Best restaurant we went to while we were in Italy. Yep, this restaurant was even better than a michelin star restaurant we dined at in Venice. At first when we arrived at Sofia's we were skeptical since the restaurant was completely empty (this was around 6pm). But then we realized that europeans tend to have dinner after 8pm (the restaurant filled up around that time). So don't hesitate to go inside if it's looking a little empty! What we had: Focaccia Bread - Possibly the best bread we had in Italy. It was made fresh and very well seasoned. Seabass carpaccio - light dish that was very well balanced. Duck ragu - omg this was beaut. Highly recommended Pasta with bacon? - pretty good as well but wasnt as good as the duck ragu. Duck breast with salad - cooked to perfection and all the flavors were very well balanced. Beef fillet - it was also cooked to perfection. The sauce complimented the dish very well. Overall, i wish we had the opportunity to eat here again rather than trying other restaurants that werent even half as good as this place. read more

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Today was a long and grueling day of walking on pavement, cobblestones, and whatever else the Romans used 2,000 years ago. As a Southern American trying to navigate Rome, I'm still completely confused. I cannot for the life of me figure out north vs. south or east vs. west in this city. Every street somehow looks historic, beautiful, and exactly the same. By 9 PM, after walking more than 10 miles today and standing in countless lines -- one for over an hour -- I was exhausted. I was close to my hotel and started looking for somewhere to eat. I had already passed Sofia earlier and really didn't want to backtrack even a few blocks. But after going the wrong direction again and somehow ending up right back near it, I figured that was a sign. So, Sofia it was. My ordering skills in Italy are still not exactly professional level. I really need a local Italian to help me. Yeah, I'm slow... remember, I'm from the South. I ordered the Mezza Maniche Carbonara. I mean, you can't really go wrong with noodles, cheese, and pork, right? A few minutes after ordering, they brought out this little appetizer-looking thing that I'm still confused about. It was this tiny little ball about the size of my thumb. I took one bite and it was absolutely delicious. Honestly, I'm not even sure I want to know what was in it, but at that point I was hungry enough not to ask questions. Then the pasta arrived. Drumroll... First bite? Absolutely divine. Rich, creamy, cheesy pasta with perfectly cooked pork mixed throughout. Fantastic. I devoured the entire plate, chased it down with a Coke, grabbed my glass bottle of water, and walked down the street carrying it like a Roman wino. Great food, great atmosphere, and a perfect little outdoor dining setup on one of Rome's tiny city streets read more

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Everything from service to the outstanding homemade pasta!! I absolutely loved it! I wanted seconds. read more

Sofia - Tortellini - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

The food and service was excellent . What better way to have lunch than to be at the beautiful city of Rome

Charming and delicious restaurant that offers a little twist on traditional Italian fare. We ate outside, at a sidewalk table that was comfortable and clean. We first were offered a great bread basket with an array of choices. We then enjoyed the 'Terrina di fegatini al Porto, Pan brioche e frutti rossi, Filetto di manzo al tartufo, Spaghetti con burro alle erbe, Tagliolini al tartufo, e Insalata Sofia (so good with mango). It was helpful to have English translation for the dishes. A lovely way to celebrate my birthday! Molto bene!! read more

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Highly recommend!!! Wonderful cuisine with quality service!! Had a pride of ownership small family vibe read more

One of the best pasta dishes I have ever had. They were very kind to accommodate us without a reservation, and I'm so glad they did. Wonderful service in a cozy, clean and welcoming atmosphere. A must when in Rome! read more

Sofia - Homemade pasta - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

Best food we had during our stay in Rome. Every dish was simply delicious. Our waiter provided great service, he was very friendly and accommodating. The ambiance is lovely and very comfortable on a hot summer day. read more

