Poldo e Gianna Osteria

Really thought this restaurant was going to knock our socks off from all the great reviews, but it was more of a ehh, with so many amazing restaurants to choose from, we won’t visit there again. The Atmosphere was nice and service was very good. The recommendation for wine was spot on and we loved it. Unfortunately, the food really disappointed us. If you look at photos from 8yrs. Ago of the Carbonara verses more recent ones, (including mine) it looks very different in color, assuming different in flavor.. I don’t know what they changed but it was really disappointingly bland in flavor the color looks so artificial. Never seen carbonara that brightly colored before. The other dishes were presented nicely but also very bland in flavor. They need a new chef. The old reviews I guarantee were from another chef at that time.

Upmarket osteria with seasonal specials executed perfectly. Beautiful room (upstairs and down), with very helpful staff. Offers the standard Roman pasta classics and much more. My tempura-style fritta of zucchini and aubergine was crispy and salty and the vegetables were perfectly cooked, not soggy and not hard or chewy. They went very well with my beer. I had the seasonal sausage and pumpkin pasta and loved it. Great color, texture, and taste - the sauce was smooth and the pumpkin wasn't overpowered by the sausage. This is a very good restaurant. Recommended.

The “Florio tasting menu” experience was fantastic. It offers excellent value for what you’re served and the wine is paired perfectly with each course. All of the food was amazing, but I need to specifically draw attention to the Rigatoni Carbonara, which was EXCEPTIONAL. The service could not have been better, and the atmosphere both inside of the restaurant and in the small alley leading up to it is great. I would recommend making a reservation.

Wonderful dining experience, highly recommended. Restaurant has an upper and lower level. The food was excellent from starters to main course of chicken (with the most delightfully crispy skin) and tiramisu for dessert. Very attentive service throughout. Bathrooms are in the lower level and very clean.

Best carbonara ever! I'm still dreaming of those crunchy delicious bacons on top. Also the sauce was perfectly made. My partner had meatball which was good as well. Don't skip having a tiramisu here, absolute banger!

The service was attentive and excellent. There is a vast and well-curated choice of wines. The food was delicious and did not take too long to be served. The dishes were unique and inventive, not the usual dishes that are available on each Roman restaurant. Book ahead. We saw some people who tried walking in without reservations and were declined.

This place was an example of the best quality in all aspects: food, service, atmosphere. Menu was delightful, good variety and delicious. Service was kind and very professional. We sat in the outdoor seating area but I could see that indoors was very nicely decorated as well. A big thank you and congrats to the whole team! 👏👏

Poldo e Gianna Osteria was the perfect way to end our trip to Rome — it was our final meal, and honestly, one of the best. The food was absolutely incredible, and our server J made the night even more special with top-notch hospitality. We ordered several dishes, and every single one was executed flawlessly — rich in flavor, beautifully plated, and rooted in Roman tradition. You can truly taste the care and technique in every bite. It’s no surprise this spot has been recognized in the Michelin Guide — the quality and consistency are on a different level. The atmosphere was warm and cozy, with that authentic Roman charm that makes you want to stay all night. You absolutely need a reservation, as this place fills up quickly (and rightfully so). Highly recommend this to anyone visiting Rome — a true gem that blends local flavor with fine dining excellence.

very cute little spot in rome! the exterior is very lovely and has wonderful greenery, and is nestled in a busier district but is in its' own quiet little corner. it has an intimate interior and a luxurious feeling! service was good and relatively fast, waiters were not as attentive but it was ok! the bread was very good, it was sourdough, which i find is rare in europe, but i wish that they had some butter or oil, which was offered to other customers but not us. we ordered one item off the seasonal menu and one item off their regular menu (ordered october 2025). the seasonal menu item was a pumpkin pasta, which had a delicious nutty and sweet flavor, and was a good portion size. the other item we ordered i preferred more, it was a smaller item on the antipasti section, but it was very good! it was an eggplant cube that tasted alot like lasagna, with a nice crisp outside with a cheesy interior! overall, good flavors and they are good at what they do, with very reasonable price points for the quality of the meal, but nothing too exciting.

