Social media may have many faults but without it I guess we would never have found the gem that is Retrobottega.
Situated on Via della Stelletta, not far from Piazza Navona. this self styled Food Lab is serving up amazing dishes in a contemporary space.
It doesn't take reservations but if you are lucky you can grab a seat at the bar which gives an up close view of the chefs in action.
Paper table mats, cutlery and plastic glasses are to be found in the drawer underneath your table and drinks are self service from the wine fridge.
We chose the very reasonably priced tasting menu and started with small plate appetisers of steamed pork sausage buns, puffed rice dusted with paprika, a cereal crisp with gorgonzola cream, endive with roasted chick peas and lemon & beetroot with truffle.
'Undergrowth', the signature dish was next.
Toasted nuts and sponge, funghi, truffle and radish, sprinked with a charcoal parmesan crumb.
This was followed by a very clever take on Vitello Tonnato - veal carpaccio with tuna cream & tuna 'biscuit' made with tuna skin.
My favourite dish followed - a 'risotto of dreams'. Very simple but oh so tasty. The flavourings were Szechuan pepper, lemon verbena & rocket.
The final dish was Amberjack, a pretty ugly deep water fish. The fillet was topped with breseola & rocket & finished off with extract of rocket.
We drank two white wines with the meal - a Grillo from Sicily and a local Frascati from Lazio.
We all agreed it was a truly outstanding lunch in a very relaxed atmosphere.
