For fellow expats and foodies, this micro-brewery / restaurant in Pigneto is run by two brothers, one brewmaster, one chef. They serve up their four brews, all excellent and complex, for €5 a pop. I loved the IPA (exotic fruit and liquorice) and the Golden Ale (think of honey and spring flowers). The menu is well-crafted and interesting (imagine paccheri with pacchino tomatoes, mint and vanilla, guancia di manzo, or scallops wrapped in Tuscan lard with slow cooked artichokes, mmmm) and the prices are right. For aperitivo you can get their fresh made potato chips (for chips read the American definition) and mini meatballs made of sausage, cheese or cicoria. The cheesecake was the perfect consistency, and l felt transported Stateside temporarily until I realized that their version with a hint of lemon was even better than the American version. The atmosphere is hip and unlike most restaurants in Rome, the lighting is actually conducive to relaxing and hanging out.
The only negative I can think of was that the portions are not all that generous (especially the guancia), but the quality was amazing.
This was the most pleasant surprise I've had since arriving in Rome this fall. If you like artisanal beer and Michelin-style creative cuisine, but don't necessarily have the liquidity, I urge you to check it out for yourself. read more