Gens Ristorante
Gens on Via del Boschetto is a brand new restaurant, with an innovative menu, in the heart of Monti.
Opened in May of this year, Gens has a kitchen headed by Lincoln Amano, the Japanese (Brazilian-born) chef who used to work at Fish on nearby Via dei Serpenti. All the dishes are individually made espressi: everything prepared to order, with no pre-made elements to the dishes. Although not all ingredients are local, Gens tries to source everything directly from the growers.
The menu is changed two or three times a month, and complemented with daily specials. As an antipasto, Rob tried the insalata di manzo, a beef salad with potato, rosemary, radicchio and lime. After that, the three of us had: rigatoni, radicchio and pancetta; tagliata di manzo (pictured); and beef sticks with ginger and sesame. (There are also plenty of options for vegetarians.) All were very good, with interesting, rich flavours that were worth lingering over.
The desserts were too tempting to pass up—or share, for that matter. Rob had a cheesecake with passion fruit; Petu had a crema di mais, a little like a crema catalana made with cornflour; and our guest had a white chocolate mousse with wild cherries. The total bill came to €30 a head.
Service in the restaurant was friendly and attentive, with several little extras and things to taste between courses, and the venue is clean and white, with a wide selection of art (all of which is for sale) on the walls. There’s also an outdoor seating area. Booking ahead at Gens may become wise as this place takes off, which we’re sure it will.
Cheesecake with passion fruit at Gens restaurant in Monti, Rome