AloTiCo - Degusteria — Restaurant in Tivoli

Best of the Best! Italian tapas, perfecto!! More than any other country, Italy's food is a tourist "destination" in itself. So for a restaurant to stand out, it has to be really special. AloTiCo is one of those places. 50 minutes by train from Rome, Tivoli is a delightful day trip. Our highlight turned out to be a leisurely, multi-course meal at AloTiCo. The small-plate format is ideal, exploring many flavors in one sitting. Not a single plate missed. Even the house focaccia was outstanding: fresher, lighter, and tastier than any I've ever had. A particular stand-out was the pork belly special. Its combination of pork, watercress, and spices was entirely unexpected and worked so well; it was one of those "I can't believe I've never tasted that before!" eureka bites, the kind you can count on one hand over a lifetime. Everyone in our group are self-proclaimed wine experts but we left ourselves in their hands and this did not disappoint -- there is no wine list, just let Alessia select pairings for you. The one-room setting manages to feel both upscale and relaxed simultaneously. We had a two-family party of 8 and it worked out great. My daughter loved the swing-set seats at her table. The space is small & cozy, and deservingly popular, so reserving in advance is a must. We were able to do that just a few days in advance, in April, but by summer tourist season that might become more difficult. It is a destination,...

This restaurant is such a pleasant surprise! The whole philosophy of trying small portions of food (hence the name Degusteria) is refreshing and a perfect change from a regular dining experience. It's true that portions are quite mini, and maybe a bit overpriced, but since the food is so flavourful and rich in ingredients it's also sufficient to order just 2-3 dishes so in the end also the prices are reasonable. Menu is interesting and since the combination of flavours works it delivers on its promise. The place is cosy, very retro and vintage and consistent in its style; music, plates, glases and cutlery, how the staff is dressed, furniture, every single detail makes it clear that real thought and attention went into it, it's not just a superficial intention to make something different without really committing to it and resulting fake in the end. This place is real in every sense and that's what I appreciate. And last but not least, great selection of cocktails, beer and vine. Next time I'll definitely try...

The place was incredible, I was visiting Tivoli and walked around trying to find somewhere that was hospitable and comforting. I saw the signs. Outside saying there was food available and didn’t think twice due to the decor and atmosphere.

I then went on to ask the chef what kind of food was being served, and proceeded to wait for the hostess.

Alessia made sure to explain exactly what everything contained and also highlighted the allergens accordingly, made my evening incredible by telling me a few stories about the place and the best part was the food was phenomenal.

I would highly recommend to both locals...