Ai Balestrari In Roma

09/03/2026: Chosen for an informal dinner with a friend, the place looked good: a small, but cute and welcoming, basement setting. The staff was very kind and attentive, and I must say the appetizer of pseudo-pasta supplì (because they were basically a cross between supplì and pasta frittatas), and especially the homemade bread made by the chef, was both delicious and appreciated. The wine we chose and tasted, let's just say it didn't live up to its promise, but this, unfortunately, was somewhat of a distraction for the rest of the dinner. The two first courses we chose also looked really good upon arrival (I don't remember my friend's first course exactly, but he complained that it was overcooked). I love spaghetti aglio e olio, and indeed they were presented beautifully and fragrantly, and they also tasted truly pleasant, but as with the wine, the problem arose after dinner (let's just say digestion wasn't smooth and the acidity gave my stomach a hard time). The apple pie to finish was beautifully presented and pleasantly flavorful, though its texture and firmness were greater than those of all the other apple pies I've generally tasted. The offer of a complimentary liqueur with the bill was very kind, but in my opinion it was a bit too steep for a place that advertises itself on social media as averaging between €20 and €30, and then shows up with a bill of over €100 for two. Ultimately, as I said before, this is a nice place with excellent staff and a lovely, quiet, and relaxing atmosphere. In my humble opinion, the ingredients, or perhaps their preparation, need to be improved, especially since the presentation is flawless, but they shouldn't be too overwhelming. The bill was too high. Good evening, Mr. Owner, A clarification: I'm pleased you took the time to respond to my review, in which I tried to be precise and unbiased... but the information must be accurate. The wine we ordered wasn't a Primitivo di Manduria at all, which, having a wife from Puglia, I know well, but simply a Cesanese for €22-24 a bottle. We chose it because it was supposed to be a good red, not too full-bodied or heavy for the evening, and a good compromise to accompany my spaghetti aglio d'olio and my friend's dish, which also included clams or mussels (I honestly can't remember what he chose). Without wanting to be too specific, the information must be provided correctly... believe me, if I had chosen expensive wines or unusual or particularly refined dishes, I wouldn't have complained about the price. I appreciated your clarification on how prices are assigned for information, and I was certainly incorrect in identifying food information sites as "social"... I didn't mean to offend or disparage. And believe me, I was more disappointed in not feeling well during the digestive phase, because at the time of consumption, I had really enjoyed the aforementioned spaghetti, so one of two things: either the wine or the pasta... one of these things played a dirty trick on me... I hope I've been clear this time, and in any case, I respectfully bid you farewell and thank you for the service, which I had already praised previously. I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors. Kind regards,

13/02/2026: The puntarelle were exceptional! Excellent carbonara, paired with a lovely glass of red wine recommended by the friendly and helpful manager. I'll definitely be back!