Il Pagliaccio, Rome, 12/12/15

exterior
exterior

A smaller place with less than 12 tables and divided into several rooms. Some of the servers were a bit aloof. It is one of the places that serves women a menu with no prices. We sat in a room of 2-tops that were occupied by a number of other English speaking guests. They offer 8 or 10 course tasting menus as well as a la carte. A nice touch was the warm wet cloth before you started your meal. Everyone starts with a couple amuse bouche. Some of the courses were outstanding but others just did not meld. The chef did come out at the end of the evening to chat with guests.

table set up
table set up
interior
interior
water menu
water menu
Frankie liked the table flower
Frankie liked the table flower
amuse: potato foam with smoked eel. Good
amuse: potato foam with smoked eel. Good
Fried monk fish with sweet adn sour sauce. Really nice
Fried monk fish with sweet adn sour sauce. Really nice
inside
inside
menu cover
menu cover
menu 1
menu 1
menu 2
menu 2
menu 3
menu 3
menu 4
menu 4
menu 5
menu 5
menu 5
menu 6
tomato biscuit - amazingly thin with a bit of spice. Very tasty
tomato biscuit – amazingly thin with a bit of spice. Very tasty
Caramelized pumpkin - mostly tasteless
Caramelized pumpkin – mostly tasteless
wine
wine
As served
As served
Yogurt cream with chestnut beer foam - Yes!
Yogurt cream with chestnut beer foam – Yes!
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Steamed bread with rose on top. Nice meld of sweet, salt, dough and rose flavor.
As served
As served
Dark taco with escarole. Fried dark pasta was tough. Just okay
Dark taco with escarole. Fried dark pasta was tough. Just okay
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Mortadella and pistachio. A perfect little package of whipped mortadella and cream; tender and light
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bread choices: olive oil flat bread, sticks, ?, brown seed, walnut. All house made by pastry chef
my choices
my choices
Frankie liked the bread sticks
Frankie liked the bread sticks
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Beans, codfish and broth. Broth not too flavorful but beans cooked perfectly and the crunchies on the side were a nice touch. Cod slightly gummy. Not the best course but acceptable. The spoon didn’t fit the bowl well.
close up
close up
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Oyster with beet root cream and dallop of coffee and frozen foie gras. Not sure the flavors blended that well but the coffee and foie gras left a nice taste in your mouth but overall a lesser effort.
close up
close up
Carmelized scallop with bone marrow and smoked s
Carmelized scallop with bone marrow and smoked s
close up
close up
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Dark spaghetti and Chilean sea snails with sea urchin granita. Snails really small with a nice chew. Fun course.
wine
wine
Pork tortellini with Andouille and Broccoli Rabe. Excellent!
Pork tortellini with Andouille and Broccoli Rabe. Excellent!
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Red mullet, red carrots, baby carrot, carrot reductions is brown blob at top of plate. Good. Whole carrot was a tad tart from the rub. The elements were all good but didn’t seem to blend.
closer look
closer look
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Saffron and potato cream, served with mullet. Nice but again detached from the main course.
Frankie played in the cotton in the bathroom
Frankie played in the cotton in the bathroom
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Lamb with dark garlic, artichoke, and red cabbage. Again, good tastes but they don’t seem to compliment each other. (Served with lamb kidney)
lamb kidney
lamb kidney
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Caramelized and fresh pear, goat cheese foam, milk ice cream, cereal, Kafir chips and sge jelly. Nice pear
napkin change - wonder why but these had cute logo
napkin change – wonder why but these had cute logo
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Palate cleanser: green apple sorbet, pineapple cream and rose drops. This time it all works together.
Frankie wanted to cleanse her palate
Frankie wanted to cleanse her palate
Bear Creek ice cream with "Ovaltine" like coating, beer foam, and cherries
Bear Creek ice cream with “Ovaltine” like coating, beer foam, and cherries
Extra treats
Extra treats
Frankie thought the treats were a winner
Frankie thought the treats were a winner
Chef Anthony Genovese with Charles
Chef Anthony Genovese with Charles

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