Rione XIV Bistrot — Restaurant in Rome

I honestly don’t understand how this place has such high reviews. We came in hoping for an authentic Italian meal, but the experience was extremely disappointing. We started with beef tartare, first they brought the wrong dish (with crispy onions, which tasted like something from a fast-food chain). When the correct version arrived, it was unfortunately even worse: the meat was drowned in truffle oil that completely killed the flavor, topped with shaved truffle (a waste) and served on a parmesan crisp..felt more like an Americanized gimmick than an Italian dish. For mains, I ordered the truffle carbonara. Shockingly, instead of guanciale they used American bacon. The pasta didn’t taste homemade, and the dish was overloaded with truffle cream, making it heavy and unbalanced. My fiancé tried the pizza — bland, tasteless, and absolutely not what you’d expect in Rome. This place feels catered to tourists looking for an “Americanized Italian” experience rather than true Roman cuisine. If you want real Italian food, trust local recommendations, not inflated Google reviews. Wish we had done the same. And all of this overpriced.. all above dishes were 25 euros each. Such a rip off for this kind of quality. Also as soon as the waitress noticed that we weren’t satisfied with food she immediately changed her attitude towards us.. and the fact that they offer to tip.. not the Italian experience you...

This is, without question, the best Italian food I had the pleasure of eating in my time in Rome, and is an absolutely lovely spot! Incredibly intimate with a brilliant vibe, if you ever get the chance please visit Rione, it is a treat.

I went to Italy for a month last summer - and with this visited Rome for 4 days. In this time, my girlfriend and I ate at many lovely restaurants, trying many different great cuisines. But it is clear that this was another level for Italian food. A beautifully quaint restaurant, we saw the reviews and decided we had to try it. But, when you get there, the doors are closed, so be sure to ring the doorbell and ask for a table. It is absolutely worth it!

We entered and got one of the last tables for a lunch serving. The place is small but filled with people, and the service was lovely. They were very accommodating to us despite being tourists, which is always appreciated. But, as good as the service and atmosphere was, the food, oh my god. It was unbelievable. We had the amatriciana and the Ragu. The pasta was made fantastically, and the sauces were so so brilliant. It is on our bucket list to come back here one day when we get the chance, because it was so so good.

The only spot that compared in Italy for me was in Bologna, but the vibe you get in this city is unmatched. Please, if you get the chance, go to Rione XIV, you will not be...

TL;DR: One of the best places we dine in Rome. If I could give it 10 stars I would give it without any hesitation. The door was closed and people were sitting on the curb outside, waiting in line. On the door there is a note "Please ring doorbell". I rung the doorbell, the door opened, I was told the waiting time is ~40min to get sitted and then door closed. This is not what you are expecting in an average restaurant in Rome. BUT, this is a not an average restaurant in Rome, this is the one which worth every minute to wait to get sitted. Every person who exited the door while we were waiting for a table, was so excited about the food especially about lasagna and grilled octopus, that it boosted my curious higher about this place and patience to wait 20 more minutes. And... We was not disappointed. Every single dish we tried was a delicious. And yes, their lasagna and octopus are the best I've ever ate. We never get back to the same restaurant on the trips. We visited it twice and I miss it and want to get back on my next visit in Rome. BTW, the reason for the closed door and long waiting is because the place is very small, may be 8-10 tables and the...