Ecco: Italian as good as you’d find in Roma

Forget sushi pizza, rainbow cannoli and other culinary fads saturating your Instagram. Ecco Il Ristorante transports you to humble Italian roots with traditional recipes that even nonnas would rate.

Buonissimo!

Originally from Rome, Chiara Ricci took over Ecco in 2017 to re-create the authentic Italian dining experience. Chocolate furnishings, candlelit tables (each adorned with a rose), and a cosy fireplace create a charming Tuscan ambience. Take your amore here on date night or round up your best girlfriends for an evening of good food, wine and true Italian hospitality.

Wood-fired pizzas

The menu features a variety of fresh antipasti, primi (pasta), secondi (mains), pizzas and desserts. Each of their 13 pizzas, ranging from Margherita to Tartufata with truffle and mushroom cream, are hand-stretched and woodfired to chewy, fluffy perfection.

Start with a light antipasto, like the caprese salad with buffalo mozzarella, then indulge in some pasta, pizza or a hearty main. Top picks include the homemade saffron tagliatelle with slow cooked lamb and the roasted pork belly with braised brussel sprouts and apple puree. Tie it all together with some vino from Ecco’s fine selection. If you like reds, the Chianti and Sangiovese come recommended. Salute!

Vegan Nutella pizza

Still have room left? Treat yourself to some classic Italian sweets, like tiramisu and panna cotta. Vegans are invited to the party too, with vegan cheese, pizzas, parmigiana and dessert on the menu (there’s vegan Nutella pizza!).

As featured on Onya Magazine.