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We really enjoyed this place! Lauren, our server, was by far, the best server we've had in Europe so far. Although we didn't have reservations, she had no problem seating us (it was early and empty when we arrived). The food was beautiful, albeit small portions, and tasted amazing, all around. We tried the beef tartar, spinach salad, walnut & pear salad, filet with potatoes, codfish, chicken roll and risotto. Not a crumb left! Wonderful ambiance! I'd highly recommend this place. We stopped by just after visiting the Spanish steps at sunset; less than 5 minute walk. Perfect night! read more

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It was hard to go wrong in Rome for good food provided you stayed away from the tourist spots. However, this restaurant stood out among the rest - it is truly a gem and came highly recommended. We sat outside on this quiet street and shared a bevvy of tasty plates including the swordfish and cheese-plate. Our service was easy-going and the entire experience was leisurely and relaxed. read more

SALT, SALT & MORE SALT! Glad I wasn't a snail.. stay away Theo (aka Turbo)!! FOOD ------------------------------------ * Rosemary focaccia: came out piping hot in a homemade-looking bag with a tag that says "made in Italy." Cute. It has a generous amount of rosemary and salt, which is good as a snack alone, but after several pieces, it was too salty. * Monkfish in Kataifi wrap: expectations were built after tasting this dish. The fish was moist and soft, perfect with the crunchy coating of fried Kataifi noodles. The pineapple sauce was very light and super-tart red currants added a nice refreshment to all that richness. Damn worthy. Unfortunately, that was all. * Pumpkin Risotto: creamy, and pumpkin flavor wasn't overwhelming, but it was oversalted. * Strozzapreti Amatriciana: this would've been a great pasta dish if it hadn't been for the bacon. Bacon is already salty on it's own, but this one was inedible! My tongue pruned up after eating this. Switching between this plate and the pumpkin risotto tasted like I was eating the Dead Sea! * Blackberry tart: Looks delish, tastes like sandpaper. It was definitely overbaked. We cracked open the tart and it was almost hollow inside with no blackberry or custard filling. SO DRY. what a waste of dessert :( SERVICE ------------------------------------ Great service! We came in without a reservation for dinner and was seated immediately. Our waitress brought our ordered water out fairly quickly and was attentive when we were low and wanted to order another one. She even noticed and complimented on my newly bought Coccinelle bag. Punti! FARE ------------------------------------ Average pricing for the portion size. Yelp says price range: €€€ but I'd say this place is more €€. Pasta dishes come pretty hefty. AMBIANCE ------------------------------------ The restaurant is rather small and dark. Tables are tiny and packed tightly next to each other. We sat next to two other patrons and were almost elbow to elbow. But that's expected in European eateries. Very intimate setting with low lighting and small candles on the table. MY THOUGHTS? ------------------------------------ Great spot to take your dear if you want to "accidently" brush up on him/her because of the 'small space.' Also great spot to take your other deer.. you know.. since they like salt licks. read more

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Gourmet place, main courses are small but the food is outstanding. The atmosphere is lovely. Very near Fontana Di Trevi, very centric. Lugar gourmet, los platos son chicos pero la comida es sobresaliente. La onda de el lugar es divina. Muy cerca de Fontana di Trevi, súper céntrico. read more

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The best pasta I have ever had in my life. I came to Rome 7 years ago with my parents and we ate the amatriciana. I remembered it being the best thing I had on our 10 day trip, so on this trip I made sure we went back to see if it held up to my memory. It surpassed my memories - absolutely delicious. If you want pasta that is life changing and something you will think back on as one of the best meals for your life, have the amatriciana. I would give it 6 stars if I could. On top of the it being absolutely amazing, the owners are so sweet, the atmosphere is great, the restaurant is very pretty, and it's consistent. Come here - you will be missing out if you don't. read more

Sofia - amatriciana - best meal I've had in Italy. Don't miss out! - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

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After a visit to the Borghesi, this spot was perfect. After 3 days of disappointing meals in Rome, this place was such a find! Try the Fusilli Zucca con Guanciale! read more

