We paid €11,00 extra to have a three course lunch w/ a glass of wine inc in the tour to Tivoli. I'm glad that the tour operator brought us to TdG that is rustic. It is away fr the touristy places in the middle of the square close to Villa d'Este. You would prolly need breadcrumbs to find your way back to the square bc it is hard to find.
For our antipasto we had bruschetta. It was a nice light start after a lot of walking on a hot day.
The primo was an option of spaghetti aglio & olio w/ crushed red peppers, or spaghetti amatriciana. I chose the latter, but had to swap w/ the ITC bc her dish was too spicy. She is fr Milan in Northern Italy where they eat more risotto and polenta. She prefers basic Roman pasta.
Nonetheless, both pastas were simple dishes, executed very well. The pasta was al dente vs the overcooked crap we get in the States. In addition, neither was drowned in sauce, or inc a softball sized meatball. The bacon in the amatriciana was subtle, but sufficient to balance starch w/ protein.
Lastly, the secondo was an option of thinly sliced roast pork or burrata. To me, the latter was a great way to end the meal on a hot day. I had a bite of ITC's thinly sliced pork, and it was very good. The meat was tender and tasted great w/ the reduction.
Regarding the ambiance, all of the other patrons were local inc the Chief of Police and some of his officers. The female chef came out to talk to one of her regulars, as is customary in small towns like Tivoli. Likewise, the service was friendly and warm. Our waiter appreciated that I spoke a little Italian, but like almost all Italians, English is the language they know best after their mother tongue.
If you do visit Villa d'Este, skip the touristy restaurants in the square where pretty ladies w/ menus try to flag you down. TdG is where the locals eat, and where you can have simple food done well. read more