It’s obvious that my husband and I are tourists in Rome. We wear expressions of awe and confusion. One thing we don’t do is always carry a guidebook. There’s nothing wrong with them, but I was surprised to count the number of people who approached Trattoria da Teo with books in hand.
Our B&B host told us about Teo’s. We didn’t know we needed reservations. The restaurant, like most in Rome, opens at 7:30. This was something many with Rick Steves and Frommer’s weren’t aware of either, but a fair number was. Perhaps the guidebooks should be more detailed. We sat in the small piazza watching people go to Teo’s door only to be turned away. We waited more than 30 minutes and once inside were told there was one remaining table available for someone without reservations.
Although this is a popular Trastevere eatery, we weren’t wowed. The food wasn’t photogenic, but there were a few bright spots, including the lightly breaded calamari with artichokes. The al dente pasta was closer to being uncooked. The couple next to us sent theirs back and endured a long wait until being served again.
We liked the oxtail, which fell off the bone, with a rich ragu. It just didn’t make for a pretty picture and it wasn’t good enough to compensate for the pasta. Despite our better judgment, we followed our server’s wine recommendation.
Teo’s taught me some lessons: have reservations, avoid places where everyone shows up with a guidebook, and stick to the house wine.
The Blue Page Special 
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