In recent years a new trend has emerged in the world's art movement, every hot gallery needs an equally hot eatery. In Rome's historic district there's now Pastificio San Lorenzo located in the Pastificio Cerere contemporary art space opened in 2004 by Flavio Misciattell. Inside a former-factory space, the gallery occupies the former corn storage area of the factory along with a main courtyard used for site specific performances. The dark and moody restaurant space looks not unlike an officer's commissary lined in interior-facing walls of glass with built-in wine cellar and martini bar cast in equally doses of shiny high-gloss woods and exposed concrete cinder-blocks.
The Food
Open once the art center closes, the restaurant is almost entirely independent of the art scene. Chef Stefano Preli leads a likely pre-Michelin kitchen with ala carte menu of octopus with potato bread roll, pelamid tartare with smoked mozzarella and Mackerel kabob with Arawak tomato. First course red mullet is servided with zucchini flowers and linguine as well as tuna and goat cheese ravioli or spaghetti with broad beans and clams. Main course is a house burger that is easily one of the best in Rome, breast of duck with coconut milk sauce, and suckling pig with hazelnut puree.
Last Word
Signature eatery at Pastificio Cerere for art offers gourmet treasures by chef Stefano Preli in retro-factory setting.
