Trattoria Pennestri

This may be a trattoria by name and the philosophy is totally in line with that, but walking in, you can't help but notice the warm lighting, wine shelf display and cute details synonymous with a wine bar or gourmet bistrot. Dynamic duo Tommaso Pennestri and Valeria Payero run the show here - she has Argentinian heritage and takes charge of the floor, while he Italo-Danish and is in the kitchen. They share a common ideal in that here, the fusion of contemporary technique, traditional roman cuisine and high-quality seasonal produce melds to perfection. Their signature starter is an ode to the local 'real' cuisine of offal with coratella - pan fried innards served with lemon scents and salted ricotta but for the less adventurous, seafood and vegetarian starters are on the list too. It's hard to choose when it comes to their 'primi' (pasta dishes) - think gnochetti made with flour and water and served with a cream of scampi sauce and straciatella; papardelle with salt cod; and past with chicory, olives, lentils and wild fennel. Suckling pig, lamb and the most succulent 'polpette di bollito' are up for mains, the latter are broiled meat-come-rissoles, crumbed and fried. If still none of this tickles your fancy, all the roman classics are on the menu too. Desserts are made in house and the tiramisu` has a hint of rum that gives it a nice kick and the creamy chocolate mousse served with sea salt, olive oil and crispy sardinian flat bread (pan carasau) is sweet, salty and crunchy - they get it so right. The wine selection has a good run of Lazio labels which is always nice to see and the friendly staff are only too happy to help you choose well to match your dishes. Located a short walk from Rome's Piramide (both the name of Cestius' pyramid and the train station) in the Ostiense neighborhood which is growing in popularity for its gastronomic delights, Trattoria Pennestri fits right it! METRO: Piramide