinct audiences, habits, and atmospheres. The new opening fits this logic, with a restaurant built around the square and the daily life of the neighborhood.

Pizzas from L'Elementare at their new Casal Bertone location in Rome.

And now we come to the new location. Inside there are around 60 seats, distributed across three windows, with a design that maintains some recognisable elements from the other premises, including cement tiles and warm lighting. The menu features most of the pizzas that have accompanied the growth of L'Elementare, alternating the great classics with options that have now become hallmarks of the pizzeria. On the menu therefore are Margherita (9 euros), Napoli (12), Fiori e Alici (12), Boscaiola (11) and Salsiccia e Cicoria (11), together with pizzas such as the Marinara Doppia (13), with yellow tomato, anchovies and chilli pepper, the Datte Foco (14), with 'nduja sauce, ventricina and provolone del Monaco, and the Parmigiana de Noantri (15), with aubergines, burrata stracciatella and semi-dry cherry tomatoes.

Casal Bertone also offers a selection of pizzas created specifically for the new location. This is where the connection with the neighborhood flows directly into the food offering, with recipes built around the flavors and influences of Roman cuisine. Alongside the pizzas, there are fried foods (€2.50-€4) and a selection of beers.

Elementary School – Casalbertone. Piazza Santa Maria Consolatrice 1, Rome. Website opens September 5th.