John T.
Yelp
Missed it by one day...
Continuing on my quest to eat non-Italian food in Italy (I'd been on a pasta bender and needed to get off for a little while), I found Brasserie 4:20. Beyond being impressed that the craft beer/burger scene in Rome resembled what it was in the States, I was shocked to find Roman bros. America, we have to do better at our exports. Alas, it's true. There are Roman bros and they congregate and work here. So, guys just be aware that if you come here, you service will come after any cute thing in a skirt that wants food/drink/whatever. The music is bro-y. The vibe is bro-y. It's a bro bar. That said, they have some good things to offer.
Beyond connecting with bros from another continent, you come here for beer & burgers (and rock music and brownies but mostly beer & burgers). Despite not being much of a burger guy, I figured that 'when in Rome...'* Thing is, this burger didn't taste much like a lot of the ones I'd had back home. I ordered the angus burger with cheese, onions and pickle. The first thing I noticed was that the meat tasted much better than most of the burgers I'd had in the States. I don't know whether this was because of the angus beef or because we're not getting the real deal in the States. I'd had angus beef before. It didn't taste this good. Had I eaten beef like this regularly, I don't know that I could have given it up as easily. All this is to say that the beef wasn't as seasoned as it could have been. Salt & pepper before it's grilled, boys. That's all you need. Good quality beef. Needed more seasoning.
To accompany my burger, I tried two beers: the Royal Brown and the Terzo Tempo. I don't know if styles change from country to country but I found the brown to taste more like a stout and my cream ale was REALLY light. This isn't to say that I didn't enjoy drinking them (well, the cream ale was a bit of a disappointment) but they provided a different taste profile than I was anticipating. I experienced all of this while sitting at the bar (the perfect vantage point, in my opinion). If in Rome and in need of a pasta/pizza break, head to 4:20. The bro vibe is real but such could/should be expected when eating angus beef burgers and drinking craft beer.
*I told you it would be used more than once. I told you.