Is ROMA Restaurant tricking tourists into eating mushrooms? đ
Most days on Iruveli felt like floating in honeyâwhite sand soft as cotton, overwater bungalow balconies close enough to touch tropical fish, even the air smelled of coconut. That is, until I stepped into ROMA Restaurant. This "perfect vacation" hit a snag, and I need to vent! Appetizer: Scallops turned into king oyster mushrooms? Did my taste buds fail in the Maldives? The menu clearly listed "Scallop & Mushroom." Figuring island scallops must be fresh, I ordered it without hesitation. What arrived was a plate of sliced "meat" smothered in creamy mushroom sauce, glistening like it might be decent. First bite and I froze đ€š: This texture⊠dense like a mushroom? Not a hint of seafood sweetness, just that familiar "fungus flavor." I turned to my partner: "Did I lose my mind from the flight? Is my taste off?" He chewed a piece, forehead crinkling: "This⊠is just king oyster mushroom? Sliced thick to pretend itâs scallop?" So we paid for scallops, but got a "luxury mushroom dish"? When the waiter asked "How is it?", I smiled and said nothingâarguing "your scallops are mushrooms" on a tropical island felt pointless. Just had to suck it up. Main course: Two frozen shrimps? Iâm silent compared to another island restaurant Hoping to redeem the meal, I ordered shrimp for the main course. Even worse: two lonely shrimps on the plate, shells looking a little dull and stale. One bite and it was obviousâthese were frozen, sitting in a freezer for who knows how long đ. The meat was dry and rubbery, like chewing elastic. The kicker? Another restaurant on the island serves shrimp thatâs always freshâbigger, plumper, with a bounce that practically snaps. And itâs cheaper than ROMA. The comparison is brutal. The only saving grace: Non-alcoholic drinks slap Rant aside, credit where itâs due: ROMAâs drinks are the islandâs hidden gem đ. I donât drink much, so I tried all the non-alcoholic options, and every sip was worth refilling: Strawberry Margarita: Pink and vibrant, with strawberry puree mixed with lime zing, blended into a smooth slush. Sipping it felt like swallowing a "strawberry-scented sea breeze" đ; Island Mojito: Mint + lime + soda, so refreshing it tasted like it was fished straight from the ocean. Sipping it at sunset took the edge off the appetizer fiasco half-way đïž. Guess ROMA Restaurant on Iruveli put all their energy into drinks. If you visit, stick to the bar for a drinkâbut skip the food. Donât let your Maldivian appetite get wrecked by "mushroom scallops" and "frozen shrimp." #RelaxingIslandLife #RestaurantRant #MaldivesRestaurants #Iruveli #IslandTravelFails