VIBE// Very unassuming and understated. Though it's spacious, the inside is dated and a bit sad, probably because it was empty and audibly silent. I could be wrong, but I suspect this might be the case most nights as there were only the cook and the proprietor, who also doubled as server, for the whole place. We'd had a long day and were tired of wandering around when we turned the corner and saw this place across the movie theater. I was doubtful, even hesitant because there was no menu posted, and the cook was just standing outside bored at the door. But my feet were tired and my stomach was hungry, so in we went.
The proprietor's dour expression did nothing to allay my fears. When I saw him, I knew we were going to be stared at throughout the whole meal. He never smiled, but I recalled later that he spoke to me slowly and clearly, which might have been an act of kindness seeing as I was a foreigner. I say this because for the rest of my trip, everyone spoke at normal speed in Italian even when it was clear I had trouble understanding.
FOOD// Going by the menu, I think this place is more Emilia-Romagna fare. I had the tortellini in brodo, of which I really liked the broth. The other two pasta dishes we had were quite salty, which might be a Roman thing since other places in Rome were just as salty to my palate. Also, caveat if you haven't been to Italy before, note that you'll re-evaluate the American definition of "al dente" once you've had pasta enough times in Italy. I also ordered a mixed salad, which looked like a paltry and scant scattering of leaves that could easily fit on a saucer, and was extra vinegary (so ask for the oil and vinegar on the side!), at €5/6. That one felt like a true rip-off. The coperto was a bit much at €3 a head considering the location (far from the historic center and a couple streets off the main road). If I had come here alone and only had the tortellini in brodo, I'd easily give the place 4 stars because I would indeed considering eating here again, but everything into consideration, especially the unmerited high prices... read more