I Clementini
Just across the road from Basilica San Clemente, Hostaria I Clementini is a great (and central) place either for a meal or just a coffee and a cioccoclementino.
I Clementini is something of an old favourite, but one we’d not been to for a while. The venue is pretty small—and seems smaller since they refurbished—but there’s a sizeable outdoor area, which is well covered. (You wouldn’t notice you’re outdoors until you realise people are smoking there.)
The food on offer is the usual range of pasta and meat dishes, but with some very nice touches. The fritto misto, for example, includes sliced potato and some excellent fried ricotta and pecorino balls—it’s hard to say which is better, so best to try both. Among the desserts are a “nuvola”, which is white chocolate and cream whipped into something like a mousse, and is rarely on the menu. (Rob’s tried ordering it four times and actually had it once, making it about even with the chances of getting a glass of Fernet Branca after a meal at L’Isola dei Sardi Due.)
The real star of the menu at I Clementini though is the Cioccoclementino, a small, gooey chocolate cake with a dark fondant filling that’s made to order and served hot on a bed of clementine marmalade. While the rest of the menu is good—and sometimes inspired—I suspect it’s these little cakes that really keep people coming back for more.
Last time we were there, we were joined by Katie Parla. The three of us had fritti, one main course (two primi and one secondo), desserts, wine, coffee and grappa. The total bill came to €94.
I Clementini is now open all day, offering cakes, tea, and coffee between meals, so it would make a great stop to recharge after a visit to the nearby Basilica.
The Fritto Misto served at I Clementini.