The door opened to an old restaurant with a fresh and eye-catching interior. Perfectly set tables, books, paintings... I was not sure the restaurant was even open until two ladies, wearing black, approached with a smile and showed us to the terrace. Breakfast is served every day in the "Piazzetta Romolo Vaselli". In the quiet of a private square, you can breakfast, lunch or dine while enjoying the breath of the west wind and the atmosphere of truest Rome, without being disturbed by the traffic and passers-by. A living room “en plein air” for a privileged few.
Imagine an elegant place suspended outside of time. The light is soft - the colors shift with the time of day and the encounters therein. Books, many of them. Here and there signs of beauty and contemporary art. The air smells of thyme and bread. Babette is the sum of the imagination, ability and experience of Flora and Silvia, the masters of the house that every day, in the dining room and in the kitchen, dedicate to their guests the attention that in every urbane house in Italy was once reserved to the family’s friends. The cuisine is that of the elegant parties, of the jealously kept family recipes. The food sourcing is done with passion and knowledge, listening, watching, smelling. Then the choice is made. The dishes are studied in detail, the execution is meticulous. The wines are wisely selected, even those “of the house” or by the glass, the service is tailored to be in harmony with the cuisine. Presence and discretion, intelligence and warmth. They still exist.
Fine cutlery, soft linen table napkins, a coffee and here I was ready to enjoy the experience. The breakfast menu is simple: croissants; eggs; tart of the day; buffalo sandwich and crepe. So I ordered one of each! Loved the coffee... smooth and intense without being bitter.
A happy waitress and her mother in the kitchen handle the restaurant beautifully. The food is amazing! She smiles, speaks a bit of English and a bit of French, makes sure the customer is king. Super duper tasty bacon, juicy eggs, exceptional crispy bacon, soft mushrooms, unique sausages served in balls and a pan fried tomato. The plate comes with soft bread toasted and served in fingers.
The buffala mozzarella sandwich is like nothing I've had before. Juicy inside out the cheese is really unique, the bread is awesome, the tomatoes are richly flavorful and juicy, the bread is light crispy and fresh. What a sandwich!
Oh my Goodness, what a crepe! Homemade and homey in all senses of the word. Thick yet enjoyable and stuffed with Nutella. Waw!
The tart; the kind that makes me see my childhood in flashback, the taste that makes me travel back to thirty years ago, the feel of Grandma's cooking... flaky, biscuity, light, smooth... it's so finger licking good!
Very recommended! This is your ultimate breakfast in Roma. Live the old souk, enjoy the setup, meet the locals, experience great homey food.
