Come 'na Vorta Pasta e Vino - Via Florida — Restaurant in Rome

Yes, I am a tourist and yes this is a restaurant that I fell the trap for and definitely wouldn’t visit again.

To start with, the couple behind us got seated first with a better seat inside and we were given the seat right at the entrance. We saw it but didn’t think it was a big deal.

Upon ordering, the waiter couldn’t speak English at all, not even French fries but luckily we have google lenses which did the translation for us so no problem at ordering.

We have ordered two pasta dishes and one oxtail dish with fries.

During the time waiting, I visited the toilet which by the way was extremely dirty and the machine for hand soap machine was broken and the dirt on the container! I had to pretend I didn’t see that.

Luckily the lady near the window making pasta seemed friendly and smiled at us. The restaurant was busy, all were positive signs that we have came to the right place.

Finally, the two pasta dishes came, one with bacon, one with pork sausage, came together with the fries. Nice presentation.

When I finally took a bite of the two pasta, omg, why so salty?! and quite frankly, tasted tomato sauce, nothing special or worth mentioning, pasta were harder and more chewy than regular super market brands but that’s pretty much it. I can make better pasta myself tbh.

So by the time, my husband and child finished their pasta, I was still waiting for my oxtail dish, and a lady even tried to bring me my bill which was when I asked where is my oxtail dish? The lady vanished and a waiter came back checking the order and the waiter who took our order all of a sudden came over and said one minute.

So after another, god knows how long but definitely not one minute, I finally got my oxtail dish - properly cooked with tenderness and good texture, again, tomato sauce and nothing special.

All in all,

1. service not the worst but definitely not good as clearly they messed up our order which was why the long wait.

2. Bad environment especially the toilet.

3. disappointing pasta which were extremely salty.

I am giving 2 stars and not one because noodle were chewy and the waiters were not mean.

FYI,...

Tourist trap be aware!! As soon as we entered the restaurant I immediately knew because the server kept being pushy with drinks. My mother In law wanted a glass of wine and the server said she needed to buy a whole bottle. Again, I’ve been living in Italy for many years and this is not true. You can buy 1 glass of wine without problem. Needles to say he gave us “ his recommendation” which was one of the most expensive bottles. When the time of ordering food came. Same thing with the server, extremely pushy about the most expensive thing in the menu with my in laws. The bread is an up charge ( yeah, you heard that right) not normal either. Once we were done eating I got up , walked to the counter and asked for the bill. (I tried to pay for all of us before my family tried) The server didn’t want to give me the bill. He said “ no, what if they want dessert and something else” I said “ they don’t want anything else, can I please have the bill” he kept insisting on not giving me the bill so I said: Fine , let me pay for this bill. If they want dessert I’ll pay for the other bill. Can I please have the bill. He finally gave it to me He was really aggravating so I went back to the table and gave it to my husband under the table. My husband got up and when he went to pay they kept asking him for tips. I know this is an unknown topic for tourist but in Italy there is no tip culture. You are not required to tip at all. Italians get offended if you ask them for tips. Why wouldn’t we be offended too? Oh I see , We are Americans and we are expected to tip when others don’t. Messed up.

The food: was not bad by any means. Really Big portions. Lady cooking in the window to attract clients. I would say overall not a bad restaurant but be aware of their strategic and don’t let them fool you if you end up in this place. It certainly would have made a better experience if the server didn’t try to pressure us into ordering what he wanted the...

I must express my disappointment with my recent visit to this establishment.

Upon arrival, the lack of a simple gesture like offering a complimentary glass of water, especially after waiting outside, sets the tone for the experience. It's disheartening that even basic hospitality is overlooked, and charging for water is an unexpected turn.

While the pasta dishes are acceptable, the quality doesn't justify the prices. A small gesture, such as offering complimentary bread, could enhance the overall dining experience, but unfortunately, this is not the case here.

The wine, though expensive (they did not put the prices on the menu!!!), falls short in both quality and taste.

The overall service resembles that of a fast-food establishment, lacking the personalized touch one would expect in a restaurant setting.

The disposable paper tablecloth and the unclean bathroom contribute to an overall lack of attention to detail. I understand that Rome attracts a constant flow of tourists, but using this as an excuse for subpar service is unacceptable.

Considering the disappointing experience I just had, I'm hesitant to try the Tiramisu at this place. The overall service and quality of the meal make me uncertain about the dessert's standard.

I believe that providing a substandard experience is a recipe for failure in the long run. Every customer, whether local or tourist, deserves a quality dining experience, and neglecting this principle can adversely impact the success of any business.

I hope this critique serves as constructive feedback for...