Ristorante Roof Garden — Restaurant in Rome

I want to love this restaurant, and I do, to a point. It sits atop the Forum Hotel with a spectacular view of the Forum. I believe it is the only restaurant with a comparable view. It is open air with a retractable canopy roof. There are misters for too-hot weather and an indoor area for too-cool weather. The breakfast and dinner staff is excellent in every way. The restaurant provides a very good breakfast buffet, where we ate every morning during our stay. Normally, we don't like to have dinner in a hotel restaurant where we had breakfast, but we liked the setting so much that we made an exception, for our last night in Rome. But I was somewhat disappointed by my dinner. Although the dusk-to-nighttime view makes every table romantic, especially with wine (in Italy we almost always order an inexpensive local wine, this time a bottle of local Lazio Casale del Giglio Merlot -- merlot is really underappreciated, no matter what anyone says), some of the food needed a little work. The Capasante Lardo (scallops wrapped in bacon) were excellent and my friend said the Trofie, which I believe was Amatriciana, was perfectly al dente, saucy, and delicious (it certainly looked great). Another friend's swordfish also looked good and I heard that it was. But I ordered the pasta (spaghetti?) with sea urchin as a primi. This dish could have been sublime and I was really looking forward to trying it after spotting it on the menu. It was not only unique for Rome but I know how much subtly-briny and umami-rich flavor sea urchin can bring to a pasta dish. Unfortunately, it was dry and tasteless and barely urchiny. (It needed butter, cream, more sea urchin, and salt; see, for example, my Uni Fetuccine with Lobster Uni Sauce and Uni-tossed Lobster lesson on my Chef's Apprentice YouTube channel.) For my secondi I ordered the Tournedos Rossini. I'm not a beef I tenderloin fan because it doesn't have enough intramuscular fat but I ordered it because Rossini means foie gras and truffles, which should have compensated for the tenderloin’s lack of marbling. But it was really light on the FG. It was also undercooked on the first go (we asked for medium rare; it was closer to blue). Also, not to nit-pick, but Tournedos should be relatively small and pan fried in butter, which together with the smaller size, butter, and larger slices of FG further compensates for the tenderloin's lack of fat. But this was a single, largish piece of tenderloin, and I don't think it was pan fried in butter. Cutting it into two smaller pieces, pan frying them in butter, and topping each piece with almost equal diameter slices of FG, would have greatly benefited this dish. We ended with two beautiful and delicious desserts, one with a chocolate fondant and the other with some type of sweat baked bar, two types of chocolate, red currants, blueberries, and pine nuts. This restaurant has all of the ingredients to be great. It just needs a little work, and your visit...

TL;DR: had the prices been lower, we wouldn't have thought twice about giving this restaurant a decent review.

We had a bad experience; it happens-- could've been a fluke, but we communicated our issue to the staff and it went unresolved, so we emailed the restaurant/hotel afterwards, seeking some sorts of concession. After some time of not receiving a response, we wrote a completely fair and factual review on the platform used to make the reservation (which was specifically requested by the platform- we didn't go out seeking to badmouth them) and submitted an inquiry with the AGCM ,(Italian Commerce review board,) hours after which, we received a very rude and disrespectful email from the restaurant accusing us of lying about the situation and suggesting that had we not written a negative review, they might have considered offering a partial refund (in the form of a credit to come back to the restaurant). Simply not what you'd expect from a quality hospitality establishment.

Since we're apparently doubling down here, and Google wants our review, here are the details:

The wait staff were exceptionally courteous and welcoming, and seated us quickly, right by the window. Expectations were set for a wonderful meal. However...

The view was supposedly of the Roman Forum, but it was pitch black out (7:30PM in October) and too brightlyl-lit in the restaurant so you couldn't see anything outside.

Service was extremely slow, despite low crowds and sufficient staffing.

The appetizer we wanted was unavailable so the waiter suggested the special without disclosing the price; it was a buffalo mozzarella dish and apparently €50, twice the price of the option we wanted and an exhorbitant charge for cheese, tomato and a few slices of prosciutto.

After an hour and a half, we asked for the entrees to go because we just wanted to get back to the room and go to bed. They arrived another 30 minutes later, and we asked for the check which took another 15-20 minutes.

The food quality was-- fine. Somewhat bland, and for us, nothing special. Portion sizes were larger than expected, so if you're hungry it will satisfy, but if you're looking for a quality rooftop dinner, with legitimately special views, and an experience that really justifies the prices charged, we'd highly recommend Cielo Rooftop at the Hotel de la Ville in the Piazza di Spagna area. Rooftop Garden just felt like we were tricked into a tourist trap meal, whereas Cielo was a truly...

From the moment we stepped into the Roof Garden restaurant in Rome, we were transported into a world of enchantment. The panoramic views of the Eternal City, with its twinkling lights and iconic landmarks, set the perfect backdrop for a night to remember.

The atmosphere was nothing short of magical—an intimate, yet elegant setting with soft lighting that highlighted the beauty of the surroundings. As we were seated, the sound of gentle music blended with the serene night air, and we felt as though we were the only two people in the world.

The service was impeccable. Our waiter, with his expert knowledge of the menu, guided us through each course with enthusiasm and care, making sure every detail was to our satisfaction. It was evident that the staff was passionate about creating an unforgettable experience, and they succeeded in every way.

Each dish was a masterpiece in itself. We began with delicate appetizers that danced on our palates, followed by an exquisitely prepared main course that was as much a work of art as it was a delight to eat. The flavors were rich, vibrant, and perfectly balanced, showcasing the finest Italian ingredients in the most creative way. Every bite seemed to tell a story, and every course was a new chapter in this gastronomic journey.

But it wasn’t just the food that made this evening unforgettable. The wine selection was divine, with the sommelier recommending the perfect pairings that elevated each course to new heights. To top it all off, the dessert was a sweet, indulgent finale that left us speechless, savoring every last bite.

The romantic ambiance, combined with the delicious food and impeccable service, made this dinner not just a meal but an experience we’ll cherish forever. As we toasted to our love under the stars, we knew we had created a memory that would stay with us for a lifetime.

Thank you, Roof Garden, for making this evening one of the most unforgettable and romantic experiences we’ve ever had. It truly was a celebration of love, life, and the...