Tonnarello Scala — Restaurant in Rome

Don’t eat here. Go, literally, anywhere else in the area.

This place was recommended to us, but I’m not sure why. We came by and had to wait about 20 minutes for a table in a line around another building. And honestly, that wasn’t too much of an issue. The problems started when we got seated.

After about 10 minutes seated, no one had come to serve us. Even to ask if we wanted water or bread. What I suspect was the manager was going to other tables who had their entrees, had mostly finished them, and he was asking if they were enjoying their meals. I flagged him and asked for a waiter, and he kind of snapped at me, and said “sure”. Went back to greeting new customers and those who had their food already. Another 5-10 minutes goes by and finally they take our order. My wife gets the meatballs, I get pasta, and we want to share an order of potatoes (an appraiser) and have them come out with the main course. The food took maybe a half hour to get to us, if I’m being generous. But not the potatoes. I tried to flag a server down, but never could. We needed drink refills, we never got that either. Eventually, as we had fully finished the main course, the potatoes showed up. Clearly either we were forgotten about, or they gave them to someone else.

Even after all that, I thought we should have coffee and desert, only we could never flag anyone down to order that. So we paid and left. Don’t get me started on trying to get the bill.

We’ve been in Italy for maybe 18 days at this point. And travelled from the north down to Rome. This is the only place I have felt compelled to tell people DO NOT EAT HERE. It’s a huge waste of your time and money. The person who own the place is clearly overworking all the staff. They have r the main restaurant open, as well as THREE separate outdoor seating areas. And the staff to run maybe half of that. I can’t even blame the staff for not being able to keep track of customers and orders, because you have 5 people serving 150, and that’s crazy.

They don’t care about you as a customer. They don’t care about the food they made for you. And I honestly don’t think they care if you eat there or not....

A Roman Pasta Dream in Italy 🇮🇹🍝

Tonnarello in Rome is a must-visit for pasta lovers. Their homemade pasta is simply divine, perfectly cooked and paired with flavorful sauces. Tip: Arrive around 4:30 PM to get in line for dinner - it's first come, first served. The wait is worth it!

Tonnarello, nestled in the heart of Rome’s vibrant Trastevere neighborhood, offers a quintessential Roman dining experience. Known for its rustic charm and lively atmosphere, this bustling trattoria captures the spirit of the Eternal City.

The menu is a celebration of Roman culinary traditions, with an emphasis on fresh, simple ingredients. The highlight of the meal was their namesake dish, tonnarelli cacio e pepe—a creamy, indulgent pasta crafted with precision. The al dente tonnarelli, coated in a velvety Pecorino Romano and black pepper sauce, was a perfect example of the beauty of simplicity. Another standout was the carbonara, made with guanciale, eggs, and cheese, each bite bursting with authentic flavor.

The portions are generous, and the food is rich, making it an excellent value for the quality and location. The staff, though busy, were friendly and accommodating, adding to the warm, welcoming ambiance. Dining on the terrace, surrounded by the cobblestone streets and lively chatter of Trastevere, elevated the experience.

Tonnarello’s popularity means it’s often crowded, so reservations are highly recommended. Whether you’re a first-time visitor to Rome or a seasoned traveler, Tonnarello offers a genuine taste of Roman cuisine that lingers in your memory long...

I would not recommend this place to anybody. The food was totally mid, except for the meatballs in tomato sauce which were quite good. It’s overpriced and the line is so incredibly long. My friend ordered steak (it was nothing special) and the tomatoes in her side salad were ROTTEN. The calamari was rubbery, I’ve had much better. The carbonara pasta was bland and had way too much pepper. The caprese salad’s tomatoes were also clearly not fresh. I ordered the Borgo salad which is supposed to be a salad with citrus fruits, arugula, feta, smoked salmon and walnuts. They brought me a glorified ball of arugula covered in smoked salmon, with only cheese, walnuts and a slice of orange on top. The arugula ball was the height of my hand and was entirely made up of dry arugula. There was no dressing and it was inedible for 12€. (I put a picture, don’t be deceived like I was because it turned out to be awful). I was so disappointed. The waiters gave us a bit of attitude when we told them about the rotten tomatoes (they had black spots on them and tasted terrible) but they eventually gave us tiramisu as compensation. Sadly, the mascarpone was very liquidy and had chunks of softened cookies inside. Very strange approach to tiramisu, but it was ok. This restaurant is not worth it at all. We went for lunch when it wasn’t busy and could not understand why anybody would wait in line for it. There are so many other amazing restaurants in the area that serve fresh food for a better price. DONT...