Our party of four men got together at Roman Village to talk over old times. I mentioned this to our waiter and he did a superb job of checking on us as to filling water glasses and refreshing the drinks. We were not rushed. The food (everything from soups, pastas, salads, meats) was terrific. This is one of those staple restaurants located in the shadow of the Rouge that always comes through. Great homemade food and wonderful service.
(5)
Sip C.
Oh Roman Village. Just looking them up to review them has made me crave their Gnocchi Rita... Alright guys. Clearly other reviews have said it: this is the best Italian food you're going to get. They have legitimately traditional dishes (lighter, oil sauces over cream) as well as more American-Italian fare (like thicker crust pizzas, cream based sauces, etc.). It's all.so .good. Their bread is, I think, something that could help bring world peace if they would only ship massive amounts of trays over. Desserts are stellar, all food is consistently good. I have never had a bad meal at Roman Village. I think my only complaint (which has certainly not stopped me from going there the past few years) is some oddball service. I've had really good consistent waitstaff here, but the managers seem... less serviceable? Kind of grumpy? Not to mention, I've tried contacting them about catering through their website, in person, and on the phone and have yet to receive any communication. Oh well--I'd say it's their loss, but damn, do I want some Roman Village.
(5)
Jessica S.
Hands down THE BEST LASAGNA I've had anywhere in the Detroit-area. Seriously, try it! You will not be disappointed! Other highlights include the bread (obviously!), calamari fritti, the stuffed shrimp, the Pasta Shrimp Amore', the Broiled Salmon and the Spaghetti Carbonara "Alla Bocelli." Oh my gosh, so good! Writing this review is actually making me hungry.... The soups have never really done much for me. The Chicken Pastina seemed pretty bland flavor-wise, and I'm not the biggest Minestrone fan, generally. Otherwise, I love Roman Vilage! Extra points for providing a delivery service for those nights when you get home from work and don't want to cook, or get back into the car to pick something up. Delizioso!
(4)
Brianna R.
There are so many Italian restaurants to choose from in metro Detroit, all at a variety of qualities and prices. Roman Village really stands out, because the food tastes great and the prices are reasonable. They also have a surprising variety of traditional Italian foods - not many restaurants have stuffed shells! The pasta e fagioli is delicious, as well as the bread. I like how they give you the dipping ingredients separately so you can have as much or as little as you want. The gnocchi rita is great. The leftovers heat up nicely the next day, which is good because I'm so full on soup and bread I can never finish!
(5)
Matt S.
My wife and I decided to give Roman Village a try given all of the positive reviews. It was a rare night out without the kids, so we had high expectations. As others have said, Roman Village is in the middle of nowhere. The area around it is all industrial. Not a scenic drive by any means, but a fun drive every now and then. The bread was very good, some of the better bread I have had. It was very fresh, and went well with the olive oil. The salad with the house dressing was also quite good. My wife ordered the Linguine Arrabbiata, and I'd have to say, we would not order it again. It was a little bland, but not awful. My food, however, was delicious. I ordered the Mostaccioli Casseruola with italian sausage, and we took home no leftovers. I would without a doubt order it again. For dessert we shared a cannoli. It was not very good compared to other cannoli's we have had. We would not order it again. Overall we had a very good dining experience with great service. We will definitely be going back to try some of the other food on the menu.
(4)
David K.
I tried Roman Village after all the positive reviews here. I agree with Chiwei "amazing light pillows of love" is an accurate description of the gnocchi. The pasta e fagiol was great too. here is the kicker, Tuesdays are 1/2 off. I spent less then 8 dollars and brought enough food home for a second meal. Thanks for the referral
(5)
Andrea H.
My family goes here when they want excellent Italian food. My family and I have been coming here ever since my Dad used to work at the Ford Rouge plant....and we are still coming here! We love the different pastas. Oh and don't forget to try the Rita sauce, it's to die for! My dad always orders their bbq spare ribs, he can't get enough of them! Hey it's gotta be good since even the opera singer Andrea Bocelli visited this place last time he was in Detroit.
(5)
Jonathan M.
I used to work down the street for this place, and let me tell ya, the surrouding area is a mix of dirty heavy industry and burned down ghetto. All the restarunts in the area are just the same dirty, nasty, landfill quality, or just burned down. But for some reason this place is amazing even when surrounded by crap. The company I worked for would get catering from here regularly and the food was top notch!. The garlic bread is to die for and whatever the pasta stuff we kept getting was it was incredible too!
(4)
Molly S.
Roman Village is one of my favorite restaurants. Although it isn't in the fanciest of areas (okay, it's not the best area), it is totally worth going! Their food is delicious. I have never ordered something here that I did not like. The have delicious garlic bread that they bring to your table. I honestly could make a meal out of just this bread. Even the ranch dressing for the salad is the best. You get HUGE portions for a good price. There is no way you could finish your entire meal alone at Roman Village. I love the Carbonara, Lasagna, Pesto Linguine (PERFECT!), Pizza. They often offer great deals, too. They have half off pasta and pizza nights which is such a great deal for families on a budget. The restaurant is clean and comfortable. They have large dining rooms and a small bar section with booth seating. They are very accomodating to large parties. We have had several family dinners at Roman Village. They have a seperate banquet type room with large tables. We have even called to host a small graduation party there and they were able to accomodate us for that. The service has always been fantastic. I hate to admit this since I love the place but I did have hair in my lasagna once. This is bound to happen sometime but the waitress and manager were very apologetic. They made me something else and comped the meals. They used to have a magician come in and entertain the kids at the table. I haven't seen them doing that recently but my nephew and nieces used to love it. I recommend Roman Village and frequently have dinner here.
(5)
Kristina A.
Tried this out for the first time on Sunday with a group of 6.......around 3:00... to start with, I'm a fresh bread nut....and their's is great....the waitress brought out several baskets, right out of the oven......I could have overloaded on that alone. I ended up having the pasta fagiole soup, which was very hearty. Our group had a steak mama calzone (so big they bring it on a pizza tray) $10 (we got two meals out of it), shrimp fettucine, a baby calzone (2 were pleasantly full), crab stuffed shrimp.....stuffed with REAL CRAB.......pizza - which was fantastic.......we're going back..... bonus - I DIDN'T HAVE TO ASK FOR WATER....lol....keep up the good work!
(5)
Mitch M.
Mmmmmmmmm! You will drive to this restaurant and think to yourself, really Mitch, really? You recommend this place? I admit, it looks like nothing. It's in the middle of an area you normally wouldn't set foot in. But you should set foot in Roman Village! They hand make their pasta and their attention to detail is as meticulous as it is wonderfully delicious! This would be a 4.5 stars out of 5 for me, but the option isn't there. I really, really love this place. Not pretentious at all, and very down to earth real world Italian food. One caveat, they have kind of odd hours. Make sure the restaurant is open before you drive there -- I've been disappointed by this twice now. Great owners, great food, GREAT RESTAURANT!
(5)
Laya L.
Nice place. Good Italian food and the servers were really nice. It seemed very similar to the Antonio's restaurant in Dearborn Heights, except it was a bigger restaurant so we got seated faster and we received our food a lot quicker too!!
(4)
Angela R.
Based on past reviews we had fairly high expectations and was very disappointed. We were in the area for the night (canton) and looking for a nice dinner, so as we often do, we consulted yelp. We were willing to drive a bit as we were in no hurry so based purely on reviews we took the jaunt to Dearborn. For a Sunday night there was a reasonable crowd, no wait but oddly we were seated in the bar (we were not asked if that was ok either) where the Denver Steelers playoff game was on. There were only a few patrons in the bar and half the staff bringing the noise level way up! We had a nice waitress who was attentive but didn't notice that the first beer we ordered wasn't drank due to the fact it was flat. Throughout our dinner the various staff would rush past our table to check the game and make loudish comments that would be just fine in a sports bar, since we had driven past many sports bars on our way to this place, this WAS NOT what we were looking for. Even the lady that appeared to be a manager didn't seem to see this as a problem! In all fairness our food was good, the bread was good and the complimentary canoli was tasty. But we felt cheated. Too bad the ambiance due to the staff couldn't live up to the write ups. Please check the sports calendar prior to visiting this restaurant. You'll be better off.
(2)
John T.
I love this restaurant. Members of my family have been going to this restaurant since the 50s. I have never had a bad meal there. I have once or twice encountered slow service, but that was because the kitchen got slammed and even though I had to wait the food did not suffer. Pasta is made by hand daily, right there in the restaurant. The pizza is truly stellar. My favorite dish, bar none, is the Carbonara. Yum, yum, yum!!! The fresh bread they make is absolutely delicious. I've tried just about everything on the menu at one time or another except the seafood dishes, and all have been good to great without exception. If not the carbonara, then the Gnocchi Rita Sauce is the way to go. Or any of the others...cannelloni, mostaccioli, ravioli, tortellini, etc. It is pretty much impossible to screw up here. Be prepared to take food home...the portions are huge. If you eat a whole plate of carbonara at lunch, do not expect to get anything done the rest of the day...all you will want to do is go someplace quiet and take a nap!! A great place to eat!
(5)
Shelly M.
I have to start out with what I ordered for dinner. I ordered the Mostaccioli Casseruola with meatballs, and wow, it was (high pitched voice) awesome... The meat was incredible, the sauce was perfect, it came in an individual baking dish, and had melted cheese over the top. It was hot gooey tasty magic. Was here for dinner with my son and we both really liked it. The bread basket was very interesting. I think the bread is baked then deep fried for just about 2 seconds in butter, i can't think of any way to get that buttery crisp over each and every piece that perfectly distributed. I could be wrong, but I'm very suspicious. We had the bruschetta appetizer, which was loaded in very flavorful and fresh tomatoes, really nice and enough for four people as an appetizer. My son ordered Chicken Scalloppini, and it was pretty good as well. Only bad was the side of spaghetti that came with his dish, the meat sauce that was on it was way too sweet and a had a weird taste, as if it had some bad tap water in it or something, not really an easy taste to describe. Everything else was fab so we just left that left alone.
(4)
Tanya M.
Love it! I grew up by Roman Village and always ordered their pizza, breaksticks and soup...yummy! As an adult I've been back and really appreciate more on their menu. Their chicken parmesan with wine sauce is delicious. The cannelloni and veal parm are great too. My friend ordered a dish with pesto and enjoyed it. I always have leftovers and both the wine and food are reasonably priced! The only problem is I'm not in that area any more so I don't get to enjoy it often !
(5)
Michelle A.
Excellent! Friday night, jam packed, but quick service. The BEST pasta sauce we have ever had! Kind of pricey - the Caesar didn't look like it was worth the up-charge (hubbie had it) but everything else was YUM. I agree - who knows who rita was - but the Gnocchi with rita sauce.. mmm. The bread , just fabulous.
(5)
Haroun K.
One hell of a vegetarian pizza!
(5)
Samantha K.
I went there a few days ago and it was very nice inside, although it's not in the best neighborhood. I ordered the gnocchi rita sauce and it was delicious! The bread is also some of the best bread I ever had. I think this is my new favorite italian place!
(5)
Roy Dealmaster K.
9 of us went for an evening dinner 2/2/2013. I read the reviews here first and had high hopes. The latest two of three reviews did make me wonder, though. The location for me is a non-issue even though it may be um, off the beaten path. We were seated just after 7pm and 10 minutes later after asking some *good* bread was delivered, accompanied with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Drinks also took a while. Our server was an infrequent visitor even though the restaurant had maybe 7 other tables occupied. I saw only one other server and a couple bus boys. I ordered the veal parmigiana with spaghetti side/meat sauce. I found it consummately uninspiring. Not a fallacy of composition but certainly dispassionately constructed. The sauce was simply tomato flavored with no real distinction. My benchmark is Bravo Cucina Italiana in East Lansing, MI which has absolutely flavor-packed marinara. The veal itself was tender and was ok, the cheese was good. The spaghetti was broken up and twirling was impossible. Some people like that but not my preference, but it's ok. My daughters had veal marsala and mostaccioli. The picky one did not care for the mostaccioli and I agree - uninspired. She didn't even like the chocolate cake which surprised me. The marsala well, don't know what it was - eminently forgettable. We finally got outta there nearly 2 hours later and it's not like we were busy the whole time. I guess those latest two reviews were pretty accurate. Maybe something has changed in the kitchen.... I did take leftovers home as it makes for an easy lunch. The upside (??) was the portions were generous. And the bread was good.
(2)
Adam N.
Great food and great service. One of the few places to get real authentic Italian food in the Metro Detroit area. Best lasagna I've ever had!
(5)
Nikkie H.
I was saddened by the closing of Dolce Vita in Riverview, but I've quickly found a replacement with Roman Village. I've been here twice and it's taken over the top spot as my favorite Italian restaurant. The bread is yum, the spaghetti carbonara is yummy and the tiramisu is ultra yummalicious. I cannot wait to go back again!
(5)
Matt B.
One of the best Italian restaurants. The area is unusual, yes, but I don't thinks its scary. Just unusual to see a Mosque across the street. The food is very good (I'd use "very great" but don't think its grammatically correct). Try either the pizza and pasta. I've never tried chicken, etc. They stuff you with bread first, so be careful not to overeat.
(5)
John C.
I was really impressed with this restaurant. Clean with a charming atmosphere. The service was great. The manager walked the room asking the guests how their meal was. The waiter informed us that certain dinners on the menu was buy one, get one at .45 cents. Cool! One heads up though was the salad. It was almost swimming in the house dressing. A little too much, but bearable. I had stuffed shrimp shells. Delicious! But I needed to give it a few minutes to cool. To me that was nothing. I loved the food and the friendly service. I think these restaurants are on to this site. Maybe it was the Yelp t-shirt I was wearing :)
(5)
Shane N.
I was in Detroit for four days last week and I had Italian food for dinner every night for four different nights. It wasn't really planned, but it happened. As a result this is the first of my reviews of three different Detroit area Italian places (the fourth place I visited I have been to several times and already reviewed. I have been to Roman Village several times before, but only for pizza. This was the first time I went in and sat down for a meal. It is in a very Arab neighborhood, but it is a very Italian place. The inside is nice and spacious. The staff is courteous and attentive. First off let me say that there bread is excellent. It was fresh, warm and delicious. Second off let me say that the minestrone was not very good. I think it was in a beef stock. It just didn't look or taste like minestrone. For an appetizer we had some calamari. I thought it was pretty good. It was not overbreaded (maybe a little underbreaded) but it was still pretty good. For my main course, I had the gnocchi with the Rita sauce. I don't know Rita is but I give her props for her sauce. It was basically house made gnocchi in a blush sauce with pancetta. I thought the gnocchi was pretty good. It was cooked well, but it was a little too much like just potatoes. The sauce I tought was excellent. I am a big fan of blush sauce and I am a big fan of pancetta. The sauce was very good. For dessert we tried the tiramasu and an almond custard. The tiramisu had too much cocoa on it and the custard was kind of bland. Same for the almond custard. I have had the pizza in the past and I thought it was pretty good. Overall the place is pretty decent.
(3)
Darrell T.
My coworker gets this for us from time to time. They have the best calzones and salads EVER!! Their breadsticks are AMAZING!!
(5)
Angie P.
Terrible service. Our waitress took almost 15 minutes to come and greet us, and seamed to disappear on and off throughout our entire meal. I could understand if the place was packed, but it was a Thursday night and I could count the number of occupied tables on one hand. The food was not terrible, but the quality of service was so poor that unfortunately my boyfriend and I will not return to Roman Village.
(2)
Chiwei L.
Have only had their gnocchi, which are amazing light pillows of love. I've never had anything quite like it, and it has made every other example a sad disappointment...
(4)
James W.
My wife and I visited Roman Village for the first time on March 2, 2010 for our 5 year anniversary dinner. Her Veal Parmasean and my loaded Pasta Bowl were AWESOME and you will not believe just how tasty and rediculously addictive their tableside hot bread is. This place is a sure thing!
(5)
Julie J.
Just about the best Italian food in and around Dearborn. Great variety and they don't charge you extra for the salad or soup and the bread. Their bread is fantastic! I am a veggie and they have lots of choices for me. Bring your appetite; I always end up taking half of mine home. I like their service here better than their sister Restaurant Antonio's in Dearborn Heights. Prices are reasonable, too! Enjoy!
(4)
Michael L.
Love the food. Service is adequate.
(4)
Jeffrey N.
I went to this place due to its proximity to my Dad's and its rating on Yelp. Yelp is great, isn't it? Anyway, Roman Village definitely deserves 4 stars. The food was quality. My Dad said the veal was great. We debated the decor. He thought it was too modern but I didn't think it was bad. It had a family restaurant feel to it. Not stale, like a chain restaurant, but not super nice either. The prices were good for the food and the serving size. A fair deal. The best was the service. We never had to wait for a water refill or for the waitress to come by. I never felt rushed to leave but I never had to wait long for service. If you're in that area on the west side, I can't recommend a better Italian restaurant.
This is an absolutely wonderful restaurant on the outskirts of Dearborn. Though the location shouldn't hinder your desire to go there (I got lost trying to find it. Street signs! Arg). The experience far outweighs the journey. We were seated at a large table for dinner in the far room. We had made reservations for a birthday party - we were sick of the same old party/get drunk birthday, and wanted something a little more classy. Roman Village delivered! We ordered a few different dishes, appetizers and main course, family-style. The portions were huge and everything about the pastas were amazing: sauce, noodles, and spices. I'd recommend the regular old red pasta sauce because it really is a great gauge as to how well RV does what it does. The Alfredo was great too (Oh no! I mixed a white and a red sauce!), as well as the meatballs. They look like the meatballs from Happy Gilmore! (Or was that Billy Madison? I can't remember...) Their mixed drinks are pretty impressive as well. Just for the fun of it, we had margaritas all around. They came in these huge glasses laden with all sorts of fun things, most of all, the fruit juices tasted better than pre-frozen mixes. I couldn't say it was from fresh fruit, but it sure tasted like it was. In all it was a wonderful experience in a beautiful restaurant. This would be a great date spot (not too busy, great service, not bad on price either) or a special occasion spot - Mother's day, Father's day, George Washington's birthday, whatever.
(5)
Heidi B.
Area= totally undesirable, prayed our car would be there when we got out. Building= beautiful, gorgeous, clean, open & airy. What was it doing in that dump of a neighborhood? Service= over the top, Laura, our server was friendly, helpful, had great suggestions, great 'up-seller', we tipped her 25%. What was she doing in that dump of a neighborhood? Food= over the top, honest to goodness, killer italian! Never had gnocci that good, try the Rita sauce, mixture of marinara & alfredo with bacon & mushrooms. Unbelievably delish. What was sauce that good doing in that dump of a neighborhood? Price=cheap. They were celebrating their 45th anniversary with a buy one, get the 2nd dinner for .45. Our meal was so cheap, it felt like we were stealing from the owner. Which made sense since we were in that dump of a neighborhood. Return Visit= absolutely, can't wait. Oh and our car was there when we got out, so we can return.
(4)
Sandra B.
I have been eating at Roman Village for about 20 years - this place has been there for a while. The food is really good - this bread is yummy. If you are counting calories, this is not your place. If you are looking for some good food, you should really enjoy it. Pizza, pasta - all good! My one complaint - this is a recent thing that they have been doing - if you want to substitute one type of pasta for another, there is a $4.95 additional charge for that. It is just pasta - I could buy a ton of fresh made pasta from a market for less than that. Major disappointment.
(4)
Longball F.
This place is always a solid performer with great prices! two can get in and out under $25 with tip! Salad, pasta or pizza and soup, and they make the best bread for dipping or eating with a salad.
(4)
Jason A.
I love this place. It blow its counterpart, Antonio's, out of the water. Consistently good food and service. The bread they serve is the highlight of every visit. Not to say the food isn't great, because it is, but dat bread... hnnnnngghhhhhh! But besides the bread, I recommend the gnocchi with Rita sauce, cheese tortellini, calamari fritti, pizza, and calzones. I've tried quite a few things, and these are what stand out. So quit wasting money on the Olive Garden, and give Roman Village a go. It's fantastic.
(5)
Michael N.
I haven't been here in a really long time, but assuming nothing has changed, this place is an excellent hidden gem of an italian spot. As the other reviews have mentioned the portions are massive and the bread they bring out before dinner with the oil is to die for. My go to was the Linguine Al Pesto. Prepared with olive oil, pine nuts, garlic, parmesan cheese and plenty of basil. What's not to like? Parking wise, they have their own lot which is helpful considering this area is a little shady. Overall, I would go out of my way to hit up Roman Village again.
(4)
Harris N.
So we were leaving a Detroit Lions training camp event in Dearborn and needed lunch. I looked at the trusty Yelp app and found this place. Plenty of stars for this neighborhood so we decided to try it out. I don't think it's in the right rating class. I expected much more for such high ratings. I figured either the service or the food has to be excellent. The place was okay. They make much of the food inhouse. The pasta is made in an area in the front of the restaurant. The bread is definitely baked in the kitchen. My son ordered a spaghetti with meat sauce. I tried his spaghetti, and it was a bit tough for pasta. Good pasta should be firm and stretchy. This was firm and seemed to have a grainy texture. I had a Caesar salad and Veal Marsala. The veal had plenty of mushrooms and a fragrant Marsala sauce. Both were good, but felt a little expensive for the type of restaurant. This place is okay, but don't expect 4/5 star food or service. This place also reminds me of Pasquales in Royal Oak. Very similar type restaurant.
(3)
Rola S.
