Santa Maria Osteria - Ristorante Pizzeria — Restaurant in Rome

Ah, my dear friend, let me recount to you the rather unfortunate tale of our recent dining at Santa Maria Osteria. In truth, the name itself stirred visions of fresh breezes, the scent of fresh vittels, and a feast fit for the weary traveler, but alas! Our hopes were dashed like ships upon the rocks.

First, came the potatoes, heralded by the server as “roasted to golden perfection.” Yet, what was laid before us could only be likened to the scorched remnants of tubers left too long in the fires of Mount Doom. Dry as the plains of Gorgoroth, they crumbled beneath the fork, offering neither moisture nor comfort to the soul.

Then arrived the seafood, which, by some cruel jest of fate, had clearly seen its prime during the days of Númenor. The prawns were weary creatures, rubbery and tasteless, as though they had wandered too long in shadowed seas. The calamari, once perhaps bright and gleaming, was dull and grey, its flavor lost to time. One could only imagine that this catch had been drawn from the farthest reaches of the Anduin after days adrift in foul waters.

Finally, the pasta — ah, the pasta! A dish that should have been crisp and fresh, a delight to the senses, instead bore the texture of old leather, as though the strings had been plucked from the gardens of Isengard long after Saruman’s neglect had taken root. Overcooked and lifeless, it was no respite from the grim fare before us.

And so, we departed Santa Maria Osteria, not with hearts lifted by a meal well-spent, but with the quiet disappointment of those who had journeyed far only to find the promises of the inn’s sign mere illusions.

Would that we had sought nourishment elsewhere, perhaps in the warm embrace of the tavern around the corner, where no such travesties are committed in the name of...

Ok, so I went to Rome in early July 2015 and it is now end of September 2015, a good two month later and I still hold a grudge against this restaurant. That's the impact it has had on me. I haven't had time to sit and write the review until now. They charged us a whopping 15% service charge, 15% for what exactly. The meal was nothing special, I complained about two of the meals, my wife is a fussy eater and she had to ask them to remake the meal to how she ordered it. My was not hot enough. I have dined at the best restaurants in London, NYC and Barcelona, yet none of them have the audacity to charge 15%. BTW, this isn’t even optional, it is compulsory. They wrote it down in their menus, talk about small print being so small that it cannot be seen easily. I of course challenged it and they simply stated "well how do you expect us to eat, this is what we pay our wages from". Are you kidding me. Gratuity is not wages, it is a top up for good service and I did not enjoy my food enough to show gratitude. I didn't discover the surcharge until I got the bill and I mentioned the fact that I actually complained about two of the four meals we received should count for something and they still didn’t budge. Needless to say I would never go back to the restaurant. But don’t let it dampen your trip to Rome, it’s a wonderful city which I can’t wait to go to again with my Kids. I am leaving reviews for the two other restaurants on the same street, next to this one, they are much better, friendly and the food tastes better. Go to one of...

I was eager to try some authentic Italian cuisine. Based on recommendations, I decided to visit Santa Maria Osteria - Ristorante Pizzeria. The restaurant has a charming location, tucked away in a picturesque street, which added to the allure of a traditional Italian dining experience.

Upon arrival, we were greeted warmly by the staff. The interior of the restaurant was cozy and had a rustic charm, though it felt a bit cramped. We started with the beef carpaccio, which was fresh but somewhat ordinary in taste.

My partner and I had the spaghetti carbonara and Octopus, which was creamy and had a decent flavor, but it didn't stand out as exceptional compared to other Carbonaras we've tried in the city. The portion sizes were generous, and the prices were reasonable for the quality of food served.

The service throughout the meal was polite and attentive, though there were moments when we felt a little neglected, likely due to the restaurant being quite busy.

Overall, my experience at Santa Maria Osteria - Ristorante Pizzeria was average. While the ambiance and location were delightful, the food, although good, didn't quite live up to my expectations for an authentic Italian meal. It's a decent place to dine if you're in the area, but I wouldn't go out of my...