La Taverna Madonna Dei Monti 16 — Restaurant in Rome

TOTAL TOURIST TRAP ! My wife and I arrived at our apartment in Monti, Rome around 3.30pm on Sunday, Sept 24th after a 2 hour limo drive from our last stop Pompeii. We had enjoyed lots of great Italian food and service during our 4 day vacation in Salerno...on our first ever visit to Italy. After unpacking and getting the hang of our new place for the next 4 days we decided to head out for some dinner. My wife had looked up local eateries and came up with one called Taverna Romana...a Roman restaurant virtually next door to our apartment. RESTAURANTS EVERYWHERE ! There were at least a half dozen restaurants in our narrow cobblestone alley. At around 6.45pm we headed out the door and took a left instead of a right. We walked to this little eatery which was just 50 feet from our front door...we could see Taverna Romana in the business name above the front entrance. The restaurant looked open but was dead empty.....not a good sign at almost 7pm even though we had learned Italians dine out late. We expected to have to wait until 7pm to get in but surprisingly a server named David invited us in to choose a table. Inside it was a very narrow main dining area with very drab un-Italian decor facing the street...there was another small dining space out the back. My wife asked David our server what country he was from....he didn't look remotely Italian even though this place purported to be an Italian restaurant. OH NO ! He replied he was from Bangladesh...in fact all the staff were Bangladeshis in this supposedly Italian restaurant in Rome. The only beer on offer was a Peroni and it was the only beer....not ideal. I was getting a bad feeling about this place and suggested to my wife we should think about hiking it. We asked for some waters and a filled carafe with 2 small glasses came out. At this point we were still the only diners present...what a worry ! The menu had a large selection but to be honest it all looked a bit uninspiring. Nothing here felt very Italian including the service. My ice cold beer arrived in a beer mug and tasted as I expected...pretty boring. My wife ordered the Carciofi romani ( artichokes ) for a starter while I chose the Antipasto Italiano Appetizer ( cheese & mixed cold meats ). Lasagna della Chef was my wife's choice for an entree and I selected the Tagliata con pachino, rucula, parmigiano ( sliced beef, cherry tomato, arugula, parmesan ) and I added a side of Patate fritte ( French Fries ) at our server's suggestion. Our appetizers arrived pretty fast...everything looked as described. David our server brought a small serve of complimentary bread with my wife's Artichoke starter. My cheese and cold meat appetizer tasted alright but was a very small boring serve. My wife liked her artichoke but said the bread was very stale. NOT LOOKIN' GOOD ! A few customers had trickled into the place by now...it's on a busy very narrow street. My sliced beef, cherry tomatoes, arugula and parmesan was very average...the medium rare steak was a very cheap cut and the French Fries were straight out of the supermarket frozen section. My wife thought her Lasagne was nothing special. AVOID THIS FAUX ITALIAN RESTAURANT LIKE...

Don’t be misled by the positive reviews, our experience at this restaurant was incredibly disappointing. Despite the place being nearly empty (only four tables occupied, including ours), the service was chaotic and unprofessional from the start.

When I tried to place our order, one waiter told me to go to the counter, while another insisted we wait at the table. After this confusion, we finally managed to order. Over 30 minutes passed with no food, not even bread, and we watched as guests who arrived after us were served first.

When I politely asked about our order, the same waiter who had previously told me to go to the counter responded by falsely accusing me of shouting — despite my tone being calm and respectful. Another staff member, to his credit, confirmed that I hadn’t raised my voice and apologized on his colleague’s behalf. Still, the damage was done. We no longer felt comfortable staying, concerned about how our food might be handled after that confrontation.

We paid for our drinks and left. Safe to say, we won’t...

As a seasoned traveller with a passion for Italian food, we have stumbled upon this small restaurant on our way to Cavour train station....If you're looking for an exceptional Italian dining experience, La Taverna is a must-visit. We enjoyed a beautifully curated selection of dishes, including the lamb grill, grilled seabass, baked potatoes, truffle pasta, and gnocchi—each prepared to perfection. The flavors were rich and well-balanced, showcasing the restaurant’s dedication to quality ingredients and expert cooking.

For dessert, we indulged in a creme brûlée-style treat and a classic tiramisu, both of which were absolutely delightful. The atmosphere was serene on the night of our visit, allowing us to fully savor the experience, and the service was outstanding—attentive, professional, and warm.

Whether you're in the mood for hearty grilled meats, fresh seafood, or decadent pasta, La Taverna delivers an unforgettable culinary journey. They also served one of the best complimentary limoncello, I've ever had. Highly...