Taverna Trastevere’s authenticity transports you to Rome…

Taverna Trastevere is inviting from the moment you arrive: I quickly took mental note of the outdoor seating for dining al fresco the warm summer months. And when you walk in, the warm colours and wood decor are reminiscent of a typical of a Roman taverna. I was greeted by one of the staff (all of whom are Italian if not Roman; it adds to the genuine feel of the place when you can converse and order in Italian), and shown to a table in the upper level of the restaurant. While I don’t typically drink much, we did start with a well-prepared Aperol spritz while we perused the menu and enthusiastically peruse the menu we did! I couldn’t believe my eyes at the site of so many of my old favourites. So many classic Roman dishes: spaghetti alla carbonara, saltimbocca alla romana, and rarest of all: the humble suppli’. I lost count of how many years it had been since I had seen that on the menu. I couldn’t wait to get started! But where to begin?

We decided to have a bruschetta with our spritz while we evaluated our options. Let me tell you, it was outstanding. You may wonder how hard it could be to get something so seemingly simple so wrong, but so many people do! Not Taverna Trastevere: the bread was of the perfect thickness and crispy to the right degree, while the tomato topping was seasoned perfectly without being too runny from the natural tomato juices and salty to the right point. It was the best bruschetta I’ve had outside of Rome.

Credits: Caterina Maniscalco