Stephen Sander

Review of La Pergola” *** Michelin , Rom...

I have to ask whether a 3 Michelin star restaurant...

I have to ask whether a 3 Michelin star restaurant and Heinz Beck, the celebrated chef who has been in charge of La Pergola for 20 years, really requires my review?!

But here it is nevertheless ... I have been dying to visit this restaurant for a long time and, as it happened, our Rome hotel was able to secure a table for us for a Friday dinner in July.

Upon arrival you are mesmerised by the stunning view of entire Rome from the hill top location and as the sun sets over Rome, you are treated to a stunning, shimmering light show.

We were seated on the terrace in the balmy, summer breeze and the service was absolutely flawless from beginning to end.

As our menu arrived, our attention was drawn to a specially designed 12 course degustation menu, to celebrate Heinz Beck's 20th anniversary at La Pergola. This was a relatively easy sale as the menu offered not just a range of new dishes, but also the revival of classic, celebrated dishes from Heinz Beck's 20-year career at La Pergola, such as his Fagotelli Carbonara and his stunning reinterpretation of the humble zucchini flower!

The 20th anniversary menu is also made special by the fact that only 999 servings will ever be made of this degustation extravaganza. We were numbers 345 and 346, just six weeks into this special offering.

The degustation menu was a journey in complex and harmonious flavours.



As expected, the dessert courses were also stunning and surprisingly complex in flavour, with the 'Sun' being a crowning achievement in flavour and visual stimulation. The 'Iced sphere of red fruit' that followed was also a stunning creation and created an unparalleled dessert combination with the 'Sun'.

It didn't quite end there though as we were treated to a series of delicate and flavoursome petit fours, just as the Fourth of July fireworks (presumably at our near the US Embassy) set the night sky above Rome alight with additional colour ...

And then, when we thought things couldn't get any more special, we were presented with commemorative plaques detailing the menu and were visited by the man himself, Heinz Beck, at our table for a brief chat!
What an amazing treat, what a gourmet night for the ages!