Compared to the sexier Italian restaurants on the Main Line (see Carina Sorella and Exit 13), Core de Roma is, well, plain. It’s plopped in the middle of a residential neighborhood in Belmont Hills, and its rust-colored walls and oil paintings give it a senior living community art show vibe. But have faith—the classic Roman cuisine here is excellent, the service is warm, and starting with the complimentary homemade bread and marinated beans, you’ll be transported.
At first glance, the menu looks like that of so many other red sauce joints: caesar salad, linguine with clams, chicken parmesan, and tiramisu abound, and it’s all good. But one of the owners is Roman, so the move is to stick to his specialties–trippa romana (tripe may be an acquired taste, but we’ve acquired it), crispy supploni al telefono, Romano cheese-stuffed artichokes, and unctuous pasta carbonara. Choose anything “ala Romana,” and you’ll find It works wonders for everything from a big group dinner to a casual weeknight date.
Food RundownSupploni al Telefono
Called arancini in other regions, these giant tomato-infused risotto balls are breaded and fried. Cut them open to reveal a large cube of mozzarella that makes a curly telephone cord when you pull it. Hence the name. Start with these to share.
photo credit: Jonathan Deutsch
Eggplant Parmigiana
The eggplant at Core de Roma is not the usual heavy, fried Philly version, but rather thin kerchiefs of eggplant folded over in layers, baked without breading, and topped with one of the best red sauces in town. Get it as an entree with a side of pasta or share it as an appetizer.
photo credit: Jonathan Deutsch
Artichokes Core de Roma
A family specialty, fresh artichoke hearts are stuffed with cheese and breadcrumbs and cooked in a white wine sauce until tender.
photo credit: Jonathan Deutsch
Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe
Despite being a signature dish of Rome, this is the rare dish to skip at Core de Roma. The sauce is thin where it should be creamy and is not nearly peppery enough to be a “e pepe.”
photo credit: Jonathan Deutsch
Bucatini alla Matriciana
Another signature roman pasta, this one is not to be missed. Ample portions of meaty pancetta and pecorino Romano with the aforementioned red sauce have us swooning.
photo credit: Jonathan Deutsch
Ricotta Cheesecake
The dessert menu provides many options, but only three are prepared in house: cheesecake, cannoli and tiramisu. You can’t go wrong with any or all, but the cinnamon-rich ricotta cheesecake is a must.