Maria Mante, unfortunately, is no longer here, but her philosophy of good food at an honest price lives on, carried out by relatives young and old. The cooking and the close-knit ambience of the two-floor restaurant in the Old City near Piazza delle Fontane Marose draw a crowd of neighborhood residents, students, businesspeople, and tourists of all nationalities. This unlikely mix sits side by side at long tables covered with red- or blue-checked tablecloths and engages in animated conversation, while the staff hurries around them and shouts orders up and down the shaft of a dumbwaiter. The Genovese love a bargain, and the stupendously cheap menu—which often includes minestrone alla Genovese, risotto buonissimo alla Genovese (rice stirred with a sauce; they also feel secure labeling their creamy gelato “buonissimo”), zuppe da pesce (a rich fish soup you must try if it’s available), and such simple main courses as a filet of fish sautéed in white wine or grilled sausages—is no frills, listed on sheets of paper on the shiny pale green walls. As befits a Genovese institution like this, the pasta with pesto sauce is especially delicious, as is pansotti, small ravioli covered with a walnut-cream sauce.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