This restaurant is usually my family's go to place for big family celebrations. It is my mothers favorite place to eat at with no complaints from her. Start out with that bread that's so addictive. I call it crack bread, so yummy. We then order huge Greek salads, big family so yeah they eat a lot. Very fresh, and I love that they keep the feta cheese in small blocks to break up to my liking. Feta cheese is the best part for me. I think they use the domestic Greek feta, as the feta from overseas are stronger. Then we had a few party pizzas which are probably 20+ slices. Delish!
(5)
Diana C.
Best Italian in Detroit and some of the best italian I have ever had. Great place for families. Was very pleased with the service we received (everyone was friendly and attentive). Loved the dishes and we took fresh noodles home to cook later (fantastic deal!)
(5)
Amy B.
I came here last night to eat with a bunch of other fellow yelpers and I was pleasantly surprised. Not only have I never been here before, but I've never even heard of it! I was pleasantly surprised when I walked in to see how nicely decorated it was. I was expecting it to be a lot smaller, and the place actually had a decent amount of seating. After scouring the menu, I decided to get something light. I wasn't overly hungry and some of the dinners seemed big for my appetite at that moment. I went with the Garlic shrimp off the appetizer menu, and it was delicious! It really hit the spot. I wish I had ordered dinner but I knew I would have taken most of it home, so I passed. Everyone got something different, and the servings were nice and big. Service here was consistent and professional and they were not overly pushy about anything. To me, this is more of an authentic Italian restaurant then, lets say your typical Olive Garden or corporate chain restaurant. Granted, it's not in the prettiest side of town, but it's a gem none the less. All dishes looked delicious and portions seemed appropriate for prices. I gave 4 stars only because even though it's really good family Italian, it's not "the best" Italian food I've eaten. If your in the area and want something authentic, swing by!
(4)
Silvana E.
I haven't tried anything that I didn't like here the pizza is good bread is amazing my favorite is the seafood stuffed shells there service is awesome and they prices are pretty good the food is larged portion
(5)
Adrianna S.
I'm 100% Italian and have grown up eating my families cooking my whole life. That being said, I'm a tough critic of Italian cuisine. Roman Village is the only place I will eat Italian at, but there are some dishes I do not like. I love the pizza (amazing), antipasto, fettuccine Alfredo, gnocchi, and the sausage appetizer is to die for and reminds me of a dish my father used to make for us. It has housemade Italian sausage which is very flavorful with fennel, peppers, onions and potatoes. I do not like their red marinara pasta sauce at all. It is watery and flavorless. I also do not like their eggplant Parmesan, but my mom makes that THE BEST so maybe I am a little biased! Portions are large. Service is OK. Parking lot is always packed.
(4)
Scott S.
Holy portion-size, Batman...consider splitting an entree. Never one to eat at a chain restaurant if we can avoid it, we sought out some good food in Dearborn tonight, and this place came highly recommended, so we decided it was time for some Italian. My gnocchi were plentiful enough to easily feed two people, and came with some of the best bread I've ever had, and a huge bowl of soup. I powered through it, because I'm no quitter, and didn't even leave myself any room for dessert... ...but that didn't stop me from ordering some anyway. There are not one, but two tiramisu options, so I opted for the toasted almond. I sort of wish I'd gone for the other one, simply because I adore that coffee flavor, and this one tasted much more almondy instead, but it was delicious in its own rite. A fantastic, massive meal that could have resulted in leftovers if we had anywhere to put them. All told, only $50 including wine.
(5)
Mike G.
Allison F. told me that this was a place to check out when I'm in the area. As I was driving along Dix Avenue, I began to wonder if she was crazy or just trying to get me killed. Roman Village? It ain't in Rome folks. The area, let's say, "isn't pretty". I'm glad I made the trek through no man's land. This is an old school family run Italian restaurant that's celebrating it's 50th anniversary this year. I opted to sit at the bar as they were on a 20 to 25 minute wait at 8:15 on a Thursday. (Did you just read that?) This is a seriously good sign folks. Zeinab, the bartender was really nice and helpful as I had 4 different things in mind but I only brought one stomach with me... Lasagna, shrimp scampi, stuffed shrimp or Pizza Bianca? Which to do? The envelope please. And the winner is....Pizza Bianca, it's a no sauce pizza with mozzarella cheese, fresh diced tomatoes, basil and garlic. The crust is hand tossed and has a little crisp with some chew to it. Everything was fresh and flavorful like it should be. Their small pizza is as big as most other places medium size. It's a great value for the $10.50 it cost me. Be forewarned folks, they cut their pizza into wedges, not squares. When In Rome...
(4)
edgard k.
Pretty out of place...the only Italian restaurant in a middle-eastern neighborhood. They make their own pastas which you can see in the small room just when you get in to the place. Service is quick, and the complimentary bread is good. Portion is big...even the bambino portion is good for a grown man.
(4)
Adele M.
Upon arriving, the parking lot was PACKED!we were then approached by a homeless man asking for money. We only waited about 5-10 min on a Friday night before we were sat. Roman village is our first option when wanting Italian food. We ordered a veggie pizza which was really good and also the eggplant parm with pasta and a salad. The egg plant parm was good but the spaghetti had a weird smell to it. The salad was delicious and very fresh. They always give you fresh baked bread and its to die for. Just don't eat too much or you will not be able to eat the entree. The service wasn't that great. Our server never asked us for refills and when we wanted him we couldn't find him. Our saying is, you can't have good service and good food, so thankfully the food is awesome!
(4)
Kyle K.
Food was absolutly amazing! They had great calazonis. I got the pizza one and my girl friend got the steak and cheese. It was so good! For desert we shared a slice of tarimasu and it was also great. The only downfall was our waitor. He was very slow and hardly checked on us. There was other waitresses that were there seemed to be better. They had a lot of staff, and two hostess'. It wasnt busy, and i will be returning when im in the area.
(4)
Hamze Z.
I adore Roman Village. My family and I try to make it there at least once per month. I only eat kosher so I'm excited that they have halal pepperoni now. The wait staff is always exceptional, the food is always great, and our time there is always fun. I highly recommend it to anyone in the Detroit area. They even cater and have a beautiful banquet hall.
I did carry out. The arancinis appetizer (rice balls) and their bread was delicious. For my entree, I ordered lasagna. It was ok, but a little salty, and the only cheese was on top (none layered in between the noodles). It was a huge portion though- could have easily been shared between 2-3 people. I upgraded to a caesar salad for an extra $2.50, which was really over priced considering the only thing extra you get is a small packet of grated Parmesan & croutons. My total bill was around $24, which I thought was a bit high for one appetizer and one entree.
(3)
Celia C.
Tasty...and their breadsticks are addicting.
(4)
Neil Y.
I'm stuck because it really was a 4.5/5 experience. For those of you who have eaten at Antonio's at numerous places around the Metro area, don't overlook Roman Village in SW Detroit/Dearborn as it is part of the Antonio's family. Same menu and same quality. BTW-If you're eating at Olive Garden, you are missing out on this Detroit-based gem. The prices are the same or better. First the place is super clean and decor reminiscent of the Antonio's concept. Lot's of tile! It's cozy, comfortable and has become one of our favorite places to eat. Service is friendly, attentive and quick without being over imposing. If you have read my reviews, you know kids' menus and pricing are important to us. At Roman Village, the kids' menu is for kids 10 and under with everything priced at $5.95. Now that's not the least expensive we have seen but the value for money simply doesn't compare to any restaurant we have ever eaten at. Kids get 11 options to choose from: pasta selections, pizza, and chicken fingers that include a bowl of soup (that could have been the meal in itself), the fresh bread basket and a beverage. Kids could easily split one meal here or take a box home per child. Ohhhhh, the bread. I'll get that in a minute. The menu is expansive. Appetizers, soup, salads, pasta-pasta-pasta (even a gluten-free option), subs, calzones, seafood and meat based dishes including Provimi veal. Only one item on the menu exceeds $20. We like to order a Misto Antonio Deluxe which is a meat and cheese tray and an entree to split. I love the soup. Only Deli Unique in West Bloomfield makes a better soup. Yes sir, there is the bread. It's non stop fresh, warm homemade rolls out of the oven. Why more places don't serve warm bread is beyond me. Watch yourself here or you will most certainly carbo-load and end up taking your entree home. Pasta is all made in house and it shows in it's taste and texture. It is also my understanding that they make their fennel sausage as well. Don't ask me how dessert is because I have never made it that far--ever! Only items that we felt keep this from a 5-star experience is that my wife was allowed to order chicken picatta instead of veal picatta and was charged the same price when veal is more expensive. Further, the chicken breast was not breaded and fried but rather poached. Weird. She also noted to save your money on the Caesar salad up charge as the dressing is bottle dressing not homemade as told. You can really tell the difference. However, we see this as a mere bump in the road and know not to order this in the future. We had our rehearsal dinner at the Farmington Hills location but since our relocation to Hamtramck, we frequent this one instead. If you're in SW Detroit and Mexican doesn't sound good at the moment, drive a mile further and consider Roman Village for a great, overall experience.
(4)
Vickie R.
Love their homemade pasta! I've been there now several times and I've always had great meals and great service. My favorite pasta there is the linguine. When linguine is made too thick, it often gets chewy when it's cooked al dente, Their linguine is made really thin, which is a welcomed change. I've had the linguine arrabiata (my favorite by far) and the fettuccini con gamberi (shrimp) for entrees. Their calamari is fantastic. No bells or whistles about it, just great seasoning, light breading, and great texture. To end our meal, we ordered a canoli. Our Italian friend judges an Italian restaurant based on the food and their canoli. He has given the official blessing. :-)
(4)
Marcy R.
I came here for the first time last week and fell in food love. My pasta shrimp amore was delicious, even when I ate it cold for leftovers the following day. The fresh-baked bread was warm and seasoned to perfection. I was ready for more, so I came back a few days later. Well, I've still only dined there once. We were seated... That was it. We patiently waited over 10 minutes and were not acknowledged, at all. We quietly got up and left, and happily acquired delicious noms elsewhere. I understand busy, but to sit there and see the wait staff congregating in the corner while we sat unattended, left me feeling underwhelmed and unimportant. Will I give Roman Village another try? Absolutely, we all have bad days. I'm still taken aback, as I've never been to an establishment and been ignored like I was last night.
(3)
Josh Q.
Easily the best Italian food I had in Detroit. A bit out of the way for most but the quality of the food is well worth it. The quantities are huge; you only need to order half as much food as at other places. The bread was amazing. I had to work incredibly hard to push it away from me:) Family owned and operated with prices beyond reasonable, I recommend Roman Village to all.
(5)
James M.
Not enough stars for their bread alone!!! Their pasta shrimp amore is "THE BEST!!!" Rita & pesto sauces are "PHENOMINAL", as well! Pizza is really good. Probably in my top 5 favorite restaurants of all time?! Salad is just okay (I've tried all 3, House, Ceasar & Greek), but their ranch is house made & is "EXCELLENT!" The only 2 negatives I have is that they charge you for every little extra, such as sauces, ranch etc... & service is not always the best, but the food is "ALWAYS AWESOME!!!" My "FAVORITE" Italian of all time & there's not even a close second! Do yourself a favor & go :-))
(5)
Sarahi C.
I haven't been disappointed yet! Love the bread!! Their ribs are great :) Love their soups!
(5)
W. John R.
In my mind, I compared this to other Italian restaurants in Southeast Michigan when writing this review, but the style is different, so it's a tough comparison. I had been encouraged to visit here for years by friends, but never got around to it due to the slightly out-of-the-way location. This is Dearborn in name only - it's further from my place than many restaurants in Detroit. The bread was coated in a light brushing of butter, and was phenomenal, enhanced even more with a light dip in the provided olive oil. Our soups were both delicious: my vegetable beef might have been a bit on the salty side, but it was hearty and full of flavor, veggies, and beef. The chicken noodle soup my companion had was more subtle, but very fresh and delicious. The noodles were delicious and fresh, and the cooks avoid the common crime of overcooking the noodles to remove some of their subtle flavors. The meat sauce and tomato sauces were delicious. The meatballs were gargantuan and filled with flavor. I had the lasagna, and it's in the top two or three lasagnas I've ever tried anywhere in my life. The service was an absolute delight! Water refills at appropriate times, great suggestions on menu items for some newbies, and a really positive attitude. Even if the ambiance and food didn't already justify 5 stars (which they did), the service would push it over the edge. This is a landmark in Dearborn that everyone should try. Now I just need to justify a trip to Antonio's so I can have the enviable opportunity to compare the two. :)
(5)
Crystal R.
It's been over 2 years since I've been here, holy cow! However, things have not changed :) Service was great, the bread basket was never empty, and food came out quickly and piping hot. Don't be alarmed if the parking lot is packed- there is still room inside for you! We did not have a wait for our party of 5 1/2 on a Sunday afternoon.
(5)
Nicole B.
Been a favorite of mine and a friends for years. Their bread is to die for And so is pretty much everything else on their menu. Fast service every time and always clean. Close your eyes and point to the menu, order it, and you'll be satisfied!
(5)
Nader K.
We came here today. Everyone seems friendly. The parking lot was slammed but we were seated as soon as we walked in. Everything on the menu looked great. I ordered a chicken parmigian sub with the works with a salad. I never got my fries that was spose to Come with it and I was kinda upset that they only offer 2 maybe three kinds of salad dressing house, ranch and Cesar. I went with the ceasar. It was great. The chicken parm sub was perfect. Can't wait to go back again
(4)
Diane B.
Recommended by my son on our visit to MI the staff was friendly food delicious good portion for the money gD a but one pasta dish get 2nd 1/2 off. The garlic bread was awesome and served hot and fresh. The owner stopped by the table several times to check in us and was very friendly and proud of her establishment. Worth a trip. Very busy but we were sat immediately quick friendly service and our water glasses were never empty
(4)
Jesse J.
Not sure about all the hype! Maybe after reading reviews my expectations were to high but came here for my wife's birthday and was a bit disappointed. I will say the reserved room was clean, restaurant was clean, and the waiter we had was beyond EXCELLENT! However the pizza wasn't what I expected. Maybe I ordered the wrong kind but after reading reviews I thought this pizza would be the best I've had. Well we ordered a party tray pizza, round that had about 6-8 toppings. The slices were really long but not tasteful. Don't get me wrong its better than Little Caesars hot & ready's but I feel Jets or many well known chains have better tasting pizza. Maybe it was the wrong pizza to try but not anything special. We also ordered spaghetti and once again disappointed. The noodles were mushy as if they let them soak in water all day then served with sauce on top along with boiled meat. My wife ordered an Alfredo dish and I've had better Alfredo from a jar. Once again the sauce had no substance or flavor, it was very watery! Not that I want it thick as pudding but it was like drinking Alfredo gatorade. There was a side of soup I can't remember what it was but it was delicious, as well as the onion rings, and their melted garlic butter or something similar is to die for! Excellent tasting with their warm bread! All in all I may go back due to the excellent service and to try something else. Maybe they were having a bad day or I ordered the wrong dishes but as of now, don't believe in the hype!
(3)
Lisa M.
Okay, let me just say I waited TOO long to try this restaurant, way too long. This place is freaking awesome. The only reason why I couldn't give it five stars is because the service is not exactly the best. Literally my only complaint it that it seemed like the servers had other better things to do and/or were bored with our table. Needless to say the food was AMAZING. Homemade noodles, sauces, bread. Oh so so very good. For an appetizer I suggest the arrancini balls. They are delicious balls of rice stuffed with cheese and served on top of marinara sauce. Worth every penny. My favorite entrees are the mostaccioli with meat sauce and the carbonara (add chicken - it's awesome!) It might be in a weird location, we got a little weirded out having to drive past the refineries and that industrial area of southwest Detroit/Dearborn but the food is worth it. Check this place out!
(4)
Tiffany D.
This is for the fresh, homemade pasta that they offer. I purchased the fettucine. You can purchase it for $2.65 a lb. It is a steal, and it is amazing! They package it carefully and are happy to answer any questions you may have about how to use/store it. Great customer service, great pasta!
(5)
Gus M.
Such a great place. When I sat down and the waiter gave us our menu it looked very familiar. Well it turns out it was familiar, they are the same owners that own Antonio's in Dearborn heights. I wish I would have known that before I went but never the less it was still an awesome experience. The bread is to die for, it always comes out golden brown and very soft. I ordered the Gnocchi with a blush sauce except I asked them to make it spicy. The waiter accommodated the request no problem. When my dish came out it was everything I expected it to be, fantastic flavors. Of corse it helps that they make their pasta's in house which is always great. Another great Italian dinning experience I highly recommend this if your in the area.
(4)
Andrea M.
The pizza is outstanding, and the manicotti is okay. I've tried all of the other pasta dishes, and would never order them again. Both the meat sauce and marinara sauce is rather plain and tasteless. It's also a little overpriced. The staff and service is phenomenal, and like I said before the pizza is very good; so that will make me keep coming back.
(3)
Jerry M.
I think this may be the best Italian restaurant I've been to in the Detroit Metro area. This reminded me as close to authentic Italian as I've had since going to Italy in 2011. The homemade noodles really make the dish and I look forward to taking my father-in-law to visit when he's in town. The service is a little hit and miss but trust me the food is so good that it deserves 5 stars. We spoke to the owners last time we were there and they were very nice and helpful. Note that if you are coming from 75 you are driving in what looks like a bad area but it's well worth the trip.
(5)
Jillian R.
First time I went was a few weeks ago for my moms birthday! It was excellent! Everything was delicious! And tons of food had left overs for a few days! Will return asap!
(5)
Faye H.
My family & I come here for almost all of our occasions! We love this place that much. The bread & ranch is amazing & so is their pizza and greek salad! The place is clean and their staff is very accommodating as well as clean! I've never had a problem that they did not adjust immediately. Their dessert menu is amazing as well. Only problem sometimes is that they are packed usually on weekend evenings but that's what happens when your food is that good!
(5)
Paul M.
Food is very good. Service is very good as well. I had the Steak & Cheese Calzoni. It was very good!
(4)
Brittiany R.
Being from the neighborhood I love that quality Italian is just around the corner but I wouldn't give Roman Village 5 stars.... yet. Others speak on the pros of our gem: the bread, the pasta, the familial vibe and all are extremely true! But, Roman Village has been hit or miss the past 3x times I've been there. On one occasion my usual pasta came out horribly wrong & was frankly horrible tasting & one another day it came out amazingly delicious. That uncertainty makes me reluctant to return as Vince's is just around the corner with equally impressive family service & tasty Italian. I also have to dock them for sub-par service (on more than one occasion).... Once, They tried to seat us in the bar area WITH reservations. What's next? Am I going to eat standing up in the kitchen?? Another time they had no high chairs for my 1 year old. Super enjoyable meal with an antsy, wants-to-run-away, squirmy angel on my lap!
(3)
Ryan B.
We were visiting town for one night for a birthday celebration. Found this restaurant on Yelp and now we will make it a point to eat here every time we visit! The food was amazing--every single thing we ordered-just amazing. The family atmosphere was also wonderful. Spent some time chatting with the owner and we were hugging her by time we left. Love this place!
(5)
Joe T.
Ah, Roman Village. I have dined in once here & catered food from here a handful of times. Truthfully, I enjoy dining in more than carry out. Only because I had a few bad experiences with the sparse portions of meat in their pans of pasta. Their breads are a real treat & they have a real nice hometown, authentico Italian feel inside. For those looking for a real feel Italian restaurant on this side of town, this is as real as it gets near the Dearborn area. Prices are fair, food is good but don't expect to see any Sopranos eating here, and customer service is on point!
(3)
Richard R.
Wow, once again Yelp reviews drew me to this place while traveling in the area. The Bread Sticks were amazing, the Gnocchi great and the service excellent. I am delighted I stopped!
(5)
Daniel S.
I don't indulge in pasta very often. But when I do, Roman Village is on the top of the list. Check out the little pasta making stand on the left as you walk in the restaurant. (clearly positioned to draw attention to fact that you're getting the fresh stuff) I've had the pizza and a few other things on the menu, but for me the pasta is the standout. The "Rita" sauce is pretty killer. Keep an eye out for specials. They have pasta deals on Tuesday!
(4)
Tony G.
Great pizza and excellent service. The exterior is unassuming but don't let that fool you. It's a nice family owned Italian restaurant. The garlic bread is killer.
(4)
Bob R.
I'm not even sure why I am giving this place two stars. I was really in the mood for some good spaghetti so I checked yelp. I was impressed with the ratings so I went there. The spaghetti was mush and tasted terrible. Not being in a confrontational mood, I ate less than half of the meal and left. I honestly believe canned spaghetti would have been better. I can't see myself ever going there again.
Oooooo the meatballs mmmmmmmm. I could end this review right here and be happy, but I have to tell you. GET THE MEATBALLS!!!! After seeing patrons leave this super duper hidden gem, (down the road from the Marathon refinery next to a mosque, hey it used to be a Italian neighborhood) with trays of meatballs I just had to try em. I ordered the spaghetti with said meatballs and wowey wow they were melt in your mouth and jam packed with flavor. The spag. was just as good with meatsauce and wonderful bread. I sampled the better halfs gnocchi with sauce and it was just a pillow on my tongue. Service was attentive and informative. Find this gem and dig in.
(5)
Len M.
Best place for Italian in SW Detroit.
(5)
Nancy M.
