Hostaria Dino e Tony — Restaurant in Rome

This is my first time in Italy, and therefore my first time at Dino and Toni which is situated on Via Leone IV and thus conveniently close to Vatican City.

I notice their Facebook page indicates it is Dino and Tony yet in their Hostaria Tony is Toni. Regardless it is a fantastic place to eat. This is our second time we are here. We ate here as a group of seven on Monday and today, Thursday, it is my spouse and myself. This alone should be a good indication of the quality of the food.

For people like myself, not from France or Italy the first question is what is a Hostaria? (It is an alternative form of osteria in Italian.) To me, please excuse my ignorance, it reminds me of a Greek Mezze (or meze). When I looked up the definition it is described as a type of eatery where the dishes are simpler with more reasonable pricing compared to a restaurant. Also, it is a more casual atmosphere. It is usually based on market availability.

When we were here on Monday, we arrived early and watched Dino open the place a few minutes before 1930 hrs / 7:30 p.m. Today we arrived a few minutes later and though people were seated, we were welcomed and had a seat right away. I would caution about thinking you can pop in anytime. Also, this is a typical European meal, if you are in a rush, you best go elsewhere. However, if you want a reasonably priced delicious meal you must come here.

As per the name, you do not get a menu and pick items. You get what they have. This does not mean you do not have choices. If you want no pork, no problem. If you want no meal, it is the same, no problem. Dino do ask you if you want antipasto and wine. The first time I thought, do I get red or white wine since I did not know what I going to eat? Get what you want! No one here will judge you regardless of your choice.

Anytime we come to Rome, we...

We didn’t have a good experience at this restaurant. We had high expectations, since it was featured on a Brazilian TV channel and had good reviews online. Unfortunately, it turned out to be our worst dining experience in Rome.

First, the service was disappointing. The staff pushed the antipasti as if it was mandatory, and they did this to every single table. Then, they forgot our drinks. We were waiting for them before our food arrived, and noticed that other tables who came after us were already being served. When my husband tried to ask about our drinks, the waiter cut him off mid-sentence and simply walked away. We tried again, and when the beer finally arrived, it was the wrong size. My husband had ordered a small one, but they brought a large one—and the waiter didn’t seem pleased at all when we asked for it to be changed.

After a while, the food arrived. We ordered a carbonara and a pasta with funghi. The funghi pasta was decent, but the carbonara was honestly terrible. I swear, it looked like pasta with scrambled eggs—we could even see bits of egg white. Not to brag, but the carbonara I make at home is ten times better. We were really disappointed, especially considering this was supposed to be a traditional Italian restaurant.

To top it off, when the waiter asked how everything was, my husband said: “Not good. The service is not good and the food is not good.” The waiter replied, “Everybody loves it here.” That was his only response—not friendly, not professional, not even polite.

We wouldn’t recommend this place and we’re definitely not coming back. We paid €34 for a small beer, an aranciata, and two plates of pasta. It was definitely...

"Food Is How We Show Love"

We went to Dino & Tony’s for the first time in 2010 based on a guidebook recommendation.  The warmth of the welcome and the classic food were so wonderful that Dino & Tony’s is the one restaurant that we must go to every time we visit Rome, including this May 2025 when we were in Rome for just one day.

You’ll find yourself seated next to tourists and locals alike.  Everyone gets the same warm welcome from Dino and fabulous food.  It always reminds me of eating at my Italian great aunt’s house.  While there is a menu, you’re best served eating whatever the chef has made for the day.  The food keeps coming and you’re not finished until you make it to the end – even if that means appetizers, 3 plates of pasta, and a braised oxtail – before dessert and after dinner drinks.

Dino & Tony’s delivers that convivial, welcoming, homecooked experience that you’re looking for: from Dino’s warm welcome, to his daughter’s and nephew’s charm helping to wait the tables, to Tony singing joyfully in the kitchen.  If you’re lucky like we were, you’ll still be there hours later, having their terrific limoncello and laughing with Dino and the family.

We cannot recommend Dino & Tony’s enough.  You really ought to eat there. ...