Although Chef Alba Esteve Ruiz left Marzapane in 2018 the Restaurant at Via Velletri 39 has persevered, and guided by the vision of Chef Francesco Capuzzo Dolcetta, Marzapane now proposes a seasonal menu full of bold flavors at a fair price whether one selects the €50-to-€65 tasting or a la carte options. A Michelin Guide Restaurant, though not currently starred, it is in a Scandinavian-leaning dining room that guests are seated starting at 19h30, the kitchen visible through glass pristine and well-appointed with everything from flat-tops to a Big Green Egg. Best defined as a Trattoria, but more avant-garde than many of Rome's time-tested Restaurants, a quick look at the menu shows several classics alongside more experimental plates, the willingness to test boundaries without eschewing history easily appreciated by those seeking something a little different. Situated a good distance from tourist attractions, and thus a largely locals destination, diners can still expect English-friendly service, Water plus well-priced Wine getting things started alongside complimentary Focaccia and Marzapane's daily "Gastronomia" consisting of handmade Ox Tongue Headcheese, Grilled Eel, Pork Meatballs and Sheep's Cheese. A sizable starter, though that is not to say primi or secondi skimp in terms of portion, Pastas next arrived in two rounds, the Rigatoni slick with Eggs and Pork Cheek a peerless specimen while Candela Spezzata "alla Genovese" took a backseat to more compelling Corzetto with Eel and Ginger plus Capellino that marries melted Beef Fat with a hint of Licorice. Selecting wild-shot Duck to share, three nearly-raw slices defiantly standing alongside smashed Potatoes and reduced Game Jus, Dessert followed as a trio, Quince Confit atop dry Bread texturally odd but nicely flavored while Custard-soaked Brioche and aromatic Crème Caramel each stepped away from the traditional Trattoria with stunning results. read more

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Found Marzapane via an Eater list of Rome restaurants to try -- and we were so glad we did! The location is a little unobtrusive but the rooftop balcony is just lovely. Service staff were helpful and engaged but not too present -- lovely wine recommendation to go with our meals. We dined a la crate because I have some food allergies -- we lived most items ans a few were just not to our palates. The dish that stole the show was the Felafel app -- you don't expect that but it was punch full of flavor with herbs running through the entire dough. Next up -- both pastas we're outstanding. The pesto made with Bibb lettuce instead of basil surprised with its freshness. Our mains/secondis were just a little less awesome than the rest of the meal -- but I suspect it's more about comparisons than anything after the first bites raiSed our expectations. read more

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Would definitely return and do the chefs tasting Incredibly good selection of natural wines Delicious interesting food (with some exceptions) Funny dry wit servers Nice atmosphere However a few things kept it from 5 stars We waited a half hour to be seated. They did pour us some bubbles while we waited but it still unacceptably long. The dessert wasn't really a dessert. It was a weird little tin cup of grainy runny creme anglaise that wasn't cold enough to set up as a custard and was only accompanied by a boring little cookie. My guess is they'd run out of cake to go with it and just decided to serve that. The space is too tight and i kept getting bumped into by servers. Otherwise a nice meal. Especially impressive was an anchovy course and the pork neck which was exquisite read more

There are fantastic restaurants in Rome. This is not one of them. There are great, friendly people in Rome. Unfortunately, they don't work here. There is places with great food and service. Not this one. Too expensive, too slow, arrogant - and not worth a visit. Simply avoid. read more