It was our first night in Rome and we came straight here for dinner after dropping off all of our luggage at the hotel. We made a reservation for 8 PM and were promptly seated upon arrival. The service was great and everyone was super friendly. We knew that we wanted two orders of pasta, so we picked the Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe and Rigatoni di Gragnano alla Carbonara. The Cacio e Pepe and Carbonara were both very delicious and full of flavors. We especially enjoyed the carbonara, the sauce was excellent! I wanted to try the Saltimbocca alla Romana con Prosciutto Crudo e Salvia since it was a popular Roman dish, and for some veggies, we got the Carciofo Piastrato con Citronette al Prezzemolo which is artichoke. We enjoyed the artichoke, it was filled with tasty flavors. As for the saltimbocca, I thought it was just okay, I wasn't big on the taste. Good for a try, but I wouldn't order it again. Overall, this was a great spot for our first meal in Rome. The portions may look small, but it all makes for quite a filling meal. Definitely order the pastas, they were excellent. I can recommend the artichoke as well, but pass on the saltimbocca.

It truly was an excellent dining experience. From the moment you walk in and are seated, the staff makes it their top priority takes care of you. The food is all well prepared, and the menu rotates so I'd suggest asking your waiter for recommendations.

Nice little cozy spot located in an underspending alley just minutes away from the Spanish steps. This little gem has a well crafted wine menu and a solid choice of fresh handmade pastas. Worth a look if you're in the area...

Had an excellent lunch here after spending time at the Pantheon and surrounding area. This restaurant is tucked away and nestled in an alleyway, making it all the more exciting when you actually find it. Very upscale and intimate. I had the bruschetta and a pasta, both were quite nice. Good wine selection but I opted for water at this lunch. There was construction outside so dining on the patio wasn't a viable option (though they were seating people outside). I'd recommend calling ahead for reservations and requesting indoors.

One of the best pastas I've had in my life! The waiters were really excited to explain what went in the dish and our server was very gentlemanly with a wonderful sense of humor. I felt really welcomed and I loved the restaurant's environment. I would definitely go back again, one of my favorite restaurants I've visited in Rome so far!

Exquisite food. We ordered the fried vegetables, baccalà chips cacio e pepe. All delicious. Then we ordered two rigatoni alla gricia, rigatoni all amatriciana and saltimbocca alla romana. They were sublime. Highly recommended

A beautiful and delicious way to end our trip to Rome. Exquisite food in a lovely dining room.

We are from Cape Cod and eat fish all the time. The fish we got tonight at dinner was nasty and gross. My girlfriend puked in the bathroom downstairs so I tried it and spit it out immediately. It was funky. The waiter Tried to blame me and said my taste was wrong. I made a scene to get him to take it off the bill while he continued to tell me that I didn't like fish.... I love fish. That was bad fish. My first Michelin experience and maybe my last. On a positive note which is very hard to find hidden below my volcanic anger at that waiter the lamb appetizer was delicious, the slow cooked beef was ok. Very upset with the experience.

Beautifully done Michelin recommended restaurant. Come hungry and sample the whole menu. We made a reservation a month ahead of time for the outside and we're glad we did. Even thought Rome was really hot the patio was in the shade and perfect. We asked for recommendations on food and we were very impressed with everything. We loved the buratta ravioli and the bruschetta the best. The best way to do this is family style so you get a bigger sampling. 5 stars for the service as well!

What an amazing meal we had at this establishment. If I could give 10 stars I would. The restaurant has outdoor dining as well as indoor dining, being that it was very hot we chose to dine inside. The waiter was excellent, he explained the menu and was able to provide some great suggestions. The food is absolutely delicious along with the presentation. For starters we had the cod fish croquettes which were served with an eggplant cream sauce. This appetizer was absolutely delicious. These were the best croquettes I have had. For my entree I had the braised beef served with white radicchio. What a combination. The beef was so tender and delicious. I was super pleased with my meal. I also ordered a side of peppers with garlic and chili which added the right level of heat to accentuate the meal. My girlfriend ordered a zucchini lasagna served with a lamb ragú which was absolutely ridiculously good. Both meals excellently made. To top off our meal we had a dessert which was made out of a pastry crumble with some cream which was perfect. What a meal. Definitely check out this place, it is off the beaten path but you will not regret it.

Found this restaurant because of the Michelin guide. It's a beautiful and cozy spot for dinner with amazing Roman food. The carbonara was delicious and at about 14 euros you can't go wrong. They had an antipasto with prosciutto and burrata that was absolutely perfect. Simply a wonderful place for a romantic dinner.

