Vecchia Roma

Vecchia Roma Review

Though the frescoed dining rooms are lovely, the choice place to dine is outside on the piazza, under the big white umbrellas. After several decades, this is still considered one of the most solid spots on the Roman culinary scene, just the place to get acquainted with Roman cooking, upper-middle-class style. For appetizers, the seafood selection may include an assortment of fresh anchovies in vinegary goodness, seafood salad, or baby shrimp. Chef Raffaella generally doles out large portions, so select one of her wonderful pasta dishes or skip straight to the secondi. Though meat and vegetable dishes are on offer, seafood is the specialty, and simple southern Italian preparations, such as fresh white flaky fish in a potato crust with cherry tomatoes, are excellent no-fail choices. House-made fruit desserts provide a light(ish) finish to the meal, hopefully accompanied by a dramatic sunset over the 17th-century facade of Santa Maria in Campitelli.