Ristorante Da Barbara Rome, Italy Restaurant Review
Location
Ristorante da Barbara is located in the center of Campo de’ Fiori square in Rome, Italy. This lively piazza is the perfect place to hang out, grab a drink, and enjoy some prime people-watching. On certain days of the week, local markets set up their booths to sell fresh produce, flowers, and more. Ristorante da Barbara is open Tuesday through Sunday starting at 11:00 AM.
Type of Restaurant + Menu
Ristorante da Barbara is a charming restaurant serving classic Neopolitan and Roman dishes. Walking up you will find red and white checkered table clothes with lights dancing around the room. Fresh flowers add some simple decor to the tables. One thing I noticed was that there wasn’t a gentleman standing by the menu bartering you in. The food and decor speak for themselves. Ristorante da Barbara focuses on true traditional Neopolitan dishes and cooking techniques.
We had the pleasure of speaking with Barbara and she explained that they are true to the traditional cuisines. You will not get the “Italian” spaghetti and meatballs most Americans are used to. The Neopolitan and Roman chefs will not make those cliche dishes because that is not true to the traditional dishes they grew up on. If you are looking for genuine Neopolitan and Roman cuisine with high-quality ingredients, Ristorante da Barbara is the place to visit!
What We Ordered
Bruschetta Trio – €12.00
Cherry Tomato | Lard | Smoked Salmon
We started our Neopolitan meal with some fresh bruschetta. Three perfectly toasted crostinis were topped with traditional marinated tomatoes, smoked salmon, a new one to me, lard. Lard is the fatty portion of a pig that is described as Italian charcuterie. It was soft, salty, and absolutely delicious with some olive oil.
Homemade Gnocci – €11.00
Growing up, I would have gnocchis for dinner in the cold months, it was such a comfort dish in our house. I chose to try some fresh homemade gnocchi by the Neoplaitn chef. The gnocchi’s were absolutely amazing with a soft exterior and a tender interior. The sauce was quite unique with a simple tomato base with a provola cheese. It had an almost gooey texture that hugged each and every soft potato pillow.
If you are unfamiliar with gnocchi it is an Italian pasta with potato being the main ingredient. It is the Italian version of a dumpling.
Pasta with Muscels & Eggplant – €13.00
The Neopolitan pasta with muscles and eggplant was my favorite dish. The fun-shaped pasta was al dente and added a nice texture to the mix of seafood deliciousness. Fresh tomatoes mingled throughout the dish adding hints of freshness and acidity. The eggplant soaked up the sauteed juices and packed a punch of flavor.
Homemade Meatballs – €12.00
To add some needed protein to our pasta dishes we ordered some homemade meatballs. These were quite different than what I had expected in the sense of how we make Italian meatballs in the United States. These were simple without the added Italian herbs and a crispy exterior. A side of sauteed chicory rested below, which was another new bite for me. It had the texture of spinach but with tender stems and a bitter spicy flavor.
Rating
San Giorgio Tour and Lunch – Venice, Italy
