We had a restaurant set back–a place that was awesome on the first visit, was decidedly not on the second visit. We usually eat out once a week, and when the experience is disappointing, it is hard to shake the negatives. So, we went looking for a good vibe, and we found it on Hilltop at Bar Rosa.
Bar Rosa feels like your favorit neighborhood bar–a place where you might drop in for a quick drink while you wait for a takeout pizza, or maybe a sweet spot for a special date (think Lady and the Tramp tables, but over pizza rather than spaghetti).
We visited Bar Rosa on a sunny Friday, sitting at a small table behind the clematis screen. Easy music was playing, and I had a cold Campari and soda in a high slender glass with a ribbon twist of orange peel. Joe was enjoying his wine.
Starters: spiced olives, poached pear tartine. Yum. The olives were plump and meaty. Poached pears were on toast with a cloud of whipped goat cheese, amazing paper-thin slices of dried coppa (crispy and salty), drizzled with honey. Extra delicious to dredge the forkful through the honey pooled in the corners of the plate. Sweet, salty, creamy in one bite.
For our main dishes, Joe had the spicy rigatoni fresh pasta that was spicy, but not too spicy. I had the Pizza Calabria. What stood out was the nduja sausage (a soft sausage, almost like a spread, from Calabria). It was a delicious early dinner, and put us into the perfect relaxed, happy vibe for the weekend.
When you are in the mood for casual, but also with a cool, park your Vespa out front vibe, check them out.
If you have thoughts on this episode, or suggestions for other places to try, send us an email: [email protected], or find us on social media as True_Tacoma.
Cheers!
Evelyn and Joe Lopez
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