Where to eat on the Roman Lakes- Lake Bracciano, Trevignano and Anguillara. The sun and the glimpses of summer inspire seafood lovers to flock from Rome to have lunch in the fresh air on the peaceful banks of the lakes. On Lake Bracciano, just North of the capital and easily reached by a 40-minute train journey, try fresh lake fish, spaghetti alle vongole, and mixed grilled meats and vegetables. Here are five restaurants in Bracciano, Trevignano and Anguillara where you can feast on the lake shore.
Ristorantino del Castello – Bracciano
Restaurant del Castello is near the town of Bracciano in sight of the Odescalchi Castle and just a few kilometres from the lake. The menu, which includes seafood, is composed of products personally selected by the owner, signor Gianni: the stand-out pasta dishes include trofie with clams and pistachios, paccheri pasta with baby octopus (moscardini), sausage with cherry tomatoes, and asparagus-ravioli with taleggio and pear sauce; followed by second-courses of fish or meat such as filet in millefoglie pastry, beef carpaccio with truffles, or filet of fish with a potato crust served with radicchio.
Ristorantino del Castello, piazza Giuseppe Mazzini 14, Bracciano (RM). Site Tel. 06 9980 4333
Chalet del Lago – Anguillara
The Chalet del Lago faces onto lake Anguillara and the surrounding hills, and offers a seasonal menu with most products sourced “km 0”. The tasting menu (€25 excluding drinks), includes 4 courses that vary from month to month, such as: soup of the day; potato gnocchi with mussels and “black rind” peccorino; filet of Mediterranean Brill fish with Cailletier olives and Sicilian caponata; and apple crumble with vanilla ice cream for desert.
Chalet del Lago, via Reginaldo Belloni 28/29, Anguillara. Tel 06/9968014 Site
L’Acqua delle Donne – Bracciano
L’Acqua Delle Donne roses from the ashes of an antique fresh-water spring, and boasts a large garden where you can lunch in the open air during the warmer months. The menu is varied and seasonal, and includes prosciutto di Grigio del Casentino and Chianina meats (a prized Tuscan meat), as well as homemade pastas. Fresh fish – such as perch, pike and many others – arrives directly from Lake Bracciano. Amongst the “cult” dishes, try the veal rolle with truffles, parsley meatballs in white wine, or cheeses on the wood grill.
Acqua delle Donne, Via dell’Acquarella 6, Bracciano (RM). Site. Tel. 06 999 7418
La Nepitella – Anguillara
Close to the historic centre of the charming Anguillara, you can feast right on the lake at Nepitella, a restaurant with a small menu of well-selected dishes and a variety of interesting lake fishes, such as the coregone (a white fish) and pike, worth trying especially grilled. Amongst the pasta dishes, try the pike linguine, spaghetti with octopus, or spaghetti alle sarde (with anchovies, wild fennel and pine nuts). Keep in mind the long list of house-made desserts.
La Nepitella, Vicolo dei pescatori 10, Anguillara Sabazia (RM). Tel. 069968401
Aquarella – Trevignano
Aquarella is just a few kilometres from Trevignano Romano, immersed in the Regional Natural Park of Bracciano. If your idea was to eat lunch right on the lake, here you can feast in a field just a few meters from the lake shore. The cuisine is mixed with products from the land and lake made by the owner: eel alla “cacciatora” with tomatoes, onions and herbs; “Aquarella Coregone” with a local white fish; and perch with wild fennel. Pastas and desserts are strictly made in house. Prices medium-high.
Aquarella, Via Acquarella 4, Trevignano Romano (RM). Site. Tel. 06 998 5131
