A neighborhood restaurant with a straightforward yet refined feel, Da Michele--along with excellent seafood cuisine--offers a wine list that is truly surprising in quality and originality.
We are in the San Paolo neighborhood in Rome, the southern part of the capital, here Marco Pignotta with his family run Da Michele seafood restaurant with an amazing wine list that puts a lot of other, far more emblazoned Roman restaurants in line.
You don’t just happen to be here, you have to come on purpose, but it is undoubtedly worth it. In the kitchen is Andrea, Marco’s brother. In the room Marco and his mom Luisa. Twenty-eight place settings, the slender and inviting menu written on a blackboard. The wine list, on the other hand, comes to your table and is quite a tome: lots of labels, unusual names and not “the usual stuff,” depth of vintages for some important wines, bottles from everywhere (nice selection of Champagne) and unexpectedly a great selection of red wines as well. Curiosity is woman, and I can’t help but ask Marco why. The answer? Simple: passionate about wine, Fisar sommelier likes to stop sometimes even after service to chat with customers, perhaps even over a piece of cheese or a slice of salami “hidden” in his beautiful wine cellar.
Here at Da Michele, a seafood restaurant in Rome, tradition at the stove starts with the grandmother who had a restaurant in the Piramide area, then his parents in 1991 opened Da Michele, named after Marco’s father, here in the San Paolo neighborhood.
A neighborhood restaurant with aneat ambiance, cosy, fresh flowers on the table and thoughtful service despite a room full on a Saturday lunchtime.
The delicious dishes: we tasted the Tempura Cod Bocconcini served with a homemade mayonnaise, the Fried Pumpkin Flower, golden and crispy, with a very neutral presentation but a filling of buffalo ricotta, zucchini and mint that was delicious. Among the first courses were the Spaghettoni, nice and al dente as they should be, with clams and crispy cabbage in a most pleasing contrast. The Risotto alla pescatora: masterful. Very fresh catch, nice “shelled” rice, cooked to perfection, and enveloping creaminess. We chose to drink a Vernaccia di San Gimignano Campo della Pieve del Colombaio di Santa Chiara that goes down a treat.
Don’t miss the desserts: the Profitterol with melted chocolate poured over on the spot-pure enjoyment-and a Lemon Passionfruit Cream with shortbread crumble and meringue.
Fair bill and especially incredibly affordable mark-up on wines: we spent 50 euros each. This neighborhood restaurant with a straightforward but sophisticated feel can easily be counted among the best seafood restaurants in Rome and a must-visit destination for lovers of good drinks.
