Lazio-Roma, Derby at the table: the restaurants of the most famous former footballers

Lazio-Roma isn't just a match, it's a way of life. A rivalry that begins on the football pitch and seeps into the daily life of an (eternal) city eager to experience excitement. The Derby is vital for its banter, the irony in the stands, the playful confrontation of two factions that battle for 90 minutes and then bicker for the rest of their lives. Lazio-Roma is about love for one's city and a question of tradition, even in the kitchen.

The derby is on Sunday, April 13th, and the Biancocelesti and Giallorossi will meet at the Olimpico for the 157th derby in Serie A. Football isn't the only thing that matters, so the context before, during, and after the match also matters. Everyone has their own superstitions, even at the table.

Lazio vs. Roma, a culinary challenge: the restaurant derby.

Some even frequent the same bar or restaurant, hoping their team will win. Where tactics fail, perhaps superstition will. If there's one place where details (and anecdotes) count—aside from superstition—it's the restaurant. In Rome, to be precise, there are trattorias: typical restaurants where you can breathe in the air of tradition, with local dishes and specialties reminiscent of our grandparents' cooking. Hearty, authentic, and tasty.

The derby, in a certain sense, is also played out over food. Many former Roma and Lazio players, after hanging up their boots, have decided to open a restaurant: a profitable venture, if managed wisely, capable of reviving the fun and excitement experienced on the pitch. Not to mention a certain appeal.

The restaurants of the great exes

We've selected the top restaurants run by former Roma and Lazio players. A no-holds-barred comparison that goes from the pitch to the plate. The difference, in this sense, isn't in the formations and tactics, but in the table settings and prices. It's always about numbers and rankings, but the one who benefits (at best) is the stomach. The first—in this particular ranking, which isn't a ranking, but a list of possibilities—great ex is undoubtedly Giuseppe Giannini, known as "The Prince."

After a glittering career, the former Roma player explored various possibilities, including the restaurant business. He opened a restaurant on the Costa Smeralda, which his daughter runs. In a lengthy interview with Il Messaggero in 2024, he stated: "It's a rewarding business. We've certainly managed to bring traditional Roman dishes elsewhere without compromising the rest." This means that Giannini hasn't forgotten his love for the capital, even at the table. However, the former Giallorossi captain has also chosen to adapt to the demands of one of Sardinia's most chic locales.

From Giannini to Pruzzo passing through Vincent Candelà

Every summer, thousands of tourists flock to the Costa Smeralda, and they can't settle for just carbonara and amatriciana. A nostalgic treat that also features porceddu (pork roast) and more. Former Roma midfielder Vincent Candelà, meanwhile, has remained in the capital. French by birth, Roman, and a Roma fan by adoption.

After his playing career ended, he was deployed in various positions (left defender in Zeman's 4-3-3, while Capello preferred him more of a midfielder). He stayed with Rome and focused on other activities. The restaurant industry became his daily bread thanks to the opening of the Qui e ora restaurant in Montecompatri, in the Castelli Romani area.

The house specialty is Roman pinsa, followed by grilled meats and arrosticini. Traditional Roman first courses are also available, but the specialties are the various cuts of meat. From a former midfielder to a striker: Roberto Pruzzo, former Roma striker, has remained faithful to the colors and the city.

However, the man has chosen a different culinary path: that of the osteria. His, in fact, is Osteria il 9. The restaurant, located at Via Giuseppe Sartori 64, offers a varied menu: traditional Roman dishes, first and second courses, plus a selection of fresh fish.

Scarnecchia, a star among the starry

Last but not least, among Roma's players is Roberto Scarnecchia: the former right winger played alongside Falcao and proved himself to be a master over the years, even deciding a derby with his flair. After his career in sports, he chose to become a chef (even earning a Michelin star). The former Giallorossi player owns several restaurants: Trattoria della Stampa del 1956 (with various locations, two in Rome, one in Milan, and one in Sanremo, serving Roma cuisine), and in early 2025, he began a partnership with Aqualua, also in Sanremo.

Hernanes, the prophet of Monferrato

Moving on to the Biancocelesti: the former Lazio players who have chosen to dedicate themselves to the restaurant business are Hernanes, known as "The Prophet," Giocondo Ruggeri, and Cesar Aparecido Rodriguez. The former, who also played for Juventus and Inter, has chosen to dedicate himself not only to the restaurant business but also to studying wine and growing crops. The former attacking midfielder, therefore, has purchased 5 hectares of land between the Langhe and Monferrato regions and created "Ca' del Profeta." There's also room for comfort: a small five-room relais for anyone who, after eating and drinking, wants to stay overnight surrounded by nature.

His colleague Giocondo Ruggeri, on the other hand, was Lazio's chef for a long time. Even today, the club relies on the Chef's guidance: he knew how to enhance champions and prepare customized diets without sacrificing flavor. "Immobile," he declared when the striker was sold to Besiktas in Turkey, "is crazy about sautéed chicory. He always asked me for it, saying it helped him score goals." This and other anecdotes from a career built on human relationships and culinary successes.

Cesar Aparecido Rodriguez: A Corner of Rio de Janeiro in the Capital

Last but not least, Cesar Aparecido Rodriguez. The former Lazio player had a Brazilian restaurant in the capital. Technical commitments forced him to sell the business, but the spirit of A Favela – Churrascaria e Restaurante remains the same: at Via Oslavia 54, they follow the Brazilian tradition of churrasco. They offer Brazilian specialties, but also live music and entertainment.

Not just good food, but also great emotions. Lazio and Roma, on and off the pitch, always find a way to stand out: from their boots to their forks, great matches don't end in two halves. The third is played out in the kitchen.