When in Rome, eat as the Romans do and Renato e Luisa is just the kind of authentic Roman dining experience that you’re looking for….
It is the kind of restaurant (taverna officially) you might not notice when walking by, but looks can be deceiving. Step inside Renato e Luisa, just behind Largo di Torre Argentina, for a relaxing, authentic and affordable Roman meal. There are two rooms of simple tables covered in light brown gingham tablecloths. The smaller room next to the kitchen feels cozier with just a few tables and a fireplace filled with cookbooks.
After listening to our waiter slowly and patiently recite the nightly specials in Italian (he didn’t speak English), the seabass with puntarelle was hard to resist. (Puntarelle,resembling a dandelion and a member of the chicory family, is grown outside Rome.)
But first came an amazing plate of stuffed zucchini flowers. This is a house specialty and the restaurant offers cooking lessons (which can be privately scheduled) in how to make them and other dishes. Next up was another house specialty, fettucine with cherry tomatoes and buffalo ricotta, which was simple and satisfying. For the carnivore, there are some excellent choices including filet mignon with a port wine reduction and thinly sliced beef tenderloin.
The restaurant is open for dinner at 8:30 p.m. every night except Monday. Reservations recommended. Since a number of restaurants in Rome are closed on Sunday night, it is of note that Renato e Luisa is not one of them. And where better to spend a relaxing Sunday evening!
By Kathy McCabe
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