Great food, nice service and good atmosphere. Portions were very small but makes up for it with flavor. Eggplant Parmesan was wonderful with sweet red sauce... missing a little pasta or side with it. Sea bass with zucchini was light and fresh but for a man.... would still be hungry. Bread was fluffy and buttery! Cheese plate was missing meat....but jam, cheese and bread was delicious. Cappuccino was perfect. Desserts were light and creamy with just right amount of sweetness. Would recommend for a light meal and glass of wine. read more

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Food was amazing (we had the beef filet and pasta carbonara), service was also great. It was our last night in Rome and this place was the perfect way to end our trip. read more

Make sure that you have reservations to this place. Found it on Yelp and decided to try out. We got lucky that they had a small table for two in the back, but chances are you won't be so lucky. You must try the filet. I was skeptical at first and wanted to try something else because the food was a little out of my comfort zone! Ask the server for recommendations or just check out what someone else is eating. You won't regret eating here. Also get some Fanti wine. Omg the best I tried while in Italy. read more

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Husband and I had a fantastic meal. We shared pasta, and we had fillet with whiskey sauce and pork (pictured) main dishes. We shared a spinach salad with shaved pear, pecorino cheese and pine nuts, which was lovely. Recommend strongly. read more

Sofia - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

With a menu that focuses on fresh daily ingredients transformed into culinary masterpieces with age-old family recipes, Sophia is a charming restaurant near the Spanish Steps in Rome. Named after the family's Jack Russell Terrier, Sophia provides an intimate atmosphere making this the perfect spot for a date or a quiet, relaxing meal on your own. The hardwood floors and warm wall color provide an inviting, homey feel, while the archways between seating areas pay homage to ancient Roman architecture. I dined at Sophia for lunch during my last afternoon in Rome, and couldn't have been more delighted in the quality of the meal, the service, and the overall experience at the restaurant. Obviously a popular spot whether day or night, the restaurant was busy but I was treated as if I was the only customer they had to attend to. I never felt rushed, and the entire staff treated me like I was family. I started with an appetizer of seared red mullet, served with ricotta cheese and a confit of cherry tomatoes. The fresh garden taste of the tomatoes mixed perfectly with the creamy ricotta and mild flavor of the fish. No lunch in Rome is complete without a pasta course, and Sophia's did not disappoint. I opted for the orecchiette with clams, cherry tomatoes and jalapeno green peppers. Light, fresh and flavorful, the pasta was homemade and delicious and the jalapenos added the right amount of heat. For my main course, I chose swordfish, covered in panko and citrus and served with a chives, dill, and puttanesca sauce. Absolutely incredible. Probably the best cooked swordfish I've ever had - crisped outside, meaty and flaky inside - and the sauce was perfectly seasoned with fresh herbs. I just had to try dessert, and decided on a decadent cheesecake with raspberries and red currants. Sweet, tart, and creamy. The best way to end my stay in Rome - highly recommended! read more

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Stumbled upon this restaraunt when looking for somewhere nice to eat spontaneously. Many restaraunts were fully booked but this was the only one with good reviews and availability. To start, the waiter was unable to give a good recommendation about which pasta to get. Secondly, our starter was 16 dollars and was a single taco filled with to much cream and a little bit of shrimp and applesauce. Next I had the prawn pasta with chili oil and garlic. The pasta was undercooked and the sauce left a smoky/bitter taste in your mouth that was not desireAble. My friend had the carbonara which was oversalted as hell. I kid you not, my buddy had to water his down because it literally was not edible. The portions were small and the food was overpriced. TLDR: dont go here read more

Cozy place just around the corner from all of the hustle. Was an oasis of air conditioning and cold drinks for my family. Menu is pricey, but completely understandable for this location and menu quality. I never review restaurants unless I am very impressed and feel the need to share with other weary travelers. Everything we ordered was outstanding, excellent service, clean bathrooms. Looked like mostly locals dining with us, always a good sign. read more

