Obika

Prices on Campo de' Fiori went up about a month an a half to make sure tourists get taken for as much as possible in the busier months. A bottle of wine that was 13 euros all winter and into the spring now costs 20 euros at the Vineria Reggio, and similar prices have taken hold just about everywhere else on the piazza. Surprisingly in these seasonal changes, one place, newly open Obika still has a bottle of wine for 15 euros sitting on a table. Obika is a chain of mozzarella bars owned by the Bulgari group that is rapidly expanding, just last year they were only in Italy and now they have locations in New York, London, Tokyo and Kuwait City. Rome has two locations, the original in Piazza di Firenze, two blocks from Parliament, and the new location in Campo de' Fiori. Lorenzo's family owns the building and until December they ran one of the most popular bars on Campo, Taverna del Campo, but decided it wasn't worth the trouble so they are currently leasing the space to Obika.

Obika started in northern Italy, either Milan or Turin, and is famous for two things, their mozzarella and their aperitivo. They offer 4 types of mozz that range from creamy and sweet to smoked and powerfully flavored. Plates with one of the four and a selection from their list of toppings run from 9.50-19 euros, the cheese can be accompanied with just about anything from tomatoes and pesto to prosciutto to smoked salmon. The also have tasting trays of the four types, the smaller is 18 euros and the larger is 27. Based largely on these cheeses, the menu extends somewhat to some pasta dishes and salads, but most people go for smaller plates of cheese and other things to nibble on, such as the mozzarella rolls.

For aperitivo they do not have a buffet, as many in Rome do, but they bring a nice selection of 4 or 5 different tastes with your glass of wine or cocktail (8 euros w/ wine, 10 w/ cocktail). The selection varies from night to night, but when I went I had two crostini, one with a pumpkin spread and the other with a artichoke spread, a cone of rice with yellow peppers, cukes, mint and, of course, mozz, after that small panino with prosciutto and smoked mozz and last, but not least, mozzarella twists with cherry tomatoes and pesto.

Aside from aperitivo, drinks run 7-8 euros for cocktails and 4.50 and up for glasses of wine. They have a good wine selection that includes a few bottles starting at 15 euros.

www.obika.it
Piazza Campo dei Fiori - corner Via dei Baullari
Tel.: +39 06 68802366
Open everyday from 8 am to 2 am.
Aperitivo starts at 6pm