Emma Pizzeria Restaurant — Restaurant in Rome

IT'S A KIND OF MAGIC ! Soon after finalizing all the details for our 2 week vacation in Italy I made a dinner reservation on Emma's website for Fri, March 21st at 6.30pm...the day after we arrived in Rome. During our first vacation in Italy 18 months ago this amazing restaurant was recommended to us by our personal tour guide Valeria when we checked out the Colosseum and other monumental sites while staying in Monti, Rome. AS GOOD AS IT GETS ! To say we enjoyed our dinner experience would be a huge understatement. This was THE BEST DINING EXPERIENCE during our 3 week vacation in Italy and Paris. Thanks to Francesco the charming owner, Valerio & Valentina the lovely host / hostess and all the friendly staff incl Chris our incredible server who made us feel like royalty. WE'RE BACK ! After catching a ride in an Uber from our apartment in Monti we arrived here a few minutes before 6.30pm ( opening time ) on Friday. WHAT A WELCOME ! When the doors opened we were greeted in the most welcoming manner by our good friend Valerio the host who said...Michael & Sherri you guys look great ! Shortly after Chris the world's best server came out to get a selfie with us. KEEP IN MIND ! They hadn't seen us for 18 months. I had requested in my reservation to dine in the Skylight Room due to the cooler weather. You can see the great photo I took featured on Emma's Instagram site. THE BEST ! Chris of course was our server again....host Valerio made sure of that. The large beautiful dining room filled up very fast and the excitement began. Chris is probably the only server in the world who we have trusted to choose items off the menu which suit our particular tastes. CHAMPAGNE TO START ! And then the food started rolling out to our table....tasty bruschetta, crispy focaccia with fresh date tomatoes & fresh basil, fried rice balls, roasted artichoke, asparagus with truffle soup and pappardelle ragu. Chris even picked out a Tangerine IPA for me which tasted fine. DESSERT TIME ! Out came an array of very decadent desserts....tiramisu espresso, sicilian cannolo deconstructed by spoon, millefoglie crumble, tangerine sorbet and homemade biscuit selection with rich venezuelan chocolate dip. OMG....was all that super delicious ! On the way out we had a wonderful chat with Francesco the owner. YOU WON'T FIND A BETTER...

Our experience at Emma was nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment we stepped through the door, we were enveloped in an atmosphere of warmth and authenticity. The décor exuded Italian charm, adding to the anticipation of what was to come.

To start, we indulged in a delightful array of appetizers: creamy mozzarella, succulent olives, and crusty bread, all elevated by the exquisite olive oil and balsamic vinegar provided. Each bite was a celebration of flavor and freshness, setting the stage for what was to follow.

The pièce de résistance was undeniably the carbonara pasta. Every forkful was a symphony of perfectly cooked pasta, rich egg, crispy pancetta, and sharp pecorino cheese. It was a revelation, easily ranking among the best carbonara dishes I've ever had the pleasure of savoring.

And then there was dessert—a tiramisu that defied expectations. Layer upon layer of delicate sponge soaked in espresso and rum, laced with creamy mascarpone and dusted with cocoa. It was a sublime conclusion to an already extraordinary meal, leaving an indelible mark on my taste buds.

Of course, no Italian meal is complete without wine, and Emma delivered on this front as well. The selection was impeccable, each pour enhancing the flavors of the dishes it accompanied.

But beyond the culinary delights, what truly sets Emma apart is its impeccable service. Attentive yet unobtrusive, the staff anticipated our every need, ensuring that our dining experience was nothing short of perfection.

In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend Emma to anyone seeking an unforgettable culinary journey in Rome. Whether you're a pasta aficionado, a pizza enthusiast, or simply in search of authentic Italian cuisine, Emma is sure to exceed your expectations....

High-quality pizza, terrible staff...

When I visited this place with my friends three years ago, I was impressed by the staff and their food. The restaurant's operation was similar to what it is today. However, the employees' arrogance and rudeness have gradually increased. On the night we went, there were plenty of empty tables, and despite most of the reservations showing up, and even half of the second-page reservations, there were 1.5 times more empty tables than the no-show reservations. Yet, the reservation coordinator, who was quite unprofessional, told us that we would need to wait for at least 1 hour and even the lady with him was surprised by this. After waiting for 25 minutes, I asked why we were still not seated when there were more empty tables than the number of reservations, and this unprofessional individual tried to respond mockingly, asking if it's our intention? and ending with cringy voice 'Hahaha'. The lady who witnessed his rude behavior kindly assisted us.

But it didn't end there. When we finally sat down, despite signaling the waiter three times and him passing by, we waited 12 minutes just to place an order. This might be normal, but while we were discussing what dessert to order after finishing our meal, the same waiter came with the bill on his POS device in less than 2 minutes. Then, he threw the bill to our table unless..!

You can serve great pizza, but with male employees like your arrogant reservation manager and rude 'fake Dwayne Johnson' waiter, you only harm yourselves. Three years later, my girlfriend and I came happily and left with disappointment. I will warn all my friends about this...