My friend and I were heading to a concert in Dearborn and she told me about this wonderful Italian place that she went to for lunch. So we plug it into the GPS and get there around 645 pm on a Saturday. The place is packed so we sign in and head to the bar. Small bar with limited supplies but the Bartender is great. Grab a glass of wine and wait for our table. Not much time to think so quick look at the menu and I order the Chicken Marsala and she orders the Vegetarian Lasagna. They bring some bread - melt in your mouth bread that if I ate 2 baskets full I wouldn't stop. I knew my dinner was going to be unbelievable and it was. Add the side of spaghetti and I was in heaven. If you ever get a chance to stop on in...do it. You will not be let down, everything is made to order and delicious! Fresh aldente pasta - yumm Thanks for taking me Karen and let me know when you go back...I want to try their pizza.
(4)
Lynn H.
Roman Village is -- almost literally -- in the middle of nowhere. It is on a bare patch right where Vernor Highway crosses Dix, stuck between Mexican Town and the east side of Dearborn. We just happened across it on a meander out of Detroit after visiting Eastern Market, and boy am I glad we did! We were really surprised at how crowded it was before 5pm on a Saturday afternoon. But then we tasted their food. Roman Village makes from-scratch food like mama used to (if mama happened to be a gourmet cook). The bread is served still steaming from the oven - wonderfully fresh and springy. The pasta e fagioli is thick and beany. And the polenta with Italian sausage, absolutely authentic tasting with house-made sausage. Hubby and bro's-in-law had pizza, which they all agreed was good. Oh! And the service was wonderful. Our waiter made Speedy Gonzales look like Regular Gonzales. Try it, you'll like it!
(4)
Ron C.
only 4 Stars due to the aloof waiter 'EMO' he stood 2-3 feet away from the table & would not look or speak directly to my wife?!? C+ for him Food & Bread A+ Soup Flavor A Temperature C- [ I didn't send it back, because EMO was nowhere to be found ] I was willing to 'try ' the polenta , but the waiter highly recommended against it SO I ordered Lasagna My Lasagna was truly fabulous and served very HOT A+ My wife ordered the Chicken Marsala which I sampled and it was truly, without question the 'VERY BEST' Chicken & Marsala sauce I have ever had A++ The Bread Oh The Bread !!! Both baskets were excellent ,plus the brand of EVO they use is flavorful A++
(4)
Mohan K.
This place is amazing. I've never had a bad thing here, and I've been about a dozen times. First off, he ambiance is really nice. Kind of rustic, honest, and definitely not chain style Italian decorations. The staff is super friendly too. It's a great place for families, kids, and even a romantic dinner for 2. I seriously know people who go just for the free bread. Its some kind of seasoned dense buttery Italian bread, and it's ridiculously addictive. They happily bring it all night, which is a great change from places that are stingy with the bread. All the food is great. Gnocchi, sandwiches, pasta...and especially the pizza. We always get a Shareable Greek salad to start, too. Delicious! A true gem tucked away in Dearborn...not to be missed.
(5)
Iman E.
Great food and atmosphere. The bread is to die for, and the noodles are made right there in front of you! It's a little hard to find and out of the way but so worth it.
(5)
Sarahjeanne J.
This is where I go when I've got a craving for Italian (which is pretty much...always) and I'm too lazy to cook. There are places closer to home, but I like the laid back atmosphere at Roman Village. The service is friendly and everyone always seems happy and welcoming. Everything I've tried has been fantastic. The real super star here is the bread. I've been known to eat a whole basket of it all by myself. Anyone can do a good bowl of pasta, but bread this delicious is an art.
(4)
Ruben L.
Rock on Roman Village: Generally speaking, I'm not a huge fan of Italian food. Not because I dislike it, but I cannot discern good from great. No issues with that here. AMBIANCE- the place is dimly lit and rather cozy. As you walk in, you can see the number of famous people who have dined here. From Il Volo to Bill Clinton, this place has seen its share of celebrities. And don't let the outside of this place fool you- this place can pack em in no doubt. Needless to say parking can be a real pain. SERVICE- service here has generally been very good, especially given how busy this place typically is. Seriously, I went here at 2pm for lunch, and there was still a wait to get a table. Probably tells you more about how good this place is as opposed to the type of service you get. Only hiccup I really had- I got a lunch special once, and asked for a caesar salad instead of a house salad, and the server neglected to tell me there would be a $4 substitution fee (my meal was $6 without the salad). MENU- pasta abounds. They make their pasta fresh daily, and you can actually see where they make it when you walk in. Wed. they have 1/2 off pizza (dine in only) and I think Tuesdays are 1/2 off pasta (dine in only as well). The selection is pretty nice from you standard pastas and sauces (alfredos, pestos, carbonara) to lasagna and manicotti. It's pretty hard to choose anything that isn't delcious. FOOD- portions are generous, and if they aren't enough, they serve an awesome bread that makes Olive Garden seem like they are serving wonder bread. I have had their house special pasta (I forget the name, something with a woman's name I believe) and it rocked my world. Hell, every pasta dish I have had here has rocked my world. My co-workers seem more than content with their lasagna, and their desserts are pretty rocking as well. OVERALL- Rare is it for me to recommend Italian, but this would be one of the few. Not really close to anything, you're pretty much making a trip to go out here, and it is worth it. Just set some time aside for it. CELEBRITY RATING- IL VOLO (for real, they were there for dinner back in Nov. when they had a concert in the D)
(4)
Amy M.
We were visiting Detroit for our annual Tigers Pilgrimage & found this restaurant via Yelp. Thanks Yelp! It was great! We were a group of 8 and rarely are ALL of us happy a the same time - but somehow when we left we all were. And full! The food was fresh, authentic, and delicious! The service was amazing, and the staff all friendly.
(4)
Moe A.
Roman Village is one of the best Italian restaurants in Detroit, they treat you like family. Been going there since I was a kid, there all you can eat bread, they have the best pizza in town, if you haven't tried it, try it once and I guarantee you go again!!!
(5)
Jennifer H.
Family special take out $27.51 out the door. Includes pizza, chicken, spaghetti, salad, bread and jumbo drink. Can't beat that anywhere
(4)
Rae M.
Service had always been great and the food is unbelievable. They bring hot bread to your table and it's amazing!! It's on the expensive side, but you get a ton of food- and it's all awesome. Heavy, but awesome. We've never been disappointed. Can't wait until our next visit!
(5)
Ryan L.
I'm always on the prowl for good Italian food. I don't know why, but I've been able to find good Italian food in Detroitopolis. There are a lot of Italian restaurants but I find most of them to be lacking. Also, it seems like Italian restaurants may be dying as Italians have stopped immigrating into to the US in scores as in the 19th and 20th Centuries. The 21st Century may have ushered in a brave new age of information, but Italian food is slowly morphing into tasteless, high-priced chains. Now that my diatribe is over, I will state that Roman Village is the best Italian I've had in Detroit so far. It's located in an area of Dearborn that seems quite strange now. When it opened in the 60s, this was probably prime real estate. Now, it's located near strip clubs, dive bars and giant oil refineries. The exterior is unassuming, but once you decide to be brave and walk through the doors, you'll be ushered into a clean, simple restaurant. Sure it looks like it was last decorated in '91, but it's still in good shape and you've gotta love all the shiny brass. Warning: you must have respectable dress on, according to the signage. Improper dress means that you must wear shoes and a shirt, but the shirt can't be just an undershirt. Also, "bum wear" is strictly verboten. Does this mean you can't wear the "Derelicte" line of clothes by Mugatu in Zoolander? Probably not, but I think it really means, "pants on the ground, pants on the ground, can't go to Roman Village with your pants on the ground". I'm sure the servers wouldn't mind if you wore a bow tie as all the servers wear. The menu is big. You can choose from all kinds of pasta dishes with all kinds of sauces. You can substitute angel hair, whole wheat or gluten-free pasta for a charge. You can add melted cheese, mushrooms and other toppings for a couple dollars. The menu continues with a whole range of stuffed pastas including lasagna. On the next page of the menu is the meat dishes, mostly chicken and veal, each served with a side of pasta. Pizza is also available along with calzone and panini. All of the entrees are served with choice of soup or salad (caesar is extra) and delicious homemade bread. The bread at this place is divine. Seriously, this bread is the most amazing thing ever. It took all my will power not to eat the whole basket. I tried the polenta with a meat sauce and italian sausage. Everything was perfect and had great flavor. The sausage was spicy and robust in flavor. The sauce highlighted the sweetness of the tomatoes but exhibited layers of flavors. I tried the pasta fagoli and it was a large serving and very delicious. The dessert tray had 2 cheesecakes, tiramisu, profiteroles, cannolli, spumoni, and some custard thing. Everything looked amazing and I wanted to try every one. The cream in the cannolli is homemade as well as many of the desserts. The dishes were $10-15 on average and you are given a lot of food. I will definitely have to return the next time I have a craving for Italian food. You can't find this quality and flavor at any other Italian restaurant that I've found so far.
(5)
Hymae W.
Had the fettuccine con pollo and it was very good. The serving size was so big that i couldn't come close to finishing it. Also came with a salad and really good bread. They brought me the wrong salad but I honestly didn't care. Only thing negative about this place is that they are slightly on the expensive side.
(4)
Kristin G.
Three words sum up my overall feeling of Roman Village: Family. Tradition. DELICIOUS. In that order. Family is at the root of places like this. You don't get food that has this much flavor perfection without years of tradition & a passion for food. AND...unless you're seriously doing it wrong, you don't get Family & Tradition without delicious results and the results at Roman Village are just that. Taste like this comes from years of perfecting and reworking family recipes...but not overworking. Roman Village knows a good thing when they have it and that pride shines through in their cuisine all the more for it. The bread was this amazing slightly flat yet fluffy yet dense buttery yet garlicy yet salty basket of delicious flavors. The bread sticks got me excited knowing that this is only a taste of what's to come. The minestrone soup tasted as though the Italian Grandma I never had spooned it out of a ladel fresh just for me. The flavor was oh so fresh, yet simple in the most pleasant way soup can be simple...not too "done up" it's secure in it's ingredients & flavor. No extra finesse was needed to make it delicious. Whoever came up with this delicate version of minestrone is someone who is no nonsense & truly knows his/her stuff. It wasn't much to look at, they wouldn't win any awards for presentation at Roman Village. But I'd like to meet the person who complains about something like that after trying food like this. The star of the show: the Sinatra of Lasagna. Their Lasagna is something, my friends, that dreams are made of. It charmed me. It is something I can't quite put into words but all I can tell you is that you HAVE to try it. Don't waste your first meal here on anything else. The flavors were so well rounded and so bright and delicious without being overly heavy or greasy...this Lasagna is unforgettable. It uh...might have flown me to the moon. Haha...in all seriousness. Get it. Dessert? Oh the Canoli's looked oh so delicious cruising by on a server's tray but, alas I had no room in my happy Lasagna filled belly for anything more. Next time. And there WILL be a next time! Oh and our leftovers were even better the next day. I was literally inspecting my lasagna trying to figure out what made it SO good. Haha. Oh to be a fly on the wall in that kitchen! ;)
(5)
Kyle R.
One of the best Italian restaurants around. I have been here at least 5 times and every meal has been perfect; pizza, pasta dishes, salad, the bread are all fantastic. It is a must visit!
(5)
Kristine Z.
Been coming here for years. They have the best garlic bread.
(5)
Rebecca S.
My family and I have been eating here for years. They definitely have the best pasta in the area. Bread is always warm and delicious. Haven't found anything that I don't like. Pasta Rita and the Carbonara (sp?) are our go-to meals. The cannoli's at the end are always a wonderful treat, especially since they have mini ones so you don't have to get a huge order to try one.
(5)
Allison F.
This is my favorite Italian restaurant! I've gotten many things off their menu and I've never been disappointed. Their food tastes great, the portions are large, the prices are small, and the waitstaff are amazing. You really can't get much better than Roman Village. Try their stuffed cannelloni!
(5)
Kari C.
This past weekend my husband and I decided to drive around Metro Detroit because it was such a beautiful day. By the time we were headed home, it was already close to dinner time so we decided to try and find somewhere to eat. It just so happened we were driving past Roman Village when my husband (who also works nearby) told me that he always sees their parking lot full and asked if I wanted to give it a try. So I said why not. I'm so glad we did because we just found our new favorite Italian restaurant! Upon entering the restaurant, I was not overly impressed as the interior design is a bit outdated, however we were immediately seated at a comfortable booth and greeted by a young man who filled our glasses with water. A few moments later we were greeted by our waitress who gave us menus and took our drink orders. Looking over their menu we were impressed. They have a large selection of Italian foods to choose from, but it's not so overwhelming that it would leave you confused. Their prices are pretty reasonable too, with most meals averaging between $10 and $15. After a few minutes of checking out the menu, my husband decided on the chicken parmesan and I chose the eggplant parmesan. Each meal came with either soup or salad. My husband chose the minestrone soup and I chose a salad with their house dressing. While we were waiting for our soup and salad, we were brought a complimentary plate of fresh baked (literally piping hot) garlic bread. And we're not talking about little pieces of garlic bread, they were big! The smell alone was enough to make my mouth water! The taste was even better! My husband and I were practically salivating over this bread! When our soup and salad arrived, my husband's soup was hot and fresh and you could tell it was homemade. I tasted it and it was the best minestrone soup I've ever had! (Needless to say on our next trip I will be ordering soup!) My salad was also tasty, however I wasn't that fond of their house dressing as it seemed to have too much oregano in it for my liking. When we received our meals, I was very impressed with the portion sizes and the taste was out-of-this-world good! I've had eggplant parmesan at other places, but the eggplant parmesan at Roman Village completely blew the others away! My husband thought the same of his chicken parmesan. Our meals also came with a side of spaghetti with meat sauce. We didn't think we would have room to eat that, but we tried it and absolutely loved it! I had even mentioned to my husband that I thought the pasta was homemade. You could really tell the difference! Sure enough, as we were leaving there was a booth near the front door that you could see into. There was a woman in there making homemade pasta! Overall, our meal was spectacular and we did not go away hungry! As a matter of fact, we went away stuffed and quite impressed with Roman Village. Since then we've told everyone we know about Roman Village and we will definitely be making frequent trips to this restaurant! If you're in the area, we would highly recommend you stopping to eat!
(5)
Paul L.
It's true - "Yelping is helping". My discovery of this restaurant, and the resulting review, are courtesy of fellow Yelpers in an unfamiliar city. I found myself in Detroit (when was the last time I was in Detroit?), or more accurately, Dearborn, without a clue as to where I should stuff my face after working late. Yelp.com to the rescue, natch. Sorting it by rating gave me a whole bunch of ethnic restaurants, for which I wasn't in the mood, but it soon took me to Roman Village resplendent in its prevailing 5-star ratings and glowing reviews. But what sealed the deal was the mere mention of one word in their menu, as I set voice to the object of my desire: "PANCETTA!" Soon I was panting like that cartoon dog in the "Beggin' Bits' commercial, except with an Italian accent. The intervening hours when I had to work were a torture, interrupted frequently by having to wipe drool off my face, as strangers gave me strange looks. Finally, work was done, and I drove to the place that could scratch my itch. My gastronomic promise land for this evening was found just off the darkness on the edge of town (sorry, Mr Springsteen)! But I didn't feel unsafe, as the lot is brightly lit. I was greeted warmly upon entering, well after 9 p.m,, when a lesser staff would have frowned upon a lone late customer so close to the 10 p.m. closing time. There were only a couple of stragglers left when I was seated, and I soon had the dining room all to myself. The place is pretty big, with a couple or three different dining rooms. Look past the borderline cheesy decor with its fake plants and naugahyde benches, and it's not an unpleasant decor, with a rather homey feel to it. The music of choice helped the cause: the eclectic mix of nostalgic pop, Italian tunes, and some great classic jazz tunes lent warmth and authenticity. My waitress Sarah gave me prompt and courteous service. The problem was with me - how do I decide? The Baccala (cod in zesty tomato sauce) looked really inviting, especially at $12.95. I was also tempted by the osso bucco on polenta ($18.95), stuffed shrimp ($14.95), veal chop ($23.95) - you really want one of each. I was really bemoaning the fact that I was not dining with a huge family, all the better to sample more dishes. Eventually, I had to heed the siren call of the pancetta, and settled on Mostaccioli with Rita sauce $12.50. Since a reviewer or two were raving about the meatballs, I added a side ($2.50). Dinner came with soup or salad; I chose a bowl of minestrone, which I quickly devoured, spurred by a basket of hot bread being brought. The bread is like a cross between a bread stick and a roll, quite salty on the outside, but delicious. The Mostaccioli they call "stove pipe" pasta, but it's really just a super-sized elbow macaroni. The salty pancetta added a dimention to the Rita sauce. This sauce is named after the matriarch; it is a blend of marinara and al fredo. You could call it a vodka sauce, but richer. (On a side note, I've never understood the allure of vodka sauce - why would you add perfectly good vodka to a sauce, have all the alcohol evaporate, and really add nothing to the sauce, seeing how vodka is supposed to be odorless and tasteless?) The meatballs are like a couple of golf balls on steroids, and good, but not as out-of-this-world as a reviewer had suggested. Didn't help that the sauce was just slathered on top of them, and they weren't quite hot. When I mentioned that the temperature was a little off, the manager gladly took the remaining uneaten one back, and doubled it up with another, this time piping hot. It might have been on account of my mentioning that I'm a yelper, or maybe it's just standard good service. I hope it's the latter, as I don't really believe yelpers should get any special treatment. In any case, there was no way I was going to pack away another meatball. Hate wasting food, though. I also had a half carafe of chianti at $10.95 that was eminently drinkable. All in all, while this was not the Everest of culinary accomplishments, it deserves 5 stars. Here's a high-quality family-owned restaurant that offers good variety and a price that can't be beat. A good, good meal and wine for $26? Where are you going to find that. I'd come back in a heartbeat if I lived any where near Detroit. There you are, Sarah. I told you this wasn't going to be a bad review, didn't I?
(5)
Rob B.
This is our regular Italian choice. Service was great, and food came out quickly. The bread is great. We always want more especially with a light dip in the provided olive oil, with cheese and pepper added to the mix. Some in my group like the Minestrone - I like the Pasta Fagoul - Bean. The Chicken is good also. I have found the pasta dishes better than the other parts of the menu. Ravioli is great and for $2.50 extra you can get it with pesto sauce and lots of pine nuts (yum) - I like this better than the meat sauce which I find a bit heavy. The stuffed shells are great. Gnocchi are very good with the regular choice of sauces or their special Rita sauce. Roman Village has as others have noted a different take on Italian food than some other restaurants. Maybe a Country style Italian?
(4)
Vickie R.
Love their homemade pasta! I've been there now several times and I've always had great meals and great service. My favorite pasta there is the linguine. When linguine is made too thick, it often gets chewy when it's cooked al dente, Their linguine is made really thin, which is a welcomed change. I've had the linguine arrabiata (my favorite by far) and the fettuccini con gamberi (shrimp) for entrees. Their calamari is fantastic. No bells or whistles about it, just great seasoning, light breading, and great texture. To end our meal, we ordered a canoli. Our Italian friend judges an Italian restaurant based on the food and their canoli. He has given the official blessing. :-)
(4)
Jason A.
I love this place. It blow its counterpart, Antonio's, out of the water. Consistently good food and service. The bread they serve is the highlight of every visit. Not to say the food isn't great, because it is, but dat bread... hnnnnngghhhhhh! But besides the bread, I recommend the gnocchi with Rita sauce, cheese tortellini, calamari fritti, pizza, and calzones. I've tried quite a few things, and these are what stand out. So quit wasting money on the Olive Garden, and give Roman Village a go. It's fantastic.
(5)
Michael N.
I haven't been here in a really long time, but assuming nothing has changed, this place is an excellent hidden gem of an italian spot. As the other reviews have mentioned the portions are massive and the bread they bring out before dinner with the oil is to die for. My go to was the Linguine Al Pesto. Prepared with olive oil, pine nuts, garlic, parmesan cheese and plenty of basil. What's not to like? Parking wise, they have their own lot which is helpful considering this area is a little shady. Overall, I would go out of my way to hit up Roman Village again.
(4)
Harris N.
So we were leaving a Detroit Lions training camp event in Dearborn and needed lunch. I looked at the trusty Yelp app and found this place. Plenty of stars for this neighborhood so we decided to try it out. I don't think it's in the right rating class. I expected much more for such high ratings. I figured either the service or the food has to be excellent. The place was okay. They make much of the food inhouse. The pasta is made in an area in the front of the restaurant. The bread is definitely baked in the kitchen. My son ordered a spaghetti with meat sauce. I tried his spaghetti, and it was a bit tough for pasta. Good pasta should be firm and stretchy. This was firm and seemed to have a grainy texture. I had a Caesar salad and Veal Marsala. The veal had plenty of mushrooms and a fragrant Marsala sauce. Both were good, but felt a little expensive for the type of restaurant. This place is okay, but don't expect 4/5 star food or service. This place also reminds me of Pasquales in Royal Oak. Very similar type restaurant.
(3)
Amy B.
I came here last night to eat with a bunch of other fellow yelpers and I was pleasantly surprised. Not only have I never been here before, but I've never even heard of it! I was pleasantly surprised when I walked in to see how nicely decorated it was. I was expecting it to be a lot smaller, and the place actually had a decent amount of seating. After scouring the menu, I decided to get something light. I wasn't overly hungry and some of the dinners seemed big for my appetite at that moment. I went with the Garlic shrimp off the appetizer menu, and it was delicious! It really hit the spot. I wish I had ordered dinner but I knew I would have taken most of it home, so I passed. Everyone got something different, and the servings were nice and big. Service here was consistent and professional and they were not overly pushy about anything. To me, this is more of an authentic Italian restaurant then, lets say your typical Olive Garden or corporate chain restaurant. Granted, it's not in the prettiest side of town, but it's a gem none the less. All dishes looked delicious and portions seemed appropriate for prices. I gave 4 stars only because even though it's really good family Italian, it's not "the best" Italian food I've eaten. If your in the area and want something authentic, swing by!
