Osteria de Memmo — Restaurant in Rome

This restaurant was strongly recommended by colleagues, so I guess it had a following. It was reviewed online very highly for the most part too.

Unfortunately, it rates as my worst dining experience in Europe. It was by no means cheap or valued.

First, this restaurant does not record or respect reservations made online (quandoo.it). I had a reservation for 1900 which I received an email confirmation. The restaurant actually opens at 1930. The owner was neither apologetic or concerned. He pointed out the sign on the door as if it was my fault I couldn't read it from my hotel 10 KM away.

Moreover, the owner presents himself as being part of the dining experience: chuckling, laughing and joking-bombastically if I had to choose a word.

This showmanship does not add to experience, people are there for meals. He spends far too much time making sure the 'show' goes on and he socializes with his local guests. His time could be far better spent making sure his restaurant is being run right.

The food and service were horrible. Examples:

I ordered grilled swordfish. First, they served me pork (which I had to send back). Then the swordfish is really one steak sliced into two 1/4 inch thick pieces, I imagine to make it look more substantial on the plate. However, grilled, when that thin, the fish becomes dried and more like a cold cut. It was horrible.

The bread was stale (which I've seen in other reviews). Also, questionable cleanliness. They slice bread it in some kind of bread draw, for lack of a better term, and right there in the middle of diners in the restaurant. I imagine the draw is to control crumbs from flying around. Anyway, the bizarre choice of process is noisy and disruptive . There's also a lot of bare handling the bread.

My wife ordered a pasta with shrimp. The shrimp were shelled but not fully cleaned (the vein was not removed). When we asked about about the cleaning, the waiter said all we do remove the shell (un-apologetically too). That would be an unacceptable practice any case, but especially so for a restaurant at this price point.

I ordered a caprese salad as an appetizer which, given its simplicity, is pretty much impossible to screw up. The waiter delivered a bowl of buffalo mozzarella, no dressing. When I asked where the tomatoes were, I was delivered a second bowl, also undressed.

Putting it all together, it was a terrible experience and one fellow travelers should avoid.

There are many other finer dining experiences to be found in Rome;...

Osteria de Memmo was recommended to us, by someone who had recommended another great restaurant to us the night before. As we approached we were skeptical because of the location, but when we opened the door, our skepticism all but disappeared. Hidden gem. We were greeted by, I believe Memmo, and we were sat at a table and provided menus. Water and bread, came right away. He and his staff were pleasant and very welcoming. Food: We started with the anti-pasti. Mind blown 🤯. Sautéed mushrooms, celery and beans salad, two kinds of eggplant (one grilled, one marinated), heart of palm, meatballs, and fresh mozzarella mini balls, as well as these that put it 100% over the top for me, they were the pork and beans, yes I know, but I would not have put it here it if wasn’t THAT GOOD!, prosciutto that was thinly sliced and very fresh (none of that hardness on the sides), and then 😋 Roasted Peppers, which were to die for. Everything was very fresh and very delicious. Then, the entrees 😮. We had an order of lagostines, very fresh, Veal Milanese, very very delicious, pasta Casio de Pepe, and pasta frutti de mare. The pasta was HANDMADE! Incredibly fresh as if it had just been made to order, which I am confident it was. Service: the service was out of this world, very prompt, professional, attentive, and did everything to ensure this would be our best restaurant experience on our trip, and they did not disappoint. Above excellent. Atmosphere: I felt like everything that I had ever heard about the quaintness and home style qualities of Italy, were present in this restaurant. I think we were the only customers that were not “locals”. Beautiful decor. I’ve only said this once, but our experience was above five stars in all categories. We will definitely dine here again and...

We had a wonderful experience at Osteria de Memmo. We started with the mixed seafood—a generous plate of mussels and clams in a fragrant white wine sauce. It was perfectly cooked, tender, and absolutely delicious. We paired it with a bottle of Cantina Villafranca Frascati, a crisp and dry white wine that complemented the seafood beautifully.

Next, we tried the spaghetti carbonara, which had a rich, creamy texture and fresh pasta that was clearly homemade. The only minor downside was that it was a bit too salty for our taste, but still flavorful and well-prepared.

To finish off the meal, we shared a classic tiramisu, which was light, creamy, and well-balanced—not overly sweet. A perfect end to the meal.

What made the experience even more special was the hospitality—we noticed who we believe was the owner himself (his photos were on the wall), who came by to check if everything was good. That personal touch really elevated the experience.

We’d definitely return—especially for the seafood and...