We walked up to the Trattoria al Pratto without reservations at 20:00 on a Sunday night when all the visible tables were full, a recipe for disappointment. We were greeted warmly and they made up a separate table, possibly reserved for tourist but, equally elegant except for being closer to the walkway than the others and not having the same view of the Piazza Prato della Valle.
We asked for and were graciously given 1/2 oz pours of wines we wanted to choose among and, only after deciding, ordered a bottle, so I think they would have done the same thing for wine by the glass. There were 4-8 bottle and by the glass offerings in each of 5 classes including white, red, sparkling, rose, and dessert.
My wife began with zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta that was lightly flavored with balsamic vinegar and red pepper puree. These were 4 actual flowers whose petals, in aggregate, were 2 inches (50 mm) long and 1 inch (25 mm) across. They were presented artfully in a cross. I had carpaccio di tonno which was 15 paper thin slices of a dark red tuna that were 2 inches (50mm) by 6 inches (300mm). The tuna was fresh, flavorful, and lightly sprinkled with apple vinegar. We both liked her choice better but mainly because of its uniqueness in our experience.
For our pasta she had spaghetti with small tomatoes, mozzarella di bufala, and basil and I ate paccheri, a large tubular pasta with pieces 1 inch (25 mm) long and, when flattened, at least that wide, with small whole sautéed squid that were fresh and anywhere from 1/2 inch (12 mm) to 2 inches (50 mm) long. Both were nicely al dente and well executed. The sauce on the paccheri was the best pasta sauce I have ever had with dense, smooth, complex flavors ( tasted to me like a beef stock and wine reduction with seasonings). Made for scarpetta.
We split tournedos of tuna which were two chunks of a dark red tuna, 2-3 oz. ( 60-90 gm.) each, slightly overcooked, to my taste, so that they were a little dry, with a dollop of dried tomato and sautéed onion on top. The flavor and texture were close to a tuna jerky, for me, which I didn't expect but was pleased with after I got over my surprise.
We finished with a cream of lemon pudding that was 1/2 cup of a slightly chunky lemon curd that was subtle and very enjoyable.
Service was attentive, willing to discuss the meal and offer suggestions but not cloying. They seemed to go out of their way to be tolerant of and willing to help foreigners as other reviewers have noted. We will definitely return to this trattoria. I give 5 * because it does well what it sets out to in offering a slightly smaller menu of imaginative choices, superbly prepared and presented. Brava. read more