LOCATIONIn the Cinecitta area, approximately 20 minutes’ drive from downtown Rome.
DETAILS Seating a miniscule 16 guests, Giuda Ballerino’s interiors are surprisingly simple. The lengthy, slender dining is light and airy, anchored with polished timber floorboards, chrome light fixtures, classic wooden table arrangements and quirky clusters of black-and-white hanging above leather-bound banquette seats. There is also a more informal osteria and wine bar adjacent run by the same owners.
FOOD & BEVERAGEPresentation is a core element of Giuda Ballerino’s distinction from fellow Roman eateries. Artful, modern and smaller in portion size, dishes here are in stark contrast to simple, rustic plating styles of traditional meals. Inventive antipasti may take the form of a warmed octopus tentacle served atop cold burrata cheese and an ever so light spread of blackened, smoky eggplant puree. East-meets-West flair creeps in among entrées such as foie gras terrine with whitefish, studded with tall savoury wafers, surrounded by drops of spicy apple reduction and dusted with candied walnuts. For primi piatti, taglioni alla carbonara – a classic Roman pasta sauce oozing with cream, cheese and ham and typically served with spaghetti – is piled high and sprinkled with shaved white truffle. Desserts are equally curious – take the gorgonzola crème brulee with red wine-glazed pears and crisped orange slices, or the passionfruit cheesecake with sea salt and black olives.