We visited Sofia after reading the excellent Yelp reviews and had really high hopes but were let down. It's not that we had a bad experience but the food was a mixed bag, the service was fine, and the ambience was nice but a bit constricted at a small table for two. The octopus was excellent, the eggplant parmesan was good, the bacon pasta was good, and the "Roman style" fish pasta was not great. Our desert, the tiramisu, was also not great. Then service also left a bit to be desired. The restaurant was not full but it still seemed hard to get our waitresses attention. We did have an excellent bottle of brunello for what we thought was a fair price. Perhaps we ordered the wrong items or had bad luck as yelp seems to love this place but we just didn't have that great of an experience. read more

Our favorite restaurant in Rome. All the dishes are inspired by genius, created with the FINEST ingredients, served with pride by warm and competent people. Prices are fair considering the quality. In fact, they are a bargain for the quality (which does not mean cheap!) We will be back on every trip to Rome! read more

The food was fantastic and the service even better! Went here for our first meal in Rome and our server was funny, engaging, and very knowledgeable! Will ABSOLUTELY be back! read more

I wanted our family to dine at a beautiful restaurant with delicious food that would leave us with a memorable experience. Sofia exceeded all of those expectations. We actually ended up being about 45 minutes late to the restaurant and I was worried they might have given our table away (but I would have completely understood if they did!). However, upon arrival we were graciously greeted with nothing but smiles and understanding. We were a larger party and they had reserved a lovely table by the front window. We ordered lots of food and each dish came our more beautiful than the last. Everything was so fresh and I'd say light....I mean we ate a lot but I didn't leave feeling weighed down or like I was going to fall into a food coma. My top three favorite things I ate here were the Smoked duck carpaccio, Black truffle pasta, and the crusted fish and artichoke dish. I can't say enough good things about This restaurant. I would come back in a heartbeat. read more

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Get the reservation before you go! We made a last minute reservation on a Saturday night, and the earlier table we could get is at 8:30pm ! The shop is owned by a family with a cute dog ! This tiny restaurant's menu certainly not disappointed us. Prices of the dishes are reasonable for Rome ! ( around 16-20 euro per dish). The portion is not big, you should order a appetizer + main dish ! And leave some room for their awesome desserts !!! I had a grilled peppers with creams sauce as a starter ... Oh man, it put me right through heave !! The main dish was homemade pasta with shrimps. Okay, I have no idea how they did it, but the pasta was full with sea freshness but not fishy !!! Love it ! Then the high light was the dessert ! The creme brûlée ...... Is beyond words ! With the hot crispy brown sugar on top, and ice cold brûlée under ... Simply delicious ! It's deliciousness to the end !! Highly recommended !! read more

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TLDR - Great food, reasonable price. My wife and I love places like this: high-quality ingredients, expert preparation, in a cozy setting. After five days focusing on traditional Roman dishes such as Carbonara, Eggplant Parmigiana, Gnocchi, Lamb Chops, and even Trippa Alla Romana -- and not having a bad meal -- my wife and I decided to try something different. I like choosing a restaurant a few hours before dinner because I never know what I will be in the mood for or when I'll be hungry. I was a Wednesday night when we came across Sofia. There were a few patrons at the place, but it was not crowded. The reviews on Yelp were mostly good with one person complaining about portions and price and another. I had the Mediterranean tuna coated in chopped Pistachios and salt and seared lightly. It came with fresh currants and raspberries on a bed of Arugula. I eat a lot of fresh tuna back home in California, and the quality and flavor of this tuna were exceptional. My wife had a steak (I forget the same on the menu), which looked and tasted like a wonderfully prepared filet mignon. It came with some cooked onions. It was wonderful as well. We also had a side of Radicchio (Chicory) which was well prepared. Our server recommended a Pinot Nero (think Pinot Noir) as wine that would work with both the steak and tuna - and we were not disappointed. It was great. I love Pinot Noirs. Oh, and their Tiramisu was exceptional. And, the Caffe Correcto with Sambuca I ordered was well prepared too! There are a lot of restaurants in Rome that intend to give you what you think you want -- carbonara, pasta, parmigiana, etc -- and others, like this one, that surprise you with an unexpectantly great dinner. Sofia is worth a visit. read more

