La Ciambella

This place is fantastic. The food is an absolute revelation. Beautifully cooked with inventive takes on classic dishes and some modern options in there too. The service was impeccable and the wine menu was a beauty to behold! In fact, I’ve rarely seen such a full and well-rounded menu with amazing wine selections from all over Europe (and a select few from other parts of the world). Highly recommend La Ciambella. I would have scored the atmosphere a 5/5 but we were seated right at the front of the restaurant with only 1 other table. This was entirely our fault, as we were walking past without a booing and just asked if they could fit us in. After a week of eating average to below average food across Rome, this was a pleasant surprise and we thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

We had dinner here last night. Four of us spent $395 euro and it was the worst food we had in Italy so far. I rate service one star for a few reasons. First of all, three of us want 90 euro tasting menu and one of us wants $75 euro menu. Server said no because everyone needs to be the same. Ok that’s fine. So we ordered $90 one for all four and she end up taking the wrong orders and gave us $75 one to everyone. After she realized she took the wrong order, it was too late and she didn’t come apologize taking wrong order, instead, she got another waiter to help us on the bill and she went to hide behind the front desk. I rate food one star is because this $75 euro menu has three courses. First course is other restaurant’s free give away: Dry pastry with butter. 2nd course is pasta, small portion and taste is average. 3rd course is potato pancake with some vegetable and 3 small piece of octopus on top. The potato is so dry and none of us finished. The atmosphere is simple and not much renovation done but this is really not the issue. Service and food are the major problem of this restaurant. I’m very disappointed and won’t recommend this to anyone.

A revelation - your taste buds will thank you! Michelin quality service and food. Very knowledgeable staff that made us feel at home in Rome. Quite an extensive wine and gin list, recommend the Ginnastic gin (lemon infused) & tonic. We had the carbonara and lasagna as our main course with beef tartare, ham & scallops and stuffed cod rolls with cream as antipastas. Would love to eat it all again. Chef greeted us with an embrace upon finishing the meal. 12/10 experience. All steps from the Pantheon which makes for a great post dinner photograph

I honestly don’t know why this place doesn’t have a Michelin star—it absolutely deserves one. We saved the best for last and dined here on our final night in Rome, and wow, what an experience. From the moment we arrived, the staff was incredibly professional and positive. We loved hearing their enthusiasm about the history behind the dishes—it made the meal feel even more special. We debated getting the tasting menu but ultimately went with à la carte, and it was the perfect choice for us. Our server was beyond amazing—she not only made us feel so welcome but also went out of her way to split our secondi (beef tartare and lamb) into perfect half plates so we didn’t have to share by eating out of each others plates. We originally planned to have just one dish each, but thanks to her, we got to enjoy even more of the incredible food. And speaking of the food… I could marry it. Every bite was perfection. This was, without a doubt, the best meal of our trip, and we’ll be dreaming about it until we return.

The menu here is Roman, but lighter and more innovative. The service takes a long time, but it’s a nice atmosphere and a good departure from the typical Roman restaurants. It’s a nice ambience and upscale.

An Insult to the Michelin Star – Terrible Service, Tiny Portions, & Zero Accountability My dinner at La Ciambella wasn’t just disappointing—it was a masterclass in Michelin-starred incompetence. From start to finish, every aspect failed spectacularly. Service: Shockingly Unprofessional - We ordered **four tasting combos** (a significant spend), yet the kitchen delivered the *wrong dishes entirely*. - When we alerted our waiter, he dismissively said, “I’ll send the waitress to discuss it.” She never came. Not after 10 minutes, not after 30. We were ghosted at our own table. - Staff avoided eye contact, ignored follow-up requests, and left us feeling like an inconvenience. For a "fine dining" establishment, this was outright negligence. Food: Flavorless & Fleeting - Portions were laughably small—even by tasting-menu standards. Each plate felt like a garnish in search of a main course. - Not a single dish impressed. Flavors were bland, uninspired, and utterly forgettable. At €150+ per person, we expected artistry; we got amateur hour. - Highlights? There were none. Lowlights? *Everything.* From soggy pasta to over-seared fish, it tasted like a kitchen running on autopilot. **The Michelin Deception** How this restaurant holds a star is beyond comprehension. Michelin promises excellence; La Ciambella delivered apathy. The gap between expectation and reality wasn’t just wide—it was a chasm. **Final Insult** No manager ever appeared to address our wrong order. No apology. No gesture of goodwill. We paid full price for a botched meal and contemptuous service. **Verdict:** Save your money and dignity. **La Ciambella is the worst Michelin-starred experience I’ve had globally**—a soulless, overpriced trap that tarnishes the guide’s prestige. Never again~

