Il Ristorante Ad Hoc | Rome (IT)

A very recommendable restaurant in Rome and not only for wine and truffle lovers!
Authentic, quality, Roman / Mediterranean cuisine!

The restaurant is located in a 15th century building between Piazza di Spagna, Via dei Condotti and Piazza del Popolo in the beautiful city of Rome (Italy).

Il Ristorante Ad Hoc has two themes: wine and truffle, both are really obvious as soon as you enter the restaurant. An intimate, romantic atmosphere, which is enhanced by all the wine bottles filling the walls and truffles are on display, showing off some beautiful black and white truffles.
The restaurants has 50 couverts, a wine cellar containing more than 1000 wines and a small shop on the first floor with truffles, truffle spreads and much more truffles on offer.

There is an à la carte menu, but you really want to try one of tasting menu’s. There are four tasting menu’s on offer: di Terra (Land), di Mare (Sea), Romano (Roman) priced at € 65,00 (with wine pairing € 79,00) and al Tartufo (Truffle) with choice of white or black truffle priced at € 95,00 (with wine pairing € 125,00).
We chose the Land and Roman tasting menu with wine pairing (of course).

With the appetiser we were served a complementary glass of prosecco.

Fiore di zucca con ricotta di bufala e funghi chiodini
Courgette flower with buffalo ricotta and chiodini mushrooms
Involtino di pasta fillo con prosciutto e burrata di bufala
Filo pastry with prosciutto ham and buffalo burrata
Tartare di filetto di manzo con maionese agli asparagi
Fillet of beef tartare with asparagus mayonnaise

Fiore di zucca in pastella con ricotta di bufala e basilico
Courgette flower in batter with buffalo ricotta and basil
Involtino di pasta fillo con prosciutto e burrata di bufala
Filo pastry with prosciutto ham and buffalo burrata
Praline di baccalà su passatina di ceci e rosmarino
Praline of cod with chickpea and rosemary

Carbonara al “cubo”: degustazione di tre diverse carbonare: classica con guanciale
stagionato nelle nostre cantine, parmigiano reggiano, pecorino e uovo; quella ai
funghi di stagione e quella al tartufo nero.
Carbonara “cube”: tasting of three different carbonara pasta’s: classic with pork cheek seasoned in our cellars, Parmesan cheese, pecorino and egg and seasonal mushrooms and the one with black truffle.

Ravioli ripieni al caccio e pepe su vellutata di asparagi
Ravioli stuffed with cacci and pepper on asparagus cream
Spaghetti carbonara con parmigiano reggiano, pecorino e uovo; quella ai funghi di stagione
Spaghetti carbonara with Parmesan cheese, pecorino and egg and seasonal mushrooms

Stinco di maialino al forno – Oven baked pork shank
Il baccalà infornato – Oven baked cod

Guancia di manzo al forno – Oven baked beef cheeks
Stinco di maialino al forno – Oven baked pork shank

Tortino soffice con pasta reale e amarene – Soft tartlet with pasta reale and amarene cherries

Tiramisù espresso, set in a hollow chocolate sphere perched on a bit of marzipan, nice fluffy mascarpone with some sugar work on top.

The staff is friendly and attentive. My only wish would be that they pour the wine at the table instead of serving pre-poured glasses with each course. Especially in a restaurant like this, you would expect more attention to the wine. Nevertheless a very pleasing experience in a nice romantic setting. Great value for money, especially with the wine pairing.