Trattoria CEA

Out of our 2 weeks in Italy, this was hands down our worst meal! :P
But maybe it was too authentic for this American to enjoy and understand? This trattoria is way off the beaten path, the menu was mostly in Italian, and the waitress did her best to describe the 16 euro pre fixe menu to us. So it seemed legit…
1^st Courses:
Me, Veggie Soup: Alright, plain and simple.
Wife, Spaghetti Pomodoro: the blandest marinara-​style pasta we’d ever eaten in both Italy and America.
2^nd Courses:
Me, Grilled Tonno (tuna): seemed way overcooked, flavorless, and too chewy.
–Mushroom side: OK, but might have been canned. At least they elt tasted like it.
Baccala (whitefish): GROSS!!! I giggled and was relieved that this was my wife’s entrée, not mine! I had a tasty baccala filet a few days before in Florence… but this turned out to be baccala turned into some sort of paste with cream. We both found it disgusting! My wife ate 2 bites and lost her appetite, and I managed to eat half by spreading it onto bread first (I hate wasting food). Maybe we’re just too American to appreciate this, but if you come from a fishpaste eating nation, you might enjoy it.
–side salad… average.
I’m still giving 3 Stars… decent service, fair prices, and maybe we’re just ignorant unculturaled Americans who don’t understand real Italian cuisine, especially fish paste!

Lovely Scampi, friendly staff, big portions! Good price, we sat outside as it was such a nice day. There were workmen chipping away at the building opposite us but kind of fun watching them as they scurried off up the alleyway when their boss arrived to dish out more orders. The workmen were also eating at the restaurant, a good sign