Settimio all’Arancio

This is the third night of our honeymoon and the first meal we’ve had in Italy that wasn’t outstanding! Unfortunately, it was barely edible. And to top it off, it’s overpriced and atrocious service.
Service: as mentioned, awful. I’ve heard that the service in Italy isn’t always amazing, but this was a special kind of bad (our experiences elsewhere have all been positive). We requested an inside table originally since it was in the 90’s outside and humid. When we sat down, found out the air conditioner was broken and asked to sit outside. They told us no tables were available, although at least 3 were clearly available. In the next 5 minutes or so, two other small groups came into the dining room, also realized the air was broken, asked to be seated outside, and were. I mentioned again that we wanted to sit outside and were again told it was full, but they could get us out there in 10 minutes. A few minutes later, they got us outside, into one of the tables that had been open the whole time. Even before this incident, our server was rude, seemed like we were wasting her time, and generally very unhelpful. When we asked for suggestions, she just laughed and quickly named off about 5 dishes without saying a word about them. And to top it off, not a single one of them speaks more than a few very broken words of English. It seems that they are, however, friendly to the locals.
Food: I got the lamb, which the server recommended. It was nearly entirely a plate of fat. The little bit of meat present was edible, but rather bland. The potatoes could have come frozen from a bag and I wouldn’t have known the difference. My wife got the crab ravioli and while it looked great and the pasta was admittedly cooked well, the stuffing was awful, very fishy. I am from Maryland, so I love seafood and know crab. When crab tastes fishy, it’s not good. We told one of the waiters that it was bad and this started a small parade of about 3 different staff trying to figure out what was wrong. When they finally understood what we were saying, they said we ordered crab so it should taste fishy and told us this was one of the dishes they were famous for. If so, it would explain why there were so many open seats inside. Ultimately, they agreed to take back the ravioli and exchanged it for a pasta with tomato sauce, bacon, and pecorino cheese. This was acceptable and we finished it, but certainly nothing you couldn’t get at any restaurant in the city. We got the caprese as an appetizer and the waitress forgot about it initially, eventually brought it after we were working on the dinner. The mozzarella was slightly better than what you’d get in the US, the tomato was slightly worse, the dish had no oil and was unseasoned.
Value: They charge for water, which I don’t like but understand is typical around Italy. However, they also charge $ 2 per person for very average at best bread, which I have never seen before and was very unexcited to see on the bill. They didn’t charge for the dish we sent back but the bill still came to $ 56. Not too bad for a good meal in Rome, but about $ 50 too much for what we got here.
I rarely complain, and can’t remember ever sending food back, but I wanted to walk out from here without paying. This wasn’t helped by the fact that it took a good 10 minutes after I asked for the bill to finally get it, while during this time I watched the person we asked clear a table or two, pick up another bill, and walk around as if he were lost a few times.
To sum it all up, one of the worst meals I’ve had and the worst service I’ve had anywhere. There are plenty great restaurants in the area, absolutely no need to waste your money or time here.

This was an awful place to go for dinner. So over priced, € 2 per person for bread alone. Our meal cost more than a whole days worth of food and was inedible.
I ordered the meatballs with zucchini and saffron. Couldn’t eat it. At all. I always eat everything.
The place next door is always full of Italians and looks delicious.
Don’t do it. If you’re going to pay for overpriced food, may as well go to a good location, better to the Spanish steps.

I would not go back here! The restaurant is located on a back street in a bit so clean area. The waiters hover just behind you during the entire meal. The food is ok but it is priced 5+ € higher than other restaurants in the area.

OK find for a quiet spot hidden in the busy shopping streets. It was ok– had the broccoli and sausage pasta and slices of beef. You can skip the chocolate mouse and panna cotta — def much better places in Rome.

The food is excellent. Wine is great. Only down side is this one waiter. I’ve been to this restaurant three times, and I always have a problem with this particular waiter. All three times, they sent us to the seats next to the bathroom. Fair enough, we didn’t have reservation. But the waiter who served us were not really very friendly, only to us. I’ve seen him chatting, smiling and be friendly to local customers, but never to us. He forgot to bring one spaghetti meal and he wouldn’t admit his mistake!!! And he said I don’t speak good English!!!
I work in service industry and I know how to talk politely to the waiters. I told my Italian friends what happened and they said we should have left. I know service in Italy can be bit slow, and I’ve been to Italy dozen times so I have no problem is slow service. (And this waiter is not Italian back ground) But the rudeness, this is something I can’t tolerate. Now this is three times. That’s why I decided write the review. The food is good, but I’ll probably refused to be served by him in the future if I ever go back.

Dieses Lokal fanden wir aufgrund von guten Unilocal Reviews. Wir haben darauf geachtet, dass die allermeisten Reviews italienisch sind, sodass wir nicht in eine Touristen-​Falle tappen.
Das Settimo all’Arancio liegt in einem kleinen Gässchen, der via Arancio. Nicht weit von der berühmten Spanischen Treppe entfernt (ca. 5 Minuten zu Fuss, entlang einer schönen Einkaufsstrasse). Da es aber eben nicht auf der Einkaufsstrasse sondern in einer kleinen Gasse liegt, ist dieses Lokal überhaupt nicht touristisch. Man geht hier auch nicht einfach per Zufall vorbei, sondern muss wirklich vorhaben hierher zu kommen.
Das essen ist authentisch italienisch und super lecker. Man findet eine schöné Auswahl an italienischem Essen. Die Küche war wirklich schnell, es waren jedoch auch nicht allzu viele andere Gäste dort. Das Personal war wirklich spitze und super freundlich. Das hat natürlich auch seinen Preis — ganz günstig ist das Settimo all’Arancio nicht.
Die Weinkarte bietet eine grosse Auswahl an Weinen, man hat die Qual der Wahl. Der Wein, den wir bestellten, war auch wirklich super. Leider wurde der Rotwein ein wenig zu warm serviert. Aber es war auch ein heisser Tag mit 35 Grad, da wurde vermutlich sogar der Weinkeller wärmer als gewöhnlich.

Restaurant is moved around the corner to Via di Monte D’Oro, 17
Service: 4.5 stars
Atmosphere: 4.5 stars
Location close to shopping: 5 stars
The problem is that our food wasn’t great. It would probably get 2 – 3 stars at best. We ordered pasta an a salad and the pasta was so dente that I had to pick it out of my teeth. Also, the bread that they served was stale and old (although, this is par for many other cafes, only our high-​end meals had good bread).
Overall, would be willing to give them another try but we’re bowled away as other reviews indicated.

Went here due to the reviews here. Was not disappointed. The food, the service, the quaint backstreet bistro ambiance were all just what we were looking for on our first night in Rome. The couple at the next table suggest the t-​bone steak (I’m thinking I came to Rome for a steak?) but they were adament we had never had anything like it. They were right, served family style, it was wonderful. Smoothered in onions and grilled vegtables, sliced up and done to perfection. T-​Bone Steak Roman Style, I highly recommend it. Dessert was tiramisu — and it was the best I had ever tasted. Later I found out the resturant was right next to the shopping district, so very convienient and defineatly worht the trip.

Excellent Restaurant. A quiet respite from the hectic Via Condotti near by.
We had eaten here several times but the last time we were here, all of the stewardesses from our flight were dining also.
Everything we have had has been very good but the antipasto selection is great.

One of the best restaurant of Rome. Go anytime for a great lunch or dinner. It can be crowded. Everything in the menu is delicious, but the burrata as antipasto is really special.