Brand new deli, wine bar and eatery Amodei near Roma Termini, in the heart of the Eternal City, is the latest in a long line of historic delicatessens and general stores to grace Rome.

There’s a great tradition in Rome for high-quality food stores which are perfect for planning dinner parties, picking up foodie souvenirs or even sitting down for a quick bite, and Amodei fills a much needed gap in the market in the city’s busy station district.

For sure, Market Central, the food hall at the back of the station, has improved the average quality of fast food available in the area by leaps and bounds. But if you’re looking for something a little more intimate, a little more refined, then Amodei is for you.

Conceived as a high-quality deli and upmarket food store in a supremely well-connected area – Rome’s Opera House is a five minute walk away, as is Roma Termini station – Amodei also benefits from being located near the major boulevards of via Cavour and via Nazionale.

As a quality resource for provisions and fresh goodies it would have made an excellent addition to the area on that basis alone.

But owner Eli quickly realised that the place he was building was far too cute to let people leave so fast, and so added a handful of tables enabling customers to pause for a glass of wine, a quick lunch or aperitivo, or even an easy evening meal.

I was delighted to sample a range of the fresh goodies on sale at the deli counter as I paused for lunch in a cute corner.

Amodei stocks a great range of wines, including natural wines, so we sat down to a glass of Solo Uva, a stunning natural spumante which is perfect with a slightly fatty charcuterie selection, including prosciutto di San Daniele and mortadella.

What I liked best about Amodei was that it ticked all the boxes for getting the simple things right. This enormous bruschetta is made with tomatoes that have been harvested from the flanks of Mount Vesuvius. They have extraordinary mineral flavours from growing in lava rich soil which created, quite frankly, one of the best bruschetta I have ever eaten.

While we’re talking about keeping things simple – take a look at this perfect beef tartare, served with beansprouts and a very delicate mustard sauce. This is ideal for a light lunch or early evening snack, paired with a glass of wine.

There’s something rather comforting about dining between shelves laden with good things to eat. It’s a bit like that sensation you get when drinking in a wine cellar. You will find yourself naturally browsing the products on sale while having lunch here – they’re just too tempting not to notice!

The next thing we tried was a selection of primi or first course dishes, which include those wonderful oven-baked classics of Italian tradition, lasagna and parmigiana di melanzane.  These richly flavoured dishes didn’t disappoint, served with an excellent Tuscan red.

As you might expect from a quality deli, the cheese selection is wonderful here. So we couldn’t sign off without nibbling on a few extraordinary local varieties – including blue cheese matured in red wine. Astonishingly good.

Amodei has a handsome selection of sweet treats too, so don’t overlook it if you need some handmade chocolates as a gift. Furthermore, the selection of quality olive oils is second to none.

I am delighted to have discovered Amodei and would recommend it to anyone looking for a cute lunch spot in a central location, or seeking an aperitivo with a difference in the centre. The details of this place are truly remarkable – from the range of products to the quality of the ingredients, not forgetting the cute micro-tables buried between the cushions of the rather lovely sofa outside. It seems like they’ve thought of everything!

Highly recommended.

Amodei – Banca & Bottega | Via Principe Amodei 7b | Tel 06 482 3138

Testaccina was a guest of Amodei

Read next: A Rome food tour for wine lovers from Eating Italy