Jon F.
Yelp
The Best! I've been in Rome for 3 days and have had a number of decent, but eventually disappointing dining experiences. Tonight was my last night, so I looked on Yelp to find an amazing restaurant. I wanted to go out with a bang. I found Lagana and read the excellent reviews, paying attention to their high overall rating.
I went in without knowing what to expect, but Lagana blew me away! First, I ordered the Buffalla mozzarella. They brought out bread with the appetizer, which was a nice touch. The mozzarella was great, of course, but the surprise all star was the Picadilly tomatoes that came with it. They were simply sliced in half, so I cut one in half again, cut off a piece of mozz, and put it on the bread. Heaven! The tomatoes were the best I've ever had. Every tomato before now doesn't compare. They were the perfect flavor, probably because the owner gets them fresh. He's big on fresh ingredients.
Then, for my dinner, I got the porcini risotto. I love good risotto. The best I've had was in Florence, and I've been searching for a competitor ever since. I had a decent risotto yesterday, but it wasn't a contender. I'm proud to say that Lagana's risotto is truly amazing! I don't know if it's better than the one I found in Florence, but it's a close match. It's more like Ali-Foreman now instead of Ali-Frazier.
Last, I had the tiramisu. I love good tiramisu. Again, the best I've had was in Florence at a place called Rivoire, but Lagana has very good tiramisu. The only problem with it is that I think they soak the ladyfingers too long. Other than that, it was great.
The Prosecco I had was delicious, as was the bread. Also, the owner was truly wonderful. He checked on me a few times and was fun to talk to. He genuinely cares that his guests enjoy their meal. He is constantly rearranging tables and talking to the locals. I get the feeling that Lagana has some very loyal locals based on the friendly way that many of the patrons talked with the owner. It seems like that neighborhood hole-in-the-wall that all the locals love and don't broadcast it too much.
Lagana was fantastic, and I highly recommend it. It is a bright spot for dining in the Eternal City.