THERE'S something almost poetic about walking into Ristorante La Piccola Roma inside the Asmara Urban Resort & Lifestyle Village here in Banilad, Cebu City. Maybe it’s the balance of nature and refinement, or maybe it’s the sight of Italian owner and host Carlo Cordaro — standing by a wooden catch basin — a visual reminder that everything here is by design, by philosophy, by heart.
And at La Piccola Roma, the food doesn’t just fill you up — it fills you in on how food can be thoughtful, sustainable and still delicious. “Just olive oil and tomatoes,” Carlo quipped, detailing what he would serve himself should he be asked for ketchup.
Our antipasti came in a parade of clean flavors: a four-piece bruschetta set crowned with mushrooms, tomatoes, olives and cheese — a comforting quartet of earth, tartness, brine and cream — served alongside a rich marinara dip.
The mains followed with a kind of quiet confidence. The Breaded Pork Tenderloin Ala Milanese was crisp on the outside, tender within. Then there was the Grouper with salsa verde — its brightness matched only by the freshness of the fish itself. A must-try? Without a doubt.
Its take on the classic Carbonara forgoes guanciale for homemade bacon. It’s a deliberate substitution — one that keeps the price accessible without compromising taste. The Gnocchi Al Pesto, those tiny dumplings crafted from wheat flour, potato and egg, were soft, earthy and dressed in basil. The Tortellini was filled with a pumpkin purée with a hint of butter.
Dessert was no afterthought. I’m a Tiramisu fan, and La Piccola Roma’s version took a left turn away from tradition — no mascarpone, a nod to less-processed ingredients. Alongside it, a Mango Pannacotta, a chocolate roll, and a mango float — each one a gentle endnote to a clean meal that never needed heavy-handed sweetness to close the curtain. And of course, a shot of espresso for the finale to rule them all.
La Piccola Roma isn’t a restaurant you visit to check off a list. It’s a space you absorb. A meal you remember not just for the flavors, but for the values plated alongside it. And if food is indeed a language, then here, it speaks gently — but meaningfully. In every bite, you get the feeling: this isn’t just good food. This is good living.