Not just the worst meal in Rome, but worst meal I've had on vacation anywhere. This was so highly praised and well reviewed that we anticipated an amazing Xmas eve experience. And while the staff were absolutely wonderful, we were stuck with a pre-fixe menu that we hated. We both enjoy a fair amount of seafood, but as most Americans who eat seafood, we don't like things that are pungently fishy or with lots of extraneous stuff that might look unappetizing. (Think the green goop in whole lobsters--no thanks). The menu started ok with salmon, which was fine. It next went to razor clams served over the same greenery that was in our holiday table decoration and we were advised not to eat that- it was to stabilize the clams. Hopefully the people next to us didn't get ill since they weren't given the message. But frankly, with how we felt about those clams, we probably would have chosen the inedible greens if given choice. I like regular clams, but these were fishy and unappealing to me. Maybe other people would think they were swell, but we noticed as the restaurant started to fill with primarily Americans, that their faces looked as apalled by this dish as ours did. Since we were the early birds, the kitchen was concerned that we didn't eat all of the clams and then sent out a whole sautéed calamari. Not as we would typically consume it. Royal fish soup- also too fishy and a half cold, totally mushy half a lobster rounded out the unending seafood extravaganza. We hadn't signed on for a whole seafood tasting menu and we should have gone elsewhere when we peeped the menu of the evening. We will laugh about how horrible that meal was for years and decided it was the benchmark of the worst meal we may have ever had. And spent over 200 Euros for the stomach ache. Woot. Remarkably, we would give the place another chance if we could preview the menu and choose items we would actually like. It was unfortunate that so many Americans had such a horrible Xmas eve dinner there because they did not consider their audience. Even for people who love seafood- I don't know anyone who would want that many courses of JUST seafood. Fair warning: check the menu out before committing. read more

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Delicious food and beautiful presentation and service. We went to Italy for our first anniversary and had our anniversary dinner in Rome at Marzapane. We ordered the tasting menu. It was extremely filling and priced well. We also ordered a bottle of wine with it. The dinner was definitely worth the splurge. However the 1 star I took off was because the carbonara was too salty and cheesy and the risotto was chalky and didn't taste right and the dessert with the chocolate sponge was crumbly and the texture wasn't right. But these are 3 small things out off a multiple course (which you can see in the pictures) tasting menu and 95% of the food was off the charts. Would definitely recommend it! Grazie read more

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I have been at Marzapane many times since its opening and every experience was great: delicious food and cozy atmosphere. At the time of this review, the restaurant provides customers with 3 different menus: 6 courses 39€; 8 courses 59€; 9 courses 69€. In my opinion, the chef is one of the most talented in Europe. However, if I may be candid on this, I would say I miss the "first" Marzapane (the bistro style). I am referring to the beginning period when eating in this restaurant was as surprising as relaxing, as pleasant as different. In other words, although it is still a remarkable reference in town, it is not speechless any more for me. This is not about prices or service, even if last time the latter was argumentable (i.g. ladies served after men, wine poured after the arrival of the dishes), but about the whole experience: it is no longer vibrant. I know what to expect, while I would like to be a bit surprised. Nevertheless, it is clear that the food is gougeous, the restaurant is beautiful and it is worth eating there. read more

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This was arguably the best dinner I have ever had. We were able to sit at the table overlooking to kitchen and it was amazing getting to watch the chefs make our amazing dinner and get to talk to them about it! The food was amazing and the service was incredible. If you are looking for a special night out or just some amazing food, I highly recommend!!! read more

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The most important thing that you should know that the world-class tasting menu that everyone else is mentioning in their reviews is gone now, as of a month or two ago. Whatever restaurant the other reviewers went to no longer exists. The tasting menu was what I went there for, and they are no longer offering it, and I do not see any reason to go there anymore. The other thing people have mentioned, if not mentioning the tasting menu, is their carbonara. Their carbonara would work _great_ on a tasting menu, but in the portions they're offering now, it's simply too much. It's a giant bowl of pasta, bacon, and the mixture of egg and cheese that makes carbonara so incredibly wonderful. This dish, sad to say, is simply too too much. it's like a double dose of Kraft Mac and Cheese with bacon. It pains me so much to say that a huge bowl of bacon Kraft Mac and Cheese is too much, but it is simply too much. It would, of course, be great in a tasting menu in a moderate portion, but alas, that world has passed us by, apparently. read more

