L'Antica Birreria Peroni — Restaurant in Rome

So we came here thinking that this place is a nice place and we could get good food and good beer and that 7000 review ratings of 4.4 stars can't be wrong. We were mistaken. The place was not too full, and we were seated immediately. The waitress dropped off the menus on the table and returned within one minute for us to place our orders. We hadn't even gotten through the menu by then so I aid we needed a few more minutes. She walked off. When she came back, we had decided which of the house beers we should take and told her. She noted it down and continued standing there. Honestly, I thought she might bring us our beers while we continue to look at the menu, but no. So we hurried through the menu. My husband was interested in the Italian sausages. They came plain, or with fries or with beans. We didn't know if beans were the green beans or baked beans so we tried asking. She didn't know any English. Fair enough, but a brewery in the middle of Rome, with no English? Even the slightest indication that she wanted to help us understand the menu was lacking. It was as though she just wanted to get on with the order. Like I said before, the place wasn't even full. I would understand otherwise. Anyway, all we understood with the minimal help she provided after we spent a few minutes trying to get information was the the dish that said just sausages did not come with potatoes. Okay, fine. We'll get the sausages without potatoes. It was 6 euros, from the secondi piatti, which I guess would translate to main course. I ordered the spaghetti aglio olio e peperoncino.

The beers came, they were quite good. We had the malt one and the nastro azurro. The sausages came next. 2 finger length sausages, cut lengthwise, grilled. Nothing else. No garnish, no condiment nothing. This was not expected when someone orders a main course. Especially when the spaghetti was 8 euros and was more than double the volume. She dropped it on my husbands side and walked off. Believe me when I say you'd feed your pets with more respect. While he was done with most of his food, the spaghetti arrived. It was fine. I might have enjoyed it if I didn't feel like we were unwelcome. To be fair, the waitress behaved like this with everyone. Once my husband was done with his dish, and beer, the waitress just took both the plate and the glass away. She didn't ask how it was, she didn't ask if we wanted something else, she didn't ask if we wanted another beer. I mean, who in the world, that works at the brewery, does not ask if their patrons want another beer???? So he was just sitting there, no beer, nothing, waiting for me to finish my food. Once I finished, she took my plate away, asked a cursory 'everything okay, something else'. We declined politely and asked for the bill. A new person, wearing a Peroni tee-shirt smacked the bill down on the table, and walked off. So we pulled out our card, laid it on the table and tried to catch either the man's or the waitress's eye. Sat there for 5 minutes till the man responded by saying, that card payments are at the counter. So we packed and went to the counter. It was empty. No waitress, no man. We could have left. Anyway, after a few minutes, the waitress came with our bill. A few more minutes and the man came. He stuck his hand out and asked for the card. We didn't see him punch any numbers onto the card machine so we said we'd like to se the machine. I'm not sure if this is general practice, but when you have a card machine in front of you, you offer it up to the person paying. You don't hide it from view, not punch the value and stick you hand out and demand it. Of course, we said, no and that we'd like to see the bill amount on the machine. We'd developed no trust with this establishment to believe that they'd be sincere in the amount the type in. Surprise surprise, the man got grumpy. Once we saw the bill, we paid. The man mumbled a Grazie. We did not return the greeting. We didn't not feel thankful for any service they provided. Then he grumbled some more at us as we left. You reap...

What a ride, good luck with what you order. This was not pleasant and even more a major scam.

First, pasta with Parmesan and pepper- I wasn’t even the one eating it and i was disappointed. 8€

So, you order mixed bruschetta expecting what (seriously picture this in your head): Fresh tomatoes on freshly toasted bread? Yum, right? What do you get: Mexican style salsa I’d get out of a grocery store jar on seemingly stale bread. And then 3 other pieces of crunchy thick bread with olive tapenade (least worst part.) 4€

The mixed antipasto. I don’t even know what any of that was besides the meat, even then it’s covered in the oil of the sour mystery items with a flavor so strong, you can’t look past. I couldn’t even chew the meat enough to swallow it without gagging- just gross. 12€

Now, waiter tried to argue: “I would’ve explained had you asked!” But are these things not common sense?? I didn’t realize I’d be getting stale-ish bread with a thin layer of things coming out of a jar. Nor 8 slices of store-packaged meat doused in anchovy + jarred artichoke + whatever the hell/mushroom items. Only issue to me is that people would eat this without complaining- this is a restaurant and I’ve made better things from google.

Is this what Italian people eat??? Really?? You’re going to tell me you are happy to sit and eat the meal I had been given? Pathetic.

Am I irrational for not wanting to pay for the things I didn’t eat? I gave them a try at-least and was very….. dissatisfied. My poor waiter (busy day, it hurts me to complain as I’ve worked in food service) visited us twice: to ask for items, and the final take away- in which I expressed my sadness. Paying at the front I expressed this… again, to be met with “you should’ve told us when you decided.” Girl, I decided I didn’t want to eat at the establishment anymore. Anyways- still made me pay for everything: 16€ for some seemingly store bought items.

Me writing this won’t get back my € for food I didn’t eat, nor will it probably fix the menu items. But it makes me feel a little better.

Go somewhere else, save the trouble of risking a disappointment. I’m so displeased- and...

Antica Birreria Peroni is a true Roman gem an authentic Italian restaurant that blends tradition, quality, and warm hospitality, consistently delivering excellence for decades.

We’ve been coming here for over 40 years, and it has always remained true to its roots same management, same high-quality cuisine, same friendly service, and prices that are far more reasonable than other places in the city center.

The menu features a variety of traditional Roman dishes, all prepared with care and served quickly. The staff is professional, welcoming, and efficient the kind of team that makes you feel at home, even if you're just visiting for the first time.

The location is ideal: just far enough from the main tourist attractions to attract locals, yet close enough to find easily. This gives the restaurant a genuine, authentic atmosphere without the touristy feel of many other central spots.

If you're looking for a true Roman dining experience, this is the place to go. The food is excellent, the service is fast, the ambiance is delightful, and the value for money is exceptional. Mark it on your map it’s well worth the visit.

Highly recommended an original Italian experience that will stay with you long after...