We were pulled in by the live saxophone music and had an enjoyable time! The pizza was good, traditional thinner crust and fresh tomato sauce. It paired really well with the Chianti red wine we ordered! The eggplant was different and not mushy, which was amazing! It looks like they may have had a buffet option going on as well, but we stopped for the music and not so much to eat. The service was okay. They took the order and delivered the food on a timely manner but as the night got busier they were less attentive to us. read more

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Just down the street from our apartment rental. The service was very good for lunch for 3 of us! The staff was attentive and good with suggestions. The pizza was very good for my 2 sons. I had the daily lamb leg that was incredibly tender and well flavored with potato. The basic salad and eggplant appetizer was also very good. The ambiance was very relaxed. We ate inside but at the first window looking out into the street. Nice Italian music in the background and easy to hear each other. Three of us ate are full for €74. read more

This place will assume you're an idiot because you are from out of town and rip you off, literally rip you off. I can only assume our waiter was the owner from they way he was directing everyone else, so he can't even blame this on a rouge employee. First off, he comes to the table with a couple bottles of cheap wine to try and pawn them off on us. I know a thing, or two, or three, or 100 about wine, and half the desire to take a trip to Italy was specifically to experience food and wine. I tell him I'd like to see the wine list and select one myself. He acts all put out like I don't know what I'm doing and I don't know how to select an appropriate wine, but reluctantly gives me the list. For being in Italy, the wine list was pretty underwhelming compared to every other restaurant in the neighborhood. But, I ordered what was one of the more expensive wines they had. Again, because I'm not traveling half way around the World to go cheap. He comes back to the table to tell me they are out of that one, so I select another and he tells me they are out of that one as well. So my third choice was a Brunello di Montalcino priced at about $80. (CHEAP compared to the U.S. where this wine would be priced at around $150! Again, if this is one of the 3 most expensive wines they have, it's not that impressive of a list, but still, it ought to be a decent wine). He tells me Yes, they indeed have that wine and he'll bring it right out. He comes back with a bottle and is already opening it. He flashes the bottle and points to the word "Montalcino" to show me it's what I ordered but thinks I'm too stupid to see it's NOT the Brunello but rather a Rosso di Montalcino. NOT THE SAME THING. Not even close, as this one is about a $25 bottle. I'm too tired and hungry to argue with him so we just drink it and aren't at all surprised when the $80 bottle is on our bill. What is really sad is that he should have been delighted that customers came in and were going all out in his restaurant. Full meals with starters, first courses, 2nd courses, one of the higher priced full bottles of wine, etc. But making money that way doesn't appeal to him, he feels like he needs to rip off the "ignorant" Americans on top of it. We would have ordered desserts as well, running the bill up farther, but after that stunt we declined and went to the awesome Gelatto joint on the corner instead. read more

Loved it. Furthest thing from a tourist trap. We sat downstairs near locals who sang and laughed near the piano. Wonderful house white wine and pasta dishes for our late meal. Very reasonably priced. Take your time and enjoy. The old building and family recipes were everything we hoped for in our impulsive decision to pop in while walking by. So glad we did! read more

Beware! If you have a big group they will start bringing food and drinks to your table that you didn't ask for they present it to you like they it is free or they want you to try it. They are very friendly, and if you take what they bring, they charge you for all of the "from the chef" things. At the end, the 10 of us had a $400 bill which should have been under $300. They brought eggplant, focaccia, mozzarella, a omelette and amaro that no one at our table ordered or asked for! They asked us to try it. When the bill was brought it was one price and not itemized. The food is good, but don't get scammed when they want you to try something... just say NO. Nothing is free! read more

Gallo Matto - Fettuccine bolognese - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

Scammers. Inflated bill by $100. We contested and they gave excuses as to why they couldn't print an itemized bill. "Take it up with the government", the manager said, verbatim. When we finally got a *handwritten* itemized receipt, we discovered they had given us an appetizer that was not on the menu, "an appetizer mix", and then charged $108 for it. The appetizer we actually ordered was $5. Conveniently the "appetizer mix" was not on the menu... The waiter had even said, after we ate, that "service was not included" in our inflated bill, and expected a tip in addition... service is Italy is always included. As for the food? It was average at best, and the lasagna was lukewarm in the center. read more

