Il Pagliaccio - Rome

Il Pagliaccio, named for the weeping clown, is a winning balance of elegance, even formality, and casual warmth. The area, between the Corso Vittorio Emanuele II and the Tiber, is charmingly characteristic of the not-so-heavily touristed areas of Rome. The two dining rooms joined by an arched doorway featured checkered tiled floors, traditional wooden ceiling, one with stone paneling the other with a blood-red brocade wall, indirect lighting, white table linens, leather chairs, restrained original artwork. The two chefs, for whom Il Pagliaccio is a labour of passionate attachment to this great city and its culinary tradition, have worked all over the globe and bring a sense of discovery to their creations. Even so, the Mediterranean is the main inspiration here, and the things that swim in it. Starters include starter of brandade of salt code with potato rolls and crisp spring vegetable salad, pasta course of cuttlefish cannelloni filled with artichokes and Granny Smith apple salad, main of lightly-smoked roast duck in asian broth with shitake and tapioca, and dessert of mango beignet in yoghurt and rose water soup. Nearly 150 wines populate the list. Sampling menu available.