Roscioli Caffè Pasticceria
Salmon and Cream Cheese Cornetto with Sesame Seeds
Apricot Bomboloni
Castagnole Crema, Castagnole Chocolate
Bomboloni alla Crema
Well known for their Salumeria-Restaurant and nearby Bakery, Caffè Pasticceria is the latest project from Rome’s Roscioli family, its location two doors down from the famous Restaurant guaranteeing a high volume of foot traffic Monday through Saturday from 07h00 to 23h00 and Sunday beginning at 08h00 until 18h00.
Continuing a trend of chaotic service and high volume, the narrow storefront almost hidden save for a short line into the street, it is at Piazza Benedetto Cairoli 16 that guests are invited to fight for elbowroom while ordering or eating, unless they are fortunate enough to find a seat amidst the tiny dining area in back.
Displaying Pastries in glass cases, presumably baked at Antico Forno Roscioli considering the Café’s small size, it is with locals shouting orders and reaching past standing diners that the scene unfolds, the only person seemingly aware of anything but themselves a cashier up front.
Eventually forgoing coffee as a result of the lack of flow, but able to flag down a server just long enough to order a few Pastries, Breakfast began with a seemingly out-of-place Cornetto stacked with Cured Salmon, the whole thing fairly forgettable but enjoyed by others while Roscioli’s Bombolini found the version with Apricot Jam better than that with Cream and crunchy sugar akin to a Mexican Concha.
Facing plenty of competition in Centro Storico, surrounded by cobblestone streets, some suggest that Roscioli’s Maritozzi compares favorably to Rome’s best versions, but unimpressed by those elsewhere the only item truly felt to be worth such effort and claustrophobia on this particular morning were two Castagnole that melted on the tongue, leaving behind a breath of Cream and Sugar.
www.rosciolicaffe.com