L'orso 80 — Restaurant in Rome

First of all, I'd like to apologize to Orso 80. I had a really lovely five days off from work and it was so great hanging out with my wife and going for long walks that when it came time to go back to work I just felt...

mad.

Just, you know, generally, mad.

So I needed someone quick to take it out on. But probably it would be better if it wasn't a co-worker, or a patron, or someone like that. And what more is there to say about Republicans, even if they richly deserve it. And if I take it out on the Refs of La Liga, the Spanish Soccer League, it'll all get too emotional.

And that's when Orso 80 popped into my mind.

The sad thing about Orso 80 is we went there more than a decade ago, and though it wasn't great, or even terribly good, they brought all these large bowls of food to our table, vegetables, meatballs, stuffed things, tomatoey things, and it was charming. It was like our own personal buffet on our own personal table. A buffet without shuffling around and mixing with the hoi polloi! We were delighted.

I'm not big on the hoi polloi.

So one night in Rome last year I said "Let's go to Orso 80 for dinner." It was down the street from us, sort of, and just opening for the night. Lots of people were waiting to get in. Almost all at once we were all seated, and almost all at once we filled the restaurant. There was even a strange sense of occasion to it.

They brought us water, wine, menus.

Do you ever go to a restaurant and you look at the menu and absolutely nothing appeals to you? But then, just before you start to panic, just before you have to start inventing an interest in something, you see it. Right there on the menu is exactly what you want but didn't even know you wanted. Unanticipated, unexpected, it is exactly what you were dreaming of eating, the perfect thing for dinner.

This happened to me at Orso 80!

It was the swordfish, cooked Sicilian style. That sounds good doesn't it? I don't remember what "Sicilian Style" meant. I think maybe it had to do with lemons and pine nuts, maybe? Whatever. I was very excited, and unusually certain about my perfect choice.

My wife had lamb, I think. I got some appetizer that I thought would precede the exciting swordfish in a complimentary way. The waiter brought the antipasti, and then the waiter said "We don't have any swordfish. What would you like instead?"

What would I like instead?

What would I like instead?

I would like to give Orso 80 two out of five stars.

And I'd like to be spending today at home with my wife.

Thank...

Extremely Disappointing Experience - Avoid at All Costs.

I recently had the unfortuexperience of dining here, and I must say it was an absolute disaster. From start to finish, everything about this place screamed disappointment. My partner and I were left utterly unsatisfied and regretful of our decision to dine here.

First and foremost, the quality of the food was abysmal. Out of the four dishes we ordered, we couldn't even bring ourselves to eat three of them. The mixed salad was nothing more than half a bag of mixed lettuce, accompanied by a mere three slices of tomato. To make matters worse, there was absolutely no dressing to enhance or elevate the flavours.

The seasonal greens were equally disappointing. A plate of steamed beans without any seasoning or dressing is hardly an enticing dish. It became painfully clear that the kitchen lacked the care and passion needed to create a memorable dining experience. And the pasta was unappetising in both appearance and taste, rendering the pasta virtually inedible. It was a complete letdown and a stark departure from the authentic Italian cuisine one would expect.

What made matters worse, however, was the restaurant's response to our complaint. When I brought the issue to the attention of the staff, expecting them to acknowledge the problem and offer a solution, I was met with disappointment. The staff showed no concern for my dissatisfaction and made no effort to rectify the situation. Not only did they fail to offer an alternative or a replacement dish, but they also did not provide any form of discount or compensation for the poor quality of the food . Their lack of care and indifference towards a dissatisfied customer was upsetting.

As a diner, I believe it is not unreasonable to expect a restaurant to take responsibility for the quality of their food and to make an effort to resolve any issues that arise. In this case, the lack of action or concern displayed by the restaurant was a clear indication of their disregard for customer satisfaction.

In conclusion, I strongly advise against dining at this Italian restaurant in Rome. The tasteless and poorly executed dishes, coupled with the lack of attention to detail and the apathetic attitude of the staff, create an experience that is far from enjoyable. Rome boasts a myriad of exceptional dining options that showcase the true beauty and passion of Italian cuisine. Spare yourself the disappointment and explore other establishments that prioritise quality and customer...

This place is an authentic Roman restaurant. That means tourists coming for a vegetarian meal will be gravely disappointed. And their disgust would probably turn off the Roman staff, further spiraling your experience. They serve one of the most traditional and authentic Cacio e Pepe, Amatriciana, and Carbonara pastas you will find in Rome. Meats and pastas are a specialty they take pride in. My Roman wife brought us here for a family dinner because her cousin worked nearby and used to meet for lunch here often. I ended up eating there once a week for a month as the flavor surpassed my previous favorite Italian restaurant, Papi Papi(Trastevere). They have been around since the 50s and l are still around and thriving. Good or bad reviews, locals give them staying power. If a salad or side veggies is what you want, just don’t go here, but steak, pizza, pasta, true Roman food will yield a 5 star...