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I give everything about this restaurant 5 stars. We found this restaurant on here and were so glad we found it after trying to find another restaurant we wanted to go to. We ordered the valeriana salad, eggplant parm, and ametriciana, each plate was delicious. Everyone had told us to try the ametriciana and after rating all the other places we tried it at Sofia was by far the best. The eggplant parm was so delicate yet so full of flavor, that I would say that is a must as well. read more

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If you're looking for a hidden gem, you should certainly check this place out! We had lovely service amongst a beautiful ambience. The food, delicious!!!!! read more

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I almost feel bad rating this place 3-stars. The servers were so sweet and the place was so super cute! We went for lunch. But the food ... It's just ok and come on, that's what we come to do - eat. The presentation of everything was good and we got a starter prosecco taste complimentary. The waitress got our order wrong, instead of beef tartar, she ordered us bull filet or basically steak. When it came out and we were like, uh we didn't order this, at first she was taken aback but another more senior waitress stepped in and without hesitation told us we will get what we ordered and the filet was on them. It was super sweet of them. Ironically, it was probably one of the better dishes that we had. My friends got the 2 fish dishes - steamed bonito & swordfish - and felt like the bonito was too fishy tasting, not fresh tasting. I tasted it and I thought both lacked flavor overall. I got the red sauce pasta with bacon and cheese ... It was a bit over salted and one dimensional in flavor. We did have some decent grilled scallops but they were slightly over cooked and were served with some weird vegetable that looked like onions but tasted like maybe bland crunchy potatoes. It wasn't horrible or anything, just an odd pairing that probably could have had something that elevated the dish. When the beef tartare came out, it was actually pretty good - good texture but we were mostly full already. Though as other reviewers mentioned, portion sizes of the fish dishes were not very big either. I am sad to give this restaurant 3-stars given the super nice people who run it, but given the other raving reviews, I felt like the food quality needed more conversation. read more

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My husband and I went to dinner for our date night in Rome and really enjoyed Sofia's. We started with a bottle of wine and a salad and finished the meal with the black truffle pasta and snapper filet. Everything was very good. Service was great, but the black truffle pasta was fantastic!! Would definitely recommend. Great little spot for a nice dinner. read more

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My girlfriend and I found this wonderful restaurant a few blocks from our hotel and the Spanish Steps. The husband and wife proprietors of Sofia made for us the most amazing and memorable dishes of our two week vacation in Italy. We started with a delicious tuna tartare. The tuna was fresh, and the sweet slices of grapefruit and tangy berries complemented it wonderfully. For our first course we shared two delectable pasta dishes--the rigatoni all'amatriciana (a hearty and savory sauce with guanciale--cured pork cheek) and fusilli alla norma (a lighter tomato sauce with bits of eggplant and cherry tomatoes). For our second course we shared a delicious zucchini parmigiana--imagine thin layers of zucchini separated with bechemel sauce, topped with parmigiana and baked. For a side we shared some amazing crispy rosemary potatoes. With our dinner we had a delicious local merlot. Their wine list is concise and had a number of excellent (and affordable) offerings from around Italy. For dessert we split the strawberry tiramisu--a delicious and novel concoction. The strawberry added a wonderful tartness and sweetness to this classic dessert. We loved every bite of our meal and eagerly recommend Sofia to locals and tourists alike. The food is phenomenal and the prices quite reasonable. Our sumptuous meal (plus digestivi and caffe) was under 90 euros. This place can't be beat! read more