I had the scallops for a starter and the artichoke lasagne as a main - both were amazing. The staff were incredibly welcoming and lovely! Would definitely recommend this place if in the area.

My wife and I had an excellent time at La Ciambella on Christmas Day. After being disappointed by other Michelin-acknowledged restaurants in Rome, this gem truly stood out. The service was extraordinary—arguably the best I’ve ever experienced. The staff was incredibly attentive, and the sommelier provided thorough and engaging explanations about the wine pairings. The presentation of the food was impeccable, and while the dishes were very good, the overall experience elevated the meal to something truly special. La Ciambella offered a warm and memorable dining experience, and we would highly recommend it to anyone seeking exceptional service and quality in Rome.

This was our first dinner in Rome and it was superb! The restaurant had the quintessential Italian vibes, the food was superb and the service was on point. I got their beef dish and it was fantastic. Super tender and delicious! My family got different pastas and each were just as tasty as the other. The quality was definitely standardized in that regard where no matter the dish, the quality of the food was top notch. They even brought out a tiramisu for my husband's birthday! I would definitely recommend this spot!

We had a wonderful evening here. This place deserves a Michelin star. The staff is so attentive and the tasting menu was delicious. We especially loved the sweetbreads. Highly recommended for a night out in Rome.

Came here debating to do a la carte or tasting menu. The 50 euro tasting option looked more appetizing to me than the 80 euro option. I think I made a mistake. I probably should have opted for the 80 Euro option. While the 50 was fine something seemed missing. I also did the wine pairing which was ok. Honestly the best thing was the bread basket for extra 4 Euro. Service was fine. ***

One of the best meals we had in Rome. The full tasting menu was going to be too much food, so we ordered several dishes to share. The service was definitely the best; they split dishes for us and created a great wine pairing.

A wonderful spot for lunch (or dinner). The restaurant is beautiful and the food is excellent. The spaghettone carbonara, lunguina with fermented black garlic, caccio e pepe, all successful. Service was good too.

We had our last dinner while in Rome at this nice restaurant. The restaurant itself was simply but elegantly decorated, located near the Pantheon. It was a bit of a more upscale dinner compared to the trattorie and osterie we had been visiting. Nonetheless the prices even for the tasting menus were fairly reasonable. We were sat at the table right in front of the kitchen which was great since we could see these chefs at work but it got really hot and it wasn't until towards the end of our meal when we actually perceived any AC (perhaps someone else complained of feeling hot elsewhere in the restaurant). We started our meal with two appetizers, the beef tongue and a chickpea pancake with anchovies. The tongue was surprisingly tender and delicious, not what I was expecting when I skeptically ordered the dish. The anchovies were delicious however I don't think the chickpea pancake was a great vessel to serve the anchovies on. The pancake was kinda bland and flavorless. For our entrées we had the spaghettone Carbonara and the linguine with Sardinia bottarga. I chose the carbonara since I was on a mission to try the 4 classic Roman pastas. The sauce on this pasta is definitely richer and heavier than the other classic Roman pastas and although it's tasty and flavorful, it's too rich for me. The pasta with bottarga was good, but it's definitely got a strong fishy taste that some people may not like. We were warned of this ahead of time by the server which was not a problem for us since we love the taste of bottarga. Service was very attentive and cordial.

