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Restaurant: Pastificio Sanlorenzo in Rome

The events on my agenda for tonight were two art openings, both outside the historic city centre, in the young, artsy and hip area of San Lorenzo. San Lorenzo, heavily bombarded during the Second World War, was almost entirely rebuilt from the ground, it's architecture quite plane and monotonous. Today, still associated with communists, hippies and bohemians, the area's many restaurants, bars, cafes, galleries and piazzas are flooded with students, musicians, artists and locals. It's a very different atmosphere, and is a place that, frankly, feels more like Barcelona than Rome.

After seeing the second art show, and meeting the wonderfully personable, charming Jan Stradtmann at his vernissage at Bloo Gallery (more about this tomorrow, I promise), I was absolutely famished and in need of a nice glass of wine. We decided to look no further than Via Tiburtina, and stepped into the first restaurant we saw: it happened to be Pastificio Sanlorenzo.

I'm too tired to write about the exhibitions tonight, but I feel like I have to share this new discovery with everyone, because it's truly phenomenal. Remember how I said San Lorenzo felt like Barcelona? Well, Pastificio Sanlorenzo feels like … a café in Paris. Beautiful, tasteful, chic. Large, airy, and full of natural light; in the evenings the mood is set with dim, romantic lighting; Coltrane playing softly in the background; beautiful furniture with a few delightful touches like vintage pommel horses; restaurant with an open kitchen; possibility of indoor and outdoor seating; impressive wine list and pleasant waiters floating in and out of the kitchen, carrying gastronomical works of art. Noteworthy too, are the two young Chefs running Pastificio Sanlorenzo: Fulvio Penta (student of Nazzareno Menghini, Hotel De Russie, student of Antonello Colonna, Open Colonna and Stefano Preli of Pastificio San Lorenzo) and Fabio Pecelli (Ristorante Reale, student of Nico Romito, Giuda Ballerino and student of Riccardo Di Giacinto, Ristorante All'Oro).

I stayed just for an aperitivo, however the food was exquisite and beautifully presented: Fried anchovies with an herbal dip, warm foccaccia stuffed with prosciutto crudo and figs, supplì al telefono, chips 'Cacio e Pepe' and a glass of red or white wine. Delightful. I did not stay for dinner, but it looked beautiful: steak tartar, gnocchetti with clams, zucchini and squid, Vanilla crème brûlée with an apple and cinnamon ragout.

The prices are quite high, the crowd elegant and beautiful. Needless to say, I'm coming back for dinner very soon.