Ci Tua Osteria Romana — Restaurant in London

I was expected more.

The service was poor, two ladies were looking so annoyed to work and listen what I was asking for, and my and my partner waited for so long.

We also noticed that a couple who sit after us was being served before us, we waited for much longer!

About food! I order the carbonara, the sauce was acceptable but the pasta was way undercooked, not AL DENTE but definitely undercooked! My partner had the Amatriciana and it wasn’t really that good. Poor of meet (I am not even sure if it was actually guanciale or just bacon) and so undercooked.

We didn’t feel really welcome.

Not a smile, just everyone were in rush and long waiting

———- In response to this such a kind, solving problem skilled owner. I suggest you, with the extra money that you make thanks to your overpriced meals, to buy really nice and useful glasses! Because I never wrote that I visited your “osteria” yesterday or any day of this week. I didn’t specify the date I’m afraid. I was there on SATURDAY, and TWO ladies (one blonde, one long brunette hair) were working there with two other guys and I’m sure that one was a new employee. As a Sicilian, I probably know better than you how to cook and al dente pasta and your was simply undercooked. And no, your guanciale was not such a good quality if is simply similar to the bacon. Can I ask you why you didn’t reply me about the service? Or you think is not important? Unhappy team? 😉

Please, honestly I do not care that much about your response against me. I already forgot your restaurant, but If I can suggest you… listen when your customers let you know if something is not perfect as you think it is in your restaurant. I red some of your low reviews and in no one you admitted or just apologised and said something nice as an owner should be. Arrogance and the idea to do everything perfect does not make rich your business!

Now, I’m going to Tesco to buy some ingredients for amatriciana, my boyfriend really want to have a good one last week but unfortunately we trusted the wrong restaurant 😞 I will make it al dente and with my good quality GUANCIALE! Non puoi batterla!

Nni viremu mbare,...

I'm usually not writing review but after 8 long years in living in Portobello, "ci tua osteria' was such a refreshing place to discover.

The 6 of us booked a table after being highly recommended by a friend and celebrate a birthday. Italian food are a hit and miss in portobello but here went beyond my expectations. Truly authentic Italian food (more specifically Roman).

We had some starters to share from suppli' (rice ball) and pinsa (roman pizza). Already here, the flavour and the choices of ingredients are a party for your tastebuds. We all had then different mains, mainly pastas from fettuccine with porcini and truffle (if you like truffle go for it - I could have that all over again). Vongole pasta with a touch of chilli oil was amazing and the slow cook beef and gnocchi too. If you like a signature plate go for the Carbonara as authentic as when in Italy. Do try the oxtail too, slow cooked for 3 hours!

On top of the ingredients and taste, 'Ci tua' is a welcoming venue, really rustic but the typical 'osteria' you would find in Italy. With that comes the super friendly staff (in our case Marco). Knowledgeable, kind and on top of our needs. It felt I was back in Italy for a holiday. The chef (Edoardo) came and check on us to see if were happy with the food which we all thought was such a nice gesture and he gave us insight to the food origin and speciality.

PS. surprisingly, I didn't know but they have a small patio at the back hidden from the eye of passer by. If I knew earlier I would have come here long time ago.

Thank you again to Marco and Edoardo to left such a nice memories,...

Please do not give it a try, not even if it’s the last restaurant open on the planet. It’s a tourist trap, food is just OK and overpriced, nothing to do with an authentic osteria in Rome from a food taste, quality and atmosphere points of view. (I am born and raised in Rome, before I receive the owner’s passive aggressive comment saying to go back to eat my fish and chips!!). The pinsa base is bought frozen, pre-cooked and shipped from Italy, the carbonara is very liquidy and a pint of peroni is £10?!?!? Not even in a 5 stars Mayfair hotel a pint of Peroni costa £10!!! On top of this Stefano Calvagna the owner is a former Irriducibili (Ss Lazio far right hooligans), he has been in jail in Italy and he is consider a shame by most italians. His poor attitude towards all rightly (or less so..) unhappy and unsatisfied customers reviews is a confirmation of his uneducated manners that do not represent the spirit of Romans as he claimed to defend himself. True Roman people are ashamed to be represented abroad by such a man, I guarantee you…and by the way, there is no social media manager handling his social media accounts, don’t get fooled people. Calvagna, hai preso la sveja al derby e mo pii pure la zaccagna!!! To avoid any room for misinterpretation of my comment: I do not own any restaurant so I am not a competitor, I do not know the owner personally and I have no other reason to write such a long essay but to defend my city and to reiterate that this person behaviour is not a fair and true representation of Italy and Rome...