Absolutely world-class tasting menu and service. I've experienced 1 and 2 Michelin service and Marzapane delivers a tasting menu as an equal. The mazipane evolution might change in the coming seasons but if it still has the Nomad Beef or lamb pasta with lupini beans, go. Just go. read more

For good traditional Italian food and lively atmosphere, this is not the place for you- or me. In fairness, I went with a group and was unaware of the menu beforehand. The food is very inventive and artsy, combining unusual flavors but doing so, in my view, with a rather pretentious air. Servings are tiny but beautifully presented. I found the fish and the carbonara to be good, but not dramatically so- but what completely ruined the meal was being asked by the waitstaff to "quiet down". No surprise, we skipped dessert and got the check. I'll give it a four to be fair, but will enjoy my wine and food elsewhere. read more

Marzapane - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

I just checked in for my flight back to NYC and my last meal I had in Rome was simply outstanding! The best I've had so far in Rome considering the "bang for the buck"... We had the 5 course tasting menu with a great and very rare white wine from a little island in Sicily produced by Hauner which was great for our seafood dishes. The whole atmosphere of the restaurant is simply great and yes we had to reserve a few days in advance but it was well worth it. Definitely a place I will come back to on my future visits in Rome. So glad I found this place. Now I can leave "happy" :) read more

This place will have a Michelin star for sure. It was 69€ for their longest tasting menu, and they charged us 31€ for the wine pairing!! In comparison to a typical Chicago 7 course tasting menu with wine pairing, the price would usually be at least $200 plus tip. We felt like we robbed the place for the value. Creative amuse bouche with prosciutto and truffle. A red mullet (fish), risotto with smoked fish, beautiful langoustine, and a duck breast with a type of blue cheese were all creative with great flavor combinations. Dessert course with chocolate and gelato was amazing. They said they've been open just two years. When in Rome, go here for sure. But I guarantee the price and ability to get a table will not last long. read more

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Maybe it was my fault for being too hyped up for this restaurant, and for the dozen times the general manager and I had to exchange emails just to get a reservation. We sat down for a Sunday night dinner at 8:00pm and decided not to go with any of the 3 tasting menus (although in retrospect, maybe we should have because the table next to us had the tasting menu and they appeared to have just as much food as our regular orders). They did not have the suckling pig available, which was super disappointing. The hubs loved everything he ordered (tortellini in broth and his stuffed duck). I on the other hand, didn't fancy their egg and noodle carbonara specialty (too much egg and cheese going on for me) or their cod fish. The cod fish dish was just too fishy for me. Before you tell me how absolutely absurd that sounds, let me just mention that maybe it just wasn't what I expected: the fish broth was super salty, the shrimp and mussels weren't cooked all the way (I think this is what they were going for) and the overall combination made me feel a little gaggy. The service was very efficient and polite. So, the hubs would rate this place a 5-star and come back and I would rate this place a 4-star. *And as others have said, this place is def a splurge. 1 appetizer shared, 2 first courses, 2 mains, 2 glasses of wine, and 2 mineral waters totaled about 110 Euros for us. *Yes, the portions are not large, so you May leave hungry, although they do give you plenty of bread, wontony-breadsticks, and a freebie (for us in the beginning). *Reservations needed, don't just pop in. read more

