Ercoli 1928 — Restaurant in Rome

I had high hopes, given the reviews, but the whole experience has left me disappointed. Initially, things seemed promising: the deli counter looks amazing and despite the restaurant being quiet, there was a lovely atmosphere. I used the loo while waiting for our dishes to arrive and was really quite shocked as they weren’t particularly pleasant - the kind of toilets you’d expect to find in a cheap cafe, which you would make allowances for. The water in the taps was cold and only one of the soap dispensers was working. The prices on the menu indicated higher standards than this. When our mains arrived, mine and my son’s saltimbocca was tasty enough but the veal was not tender and the portion was so small that I knew I’d still be hungry later. My husband was happy with his chicken but again, the portion was small. My daughter’s calamari and shrimp was more generous but was unseasoned, the batter fell off and the dish came with a single sauce despite being advertised as coming with ‘sauces’. Rather annoyingly, the waiter removed my husband’s and son’s plates while my daughter and I were still eating, which made us feel as though they wanted us to hurry up. Dessert, when it arrived, looked great and, to be fair, mine and my husband’s pistachio parfait was faultless. My son said the tiramisu was the best he’d had but my daughter found something hard and rubbery in her tiramisu, which looked like a piece of gristle from chicken. It completely put her off finishing her dessert. When the waiter came to take the plates my husband pointed out the foreign object. The waiter did not apologise but took the plate and showed it to what we assume was a manager. After several minutes, she came and asked if my daughter would like a replacement dessert but she declined because the rubbery object had ruined her appetite. No apology was made and no explanation was given for what the object might be. We were then left for a good ten minutes, wondering when the bill might arrive - it seemed too fancy a place to require payment at a counter but that does seem to be how they operate. When we got the bill, we were only charged for one tiramisu but a service charge had been added and still no apology or explanation was forthcoming. We didn’t want to make a fuss so we paid in full and left. It was a real shame and it rather spoilt our evening. We had been looking forward to staying on for cocktails, which looked more interesting than the usual cocktail menu, but no one was in the mood. A sincere apology and an explanation would have made a world of difference. It would also have been nice to have some reassurance around what that rubbery object might have been. We’ll be exploring other options for our remaining...

Tourist trap – overpriced and poor quality

Given the high ratings of this place I initially thought I’d get a good local dining experience. Instead, I left feeling completely ripped off. I was offered a suggested starter, main, and wine: smoked salmon, risotto, a glass of Pinot Noir, and a bottle of San Pellegrino.

The smoked salmon was dry at the edges and tasted as old as it looked—just six thin slices with a bit of salad and bread. I ate it but mentioned the poor quality to the staff. Later, they offered fried calamari, it was bland and I couldn’t even finish it. The risotto was just okay.

The wine was decent, and I had an extra glass, but that was the only highlight. When the bill came, the salmon alone was €49. That’s beyond excessive for such poor quality. The manager offered a €10 discount, bringing the total to €130, which felt like an insult considering the experience.

This place clearly saw an opportunity to take advantage of a tourist and did just that. I don’t mind paying for quality—but this wasn’t it. Avoid if you value your money...

If you're an American, traveling to Rome, PLEASE put this on your list!! This is the first restaurant that we came to that doesn't have their menu translated to English. The entire staff was very accommodating and helpful. Most importantly, the food was to die for. We got a cutting board. ( Le excellence Italiane) Which had a jam that is AMAZING. Strawberry, peach, fig and ginger) They brought bread to share, which was also awesome. (Olive oil and balsamic to accompany). We shared a mezze maniche fresh Alla carbonara con yoga parisi, which was a fresh, flavorful pasta with bacon. The balance was delightful! Our server was just as helpful as the (manager?) who brought our wine. Wine... Franz Haas Pinot negro. Delightful. Finally, ended with a complementary limoncello for us both and a tiramisu that was... Incredible.

Hands down, best food since we arrived in Italy and we're planning to come back...