Trattoria Cecio — Restaurant in Rome

Have just left having the most uncomfortable and disappointing experience in all my travels in Italy to date! Do not bother here especially if a solo traveller!!!! Arrived without booking, when asked for how many people they said they couldn't accommodate now but could later. What I've now realised is that is code for 'we don't want a single person taking up a table'. Despite a zillion other options and being ultra hungry I opted to give my name and walked to fill in time returning at the appointed time. Had I known the awful service would match the sub-par food I wouldn't have been so courteous as to return despite discovering many other wonderful and warm places happy to have a solo customer and filled with patrons enjoying their food.

Return I did however and was about to be turned away again except for having had left my name an hour earlier. The waiter was suitably told off by senior waiter whoever he was about letting a single have a table when more were waiting (YES I understood what you said!).

Apart from an entree of marinated anchovies which were delicious, the "specialty" pasta dish I opted for (over a more expensive course as I just wanted to eat and be gone) wasn't seasoned, nor was there an enquiry into it's taste, no parmesan or cracked pepper offered. The side of asparagus was over cooked and woody so that I had to empty my mouthful into a napkin as I just about choked on the stringy soggy greens.The sparkling mineral water I ordered finally arrived as 'natural' non sparkling half way through my main. I paid 3 euro for that pleasure and I suspect it was merely a refilled bottle as the bottle was opened with a lid that didn't fit sitting on top. It smacked of rort all over it. Normally I would go a good bottle of vino as yes, when on holidays I will polish one off, but the feeling of displeasure at taking up a table for just one was permeating so I went for the 5euro housewine. I watched larger groups arrive after me, waiters sitting at tables chatting and laughing and suggesting menu upgrades. Funny how their wines and waters and meals arrived so promptly and great attention was made to their enjoyment. All in all a horrible experience and not one I would wish on another traveller. If the service wasn't enough to quell a nice evening then the below par food was. Stay away from this place especially if...

I think everyone has off days. When we visited we were very polite, we always say please or thank you and wait respectfully. That being said, the service was almost non existent. We only marked as 2 stars for service because when we were paying they finally acted a little more respectfully and said thank you once.

The food was great, though the pasta seems a little hard in spots and was very tacky in others, the sauce made up for it. The salad was fresh and great, and the bread served beforehand was nearly perfect. That's what makes us feel like maybe they were just off their game.

I would not rate this place highly for the experience and service, but the food was mostly what you'd expect.

As for the service, we said thank you during interactions and were met with them not making eye contact, slightly nodding and just walking away while talking to others that worked there. We also waited for the bill at least 15 minutes after finishing and clearing / stacking plates ourselves, which we would continue looking for them and see them in the back grouped up talking.

With better service and on top of customers they would be a fantastic restaurant, and would turn their tables over faster in general, since we kept seeing others getting turned away but plenty of tables just waiting to leave.

All in all, we are assuming they just had...

I'd give this place 10 stars if I could. We decided to have dinner here on our last night in Rome, and I wish I came here every single day. This unassuming place is absolutely amazing! The staff are so nice, very accommodating, took them exactly 2 minutes to make themselves liked by my 10 year old son. They have fantastic rapport with their guests, no matter what age. My son is very fussy and they made him food off the menu, which he absolutely loved. The portion was so big he could not finish it, but he tried his best to, as he said it was the best pasta he had. I had fillet steak, cooked perfectly, meat soft as butter. Delicious! The pistachio cream filled profiterole was to die for!

The waters are very friendly and patient with tourists who cannot decide what to have. I observed the head waiter to help a couple of Chinese young ladies to dress a salad. So lovely to see, not stuck up or snooty at all. He also recommended the couple sitting next to us to have a different wine to what they chose, as it wouldn't have gone well with their chosen food. He said if they didn't like the wine he'd drink it himself. :)

But the rest of the waiters were lovely too, very very friendly, but not pushy at all. Not bad looking either.. 😆

When we come back to Rome we will definitely...