Osteria da Vicenzo Via Castelfidardo Roma

by Mary Collier
(Nevada City CA)

I so enjoy your monthly posts about your favorite places in Italy. I, too, love Sardinia and Piedmont and look forward to my next visit to my favorite hotel in Sardinia, Su Barchile, which I reviewed for your website.

I wish to let your readers know about one of my favorite neighborhood osterias in Rome, a small but perfect place called Da Vicenzo. This unpretentious restaurant specializes in fish which of course, being Italian, is incredibly fresh and simply prepared letting the ingredients speak for themselves.

Spigola con patate al forno is amazing, their spaghetti con vongole has the freshest, tiniest clams and a perfect combination of olive oil, garlic and white wine.

Perhaps the real treats at this family owned osteria come at the beginning and the end of the meal. The antipasto includes a delicate insalata di riso with tiny pink shrimp, slivers of salmon colored cantaloupe and pale shards of celery; heavenly batter fried zucchini blossoms in season and fresh, marinated alici.

At the end of the evening either Vicenzo or his son brings the traditional bottle of limoncello which is poured gratis for your enjoyment and if you're lucky, the proprietor or his son will join you for a drink and a fascinating conversation about all things Italian.

My husband and I have been dining at Da Vicenzo for the last fifteen years every time we are in Rome and it never disappoints!

Thanks for listening!

Mary
Nevada City, CA

Andrews reply: It sounds absolutely fantastic, next time I am in Rome I will definitely try it. Thank you so much for sharing.