(4)
Adrianna S.
I'm 100% Italian and have grown up eating my families cooking my whole life. That being said, I'm a tough critic of Italian cuisine. Roman Village is the only place I will eat Italian at, but there are some dishes I do not like. I love the pizza (amazing), antipasto, fettuccine Alfredo, gnocchi, and the sausage appetizer is to die for and reminds me of a dish my father used to make for us. It has housemade Italian sausage which is very flavorful with fennel, peppers, onions and potatoes. I do not like their red marinara pasta sauce at all. It is watery and flavorless. I also do not like their eggplant Parmesan, but my mom makes that THE BEST so maybe I am a little biased! Portions are large. Service is OK. Parking lot is always packed.
(4)
Scott S.
Holy portion-size, Batman...consider splitting an entree. Never one to eat at a chain restaurant if we can avoid it, we sought out some good food in Dearborn tonight, and this place came highly recommended, so we decided it was time for some Italian. My gnocchi were plentiful enough to easily feed two people, and came with some of the best bread I've ever had, and a huge bowl of soup. I powered through it, because I'm no quitter, and didn't even leave myself any room for dessert... ...but that didn't stop me from ordering some anyway. There are not one, but two tiramisu options, so I opted for the toasted almond. I sort of wish I'd gone for the other one, simply because I adore that coffee flavor, and this one tasted much more almondy instead, but it was delicious in its own rite. A fantastic, massive meal that could have resulted in leftovers if we had anywhere to put them. All told, only $50 including wine.
(5)
Silvana E.
I haven't tried anything that I didn't like here the pizza is good bread is amazing my favorite is the seafood stuffed shells there service is awesome and they prices are pretty good the food is larged portion
(5)
Mike G.
Allison F. told me that this was a place to check out when I'm in the area. As I was driving along Dix Avenue, I began to wonder if she was crazy or just trying to get me killed. Roman Village? It ain't in Rome folks. The area, let's say, "isn't pretty". I'm glad I made the trek through no man's land. This is an old school family run Italian restaurant that's celebrating it's 50th anniversary this year. I opted to sit at the bar as they were on a 20 to 25 minute wait at 8:15 on a Thursday. (Did you just read that?) This is a seriously good sign folks. Zeinab, the bartender was really nice and helpful as I had 4 different things in mind but I only brought one stomach with me... Lasagna, shrimp scampi, stuffed shrimp or Pizza Bianca? Which to do? The envelope please. And the winner is....Pizza Bianca, it's a no sauce pizza with mozzarella cheese, fresh diced tomatoes, basil and garlic. The crust is hand tossed and has a little crisp with some chew to it. Everything was fresh and flavorful like it should be. Their small pizza is as big as most other places medium size. It's a great value for the $10.50 it cost me. Be forewarned folks, they cut their pizza into wedges, not squares. When In Rome...
(4)
edgard k.
Pretty out of place...the only Italian restaurant in a middle-eastern neighborhood. They make their own pastas which you can see in the small room just when you get in to the place. Service is quick, and the complimentary bread is good. Portion is big...even the bambino portion is good for a grown man.
I did carry out. The arancinis appetizer (rice balls) and their bread was delicious. For my entree, I ordered lasagna. It was ok, but a little salty, and the only cheese was on top (none layered in between the noodles). It was a huge portion though- could have easily been shared between 2-3 people. I upgraded to a caesar salad for an extra $2.50, which was really over priced considering the only thing extra you get is a small packet of grated Parmesan & croutons. My total bill was around $24, which I thought was a bit high for one appetizer and one entree.
(3)
James M.
Not enough stars for their bread alone!!! Their pasta shrimp amore is "THE BEST!!!" Rita & pesto sauces are "PHENOMINAL", as well! Pizza is really good. Probably in my top 5 favorite restaurants of all time?! Salad is just okay (I've tried all 3, House, Ceasar & Greek), but their ranch is house made & is "EXCELLENT!" The only 2 negatives I have is that they charge you for every little extra, such as sauces, ranch etc... & service is not always the best, but the food is "ALWAYS AWESOME!!!" My "FAVORITE" Italian of all time & there's not even a close second! Do yourself a favor & go :-))
(5)
Adele M.
Upon arriving, the parking lot was PACKED!we were then approached by a homeless man asking for money. We only waited about 5-10 min on a Friday night before we were sat. Roman village is our first option when wanting Italian food. We ordered a veggie pizza which was really good and also the eggplant parm with pasta and a salad. The egg plant parm was good but the spaghetti had a weird smell to it. The salad was delicious and very fresh. They always give you fresh baked bread and its to die for. Just don't eat too much or you will not be able to eat the entree. The service wasn't that great. Our server never asked us for refills and when we wanted him we couldn't find him. Our saying is, you can't have good service and good food, so thankfully the food is awesome!
(4)
Neil Y.
I'm stuck because it really was a 4.5/5 experience. For those of you who have eaten at Antonio's at numerous places around the Metro area, don't overlook Roman Village in SW Detroit/Dearborn as it is part of the Antonio's family. Same menu and same quality. BTW-If you're eating at Olive Garden, you are missing out on this Detroit-based gem. The prices are the same or better. First the place is super clean and decor reminiscent of the Antonio's concept. Lot's of tile! It's cozy, comfortable and has become one of our favorite places to eat. Service is friendly, attentive and quick without being over imposing. If you have read my reviews, you know kids' menus and pricing are important to us. At Roman Village, the kids' menu is for kids 10 and under with everything priced at $5.95. Now that's not the least expensive we have seen but the value for money simply doesn't compare to any restaurant we have ever eaten at. Kids get 11 options to choose from: pasta selections, pizza, and chicken fingers that include a bowl of soup (that could have been the meal in itself), the fresh bread basket and a beverage. Kids could easily split one meal here or take a box home per child. Ohhhhh, the bread. I'll get that in a minute. The menu is expansive. Appetizers, soup, salads, pasta-pasta-pasta (even a gluten-free option), subs, calzones, seafood and meat based dishes including Provimi veal. Only one item on the menu exceeds $20. We like to order a Misto Antonio Deluxe which is a meat and cheese tray and an entree to split. I love the soup. Only Deli Unique in West Bloomfield makes a better soup. Yes sir, there is the bread. It's non stop fresh, warm homemade rolls out of the oven. Why more places don't serve warm bread is beyond me. Watch yourself here or you will most certainly carbo-load and end up taking your entree home. Pasta is all made in house and it shows in it's taste and texture. It is also my understanding that they make their fennel sausage as well. Don't ask me how dessert is because I have never made it that far--ever! Only items that we felt keep this from a 5-star experience is that my wife was allowed to order chicken picatta instead of veal picatta and was charged the same price when veal is more expensive. Further, the chicken breast was not breaded and fried but rather poached. Weird. She also noted to save your money on the Caesar salad up charge as the dressing is bottle dressing not homemade as told. You can really tell the difference. However, we see this as a mere bump in the road and know not to order this in the future. We had our rehearsal dinner at the Farmington Hills location but since our relocation to Hamtramck, we frequent this one instead. If you're in SW Detroit and Mexican doesn't sound good at the moment, drive a mile further and consider Roman Village for a great, overall experience.
(4)
Marcy R.
I came here for the first time last week and fell in food love. My pasta shrimp amore was delicious, even when I ate it cold for leftovers the following day. The fresh-baked bread was warm and seasoned to perfection. I was ready for more, so I came back a few days later. Well, I've still only dined there once. We were seated... That was it. We patiently waited over 10 minutes and were not acknowledged, at all. We quietly got up and left, and happily acquired delicious noms elsewhere. I understand busy, but to sit there and see the wait staff congregating in the corner while we sat unattended, left me feeling underwhelmed and unimportant. Will I give Roman Village another try? Absolutely, we all have bad days. I'm still taken aback, as I've never been to an establishment and been ignored like I was last night.
(3)
Josh Q.
Easily the best Italian food I had in Detroit. A bit out of the way for most but the quality of the food is well worth it. The quantities are huge; you only need to order half as much food as at other places. The bread was amazing. I had to work incredibly hard to push it away from me:) Family owned and operated with prices beyond reasonable, I recommend Roman Village to all.
(5)
Sarahi C.
I haven't been disappointed yet! Love the bread!! Their ribs are great :) Love their soups!
(5)
W. John R.
In my mind, I compared this to other Italian restaurants in Southeast Michigan when writing this review, but the style is different, so it's a tough comparison. I had been encouraged to visit here for years by friends, but never got around to it due to the slightly out-of-the-way location. This is Dearborn in name only - it's further from my place than many restaurants in Detroit. The bread was coated in a light brushing of butter, and was phenomenal, enhanced even more with a light dip in the provided olive oil. Our soups were both delicious: my vegetable beef might have been a bit on the salty side, but it was hearty and full of flavor, veggies, and beef. The chicken noodle soup my companion had was more subtle, but very fresh and delicious. The noodles were delicious and fresh, and the cooks avoid the common crime of overcooking the noodles to remove some of their subtle flavors. The meat sauce and tomato sauces were delicious. The meatballs were gargantuan and filled with flavor. I had the lasagna, and it's in the top two or three lasagnas I've ever tried anywhere in my life. The service was an absolute delight! Water refills at appropriate times, great suggestions on menu items for some newbies, and a really positive attitude. Even if the ambiance and food didn't already justify 5 stars (which they did), the service would push it over the edge. This is a landmark in Dearborn that everyone should try. Now I just need to justify a trip to Antonio's so I can have the enviable opportunity to compare the two. :)
(5)
Kyle K.
Food was absolutly amazing! They had great calazonis. I got the pizza one and my girl friend got the steak and cheese. It was so good! For desert we shared a slice of tarimasu and it was also great. The only downfall was our waitor. He was very slow and hardly checked on us. There was other waitresses that were there seemed to be better. They had a lot of staff, and two hostess'. It wasnt busy, and i will be returning when im in the area.
(4)
Hamze Z.
I adore Roman Village. My family and I try to make it there at least once per month. I only eat kosher so I'm excited that they have halal pepperoni now. The wait staff is always exceptional, the food is always great, and our time there is always fun. I highly recommend it to anyone in the Detroit area. They even cater and have a beautiful banquet hall.
(5)
Rola S.
This restaurant is usually my family's go to place for big family celebrations. It is my mothers favorite place to eat at with no complaints from her. Start out with that bread that's so addictive. I call it crack bread, so yummy. We then order huge Greek salads, big family so yeah they eat a lot. Very fresh, and I love that they keep the feta cheese in small blocks to break up to my liking. Feta cheese is the best part for me. I think they use the domestic Greek feta, as the feta from overseas are stronger. Then we had a few party pizzas which are probably 20+ slices. Delish!
(5)
Diana C.
Best Italian in Detroit and some of the best italian I have ever had. Great place for families. Was very pleased with the service we received (everyone was friendly and attentive). Loved the dishes and we took fresh noodles home to cook later (fantastic deal!)
(5)
Crystal R.
It's been over 2 years since I've been here, holy cow! However, things have not changed :) Service was great, the bread basket was never empty, and food came out quickly and piping hot. Don't be alarmed if the parking lot is packed- there is still room inside for you! We did not have a wait for our party of 5 1/2 on a Sunday afternoon.
(5)
Nicole B.
Been a favorite of mine and a friends for years. Their bread is to die for And so is pretty much everything else on their menu. Fast service every time and always clean. Close your eyes and point to the menu, order it, and you'll be satisfied!
(5)
Nader K.
We came here today. Everyone seems friendly. The parking lot was slammed but we were seated as soon as we walked in. Everything on the menu looked great. I ordered a chicken parmigian sub with the works with a salad. I never got my fries that was spose to Come with it and I was kinda upset that they only offer 2 maybe three kinds of salad dressing house, ranch and Cesar. I went with the ceasar. It was great. The chicken parm sub was perfect. Can't wait to go back again
(4)
Diane B.
Recommended by my son on our visit to MI the staff was friendly food delicious good portion for the money gD a but one pasta dish get 2nd 1/2 off. The garlic bread was awesome and served hot and fresh. The owner stopped by the table several times to check in us and was very friendly and proud of her establishment. Worth a trip. Very busy but we were sat immediately quick friendly service and our water glasses were never empty
(4)
Jesse J.
Not sure about all the hype! Maybe after reading reviews my expectations were to high but came here for my wife's birthday and was a bit disappointed. I will say the reserved room was clean, restaurant was clean, and the waiter we had was beyond EXCELLENT! However the pizza wasn't what I expected. Maybe I ordered the wrong kind but after reading reviews I thought this pizza would be the best I've had. Well we ordered a party tray pizza, round that had about 6-8 toppings. The slices were really long but not tasteful. Don't get me wrong its better than Little Caesars hot & ready's but I feel Jets or many well known chains have better tasting pizza. Maybe it was the wrong pizza to try but not anything special. We also ordered spaghetti and once again disappointed. The noodles were mushy as if they let them soak in water all day then served with sauce on top along with boiled meat. My wife ordered an Alfredo dish and I've had better Alfredo from a jar. Once again the sauce had no substance or flavor, it was very watery! Not that I want it thick as pudding but it was like drinking Alfredo gatorade. There was a side of soup I can't remember what it was but it was delicious, as well as the onion rings, and their melted garlic butter or something similar is to die for! Excellent tasting with their warm bread! All in all I may go back due to the excellent service and to try something else. Maybe they were having a bad day or I ordered the wrong dishes but as of now, don't believe in the hype!
(3)
Lisa M.
Okay, let me just say I waited TOO long to try this restaurant, way too long. This place is freaking awesome. The only reason why I couldn't give it five stars is because the service is not exactly the best. Literally my only complaint it that it seemed like the servers had other better things to do and/or were bored with our table. Needless to say the food was AMAZING. Homemade noodles, sauces, bread. Oh so so very good. For an appetizer I suggest the arrancini balls. They are delicious balls of rice stuffed with cheese and served on top of marinara sauce. Worth every penny. My favorite entrees are the mostaccioli with meat sauce and the carbonara (add chicken - it's awesome!) It might be in a weird location, we got a little weirded out having to drive past the refineries and that industrial area of southwest Detroit/Dearborn but the food is worth it. Check this place out!
(4)
Tiffany D.
This is for the fresh, homemade pasta that they offer. I purchased the fettucine. You can purchase it for $2.65 a lb. It is a steal, and it is amazing! They package it carefully and are happy to answer any questions you may have about how to use/store it. Great customer service, great pasta!
(5)
Gus M.
Such a great place. When I sat down and the waiter gave us our menu it looked very familiar. Well it turns out it was familiar, they are the same owners that own Antonio's in Dearborn heights. I wish I would have known that before I went but never the less it was still an awesome experience. The bread is to die for, it always comes out golden brown and very soft. I ordered the Gnocchi with a blush sauce except I asked them to make it spicy. The waiter accommodated the request no problem. When my dish came out it was everything I expected it to be, fantastic flavors. Of corse it helps that they make their pasta's in house which is always great. Another great Italian dinning experience I highly recommend this if your in the area.
(4)
Jerry M.
I think this may be the best Italian restaurant I've been to in the Detroit Metro area. This reminded me as close to authentic Italian as I've had since going to Italy in 2011. The homemade noodles really make the dish and I look forward to taking my father-in-law to visit when he's in town. The service is a little hit and miss but trust me the food is so good that it deserves 5 stars. We spoke to the owners last time we were there and they were very nice and helpful. Note that if you are coming from 75 you are driving in what looks like a bad area but it's well worth the trip.
(5)
Andrea M.
The pizza is outstanding, and the manicotti is okay. I've tried all of the other pasta dishes, and would never order them again. Both the meat sauce and marinara sauce is rather plain and tasteless. It's also a little overpriced. The staff and service is phenomenal, and like I said before the pizza is very good; so that will make me keep coming back.
(3)
Jillian R.
First time I went was a few weeks ago for my moms birthday! It was excellent! Everything was delicious! And tons of food had left overs for a few days! Will return asap!
(5)
Faye H.
My family & I come here for almost all of our occasions! We love this place that much. The bread & ranch is amazing & so is their pizza and greek salad! The place is clean and their staff is very accommodating as well as clean! I've never had a problem that they did not adjust immediately. Their dessert menu is amazing as well. Only problem sometimes is that they are packed usually on weekend evenings but that's what happens when your food is that good!
(5)
Paul M.
Food is very good. Service is very good as well. I had the Steak & Cheese Calzoni. It was very good!
(4)
Brittiany R.
Being from the neighborhood I love that quality Italian is just around the corner but I wouldn't give Roman Village 5 stars.... yet. Others speak on the pros of our gem: the bread, the pasta, the familial vibe and all are extremely true! But, Roman Village has been hit or miss the past 3x times I've been there. On one occasion my usual pasta came out horribly wrong & was frankly horrible tasting & one another day it came out amazingly delicious. That uncertainty makes me reluctant to return as Vince's is just around the corner with equally impressive family service & tasty Italian. I also have to dock them for sub-par service (on more than one occasion).... Once, They tried to seat us in the bar area WITH reservations. What's next? Am I going to eat standing up in the kitchen?? Another time they had no high chairs for my 1 year old. Super enjoyable meal with an antsy, wants-to-run-away, squirmy angel on my lap!
(3)
Ryan B.
We were visiting town for one night for a birthday celebration. Found this restaurant on Yelp and now we will make it a point to eat here every time we visit! The food was amazing--every single thing we ordered-just amazing. The family atmosphere was also wonderful. Spent some time chatting with the owner and we were hugging her by time we left. Love this place!
(5)
Joe T.
Ah, Roman Village. I have dined in once here & catered food from here a handful of times. Truthfully, I enjoy dining in more than carry out. Only because I had a few bad experiences with the sparse portions of meat in their pans of pasta. Their breads are a real treat & they have a real nice hometown, authentico Italian feel inside. For those looking for a real feel Italian restaurant on this side of town, this is as real as it gets near the Dearborn area. Prices are fair, food is good but don't expect to see any Sopranos eating here, and customer service is on point!
(3)
Richard R.
Wow, once again Yelp reviews drew me to this place while traveling in the area. The Bread Sticks were amazing, the Gnocchi great and the service excellent. I am delighted I stopped!
(5)
Daniel S.
I don't indulge in pasta very often. But when I do, Roman Village is on the top of the list. Check out the little pasta making stand on the left as you walk in the restaurant. (clearly positioned to draw attention to fact that you're getting the fresh stuff) I've had the pizza and a few other things on the menu, but for me the pasta is the standout. The "Rita" sauce is pretty killer. Keep an eye out for specials. They have pasta deals on Tuesday!
(4)
Tony G.
Great pizza and excellent service. The exterior is unassuming but don't let that fool you. It's a nice family owned Italian restaurant. The garlic bread is killer.
(4)
Bob R.
I'm not even sure why I am giving this place two stars. I was really in the mood for some good spaghetti so I checked yelp. I was impressed with the ratings so I went there. The spaghetti was mush and tasted terrible. Not being in a confrontational mood, I ate less than half of the meal and left. I honestly believe canned spaghetti would have been better. I can't see myself ever going there again.
Oooooo the meatballs mmmmmmmm. I could end this review right here and be happy, but I have to tell you. GET THE MEATBALLS!!!! After seeing patrons leave this super duper hidden gem, (down the road from the Marathon refinery next to a mosque, hey it used to be a Italian neighborhood) with trays of meatballs I just had to try em. I ordered the spaghetti with said meatballs and wowey wow they were melt in your mouth and jam packed with flavor. The spag. was just as good with meatsauce and wonderful bread. I sampled the better halfs gnocchi with sauce and it was just a pillow on my tongue. Service was attentive and informative. Find this gem and dig in.
(5)
Nancy M.
My friend and I were heading to a concert in Dearborn and she told me about this wonderful Italian place that she went to for lunch. So we plug it into the GPS and get there around 645 pm on a Saturday. The place is packed so we sign in and head to the bar. Small bar with limited supplies but the Bartender is great. Grab a glass of wine and wait for our table. Not much time to think so quick look at the menu and I order the Chicken Marsala and she orders the Vegetarian Lasagna. They bring some bread - melt in your mouth bread that if I ate 2 baskets full I wouldn't stop. I knew my dinner was going to be unbelievable and it was. Add the side of spaghetti and I was in heaven. If you ever get a chance to stop on in...do it. You will not be let down, everything is made to order and delicious! Fresh aldente pasta - yumm Thanks for taking me Karen and let me know when you go back...I want to try their pizza.
(4)
Lynn H.
Roman Village is -- almost literally -- in the middle of nowhere. It is on a bare patch right where Vernor Highway crosses Dix, stuck between Mexican Town and the east side of Dearborn. We just happened across it on a meander out of Detroit after visiting Eastern Market, and boy am I glad we did! We were really surprised at how crowded it was before 5pm on a Saturday afternoon. But then we tasted their food. Roman Village makes from-scratch food like mama used to (if mama happened to be a gourmet cook). The bread is served still steaming from the oven - wonderfully fresh and springy. The pasta e fagioli is thick and beany. And the polenta with Italian sausage, absolutely authentic tasting with house-made sausage. Hubby and bro's-in-law had pizza, which they all agreed was good. Oh! And the service was wonderful. Our waiter made Speedy Gonzales look like Regular Gonzales. Try it, you'll like it!
