The Old Bear

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After a lackluster dinner, we were in search of gelato for dessert.  While ambling along a cobble stoned alley towards our hotel, we spied the most quaint little restaurant I think I have ever seen. With vines covering the outside and a rustic, old-world feel, it was warm and beckoning.  There were many tables on the street and within the large floor to ceiling open-shuttered doorways as well as many inside.  Dark wood beams and floors with old wood tables further enhanced the cozy feeling inside.  We all grabbed business cards and made a promise to come back at another time.  Fortunately, my time was going to be a couple days later…I had another jaunt to Rome after this one and was determined to give this little gem a try.

On my next trip, after a fun bike ride along the Tiber, my friend and I began to contemplate our dinner plans.  Digging the card out of my bag and presenting it to her, I inquired if she had ever been there.  She had not and was game for anything, so off we went.
When we arrived, we were in luck…there were a few tables open, one being one of the ones that sat in the open doorways giving the feeling that you were on a balcony.   As we sat higher than the street level tables, it gave us a remarkable view of the pedestrian traffic and the old buildings nearby.
The menu is not extensive but has enough choices to keep everyone happy. There are many pasta dishes as well as other fare and a complimentary bread basket with olive oil and delicious whipped butter.  On this visit, we decided to split a tomato and mozzarella salad followed by gnocchi for me and truffle lasagna for my friend.  Both of us were very  pleased with our selections and left full and happy and with only a small dent in our wallets.  With its proximity to Piazza Navona, we would have expected higher prices, but entrees averaged 10-12 euro. Additionally, the staff spoke fluent English which helped when ordering and trying to split and pay the bill.
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After our visit, I told many people about the restaurant and found that many of my coworkers already knew about it, had been there and shared my enthusiasm for the place. Crew members can be quite particular about their food, so having someone else validate our experience was a plus!
Four months had gone by since that first visit and I again had a trip to Rome on my schedule.  The first thought that popped into my head when I knew about this trip was that I was going to be able to dine at The Old Bear again.  I couldn’t wait to try something different from the menu!
After some touring in the city, we had planned to meet a couple of our other crew members for dinner.  They were given the address and had agreed to meet us there at 7:00 pm.  There were five of us and it wasn’t very busy, so we were given the entire room, on the left, to ourselves.
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Because it was winter, there were no tables on the street or in the doorways looking out to the street.  Everything was shuttered up, but inside, the low level lighting and cozy wood made us feel warm and welcomed.
Our dining experience started with wine, beer and of course, bread, olive oil and whipped butter. A Mediterranean salad and grilled artichoke were next and plenty enough to split among the five of us.  After hearing from a friend that the pumpkin lasagna was “to die for”, this was my dinner order.
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Everyone was extremely happy with their dinner choices…gnocchi, truffle lasagna, fettuccine…but I have to say that not only was I happy…I was elated! This was one of the best meals I have ever had in all of Italy!  It was hot, perfectly prepared and so delicious! Eccellente!
At the close of our meal, everyone was accommodated by the staff in splitting the bill in an easy, friendly manner and after hearing that we had an extra day in Rome, they were eager to give us many suggestions for sightseeing in the area. With the many tourist traps that exist in this city, it is so refreshing to find such an amazing establishment near a touristy area that offers phenomenal service and outstanding Italian food.
The Old Bear

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