Rosa Madre — Restaurant in Dublin

As an Italian residing in Dublin, I eagerly anticipated trying this restaurant with friends from the US based on its positive reviews. Unfortunately, it turned out to be the most most horrifying dining experience I've ever had. To provide context and to prove its not an exaggeration, I have lived in London for many years and sampled various Italian restaurants and am not a stereotypical picky eater at all.

The evening commenced with us, all dressed in shirts and blazers, including the ladies in formal attire, being held at the door for 10-15 minutes while the table was being prepared. Despite my attempts to communicate in Italian, none of the front desk staff spoke the language. While this is not necessarily an issue, the absence of any employee throughout the night who could speak Italian made me question the authenticity of labeling the restaurant as "authentic Italian." It felt like a complete misrepresentation that could potentially deceive both Irish people and tourists, especially given its Temple Bar location. A complete scam, which is further proved from the reaction after the night.

As the night progressed, we ordered a substantial amount of pasta, oysters, tartare and wine, amounting to almost 700 euros for five people. The staff took the liberty of adding the tip themselves, which I also find is not Italian etiquette at all but we are in Dublin so I did not bat an eyelide and paid with a smile as the night was not so bad nonetheless as I was with my friends . The horror started two days later, when all of us experienced severe food poisoning, presumably from the oysters. I have had food poising once before and this was unlike it ever, far far worse. My American friends had to miss their flight back to NYC, incurring substantial costs as they couldn't fly, and one friend was on the brink of being admitted to the hospital.

Even after two weeks, when I had recovered, my attempt to address the issue with the restaurant (also to warn them for other clients as we are all young and if it was an elderly person they would quite literally died from the food poisoning) yielded a mere offer of another meal if I returned. There was no hint of an apology. I am utterly appalled by how this restaurant can continue to operate, disregarding health standards and potentially endangering the well-being of Dubliners and visitors alike. I will never return to this fake italian restaurant and strongly advise my fellow Dubliners to steer clear. This so-called Italian restaurant is a sham, with unsanitary food practices, and warrants a thorough...

Overpriced, overhyped and disappointing. Was really looking forward to this, as I'd heard this was a great Italian restaurant but left feeling disappointed and cheated. It was an early booking, so it was quiet. Walked in and it felt very stand on ceremony, owner was sitting in the corner on his phone and waiters were hovering around the table, as it was quiet, which was pressurizing. As we looked at the menu and wine list, we were asked three times were we ready, when we clearly needed more time. Starters are overpriced and undercooked (scallops and squid). Bread left at the table was genuinely hard and wine was clearly the end of the bottle (Chianti), so was literally two glasses of sediment, at €12 each. I understand that can happen when you order by the glass, but in any other restaurant, I've been offered it either strained, or a complimentary glass on top, but here - nothing and you couldn't have missed it on serving. €12 for an army of sediment really stung. Wine list is long, which was one of the only interesting things. Mains were admittedly good (ragu pasta and ravioli), but at that point, my partner and I were disappointed with everything else and at €25+ for a pasta, you'd expect it to be at least passable, so it's not really saying much. We tried to make light of the experience with humor, to make it through. Interior is tacky and the music is a flashback to the 90s, but with remixes of those songs that are actually good if left alone. Needless to say, I didn't tip, and was not asked if I wanted one added (I was prepared to say no), however the table beside us were asked directly did they want to add a tip on paying, as opposed to adding it themselves via the card machine, which I thought was odd also - I've rarely seen that. Definitely would not recommend, the experience was disappointing and this felt more like an overhyped on Insta restaurant than...

The pasta was chewy. They forgot my sides for my main. We were told to be quiet because we were laughing too much. The owner we met on the way out and he was very nice I will say, also our female server was fantastic. But our male server asked us to keep it down, not that we were loud, that we were laughing too much, not a very good experience, if you take away how rude it was to be chastised, the food was pretty terrible and over priced, I was having a glass of rose and asked for the €90 bottle for the table, they didn’t have a full bottle available so gave us a €130 instead, only realising this when the bill arrived. We tried to make the best of it and laugh off the mistake, but then realised we weren’t permitted to laugh on their premises

Edit:

Response to owner. please be careful of your descriptions, to suggest that we were 'screaming' is not only insulting but its down right incorrect. yes we were perhaps laughing at jokes and in a joyous mood, basically trying to enjoy each others company, but 'screaming' is a massive and defensive stretch in order to defend your restaurant, which the sentiment i respect but as a business owner please don't lie about paying patrons, its not a great look in regards to customer service. so bypassing the almost defamatory description in your reply, i would like to reiterate that you indeed cannot laugh over a certain noise level without being reprimanded. rosa madre may be more suited to a romantic date with a mute who has no sense of humour, who enjoys overpriced wine and chewy pasta, sides that never arrive, and a slanderous lying host who will try and make a mockery of you by wildly exaggerating...