Rosetta

Rosetta is a fine dining restaurant on Colima in Roma Norte, Mexico City, led by chef Elena Reygadas, one of Mexico's best-known chefs. The kitchen blends Mexican ingredients with Italian technique, and the result is a style that is neither strictly Mexican nor strictly Italian but rooted in the produce of the Mexican markets. The restaurant occupies a restored early twentieth-century townhouse in a neighbourhood known for its art nouveau and Porfirian-era architecture, and the building's high ceilings, tall windows and soft light give the dining room an elegant but unhurried feel. Dress is smart casual, noise levels are moderate, and the atmosphere is calm enough for business lunches and special-occasion dinners alike.

The menu changes with the season, but house-made pasta is the anchor of the kitchen. Fresh pasta dishes, typically priced around MXN 380, are built around seasonal vegetables, herbs, cheeses and regional ingredients, and the restaurant's long-standing reputation rests on the quality of its dough and sauces. Rosetta also runs its own bakery, and the pastries and breads, around MXN 70 each, have become emblematic of the brand; the baked goods are made daily and draw a steady stream of visitors who come for coffee and a pastry rather than a full meal. Dessert menus and shared plates round out an offering that suits both long, multi-course meals and lighter visits.

The beverage programme includes a considered wine list with Mexican and European bottles, cocktails that make use of Mexican spirits such as mezcal, and specialty coffee. Prices sit in the upper tier of Roma Norte dining ($$$$), and a full meal with wine can reach several thousand pesos per person, although a pasta and a glass of wine at lunch is a more moderate commitment.

Reservations are recommended and are made through the restaurant's website. Dinner on Friday and Saturday and Sunday lunch are the busiest slots, so booking one to two weeks ahead is sensible, while weekday lunch is usually easier to secure. Visitors without a booking can sometimes find space at the bar or by arriving as the doors open at 1:00 PM. Service is attentive and the staff are used to international visitors, and English is generally understood. The restaurant is within walking distance of Parque México and Avenida Álvaro Obregón, which makes it easy to combine with a stroll through Roma Norte.