Acquolina

Seafood specialist in Rome

Amberjack, lamb, asparagus

I am a seafood addict, so when I have discovered there is a fine dining restaurant specializing in seafood when I was planning my trip to Rome, it was high on my to visit list. Acquolina is a 1 Michelin star, fine dining restaurant that headed up by a chef with big reputation, in the name of Angelo Troiani, who is also the chef-owner of another highly well regarded 1 Michelin starred restaurant Il Convivio, which is not too far from Acquolina. The setting of Acquolina is very contemporary, with plenty of space between each table, with artwork in the theme of sea creatures. What got me really interested in the menu is that the kitchen seems to enjoy mixing seafood and meat together, which is both ambitious and daring.

Amuse bouche

Tomato Bruschetta

Cuttlefish, pesto, egg yolk

Bottone, smoked cauliflower, bagnacauda

I opted for the long tasting menu, one of the courses that really got me think was a plate of fake lamb rack, which was actually amberjack fish, with lamb bones and sauces. Somehow the lamb element worked really well with the meaty texture of the fish, and the asparagus added a crisp and sweet touch, which offered freshness to the dish. The star of the evening was the scampi linguine, the pasta absorbed all of the wonderful, rich seafood flavours from the shellfish. The taste was so intense and bold, it was easily one of the best seafood pasta dishes I have ever encountered. The less successful dish was the pork belly with prawns, while I had no issue with the unusal ingredients combination, the pork itself was a touch overcooked, and the crispy skin was lacking. 

Scampi linguine, raspberries, black garlic

Monkfish, peppers, almonds

Pork, prawns, apple, blackberries

Hazelnut, raspberry, ginger, apple

To sum it up, Acquolina indeed is a seafood specialist, apart from the pork dish, most of the dishes were wonderful and it is a worthy holder of a star. The odd use of land animals mixing with seafood is a daring approach, while some people might find it challenging, I admire its creativity and pushing the boundaries. The service of the evening was fantastic, our waiter was very kind and caring, we felt like we were greeted by a friend. For any seafood fan with an open mind, Acquolina is well worth trying if you ever pop into Rome.


What I paid

£150 with wine


Food 4/5

Average cost without drinks and services:
£120

Via del Vantaggio, 14, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

https://www.acquolinaristorante.it/