Canova Piazza del Popolo — Restaurant in Rome

🚨TOURIST TRAP🚨 DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY HERE

Even though after seeing several reviews to avoid restaurants in front of touristic places, we decided to give a chance on Canova Piazza, worse decision ever.

The first red flag started when we asked for a table of 5 people and the main water asked us to wait the lady on the side table to leave, so he could get an extra cair, when most of the bigger table were available.

Then, we started ordering. We asked if they would have non alcoholic beer, and the main waiter confirmed they had it. Unfortunately, when the drinks came, my father that did not drink alcohol was unsure if the drink was really the one we ordered. I called the waiter to double-check, and he could tell from the glass it was the wrong beer(We asked him, and he brought the wrong one). Surprisingly, he rolled his eyes and took the pint away, and brought the correct one.

When it comes to the food, (I used to work in an authentic Italian restaurant, so I know how great is the food and learned a lot about the Italian cuisine) I ordered a Prosciuto Ham pizza and I was served a Margarita with no ham on it. I just starred the pizza when the main waiter came and asked if everything was okay. I replied that I ordered a Prosciuto Ham pizza, and it was missing something. The same waiter again hesitated for a while before acknowledging they made a mistake and took the pizza away. In less than 5 minutes, he came back with THE SAME PIZZA with added on top Bresaola ham instead of Prosciuto Ham as a way to fix the mistake. I noticed it was not what I ordered, and I called the same waiter who took our order. I replied saying, "I noticed you just added another bresaola ham on top but that's not what I ordered" and he replied saying I do not know anything about Italian cuisine and that's how the pizza are made. When I said he could take the pizza back because the order was wrong, he insisted on arguing and confirming the pizza was correct. Eventually, he tood the pizza back and brought a "new one" with the correct Prosciuto Ham on it.

Last but not least, we asked for the bill and again another surprise. We all know the place is overpriced because of the amount on tourists on the area, and we were charged for an extra bottle of water(€7 each!), the waiter started speaking in Italian with the manager(manager does not speak english, we asked the manager for 2 espresso and we got one only! At this stage, we were tired of so many mistakes at one place!) that came to understand what was going on. He noticed it was his own mistake and deleted the water from the bill without even apologising. I don't mind paying when the food and service are great, sadly, not at Canova Piazza del Popolo.

P.s. toilets are disgusting and not cleaned at all. For the price they charge costumers, the place should be spotless.

Bill is attached, so you can understand the over...

Well, I have to do it - but this was outraging. We set there, my wife and I for a nice cop of coffee with something sweet on the side - I'm completely ignoring the quality of the coffee and cakes we got, that's debatable - but for our taste it was definitely the worst we tasted in Rome. I'm talking only about the service we got and the price we paid. We had to wait for more than 20 minutes until someone actually paid attention to us, and gave us the menus. Then once we managed to place the order it took another 10 minutes (2 coffees, and two premade cakes...) and then, once we asked for a check - we had to wait another 30 (!!!) minutes until we got it, I had to get off my sit, tried to catch our waitress, whom I couldn't find, and then when I finally got the shift manager (or something like that) the desired check so we could pay and leave... Ohhh, and we paid 46 EURs, yes, you read it right. 46 EURs for 2 coffees and 2 small cakes. We had suppers in Rome for which we paid less... Sorry @Canova Piazza del Popolo, but it seems to you're abusing the fact you have a great location, other than that - not sure why someone would...

I beg you to avoid this place, it gives Italian cafes a bad name. Like many others we were charged double for cappucino and latte despite not asking for a double yet being charged for them. Is €7 per modest cup not enough for them - clearly not. I decided not to upset my wife (fortunately using the washroom at the time) by arguing but decided to post this review instead. When asked to point out what a standard coffee looked like the waitress (middle aged) looked around all the full tables and couldn't point out a single one, all were the same size. So, are they all going to be charged double? I doubt it (not the Italians, anyway). A very sour taste - PLEASE GO ELSEWHERE to start to teach them a lesson. Regrettably there is no...