Centro Bistrot & Cocktail Bar in Rome, Italy

Posted by Rowena Dumlao Rowena Dumlao - Giardina 8/06/2018

Centro Bistrot & Cocktail Bar in Rome, Italy

An air of novelty hits Centro Bistrot in Via Cavour. Two years after its opening, the four partners and friends of Centro Bistrot, Manuel Hassan, Amos Halfon, Daniel Camerini and Giulio Glam, give the direction to one of their most admired chefs, Salvatore Testagrossa. A chef who had a vast professional experience in different kitchens in France, England and his native Italy. After finishing his working stints at some of the capital's well-known restaurants, Baccano, La Zanzara and Vos, he made Centro his new home.  

This time, the menu is emphasizing on handmade fresh pasta that Chef Testagrossa prepares daily in the open pasta laboratory where the diners can also watch the preparation of the dough, and discover the secrets of making the perfect fresh pasta. Having inherited the great passion of creating homemade pasta from his mother, he continues to refine his skills in mixing and kneading the dough. Thirty eggs to 1 kilo of flour: with this ratio, Chef Testagrossa finds the right elasticity and color to the pasta dough that he uses for fettuccelle, tonnarelli, ravioli and gnocchi.

  Centro is open daily from 8:30 in the morning until midnight. Start the day with a rich international breakfast with sandwiches, croque madame and croque monsieur served with potato chips or eat what the Italians do when they wake up with artisan croissants, bread, butter, jams and home-style cakes. Sunday brunches are more special and elaborate than the daily breakfast options.  

The menu for lunch and dinner epitomizes the kitchen concept of Chef Testagrossa with a cuisine based on seasonality and tradition. For starters, try the Meatballs with the Traditional Roman Sauce (€8), or the 3 kinds of Crostini topped with the burrata of Andria plus other toppings (€4.50 to €5 each). The beef tartare with capers, anchovies and olives is also worth mentioning (€14), as well as the tuna tartare with buffalo stracciatella cheese, raspberry vinegar and red berries (€13).  

You shouldn't skip the pasta dishes with freshly-made pasta like the Pumpkin Gnocchi with Gricia Sauce (€13), the Truffle and Ricotta Cheese Ravioli with Artichokes (€15) or the Squid Ink Tonnarelli with Cacio cheese, pepper and prawns (€13). For the ones looking for traditional flavors, plates of Mezze Maniche with Amatriciana Sauce or Carbonara Sauce, both at €13, are must-haves on the table.  

The main courses are not to be missed as well like the Spare Ribs Cacio e Pepe with Vegetables (€20), or the Beef Cheek with Potatoes and Cream (€15). There are also faster options like the Hamburger with 180 grams of beef and delicious fillings (€16), or a Vegan Burger (€13) and even a Fish Burger of salmon in black bread (€14).  

A section of the menu is also dedicated to fried food of fish pancakes, some fried bites and croquettes including supplì, a typical Roman rice croquette which cost between €3.50 to €7. There is also an interesting selection of platters of salumi and cheese between €8 to €12 while the platter of mixed cold cuts and cheese costs €20. The desserts (€7 to €8) that are created by Pastry Chef Irene Corbucci are irresistible like the Maritozzetto with Tiramisù, or the Black Chocolate Sphere with Bailey's Cream and Hazelnut Crumble.   

To accompany the dishes of Chef Testagrossa, the wine list has eighty Italian labels from small to large producers. Cocktails are becoming quite popular to pair with dinner dishes as well part of an aperitif and Centro has some great proposals created by their Head Barman Fabio Fedele with the collaboration of Barlady Simona Giampaolo.