La Tavolozza is a restaurant located in the heart of the 8th district that screams Italy from the inside-out. It opened its doors 35 years ago, and the employees go above and beyond when serving their customers (mostly regulars who cannot get enough of this place). The restaurant is usually packed from 6.30pm–9pm, so be sure to make a reservation, or come early!
The name speaks for itself (translation: the palette). The wine menu is full of carefully selected Italian wines, and most of them are put on display in the small restaurant. And, carrying out the must for any authentic Italian restaurant – serving the hungry waiting diners bread with (garlic) oil upon arrival – is a special moment here. You’d think a piece of bread with oil drizzled on it is not worth mentioning Wrong! This was certainly some of the best oven baked bread we’ve ever tasted, and it comes in two variations, fresh out of the oven.
You may find the food menu a bit overwhelming because of the many (seasonally varying) options to choose from (we definitely did!), but a waiter was more than happy to help us make the right decision (where were these guys around during our teenage years!). We listened to them and went straight to Italian food heaven with our choices! The restaurant specializes in seafood, pasta and pizza, with the seafood tasting very fresh, and the porcini ravioli is exceptionally aromatic.
As for the pasta, the chef boasts about how he sources the ingredients that go into it from the market, but we kind of tune out at some point as after tasting it, we couldn’t really care how he does it, we’re just glad he does. The lasagne is ace, while the gnocchi are da’ bomb.
Good to know: the staff can more than just cook and serve. Some of the art inside is painted by an employee!
Also good to know: they prepare their grilled dishes in their wood-fired stove, not only the pizza!