My hotel is not in the most touristy area of Rome, and thankfully this had the benefit of visiting two fantastic restaurants. The second of which was Marzapane. It was my birthday while I was in Rome, and this seemed like the ideal place to celebrate in style. Buckle in. This review is a long one!! With chef Alba Esteve Ruiz, formerly of the celebrated El Cellar de Can Roca in Spain, at the helm I felt confident about splashing some cash. The menu is fusion in a sense, Italian predominately, with Spanish leanings owing to the chefs heritage. I opted for the "Il girone dei golosi" (the group of greedy) 9 course tasting menu, with paired wines. While waiting I was brought some grissini and romesco sauce - delicious. I strarted with a meatball atop of vegetables with a barbecue sauce, to be honest I could have left the sauce. The meatball was fantastic, a total delight. Next was the scallop and beetroot seven with champagne. Amazing. Perfectly cooked and delightful with the beetroot. Next on to the carpaccio with aubergine sauce - served with a reisling. Who would've thought it?! Magnificent. Followed by most spectacular risotto I've ever eaten, with anchovies, butter and candied ginger. Risotto will never be the same again. Then on to linguine with salted and fresh roe. Amazing. Cooked al dente and making me want more. Again paired with a white wine, but by this point I'm hazy on the specifics. Followed by cod and foie gras. Truly wonderful! Next to the lamb with chimicurri and hot sauce. Jeeeeeso even by my standards the hot sauce was hot, but delicious all the same. Then the pre dessert, a kind of creme caramel - beautiful. Followed by the main dessert of a deconstructed carrot cake served with martinis. To finish delicious petit fours and a ristreto. I had the chance to meet Alba after my meal, she was gracious and wonderful and I'm sure it won't be long before Marzapane has a Michelin star to boast. read more

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The people of the blogosphere seem to feel Marzapane is due a Michelin star. I'm not so sure though we had a very good meal there. There were a few tasting menus to choose from - which I liked as an idea. We both went with 'Menu Marzapane' because it had most of what we wanted to try from the a la carte menu and the other menus looked like too much food. Before getting to the food, a word on the service: while highly professional from start to end, I felt it was too attentive and too fast to clear dishes. I like a restaurant that doesn't linger too long between plates, but it's a delicate task not to rush the diner either. The meal: An excellent selection of bread and a very good amuse bouche that was a bite of Asian-flavored tuna wrapped by a thin wrap of pickled cucumber. It was also topped by a single micro-green and a single 'piping' of a savory cream. Next, the Coppa di pancia di maiale, emulsione di senape, pomodori secchi, nespole e crostini alla cipolla ("Coppa" bowl of spiced pork belly, mustard, dried tomato, crisp bread, medlar). A small, artfully plated dish that is quintessentially modern cuisine - delicate, expert, technically flawless, and a little disappointing. The pork belly was reminiscent of a pork-head terrine. The crisp bread bits are fun to crunch, but it's deep-fried bread, which is one-note tasty and too dominant. The mustard emulsion, smeared (the 'flying tadpole') on both sides, should have been more piquant. The next dish, the Cappelletti alla Gallega ('little hats' in potatoes and paprika broth with roasted octopus), also had tiny flaws, but it was my favorite plate. This was very Asian in appearance in that the tortellini in the broth looked very much like a wonton in broth rather than a traditional tortellini. The broth was quite subtle, with a slight aftertaste tang from the paprika. But to be honest, I might've loved this dish if the broth were stronger and richer (try a little bonito or kombu). Also, there should have been more octopus. The octopus portion was not aesthetically restrained but downright meager. The Carbonara 2013 was perfect on the pasta but far too rich and overly dressed. The traces of black pepper sprinkled around the perimeter of the plate looked dirty and unappetizing. Don't misunderstand - this tasted good. But it's not an impressive interpretation either. The final savory plate, Stinco di Maiale, patate e peperoni e crema di aglio arrostito (pork shin-pork knuckle, potatoes and pepperoni, roasted garlic cream), exemplifies everything right and wrong with our entire meal. It was artfully and expertly prepared, but it was quite ordinary and almost boring on the palate. The 'sauce' on the picked pork was excessive in quantity and unremarkable in flavor. The 'piping' of roasted cream was pointless. The pre-dessert was cute and pleasurable - a crunchy crumbling of a cookie topped with whipped cream (cookies and cream!). The 'real' dessert, Cioccolato, nocciola, arachidi e cannella (chocolate, hazelnut, peanuts, cinnamon), was a 5 star knockout even though it didn't need that sprig of fresh thyme on top. That thyme, however, is kind of emblematic of all the plates - it's there for looks more than taste. The petits fours - butter cookies, biscotti, chocolate with a liquid passion fruit center, a mini lemon meringue - all excellent. In sum, for the price, you will eat quite well; but I still believe the tiny flaws have kept away the Michelin man thus far. read more

