Rosina Cucina di Casa

Farnese area, heading towards Trastevere. We ended up there almost by accident, a table outside, lovely evening. Rosina Cucina di Casa — the name says it all, or at least tries to.

Let's start with the fiori di zucca because that's where things got a bit controversial. Twelve euros for three pieces. Four euros a flower. Small ones, at that. Except they were genuinely good, well-made, and eventually I stopped doing the math. Still, that portion is a bit stingy, let's be honest.

The carbonara came with spaghettoni, creamy, loaded with egg and pecorino. Good. Only the pasta was cooked a minute too long — you can tell, it changes everything. And the guanciale: in your mouth it was either rubbery or hard, never crispy. A shame, because the flavor was there.

The amatriciana had an aftertaste that felt slightly sweet, which didn't sit right with me. Not enough pecorino, soft guanciale. Pleasant, but it's a different beast from what you'd expect.

Ah, the tiramisu. They bring it to you on one of those Bormioli plates from 1980s bars — not sure if it's an aesthetic choice or just habit. Anyway, it was good, middle-of-the-road, nothing to write home about.

The service, though, is spot on. Friendly guys, attentive, they make you feel welcome. And twenty-six euros a head for all of this, well, that works.

Will we go back? Yes.