Penny Roma

Other reviewers have mentioned how beautiful this space is and the great service. I came on here to make sure that everyone with a gluten allergy knows they have delicious (some of the best) gluten free pasta including a GF tortellini! I often have to search reviews to find out if restaurants accommodate my allergy and it’s not listed on the menu but they do!

Penny Roma marries the former Central Kitchen's fresh, market-driven California cuisine to the fresh-made pastas from sister restaurant Flour + Water (which is currently closed for renovations). We loved the old Central Kitchen restaurant: the decor/ambiance is almost identical, and if you liked Central Kitchen's food, you'll find a lot to like here too. Food: The marinated squash & mushrooms were delicious although it might have worked better as a hot (versus cold) appetizer. The foccacia was crunchy and bursting with flavor. The tonnarelli cacio e pepe had a delicious sauce, although the pasta was a bit thicker & chewier than what you'd get in Rome. The seared trout was deliciously fatty and well-prepared, on some super-fresh greens with interesting accompaniments. Fregola Sarda was the only slight disappointment of the night; the flavors of the saffron and seafood were a bit overpowered by something acidic (vinegar?). Finally, the pomegranate and bay leaf sorbet was an outstanding dessert: the bay leaf complemented the pomegranate perfectly, adding an almost herbal minty-ness. Dietary restrictions: for a place with a heavy pasta emphasis, there are a fair number of gluten-free dishes (and dairy-free, with a few minor modifications) Kid friendliness: we brought our 5 year old, and although there is no "kids menu", they made a half-portion of pasta for him (he loved the cacio e pepe, although I suspect many kids would also like the bolognese), although his favorite thing was the foccacia Prices are reasonable considering the quality of the ingredients & cooking Getting in: book ahead (reservations open 2 weeks beforehand), sign up for last-minute openings on Resy, or arrive early for a walk-in spot (we arrived at 5 PM on a Sunday, and were 2nd in line for the 5:30 opening)