At Ristorante Mimesi, housed in the original basement kitchen of the villa, young Roman chef Giovanni Cerroni is making waves with his creative, modern food. But while this is skilled, highly technical cooking, dishes are firmly grounded in the chef’s culinary roots. My dinner was a succession of vivid, beautifully-presented dishes inspired by memories of Cerroni’s childhood; his take on the onion, pecorino and wine ‘merenda’ (snack) often shared with his grandfather and the chicken and red pepper stew cooked by his grandmother for example. Other standouts were marinated anchovies served with a vinaigrette foam and a cleaver combo of lobster and pork. Along with the superb homemade breads, delicate little amuse bouches, and decadent petit fours, it made for a memorable meal. The wine list is full of interesting labels from all over Italy and, admirably, has a good choice around the €20-€30 mark.
The lunch menu offers the likes of seafood pasta, fillet steak with truffles, hamburgers, club sandwiches and salads available in the sunny first floor restaurant or in the garden. An excellent breakfast is also served here, much of it freshly prepared to order. Along with the usual eggs and bacon, cheeses and charcuterie, cakes and pastries you can expect eggs Florentine, blinis with caviar and sour cream (for a hefty supplement) and avocado and smoked salmon toast. Even the selection of teas is unusual; ‘Red Cappuccino’ (Rooibos topped with foaming milk), ‘Golden Cappuccino’ (with turmeric and cinnamon) plus Matcha and Chai.