(4)
Ron C.
only 4 Stars due to the aloof waiter 'EMO' he stood 2-3 feet away from the table & would not look or speak directly to my wife?!? C+ for him Food & Bread A+ Soup Flavor A Temperature C- [ I didn't send it back, because EMO was nowhere to be found ] I was willing to 'try ' the polenta , but the waiter highly recommended against it SO I ordered Lasagna My Lasagna was truly fabulous and served very HOT A+ My wife ordered the Chicken Marsala which I sampled and it was truly, without question the 'VERY BEST' Chicken & Marsala sauce I have ever had A++ The Bread Oh The Bread !!! Both baskets were excellent ,plus the brand of EVO they use is flavorful A++
(4)
David K.
I tried Roman Village after all the positive reviews here. I agree with Chiwei "amazing light pillows of love" is an accurate description of the gnocchi. The pasta e fagiol was great too. here is the kicker, Tuesdays are 1/2 off. I spent less then 8 dollars and brought enough food home for a second meal. Thanks for the referral
(5)
Andrea H.
My family goes here when they want excellent Italian food. My family and I have been coming here ever since my Dad used to work at the Ford Rouge plant....and we are still coming here! We love the different pastas. Oh and don't forget to try the Rita sauce, it's to die for! My dad always orders their bbq spare ribs, he can't get enough of them! Hey it's gotta be good since even the opera singer Andrea Bocelli visited this place last time he was in Detroit.
(5)
Ruben L.
Rock on Roman Village: Generally speaking, I'm not a huge fan of Italian food. Not because I dislike it, but I cannot discern good from great. No issues with that here. AMBIANCE- the place is dimly lit and rather cozy. As you walk in, you can see the number of famous people who have dined here. From Il Volo to Bill Clinton, this place has seen its share of celebrities. And don't let the outside of this place fool you- this place can pack em in no doubt. Needless to say parking can be a real pain. SERVICE- service here has generally been very good, especially given how busy this place typically is. Seriously, I went here at 2pm for lunch, and there was still a wait to get a table. Probably tells you more about how good this place is as opposed to the type of service you get. Only hiccup I really had- I got a lunch special once, and asked for a caesar salad instead of a house salad, and the server neglected to tell me there would be a $4 substitution fee (my meal was $6 without the salad). MENU- pasta abounds. They make their pasta fresh daily, and you can actually see where they make it when you walk in. Wed. they have 1/2 off pizza (dine in only) and I think Tuesdays are 1/2 off pasta (dine in only as well). The selection is pretty nice from you standard pastas and sauces (alfredos, pestos, carbonara) to lasagna and manicotti. It's pretty hard to choose anything that isn't delcious. FOOD- portions are generous, and if they aren't enough, they serve an awesome bread that makes Olive Garden seem like they are serving wonder bread. I have had their house special pasta (I forget the name, something with a woman's name I believe) and it rocked my world. Hell, every pasta dish I have had here has rocked my world. My co-workers seem more than content with their lasagna, and their desserts are pretty rocking as well. OVERALL- Rare is it for me to recommend Italian, but this would be one of the few. Not really close to anything, you're pretty much making a trip to go out here, and it is worth it. Just set some time aside for it. CELEBRITY RATING- IL VOLO (for real, they were there for dinner back in Nov. when they had a concert in the D)
(4)
Amy M.
We were visiting Detroit for our annual Tigers Pilgrimage & found this restaurant via Yelp. Thanks Yelp! It was great! We were a group of 8 and rarely are ALL of us happy a the same time - but somehow when we left we all were. And full! The food was fresh, authentic, and delicious! The service was amazing, and the staff all friendly.
(4)
Moe A.
Roman Village is one of the best Italian restaurants in Detroit, they treat you like family. Been going there since I was a kid, there all you can eat bread, they have the best pizza in town, if you haven't tried it, try it once and I guarantee you go again!!!
(5)
Jennifer H.
Family special take out $27.51 out the door. Includes pizza, chicken, spaghetti, salad, bread and jumbo drink. Can't beat that anywhere
(4)
Rae M.
Service had always been great and the food is unbelievable. They bring hot bread to your table and it's amazing!! It's on the expensive side, but you get a ton of food- and it's all awesome. Heavy, but awesome. We've never been disappointed. Can't wait until our next visit!
(5)
Ryan L.
I'm always on the prowl for good Italian food. I don't know why, but I've been able to find good Italian food in Detroitopolis. There are a lot of Italian restaurants but I find most of them to be lacking. Also, it seems like Italian restaurants may be dying as Italians have stopped immigrating into to the US in scores as in the 19th and 20th Centuries. The 21st Century may have ushered in a brave new age of information, but Italian food is slowly morphing into tasteless, high-priced chains. Now that my diatribe is over, I will state that Roman Village is the best Italian I've had in Detroit so far. It's located in an area of Dearborn that seems quite strange now. When it opened in the 60s, this was probably prime real estate. Now, it's located near strip clubs, dive bars and giant oil refineries. The exterior is unassuming, but once you decide to be brave and walk through the doors, you'll be ushered into a clean, simple restaurant. Sure it looks like it was last decorated in '91, but it's still in good shape and you've gotta love all the shiny brass. Warning: you must have respectable dress on, according to the signage. Improper dress means that you must wear shoes and a shirt, but the shirt can't be just an undershirt. Also, "bum wear" is strictly verboten. Does this mean you can't wear the "Derelicte" line of clothes by Mugatu in Zoolander? Probably not, but I think it really means, "pants on the ground, pants on the ground, can't go to Roman Village with your pants on the ground". I'm sure the servers wouldn't mind if you wore a bow tie as all the servers wear. The menu is big. You can choose from all kinds of pasta dishes with all kinds of sauces. You can substitute angel hair, whole wheat or gluten-free pasta for a charge. You can add melted cheese, mushrooms and other toppings for a couple dollars. The menu continues with a whole range of stuffed pastas including lasagna. On the next page of the menu is the meat dishes, mostly chicken and veal, each served with a side of pasta. Pizza is also available along with calzone and panini. All of the entrees are served with choice of soup or salad (caesar is extra) and delicious homemade bread. The bread at this place is divine. Seriously, this bread is the most amazing thing ever. It took all my will power not to eat the whole basket. I tried the polenta with a meat sauce and italian sausage. Everything was perfect and had great flavor. The sausage was spicy and robust in flavor. The sauce highlighted the sweetness of the tomatoes but exhibited layers of flavors. I tried the pasta fagoli and it was a large serving and very delicious. The dessert tray had 2 cheesecakes, tiramisu, profiteroles, cannolli, spumoni, and some custard thing. Everything looked amazing and I wanted to try every one. The cream in the cannolli is homemade as well as many of the desserts. The dishes were $10-15 on average and you are given a lot of food. I will definitely have to return the next time I have a craving for Italian food. You can't find this quality and flavor at any other Italian restaurant that I've found so far.
(5)
Dennis F.
Our party of four men got together at Roman Village to talk over old times. I mentioned this to our waiter and he did a superb job of checking on us as to filling water glasses and refreshing the drinks. We were not rushed. The food (everything from soups, pastas, salads, meats) was terrific. This is one of those staple restaurants located in the shadow of the Rouge that always comes through. Great homemade food and wonderful service.
(5)
Kristin G.
Three words sum up my overall feeling of Roman Village: Family. Tradition. DELICIOUS. In that order. Family is at the root of places like this. You don't get food that has this much flavor perfection without years of tradition & a passion for food. AND...unless you're seriously doing it wrong, you don't get Family & Tradition without delicious results and the results at Roman Village are just that. Taste like this comes from years of perfecting and reworking family recipes...but not overworking. Roman Village knows a good thing when they have it and that pride shines through in their cuisine all the more for it. The bread was this amazing slightly flat yet fluffy yet dense buttery yet garlicy yet salty basket of delicious flavors. The bread sticks got me excited knowing that this is only a taste of what's to come. The minestrone soup tasted as though the Italian Grandma I never had spooned it out of a ladel fresh just for me. The flavor was oh so fresh, yet simple in the most pleasant way soup can be simple...not too "done up" it's secure in it's ingredients & flavor. No extra finesse was needed to make it delicious. Whoever came up with this delicate version of minestrone is someone who is no nonsense & truly knows his/her stuff. It wasn't much to look at, they wouldn't win any awards for presentation at Roman Village. But I'd like to meet the person who complains about something like that after trying food like this. The star of the show: the Sinatra of Lasagna. Their Lasagna is something, my friends, that dreams are made of. It charmed me. It is something I can't quite put into words but all I can tell you is that you HAVE to try it. Don't waste your first meal here on anything else. The flavors were so well rounded and so bright and delicious without being overly heavy or greasy...this Lasagna is unforgettable. It uh...might have flown me to the moon. Haha...in all seriousness. Get it. Dessert? Oh the Canoli's looked oh so delicious cruising by on a server's tray but, alas I had no room in my happy Lasagna filled belly for anything more. Next time. And there WILL be a next time! Oh and our leftovers were even better the next day. I was literally inspecting my lasagna trying to figure out what made it SO good. Haha. Oh to be a fly on the wall in that kitchen! ;)
(5)
Kyle R.
One of the best Italian restaurants around. I have been here at least 5 times and every meal has been perfect; pizza, pasta dishes, salad, the bread are all fantastic. It is a must visit!
(5)
Kristine Z.
Been coming here for years. They have the best garlic bread.
(5)
Jonathan M.
I used to work down the street for this place, and let me tell ya, the surrouding area is a mix of dirty heavy industry and burned down ghetto. All the restarunts in the area are just the same dirty, nasty, landfill quality, or just burned down. But for some reason this place is amazing even when surrounded by crap. The company I worked for would get catering from here regularly and the food was top notch!. The garlic bread is to die for and whatever the pasta stuff we kept getting was it was incredible too!
(4)
Kari C.
This past weekend my husband and I decided to drive around Metro Detroit because it was such a beautiful day. By the time we were headed home, it was already close to dinner time so we decided to try and find somewhere to eat. It just so happened we were driving past Roman Village when my husband (who also works nearby) told me that he always sees their parking lot full and asked if I wanted to give it a try. So I said why not. I'm so glad we did because we just found our new favorite Italian restaurant! Upon entering the restaurant, I was not overly impressed as the interior design is a bit outdated, however we were immediately seated at a comfortable booth and greeted by a young man who filled our glasses with water. A few moments later we were greeted by our waitress who gave us menus and took our drink orders. Looking over their menu we were impressed. They have a large selection of Italian foods to choose from, but it's not so overwhelming that it would leave you confused. Their prices are pretty reasonable too, with most meals averaging between $10 and $15. After a few minutes of checking out the menu, my husband decided on the chicken parmesan and I chose the eggplant parmesan. Each meal came with either soup or salad. My husband chose the minestrone soup and I chose a salad with their house dressing. While we were waiting for our soup and salad, we were brought a complimentary plate of fresh baked (literally piping hot) garlic bread. And we're not talking about little pieces of garlic bread, they were big! The smell alone was enough to make my mouth water! The taste was even better! My husband and I were practically salivating over this bread! When our soup and salad arrived, my husband's soup was hot and fresh and you could tell it was homemade. I tasted it and it was the best minestrone soup I've ever had! (Needless to say on our next trip I will be ordering soup!) My salad was also tasty, however I wasn't that fond of their house dressing as it seemed to have too much oregano in it for my liking. When we received our meals, I was very impressed with the portion sizes and the taste was out-of-this-world good! I've had eggplant parmesan at other places, but the eggplant parmesan at Roman Village completely blew the others away! My husband thought the same of his chicken parmesan. Our meals also came with a side of spaghetti with meat sauce. We didn't think we would have room to eat that, but we tried it and absolutely loved it! I had even mentioned to my husband that I thought the pasta was homemade. You could really tell the difference! Sure enough, as we were leaving there was a booth near the front door that you could see into. There was a woman in there making homemade pasta! Overall, our meal was spectacular and we did not go away hungry! As a matter of fact, we went away stuffed and quite impressed with Roman Village. Since then we've told everyone we know about Roman Village and we will definitely be making frequent trips to this restaurant! If you're in the area, we would highly recommend you stopping to eat!
(5)
Paul L.
It's true - "Yelping is helping". My discovery of this restaurant, and the resulting review, are courtesy of fellow Yelpers in an unfamiliar city. I found myself in Detroit (when was the last time I was in Detroit?), or more accurately, Dearborn, without a clue as to where I should stuff my face after working late. Yelp.com to the rescue, natch. Sorting it by rating gave me a whole bunch of ethnic restaurants, for which I wasn't in the mood, but it soon took me to Roman Village resplendent in its prevailing 5-star ratings and glowing reviews. But what sealed the deal was the mere mention of one word in their menu, as I set voice to the object of my desire: "PANCETTA!" Soon I was panting like that cartoon dog in the "Beggin' Bits' commercial, except with an Italian accent. The intervening hours when I had to work were a torture, interrupted frequently by having to wipe drool off my face, as strangers gave me strange looks. Finally, work was done, and I drove to the place that could scratch my itch. My gastronomic promise land for this evening was found just off the darkness on the edge of town (sorry, Mr Springsteen)! But I didn't feel unsafe, as the lot is brightly lit. I was greeted warmly upon entering, well after 9 p.m,, when a lesser staff would have frowned upon a lone late customer so close to the 10 p.m. closing time. There were only a couple of stragglers left when I was seated, and I soon had the dining room all to myself. The place is pretty big, with a couple or three different dining rooms. Look past the borderline cheesy decor with its fake plants and naugahyde benches, and it's not an unpleasant decor, with a rather homey feel to it. The music of choice helped the cause: the eclectic mix of nostalgic pop, Italian tunes, and some great classic jazz tunes lent warmth and authenticity. My waitress Sarah gave me prompt and courteous service. The problem was with me - how do I decide? The Baccala (cod in zesty tomato sauce) looked really inviting, especially at $12.95. I was also tempted by the osso bucco on polenta ($18.95), stuffed shrimp ($14.95), veal chop ($23.95) - you really want one of each. I was really bemoaning the fact that I was not dining with a huge family, all the better to sample more dishes. Eventually, I had to heed the siren call of the pancetta, and settled on Mostaccioli with Rita sauce $12.50. Since a reviewer or two were raving about the meatballs, I added a side ($2.50). Dinner came with soup or salad; I chose a bowl of minestrone, which I quickly devoured, spurred by a basket of hot bread being brought. The bread is like a cross between a bread stick and a roll, quite salty on the outside, but delicious. The Mostaccioli they call "stove pipe" pasta, but it's really just a super-sized elbow macaroni. The salty pancetta added a dimention to the Rita sauce. This sauce is named after the matriarch; it is a blend of marinara and al fredo. You could call it a vodka sauce, but richer. (On a side note, I've never understood the allure of vodka sauce - why would you add perfectly good vodka to a sauce, have all the alcohol evaporate, and really add nothing to the sauce, seeing how vodka is supposed to be odorless and tasteless?) The meatballs are like a couple of golf balls on steroids, and good, but not as out-of-this-world as a reviewer had suggested. Didn't help that the sauce was just slathered on top of them, and they weren't quite hot. When I mentioned that the temperature was a little off, the manager gladly took the remaining uneaten one back, and doubled it up with another, this time piping hot. It might have been on account of my mentioning that I'm a yelper, or maybe it's just standard good service. I hope it's the latter, as I don't really believe yelpers should get any special treatment. In any case, there was no way I was going to pack away another meatball. Hate wasting food, though. I also had a half carafe of chianti at $10.95 that was eminently drinkable. All in all, while this was not the Everest of culinary accomplishments, it deserves 5 stars. Here's a high-quality family-owned restaurant that offers good variety and a price that can't be beat. A good, good meal and wine for $26? Where are you going to find that. I'd come back in a heartbeat if I lived any where near Detroit. There you are, Sarah. I told you this wasn't going to be a bad review, didn't I?
(5)
Mohan K.
This place is amazing. I've never had a bad thing here, and I've been about a dozen times. First off, he ambiance is really nice. Kind of rustic, honest, and definitely not chain style Italian decorations. The staff is super friendly too. It's a great place for families, kids, and even a romantic dinner for 2. I seriously know people who go just for the free bread. Its some kind of seasoned dense buttery Italian bread, and it's ridiculously addictive. They happily bring it all night, which is a great change from places that are stingy with the bread. All the food is great. Gnocchi, sandwiches, pasta...and especially the pizza. We always get a Shareable Greek salad to start, too. Delicious! A true gem tucked away in Dearborn...not to be missed.
(5)
Iman E.
Great food and atmosphere. The bread is to die for, and the noodles are made right there in front of you! It's a little hard to find and out of the way but so worth it.
(5)
Sarahjeanne J.
This is where I go when I've got a craving for Italian (which is pretty much...always) and I'm too lazy to cook. There are places closer to home, but I like the laid back atmosphere at Roman Village. The service is friendly and everyone always seems happy and welcoming. Everything I've tried has been fantastic. The real super star here is the bread. I've been known to eat a whole basket of it all by myself. Anyone can do a good bowl of pasta, but bread this delicious is an art.
(4)
Allison F.
This is my favorite Italian restaurant! I've gotten many things off their menu and I've never been disappointed. Their food tastes great, the portions are large, the prices are small, and the waitstaff are amazing. You really can't get much better than Roman Village. Try their stuffed cannelloni!
(5)
Rebecca S.
My family and I have been eating here for years. They definitely have the best pasta in the area. Bread is always warm and delicious. Haven't found anything that I don't like. Pasta Rita and the Carbonara (sp?) are our go-to meals. The cannoli's at the end are always a wonderful treat, especially since they have mini ones so you don't have to get a huge order to try one.
(5)
Hymae W.
Had the fettuccine con pollo and it was very good. The serving size was so big that i couldn't come close to finishing it. Also came with a salad and really good bread. They brought me the wrong salad but I honestly didn't care. Only thing negative about this place is that they are slightly on the expensive side.
(4)
Rob B.
This is our regular Italian choice. Service was great, and food came out quickly. The bread is great. We always want more especially with a light dip in the provided olive oil, with cheese and pepper added to the mix. Some in my group like the Minestrone - I like the Pasta Fagoul - Bean. The Chicken is good also. I have found the pasta dishes better than the other parts of the menu. Ravioli is great and for $2.50 extra you can get it with pesto sauce and lots of pine nuts (yum) - I like this better than the meat sauce which I find a bit heavy. The stuffed shells are great. Gnocchi are very good with the regular choice of sauces or their special Rita sauce. Roman Village has as others have noted a different take on Italian food than some other restaurants. Maybe a Country style Italian?
(4)
Jessica S.
Hands down THE BEST LASAGNA I've had anywhere in the Detroit-area. Seriously, try it! You will not be disappointed! Other highlights include the bread (obviously!), calamari fritti, the stuffed shrimp, the Pasta Shrimp Amore', the Broiled Salmon and the Spaghetti Carbonara "Alla Bocelli." Oh my gosh, so good! Writing this review is actually making me hungry.... The soups have never really done much for me. The Chicken Pastina seemed pretty bland flavor-wise, and I'm not the biggest Minestrone fan, generally. Otherwise, I love Roman Vilage! Extra points for providing a delivery service for those nights when you get home from work and don't want to cook, or get back into the car to pick something up. Delizioso!
(4)
Sip C.
Oh Roman Village. Just looking them up to review them has made me crave their Gnocchi Rita... Alright guys. Clearly other reviews have said it: this is the best Italian food you're going to get. They have legitimately traditional dishes (lighter, oil sauces over cream) as well as more American-Italian fare (like thicker crust pizzas, cream based sauces, etc.). It's all.so .good. Their bread is, I think, something that could help bring world peace if they would only ship massive amounts of trays over. Desserts are stellar, all food is consistently good. I have never had a bad meal at Roman Village. I think my only complaint (which has certainly not stopped me from going there the past few years) is some oddball service. I've had really good consistent waitstaff here, but the managers seem... less serviceable? Kind of grumpy? Not to mention, I've tried contacting them about catering through their website, in person, and on the phone and have yet to receive any communication. Oh well--I'd say it's their loss, but damn, do I want some Roman Village.
(5)
Brianna R.
There are so many Italian restaurants to choose from in metro Detroit, all at a variety of qualities and prices. Roman Village really stands out, because the food tastes great and the prices are reasonable. They also have a surprising variety of traditional Italian foods - not many restaurants have stuffed shells! The pasta e fagioli is delicious, as well as the bread. I like how they give you the dipping ingredients separately so you can have as much or as little as you want. The gnocchi rita is great. The leftovers heat up nicely the next day, which is good because I'm so full on soup and bread I can never finish!
(5)
Matt S.
My wife and I decided to give Roman Village a try given all of the positive reviews. It was a rare night out without the kids, so we had high expectations. As others have said, Roman Village is in the middle of nowhere. The area around it is all industrial. Not a scenic drive by any means, but a fun drive every now and then. The bread was very good, some of the better bread I have had. It was very fresh, and went well with the olive oil. The salad with the house dressing was also quite good. My wife ordered the Linguine Arrabbiata, and I'd have to say, we would not order it again. It was a little bland, but not awful. My food, however, was delicious. I ordered the Mostaccioli Casseruola with italian sausage, and we took home no leftovers. I would without a doubt order it again. For dessert we shared a cannoli. It was not very good compared to other cannoli's we have had. We would not order it again. Overall we had a very good dining experience with great service. We will definitely be going back to try some of the other food on the menu.
(4)
Molly S.