Michelin star? Why? Who did they pay off? I expected more. What a disappointing experience at Poldo e Gianna Osteria. The boneless chicken dish was marred by unexpected bones, turning what should have been a pleasant meal into an unpleasant surprise. The onion gratin failed to impress, resembling more of a sad, saggy onion ring than a gratifying side dish. To top it off, the tiramisu lacked the usual richness and texture, leaving you with a runny pudding instead of the decadent dessert you were hoping for. It's especially disheartening during the special occasions of my partner's birthday. It's clear that the food quality and overall dining experience fell short of expectations. The Cacio e pepe was pretty tasty. In addition, while I had a reservation, it was quite disheartening to see the waiting staff talk behind peoples back they send away, especially gocking at well dressed women. Very unprofessional. With so many dining options in Rome, explore elsewhere for a more satisfying experience.

Very nice place. Had lunch, loved the aglianico rosé (never see that back in the US). Loved the rigatoni amatriciano and my man loved the boneless chicken cacciatore- it was very very good. I didn't think the caprese was very good. I had much better in Rome at neighboring spots. It was fine, but not as bright and flavorful or impressive. The chickory salad has anchovies in it- I wasn't aware, the whole salad tastes like that once the oil hit it. Didn't like that. Very attentive and skilled wait staff. We had a good time.

As a Michelin reviewed restaurant, I had high expectations for Poldo. First, make sure you get a reservation as there will mostly likely be a long line if you try to show up without one; you will surely get turned away. Even with my reservation, I did have to wait a few minutes to be seated and even longer to get the service started. If I had a negative to this place, it would be the service and the family running it get stretched thin trying to keep the many tables served efficiently. Luckily, the food made up for the off-service as I got the amatriciana which was very good. I have zero complaints to the food or the bread served. This is worth a stop... just have a reservation and be patient with the service.

We found this place thru the Michelin ranking and it is the best food we have had since arriving in Italy a week ago. Everything about it is a 5 star. Atmosphere, service and most of all excellent food. I seldom give 5 stars to a restaurant but this one deserves it all the stars. We are given a table without reservations and they were fully booked. Today is June 9, 2024

We found this place on the Michelin guide and were so excited for it to be our first meal in Italy. It is a beautiful restaurant, slightly hidden off in an alley but everything we had was dry and generally underwhelming The waiter was great, he was happy to make recommendations for us and made sure to highlight the dishes the restaurant is known for I may have gotten unlucky with what I ordered, but I thought the Saltimbocca was thin and dry. The sauce didn't do much to add any flavor. The pasta for the Cacio e Pepe was perfectly al dente but also didn't have much flavor. I was able to try a bite of my friend's carbonara and that seemed a bit better

As soon as the restaurant opened, a line had already formed, so you already know it's good. That being said, get there early or have reservations. Everyone raves about the carbonara, and I can see why; The rigatoni noodles are perfectly al dente, the bacon is flavorful, and the sauce isn't too creamy nor runny. The zucchini lasagna was unexpectedly delicious, and everyone at my table raved about the veal. The waiter that served us was fluent in English, which made ordering very easy. Must try experience!

Really really delicious Roman cuisine. Excellent value, service, and, food. Glad we had our last meal of our trip here.

We absolutely loved our lunch here! We were lucky to stumble across this Michelin guide restaurant. The food was excellent and the service was unbeatable. We would definitely visit again!

My wife and I had an excellent lunch here. I recommend making a reservation. We saw many people turned away because they didn't have one. The restaurant is tucked away in a small alley and it's very romantic. We had a seat outdoors on a rainy afternoon in April. We took recommendations from the staff and had a great time sampling the menu.

Yes, Yes Yes! Place is outstanding! Loved the food, excellent service and really good prices for what you received. Go here!

So disappointed to have to leave a negative review for this place. We found it on the Michelin Guide and therefore went with the confidence that we were going to be met with a solid meal and starling service. Service was ok, but slightly condescending. We were looking for wine recommendations, especially since we were dining with our in-laws, and our waiter acted as if it was an inconvenience that he had to spend extra time talking to us. Mind you, we showed up early to our reservation. Food was also ok. Pasta was a bit undercooked and inconsistent (my pasta was fine, but my mother in law's was too dense). We were tempted by an appetizer that was supposed to be focused on pistachios but they barely figured into the dish. Poorly described by both the waiter and the menu (eg, the menu stated it contained caramelized onions in Italian and English but they were actually pickled). The end result was a mess of an unbalanced dish. The other dishes were fine, but nothing to write home about.

