Il Giardino. Antica Osteria 1909 — Restaurant in Rome

Buongiorno. ...I'm too self respecting for food pics. I mean, this place has cloth napkins. There's an unassuming entrance off the beaten path away from the tourists. Did you know Rome is the 4th most visited international city in the world? And more-so this last weekend with the passing of Pope Francis, the Papal Conclave, and the Jubilee. Il Giardino. Antica Osteria is a step above as far as quality of service, food, and price. Once inside the nondescript entrance, you will stroll down a short hallway, and there you will be greeted. I would highly suggest reservations.

There's not a lot of pomp & circumstance. Akin to Miami Beach, Florida, some of these places hire attractive people to try and draw you into their establishment. IL Giardino doesn't do that. From the busier sidewalk, up the hill, up what appears to be an alley almost, the entrance is just a curiosity for the lost tourist as they pass it multiple times in confusion. And finally, tired and hungry, they may decide to drop in. The atmosphere is grotto-like, if there is such a thing. You will be delighted by the ambiance as well as the entire experience. Il Giardino is a real find. Tony too who oversees the operation, is a real find.

The folks that showed up late in the dinner service must have been a plant for our entertainment, for they were a real find as well. Hard, very, to detract from the pleasant atmosphere, but one could imagine how bedraggled the corps from deep south in the SEC, that is the South-Eastern Conference of College football in the USA, that showed up later in the dinner service. They were identifiable by the fellow with the large "A" on his ball cap he wore even at the table. Plastic water bottles bounced off and onto the hard floor. Plastic Coca-cola bottles adorned the table. The needle skipped and slid noisily across the vinyl with grand, horrifying effect.

Nonetheless, it was a delightful evening. All combined of the seven courses, only one was less than inspiring. I'll not mention which as it is just a matter of taste, and doesn't warrant it. All in all, the experience was very, very well-worth the time. And I must mention time, and why you should consider reservations. It's not like you're dropping in for fried chicken and fries real quick. Our dining was just short of a thoroughly enjoyable three...

This was hands down the worst meal we’ve had in Italy so far.

The service was non-existent. Complete garbage. We had to ask for our ordered water and bread “basket” twice. The bread “basket” was a few slices of hard bread in a BAG. No butter or oil was offered to help the hard bread go down. Every time we needed someone it took ages to even flag someone down to ask, and it always took two attempts.

I ordered the “grilled” steak with black truffle. When I asked if it came with anything I was told no, and directed to the sides section of the menu. So I ordered potatoes as my side and wouldn’t you know it, the steak came with a salad so I ended up with two sides. The steak was absolutely not grilled. It was obviously boiled, BOILED, and was definitely not medium like I ordered. It looked disgusting. It tasted ok, just ok, but it was hard to eat because it looked so unappetizing.

One of my party had the cabonera and really liked it, so there’s a plus. One had the gnocchi with clams and mushrooms and didn’t care for the taste, but that’s a personal preference so we won’t blame the restaurant for that.

We ended the night with our traditional order of tiramisu. When we put our spoon in I immediately knew they’d tried to pull something over on us. The lady fingers were hard as a rock! If you know tiramisu, then you know it takes hours to make because the lady fingers have to soak in the mixture to soften. That is what creates the incredible taste of the final product. Putting in fresh lady fingers and covering it with cream and sprinkled kahlua/espresso is not tiramisu. We mentioned this to the staff and they confirmed that it had just been made to order. Tiramisu cannot be made to order! I’m honestly so disgusted with this attempt to pull one over on the tourists.

I cannot recommend this...

We recently dined at a charming restaurant nestled in a picturesque cobblestone alley just off the main Via Tritone. Initially, we were apprehensive when we arrived for our reservation and found the front dining room completely empty. However, our doubts quickly vanished as we were led to our seats, deep within the restaurant, where every dining room was bustling with guests.

The ambiance is quaint, with several cozy dining rooms scattered throughout. The service, while friendly and personable, did face some challenges due to the restaurant's busyness. It seemed they could have benefited from one additional server to balance the load and provide more attentive service.

The menu offered a variety of classic favorites, but we opted for their tabletop specials. We started with the meatballs as an appetizer. Though slightly dense and hard on the outside, the flavor was excellent, complemented by a simple yet delicious tomato sauce. Unfortunately, the bread service was a letdown; the bread, served in a paper bag, was stale and dry, even when dipped in the tomato sauce.

The entrées and dessert, however, were exceptional. The gnocchi with tomato sauce was perfectly soft and tender, while the pasta with shrimp was flavorful and well-prepared. Be sure to save room for dessert; their selection is delightful. The pannacotta was excellent, but the pear ricotta dessert truly stood out.

Overall, this restaurant is definitely worth a visit. We thoroughly enjoyed...