Ristorante Roma (622 SW 12th Ave.)

I'm not really into politics anymore. I am disenchanted by politicians. But somehow, when you get a group of friends together, at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant and the discussion becomes a little passionate and political over a tartufo or a panna cotta, well, things just get a lot better.

Such was the other night at Ristorante Roma. I wasn't too hungry, so I had minestrone soup, which was deliciously bean-y and chock full of vegetables. I tasted the spaghetti carbonara, peppery and bacon-y, the ravioli, rich and flavorful and the pappardelle, sweet and creamy with sausage.

We jabbed politicians, confessed our reasons for voting for _____ and confessed our confusion, while we tasted the exquisite desserts. The tartufo, a chocolate powerball of hazelnuts and some kind of creme, and the panna cotta, looking beautiful with the nectarines and caramel sauce. We agreed it looked much better than the "vasectomy on a plate" as the waitress at the Wonder Cafe called it one time. As the conversation turned a bit more... um... sexy, the lights were turned down and the closed sign up just as they gave us the check. Great timing. There is nothing better. Here's to good friends!