Una Sera Con Margherita Vittoria

Last night I ate dinner at Da Danilo, a traditional Roman trattoria that makes what’s supposed to be one of the city’s best spaghetti alla carbonara. (It is very good.) I arrived just about 9:30 to find Margherita Vittoria waiting for me.

Now, she was not actually waiting for me, per se. In fact, she had no idea I even existed. But when I saw her baby carriage—a Peg Perego, I think—in the corner, I knew she’d been placed there especially for me. Margherita Vittoria, 6 months old, was dining out with her parents.

I don’t have much to say about this, really, except: A baby!!! Outside!!! At night!!! In a restaurant!!! A nice one too!!!

Yes, she cried a bit. No, none of us cared.

Eventually, around 11pm, M.T. left with her mother and, I think, an aunt, while papa and grandpa finished their meal. I was probably the only one who noticed.

Then I went back to my braised oxtail, my glass of Furore, and my legitimate dinner companion, Simona.

Published by Matt

Matt Gross writes about travel and food for the New York Times, Saveur, Gourmet, and Afar, where he is a Contributing Writer. When he’s not on the road, he’s with his wife, Jean, and daughter, Sasha, in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn.

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