We were recommended to come here by our hotel which was right next door. I shared the jumbo chicken which is meant for 2 people and ordered a salad as well. It was roasted very well and the white meat was juicy too. We even some guests dance with the waiter during our dinner. After dinner, they served us two limoncellos shots. read more

Gallo Matto - Chicken cut in half and salad - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

The food was what I saw in most Roman restaurants-- pasta, pizza, gelato. I ordered the pasta carbonara, which is a local specialty. I can't say it was out of this world. However, the lamb shank with roasted potatoes looked terrific at the next table. When I asked the guy who ordered it how it was, he gave a thumbs up. I hadn't seen it on the menu but I wished I ordered it. It was a hefty serving and looked cooked well. The toasty potatoes were a nice side, too. A glass of red wine rounded out the dish perfectly. I enjoyed the complementary grilled eggplant antipasto with bread. I noticed the restaurant since I walked by it earlier on the way to my hotel my first day in Rome. I walked all the way back to make sure it was my first meal. The restaurant has a pleasant rustic family feel and look. The owner seems like quite a character. The service was attentive and unobtrusive. I should have asked for some suggestions on the menu perhaps I would have noticed the lamb shank on it. The grilled steaks are a house special. All the tables were filled and the view out the windows is pleasant. I don't think you'll be disappointed with this selection. I meant to go back but got too busy. read more

As we were walking toward the Colosseo, we noticed that this restaurant was packed... Being around 9:30 at night we thought it would be a good stop for us to have dinner. A very nice waitress directed us to our table... As you can see from the pictures, the restaurant is filled with random items... From bird cage to plastic deer head to plastic oranges... I mean you namevit, it is in there.... Soon after a short Waiter came to get our drink order.... We ordered 2 wines and a bottle of water. As was expected, they brought the complimentary bread that wasn't anything special... I mean being in Italy, you would be hoping for that perfect and fresh Italian bread... But nope not at this place! Anyways, I asked the waiter if he can bring us olive oil and balsamic vinegar... He brought Olive oil and apple cider vinegar... At this point, I was somewhat annoyed with him... He was rude indeed. After 10 mins he come back with our food and I ask him for the balsamic vinegar... When he comes back with it, he kind of slams the bottle in front of me.... Not cool at all!!! As far as the food goes, my pasta was tasty.. But there were literally 3 pieces of chicken in there.... The menu indicated that my pasta would have FRESH Pepper but I didn't taste any so I asked our waiter if he can grind some fresh black pepper on my pasta.. And in a vey rude way he points out to the packaged peppers that were on the table saying that, that is what they have.... I mean seriously, burger king even has fresh peppers for their customers!!!! If I had known about thsi place, I would have not fall into the trap... I have no idea why this place was that busy.... As for the waiter goes, I hope he gets in trouble because that is not how you treat your customers!!! read more

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Warning: Times Square. After a great full day of exploring Rome, we wanted a quick pizza dinner close to the hotel. There were so many options to choose from that we really had a hard time picking one...and even when we did, we happened to run into Gallo Matto on the way. Christmas lights, people, lively waitstaff, someone was singing...it lured is in. We were tired, maybe slightly delirious, because what we did not realize at the time was that Gallo Matto lured us in the same way Olive Garden or Bubba Gump Shrimp in Times Square does to a great number of people visiting New York City every single day. We sat outside and were immediately forgotten about, so after 15 minutes I walked to the front door--I figured if there was someone there, I'd ask them to come out, if not, we were leaving. Well, there was someone there so we ordered everything at once in the spirit of time (it was close to 10pm at this point). The lettuce in the garden salads was old and very much tasted that way; the two of us basically live off salad and neither of us finished ours. The margherita pizza came shorty after, which had far too much cheese and reminded me of meh pizza back home. We finished nothing and left as soon as we could. I did have a cold Peroni, which was good, but besides that...I'd avoid this place. We went against our gut in every way possible...and learned our lesson. read more

An absolute treat! My large group had a great time! This place is a must! We are planning aa visit on our next trip! We didn't even know about the downstairs piano bar until after eating. So, we had to drink even more wine! Just confirmed...we'll be back May 15, 2021 read more

Gallo Matto - The Crew stopped in! - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

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Amazing food, service, and ambiance. Family business with everyone pitching in to make this place a fun place to eat. Highly recommend!

