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La Taverna Italiana
An entry from Rome Holiday journal, by Amy Heaney
This restaurant was a bit out of the way for me, however it's located near Termini Station. It's absolutely breathtaking to behold when you first see it due to the floral decor outside.
I went to dinner with my two new New York friends, Christine and Jim, to celebrate my 24th birthday. They actually recommended the restaurant after eating there the night before.
Meal
I ate a four cheese risotto. It was delicious and nice portions, however it was very filling and I therefore didn't get to eat it all.
Jim ate a seafood pasta with mussels, prawns, etc. all fresh! It looks delicious and he ate all of it. I was actually rather curious about this dish so I ordered it in another restaurant on another date.
Christine ate the waiters recommendation, which was a tomato pasta (spaghetti) with ham and cheese. Again, the portion was a little too big but she said it was very nice and would eat again if given the choice.
2 portions of a cheese cake/ moose combination. It tasted like it had an oat base.
Cost of meal:
47 Euros
Wine and beverages
Pineapple juice
Sparkling water
Italian champagne (on the house due to birthday) x3
Lemon liqueur - only slightly alcoholic, Italians drink it to help with digestion.
Atmosphere and decor
Decor was formal for the tables, but it was made more inviting by the floral decor. Table clothes were used, sheltered outdoor eating area which was heated and draped with a type of climbing/hanging flower. Staff made the place quite homely, a very warm welcome. A comfortable and relaxing environment, perfect for a formal meal or a catch-up with friends.
Dress code
Smart-casual. It was quite a mix, some customers came dressed formally, others came dressed casually.
Locality
It seemed very busy for traffic, being on a main road/corner and near a metro stop. The area down the road seemed quite run down; graffiti on walls and people drinking on the street. However, I must point out that it is a very cheerful area! Very chilled out and relaxed. Families walking about as well as couples.
Service
The service was excellent! Faultless. I arrived before my friends and the waiter offered me a seat while I waited, we started chatting and I told him about my birthday and they gave me a free glass of Italian champagne! When my friends arrived they got a free glass each too. The waiter taught me how to sing "happy birthday" in Italian! I was very pleased with how friendly they were. When we ordered cake as dessert, three waiters came out with a candle in my cake and sang happy birthday to me in Italian. I was so embarrassed but my heart was bursting with joy at the effort they put in. Such a small thing really made my day!
The waiters dressed smart/casual, meaning formal but with a scarf or what not to stay warm, and mainly in black. They definitely went out of their way to ensure we had a good time.
Other remarks
Highly recommended if you're in the area!
Last updated date
Monday, March 24, 2014 - 14:33