My wife and I had dinner with a couple of friends at Marzapane. We all had the "tasting menu" Girone dei golosi. It was the most expensive (69€) but it definitely worth it. Very delicate with a combination of tastes which you would never think to pair normally. Service was formal very precise and attentive. read more

Delicious food in Rome. Had the more expensive tasting menu and it was delicious. Would recommend and would go back.

Ridiculously good value for the food. we had the Alba tasting menu. The prawn tartar, duck breast with foie, pork and the 3x2 dessert were perfectly amazing. All really well balanced flavour profiles and superbly executed. My only criticism lays with the Carbonera and Risotto which had perfectly cooked pasta with overly seasoned sauces (way too salted). A great meal all around though, would definitely come back when back in Rome. read more

The night started with the wrong foot. When we walked in, the restaurant was basically empty and they tried to seat us in Siberia, just because we did not belong to the local Roman crowd. After I complained, they reluctantly let us pick where to seat. The food is good. We shared as an appetizer the battuto di gamberi rossi, my wife had carbonara (too heavy for my taste) and a side of yummy chicory. I had the pig, which was also very good. The restaurant tries very hard to be fancy and elevate the dining experience, with complimentary amuse buche, sorbet and tiny deserts plus cookies, but I think that to get that Michelin star obviously so much sought after by the chef/ owner is not necessary to imitate the creative "international" cooking style of many world-famous restaurants when the same can be achieved with solid Italian cooking. read more

We were very much looking forward to this restaurant, based on rave online reviews. Comments like "a Michelin star is eminent" piqued my interest. Having been to a few M-starred restaurants, we were expecting a lot. I'm sorry to say that we were disappointed. To start off, we arrived 30 min late due to our own fault (We got lost/our first time in the area) However, we were shown to our table graciously and immediately. Not sure if we were being chastised, as we were put at the only low table and chairs in the restaurant. I felt as if we were put at the naughty kids table! (DH thinks it is all in my head) Also based on recommendations online, we choose the "il girone" 69E tasting menu. It started off well: the prawn tartare was delicious, and the foie gras was HEAVENLY! (turned out to be our favourite dish on the night). The risotto was unique with the candied ginger. The linguine felt like a stir-fry, but was perfectly al dente and flavourful. The disappointment came with the secondi. The amberjack, such a delicate fish, was overcooked. The duck (which substituted for the Iberico pork) was more medium-well than medium rare as it should be. Service was polite and congenial. The bread selection fantastic and totally worth the bread fee! All in all, I would not go back: 1) It's not in a convenient location for visitors, 2) the inconsistency in execution of the menu was not worth the trip. However, perhaps they had a bad night? read more

Loved loved this place! They gave us prosecco and apps while we waited for the menu to be ready. Our waiter was so sweet and gave great recommendations. They even chased us down to give us toothpicks after we asked and they said they were out. Great food and overall great dining experience! Can't wait to go back. read more

My wife booked a reservation for this restaurant back in October for our last night in Rome and it was definitely the best bang for the buck that we've had on the trip. We tried the $35 Marzapane tasting menu and it was great along with a nice bottle of red Spanish wine. Very nice cozy atmosphere with great customer service. The head chef Alba Esteve Ruiz keeps the kitchen buzzing and has a view of all the tables in the whole place to make sure things are running smoothly and that dishes are served promptly with very little downtime after we've finished the previous course. We definitely liked that versus some restaurants we've been to that take 3 hours to dish out 5 courses. Overall, great food, great experience and we're pretty sure this restaurant will eventually get into the Michelin ratings, so it was good for us to experience it before it gets all hyped up. Will definitely come back and highly recommend! read more