I took my husband to Escopazzo for an experience out of the ordinary, and we certainly got it. I'm from Rome and extremely picky about Italian cuisine. A friend from New York City, where my husband and I lived for 15 years until 5 months ago, recommended Escopazzo, sure that we wouldn't regret it. He was right. We were seated promptly at an intimate corner table for two. The noise level in the full dining room was surprisingly low, with a faint lounge track in the background: ideal for a date, as well as a group of friends with some catching up to do. We opted for the tasting menu with wine pairing and the adventure began. The first appetizer was a delicate cod ceviche on an impossibly thin bruschetta with toasted pine nuts and dragoncello, served with a crisp Prosecco: delicious. The second, an original ostrich carpaccio with shaved Parimigiano, pear and wild arugola paired with an outstanding Soave. The signature ""fazzoletti"" pasta with a pumpkin and amaretti filling was exceptional and shockingly not too sweet, magically matched with a light Pinot Noir from Trentino. The roasted cod filet on a bed of black lentils was simply mouth-watering and maybe the best cod I've ever had, and I'm a cod fanatic. The last entree was a juicy piece of perfectly seared hangar steak with roasted baby vegetables and truffle oil, brilliantly paired with a hearty Primitivo di Manduria, a wine very dear to me, as it comes from my parents' region. By now, my husband and I were feeling full and satisfied and would have never thought that we might be able to swallow another bite, ever. But we did. The waitress brought a Tiramisu that tasted just like the one my mother makes (apparently the recipe belongs to the chef's mother-in-law) and an amazingly original and deliscious lemon pannacotta in a pineapple soup that I ended up inhaling with little apology and regret. The desserts were paired with, what else, a nice chilled Moscato.\r
We will definitely go back. Grazie, Escopazzo!
Pros: All of the above
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