Lunch at Da Tonino

Of all Rome's wonderful restaurants, Bill and I keep finding ourselves going back to Da Tonino.

When we first arrived in Rome the weather was cool so we ate indoors by the open windows. But the temperature went up and stayed up and the dining action moved outdoors.

These days, at the stroke of noon, Ronnie, server for 24 years and Francesca, the owner, appear at their door to survey the waiting tables.

This is what Bill and I want to see -- an empty table. We say, "Posso? (May I?)", we get the nod and sit. All this lovely seating used to be parking.

In Italy, ordering the food in consultation with the server, is a serious business. I'll just mention here I've become partial to the rucola and pomodori (rocket and tomato) salad, written at bottom right.

A simple salad, a drink. Simple is best.

Insalata rucola e pomodori

Pasta Melanzane (with eggplant)

Pasta carbonara (with egg, pecorino cheese and guanciale (pig's cheek).

Ravioli stuffed with ricotta and spinach in sage butter.

Tonino does a lovely rabbit (cognilio -- can you remember how to pronounce it from our Augusto post? co-KNEE-lee-oh). A good word to learn.

Here's another test from our Augusto post: how do we ask for roast potatoes? Patate arrosto. That's not so hard.

Bill and I had been mispronouncing this bitter green: cicoria. We had been stressing the "or", so it sounded like Chick Corea: the jazz musician. The server at Augusto gently corrected us -- it's chi-KOR-ee-ah.

Today is Friday and the special at Tonino is cod (baccalà).

Bill had it last Friday and we made a point of returning today for another helping.

When I went inside to pay, I stuck my head into the kitchen and thanked the chef. Abbiamo mangiato bene, come sempre (We have eaten well, as always!)

Thank you Francesa! Long may you rule at Via Governo Vecchio, 18!