Tired after a long day of walking around Rome, we wanted to eat somewhere close to our hotel. We wandered past this one and decided to give it a try. Personally, I wasn't impressed, but my wife enjoyed her tortellini with mushrooms. I ordered spaghetti carbonara, which I guess was OK as it was the first time I've had it. I also ordered a pizza. The pizza was awful. The crust had the taste of saltine crackers. The sauce was bright - too bright - and there was very little shredded cheese on top. There is much better pizza available elsewhere. Robert Irvine would have a coronary at the vast quantity of kitschy decor, including Christmas lights, napkins with customer reviews pinned to the walls, and a plastic duck hanging in front of our window (?). On the plus side, our server was friendly and we weren't charged for bread or the slice of eggplant that was inexplicably brought to our table without a word. read more

Gallo Matto - Decor is a bit busy. - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

Unfortunately we were not able to try the food. We walked by and it smelled amazing. When we were seated a gentleman near us started yelling at a customer and then a waiter. I believe he was the owner. While we waited for our order to be taken a waiter sat at his table and they shared some wine. He continued to be loud and treat the employees who were trying to work disrespectfully. Other customers who were waiting to leave or order appeared upset. The atmosphere was so bad we decided to leave. Lucky us, the second place we chose was great. read more

We enjoyed this restaurant, especially the attentiveness and friendliness of the servers. We tried the roasted chicken and potatoes. The potatoes were crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. There was a lively pianist for entertainment and the eclectic decor makes for a fun game if I spy. read more

Gallo Matto - On the "quiet" side of the restaurant. The decor is eclectic. - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

A fun place with very friendly and accommodating staff. It can be a bit kitschy and claustrophobic but so what, make friends with the tables next to you. You're on holiday! Have fun and pull the stick out of your a$$! read more

Gallo Matto - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

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The older reviews don't match the current service. OK - yes it is kitschy and there is all kinds of crazy decor but the service was charming and we had a very good meal!. Don't just walk by but give it a try. We did not have the piano player but that would add to the fun. Our meal was very reasonable and we really enjoyed the team at Gallo Matto. We started with a wonderful salad and antipasto. We had a grilled artichokes, spaghetti with marinara, osso bucco and the ravioli with marinara. The four large raviolis were homemade and had fresh ricotta cheese filling. They were the best I have ever tasted. The waiter was really good and charmed my 10 year old niece. He ended our meal with a free glass of limoncello. A nice dinner stop if you are touring Rome and not too far from the Coliseum. read more

We got there very late after late arrival to termini station The staff was very fun and hilarious First pizza in Rome and It was very good Wish they offered cold water from tap in stead of 3€ bottle The pizza price was very reasonable read more

Gallo Matto - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

Apparently, you can have a bad meal in Rome. Actually this was likely the worst I had in my entire week in Italy. First the waiter was rude and getting annoyed with me because I didn't know what I wanted. Then, he tried to push a pasta dish. I decided on a calzone and in the center the cheese wasn't even melted. I tried to ask for a side of sauce and he was completely confused. My waiter was more worried about getting people in the restaurant than the customers he already had. I'm glad this was the last dinner I had in Rome and not the first. Also, every house wine I've had has been great. This one, not so much. Please skip this place, because there are way better places. read more

Gallo Matto - Cold, not cooked, cheese in my calzone. - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

Food here is great only reason I did not give a five is pizza maybe need a minute or 2 more of cooking but that may just be my palette. Also only one beer to chose from. Atmosphere is cool with tons of neat decorations. Highly recommend. read more

