I discovered this historical restaurant and café some years back when I first travelled to Rome, Italy. Since then, I’ve been coming back to this unique café whenever I’m in town. Canova Tadolini Ristorante is locating along Rome’s shopping belt. From the exterior, you can’t really tell much of this restaurant and café. But when you step in, it brings you back to a different time and totally different world. Animal and human sculptures are positioned all over the place to recreate a 19th century sculptor workshop.

In this small building, there is a bar, café and restaurant. The locals usually go to the bar, which offers the usual range of hot and cold beverages but no service and seats. The bar is not a place for you to spend a great deal of time. It’s order, drink and go. But for those who want to rest their feet, it’s good to go to the adjacent café or restaurant.

Generally, the food is good. The pasta dish is usually the second course for the Italians after the appetiser and before the main course. However, for Asians, the pasta dish is sufficient to fill our stomachs. The spaghetti alla gricia con guanciale e pepe or long pasta with crispy bacon and black pepper is a simple yet appetising pasta dish. The pasta is done in true Italian al dente style. It’s cooked simply in olive oil and bacon. Black pepper is added to give it extra punch. The spaghetti alle vongole veraci or long pasta with clams is equally good with its fresh clams. Unlike others, this version is done with olive oil and not in white wine.

Unlike other cafes that serve a cookie with every hot beverage, Canova Tadolini Ristorante bucks the practice by serving you a plate of assorted soft cookies. These chocolate, almond and strawberry flavoured cookies are nice with the hot beverages although not everyone enjoys the soft texture.

If you are in Rome, do drop by this interesting yet quirky café. It’s quite an experience and you definitely have a lot to share when you return home.

Canova Tadolini Ristorante
Via del Babuino, 150 A/B, 00187Roma, Italy
Tel: 06 3211 0702
www.canovatadolini.com