Roman Village is one of my favorite restaurants. Although it isn't in the fanciest of areas (okay, it's not the best area), it is totally worth going! Their food is delicious. I have never ordered something here that I did not like. The have delicious garlic bread that they bring to your table. I honestly could make a meal out of just this bread. Even the ranch dressing for the salad is the best. You get HUGE portions for a good price. There is no way you could finish your entire meal alone at Roman Village. I love the Carbonara, Lasagna, Pesto Linguine (PERFECT!), Pizza. They often offer great deals, too. They have half off pasta and pizza nights which is such a great deal for families on a budget. The restaurant is clean and comfortable. They have large dining rooms and a small bar section with booth seating. They are very accomodating to large parties. We have had several family dinners at Roman Village. They have a seperate banquet type room with large tables. We have even called to host a small graduation party there and they were able to accomodate us for that. The service has always been fantastic. I hate to admit this since I love the place but I did have hair in my lasagna once. This is bound to happen sometime but the waitress and manager were very apologetic. They made me something else and comped the meals. They used to have a magician come in and entertain the kids at the table. I haven't seen them doing that recently but my nephew and nieces used to love it. I recommend Roman Village and frequently have dinner here.
(5)
Kristina A.
Tried this out for the first time on Sunday with a group of 6.......around 3:00... to start with, I'm a fresh bread nut....and their's is great....the waitress brought out several baskets, right out of the oven......I could have overloaded on that alone. I ended up having the pasta fagiole soup, which was very hearty. Our group had a steak mama calzone (so big they bring it on a pizza tray) $10 (we got two meals out of it), shrimp fettucine, a baby calzone (2 were pleasantly full), crab stuffed shrimp.....stuffed with REAL CRAB.......pizza - which was fantastic.......we're going back..... bonus - I DIDN'T HAVE TO ASK FOR WATER....lol....keep up the good work!
(5)
Mitch M.
Mmmmmmmmm! You will drive to this restaurant and think to yourself, really Mitch, really? You recommend this place? I admit, it looks like nothing. It's in the middle of an area you normally wouldn't set foot in. But you should set foot in Roman Village! They hand make their pasta and their attention to detail is as meticulous as it is wonderfully delicious! This would be a 4.5 stars out of 5 for me, but the option isn't there. I really, really love this place. Not pretentious at all, and very down to earth real world Italian food. One caveat, they have kind of odd hours. Make sure the restaurant is open before you drive there -- I've been disappointed by this twice now. Great owners, great food, GREAT RESTAURANT!
(5)
Laya L.
Nice place. Good Italian food and the servers were really nice. It seemed very similar to the Antonio's restaurant in Dearborn Heights, except it was a bigger restaurant so we got seated faster and we received our food a lot quicker too!!
(4)
Angela R.
Based on past reviews we had fairly high expectations and was very disappointed. We were in the area for the night (canton) and looking for a nice dinner, so as we often do, we consulted yelp. We were willing to drive a bit as we were in no hurry so based purely on reviews we took the jaunt to Dearborn. For a Sunday night there was a reasonable crowd, no wait but oddly we were seated in the bar (we were not asked if that was ok either) where the Denver Steelers playoff game was on. There were only a few patrons in the bar and half the staff bringing the noise level way up! We had a nice waitress who was attentive but didn't notice that the first beer we ordered wasn't drank due to the fact it was flat. Throughout our dinner the various staff would rush past our table to check the game and make loudish comments that would be just fine in a sports bar, since we had driven past many sports bars on our way to this place, this WAS NOT what we were looking for. Even the lady that appeared to be a manager didn't seem to see this as a problem! In all fairness our food was good, the bread was good and the complimentary canoli was tasty. But we felt cheated. Too bad the ambiance due to the staff couldn't live up to the write ups. Please check the sports calendar prior to visiting this restaurant. You'll be better off.
(2)
John T.
I love this restaurant. Members of my family have been going to this restaurant since the 50s. I have never had a bad meal there. I have once or twice encountered slow service, but that was because the kitchen got slammed and even though I had to wait the food did not suffer. Pasta is made by hand daily, right there in the restaurant. The pizza is truly stellar. My favorite dish, bar none, is the Carbonara. Yum, yum, yum!!! The fresh bread they make is absolutely delicious. I've tried just about everything on the menu at one time or another except the seafood dishes, and all have been good to great without exception. If not the carbonara, then the Gnocchi Rita Sauce is the way to go. Or any of the others...cannelloni, mostaccioli, ravioli, tortellini, etc. It is pretty much impossible to screw up here. Be prepared to take food home...the portions are huge. If you eat a whole plate of carbonara at lunch, do not expect to get anything done the rest of the day...all you will want to do is go someplace quiet and take a nap!! A great place to eat!
(5)
Shelly M.
I have to start out with what I ordered for dinner. I ordered the Mostaccioli Casseruola with meatballs, and wow, it was (high pitched voice) awesome... The meat was incredible, the sauce was perfect, it came in an individual baking dish, and had melted cheese over the top. It was hot gooey tasty magic. Was here for dinner with my son and we both really liked it. The bread basket was very interesting. I think the bread is baked then deep fried for just about 2 seconds in butter, i can't think of any way to get that buttery crisp over each and every piece that perfectly distributed. I could be wrong, but I'm very suspicious. We had the bruschetta appetizer, which was loaded in very flavorful and fresh tomatoes, really nice and enough for four people as an appetizer. My son ordered Chicken Scalloppini, and it was pretty good as well. Only bad was the side of spaghetti that came with his dish, the meat sauce that was on it was way too sweet and a had a weird taste, as if it had some bad tap water in it or something, not really an easy taste to describe. Everything else was fab so we just left that left alone.
(4)
Tanya M.
Love it! I grew up by Roman Village and always ordered their pizza, breaksticks and soup...yummy! As an adult I've been back and really appreciate more on their menu. Their chicken parmesan with wine sauce is delicious. The cannelloni and veal parm are great too. My friend ordered a dish with pesto and enjoyed it. I always have leftovers and both the wine and food are reasonably priced! The only problem is I'm not in that area any more so I don't get to enjoy it often !
(5)
Roy Dealmaster K.
9 of us went for an evening dinner 2/2/2013. I read the reviews here first and had high hopes. The latest two of three reviews did make me wonder, though. The location for me is a non-issue even though it may be um, off the beaten path. We were seated just after 7pm and 10 minutes later after asking some *good* bread was delivered, accompanied with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Drinks also took a while. Our server was an infrequent visitor even though the restaurant had maybe 7 other tables occupied. I saw only one other server and a couple bus boys. I ordered the veal parmigiana with spaghetti side/meat sauce. I found it consummately uninspiring. Not a fallacy of composition but certainly dispassionately constructed. The sauce was simply tomato flavored with no real distinction. My benchmark is Bravo Cucina Italiana in East Lansing, MI which has absolutely flavor-packed marinara. The veal itself was tender and was ok, the cheese was good. The spaghetti was broken up and twirling was impossible. Some people like that but not my preference, but it's ok. My daughters had veal marsala and mostaccioli. The picky one did not care for the mostaccioli and I agree - uninspired. She didn't even like the chocolate cake which surprised me. The marsala well, don't know what it was - eminently forgettable. We finally got outta there nearly 2 hours later and it's not like we were busy the whole time. I guess those latest two reviews were pretty accurate. Maybe something has changed in the kitchen.... I did take leftovers home as it makes for an easy lunch. The upside (??) was the portions were generous. And the bread was good.
(2)
Nikkie H.
I was saddened by the closing of Dolce Vita in Riverview, but I've quickly found a replacement with Roman Village. I've been here twice and it's taken over the top spot as my favorite Italian restaurant. The bread is yum, the spaghetti carbonara is yummy and the tiramisu is ultra yummalicious. I cannot wait to go back again!
(5)
Adam N.
Great food and great service. One of the few places to get real authentic Italian food in the Metro Detroit area. Best lasagna I've ever had!
(5)
Michelle A.
Excellent! Friday night, jam packed, but quick service. The BEST pasta sauce we have ever had! Kind of pricey - the Caesar didn't look like it was worth the up-charge (hubbie had it) but everything else was YUM. I agree - who knows who rita was - but the Gnocchi with rita sauce.. mmm. The bread , just fabulous.
(5)
Haroun K.
One hell of a vegetarian pizza!
(5)
Samantha K.
I went there a few days ago and it was very nice inside, although it's not in the best neighborhood. I ordered the gnocchi rita sauce and it was delicious! The bread is also some of the best bread I ever had. I think this is my new favorite italian place!
(5)
Shane N.
I was in Detroit for four days last week and I had Italian food for dinner every night for four different nights. It wasn't really planned, but it happened. As a result this is the first of my reviews of three different Detroit area Italian places (the fourth place I visited I have been to several times and already reviewed. I have been to Roman Village several times before, but only for pizza. This was the first time I went in and sat down for a meal. It is in a very Arab neighborhood, but it is a very Italian place. The inside is nice and spacious. The staff is courteous and attentive. First off let me say that there bread is excellent. It was fresh, warm and delicious. Second off let me say that the minestrone was not very good. I think it was in a beef stock. It just didn't look or taste like minestrone. For an appetizer we had some calamari. I thought it was pretty good. It was not overbreaded (maybe a little underbreaded) but it was still pretty good. For my main course, I had the gnocchi with the Rita sauce. I don't know Rita is but I give her props for her sauce. It was basically house made gnocchi in a blush sauce with pancetta. I thought the gnocchi was pretty good. It was cooked well, but it was a little too much like just potatoes. The sauce I tought was excellent. I am a big fan of blush sauce and I am a big fan of pancetta. The sauce was very good. For dessert we tried the tiramasu and an almond custard. The tiramisu had too much cocoa on it and the custard was kind of bland. Same for the almond custard. I have had the pizza in the past and I thought it was pretty good. Overall the place is pretty decent.
(3)
Darrell T.
My coworker gets this for us from time to time. They have the best calzones and salads EVER!! Their breadsticks are AMAZING!!
(5)
Angie P.
Terrible service. Our waitress took almost 15 minutes to come and greet us, and seamed to disappear on and off throughout our entire meal. I could understand if the place was packed, but it was a Thursday night and I could count the number of occupied tables on one hand. The food was not terrible, but the quality of service was so poor that unfortunately my boyfriend and I will not return to Roman Village.
(2)
Chiwei L.
Have only had their gnocchi, which are amazing light pillows of love. I've never had anything quite like it, and it has made every other example a sad disappointment...
(4)
James W.
My wife and I visited Roman Village for the first time on March 2, 2010 for our 5 year anniversary dinner. Her Veal Parmasean and my loaded Pasta Bowl were AWESOME and you will not believe just how tasty and rediculously addictive their tableside hot bread is. This place is a sure thing!
(5)
Matt B.
One of the best Italian restaurants. The area is unusual, yes, but I don't thinks its scary. Just unusual to see a Mosque across the street. The food is very good (I'd use "very great" but don't think its grammatically correct). Try either the pizza and pasta. I've never tried chicken, etc. They stuff you with bread first, so be careful not to overeat.
(5)
Jeffrey N.
I went to this place due to its proximity to my Dad's and its rating on Yelp. Yelp is great, isn't it? Anyway, Roman Village definitely deserves 4 stars. The food was quality. My Dad said the veal was great. We debated the decor. He thought it was too modern but I didn't think it was bad. It had a family restaurant feel to it. Not stale, like a chain restaurant, but not super nice either. The prices were good for the food and the serving size. A fair deal. The best was the service. We never had to wait for a water refill or for the waitress to come by. I never felt rushed to leave but I never had to wait long for service. If you're in that area on the west side, I can't recommend a better Italian restaurant.
This is an absolutely wonderful restaurant on the outskirts of Dearborn. Though the location shouldn't hinder your desire to go there (I got lost trying to find it. Street signs! Arg). The experience far outweighs the journey. We were seated at a large table for dinner in the far room. We had made reservations for a birthday party - we were sick of the same old party/get drunk birthday, and wanted something a little more classy. Roman Village delivered! We ordered a few different dishes, appetizers and main course, family-style. The portions were huge and everything about the pastas were amazing: sauce, noodles, and spices. I'd recommend the regular old red pasta sauce because it really is a great gauge as to how well RV does what it does. The Alfredo was great too (Oh no! I mixed a white and a red sauce!), as well as the meatballs. They look like the meatballs from Happy Gilmore! (Or was that Billy Madison? I can't remember...) Their mixed drinks are pretty impressive as well. Just for the fun of it, we had margaritas all around. They came in these huge glasses laden with all sorts of fun things, most of all, the fruit juices tasted better than pre-frozen mixes. I couldn't say it was from fresh fruit, but it sure tasted like it was. In all it was a wonderful experience in a beautiful restaurant. This would be a great date spot (not too busy, great service, not bad on price either) or a special occasion spot - Mother's day, Father's day, George Washington's birthday, whatever.
(5)
Heidi B.
Area= totally undesirable, prayed our car would be there when we got out. Building= beautiful, gorgeous, clean, open & airy. What was it doing in that dump of a neighborhood? Service= over the top, Laura, our server was friendly, helpful, had great suggestions, great 'up-seller', we tipped her 25%. What was she doing in that dump of a neighborhood? Food= over the top, honest to goodness, killer italian! Never had gnocci that good, try the Rita sauce, mixture of marinara & alfredo with bacon & mushrooms. Unbelievably delish. What was sauce that good doing in that dump of a neighborhood? Price=cheap. They were celebrating their 45th anniversary with a buy one, get the 2nd dinner for .45. Our meal was so cheap, it felt like we were stealing from the owner. Which made sense since we were in that dump of a neighborhood. Return Visit= absolutely, can't wait. Oh and our car was there when we got out, so we can return.
(4)
Sandra B.
I have been eating at Roman Village for about 20 years - this place has been there for a while. The food is really good - this bread is yummy. If you are counting calories, this is not your place. If you are looking for some good food, you should really enjoy it. Pizza, pasta - all good! My one complaint - this is a recent thing that they have been doing - if you want to substitute one type of pasta for another, there is a $4.95 additional charge for that. It is just pasta - I could buy a ton of fresh made pasta from a market for less than that. Major disappointment.
(4)
John C.
I was really impressed with this restaurant. Clean with a charming atmosphere. The service was great. The manager walked the room asking the guests how their meal was. The waiter informed us that certain dinners on the menu was buy one, get one at .45 cents. Cool! One heads up though was the salad. It was almost swimming in the house dressing. A little too much, but bearable. I had stuffed shrimp shells. Delicious! But I needed to give it a few minutes to cool. To me that was nothing. I loved the food and the friendly service. I think these restaurants are on to this site. Maybe it was the Yelp t-shirt I was wearing :)
(5)
Julie J.
Just about the best Italian food in and around Dearborn. Great variety and they don't charge you extra for the salad or soup and the bread. Their bread is fantastic! I am a veggie and they have lots of choices for me. Bring your appetite; I always end up taking half of mine home. I like their service here better than their sister Restaurant Antonio's in Dearborn Heights. Prices are reasonable, too! Enjoy!
(4)
Michael L.
Love the food. Service is adequate.
(4)
Longball F.
This place is always a solid performer with great prices! two can get in and out under $25 with tip! Salad, pasta or pizza and soup, and they make the best bread for dipping or eating with a salad.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
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Pizza
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Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Dennis F.
Our party of four men got together at Roman Village to talk over old times. I mentioned this to our waiter and he did a superb job of checking on us as to filling water glasses and refreshing the drinks. We were not rushed. The food (everything from soups, pastas, salads, meats) was terrific. This is one of those staple restaurants located in the shadow of the Rouge that always comes through. Great homemade food and wonderful service.
(5)Sip C.
Oh Roman Village. Just looking them up to review them has made me crave their Gnocchi Rita... Alright guys. Clearly other reviews have said it: this is the best Italian food you're going to get. They have legitimately traditional dishes (lighter, oil sauces over cream) as well as more American-Italian fare (like thicker crust pizzas, cream based sauces, etc.). It's all.so .good. Their bread is, I think, something that could help bring world peace if they would only ship massive amounts of trays over. Desserts are stellar, all food is consistently good. I have never had a bad meal at Roman Village. I think my only complaint (which has certainly not stopped me from going there the past few years) is some oddball service. I've had really good consistent waitstaff here, but the managers seem... less serviceable? Kind of grumpy? Not to mention, I've tried contacting them about catering through their website, in person, and on the phone and have yet to receive any communication. Oh well--I'd say it's their loss, but damn, do I want some Roman Village.
(5)Jessica S.
Hands down THE BEST LASAGNA I've had anywhere in the Detroit-area. Seriously, try it! You will not be disappointed! Other highlights include the bread (obviously!), calamari fritti, the stuffed shrimp, the Pasta Shrimp Amore', the Broiled Salmon and the Spaghetti Carbonara "Alla Bocelli." Oh my gosh, so good! Writing this review is actually making me hungry.... The soups have never really done much for me. The Chicken Pastina seemed pretty bland flavor-wise, and I'm not the biggest Minestrone fan, generally. Otherwise, I love Roman Vilage! Extra points for providing a delivery service for those nights when you get home from work and don't want to cook, or get back into the car to pick something up. Delizioso!
(4)Brianna R.
There are so many Italian restaurants to choose from in metro Detroit, all at a variety of qualities and prices. Roman Village really stands out, because the food tastes great and the prices are reasonable. They also have a surprising variety of traditional Italian foods - not many restaurants have stuffed shells! The pasta e fagioli is delicious, as well as the bread. I like how they give you the dipping ingredients separately so you can have as much or as little as you want. The gnocchi rita is great. The leftovers heat up nicely the next day, which is good because I'm so full on soup and bread I can never finish!
(5)Matt S.
My wife and I decided to give Roman Village a try given all of the positive reviews. It was a rare night out without the kids, so we had high expectations. As others have said, Roman Village is in the middle of nowhere. The area around it is all industrial. Not a scenic drive by any means, but a fun drive every now and then. The bread was very good, some of the better bread I have had. It was very fresh, and went well with the olive oil. The salad with the house dressing was also quite good. My wife ordered the Linguine Arrabbiata, and I'd have to say, we would not order it again. It was a little bland, but not awful. My food, however, was delicious. I ordered the Mostaccioli Casseruola with italian sausage, and we took home no leftovers. I would without a doubt order it again. For dessert we shared a cannoli. It was not very good compared to other cannoli's we have had. We would not order it again. Overall we had a very good dining experience with great service. We will definitely be going back to try some of the other food on the menu.
(4)David K.
I tried Roman Village after all the positive reviews here. I agree with Chiwei "amazing light pillows of love" is an accurate description of the gnocchi. The pasta e fagiol was great too. here is the kicker, Tuesdays are 1/2 off. I spent less then 8 dollars and brought enough food home for a second meal. Thanks for the referral
(5)Andrea H.
My family goes here when they want excellent Italian food. My family and I have been coming here ever since my Dad used to work at the Ford Rouge plant....and we are still coming here! We love the different pastas. Oh and don't forget to try the Rita sauce, it's to die for! My dad always orders their bbq spare ribs, he can't get enough of them! Hey it's gotta be good since even the opera singer Andrea Bocelli visited this place last time he was in Detroit.
(5)Jonathan M.
I used to work down the street for this place, and let me tell ya, the surrouding area is a mix of dirty heavy industry and burned down ghetto. All the restarunts in the area are just the same dirty, nasty, landfill quality, or just burned down. But for some reason this place is amazing even when surrounded by crap. The company I worked for would get catering from here regularly and the food was top notch!. The garlic bread is to die for and whatever the pasta stuff we kept getting was it was incredible too!
(4)Molly S.
Roman Village is one of my favorite restaurants. Although it isn't in the fanciest of areas (okay, it's not the best area), it is totally worth going! Their food is delicious. I have never ordered something here that I did not like. The have delicious garlic bread that they bring to your table. I honestly could make a meal out of just this bread. Even the ranch dressing for the salad is the best. You get HUGE portions for a good price. There is no way you could finish your entire meal alone at Roman Village. I love the Carbonara, Lasagna, Pesto Linguine (PERFECT!), Pizza. They often offer great deals, too. They have half off pasta and pizza nights which is such a great deal for families on a budget. The restaurant is clean and comfortable. They have large dining rooms and a small bar section with booth seating. They are very accomodating to large parties. We have had several family dinners at Roman Village. They have a seperate banquet type room with large tables. We have even called to host a small graduation party there and they were able to accomodate us for that. The service has always been fantastic. I hate to admit this since I love the place but I did have hair in my lasagna once. This is bound to happen sometime but the waitress and manager were very apologetic. They made me something else and comped the meals. They used to have a magician come in and entertain the kids at the table. I haven't seen them doing that recently but my nephew and nieces used to love it. I recommend Roman Village and frequently have dinner here.
(5)Kristina A.
Tried this out for the first time on Sunday with a group of 6.......around 3:00... to start with, I'm a fresh bread nut....and their's is great....the waitress brought out several baskets, right out of the oven......I could have overloaded on that alone. I ended up having the pasta fagiole soup, which was very hearty. Our group had a steak mama calzone (so big they bring it on a pizza tray) $10 (we got two meals out of it), shrimp fettucine, a baby calzone (2 were pleasantly full), crab stuffed shrimp.....stuffed with REAL CRAB.......pizza - which was fantastic.......we're going back..... bonus - I DIDN'T HAVE TO ASK FOR WATER....lol....keep up the good work!
(5)Mitch M.
