Roma Sparita
Where? Roma Sparita (Trastevere, Rome, Italy) Map Menu
When? Tuesday June 16, 2026
Who With? Me
Food Style? Italian
After watching the sunset on the Aventine Hill, I've headed over the Tiber River to the neighbourhood of Trastevere, which boasts a myriad of restaurants slightly away from the main tourist centers. However, the prevalence of English is very audible, which is somewhat reassuring to me. There’s no sign for the restaurant I want to go to, Roma Sparita, but finally I spot a lone menu with the restaurant’s name at the entrance, which is by the Piazza di Santa Cecilia. I have a short wait - even at 9pm! - but I’m seated outside in the cool summer air and I feel good about my life choices. The menu has allergen information extensively documented throughout, as well as the same frozen food footnote that I saw on the menu yesterday.
Drink
I don’t have any pressing engagements tomorrow morning, so I decide to have a glass of wine. I’ve chosen the cheapest option, the Malvasia Puntinata from Cincinnato, a few hours southeast of Rome. It’s smooth and buttery, with a hint of pear. It’ll go nicely with my clam gnocchi.
Appetiser
Insalata mista: Mixed salad
The salad arrives first. It’s nicely presented, and comes with the full compliment of Italian condiments: extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper and complimentary bread.
Mains
Gnocchi alle vongle veraci, fiori di zucchina: Gnocchi with clams and zucchini flowers
It smells great and tastes even better. It’s got a hint of spice, with plenty of garlic and herbs. The sauce is very tasty and the gnocchi are soft and fluffy. Even the tomatoes are pretty remarkable, sweet and juicy. None of that sauce has gone to waste, I have mopped up everything with the bread and have thoroughly enjoyed it. The plate is spotless and I'm so impressed with my own efforts that I want to document this.
Dessert
Panna cotta: with fresh strawberry
I was tossing up between the panna cotta and the tiramisu, but when the waiter tells me there’s a fresh strawberry flavour for the panna cotta, it's a done deal. It’s got a slight jiggle, and the texture is perfectly smooth. It’s a lovely way to end an excellent meal.
Posted by Jeremy at 12:41am on Wednesday July 8, 2026 :: 0 comments :: 
Antico Arco
Where? Antico Arco (Trastevere, Rome, Italy) Map Menu
When? Tuesday April 11, 2017
Who With? Me
Food Style? Italian Fine Dining
After exploring the Vatican, I'm a short bus ride to the south at a restaurant called Antico Arco. One look at the menu and my first thought is "oh geez I'm in a super fancy restaurant". This may be okay, given how small my appetite is. The wait staff speak impeccable English. I've ordered a single main meal for a whopping €30, but as one of the ingredients is black truffle, €30 doesn't seem too bad.
Amuse Bouche
To start, I'm served with a delicious warm amuse bouche of chickpea cream and tomato breadcrumbs. Yum!
I go to top up my cup of sparkling water and the bag of homemade bread falls over, sending a roll...literally rolling to the side of the table. My mouth involuntarily opens. Thankfully it comes to a stop on the table and I place it back into the bag nonchalantly. Nothing has happened. No one saw anything.
Mains
Lamb fillet in a crust of nuts and breadcrumbs with cauliflower and black truffle
The plate arrives and the portions are even more disappointing than what I had imagined. But it smells amazing, the truffles are so intense and appetising - the only mushroom that I will say that about! It's the first time I've actually eaten truffle - other times it's usually been essence or oil. The meat is thick and chunky, and texturally satisfying to sink my teeth into. I was expecting it to be more crunchy because of the nuts but it's fine the way it is. The complimentary bread is doing wonders with soaking up the dollops of cauliflower purée artistically placed on the plate, and more importantly, the bread is what is going to fill me up. Very good, and my plate is almost spotless at the end.
I'm ready for dessert. I'm going for the molten chocolate soufflé with almond waffle, because it sounds damn good and I don't care that I've had food poisoning. From my knowledge of Latin and French, I know that the name of the dessert, Tortino dal Cuore Morbido, has something to do with heart (cuore is similar to French coeur, as in Sacre Coeur) and death (morbido similar to morbid in English), so it's going to be incredibly rich. It's €13 but I'm on holiday and I saved tons of money while not eating for two days. I'm expecting dessert to be the diameter of a golf ball.
Palate Cleanser
A palate cleanser arrives and for a second I think it's the dessert. Phew. It's a chocolate gelato with strawberry sauce and it totally is the size of a half golf ball.
Dessert
Tortino dal Cuore Morbido - molten chocolate souffle cake with almond waffle
Dessert arrives for real. A wonderful nut and cocoa aroma fills the air. It's the diameter of a tennis ball and I know it's going to be super rich. I tap the soufflé with the spoon and the entire thing jiggles. The cake exterior is so thin that it actually deforms when I push it. I cut through and this wonderful chocolate liquid spills out. It's so heartwarming and ludicrously rich, I wouldn't have wanted this to be any bigger.
I am so full. Oh boy. Definitely the fanciest meal I've had in Italy, and portions fortunately perfect for the size of my current appetite.
Posted by Jeremy at 10:24pm on Friday April 28, 2017 :: 0 comments ::