Ponte e Parione - Ristorante Piazza Navona — Restaurant in Rome

Finally getting around to writing a detailed review for what was probably the worst restaurant we tried in Rome. But because I am giving such low reviews I am giving some specifics of what we didn’t like:

To start, though we had a reservation for this place, we had to wait in the rain for about 20 minutes to get seated.

The chair my wife was seated obstructed the path for those seated at the neighbors table. She had to get up multiple times to give access to the neighbors table. And apparently this was ok and expected by the restaurant.

The waiter took about 20 minutes to actually come talk with us. After this a simple plate of bruschetta took 15 minutes to come. The main entree took another 50 minutes to come. It took an hour and half for the entrees to arrive after we we were seated, which remember was already 20 minutes after we arrived.

A restaurant with poor service and atmosphere can redeem itself with good food. And we were hopeful this is going to happen when we received the bruschetta, because it was delightful. But the entree was horrible, dry and the spaghetti, which was apparently cooked right in the middle of the restaurant was severely undercooked. Please check the pics for a view of this horrible food. The Parmesan given with the food was wet and in ball shapes. So disappointing!

This is not the cleanest restaurant to start with. But especially concerning was the fact that they used the table used to prep spaghetti as a place to collect half eaten dishes from customers. It was disconcerting to see that the table used to prep food was also used to collect used dishes with people’s half eaten food. Please check the pic below for evidence of this situation.

After bad food and unhygienic environments, they hit you with downright fraudulent and unethical behavior. When in standing in line I asked them if the accept credit card. They said yes. Once seated I asked again. They said it isn’t working right now, but should be fine in 10-20 minutes. While we were waiting for food, two ladies sitting behind us were told that their credit card machine isn’t working. And one of them was told to go find an ATM nearby to get cash. Most restaurants in Rome tell u upfront if they accept credit card or not. But these guys try to fool you into thinking they accept it, but then refuse to accept it at the end. Which is exactly what happened to me. Their credit card machine was still not working. If you want to eat the horrible food here, make sure u bring cash.

Extremely disappointed in this place. Went with a lot of expectations because of the...

Usually I don’t review restaurants. On one hand, kitchen is becoming more and more industrial, from both ingredients and preparation point of view. Many even heat up ready-made food bought from distributors, so the difference between fast-food and some restaurants is only the price. On the other hand, the restoration experience is missing. I work in sales. I convince customers what is best for them, visiting them several times and preparing a lot of documentation and Then they ask for discount, for discount on discount, and at the end i get not only zero-tip but barely a thanks. So why should I tip a bored waiter? The answer for both points is this gem in the very heart of Rome. I discovered it three years ago when I visited Rome with my son and we had dinner each and every evening of our 5 day stay. Now, on our flight to Rome, he said: daddy, we have to go to THAT restaurant. and we did. What makes it special? Handmade pasta whoch is made right in front of you. Wood fire oven (yes, even in Rome a big exception), and a true human-to-human experience. The human need to fill the stomach reaches another level due to the friendly staff, the food with taste, perfect balance and great ingredients. A story worth repeating. I seldom eat at the same restaurant twice, specially if there are many at every corner. But this one made me even pass over my principle of not tipping, as it created exactly what a restaurant has to create: an experience. Congrats to the warm...

A True Roman Gem – Like Dining at a Friend's Home

Dining at Ponte & Parione was nothing short of a joy. From the moment we arrived, we felt as though we had been invited into someone’s home — the food was that delicious and comforting. Every dish tasted homemade, full of authentic flavor and soul, especially the homemade pasta, which was simply outstanding.

What truly elevated the experience was the warm and welcoming staff. A heartfelt thank you to Luca, our incredible waiter, whose charm and attentiveness made the evening even more special. His passion for the food and genuine hospitality reminded us of why we love Rome so much.

The location couldn’t be more ideal — tucked away just a street over from Piazza Navona, perfectly positioned on the side where natural shade makes dining outdoors a pleasure, even on warmer days. There's something magical about enjoying a beautiful meal while watching life unfold in the street around you — it’s that effortless Roman dolce vita.

Every detail was perfect, and the atmosphere was rich with local charm. Ponte & Parione isn’t just a restaurant — it’s an experience. Warmly recommended to anyone who wants to taste real Roman hospitality...