A bit pricey but decent for the most part. Not ultra touristy like other locations. Enjoyed covered balcony seating €40 for two: - bread (meh) not crispy or super dense - super sweet cherry tomatoes (yum) and delicious mozzarella - fresh grilled sea bass (OK)-- no tricks here, salt and pepper, olive oil and really fresh fish yay - S.O. loved his lasagna but I don't eat beef so I can't really say TLDR: Overall, attentive service and a great variety of menu options especially if you're not necessarily into carbs :)

Exceptional food, service and wine. Best carbonara we had in Rome. The house red was lovely and the fried cod with basil mayonnaise was delicious. You can make reservations on their website. You definitely need them. 10/10 recommend.

Best Pasta Carbonara I've ever tried. Pancetta is cut in large chunks and fried to a perfect crispy coating with a tender inside. Pasta is perfectly al dente. I also tried the Pasta Amatriciana when I went back a second time, which is the same as the Carbonara but with a creamy, tangy tomato sauce instead of an egg based sauce. Very good, but if it's your first time, get the Carboara... you will thank me. Caprese starter was also delicious. Make sure you make a reservation online since it gets very busy. If you're lucky, someone might cancel, and you'll get a table, but that's rare.

A quaint place for lunch ! Good pizza and pasta ! Very busy restaurant yo order quickly if you are in a rush !

The most delicious meal I had in Roma. The atmosphere was beautiful too! My favorite was the carbonara and the tiramisu

Came here based on another review site, and I enjoyed dinner here. Made reservation from the restaurant app (the fork) and when we arrived 15 mins before reservation time, our table was already ready. Staff was very friendly and helpful. In fact, several others came in without reservation and he was trying to be very accommodating to all customers. Food was very nicely priced for the quantity of food served. Wine list is so reasonable, and quite few of them. After eating so much food, when it came to the bill, I was pleasantly surprised how reasonable it was. Food quality... above average but I had better food in Rome. I liked them but I wasn't overwhelmed by any of the dishes I tried that night. Make reservation and sit outside. Ambiance is quite lovely here.

I love food and I am writing this review for fellow food lovers. The restaurant itself is lovely, the staff attentive. Unfortunately the food we had were in turn: over cooked, unevenly cooked, and/or bland. Given the Michelin recommendation and the darling ambience, we were particularly disappointed.

My sister and I stumbled upon this place in an alleyway and it ended up being our best meal yet! I had the most delicious rigatoni carbonara of my life. Seriously, order the carbonara. I also had the bruschettone as my antipasto and it was delicious. We shared the beef filetto as our protein and it was also delicious. I imagine everything here is very good! I'm so glad we found this great little restaurant.

My brother and sister in law stumbled across this gem while on one of their walks. We came back for dinner and we're so thankful that we did. Food was outstanding, owner and staff both personable and professional. Everything was absolutely perfectly prepared and delicious. Table had Fried Baccala Tempura which was sensational. That followed by the Rigatoni Carbonara and Raviolis. All were incredible. The facility is quiet but lively, intimate and designed with a modern contemporary vibe.

There was no chance to taste anything prepared in this restaurant. We made a reservation by email for 8:30pm of Saturday the 14th of December. We arrived all of us on time at 8:25pm to be told that the confirmation was for 8:00 pm therefore we missed our chance. But as I attach the photo of the email request and the reply it is obvious that it was for 8;30pm. They tried to find excuses but they did not even make a slight effort to apologize. They shrug off their shoulders without respect or regard. It was repeated with another group that were waiting behind us. In the meantime they were taking locals and sitting them That is not only unacceptable but outright disgusting. Don't go. Don't make the effort to walk in that restaurant. They must learn to respect their clients.

Ordered steak for my son which though told my opinion was 'subjective'. My beer was discounted from the bill (which was a very nice beer) but the salty uneatable dish was not. I was not impressed with the experience

Great food great ambience and attentive professional staff. We stumbled upon this for lunch and without a reservation we're seated. Very fortunate on our part. Go there but make a reservation.