Gallo Matto - Cool vibe with the decorations. - Italian Near Me - Rome, RM

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Pretty great food! I ordered the fettuccine and my husband ordered they're specialty ravioli. We also ordered some risotto and the bread was delicious. We didn't realize the restaurant had an upstairs until I had to go upstairs to pay the bill. But downstairs was more quiet and intimate. Definitely will go again read more

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My boyfriend and I were lucky enough to have stayed at a hotel that happens to be right next to this restaurant. The atmosphere is lively and colorful, the food is very good. The staff is really friendly and fun...and the owners are wonderful! We had a lovely time, eating, laughing, and enjoying their evening entertainment. Definitely a place worth visiting. read more

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Had the rabbit and deli tray. Both were great. The restaurant really brings you in with the decor. Exactly what we wanted. Friendly wait staff read more

As a picky Italian, I would absolutely recommend Gallo Matto. Reading others' negative reviews actually got me upset. For example, the person saying that bread is always free in Italy has obviously not traveled very much. The other person knocking off a star because they charged for bottled water is also annoying, because this is the norm in Italy, in fact in much of Europe! I wish ethno-centric reviewers would not be allowed to use their own perceptions of what is "correct" in another country to knock off stars on a review. Also, the decor is in theme with the name of the restaurant, the "Crazy Rooster", so if people don't like it, they should choose to eat somewhere else instead of knocking it, or they can sit outside. Came here for dinner one evening this past summer, after passing many other "touristy" restaurants, as this seemed to have the most authentic Italian menu. We were very happy with every dish from the free antipasto, wine, two appetizers and our two pasta dishes. The staff was extremely friendly, service was spot on, and we were served in a timely manner. Couldn't have asked for anything more. Oh, the limoncello was great, too. Highly recommended, especially if you need to eat near the Termini area of Rome, where finding a decent "non-tourist" meal can be difficult. read more

My friends and I were on our way to eat at a different restaurant when we passed Il Gatto Mallo. We were immediately drawn in by the energetic and fun atmosphere. Fairy lights and decorations are strung throughout the entire building, which created a great ambience- especially for when we went down to listen to the piano player. The food was incredible and it came out very quickly. Everything on the menu looked amazing, I couldn't stop ordering random things. I wasn't disappointed with a single fish that came out. Get the mushroom tortellini and thank me later. The owner came out on several different occasions to check on us and make sure we had everything we needed. If you eat upstairs, MAKE SURE TO GO DOWNSTAIRS AFTER!! The piano man is epic. Super cool staff, super good food, amazing atmosphere.. go here! read more

I have given them two stars because I have actually had worse. Came here due to reviews and not sure where those came from. Place is creepily decorated with dolls and all sorts of weird things as well as napkins from people saying great things about the food so I felt event tho it did not look good and service was not the best, food had to be. It was ok, not really the best or good at all. Food took forever although we came in when it was not that busy and would not come back again. read more

Definitely a tourist trap. Kitschy decor with a guy playing American tunes on the piano. Service was extremely slow and not very helpful. We wanted pizza but were informed that they didn't have pizza that night. Whaaaat???? After about 25 minutes, our food came out. One item at a time, with the side dish arriving after we finished our meal! The food was meh and not memorable in the least. So unremarkable that I don't even remember what we ordered. Their house wine was not bad though. Price for 2 with 1/2 bottle house wine came out to 22€, so the price is not bad. read more

Food was mediocre. Waiter brought us bottled water but we rejected because we had our own so he took them away. He then tried pulling a sly one and charging us for our own water with some scribble on the bill. Double check your bill before paying! And don't be afraid to ask if you can't read it. Beware of this scam, not only here but throughout Rome. read more

Certainly the worst dining experience I had in Italy. The food (carbonara) was simply bad: pasta was overcooked and had too much oil. Crappy food was however not the worst thing about this place. The service there, if you can call this a service, was awful. I waited forever before I got my order. After I got the bill, I was asked to go upstairs (!) to make the payment, perhaps because those two mid-eastern looking youngsters working there as waiters were too tired to run back and forth to bring the payment terminal. And finally... Before making the order, I gave the waiter my phone and charger as my battery was almost dead. When I was leaving, it turned out that he did not plug it in... Never checked Yelp before going to restaurant in Italy, as so far any random place I picked was always quite good, but this experience proved you should be careful planning the dining even in Rome. Quite sure though, it would be tricky to find the place in Rome matching poor Galo Matto standards of quality. read more

