Piazza delle Copelle 44, Rome Near the Pantheon
It's been a long day and I ended my trip from Ostia Antica witjh a long walk from Statzione Termini. I also got lost.
Tonight I am settling for a local joint since my feet are about to fall off. I passed by Maccheroni last night and saw a guy eating a beef filet on arugula. After seeing I decided I had to have it.
Before I get to my beef I am having the Rigatoni Amatriciana (€9). Amaticiana is a tomato based sauce with bacon and dried chili peppers. The menu also said it had goat cheese but I think they got their animal translation wrong. I believe they meant sheeps cheese or a Romano type.
The pasta dish is yummy but nothing spectacular. What else can you do with a tomato based pasta sauce? Hey, add goat cheese!
The beef filet with arugula came as my second course (€18). It was a generous amount of meat and I asked for it medium rare. I forgot that standards here are "one off" from American standards. My meat was served on the rare side. It was a bit bloody. What the heck does rare look like, a live cow? Regardless it was pretty good meat and a genrous portion.
To end my meal I am skipping dessert and having a glass of an Italian Amaro called "Montenegro". This is pretty much a drink you can only find in Italy. Montenegro is a perfumed type after dinner drink which tastes somewhat like geranium. It's sort of floral and like drinking aromatherapy. I don't think everyone would like this but it's quite interesting. I have to find me a bottle to take home.
Maccheroni is a decent choice in the area of the Pantheon. It's also pretty easy to find. Personally, considering the hype I read about this place, I didn't think it was worth the price. Most of the menu items are a few bucks higher then typical.
I also arrived at Maccheroni a bit late and got a table in the basement. The basement is well lighted but smells a bit dank. It's not too bad but personally I would skip it, unless you really have to eat here.
Service was prompt and friendly. Although I felt the waiters were rushed, they were easy to catch as needed.
Total bill €32 ($42) including the charge for bread (they always charge for the bread, so eat it!), 1/4 carafe of house wine and water.
This was the most expensive meal I have had and also my least favorite.
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