Zuma Rome — Restaurant in Rome

When visiting Rome, one expects an experience filled with charm, hospitality, and memorable food. The Eternal City is known for its culture, romance, and of course, its restaurants. On my most recent trip, I had high hopes when booking a table at Zuma, a Japanese restaurant that carries a reputation for sophistication and fine dining. I envisioned an evening that would become one of the most important nights of my life, as I had planned to propose to my partner there. Unfortunately, the reality of the evening was the complete opposite. What was supposed to be a celebration of love and commitment turned into a night of frustration and disappointment, largely due to poor service, long waits, and an overall lack of care from the restaurant staff.

The first red flag appeared almost immediately after we were seated. While the ambiance was stylish and modern, service was strikingly absent. After ordering drinks, we realized we had not been given utensils. This might sound like a minor issue, but waiting over 30 minutes just to be brought a fork is unacceptable in any restaurant, let alone one with Zuma’s reputation. It felt as though the staff were inattentive, overwhelmed, or simply uninterested in ensuring guests had a positive dining experience. By the time the fork arrived, the atmosphere had already shifted from excitement to disappointment.

Food delays compounded the problem. Something as simple as sweet potato took nearly 28 minutes to arrive, which is difficult to justify. A restaurant of Zuma’s stature should run its kitchen with efficiency and precision, especially considering the premium prices charged. While the dishes that did eventually arrive were presented with care, the frustration of waiting overshadowed any enjoyment. Meals, particularly at high-end establishments, are meant to feel seamless, with each dish flowing naturally into the next. At Zuma, however, the pacing was so disorganized that it felt more like a test of patience than a fine dining experience.

The menu itself also left much to be desired. While I understand that Zuma specializes in Japanese cuisine, the selection of sides was extremely limited. This restriction left us without satisfying options to complement our mains. When dining at an international restaurant in Rome, one expects a thoughtful balance between authenticity and variety. Unfortunately, Zuma’s menu offered neither. The lack of sides and supporting dishes only highlighted the inadequacy of the entire experience.

The most disappointing part of the evening, however, was personal. I had chosen Zuma with the intention of proposing to my partner, imagining that the upscale atmosphere would provide a memorable setting for a life-changing moment. Instead, the prolonged waits, inattentive service, and lack of care destroyed any chance of creating that memory. Instead of focusing on my partner and the proposal, my mind was consumed by irritation and frustration. A milestone that should have been joyful and unforgettable was overshadowed by a stress. For that reason, the disappointment I feel goes beyond food and service — it is tied to a once-in-a-lifetime moment that was ruined.

In conclusion, Zuma Rome is not a restaurant I could ever recommend. Between the unacceptable delays, poor service, limited menu, and the overall lack of hospitality, the experience fell far short of even average expectations, let alone those of a high-end establishment. For visitors to Rome seeking a special dining experience, there are countless other venues that offer warmth, efficiency, and genuine hospitality. Zuma, in contrast, offers frustration and disappointment. It was, without question, the worst restaurant experience I have had in Rome, and I would strongly advise others to avoid it.

What could have been the most meaningful night of my life became a lesson in how a restaurant’s failure to provide even the basics can ruin an entire occasion. Rome deserves better, and so do...

A Perfect Italian Finale: Zuma Rome Delivers Unforgettable Food, Views to Die For, and Exceptional Service! If you're seeking a dining experience that transcends mere sustenance and transports you to a realm of culinary artistry with a side of breathtaking panoramic views, then Zuma in Rome is an absolute must-visit. And for us, after an incredible two-week family trip exploring the wonders of Italy, it proved to be the most perfect and memorable way to bid farewell to this beautiful country. From the moment you step into this stylish restaurant, nestled atop the iconic Palazzo Fendi, you know you're in for something special. The food is nothing short of extraordinary. Zuma's contemporary Japanese cuisine is a delightful exploration of flavors and textures. Each dish, from the delicate slices of fresh sashimi to the expertly grilled robata creations, showcases the highest quality ingredients and a meticulous attention to detail. Every bite was a testament to culinary excellence, a final delicious indulgence to cap off our Italian adventure. But the experience was elevated even further by the exceptional service, particularly from our waiter, Alessandro. He was truly canonical – knowledgeable, attentive, and possessing that perfect balance of professionalism and warmth. Alessandro's recommendations were spot-on, and his genuine enthusiasm enhanced our dining experience, making us feel truly valued guests. Of course, the experience doesn't end with the impeccable food and service. Ascend to the rooftop bar, and prepare to be utterly captivated. The views of Rome from this vantage point are simply divine. Imagine sipping a perfectly crafted cocktail as the city unfolds beneath you – the ancient rooftops, the iconic landmarks bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun or twinkling under the night sky. It was a scene straight out of a dream, the ideal backdrop for reflecting on all the incredible moments of our family trip throughout Italy and savoring our last night in this magical country, all while being so well looked after. Zuma in Rome isn't just a restaurant; it's an experience for all the senses. It's where exceptional food meets unparalleled ambiance and outstanding service, creating memories that will linger long after you've left Italy. For us, with the added pleasure of being served by the wonderful Alessandro, it was the most exquisite and fitting end to our Italian holiday, a final, unforgettable taste of la dolce vita. Don't miss the opportunity to indulge in this Roman (and Italian...

Me and my partner have been to Zuma in different cities such as Bangkok, Hong Kong and Dubai. We couldn't imagine that Zuma Rome would be the biggest disappointment of our trip in Rome. My partner had a birthday in the end of April and we decided to celebrate it in Zuma as we were in Rome and we knew that Zuma always offers good quality and interesting tasting menus. So he has booked Zuma for the evening dinner of Saturday. It turned out that we were nearby Zuma on Thursday and we decided to check it earlier. Interior, staff, music, even the most of menu - all was like in any other Zuma. We ordered gyoza, sushi set, salmon/tuna tartare and ribeye steak. Almost every dish was good except of the meat. It was with a strange taste but we didn't pay attention. In the end of the day my partner felt bad, he had stomach ache and vomited all night. Actually we couldn't believe that the reason was of Zuma, so we've decided to go there on Saturday and it was the biggest mistake. We ordered 2 signature tasting menus. It included rolls, sashimi, black cod, tenderloin, chicken, dessert and so on. I should admit that this tasting menu was not so impressive as we had in other Zumas. Strange chicken, no nigiri and dessert was a small compared with desserts in tasting menus of Zuma Hong Kong and Zuma Dubai. My partner didn't eat the meat because he thought that his poisoning was associated with Thursday's steak. Overall we spent 300 euros for those dinners. And what a surprise had waited us 1 hour later? Yes, I felt bad and all of our food has came out from my mouth! It was terrible end of the day. We immediately wrote a letter to Zuma and asked them to check all products and to reveal the reason of our poisonings. It was unfair to spent almost 300 EUROS and to have 2 poisonings, isn't it? The first answer from them was "we will inform our management about your problem". Fine, we could wait. One week later we had NO response, so my partner had to remind them about our problem. Finally they responded that they hadn't find any spoiled food and no one had complained with the same symptoms. Of course they didn't offer any compensation for 2 terrible dinners, no apologies, and we even had to remind them about us. SHAME ON YOU Zuma Rome. I regret that we are just tourists and can't bring the case...