I’m sorry, but I’ve got pumpkin on the brain lately. Tis the season. But the third post in a row? I know you’re probably ready to stage an intervention, but bear with me.
This post is a pumpkin post masquerading as a restaurant update. The restaurant is Colline Emiliane, which has been serving well made food from central Italy in Rome for decades. They specialize in food from Emilia Romagna and their strong point is, not surprisingly, hand made pasta. So primary are the sheets of thinly rolled egg pasta to the identity of the place, that they have a pasta kitchen with windows opening onto the dining room and the street.
While this is one of the few places in Rome I’d permit you to indulge your cravings for lasagna or fettucine Bolognese, I highly suggest you go the pumpkin route (I warned you). Their tortelli di zucca are the best, lightest, most exquisite pumpkin tortelli around. They come to the table bathed in a sage-infused butter, and just a light dusting of parmigiana.
Another nice thing about the tortelli? They are so light you don’t have to feel guilty about ordering a second course. I recently had the fegato alla Veneziana: smothered in onions, it was perfect and hard to find this well made in Rome. Also? Came with a side order of mashed potatoes. Which is a good thing.
Do. Not. Skip. Dessert. They are all home made and superb. A recent slice of Lemon Chiffon Pie (for real!) still has me dreaming.
Note: I tend to go at lunch time, when there is only one seating and things are a bit more relaxed. Their ‘hidden gem’ status has long since fled out the window, and they now have two seatings in the evening. Make sure you reserve, whether for lunch or dinner. And when I do go in the evening, I go for the first seating, at 7:30, since the 9:30 reservations are always waiting on the street. Just saying.
Colline Emiliane
Via degli Avignonesi 22
+39.06.481.7538
For more information on dining in Rome and Italy download my app, EAT ITALY. EAT ITALY is a free app, and contains guides to Venice, Milan, Rome, Florence and Umbria (and an ever expanding list of regions and cities) available as in-app purchases for both iPhone and iPad. And if you want to delve further in to Roman food, please buy my book, Eating Rome, available on Amazon or at through your local book store.
I was Colline Emiliane at the beginning of October and vacillated between the fettucine Bolognese (which I’ve had before and know is stupendous) and the tortelli de zucca (which sounded great) as a first course. The waiter suggested that I get a half plate of each, which I did. A big mistake. I should have gotten a full plate of each!
The tortelli are as great as you say they are!
Yes, I’ve been tempted to do just that. Order pasta as my first and second course.
Trying to find a few new places for our trip in July – this looks like a good one to add to the list! Thank you for providing such wonderful (and approachable) information. Any chance you’ll do an Android version of your Eat Rome app?
Thank you! Unfortunately Android is not on the horizon. I’m sorry! But I may do an ebook. And in the meantime, there’s the blog!
Are they currently closed for renovations (as of 31 March 2016)? If yes, do you know when it will reopen?
Their phone is broken! Call this 347/9400593. Found it on their fb page.
Do they only have organized seatings for lunch? Just wondering if I can wander in at 2pm for some lunch, or if you can only eat right at the start of their seating. Thanks!
You should be ok, but always better to call ahead. It tends to be packed so reservations always help.