I have had a major craving for Italian food as of late (still do), so of course, all I’ve been thinking about is what new places I should try. Campagnolo and Campagnolo Roma have been on hit list for a while (especially with Campagnolo Roma’s rotating soft serve flavours), but because of their locations, I haven’t managed to find the time. Campagnolo however, recently introduced a pasta incorporating stinging nettles, and because they looked so tantalizing on their instagram feed, I simply had to make my way for them.
We came on a Friday and the place was packed. We were told it would be a long wait, but luckily, a spot opened up and we were seated 15 minutes later. Three words: Top-notch service. No matter how good a restaurant’s food is, if the service is below par, it will drag it down. Our server was adorably kind and made us feel right at home.
They tend to switch up their menu, integrating the local produce they source. I admire their approach on sourcing seasonally and ethically, something that to me, is important in dining out. It seemed like most of the clients were regulars and judging by the faces, they looked quite content with their choices. Perfect date night location. A return to try their other dreamy options is on my schedule.
Ricotta Gnudi ($16.50) – stinging nettles, candied salmon, stessa
Soft little ricotta dumplings that had a flavour profile of salted cod. My first time trying nettles, I found them to be quite subtle in taste, but added texture to each bite. The crunch from the candied salmon bits was a nice touch too. Don’t know if I would re-order this though.
Chestnut maltagliati ($18) – lamb ragu, lemon, mint, crema
Lamb and mint is a pairing known to flatter one another, but in this case, the mint took over. The rich, meaty ragù that had so much potential was lost under the heavy notes of mint. Pasta itself however, was handmade and cooked to al dente.
Catching up requires a dessert to compliment. In our case, we decided on Acme Cafe as it wasn’t too far from our dinner spot. When we arrived, it was fairly empty. Seeing how popular Acme is usually, it was surprising. I realized afterwards though, that they close at 9pm, not later like I had imagined. Thus, there wasn’t much of a selection for us to choose from, most of it being already packaged away. Nontheless, the staff was accomodating with our orders and we didn’t feel rushed despite it being close to closing time. Coming during peak hours is probably ideal though, because you are guaranteed to select from an ample amount of daily-made desserts. Plus, their main menu seems suitable for a nice homy meal. 
Sour cherry pie à la mode – It was either this or their signature lemon meringue or pecan pie. I settled with this because I was craving a warm buttery crust to pair with ice cream. The ice cream itself isn’t made in-house unfortunately, and I could taste the freezer burn when I bit into it. The pie, despite the “sour” name, wasn’t at all tart and had the right amount of sweetness without being sickly. The crust was delicious, glossy, and flakey, retaining its firmness even with the hot filling.
Banana cream pie – Had a bite of this and was pleasantly surprised by how light, yet aromatic it was. Sure hits the spots if you’re a banana lover like my friend!
Long Live Feasts 