Anneke D.
Yelp
What an ideal romantic lunch spot! We were tempted to try the place across the street, as it had good reviews and was recommended by our Airbnb host, but something about La Tavernetta 48 drew us in. Perhaps it was the menu and the hole-in-the-wall feel, and the lack of restaurant guide stickers on the windows.
The setting was quaint but seemed unfinished, with few frames set against the stone and white walls, and lighting that was unfortunately fluorescent. We were ushered into the dining room to the right of the entrance, filled with locals but for two visiting priests. The entrance, by the way, was not entirely obvious. We had to double check ourselves to make sure we weren't entering the kitchen directly, or worse: someone's home.
We ordered quickly then sat back and listened to the priests' banter. Too bad there wasn't a common dining table--we would have loved to participate in their theological discussion!
I suspected the portions would be Italian--that is, particularly filling--but my partner and I ordered a grilled veggie antipasto plate to split all the same. We didn't actually get around to finishing it before the main dishes came, and we certainly couldn't finish it after we started tucking into our pasta (we had been so wise, too: we had refused the bread!). The vinegary button mushrooms were the best part of the assortment. I would have sprinkled some on my pasta had there been more (I have a thing for mushrooms).
In preparation for my cacio e pepe, and to complement the grilled zucchini and red pepper, I ordered a glass of crisp white wine: the perfect, refreshing choice.
The cacio e pepe was magnificent, with pepper sprinkled decoratively onto the white bowl's lip. It was just the right amount of creamy, the right amount of black pepper, and zesty and tangy to the last bite.
My fiancé's lasagna came in its own cast iron dish, still bubbling from the oven. This was perhaps the freshest, creamiest lasagna I have tasted. I regret only finding this place on our last day, otherwise I would have come back and ordered this myself. Maybe with a side of mushrooms.
The wait staff was lovely, too--full of smiles and ready to banter. I'll be back here on my next trip to Rome.