Mmmmmmmmm! You will drive to this restaurant and think to yourself, really Mitch, really? You recommend this place? I admit, it looks like nothing. It's in the middle of an area you normally wouldn't set foot in. But you should set foot in Roman Village! They hand make their pasta and their attention to detail is as meticulous as it is wonderfully delicious! This would be a 4.5 stars out of 5 for me, but the option isn't there. I really, really love this place. Not pretentious at all, and very down to earth real world Italian food. One caveat, they have kind of odd hours. Make sure the restaurant is open before you drive there -- I've been disappointed by this twice now. Great owners, great food, GREAT RESTAURANT!
(5)Laya L.
Nice place. Good Italian food and the servers were really nice. It seemed very similar to the Antonio's restaurant in Dearborn Heights, except it was a bigger restaurant so we got seated faster and we received our food a lot quicker too!!
(4)Angela R.
Based on past reviews we had fairly high expectations and was very disappointed. We were in the area for the night (canton) and looking for a nice dinner, so as we often do, we consulted yelp. We were willing to drive a bit as we were in no hurry so based purely on reviews we took the jaunt to Dearborn. For a Sunday night there was a reasonable crowd, no wait but oddly we were seated in the bar (we were not asked if that was ok either) where the Denver Steelers playoff game was on. There were only a few patrons in the bar and half the staff bringing the noise level way up! We had a nice waitress who was attentive but didn't notice that the first beer we ordered wasn't drank due to the fact it was flat. Throughout our dinner the various staff would rush past our table to check the game and make loudish comments that would be just fine in a sports bar, since we had driven past many sports bars on our way to this place, this WAS NOT what we were looking for. Even the lady that appeared to be a manager didn't seem to see this as a problem! In all fairness our food was good, the bread was good and the complimentary canoli was tasty. But we felt cheated. Too bad the ambiance due to the staff couldn't live up to the write ups. Please check the sports calendar prior to visiting this restaurant. You'll be better off.
(2)John T.
I love this restaurant. Members of my family have been going to this restaurant since the 50s. I have never had a bad meal there. I have once or twice encountered slow service, but that was because the kitchen got slammed and even though I had to wait the food did not suffer. Pasta is made by hand daily, right there in the restaurant. The pizza is truly stellar. My favorite dish, bar none, is the Carbonara. Yum, yum, yum!!! The fresh bread they make is absolutely delicious. I've tried just about everything on the menu at one time or another except the seafood dishes, and all have been good to great without exception. If not the carbonara, then the Gnocchi Rita Sauce is the way to go. Or any of the others...cannelloni, mostaccioli, ravioli, tortellini, etc. It is pretty much impossible to screw up here. Be prepared to take food home...the portions are huge. If you eat a whole plate of carbonara at lunch, do not expect to get anything done the rest of the day...all you will want to do is go someplace quiet and take a nap!! A great place to eat!
(5)Shelly M.
I have to start out with what I ordered for dinner. I ordered the Mostaccioli Casseruola with meatballs, and wow, it was (high pitched voice) awesome... The meat was incredible, the sauce was perfect, it came in an individual baking dish, and had melted cheese over the top. It was hot gooey tasty magic. Was here for dinner with my son and we both really liked it. The bread basket was very interesting. I think the bread is baked then deep fried for just about 2 seconds in butter, i can't think of any way to get that buttery crisp over each and every piece that perfectly distributed. I could be wrong, but I'm very suspicious. We had the bruschetta appetizer, which was loaded in very flavorful and fresh tomatoes, really nice and enough for four people as an appetizer. My son ordered Chicken Scalloppini, and it was pretty good as well. Only bad was the side of spaghetti that came with his dish, the meat sauce that was on it was way too sweet and a had a weird taste, as if it had some bad tap water in it or something, not really an easy taste to describe. Everything else was fab so we just left that left alone.
(4)Tanya M.
Love it! I grew up by Roman Village and always ordered their pizza, breaksticks and soup...yummy! As an adult I've been back and really appreciate more on their menu. Their chicken parmesan with wine sauce is delicious. The cannelloni and veal parm are great too. My friend ordered a dish with pesto and enjoyed it. I always have leftovers and both the wine and food are reasonably priced! The only problem is I'm not in that area any more so I don't get to enjoy it often !
(5)Michelle A.
Excellent! Friday night, jam packed, but quick service. The BEST pasta sauce we have ever had! Kind of pricey - the Caesar didn't look like it was worth the up-charge (hubbie had it) but everything else was YUM. I agree - who knows who rita was - but the Gnocchi with rita sauce.. mmm. The bread , just fabulous.
(5)Haroun K.
One hell of a vegetarian pizza!
(5)Samantha K.
I went there a few days ago and it was very nice inside, although it's not in the best neighborhood. I ordered the gnocchi rita sauce and it was delicious! The bread is also some of the best bread I ever had. I think this is my new favorite italian place!
(5)Roy Dealmaster K.
9 of us went for an evening dinner 2/2/2013. I read the reviews here first and had high hopes. The latest two of three reviews did make me wonder, though. The location for me is a non-issue even though it may be um, off the beaten path. We were seated just after 7pm and 10 minutes later after asking some *good* bread was delivered, accompanied with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Drinks also took a while. Our server was an infrequent visitor even though the restaurant had maybe 7 other tables occupied. I saw only one other server and a couple bus boys. I ordered the veal parmigiana with spaghetti side/meat sauce. I found it consummately uninspiring. Not a fallacy of composition but certainly dispassionately constructed. The sauce was simply tomato flavored with no real distinction. My benchmark is Bravo Cucina Italiana in East Lansing, MI which has absolutely flavor-packed marinara. The veal itself was tender and was ok, the cheese was good. The spaghetti was broken up and twirling was impossible. Some people like that but not my preference, but it's ok. My daughters had veal marsala and mostaccioli. The picky one did not care for the mostaccioli and I agree - uninspired. She didn't even like the chocolate cake which surprised me. The marsala well, don't know what it was - eminently forgettable. We finally got outta there nearly 2 hours later and it's not like we were busy the whole time. I guess those latest two reviews were pretty accurate. Maybe something has changed in the kitchen.... I did take leftovers home as it makes for an easy lunch. The upside (??) was the portions were generous. And the bread was good.
(2)Adam N.
Great food and great service. One of the few places to get real authentic Italian food in the Metro Detroit area. Best lasagna I've ever had!
(5)Nikkie H.
I was saddened by the closing of Dolce Vita in Riverview, but I've quickly found a replacement with Roman Village. I've been here twice and it's taken over the top spot as my favorite Italian restaurant. The bread is yum, the spaghetti carbonara is yummy and the tiramisu is ultra yummalicious. I cannot wait to go back again!
(5)Matt B.
One of the best Italian restaurants. The area is unusual, yes, but I don't thinks its scary. Just unusual to see a Mosque across the street. The food is very good (I'd use "very great" but don't think its grammatically correct). Try either the pizza and pasta. I've never tried chicken, etc. They stuff you with bread first, so be careful not to overeat.
(5)John C.
I was really impressed with this restaurant. Clean with a charming atmosphere. The service was great. The manager walked the room asking the guests how their meal was. The waiter informed us that certain dinners on the menu was buy one, get one at .45 cents. Cool! One heads up though was the salad. It was almost swimming in the house dressing. A little too much, but bearable. I had stuffed shrimp shells. Delicious! But I needed to give it a few minutes to cool. To me that was nothing. I loved the food and the friendly service. I think these restaurants are on to this site. Maybe it was the Yelp t-shirt I was wearing :)
(5)Shane N.
I was in Detroit for four days last week and I had Italian food for dinner every night for four different nights. It wasn't really planned, but it happened. As a result this is the first of my reviews of three different Detroit area Italian places (the fourth place I visited I have been to several times and already reviewed. I have been to Roman Village several times before, but only for pizza. This was the first time I went in and sat down for a meal. It is in a very Arab neighborhood, but it is a very Italian place. The inside is nice and spacious. The staff is courteous and attentive. First off let me say that there bread is excellent. It was fresh, warm and delicious. Second off let me say that the minestrone was not very good. I think it was in a beef stock. It just didn't look or taste like minestrone. For an appetizer we had some calamari. I thought it was pretty good. It was not overbreaded (maybe a little underbreaded) but it was still pretty good. For my main course, I had the gnocchi with the Rita sauce. I don't know Rita is but I give her props for her sauce. It was basically house made gnocchi in a blush sauce with pancetta. I thought the gnocchi was pretty good. It was cooked well, but it was a little too much like just potatoes. The sauce I tought was excellent. I am a big fan of blush sauce and I am a big fan of pancetta. The sauce was very good. For dessert we tried the tiramasu and an almond custard. The tiramisu had too much cocoa on it and the custard was kind of bland. Same for the almond custard. I have had the pizza in the past and I thought it was pretty good. Overall the place is pretty decent.
(3)Darrell T.
My coworker gets this for us from time to time. They have the best calzones and salads EVER!! Their breadsticks are AMAZING!!
(5)Angie P.
Terrible service. Our waitress took almost 15 minutes to come and greet us, and seamed to disappear on and off throughout our entire meal. I could understand if the place was packed, but it was a Thursday night and I could count the number of occupied tables on one hand. The food was not terrible, but the quality of service was so poor that unfortunately my boyfriend and I will not return to Roman Village.
(2)Chiwei L.
Have only had their gnocchi, which are amazing light pillows of love. I've never had anything quite like it, and it has made every other example a sad disappointment...
(4)James W.
My wife and I visited Roman Village for the first time on March 2, 2010 for our 5 year anniversary dinner. Her Veal Parmasean and my loaded Pasta Bowl were AWESOME and you will not believe just how tasty and rediculously addictive their tableside hot bread is. This place is a sure thing!
(5)Julie J.
Just about the best Italian food in and around Dearborn. Great variety and they don't charge you extra for the salad or soup and the bread. Their bread is fantastic! I am a veggie and they have lots of choices for me. Bring your appetite; I always end up taking half of mine home. I like their service here better than their sister Restaurant Antonio's in Dearborn Heights. Prices are reasonable, too! Enjoy!
(4)Michael L.
Love the food. Service is adequate.
(4)Jeffrey N.
I went to this place due to its proximity to my Dad's and its rating on Yelp. Yelp is great, isn't it? Anyway, Roman Village definitely deserves 4 stars. The food was quality. My Dad said the veal was great. We debated the decor. He thought it was too modern but I didn't think it was bad. It had a family restaurant feel to it. Not stale, like a chain restaurant, but not super nice either. The prices were good for the food and the serving size. A fair deal. The best was the service. We never had to wait for a water refill or for the waitress to come by. I never felt rushed to leave but I never had to wait long for service. If you're in that area on the west side, I can't recommend a better Italian restaurant.
(4)Jeffrey B.
Perfectly delicious and quite possible a contender for the best Italian in the Metro Detroit area. I had bookmarked the Roman Village after reading the positive reviews and found myself with friend/roommate/ fellow Yelp-star Ryan L. there after leaving Ikea heading towards the Eastside--we figured we're out this way, why not explore? I don't know how we found the restaurant, actually, I do, it was all grace à Ryan's iPhone. I do know I felt like I saw a weird warehouse wonderland of Dearborn (?) on the way. Walking in you're greeted with a warning informing us that service will not be provided if you're not wearing shoes, shirts, undershirts, or "bum wear". I told hostess that I was wearing an undershirt and that I hoped it would be okay, which she said was fine since I had a shirt on over it. I think they just like looking at chest hair. . . The menu was full of tempting options. I decided upon the Vegetarian Lasagna and upgraded my salad to a Caesar. I also had a Blue Moon draught because it was only $2.50 and I couldn't argue with that. The meals were served with wonderful bread--it was fresh, it was flavorful, it was perfection. My Caesar was good but I might hesitate about spending the additional $2.50 to upgrade since the house salad looked equally enjoyable. Sometimes I'm just a sucker for a Caesar. When the lasagna was presented I knew I was in for something fabulous. Served piping hot and covered with baked mozzarella it was an ovular dish of amazing. The lasagna was concocted with homemade noodles, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, and a delightful marinara. What was most satisfying is that it had a great flavor. For some reason it seems like finding Italian food with actual flavor is quite the feat. After finishing my meal I was perfectly satisfied though when the dessert tray was offered my interest was piqued so it was presented featuring tiramisu, cannolis, a chocolate torte, two kinds of cheesecake and more. It made me wish I hadn't finished my dinner. This dinner was seriously great despite a screaming child behind me a kid exploring all of the cell phone ringer options across the room and the most talkative random guy the next booth over. The Roman Village satisfied my desire for Italian and made me eager to return to try more on the menu like their pesto, or Florentine ravioli. Note: Gluten Free and Whole Wheat pasta are available for $2.00 more. On the way out we noted that Monday they had 1/2 off Pizza and Beer, Tuesday 1/2 off pasta, and Wednesday 1/2 off bottles of wine with the purchase of two entrées. The staff was very kind and attentive, plus they looked stellar in their burgundy bow ties. The restaurant really felt like an Italian restaurant. There was a large Last Supper painting on the wall and cushy red vinyl booths. If you're in the area check it out. Hell, if you're not and like Italian, make the drive. You may even be so fortunate to hear "Funiculi, Funicula!" if not, at least you'll have a glorious meal. Note: the $$ is closer to $12-$15/person including drinks.
(5)Michael C.
This is an absolutely wonderful restaurant on the outskirts of Dearborn. Though the location shouldn't hinder your desire to go there (I got lost trying to find it. Street signs! Arg). The experience far outweighs the journey. We were seated at a large table for dinner in the far room. We had made reservations for a birthday party - we were sick of the same old party/get drunk birthday, and wanted something a little more classy. Roman Village delivered! We ordered a few different dishes, appetizers and main course, family-style. The portions were huge and everything about the pastas were amazing: sauce, noodles, and spices. I'd recommend the regular old red pasta sauce because it really is a great gauge as to how well RV does what it does. The Alfredo was great too (Oh no! I mixed a white and a red sauce!), as well as the meatballs. They look like the meatballs from Happy Gilmore! (Or was that Billy Madison? I can't remember...) Their mixed drinks are pretty impressive as well. Just for the fun of it, we had margaritas all around. They came in these huge glasses laden with all sorts of fun things, most of all, the fruit juices tasted better than pre-frozen mixes. I couldn't say it was from fresh fruit, but it sure tasted like it was. In all it was a wonderful experience in a beautiful restaurant. This would be a great date spot (not too busy, great service, not bad on price either) or a special occasion spot - Mother's day, Father's day, George Washington's birthday, whatever.
(5)Heidi B.
Area= totally undesirable, prayed our car would be there when we got out. Building= beautiful, gorgeous, clean, open & airy. What was it doing in that dump of a neighborhood? Service= over the top, Laura, our server was friendly, helpful, had great suggestions, great 'up-seller', we tipped her 25%. What was she doing in that dump of a neighborhood? Food= over the top, honest to goodness, killer italian! Never had gnocci that good, try the Rita sauce, mixture of marinara & alfredo with bacon & mushrooms. Unbelievably delish. What was sauce that good doing in that dump of a neighborhood? Price=cheap. They were celebrating their 45th anniversary with a buy one, get the 2nd dinner for .45. Our meal was so cheap, it felt like we were stealing from the owner. Which made sense since we were in that dump of a neighborhood. Return Visit= absolutely, can't wait. Oh and our car was there when we got out, so we can return.
(4)Sandra B.
I have been eating at Roman Village for about 20 years - this place has been there for a while. The food is really good - this bread is yummy. If you are counting calories, this is not your place. If you are looking for some good food, you should really enjoy it. Pizza, pasta - all good! My one complaint - this is a recent thing that they have been doing - if you want to substitute one type of pasta for another, there is a $4.95 additional charge for that. It is just pasta - I could buy a ton of fresh made pasta from a market for less than that. Major disappointment.
(4)Longball F.
This place is always a solid performer with great prices! two can get in and out under $25 with tip! Salad, pasta or pizza and soup, and they make the best bread for dipping or eating with a salad.
(4)Jason A.
I love this place. It blow its counterpart, Antonio's, out of the water. Consistently good food and service. The bread they serve is the highlight of every visit. Not to say the food isn't great, because it is, but dat bread... hnnnnngghhhhhh! But besides the bread, I recommend the gnocchi with Rita sauce, cheese tortellini, calamari fritti, pizza, and calzones. I've tried quite a few things, and these are what stand out. So quit wasting money on the Olive Garden, and give Roman Village a go. It's fantastic.
(5)Michael N.
I haven't been here in a really long time, but assuming nothing has changed, this place is an excellent hidden gem of an italian spot. As the other reviews have mentioned the portions are massive and the bread they bring out before dinner with the oil is to die for. My go to was the Linguine Al Pesto. Prepared with olive oil, pine nuts, garlic, parmesan cheese and plenty of basil. What's not to like? Parking wise, they have their own lot which is helpful considering this area is a little shady. Overall, I would go out of my way to hit up Roman Village again.
(4)Harris N.
So we were leaving a Detroit Lions training camp event in Dearborn and needed lunch. I looked at the trusty Yelp app and found this place. Plenty of stars for this neighborhood so we decided to try it out. I don't think it's in the right rating class. I expected much more for such high ratings. I figured either the service or the food has to be excellent. The place was okay. They make much of the food inhouse. The pasta is made in an area in the front of the restaurant. The bread is definitely baked in the kitchen. My son ordered a spaghetti with meat sauce. I tried his spaghetti, and it was a bit tough for pasta. Good pasta should be firm and stretchy. This was firm and seemed to have a grainy texture. I had a Caesar salad and Veal Marsala. The veal had plenty of mushrooms and a fragrant Marsala sauce. Both were good, but felt a little expensive for the type of restaurant. This place is okay, but don't expect 4/5 star food or service. This place also reminds me of Pasquales in Royal Oak. Very similar type restaurant.
(3)Rola S.
This restaurant is usually my family's go to place for big family celebrations. It is my mothers favorite place to eat at with no complaints from her. Start out with that bread that's so addictive. I call it crack bread, so yummy. We then order huge Greek salads, big family so yeah they eat a lot. Very fresh, and I love that they keep the feta cheese in small blocks to break up to my liking. Feta cheese is the best part for me. I think they use the domestic Greek feta, as the feta from overseas are stronger. Then we had a few party pizzas which are probably 20+ slices. Delish!
(5)Diana C.
Best Italian in Detroit and some of the best italian I have ever had. Great place for families. Was very pleased with the service we received (everyone was friendly and attentive). Loved the dishes and we took fresh noodles home to cook later (fantastic deal!)
(5)Amy B.
I came here last night to eat with a bunch of other fellow yelpers and I was pleasantly surprised. Not only have I never been here before, but I've never even heard of it! I was pleasantly surprised when I walked in to see how nicely decorated it was. I was expecting it to be a lot smaller, and the place actually had a decent amount of seating. After scouring the menu, I decided to get something light. I wasn't overly hungry and some of the dinners seemed big for my appetite at that moment. I went with the Garlic shrimp off the appetizer menu, and it was delicious! It really hit the spot. I wish I had ordered dinner but I knew I would have taken most of it home, so I passed. Everyone got something different, and the servings were nice and big. Service here was consistent and professional and they were not overly pushy about anything. To me, this is more of an authentic Italian restaurant then, lets say your typical Olive Garden or corporate chain restaurant. Granted, it's not in the prettiest side of town, but it's a gem none the less. All dishes looked delicious and portions seemed appropriate for prices. I gave 4 stars only because even though it's really good family Italian, it's not "the best" Italian food I've eaten. If your in the area and want something authentic, swing by!
(4)Silvana E.
I haven't tried anything that I didn't like here the pizza is good bread is amazing my favorite is the seafood stuffed shells there service is awesome and they prices are pretty good the food is larged portion
(5)Adrianna S.
I'm 100% Italian and have grown up eating my families cooking my whole life. That being said, I'm a tough critic of Italian cuisine. Roman Village is the only place I will eat Italian at, but there are some dishes I do not like. I love the pizza (amazing), antipasto, fettuccine Alfredo, gnocchi, and the sausage appetizer is to die for and reminds me of a dish my father used to make for us. It has housemade Italian sausage which is very flavorful with fennel, peppers, onions and potatoes. I do not like their red marinara pasta sauce at all. It is watery and flavorless. I also do not like their eggplant Parmesan, but my mom makes that THE BEST so maybe I am a little biased! Portions are large. Service is OK. Parking lot is always packed.
(4)Scott S.
Holy portion-size, Batman...consider splitting an entree. Never one to eat at a chain restaurant if we can avoid it, we sought out some good food in Dearborn tonight, and this place came highly recommended, so we decided it was time for some Italian. My gnocchi were plentiful enough to easily feed two people, and came with some of the best bread I've ever had, and a huge bowl of soup. I powered through it, because I'm no quitter, and didn't even leave myself any room for dessert... ...but that didn't stop me from ordering some anyway. There are not one, but two tiramisu options, so I opted for the toasted almond. I sort of wish I'd gone for the other one, simply because I adore that coffee flavor, and this one tasted much more almondy instead, but it was delicious in its own rite. A fantastic, massive meal that could have resulted in leftovers if we had anywhere to put them. All told, only $50 including wine.
(5)Mike G.
