Ristorante Pizzeria Marcantonio — Restaurant in Rome

This restaurant was an absolute disaster from start to finish. I cannot fathom how anyone could call what I was served food, let alone Italian cuisine. Let’s start with the pizza – or whatever sad excuse for pizza this was. The crust was limp, soggy, and tasted like it had been microwaved. The cheese was barely melted, as if they couldn't be bothered to cook it properly, and the toppings? I’m not sure if they were fresh or left over from last week’s service because they were tasteless and utterly unappetizing.

Then came the pasta – if you can even call it that. It was so bland and lifeless, it tasted like it came straight out of a bargain-bin ready-to-eat box from a gas station. The texture was mushy, and there wasn’t a hint of the authentic flavors you’d expect from a decent Italian meal. The sauce was watery and flavorless, almost as if someone had diluted canned tomato soup and poured it on as an afterthought. It was clear that no care or effort was put into this dish, and honestly, I’ve had better meals out of a vending machine.

The service was just as bad. The staff were inattentive, disinterested, and seemed like they would rather be anywhere else than serving customers. Plates were slapped down on the table without a word, and I had to practically beg for a glass of water. To top it off, the ambiance was depressing – dim lighting and mismatched furniture that screamed zero effort, much like their food.

This restaurant is an insult to anyone who loves food and an embarrassment to anyone who calls themselves a chef. I wouldn’t recommend this place to my worst enemy. Save yourself the time, money, and disappointment, and stay...

Behold! Step in to this ristorante and prepared to be looked after like home, family. The staff is extremely accomodating and polite. Can’t find the perfect combination, and they’ll specially prepare it for you. Not enough chilli in Amatriciana? Not to worry, it can’t be customised. Before you complain make sure you request for what you want.

It is noteworthy, do not expect all wines to be offered by the glass. It’s not affordable for the host of any restaurant anywhere in the world. Having said that, the Chianti and house white wine are plenty good here.

The grilled steak, is actually served on a grill. Didn’t order myself so can’t comment but looked absolutely yum!

We ordered Amatriciana (twice in three days) and the cheesecake with berries. I implore you to try them both. Customise it if you don’t like the type of macaroni in it. And do have a glass of red with it. It not only compliments the dish but you as a guest.

Tables are perfectly spaced next to each other to maintain enough distance to stay outside sauce blast radius, but offers ample opportunity to peer into nearby conversations. Do strike a conversation/compliment or two with your neighbours. The atmosphere demands it.

Our time in Rome is over for now but Marcantonio leaves lasting footprints in our tales we will tell of Rome.

Grazie, and arrivederci team,...

We were greeted by an older Italian gentleman at the front who was very welcoming and didn’t pressure us to come in, which we appreciated. Ordered the Alfredo pasta and it was excellent—definitely a 5/5 for the food.

Unfortunately, our experience was dampened by a waiter who repeatedly pushed us to leave a Google review. I usually write reviews anyway and was planning to leave a positive one, but halfway through dinner, he pulled up a QR code and stood next to me, insisting that I give 5 stars and mention his name. Later, when he brought out dessert, he got out his phone and showed me that my review wasnt there and kept asking if I had done it and where it was. It was very forceful.

So while the food was fantastic, the aggressive approach to getting reviews was off-putting and took away from an otherwise great meal. It’s disappointing because we genuinely enjoyed the food, but the service made us feel pressured rather than valued. I wouldn't come back here again for...