marigold {rome}

One of my favorite ‘new’ restaurants in Rome is Marigold. I’m using the quotation marks because while it is recently opened (only since December) the owners are already well known on the Rome restaurant scene.

If you’re a longtime reader of this blog then you probably will recognize Sofie and Domenico (no, not my Sophie and Domenico) from this past post about their pop up restaurant The Eatery. They ran this super cool supper club out of their tiny kitchen for the last 5 years. Once a month 10 lucky guests would get the chance to enjoy Domenico’s seasonal, local and creatively prepared food along with Sofie’s famous bread and desserts.

They also catered in private homes and one of their delicious 5 course meals is featured in my new book, The Italian Table.

For years they dreamed of opening their own restaurant. After looking for the perfect space they have finally landed in the up and coming neighborhood of Ostiense. Just past the Piramide and a few steps away from trendy Testaccio, the restaurant is a bright, open and airy space that reflects Domenico’s Italian warmth and Sofie’s Danish sense of style.

Now comes the difficult part of choosing what to write about. I’ve only eaten there three times (so far!)  but I so deeply want to share every photo and bite I put in my mouth. I’ve been there for breakfast, lunch and dinner so I’ve pretty much roamed all over the menu.

I guess the first thing I have to emphasize are the things that make Marigold different. They do breakfast. And brunch. And when I say this I mean it in the true American or even Australian sense of the word. Not the Italian version of a lunch buffet on Sundays, but early morning coffee, home made pastries and things most of us ex-pats only dream about like eggs Benedict, pancakes and porridge.  Avocado toast is there too, all day long.

Also, the bread. Not only do I give you full permission to fill up before your meal on Sofie’s sourdough bread served with danish butter, I consider this one of the major reasons for going there. Although in most Italian restaurants bread is meant to be eaten with your meal, here it’s just too good to play a secondary role. Also? The crusty loaves are for sale to take home with you. (My freezer is currently full).

And finally, but mostly, the food. Domenico spent several years working at the American Academy of Rome’s Sustainable Food Project, which was begun by Alice Waters. And his approach to cooking, which pairs healthy, local and sometimes even foraged ingredients, shines through in dishes like Roasted Cauliflower with Beets and Citrus and Pork Confit topped with Puntarelle. I especially loved the Bacala’ with Cicercie I had for lunch a few weeks ago. At the moment they haven’t added pasta to the menu, but since this is Domenico’s speciality, I’m sure it’s coming soon.

Last but not least, make sure you come with a shopping bag. In addition to a loaf of the sourdough bread, you’re probably going to want to take home a half dozen of Sofie’s Cinnamon Rolls, a bag of her Spiced Almond Cookies and various other baked goods which change daily.

Marigold
Via Giovanni da Empoli 37
00154 Roma
Tel: 39.06.877.25679
Tuesday – Thursday 8am-5pm
Friday 8am-11pm
Saturday 9am-11pm
Sunday 9am – 5pm
Closed Monday

For more on Restaurants in Rome and elsewhere download my app Eat Italy.
Eating Rome is my memoir and guide for eating your way around the city, with recipes and more.
And if you’d like to cook up an entire menu based on Marigold’s recipes order my new book: The Italian Table.