Monday, March 23, 2009

Ocean Views + Spaghetti Con Vongole (with clams) = An Amazing Lunch

Yesterday one of my Italian girlfriends drove out to Ostia for lunch. We went to dar Zagaia ar buco located at Capocotta.

It was PACKED. They don't take reservations. It was worth the wait for an outdoor table.

One of my favorite dishes is Spaghetti con Vongole. When it's done right there are few things on earth that are better.

Everything was delicious but they are known for the Spaghetti con Vongole.

Warning, this is not a place to go to if you are in a hurry. I believe the owner is 80 or so and used to be a fisherman. Now his family runs the restaurant. It's not fancy and the wait staff is surly. Or maybe it just seemed that way to me because I don't speak Roman dialect.

We were there for almost three hours and the lunch crowd didn't start clearing out until around 4:30. I cannot imagine how crowded this place must be during a summer weekend.

At first when we heard it was an hour wait we couldn't believe it. We were starving. After the meal we were glad we stayed. We enjoyed the food, the wine and the view. It was a great day.

I will definitely return.

19 comments:

Skywalker said...

That's it...I'm coming to visit aka sleep on your couch and enjoy the Italian life.

How's everything going chicka?

Unknown said...

Yum. That was my favorite meal when we visited Italy. I keep trying to order it here. I know better, I really do, but oh the memories!

Also, I love to say the word "Vongole"

Anonymous said...

This is one of my favorite dishes in Italy ... YUM.

Megan in Liguria said...

Sounds fabulous and you ate one of my all-time favorite dishes on earth! :)

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

I might have to stop reading Italiab blogs, or maybe blogs in general...This is one of my all time favourite dishes, lots of people have been posting about it!!

I think you are going to have a queue at your front door for "the Couch" !!!! I have such good memories of my holidays in Italy..Oh I miss it!

Anonymous said...

I'm drooling all over my computer right now.

Erika said...

Hello! I love this dish, maybe because I'm Italian...I would like to thank you for your advice. :)

Anonymous said...

Helloohooooo.......it's 8.28 in the morning. Just woke up and I'm here with my coffee reading your post. Is it possible that I'm already graving for this dish??

OOoohhh yesssss.....!!

It will take me a 3 hours drive, but I'll be at your front door, standing and waiting in the long queue as well ;-))

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

Ciao tutti...I'm still thinking about this darn dish. It was that good.

Jess good luck with your mission.

Erika, you're welcome.

Diana Strinati Baur said...

I can smell it from here. mmmmm

Tracie P. said...

i am so happy to be back home, but THAT takes me back! i LOVE me some s con vongole...one of my favorite dishes EVER

Anonymous said...

Buonissimissimissimi!!! Those spaghetti look cooked to perfection and the clams seem so plump and juicy. So simple yet so yum!

glamah16 said...

The perfect day and lunch.

Di Mackey said...

Just'yum!'

Anonymous said...

Oh yum! I had steamed clams for dinner tonight (a treat since they are very expensive here). I thought about trying to make spaghetti con vongole but knew it would never be as good as the real thing. Glad you had such a lovely day! Wonderful photo :)

Anonymous said...

whoops... annonymous was me. Forgot to add my name...

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

Yes the clams were nice and plump and the spaghetti was perfectly al dente.

Can't wait to go back and this time I'm going to get some fried calamari to start.

erin said...

Funny, I'm just catching up on posts and emails and read that my friend Jenn who lives in St. Augustine too (http://www.leftoverqueen.com/...not sure if you know, but she's in a lot of the same blogosphere)..was just at Ostia too with her husband's family on vacation this week. I hadn't even heard of that town, but now want to visit! :)

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

erin - we were supposed to go to the ruins after lunch but decided to stay and eat a nice long meal instead. I'll check out the link.