My husband made a reservation for dinner for us right when it opened at 730. Already there was a line out the door. We received bread as usually and ordered our $3 still water (can't stand sparkling, but it is available). Right away, looking at the prices, it is much less than I was expecting for a Michelin star! Between 11-20 for most of the main courses and already cheaper for wine and drinks than I was assuming! We got the cheaper $6 prosecco which wasn't too sweet, which is what my husband prefers! We ordered the bruschetta based on other reviews. The red onion was amazing but the cheese was a bit much for me. Overall it tasted good though! The pickled red onion really added to the taste well. My husband ordered the slow cooked pork ribs and I ordered the Carbonera. I was between that and the chicken and he stated he liked both. I was getting a bit tired of pasta at this point but still opted for the popular carbonera for now. Carbonara was okay. The bacon added to the flavor. I might be just over pasta at this point though. Not terrible but not as big a fan as other reviewers. My husband enjoyed the pork ribs. I thought they were decent. Fell right off the bone and seasoned well! Tasty for sure. I liked it more than the carbonara. But both were just okay. Overall good but still not amazing Overall! 3.5/5

Wow. This place really impressed me. The service is not the best but everything else is. The place is very nicely decorated and everyone eating there is speaking Italian! The rigatoni carbonara is the best carbonara i have ever had. Incredible. And the seafood is amazing. This is a must go to when in Rome.

Tucked away down an alley, warm and inviting on a cool rainy night. Exceptional service, tasteful decor and delicious food.

We had an amazing dinner last night. We didn't have a reservation but they were very gracious and were able to find a table when super busy. We started with the buffalo mozzarella and pomodoro and also the fennel salad. For entree we had a steak with rosemary potatoes (the steak was perfectly seasoned and cooked as ordered) rigatoni alla gricia, the roasted guanciale was perfect, slightly salty, crispy and tasty and then the tonnarello carbonara. We had a bottle of Aglianico to round out the flavors. We had come across this little street solely by accident but what a great surprise.

So so yummy! Get the bruschetta that has pistachios, it's amazing. I also recommend the steak with Lardo. Overall a fabulous meal!

Ate here twice on a recent visit to Rome, which--given the competition--says it all. Nice setting inside and out, fine service, outstanding food.

Amazing place for a date night. Down a small alley, this restaurant is both intimate and authentic. It is a wonderful place to escape the crowds surrounding Trevi. My wife and I loved the food. She lived in Italy for years and we agreed this was some of the best food we'd had in Rome. Normally, I'm not much for lasagna but the homemade, white lasagna here was one of the most delicious pasta dishes I've tasted. Go here.

Bottom Lime Best Roman Food, for Best Value, and the Best Service. We (Americans) have been to Rome about 5x in last 15 years. Of course, you have to work hard to get a bad meal in Rome, but this restaurant is step above. The food (we had appetizer of grilled calamari) and the Roman Pasta Dish of Cacio e Pepe are unsurpassed. The wine, by the glass (we had the superior was terrific and the dessert was sumptuous. The price was no higher than other restaurants in Rome where we have dined. So, a great value. Romantic atmosphere on porch Best

We passed this restaurant walking home from the Pantheon and it's down a small alley. The beautiful greenery caught our eye! We passed it again walking to a different restaurant so we went in. Looks are deceiving!! We had no reservation so they sat us downstairs. We were the only table there. Our waiter was very attentive. The bathroom was nice. We missed out on all the crying infants upstairs. My husband ordered lamb that looked like 3 chicken nuggets. My daughter got sick on the Ravioli. We specifically told them she's allergic to nuts. Unfortunately the kitchen does not worry about cross contamination. They said there were no nuts on the food we had. BUT the salad pine nuts. Seriously!! We asked for no nuts. I tried the linguine with clams that was truly al dente. Hard pasta way too fishy. I tried the recommended Carbonara - not so fabulous. Over $100 Euro later we left totally unsatisfied. Find another restaurant. Looking back their rating is high only due to the few reviews. Of all the restaurants in Rome this should NOT BE YOUR FIRST CHOICE.