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Hi all- well we followed the recommendations of others and found this beautiful little gem near the Bernini Fountain in Rome. Simon the owner was there and was a super nice, genuine guy. We started with the tuna tartar, wrapped in a thin slice of cucumber, then we each had a pasta ( note: portions are very good we could have shared). Pastas were: like a linguini with porcini mushrooms, and the other was a thick / large spaghetti with bacon, fresh cherry tomatoes and a nice marinara sauce. The we had the Sea Bream filet which was baked in olive oil, salt and Rosemary - literally the best fish we'd ever had . In the heart of Rome where cruddy restaurants with average food are everywhere, Sofia is superior. Don't waste your time reading billions of reviews just go here ! read more

Sofia - This is the tuna tartar - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

Wonderful meal in Rome! We visited Rome last weekend and in typical fashion I was mostly focused on the food. I found Sofia during a search of restaurants near our hotel and it had just the right amount of reviews; e.g. Too many = tourist trap and too little = unknown or possibly bad. We had dinner there with another couple and ordered with some Sicilian red which was reasonably priced and flavourful. To start J and I got the scallops which were perfectly cooked and kicked off the meal in a great way. Up next we ordered the hare ragout and white seafood lasagna. Both were excellent but the real surprise for me was the rabbit! The meat was tender and the seasonings were perfect. After that we shared the seared red tuna as our main and once again, we thoroughly enjoyed it. Great texture and the tuna tasted quite fresh. When it was time to order dessert we realised that we had completely overdone it on the carbs and we literally had no room left! We all enjoyed our meal at Sofia and would happily return. read more

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Quiet and lovely atmosphere with impeccable attention to detail! Food was beautiful and delicious. Grouper stuffed tortelli was unique, and my filet was cooked to a perfect and tender mid-rare with a nice dark center. read more

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Cute and small resturant with superb food and a good wine list. I had the prawns for starters and the red tuna filé for my main course. Both were superb and I have nothing to complain about. Might no be a good place for a big company but for two people it is perfect and I would recommend it to anyone I know. When we were finished they helped us order a taxi to our hotell. Big +++ for that :) read more

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We checked out this place after the reviews on Yelp. This is definitely a "foodie" place. We had the grilled scallops with fennel and spinach and walnut salad. Both excellent. We also had the local fish, Bonita and the pasta, Strozzapareti Amatriciana. All excellent. We washed this down with a bottle of Pinot Grigot. Ready for to walk off the calories tomorrow. read more

Sofia - Tasty balsamic salad with slices of Parmesan..... - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

Wow! This place is just amazing. It's a lovely restaurant tucked away in between the Spanish Steps and the Bernini area. I highly recommend it. First of all, we were greeted by very welcoming staff. I think they change up the menu now and then. My husband and I ordered the cheese platter to start off with. It was delicious especially with the bread that they serve as starters. We had an insalate (salad) made of arugula, sliced red lettuce, pomegranate with balsamic vinaigrette. The first course we had was the fettuccini with shrimp in white sauce and pecorino cheese. This was the best pasta I've had in a very long time. The fettuccini was freshly made. For the second course, we had the roasted rabbit with "cicorietta ripassata". My husband are that up! He didn't even share. I would recommend this place and I would definitely come back again. Next time, I would try their risotto with swordfish. read more

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It was amazing. You can't go wrong with anything you choose. My hiaband and I had the fried octopus, spaghetti with roman broccoli cheese sauce, rabbit ragu pasta, and pistachio cheesecake. Every bit was AMAZING! Definitely the best place I've eaten at in Rome. Also, the people working there were so nice and the ambiance was so romantic. 10 stars if I could! read more

Sofia - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

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This place is a GEM! We were seated right inside the main window looking out to the Main Street. Candle lit dinner with the best pasta I've ever tried! I ordered the Fetticini black truffle pasta and the cheese board. My wife loved the stratza americana, and we shared the cinnamon custard dessert. read more

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