We found these reviews after having already booked the hotel and we considered cancelling our reservation, such was the anxiety that the reviews here caused us. We decided to give it a shot anyway and, having done so, are glad that we did.
The staff, almost exclusively, were super helpful, even going beyond the call of duty on occasion. One gentleman finished his shift at the hotel at midnight on Sunday and when we left our rooms at 6.45 the next morning he was waiting outside our room with his own car to drive us to Fiumicino airport on the other side of Rome! How good is that?!! The other hotel staff were courteous and helpful and the general level of their English was satisfactory if not exceptional. There was one woman who, while courteous and helpful to us in the main part, was a bit brusque and rude with some of the other guests. If you've read reviews which said that the staff were rude I would suggest that they had dealings with this lady since everyone else was superb.
The other thing that people mention a lot is location and accessibility to the centre of Rome. Yes, location is not ideal, and yes, the hotel is not the easiest to find. Our taxi driver struggled a little but he phoned the hotel and found it relatively quickly, even knocking off a few euros from the fare for the confusion. For travel to Rome centre, it's a 2 minute walk to the bus stop. We never waited more than 15 minutes for a bus which took about 5 or 10 minutes to get to Anagnina Metro. From there it is 15 stops (20-30 mins) to Termini in the centre of Rome. Coming back, someone on here gave a good tip that you get off the Metro 2 stops earlier at Subaugusta and get the 503 (same bus) back to the hotel. (The bus route from Subaugusta gets to the GRA (the road the hotel is on) before it goes to Anagnina so this takes 5 mins instead of what would have been 20 or 30 mins I presume from Anagnina.
We never caught a late metro so I'm not sure what time the last of these runs (9 pm has been suggested but I can't confirm that).
The last 503 bus is about 10.30 most nights.
Overall, I think public transport around Rome is easy and cheap. We were in Rome for 3 days and you can buy a ticket for 11 euros that covers you for bus and metro travel until midnight on the 3rd day of purchase. A daily ticket costs 4 euros and there is a 1 week ticket too.
We ate at restaurants each night so we never experienced the hotel meals. The breakfast from what I can gather (I never had it but the others in my group did) was basic but adequate.
As for local shops, there aren't many but THERE ARE A COUPLE. Right around the corner from the bus stop is a cafe/ shop- literally 2 or 3 mins walk from the hotel. There is another shop/ newsagents/ cafe about 10 mins walk from the hotel although to access this you need to walk along the GRA which has no pathway as such and which can be a little daunting to foreigners not used to this. We managed it a few times; you just have to keep your wits about you.
The hotel rooms we had were not in the main hotel block. There are a number of chalet type rooms set off to the side of the hotel building itself. The environment within the hotel complex is actually quite charming and these rooms were very pleasantly located, spacious, clean and well presented and featuring all the real necessities. Anything else you require can be asked for. The one downside to the rooms and this can be quite a large negative is the fact that they sit right alongside the GRA, the busy main road outside the hotel. The traffic is loud throughout the night here. Ours was actually the closest to the road (probably ten yards away in fact) and on the first night this was annoying but we got used to it.
One final tip-If you are driving yourself bear this in mind- Via Lucrezia Romana (which is the hotels address) is a long road and, where the motorway crosses it, it stops dead, then starts again on the other side between the two motorways. The hotel must be accessed from the GRA which runs alongside the Circonvallazzione Orientale motorway. You cannot access this part of the Via Lucrezia Romana directly from the other, main part of the same road by car.

The hotel was fine for the price. The staff were great. Food was not clever but the free breakfast served its purpose. Very noisy in room. Good point is the rooms are spacious.

Getting to Rome is an abolute nightmare. The last train back from City to Anagnina, the hotels subway station leaves as early as 9pm. Getting from Anagnina to your hotel will be fraught with difficulty. The spirit of the adventure is lost after the first attempt. The second attempt it becomes very tedious. Possibly dangerous.

Location is a nightmare!! Hotel is a bus ride to the metro station either by the irregular shuttle bus (doesn't operate on a Sunday and runs 3 times in the morning and 3 times at night with the last service at 7) or the 503 local service which was random and we waited an hour on the way back on Sunday. After that its a 25 minute metro ride to the centre of Rome (costs 1 euro). The last metro is at 9pm. Hotel airport shuttle bus only runs 9am till 9pm and is on request with 24 hour notice being given to the hotel. so the great shuttle service advertised to make it easier from this non central hotel is awful!!

Waiters double up as the bus drivers and are really friendly-other staff so so.
Rooms ok and cleaning staff super efficient.
Breakfast ok-nothing grand

Book at own risk!!

The hotel itself is very good. A nice building, clean and comfortable rooms and a wonderful garden. But it is OK only if you do not go out.
The location is terrible. The hotel is situated between the two lanes of the circular road among warehouses and industrial markets. By car you need 1 hour to reach the Centrum in rush hours. This could cost 50 or more euros by taxi. Public transport is not an option also - the only bus that takes you to the metro runs at intervals of 50 minutes.
Another problem of the hotel was the breakfast - it was poor and insufficient.