Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria

Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria Restaurant Review:

Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria, which houses a restaurant in back and a food shop up front, quietly opened its doors to little fanfare (its sister restaurant, Il Buco, is a block away). But once word got out that this was no ordinary Italian restaurant, the place became perpetually packed. The interesting thing is this: it actually is an ordinary Italian restaurant. And by that we mean what every eatery of its ilk should be: one that offers simple cuisine with ingredients that steal the show. The rustic, clichéd décor allows you to focus squarely on the food. Start with the grilled octopus, crunchy on the outside and tender --- almost gooey --- on the inside, or the Parmesan-laced Umbrian chickpea soup. Or opt for the house-made salumi, crafted with heritage pork. A salad of little gem lettuce, pickled onions and radish is a good reminder of just how spot-on a salad can be. The authentic quality of the cacio e pepe, with thick bucatini noodles, a classic Roman dish, is hard to find anywhere this side of the Tiber River. Cedar planked ocean trout arrives with charred lemon and grilled baby leeks. Peppercorn-encrusted spare ribs are a carnivore’s delight, especially when paired with something robust from the all-Italian wine list (the house wine carafes, by the way, are the best deal). Dessert might not matter after all the feasting, but affogato with vanilla gelato and espresso makes a lovely end to a meal. Alternatively, go for a selection of artisanal Italian cheese.