The famous Roman restaurant has made its second home in Monaco
Eating out in Monaco may bring to mind images of Michelin stars, but restaurants in the Principality are not all about caviar and champagne. In fact, the newly opened Tre Scalini Monaco is a welcome change from the fine dining that we’ve come to expect in the Principality. Situated in the heart of Fontvieille harbour, Tre Scalini is a cosy little Italian restaurant, offering a real home away from home for the many Italians who live in Monaco.
A Roman institution
Launched just five months ago, Tre Scalini Monaco is a sister restaurant to the famous Tre Scalini in Piazza Navona, (the “tre scalini” referring to the three steps of the Roman square). Visitors to the Monaco restaurant will be happy to find many of their old favourites on the menu: expect flavoursome Roman meatballs (a Tre Scalini speciality), spaghetti al vongole and, of course, the world-famous Tre Scalini ice-cream truffle. Made with 13 different blends of cocoa, chocolate lovers are definitely in for a treat. Like all good things, this will come to those who wait, and the ice-cream truffle will make its debut on the Tre Scalini Monaco menu on Christmas Day. Needless to say, reservations are highly recommended.
Two hundred years of history
So what else can we expect from Tre Scalini Monaco? Well, first off, given the incredible history behind the name, you won’t be disappointed. In a nutshell, the original restaurant was opened in Piazza Navona in 1815 amid much fanfare and was actually the first restaurant – a rather simple trattoria at that time – on Piazza Navona. Time (and two world wars) marched on and it was only in 1946 that the restaurant was reborn. Fellini and his Dolce Vita then made Rome the coolest of capitals and to this day the restaurant still stands, serving authentic Roman cuisine at reasonable prices to both locals and tourists.
Home away from home
Understandably, that was the thinking behind opening the branch in Monaco. There is definitely a feeling of nostalgia in the décor – think red and white checked tablecloths, heavy wooden dressers and a zinc bar reminiscent of a Luchino Visconti film.
Tre Scalini owner Claudia Pizzuti says: “We know that there is a lot of Italian heritage in Monte-Carlo but we really felt that it was missing an authentic Roman restaurant. Our drivers deliver the freshest ingredients from Rome twice a week, so that we can offer our Monaco clientele genuine Italian cuisine at competitive prices.”
Dinner is a la carte, while three lunch menus at 14, 17 and 23 euros each offer a starter, main course, water, a glass of wine and, of course, coffee. Dishes include warm winter soups, tasty lasagne al ragu, and crisp, melt-in-the-mouth fritto romana. Menus change every day and are only decided at the last minute, depending on what has been delivered earlier in the week.
So, if you still don’t know what to do for Christmas lunch or New Year’s Eve and are looking for good food made from fresh ingredients, friendly service, and a casual laid-back atmosphere, look no further: you’ve found it in Tre Scalini Monaco. Buon appetito!
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