Gli Ulivi

Fantastic place in Rome if you’re looking for something unique and off the beaten path. We were guided to this place by a nice waiter at a restaurant near the Colosseum when we asked him «where would you go out to eat.» It is a distance from the center of Rome but a Taxi, Metro to Flaminio and 20 minute walk, or a healthy walk after your tour of the Borghese Gallery and you can enjoy a great meal with locals. Service was exceptional; a waiter named Momi treated us like instant friends. The chef prepared us an 8 course tasting menu, which was not on the menu so it was very special. We tasted many items that were on the menu including a fried meatball, a meatball in Bloody Mary sauce, a steak tartar with great gastronomic sauces, a pumpkin gnocchi, the best pasta we’ve had in Rome, lambs prepared two ways, and then a special prepared pork neck dish with potato and spinach. The pork was not on the emenu but everything else was. It was all delicious, priced for locals not tourists and not overpriced for the swanky set. Atmosphere was fresh, modern, tasteful. It’s a beautiful place. This was just a fantastic evening capped off by a great dessert which was a coconut cream with white chocolate covering a biscuit with a superb raspberry reduction. We were served a small ricotta soup, chocolate, and cinnamon parfait before this main dessert. Wonderful blend of sweet but light flavors. All this sounds better in Italian, but no matter the language you speak, this is great food. Momi suggested a fantastic wine, a fine Pinot Nero. We ended the meal with a limoncello. We were welcomed by other diners, folks who seemed like regulars. Authentic, modern, truly Roman. This place is worth the extra steps it takes to get there from the center of Rome’s tourist haven.