We only stopped in for drinks one night and it was fun. It wasn't very packed but the inside decor is unique and downstairs they had someone playing piano. It was a good atmosphere for a couple drinks. The wine was just ok and the service was good. I would return for a quick drink sometime. read more

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One of the best dining experiences we had on our trip to Italy (Venice, Florence, and Rome). Owner spent a lot of time at our table and made us feel very welcome. Spaghetti with chicken and ravioli were both excellent. Ask for the peppe rosso tritatto oil - outstanding! Also ask for a table downstairs. read more

I loved the character of this place. A lot of cool things hanging around and on the walls. Place had a lot of character. I got the wood fire chicken which appeared to be their specialty and was very delicious. They have a piano player playing all types of songs and singing too. read more

Great food, exceptional service! This is a hidden gem, they have a underground piano bar, love it!

NOT a restaurant for primarily English speakers. Wait staff had terrible attitudes the entire time and were not patient with trying to understand us. Staff is very lazy and not prepared. Will not be going back. read more

Fun. Kitchy. Worth It. We stopped in this restaurant after getting kicked out of a neighboring spot for just drinking wine and not ordering food. Let me rephrase that... We were PULLED into Gallo Matto by our waiter when we asked if we could just drink and not disappointed. Good wine. Delicious desserts (We broke down). Give it a shot read more

It's official- this is by far the worst dining experience, ever. You would think that in Rome of all places most dining establishments would be at least halfway decent. First, I am convinced that the waitstaff here intentionally let our dishes sit out cold before serving it to us. We only ordered lasagna and spaghetti and it took nearly 45 minutes before we were served a cold dish, in a quite empty restaurant on a weekday. I didn't even have to blow on the food to cool it down since it was not hot. Also The presentation looked like a 10 year old kid made it, and the taste was of frozen boxed microwave quality. We cared not to finish our meals due to substandard quality and mistakenly ordered an appetizer of garlic bread with cheese thereafter to satisfy hunger, which took 30 minutes before being served this! Really? The waiters are extremely rude. I believe this all stemmed from our refusal to sit outside on this dead evening to try to attract more customers; it was rather chilly out, so since we decided to sit inside it was all downhill from there. They then insisted we order their grilled chicken which they had already prepared, however when we said "no" they seemed offended when we wanted to see the menu. Eat here at your own risk. To the owners and staff of this restaurant: Tourism is a major source of income for your city, so you should try to show some respect and decency to your customers if you expect to make any profit. read more

Idk what these other people are talking about but the food and service was amazing, the prices were great for Rome, and they brought us an end of meal lemon cello shot! Smells amazing when you walk by, definitely worth coming. read more

This place was a life saver for us! Located centrally, just a quick fifteen minute walk from Trevi Fountain, adjacent to our hotel, this gem served up perfect and simple Italian food. With outside cafe style seating as well as inside seating, the servers are accommodating when choosing a seat perfect for you. Specializing in chicken dishes, however not just subject to, they also serve typical dishes as well. Portions are small to moderate, nothing huge and American. Lemmonccello aperitifs are a courtesy after dinner. Staff is beyond friendly, welcoming, and funny! I will always make it a point to visit and eat here whenever Im in Italy. read more

Kitschy, yes. Crazy decor, definitely. But the food and service were exceptional.We ordered fried olives and artichokes (carciofi) for appetizers, the saltimbocca and lasagna for entrees, and gelato for desert. Honestly, one of the best meals we have had in Rome or anywhere, for that matter. Really don't understand the bad reviews. The service was extraordinarily friendly and prompt. Great food, good wine, and complimentary limoncello as we were leaving. read more

We came here after a trip to the colosseum as a group of four adults. The service was ok. But the food was fairly small portioned, bland, and overpriced relative to others in the area. I can't recommend this place to others unfortunately. Walk down the street a bit to other similar establishments and better meals can be had a ~3 euros less a primi. read more