La Roma — Restaurant in Ottawa

Went there for my fiancée's birthday.

Reservation: Booked the reservation online. Process was straightforward but required to call in to move the reservation to a later day. When making the reservation I indicated that it was her birthday and that I would like a dessert brought out with a candle if possible.

Service Service was only average. Time before we were greeted at the table was a little long and no dinner specials were announced. Our server was friendly and she paid enough attention to us to refill our wine glasses. At the end of dinner, server cleared our plates but failed to ask us if we wanted our food to go - she had thrown it out and was forced to ask the kitchen to remake it. Although we could/should have mentioned we wanted the food back, having worked 8 years in the industry the server should have asked if we wanted it back after seeing that we had left such a large quantity.

Appetizers: Fried zuchini: batter was very dark and either they needed to change the oil or the food was left in the fryer too long. The dill sauce that accompanied the dish tasted almost like tartar sauce. Veal Carpaccio: flavourless, unseasoned meat. Found it odd that they had sliced celery on top - they could have done better with that.

Main Courses: 4 Cheese Gnocci: for a dish which was to be made with Gorgonzola, Pecorino, Fontina and ? it lacked flavour and was extremely bland. Had to ask server to replaced the dish with a better sauce.

Pavarotti Pasta: the dish which contained smoke salmon tasted of cheap smoked salmon. Extremely fishy tasting and completely overpowered all the flavors of the dish.

Final Thoughts: Although service was "okay", we were definitely not impressed by the food. I have read the other reviews here and am shocked that they enjoyed the food so much. We definitely won't go back, nor will we recommend...

My experience from the start of dinner at was great from the server introducing himself to presenting a bottle of champagne purchase by family friends for my parents 50th wedding anniversary celebration. Though from that point on however it seemed to be disorganised service throughout the meal from the absent service to repeating questions asked moments early. Yet the biggest event of was the time between the entrée meals to the main course, which was 30 minutes after the server told us it would be four minutes. Also it took one of us to inquire about our meal, which the server could not give a response for and about his absent during the 30 minute wait. Once the food did arrived it was cool to the touch and one plate had to be sent back to be redone, but seem to be only have been reheated. The final event was to make up for the service and food the server offered free after meal drinks, but again half the party was not drinking as they were driving. So that soured the evening more to what started as a great night. My finals thoughts are that the meal became more about getting through to end it quickly, than enjoying a great event in a couple's life. Not sure it was a bad night you get once in a while, but seemed as if there was no one or an absence of a restaurant front manager to oversee and support staff when concerns arise. In closing would have to say it will take me some convincing to go back to La Roma for a meal after the experience this past...

I would love to review this place less than 1 star. We have just left our Valentine’s Day reservation and needless to say it was TERRIBLE. First of all, they sat us at a table beside the window which we were happy about for the view but we needed up being frozened the entire night and wore our coats and the table beside us were wearing their coats. When we asked if they could turn up the temperature they said it was already cranked up already and that because we were beside the window it was going to be cold regardless... no offer to find us a table until I asked if we could move to an empty one. We had to ASK Them to bring us bread and they only brought 3 slices and we were a party of 4... they said they would bring more and we never saw anything. Both of the males on the date ordered the $70 steak which was a 4oz steak served with shaved potatoes... I use shaved because it was nothing... and 100% not worth it!!!! On top of everything we had pre ordered our entire we picked our desert and when it came time to eat they said there was none left of what we had pre ordered... at that point I asked if I could speak to the manager and then the server said they miraculously had 3 pieces left... terrible service and will never go back...