Ristorante Donna Sofia dal 1986 — Restaurant in Rome

Many negative aspects have made us regard this place as one of the worst food experiences for us in Rome: 1)The tables are so close to each other that you can barely make yourself between them, not to mention that you end up dining together with clients sitting next to you, overhearing and being overheard. 2) The water asks you if you want focaccia and water, before you are even seated, making the impression that they are on the house. It is only in the end that you realise that five pieces of extremely oily and semi burnt bread cost 7 euros, and a bottle of water which comes without a cap, meaning it is tap water costs 4 euros. 3) The pasta we ordered was so overcooked, that we had to use a knife to cut each bit off, since their stickiness didn't let us use only our fork, not to mention that it took them about a quarter of an hour after we finished our appetizer to serve them. 4) They charge different prices per dish than what is written on the menu they give clients, not to mention the blackboard sign outside the place, where the prices of the pasta dishes mentioned there are even lower. 5) They brought dessert although we specifically told them that we didn't want some, which we had to accept out of respect, since they pretend to make it in front of the client. It's not a real making process though, but just putting the ingredients of a tiramisu together. A medium quality tiramisu, by the way. 6) The worst thing of all is that not only do they charge 3 euros per person for service, which is relatively acceptable since we were dining but much more expensive than other places we have been, but they also charge another 20 euros for the service (waiter tip maybe?) without even asking or mentioning it. The fact that they get engaged into small talk about the country we come from, their experiences and their acquaintances from there, a smiling host and waiter and a lot of mille grazie do not justify the hidden charge. All in all, we paid 121 euros for two pasta dishes, an aubergine and a beer. Ah, and a tiramisu we had refused. We didn't make a fuss about it, but we are really disappointed to have lived through this experience which makes a really bad name for food business in this superb city. Rome as an open museum has nothing to lose due to such behaviours, but the impression created for the way some Italians look at tourists is here to stay. We don't recommend this place at all. Probably the best title for it is "A...

We went here after a day in Rome. Best decision I’ve made this summer.

We started off with some mocktails (they tasted delicious, especially the Artist) and other drinks. We had some bruschetta, the classic one, with garlic. We also asked for some focaccia with garlic. The bruschetta wasn’t eaten by me, but from what I’ve heard it was perfect. The perfect balance. I did eat the focaccia, and I must say it was just super. I’ve never had better ones.

We had lots of fun with the servers, they were so nice, respectful, interested and the service was the kind of service you don’t get anymore nowadays.

We ordered 2 pizzas, 2 lasagnas and 1 chicken thing. Pizzas: the first pizza in Italy were we thought "so this is the pizza everyone talks about". The first real good pizza in our whole holiday here, and we’ve been here for 2 weeks. Lasagna: wow. Speechless. It’s a unique lasagna, amazing taste. Chicken: also tasted delicious. Don’t know what else to say.

Then, we ordered the “Tiramisu Espresso”, the Tableside Tiramisu. Never have I ever seen and eaten something that cool. The whole tiramisu was made at your table. The taste was just unreal. I don’t think I’ve ever had a better one (definitely haven’t)

For all the people being mad or annoyed about the service fee, you seem to have no idea. These people work a lot and very hard. They have so many tourists, so many annoying ones, and so many that don’t leave tips. Service fees should be normalised. Especially when doing such a good job in this time of living.

Definitely recommend...

We had dinner at Donna Sofia dal 1986 in the heart of Rome, not far from Piazza di Spagna. The atmosphere was warm and elegant — the kind of place that feels both lively and intimate at the same time, with tables close enough for soft conversation and that gentle Roman buzz in the background.

The service stood out right from the start. The staff were attentive without being intrusive — friendly, professional, and clearly proud of what they do. Our waiter smiled genuinely, explained the menu with confidence, and checked in just often enough to make sure everything was perfect.

I ordered the lamb, which was tender, flavorful, and beautifully cooked — served with just the right balance of seasoning and simplicity that let the quality of the meat shine. My girlfriend chose a tomato pasta, and it was one of those dishes that seems simple but tastes of pure Italy — fresh, rich, and comforting, with that unmistakable Roman touch.

Throughout the evening, the staff made us feel like welcome guests rather than just customers. They were quick to notice when our glasses needed refilling, happy to recommend a wine pairing, and genuinely seemed to enjoy creating a good experience.

All in all, Donna Sofia delivered a wonderful mix of warm service, authentic Italian flavors, and a relaxed, elegant atmosphere. It’s the kind of place you remember — not just for the food, but for how you...