Taverna Ripetta — Restaurant in Rome

Not for Americans.

The “I don’t speak English” schtick is cute at first but gets old real quick when they don’t bring you what you order or just don’t respond at all.

We got there at 7:30p when they opened and were the only people for a good 20 minutes. There was a grey haired woman in a green dress serving the tables. Once more people arrived, service came to a crawl. We finished our dinner in about an hour and a half. We had the steak and the clam pasta, which were both good. The melon prosciutto was a bit lacking, and we got a variety of desserts. The cherry torte was very good, the other desserts were super dry and old and lacked flavor.

We politely declined coffee and asked for the check. She acknowledged and then continued to serve all the other tables. After 15 minutes we asked again and she waved her hands tell us to “slow down”. After another 10 minutes the other lady (who I think is the owner) finally came over and got us our check when we asked for a third time. Another 10 minutes….I have to physically go grab her and give her my credit card. She takes it and puts it on the counter where it sits for another 10 minutes. By now I walk to the kitchen and ask if I can please pay so I can leave. They run my card and I leave.

During the 40+ minutes I waited to pay, our glasses were totally empty, another table had to open their own bottle of wine, and another table got something they didn’t order. The waitress kept apologizing until they gave in and ate the meal they didn’t want.

This is my 9th night in Italy, and while I expect slow service (compared to American standards), this was just unacceptable. If the food was better, maybe it would be worth it. But they food doesn’t justify the terrible service.

Ironically, during the time after we finished dessert, they turned away 3 couples who came in because they didn’t have reservations. Meanwhile, we just wanted to leave and would have gladly given up our table to someone else. Talk about not wanting to make money or knowing how to run...

Spoiler Alert: if I could give this place more than 5 stars across the board, I would!

Food: absolutely delicious. That’s it. It’s like an Italian grandmother cooked for you. Every single dish was painfully delicious in that you did not want it to end. The eggplant starter felt like a welcome hug at the beginning. The squid salad was very refreshing before going into the spinach ravioli which absolutely breathtaking. It was cooked Al dente perfectly with a delicious ricotta filling but the star of the show was definitely the carbonara. We ended the night with the tiramisu but I just wanted to preserve that carbonara taste in my mouth. Not because the tiramisu was not good, but because that carbonara was that good!

Service: the restaurant is run by 2 ladies who will serve you and make sure you finish your plates! It’s a homely place so don’t expect your usual servers taking orders and waiting for your cues, but it’s part of this place’s charm.

Ambiance: there is no music and it might get a little hot inside but it’s part of the experience and I guarantee you that you won’t mind it. In fact, you’ll fall in love with it because it’s part of who the owners are. They make the restaurant’s ambiance in their charm and sense of humor. Their English is not great, but at this point who cares! The owner’s dog Mo as well will be s pleasant guest around at the restaurant.

Pro Tip: just go there! Forget all the fancy places and touristy stuff around Rome. This was a...

This was, far and away, some of the very best food and service that we enjoyed during our two-week trip to Italy, and that includes our travels outside Rome. We enjoyed it so much that made sure to reserve again for one of last nights during our second leg in Rome. You cannot beat the ambiance: the warm hospitality of the friendly owners (and their dachshund!) the simple comforts of their inviting dining room; and the pleasing company of regulars, who must already know how good their dinners will be. I have posted some photos of the excellent courses that we enjoyed, including some of the best seafood pasta and seafood risotto dishes I’ve ever enjoyed, alongside a humbly delicious and affordable Sardinian wine that one of the owners expertly picked out for us. Not pictured is something my wife enjoyed during our first visit: some of the best ravioli I’ve ever eaten (alla Norma!) Make sure to reserve for dinner here if you’re in the area and want an authentic dining experience with some of Rome’s finest hosts,...