Mark T.
Yelp
The experience at Ciao Roma wasn't dreadful; however, it was so underwhelming that I don't think three stars will cut it.
I had the opportunity to try:
- Bruschetta
- Fusilli alla Vodka (with Ricotta option)
- Maple Cheesecake
Bruschetta = I am reminded of a Scotty quote in Star Trek TNG: "Laddie, I was drinking Scotch a hundred years before you were born. And I can tell you that whatever this is, it is definitely not Scotch."
On the one hand, I have not been eating bruschetta for over 100 years. However, I think I have the wherewithal to say: "whatever this is, it is definitely not bruschetta."
I don't know what they did with the tomatoes, but they were as sweet as though they were fruit! (Disclaimer: I know tomatoes are botanically fruits, I am speaking in the culinary sense. Also, bite me!) This sweetness completely overtook the delicate interplay for flavors in a typical bruschetta. Any acidic or herb notes were lost.
Furthermore, the bread was disappointing. It lacked any substance or personality. It was a soft white loaf that did nothing but attempt to hold the tomatoes.
Finally, there was the burrata. This was a nice touch, but considering the star of the show was outside smoking a cigarette instead of being on stage, it was too little, too late. It also doesn't help that it was a little oversalted.
Fusilli alla Vodka = This dish was the was the highlight of the evening, with its simple yet well-executed preparation. The pasta was cooked to a perfect al-dente, and the vodka sauce was enjoyable. The pomodoro and breadcrumbs were nice touches, however, I would have preferred their presence be just a smidge more pronounced.
The option of adding some homemade Ricotta was superb! It was of fantastic quality and added a whole new dimension to the dish. However, four dollars for a dollop of ricotta seems a little excessive. Then there was the parmesan that was offered by the server. I thought he would come back with a hand-grater loaded with a proper slice of Parmigiano Reggiano. Instead, I was given a small dish with pre-shredded cheese. I have to be honest; I am not sure if this is proper Parmigiano Reggiano, or the stuff from the ubiquitous green cylinder! Come on, folks! Olive Garden uses a rotary grater above your plate!
For dessert, I was able to try the Maple Cheesecake. Alas, we are back in dull territory. The cheesecake was nothing to write home about, so much so I enjoyed the sauced bits of dough scattered about the plate more than the cheesecake itself! The gelato was pleasant, but not enough to salvage the dish. As a final nail in the coffin, the whole plate was cold, evidence of the dessert being premade and refrigerated along with the plate. Not exactly the peak of freshness.
Some miscellaneous notes:
Atmosphere: Ciao Roma does a fine job in creating a relaxing and somewhat romantic vibe. However, the soft rock playing cuts against that. Whoever made this decision... why?!
Service: The service here was knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. Food did not take very long to come out either.
Prices/value: Other than $4 for a ping-pong ball-sized helping of Ricotta, I felt their prices were more-or-less in line with what I'd expect in the North End. The portion sizes were also large enough to be comfortably satiating.
Bread served at start: An echo of the bread with the bruschetta: uninspired soft, and crustless. Hey, oil was good though!
Thus, there was nothing about the experience to coax me into a return visit in the future. Even though the pasta dish was solid, it's the North End. There are plenty of respectable pastas to be had.