Visited in early October during my 4 day stay in Rome not once but TWICE! I told my wife I refused to eat at the "tourist trap" resteraunts usually right by the main attractions after a couple of bad experiences and truly wanted to get a taste of Rome and true authentic Italian cuisine. Upon exploring the streets of Rome my wife spotted this gem in a hidden alleyway. It was busy for lunch ( we noticed a lot of locals eating there on their lunch break something we didn't see at every " touristy" resteraunt so decided we'd try this place. They seated us after a 10 minute wait and were so friendly. Our waiter Jay ( I think that's his name) was very attentive, kind and well mannered. He explained everything on the menu in detail and helped us modify our order . We started with the caprese salad and prosciutto plate which amazing, everything so fresh! My wife had ordered the sea bream fillet as her main and I ordered the Roman staple cacio e Pepe and honey glazed lamb. The sea bream was cooked so well and was buttery covered with veggies and a tomato sauce which was all made fresh in house. My cacio e Pepe was nothing like I tasted all trip to that point because the noodles were so delicious and easy to see that they were made in house. Such a simply dish and so much attention paid to it to make it a true culinary experience. The lamb was coated and fried and was cooked to perfection. No odour or true lamb smell but only well cooked meat with a strip of lamb fat along the cut of meat which added a buttery melt in your mouth aspect to this dish. Highly recommended! It was time for dessert and jay promptly brought out our menu and upon ordering the tiramisu he mentioned they make their own version/ take on this classic dessert. All trip one thing that never failed to disappoint was the tiramisu so going with another version was a risk but this dish did not disappoint! It was creamy and fluffy with a biscotti base. So light and the perfect way to end the meal! Second visit We decided that on our last day we wanted our last meal to be at this fine resteraunt again because it was by far our best meal in Rome. Jay wasn't our waiter this time but again we came for lunch and were promptly seated ( we got there as they opened) and they fill up fast with all the locals who work nearby in the business district. This time we ordered the starters of the mushrooms and house salad, which were pretty standard, it's kind of hard of to mess those up but again what stood out was the freshness of their veggies. For the main I only ordered and decided to try what I was recommend to order in my last visit ( their top selling item) the carbonara. Again In house prepared pasta with the perfect carbonara creamy sauce and salty pork cheek ( thick bacon pieces) filled my heart with joy. Each bite was savoury and again reminded me why I came back here. My wife ordered the steak which she hoped was going to be good. She was so used to North American prepared versions of steak that in Paris when she ordered it she was highly disappointed. I told her the Italian version is prepared slightly different and must be had at medium at most ( she prefers medium well), so I expected her to be disappointed since this was not up her alley. When the steak arrived I saw a tender cut that looked perfect cooked. She was shocked when she took a bite that this steak was the perfect cut of buttery meat. It was seasoned perfectly and the knife cut through it perfectly. Both meals were amazing and come highly recommended. The service was classy and top notch! Can't wait to come back to Roma to eat here again!

This was our best meal in Rome for service and food quality. I ordered spaghetti pomodoro and steak with balsamic vinegar. The noodles and sauce were freshly made and very tasty. My sons had rigatoni with tomato and bacon - it was amazing too. We would definitely return.

Wandering around Rome looking for a great luncheon spot, and happened through an "alley-way" to stumble upon this restaurant. We nabbed a table outside, and enjoyed the grilled sea bass, veal saltimbocca, and fried cod. Just delicious. We loved this place so much we came back the next evening for dinner service, ordered the same and added the fried artichokes. More deliciousness! Service was perfect, staff helpful with our broken Italian. If you go for dinner arrive very early or book a reservation.

By far the best food I've had in Rome! Amazing food, service, ambiance, and attention to detail! We did not have a reservation but they sat us inside immediately and served us quickly. I will keep recommending this restaurant.

Highly recommend! My husband and I stumbled upon this secret treasure while wandering around one night, and it ended up being our favorite meal we had in Rome. The restaurant is tucked back in an alley, which makes for a quaint and intimate setting - hardly a tourist in sight. We had the prosciutto and buffalo mozzarella for an appetizer, and it was fantastic. For dinner we had the white lasagna, which the owner said was his grandmother's recipe. We could not get over how good the lasagna was! We liked our experience so much that we went back again on our last night in Rome. We'd recommend making a reservation ahead of time to guarantee your spot, as it's a rather small restaurant and they weren't seating a lot of walk-ins either time we were there.