Delicious food and nice interior. I noticed that just about everyone around us were Americans, which made me wonder if they had all found the restaurant on Yelp, as I had.

I'm literally still buzzing off our meal from La Ciambella. We did the tasting menu with the wine pairing and could not be happier. The menu consisted of a porchetta appetizer, sweet bread appetizer, carbonara, rabbit with sauce, ricotta and sour cherry dessert and red wine biscotti take home dessert. It was perfection start to finish. We've been in Italy for about 2 weeks now (Rome, Florence and Venice) and both agree this has been our favorite meal thus far. Service was also great (friendly and informative).

In my opinion, this is the best restuarant find in Rome. It's located on a side street and not very touristy. You will find in Rome a lot of cafes and restaurants that have people outside enticing you to go in their business. We found this place on Yelp, had great reviews and decided to try it out. We went for dinner the first time and had their one of their tasting menu w wine pairings and some of the a la carte menu items. First off, the staff is a well oiled machine. The teamwork was evident. The servers worked together excellently (I wish my workplace worked that way!) Second the food is amazing (chef Francesca kudos to you, your staff and the pastry chef!) We went back for lunch the very next day and again was pleased with everything. The only negative I can say is that we didn't discover this place the first day we were in Rome , I would've eaten there everyday.

The ambiance was very cute, I was ready to be wowed but was extremely disappointed. The service is just okay but for the prices I'm paying service should be better. The food - presentation was 3.5 out of 5. Very nice but wasn't perfect. The taste however was lacking heavily. I had to ask for salt and pepper and lemon. That might've been an insult to the chef but no one asked how my food was proper to me getting the check. Maybe just a place to get a drink or some small but would not recommend for dinner or lunch

Tasting traditional menu was fantastic and wine pairing was perfect. Excellent service and added value with items not on menu from chef as a surprise rounded out a special evening. My personal favorite was the steamed beef with tomato followed by the grilled Roman lamb.

Pasta was really good~ cooked perfectly. Must check out the hole in the floor that shows ancient layer of Rome. Very nice~

This was in our top 2 meals during 10 days in Italy and came recommended by our restaurant. Upscale and pricing to match. Touristy, for sure, but the food is excellent. I only wish they'd been able to be flexible and accommodate a vegetarian version of the tasting menu. Probably for the best because it turned out that 1 hour 15 minutes was just barely enough time for an appetizer and entrees anyway.

We had a light and late dinner after a day of walking around the city. Our party had a few simple pasta dishes (all excellent) and a lamp chop dinner special. The meat was grilled just right and came with spicy stir-fried chicory, a seasonal vegetable grown in Lazio. Overall, great seasonal food, yummy wine and good service.

We had our first dinner of our trip to Rome at this restaurant. Because we stayed in the hotel next door (called Le Clarisse al Pantheon), and because it was our first night, we were offered a 10% discount. I'd say around 90% of the people there were hotel guests like us, because the place is quite hard to find. Overall, it was a very pleasant experience. The waitresses spoke fluent English, and the food was served quickly. One waitress forgot to serve our wine, and later forgot to distract the 10% off of our bill, but quickly apologized when we told her. The prices were good considering it's central Rome, around 8€ for the starters, and 11€ for Spaghetti Carbonara. All in all it was a lovely dinner, but not the best we had in Rome during our trip.

Pasta alla Carbonara was the best dish I have ever had. I highly recommend going here.

Specialty is Gin & Tonic with very special gins from around the world. Had a Earl Grey Foster Gin that was unique and very nice. Appetizer is a chickpea pancake. Eggplant parmigiana for dinner and two great desserts.

Cacio e pepe is only found on the tasting menu, which is a huge disappointment for those unwilling to shell out big bucks for a prix fixe.

