Ristorante Controluce — Restaurant in Rome

We were a last minute booking - and it was no problem. And this is because the owner runs the restaurant - it’s not a chain! And what a difference this makes!

From the personal story on the website, the bespoke fit out with stunning wallpaper and lovely timber beams/chandeliers, to the food and service. Wow - Controluce is a great find.

The restaurant was opening as we arrived, we met our host who was friendly and relaxed. Menus in English and Italian was a smart touch.

We could easily have chosen multiple dishes for antipasto, primi, secondi - as it was we mixed and matched from the daily specials and the standing menu - meatless meatballs, cacio et Pepe, and salmon with brussel sprouts. Each a wonderful dish - fresh ingredients, simply cooked.

We shared each dish, and the kitchen kindly plated each dish individually for us - a nicer touch than sharing from a single plate.

We took advice from the waitress on the wine - a grillo from Sicily - delicious.

We overindulged with dessert with the cannoli- delicious but more than we could finish.

If you want beautiful food, lovely wine, great service in a lovely intimate restaurant - run by the owner who cares - then Controluce is a must!

We...

I am knocking my head on the wall for not having discovered this place earlier. What a change of air after being mostly exposed to heavy and windowless Roman trattorias. The owner, an ex bank director Raimondo and his elegant wife run this tastefully furnished refined restaurant with delicious dishes prepared by their originally Argentinian but a long resident of Rome lady chef Nicci. The owner says he serves original dishes reinterpreted the neapolitan way. All dishes have special touch like their fried heart shaped shrimps or eggplant with cheese or cod fish with chickpeas puree .I have to admit the service, although extremely kind and friendly, is a bit slow but it does not cost them a star because it is a worthwhile wait when the finished products reach your table and puts you in bliss. Chocolate caprese cake is served lukewarm with fresh whipped cream . It has a separate room which can be rented for events and also an outside seating arrangement on good weather days. It is on a quiet side street parallel to viale Trastevere and only half hour walk from...

Appetizers were delicious, (kissing shrimp and the zucchini flowers)

Entrees were underwhelming, as the steak with chimichurri, though cooked perfectly was just that … a piece of meat on a plate with undressed salad. The other entree we had was in other words, chicken strips and potato wedges, the oil was turned up too high and were very over cooked and the breading was a lot darker than the other ones we seen go by later.

Dessert, fig semifreddo, as the one whom I presume to be the owner came out and recommended it (the word “our specialty” was used). When it came out it wasn’t semi it was just frozen. The waitress told me to wait a few minutes, but after 5 minutes I was just eating around a frozen core. The other dessert was lemon sorbet, this was delicious, light and refreshing to the palate.

I believe this restaurant is better on most nights, sadly they just missed the mark tonight.

I would recommend both appetizers and only avoid the...