La Pergola — Restaurant in Rome

I understand that people might be taken by the view, it is indeed stunning. However, that is not a reason for any star. Unfortunately and sadly, I have to agree with all the reviews that say that this restaurant doesn't deserve 3* and frankly I don't understand which critic gave it to them and for what. I've been very fortunate to eat in many Michelin starred restaurants around the world, at La Pergola I was very disappointed. No attention to details, they left crumbs on my table throughout the whole dinner, I had one glass of red wine, the sommelier dripped all over the table cloth with his pour, the carts they use for service rattle on the outdoor flooring, staff is heavy footed and they run around, they change your water glass for deserts, but they leave the old one on the table too. Food - all sauces are gel like, so when they try to serve it at the table it doesn't go off the spoon easily and the chef has to giggle it away. The flavors are not balanced properly so you get overpowering mustard flavor, or spinach etc. It’s true that they plate the food nicely. However, even that is old now. Go to, I don’t know, CiPasso bistro and you get nice plating. It’s not innovative. In fact, the chef is totally burnt down - ideas, flavors, design. Shame, because I know it’s a hard work. I asked for the wine by the glass menu at the beginning of my dinner but I was told they don't have it, so I should just tell them what I like and they will bring me a glass. Here you go, I thought to myself, that essentially means, you are going to be ripped off. However, I also told myself, don't let it spoil your evening, it's probably going to be something high, somewhere around €50 per glass. When the bill came, and they charged me €110 for a glass of red Italian wine (not a Barolo, I have to point out), my evening was definitely spoiled. They automatically assume that because you treat yourself with nice dinner, they can just charge you anything without even letting you know. I, for change, would prefer to pay extra for a whole bottle which I would take home, if I didn't finish it, rather than leaving the restaurant feeling so cheated. Terrible way to treat a guest! Table next to be asked for non-alcoholic drink menu, and they were told the same, we don’t have it, you tell us what would like and we’ll make it for you….excuse me, three star restaurant - you tell us??? They ended up drinking water thru their 10course menu. I have to add, they do have a water menu, in fact 10 pages long one. And since the restaurant filled up by the time I had my desert, I was left 30 mins unattended, no water refill, no conversation, until I got petit four and asked for my cheque. All in all, what was meant to be a joyful, delighted and exciting experience, turned out to be a huge let down. I’m sorry, but very...

I have to ask whether a 3 Michelin star restaurant and Heinz Beck, the celebrated chef who has been in charge of La Pergola for 20 years, really requires my review?!

But here it is nevertheless ... I have been dying to visit this restaurant for a long time and, as it happened, our Rome hotel was able to secure a table for us for a Friday dinner in July.

Upon arrival you are mesmerised by the stunning view of entire Rome from the hill top location and as the sun sets over Rome, you are treated to a stunning, shimmering light show.

We were seated on the terrace in the balmy, summer breeze and the service was absolutely flawless from beginning to end.

As our menu arrived, our attention was drawn to a specially designed 12 course degustation menu, to celebrate Heinz Beck's 20th anniversary at La Pergola. This was a relatively easy sale as the menu offered not just a range of new dishes, but also the revival of classic, celebrated dishes from Heinz Beck's 20-year career at La Pergola, such as his Fagotelli Carbonara and his stunning reinterpretation of the humble zucchini flower!

The 20th anniversary menu is also made special by the fact that only 999 servings will ever be made of this degustation extravaganza. We were numbers 345 and 346, just six weeks into this special offering.

The degustation menu was a journey in complex and harmonious flavours.

The old classics mentioned above were absolute explosions of exquisite flavour. And the newer dishes such as the delicate and subtle amberjack marinated in white balsamic vinegar with pomegranate snow, the fascinatingly complex 'frisella' with croûtons and red shrimps, the refreshing 'Water garden ...', the unique 'Woodland' and the surprising and pleasing reinterpretation in 'Looking for ossobuco' were an absolute delight!

As expected, the dessert courses were also stunning and surprisingly complex in flavour, with the 'Sun' being a crowning achievement in flavour and visual stimulation. The 'Iced sphere of red fruit' that followed was also a stunning creation and created an unparalleled dessert combination with the 'Sun'.

It didn't quite end there though as we were treated to a series of delicate and flavoursome petit fours, just as the Fourth of July fireworks (presumably at our near the US Embassy) set the night sky above Rome alight with additional colour ...

And then, when we thought things couldn't get any more special, we were presented with commemorative plaques detailing the menu and were visited by the man himself, Heinz Beck, at our table for a brief chat! What an amazing treat, what a gourmet night...

My husband and I have been touring Italy and Croatia for the last two weeks, essentially eating our way through both countries. We’ve been to some of the best restaurants, and enjoyed getting to know the Michelin scene throughout. We had hopes that La Pergola was going to be the best and last of our trip, and while the food was incredible—expected for a 3-star restaurant—the service was extremely disappointing, and honestly, a little sexist.

To cut to the chase, at the end of the night, after the last dessert course and before they dropped the check, we were on cloud nine. The 10 courses had been creative and delicious, and we were enjoying the classic Italian ambience and nighttime view. I was getting cold in my evening dress, and my husband, dressed in a jacket and tie, offered me his jacket to tide me over until we paid the check and left before the last of the client’s departed.

It wasn’t 30 seconds that I had settled into his jacket’s warmth before an employee we hadn’t encountered yet hustled up to us to remind us that removal of jackets weren’t allowed on the dining room floor. I said surely an exception could be made that we were nearly done (after an €850 meal), and that I was cold. He insisted that no, wool shawls (itchy, to my skin) would be provided for women, men must keep their jackets.

We’ve dined in fine restaurants across the world, including the best in Italy, and never have we been treated so pejoratively. We communicated our frustration to our waiter, who handled it with aplomb. Yet, after communicating it to our hostess, she said something to the effect of ‘yes jackets on the floor is our policy,’ and stood by said talking point in a rude posture literally as the elevator doors closed in front of us.

We’ve never been treated as if our presence wasn’t welcomed in any Michelin-started restaurant, but after a lack-luster service experience here, followed by this extremely disrespectful showing, we left feeling a lot worse...