We stubbled in here on rainy night after getting turned away from other places for no reservation. Fortunately we were a little early for Italy (7:30) so they were able to accommodate us - although reservations were clearly required. Not only did they save from the deluge but the meal was excellent. We both had the Tasty menu with the wine pairing and it was amazing! Not a cheap place for sure but the staff was amazing (all English fluent) and meal was over the top good. Stewed beef Roman style, spaghetti, and lamb chops. Portions were not overly large but just enough and perfectly matched with wines for each course. Most excellent and will return next trip.

My husband and I went here twice on a recent visit to Rome, both times we were very pleasantly surprised. The first night we had to pasta dishes and both were cooked perfectly. The second time I had the rabbit and my husband had the lamb they were exquisite. In the hubbub of the pantheon this restaurant is a lovely escape.

We arrived at too early to eat as they shut down the kitchen in the afternoon. On this particular day, they told us to come back at 7 for food. So we ordered a coffee and we were on on way. Upon returning later in the evening we were offered a table in the back of the restaurant, the setting was comfortable! Beautifully simple. The bruschetta trio was great, and then a very tasty Caico e Pepe.

Absolutely flawless. Amazing food. Must try the pizza with roasted potatoes and sausage, excellent! focuses on traditional Italian dishes which include fresh, house-made pastas with a great wine selection. The space is beautiful with cathedral ceilings, the second time I was there they had live music. Go with a group and try their small plates. Great service. Delicious deserts. Definitely one of my favorite spots when visiting Rome.

I ate at this restaurant when it was newly opened and think it's a breath of fresh air in Rome. The proximity to the Pantheon makes it a perfect place for breakfast, lunch or dinner (they are open for all three) and has a bar for that late afternoon drink! I had dinner there and actually couldn't fault it in any way. The gorgeous waitress was fluent in English and obviously loved her job. The menu was extensive and focussed on traditional and regional food, prepared to look beautiful and a taste to match. Little touches, like fresh warm bread in a wooden box and the amuse bouche were lovely. The decor was refreshing (it's nice not to look at restaurant walls crowded with photos of old celebrities for once) and the toilets were spotless (always a sign of a good restaurant). I actually can't add anything else, except to say that this restaurant has topped my choices of best restaurant in my five weeks in Europe... and will be on my To Do-List next time I come to Rome! ...and all for 41euro.

We went my girl friend and I on a Friday, which was very nice. I likes the ambiance and they had a live band. The food was really good. Classic Italian food with a flair ... I would really recommend it.

Best restaurant ever. Very residential, not touristy at all. Reasonable prices. I've been in Rome for 3 months, and I have eaten there 4 times already. LOVE IT

This is a perfect take on classic Roman cuisine in modern settings. The service was fantastic, especially by Italian standards and the food was amazing.

Amazing place. At first i was looking for a bar to drink cocktail then i found this and decided to also eat dinner here. It turns out to be a wise decision since the service and dishes are both excellent. The waiter even treated me with a dessert after the dinner!! Many thanks to the people, i would come again when next time to visit Rome.

This was some of the best food I have had in my life. By far the most creative and best tasting food I have experienced in Rome. I highly recommend this restaurant for both residents and foreigners alike. The rabbit was exquisite and the eggplant parmigiana was phenomenal. Cannot put into words how happy I am that I chose this restaurant.

More like 3.5 Got the meat sampler for 20 euro. Everything was delicious Got two pasta dish which were good too but not too special Dessert was great. Cheesecake was yummy, tiramisu was great also.

We had a delightful meal here tonight. The service is excellent and the food fresh, prepared in a creative style. They had saltimbocca cooked a whole new way and yet was very close in taste to the traditional. Lots of small plates on the menu and very considerate of need for gluten free

This place is amazing! I don't typically write reviews, but this restaurant deserves it! Try to caccio pepe. We've had decent meals in Rome before, but this place stood out. I went in July 2016, and had to come back to have another meal this time (Oct 2016).

Exactly what we were looking for! Cozy and quiet with amazing wine and food. Service was wonderful!