After reading posts on this site - we set out to find Alfredo e Ada and after walking many streets in the area came upon # 14 Via Dei Banchi Nuovi
It was a Monday as we planned since we had read that they were closed on Weekends. After about an hour of searching we finally came upon a door which had their name upon it but also a small sticker which said Cafe Alicia - checking with the shop next door we were told that they had closed. So our only memories of Alfredo e Ada will be those posted earlier on this site.
However - since we were in Rome - it only took a short stroll and we found another place very worthy for the cuisine.
We were however able to visit Tony and Dinos and Filetti di Baccala which we had found on this site and were not disappointed
I believe that Alfredo died few years ago. Ada was wanderful. I used to go there for lunch when we were having shows in Roma. The heads of Roma were there, major, ministers, and she treated everybody at the same way. The funniest part was Alfredo and her arguing on the wine that he wasn't supposed to drink! One day she approached me at the table and asked me if I could help her serving at the tables, because the "girl" that helped her had to go somewhere else -the girl was at least 70- s I stood up and helped. She gave me a recipe and a free meal as a thank you. They were awarded by the comune for 60 years of business in the same place.
Wow, now I feel especially lucky, because earlier this week my husband and I ate at Alfredo e Ada, and yes, it was very much open for business!
I didn't have an address, only knew it was on Banchi Nuovi and remembered the pictures I'd seen of the interior. I slowly worked my way down the street at 11 AM and came upon a small storefront that looked familiar. Then I noticed a little handwritten sign on the window (written on the glass with a magic marker) that said Alfredo e Ada. I stepped in and immediately saw the framed picture of Alfredo on the wall and knew I'd actually found it.
We had a wonderful lunch and my husband was especially thrilled when Ada walked down the steps from the kitchen and patted him on the back. The three ladies there don't speak English but clearly show their love and appreciation of all their customers by their smiles and touch.
After re-reading the first two posts, I'm wondering how my experience in finding the restaurant could have been so different? The woman we saw and spoke to was the same Ada we'd seen in photos and reviews of the restaurant. We saw no names on or near the door other than the one written by magic marker. It was the same food I'd read about except that the price had gone up to 18 euro. Am I living in a parallel universe or something?
Podie, I was sure that after poor Alfredo died Ada would have closed shortly! I'll make a point into going there for a lunch soon! So happy Ada is still up and kicking, and if you know her, she must be LITERALLY kcking!
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