MJ S
Google
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Idylio by Apreda
We had an outstanding lunch at Idylio by Apreda, a Michelin 1-star restaurant, and it turned out to be one of the most memorable fine dining experiences we’ve had.
We made a lunch reservation and noted that we would be accompanied by our 18-month-old baby. The staff kindly gave us a comfortable 4-seat sofa table, which made the whole experience far more relaxed. We ordered the Iconic Signature 4-course menu with wine pairing, and also requested a simple tomato pasta for the baby, which was prepared without hesitation.
Overall, the lunch exceeded what one could reasonably expect from a 1-star Michelin restaurant. The cuisine was Italian at its core but infused with inspirations from the chef’s Asian experiences, making it both familiar and intriguing. The wine pairing was simply phenomenal—absolutely essential. In particular, the delicately tinted white wine with red-wine notes, paired with the fish main, felt like a perfect reflection of the chef’s philosophy. Dessert, the Sweet Buffalo Mozzarella, paired with dessert wine, closed the meal on a spectacular note.
I would wholeheartedly recommend Idylio to anyone looking for a rich fine dining experience in Rome, and I would gladly return.
More Detailed Feedback (meant as constructive suggestions, not complaints)
This section is written with sincerity to help this excellent restaurant grow even further. Please note: none of these points are meant as criticism or dissatisfaction—only as genuine improvement suggestions.
1. Service
The staff were kind, attentive, and professional, providing explanations that made the dishes more enjoyable. They clearly wanted us to feel welcome. At times, however, when clearing crumbs, I sensed a slight awkwardness—as if they were being “too polite” rather than simply confident in their own excellence. My suggestion: you are already top-level staff in a top-level restaurant. Serve with more pride and confidence—you fully deserve it.
2. Philosophy of the Cuisine
Powders appeared three times: in a pizza-like amuse bouche, in the cheese sauce served with bread, and finally in the grilled onion with the fish. It made me wonder if “powder accents” were part of the restaurant’s identity. However, despite appearing three times, the impact never felt particularly strong, and I even wondered if the powder style functioned almost like a MacGuffin.
The beef carpaccio was flavorful but texturally inconsistent—some bites were slightly chewy, which contrasted noticeably with the smooth amberjack served alongside. It would be great if the texture could be more consistently refined.
The white pasta with caviar formed an excellent layered transition from the carpaccio to the fish course, carrying forward the briny sea notes. It paired beautifully with the wine. Still, two thoughts crossed my mind:
Without wine, the seasoning might have felt slightly too strong.
As a standalone dish, it didn’t deliver the overwhelming “wow moment” that some Michelin 3-star pasta dishes can, where even a non-main course can feel like the best pasta of your life. Here, the pasta seemed to serve more as a structural bridge rather than as a self-contained highlight.
The monkfish main, however, was truly extraordinary. My wife, who once ran a restaurant herself, said this is the kind of dish that separates a good cook from a true chef. I completely agreed. The onion was deliberately grilled less intensely, avoiding heavy caramelization, and the result was a brilliant harmony with the fish. This was the reason one comes to a restaurant like Idylio.
3. Wine Pairing
The wine pairing was exceptional—so exceptional that it made me wonder whether some dishes could shine equally without it. If the chef’s vision is for the food and wine to be inseparable, then I would suggest recommending the pairing even more strongly. For example, the white pasta reached its full potential only with the wine; without it, the experience would have been cut in half.
I am grateful for the opportunity to experience it.