La Ciambella Bar-à-Vin

Sunday in the historic center, Pantheon area. La Ciambella sits on a quiet little street, and the moment you walk in, it feels like a Moroccan riad. Soaring ceilings, well-spaced tables, everything wood and minimalism. Jazz fusion playing softly in the background, sparse clientele, relaxed vibe. It's a Michelin-listed place, so you already know you're going to spend.

We went mainly for the carbonara, which shows up on certain "best of Rome" lists. Spoiler: meh.

But first, the antipasti. Coda alla vaccinara in carrozza with celery mayo: decent but more street food than anything else, hence no cutlery. The maritozzo with creamed salt cod and lime, though—that's a winner. Creamy cod that melts like a cloud, pillowy soft maritozzo. Now that works.

Then the Roman pasta dishes arrive and here's where... well. The carbonara is technically sound, except the guanciale comes in paper-thin petals. Maybe the idea is flavor without texture, but the moment it hits the egg it wilts. Zero crunch. And the egg cream leans dry, not silky the way it should be.

The amatriciana is worse. Dense sauce with overcooked tomato tasting bitter and sweet, no fresh pelato brightness. The guanciale, those same thin petals, drowns in the sauce and becomes a stew. There's zero crispy contrast. Pecorino barely present, pepper nearly imperceptible. Nice touch though: they bring it with a mini bagel for mopping up.

Dessert is a mini fried ciambella with mascarpone and coffee jelly. Good, but the pairing doesn't quite land.

55 euros a head. Bread 5 euros but warm and decent. Michelin-level overpriced. For proper Roman food, go elsewhere. For a reinterpretation... I don't know, these dishes didn't deliver the wow factor you'd expect.