Da Carlone — Restaurant in Rome

This was by far the worst restaurant experience I've ever had in my life. My girlfriend and I went there this evening expecting to have one of the best meals we could possibly have in Rome based on other experiences and recommendations from other tourists like ourselves.

If you're a local, you get very generous pasta portions - enough to feed 3. If you're a tourist you barely get enough to feed 1. It's "known" for its pasta carbonara which was good but nothing spectacular. The restaurant down the street is much better. The owner gave incredible service to every table around ours, which all happened to have local speaking Italians, coincidence? Probably not. He did ask as I was leaving to make sure I gave him a review on TripAdvisor. Don't worry Remo, you'll get your review.

As my main I ordered the roast lamb. I'm by no means an expert on lamb but I feel there should be some meat included. I had to disect the dried skin to give me some kind of hint that there was once meat on the bone. Thankfully I was saved by the mixed salad I was given at the end of my main that was supposed to come before.

House wine is 15 euros compared to 7 at every other restaurant we ate at. Locals got free still and sparklimg water.. We paid 2.50 euros.

This place is complete garbage and I'd suggest if you wanted to spend 70 euros on a meal, go spend 40 at any other location and throw the other 30 in a dumpster because that will give you better...

The walk was a beautiful walk, as any stroll in Roma. Once we arrived to the Restaurant the waiter who was initially standing at the door got "busy" all of a sudden. So we stood at the entrance for a minute while the patrons stared at us. Stepped outside, thinking there is another entrance, and another couple walked in and was greeted right away. So, I followed in. First question was if I have reservations. "Yes, yes I do. " For 4 people. We got a table. The table that was seated before us received service: menus then water and wine. Still twiddling our thumbs waiting for menus. Another couple sat down and oddly was asked a similar question, "are you American or Roma"? They said "Roma" the waiter said something in Italian and they all laughed. They sat and followed was wine and menus. We finally, place our orders and 2 out of the 4 dinners were no longer available (I get it, items run out). Chose other items. Then, the first couple before us was eating thier food and waiter was pouring thier wine as well as, the second couple (pouring thier wine) but not us. At this point we just want to eat and leave. Food good and service can use improvements, maybe we just need to be Roma. Needless to say, I will not spend another Euro...

Da Carlone is a one of a kind experience, not only of food, but of what an Italian restaurant is. There might not be a menu, but there is a waiter who will tell you, maybe not in English, what they bought and are making that day. We were a party of 15, a huge undertaking, and so I got to sample an equally large part of the menu. The food was nothing short of fantastic. For pasta: the carbonara was sublime, artichoke ravioli equally so (and fresh), and the matriciana nice and perfectly al dente. The puntarelli (salad) were some of the freshest I have ever had in my life, artichoke were surprisingly crispy and fresh. The oxtail was my favorite main dish, as it was tender and the sauce was great, and the lamb was also very good. I liked the oxtail best. I did not try the other main dishes, but friends ate other ones and finished them off. Portions are HUGE. Split a pasta. With wine and tons to eat (we kept ordering more), we spent about 35 euros each. This is really a cultural center, as the waiter has most likely been there for 50 years, and the recipes passed down generations. Go there hungry, with a humble heart and life will get good quickly. After dinner, run over to Otaleg or Fiordiluna for an artisanal ice cream. Heaven...