Allison F. told me that this was a place to check out when I'm in the area. As I was driving along Dix Avenue, I began to wonder if she was crazy or just trying to get me killed. Roman Village? It ain't in Rome folks. The area, let's say, "isn't pretty". I'm glad I made the trek through no man's land. This is an old school family run Italian restaurant that's celebrating it's 50th anniversary this year. I opted to sit at the bar as they were on a 20 to 25 minute wait at 8:15 on a Thursday. (Did you just read that?) This is a seriously good sign folks. Zeinab, the bartender was really nice and helpful as I had 4 different things in mind but I only brought one stomach with me... Lasagna, shrimp scampi, stuffed shrimp or Pizza Bianca? Which to do? The envelope please. And the winner is....Pizza Bianca, it's a no sauce pizza with mozzarella cheese, fresh diced tomatoes, basil and garlic. The crust is hand tossed and has a little crisp with some chew to it. Everything was fresh and flavorful like it should be. Their small pizza is as big as most other places medium size. It's a great value for the $10.50 it cost me. Be forewarned folks, they cut their pizza into wedges, not squares. When In Rome...
(4)edgard k.
Pretty out of place...the only Italian restaurant in a middle-eastern neighborhood. They make their own pastas which you can see in the small room just when you get in to the place. Service is quick, and the complimentary bread is good. Portion is big...even the bambino portion is good for a grown man.
(4)Adele M.
Upon arriving, the parking lot was PACKED!we were then approached by a homeless man asking for money. We only waited about 5-10 min on a Friday night before we were sat. Roman village is our first option when wanting Italian food. We ordered a veggie pizza which was really good and also the eggplant parm with pasta and a salad. The egg plant parm was good but the spaghetti had a weird smell to it. The salad was delicious and very fresh. They always give you fresh baked bread and its to die for. Just don't eat too much or you will not be able to eat the entree. The service wasn't that great. Our server never asked us for refills and when we wanted him we couldn't find him. Our saying is, you can't have good service and good food, so thankfully the food is awesome!
(4)Kyle K.
Food was absolutly amazing! They had great calazonis. I got the pizza one and my girl friend got the steak and cheese. It was so good! For desert we shared a slice of tarimasu and it was also great. The only downfall was our waitor. He was very slow and hardly checked on us. There was other waitresses that were there seemed to be better. They had a lot of staff, and two hostess'. It wasnt busy, and i will be returning when im in the area.
(4)Hamze Z.
I adore Roman Village. My family and I try to make it there at least once per month. I only eat kosher so I'm excited that they have halal pepperoni now. The wait staff is always exceptional, the food is always great, and our time there is always fun. I highly recommend it to anyone in the Detroit area. They even cater and have a beautiful banquet hall.
(5)Wilma D.
The ratings for this place benefit a bit from the "but c'mon, it's in Detroit!" ratings inflation. Detroit, even in its heyday, was never a good town to eat in. I have never encountered a US city more exclusively enamored with processed and fried food. There seems to be little in the way of Detroit specialties other than chili dogs and greasy pizza. So food sensibilities are very slowly evolving here, and it's unfortunately far away from having the rich dining scene of even its diminutive neighbor Ann Arbor. So saying, is the food in this particular establishment edible? Yep, in fact it's downright tasty. The portions are big enough to give a T-Rex gas, so there's also that. It feels like a classic family owned nostalgia-fest as well, and is blissfully free (mostly) of hipsters who eat here ironically. But the food isn't really reinventing any wheels, and succeeds more by not messing anything up than by doing anything incredibly right. Come here if you'd like to feed a family cheaply on hearty red sauce classics. Don't bother if you want refined food that feels fresh or modern, or food that at all tastes like it comes from Italy (this is classic American Italian, a serious difference). Most things you can order here the coroner would proclaim died by drowning in mozzarella. That's not necessarily a bad thing. There's something so satisfying about seeing your friendly teenage server in a bowtie haul a bubbling cauldron of melted cheese your way, piping on top of a red sea in which floats gnocchi, or cannelloni. The food here is seasoned and salted just right, but there's still the "Italian First Aid kit" of pepper flakes, a shaker of parmesan, salt, pepper and olive oil at each table anyway. I started my meal off with the complementary bread that tastes like addictive strips of pizza dough brushed with ample melted butter and studded with salt. I followed with the pasta fagioli soup (cup 3.50), which tasted freshly made, a small miracle in most classic American Italian joints. The gnocchi in Rita Sauce (15.50) is the standout here, with the perfect chewy doughy texture, bite size and smooth creamy red sauce. The veal and chicken filled cannelloni (13.55) was also delicious, with the pasta shells not too mushy under their robe of melted cheese. The décor looks tired, and the neighborhood isn't the safest. Overall, I enjoyed my experience, and would be back if in the area. It is good food, and great food by current Detroit standards.
(3)Mia C.
I did carry out. The arancinis appetizer (rice balls) and their bread was delicious. For my entree, I ordered lasagna. It was ok, but a little salty, and the only cheese was on top (none layered in between the noodles). It was a huge portion though- could have easily been shared between 2-3 people. I upgraded to a caesar salad for an extra $2.50, which was really over priced considering the only thing extra you get is a small packet of grated Parmesan & croutons. My total bill was around $24, which I thought was a bit high for one appetizer and one entree.
(3)Celia C.
Tasty...and their breadsticks are addicting.
(4)Neil Y.
I'm stuck because it really was a 4.5/5 experience. For those of you who have eaten at Antonio's at numerous places around the Metro area, don't overlook Roman Village in SW Detroit/Dearborn as it is part of the Antonio's family. Same menu and same quality. BTW-If you're eating at Olive Garden, you are missing out on this Detroit-based gem. The prices are the same or better. First the place is super clean and decor reminiscent of the Antonio's concept. Lot's of tile! It's cozy, comfortable and has become one of our favorite places to eat. Service is friendly, attentive and quick without being over imposing. If you have read my reviews, you know kids' menus and pricing are important to us. At Roman Village, the kids' menu is for kids 10 and under with everything priced at $5.95. Now that's not the least expensive we have seen but the value for money simply doesn't compare to any restaurant we have ever eaten at. Kids get 11 options to choose from: pasta selections, pizza, and chicken fingers that include a bowl of soup (that could have been the meal in itself), the fresh bread basket and a beverage. Kids could easily split one meal here or take a box home per child. Ohhhhh, the bread. I'll get that in a minute. The menu is expansive. Appetizers, soup, salads, pasta-pasta-pasta (even a gluten-free option), subs, calzones, seafood and meat based dishes including Provimi veal. Only one item on the menu exceeds $20. We like to order a Misto Antonio Deluxe which is a meat and cheese tray and an entree to split. I love the soup. Only Deli Unique in West Bloomfield makes a better soup. Yes sir, there is the bread. It's non stop fresh, warm homemade rolls out of the oven. Why more places don't serve warm bread is beyond me. Watch yourself here or you will most certainly carbo-load and end up taking your entree home. Pasta is all made in house and it shows in it's taste and texture. It is also my understanding that they make their fennel sausage as well. Don't ask me how dessert is because I have never made it that far--ever! Only items that we felt keep this from a 5-star experience is that my wife was allowed to order chicken picatta instead of veal picatta and was charged the same price when veal is more expensive. Further, the chicken breast was not breaded and fried but rather poached. Weird. She also noted to save your money on the Caesar salad up charge as the dressing is bottle dressing not homemade as told. You can really tell the difference. However, we see this as a mere bump in the road and know not to order this in the future. We had our rehearsal dinner at the Farmington Hills location but since our relocation to Hamtramck, we frequent this one instead. If you're in SW Detroit and Mexican doesn't sound good at the moment, drive a mile further and consider Roman Village for a great, overall experience.
(4)Vickie R.
Love their homemade pasta! I've been there now several times and I've always had great meals and great service. My favorite pasta there is the linguine. When linguine is made too thick, it often gets chewy when it's cooked al dente, Their linguine is made really thin, which is a welcomed change. I've had the linguine arrabiata (my favorite by far) and the fettuccini con gamberi (shrimp) for entrees. Their calamari is fantastic. No bells or whistles about it, just great seasoning, light breading, and great texture. To end our meal, we ordered a canoli. Our Italian friend judges an Italian restaurant based on the food and their canoli. He has given the official blessing. :-)
(4)Marcy R.
I came here for the first time last week and fell in food love. My pasta shrimp amore was delicious, even when I ate it cold for leftovers the following day. The fresh-baked bread was warm and seasoned to perfection. I was ready for more, so I came back a few days later. Well, I've still only dined there once. We were seated... That was it. We patiently waited over 10 minutes and were not acknowledged, at all. We quietly got up and left, and happily acquired delicious noms elsewhere. I understand busy, but to sit there and see the wait staff congregating in the corner while we sat unattended, left me feeling underwhelmed and unimportant. Will I give Roman Village another try? Absolutely, we all have bad days. I'm still taken aback, as I've never been to an establishment and been ignored like I was last night.
(3)Josh Q.
Easily the best Italian food I had in Detroit. A bit out of the way for most but the quality of the food is well worth it. The quantities are huge; you only need to order half as much food as at other places. The bread was amazing. I had to work incredibly hard to push it away from me:) Family owned and operated with prices beyond reasonable, I recommend Roman Village to all.
(5)James M.
Not enough stars for their bread alone!!! Their pasta shrimp amore is "THE BEST!!!" Rita & pesto sauces are "PHENOMINAL", as well! Pizza is really good. Probably in my top 5 favorite restaurants of all time?! Salad is just okay (I've tried all 3, House, Ceasar & Greek), but their ranch is house made & is "EXCELLENT!" The only 2 negatives I have is that they charge you for every little extra, such as sauces, ranch etc... & service is not always the best, but the food is "ALWAYS AWESOME!!!" My "FAVORITE" Italian of all time & there's not even a close second! Do yourself a favor & go :-))
(5)Sarahi C.
I haven't been disappointed yet! Love the bread!! Their ribs are great :) Love their soups!
(5)W. John R.
In my mind, I compared this to other Italian restaurants in Southeast Michigan when writing this review, but the style is different, so it's a tough comparison. I had been encouraged to visit here for years by friends, but never got around to it due to the slightly out-of-the-way location. This is Dearborn in name only - it's further from my place than many restaurants in Detroit. The bread was coated in a light brushing of butter, and was phenomenal, enhanced even more with a light dip in the provided olive oil. Our soups were both delicious: my vegetable beef might have been a bit on the salty side, but it was hearty and full of flavor, veggies, and beef. The chicken noodle soup my companion had was more subtle, but very fresh and delicious. The noodles were delicious and fresh, and the cooks avoid the common crime of overcooking the noodles to remove some of their subtle flavors. The meat sauce and tomato sauces were delicious. The meatballs were gargantuan and filled with flavor. I had the lasagna, and it's in the top two or three lasagnas I've ever tried anywhere in my life. The service was an absolute delight! Water refills at appropriate times, great suggestions on menu items for some newbies, and a really positive attitude. Even if the ambiance and food didn't already justify 5 stars (which they did), the service would push it over the edge. This is a landmark in Dearborn that everyone should try. Now I just need to justify a trip to Antonio's so I can have the enviable opportunity to compare the two. :)
(5)Crystal R.
It's been over 2 years since I've been here, holy cow! However, things have not changed :) Service was great, the bread basket was never empty, and food came out quickly and piping hot. Don't be alarmed if the parking lot is packed- there is still room inside for you! We did not have a wait for our party of 5 1/2 on a Sunday afternoon.
(5)Nicole B.
Been a favorite of mine and a friends for years. Their bread is to die for And so is pretty much everything else on their menu. Fast service every time and always clean. Close your eyes and point to the menu, order it, and you'll be satisfied!
(5)Nader K.
We came here today. Everyone seems friendly. The parking lot was slammed but we were seated as soon as we walked in. Everything on the menu looked great. I ordered a chicken parmigian sub with the works with a salad. I never got my fries that was spose to Come with it and I was kinda upset that they only offer 2 maybe three kinds of salad dressing house, ranch and Cesar. I went with the ceasar. It was great. The chicken parm sub was perfect. Can't wait to go back again
(4)Diane B.
Recommended by my son on our visit to MI the staff was friendly food delicious good portion for the money gD a but one pasta dish get 2nd 1/2 off. The garlic bread was awesome and served hot and fresh. The owner stopped by the table several times to check in us and was very friendly and proud of her establishment. Worth a trip. Very busy but we were sat immediately quick friendly service and our water glasses were never empty
(4)Jesse J.
Not sure about all the hype! Maybe after reading reviews my expectations were to high but came here for my wife's birthday and was a bit disappointed. I will say the reserved room was clean, restaurant was clean, and the waiter we had was beyond EXCELLENT! However the pizza wasn't what I expected. Maybe I ordered the wrong kind but after reading reviews I thought this pizza would be the best I've had. Well we ordered a party tray pizza, round that had about 6-8 toppings. The slices were really long but not tasteful. Don't get me wrong its better than Little Caesars hot & ready's but I feel Jets or many well known chains have better tasting pizza. Maybe it was the wrong pizza to try but not anything special. We also ordered spaghetti and once again disappointed. The noodles were mushy as if they let them soak in water all day then served with sauce on top along with boiled meat. My wife ordered an Alfredo dish and I've had better Alfredo from a jar. Once again the sauce had no substance or flavor, it was very watery! Not that I want it thick as pudding but it was like drinking Alfredo gatorade. There was a side of soup I can't remember what it was but it was delicious, as well as the onion rings, and their melted garlic butter or something similar is to die for! Excellent tasting with their warm bread! All in all I may go back due to the excellent service and to try something else. Maybe they were having a bad day or I ordered the wrong dishes but as of now, don't believe in the hype!
(3)Lisa M.
Okay, let me just say I waited TOO long to try this restaurant, way too long. This place is freaking awesome. The only reason why I couldn't give it five stars is because the service is not exactly the best. Literally my only complaint it that it seemed like the servers had other better things to do and/or were bored with our table. Needless to say the food was AMAZING. Homemade noodles, sauces, bread. Oh so so very good. For an appetizer I suggest the arrancini balls. They are delicious balls of rice stuffed with cheese and served on top of marinara sauce. Worth every penny. My favorite entrees are the mostaccioli with meat sauce and the carbonara (add chicken - it's awesome!) It might be in a weird location, we got a little weirded out having to drive past the refineries and that industrial area of southwest Detroit/Dearborn but the food is worth it. Check this place out!
(4)Tiffany D.
This is for the fresh, homemade pasta that they offer. I purchased the fettucine. You can purchase it for $2.65 a lb. It is a steal, and it is amazing! They package it carefully and are happy to answer any questions you may have about how to use/store it. Great customer service, great pasta!
(5)Gus M.
Such a great place. When I sat down and the waiter gave us our menu it looked very familiar. Well it turns out it was familiar, they are the same owners that own Antonio's in Dearborn heights. I wish I would have known that before I went but never the less it was still an awesome experience. The bread is to die for, it always comes out golden brown and very soft. I ordered the Gnocchi with a blush sauce except I asked them to make it spicy. The waiter accommodated the request no problem. When my dish came out it was everything I expected it to be, fantastic flavors. Of corse it helps that they make their pasta's in house which is always great. Another great Italian dinning experience I highly recommend this if your in the area.
(4)Andrea M.
The pizza is outstanding, and the manicotti is okay. I've tried all of the other pasta dishes, and would never order them again. Both the meat sauce and marinara sauce is rather plain and tasteless. It's also a little overpriced. The staff and service is phenomenal, and like I said before the pizza is very good; so that will make me keep coming back.
(3)Jerry M.
I think this may be the best Italian restaurant I've been to in the Detroit Metro area. This reminded me as close to authentic Italian as I've had since going to Italy in 2011. The homemade noodles really make the dish and I look forward to taking my father-in-law to visit when he's in town. The service is a little hit and miss but trust me the food is so good that it deserves 5 stars. We spoke to the owners last time we were there and they were very nice and helpful. Note that if you are coming from 75 you are driving in what looks like a bad area but it's well worth the trip.
(5)Jillian R.
First time I went was a few weeks ago for my moms birthday! It was excellent! Everything was delicious! And tons of food had left overs for a few days! Will return asap!
(5)Faye H.
My family & I come here for almost all of our occasions! We love this place that much. The bread & ranch is amazing & so is their pizza and greek salad! The place is clean and their staff is very accommodating as well as clean! I've never had a problem that they did not adjust immediately. Their dessert menu is amazing as well. Only problem sometimes is that they are packed usually on weekend evenings but that's what happens when your food is that good!
(5)Paul M.
Food is very good. Service is very good as well. I had the Steak & Cheese Calzoni. It was very good!
(4)Brittiany R.
Being from the neighborhood I love that quality Italian is just around the corner but I wouldn't give Roman Village 5 stars.... yet. Others speak on the pros of our gem: the bread, the pasta, the familial vibe and all are extremely true! But, Roman Village has been hit or miss the past 3x times I've been there. On one occasion my usual pasta came out horribly wrong & was frankly horrible tasting & one another day it came out amazingly delicious. That uncertainty makes me reluctant to return as Vince's is just around the corner with equally impressive family service & tasty Italian. I also have to dock them for sub-par service (on more than one occasion).... Once, They tried to seat us in the bar area WITH reservations. What's next? Am I going to eat standing up in the kitchen?? Another time they had no high chairs for my 1 year old. Super enjoyable meal with an antsy, wants-to-run-away, squirmy angel on my lap!
(3)Ryan B.
We were visiting town for one night for a birthday celebration. Found this restaurant on Yelp and now we will make it a point to eat here every time we visit! The food was amazing--every single thing we ordered-just amazing. The family atmosphere was also wonderful. Spent some time chatting with the owner and we were hugging her by time we left. Love this place!
(5)Joe T.
Ah, Roman Village. I have dined in once here & catered food from here a handful of times. Truthfully, I enjoy dining in more than carry out. Only because I had a few bad experiences with the sparse portions of meat in their pans of pasta. Their breads are a real treat & they have a real nice hometown, authentico Italian feel inside. For those looking for a real feel Italian restaurant on this side of town, this is as real as it gets near the Dearborn area. Prices are fair, food is good but don't expect to see any Sopranos eating here, and customer service is on point!
(3)Richard R.
Wow, once again Yelp reviews drew me to this place while traveling in the area. The Bread Sticks were amazing, the Gnocchi great and the service excellent. I am delighted I stopped!
(5)Daniel S.
I don't indulge in pasta very often. But when I do, Roman Village is on the top of the list. Check out the little pasta making stand on the left as you walk in the restaurant. (clearly positioned to draw attention to fact that you're getting the fresh stuff) I've had the pizza and a few other things on the menu, but for me the pasta is the standout. The "Rita" sauce is pretty killer. Keep an eye out for specials. They have pasta deals on Tuesday!
(4)Tony G.
Great pizza and excellent service. The exterior is unassuming but don't let that fool you. It's a nice family owned Italian restaurant. The garlic bread is killer.
(4)Bob R.
I'm not even sure why I am giving this place two stars. I was really in the mood for some good spaghetti so I checked yelp. I was impressed with the ratings so I went there. The spaghetti was mush and tasted terrible. Not being in a confrontational mood, I ate less than half of the meal and left. I honestly believe canned spaghetti would have been better. I can't see myself ever going there again.
(2)Michael W.
Nice place
(4)Rachel H.
GREAT homemade pasta and amazing bread, soup, and salad. I haven't tried anything else but I'm sure everything on their menu is amazing. My fiancé and I were in the area and Greenfield Village and in the mood for Italian. We googled this place because it was nearby, and we are so lucky we did. We are now return customers and Ive told everyone about it, including my Italian mother. Great service, great food, and great price. I would easily pay twice the price and not think twice. (that's not to say that the owners should raise their prices but only that its a real gem)
(5)Bob N.
Oooooo the meatballs mmmmmmmm. I could end this review right here and be happy, but I have to tell you. GET THE MEATBALLS!!!! After seeing patrons leave this super duper hidden gem, (down the road from the Marathon refinery next to a mosque, hey it used to be a Italian neighborhood) with trays of meatballs I just had to try em. I ordered the spaghetti with said meatballs and wowey wow they were melt in your mouth and jam packed with flavor. The spag. was just as good with meatsauce and wonderful bread. I sampled the better halfs gnocchi with sauce and it was just a pillow on my tongue. Service was attentive and informative. Find this gem and dig in.
(5)Len M.
Best place for Italian in SW Detroit.
(5)Nancy M.
My friend and I were heading to a concert in Dearborn and she told me about this wonderful Italian place that she went to for lunch. So we plug it into the GPS and get there around 645 pm on a Saturday. The place is packed so we sign in and head to the bar. Small bar with limited supplies but the Bartender is great. Grab a glass of wine and wait for our table. Not much time to think so quick look at the menu and I order the Chicken Marsala and she orders the Vegetarian Lasagna. They bring some bread - melt in your mouth bread that if I ate 2 baskets full I wouldn't stop. I knew my dinner was going to be unbelievable and it was. Add the side of spaghetti and I was in heaven. If you ever get a chance to stop on in...do it. You will not be let down, everything is made to order and delicious! Fresh aldente pasta - yumm Thanks for taking me Karen and let me know when you go back...I want to try their pizza.
(4)Lynn H.
Roman Village is -- almost literally -- in the middle of nowhere. It is on a bare patch right where Vernor Highway crosses Dix, stuck between Mexican Town and the east side of Dearborn. We just happened across it on a meander out of Detroit after visiting Eastern Market, and boy am I glad we did! We were really surprised at how crowded it was before 5pm on a Saturday afternoon. But then we tasted their food. Roman Village makes from-scratch food like mama used to (if mama happened to be a gourmet cook). The bread is served still steaming from the oven - wonderfully fresh and springy. The pasta e fagioli is thick and beany. And the polenta with Italian sausage, absolutely authentic tasting with house-made sausage. Hubby and bro's-in-law had pizza, which they all agreed was good. Oh! And the service was wonderful. Our waiter made Speedy Gonzales look like Regular Gonzales. Try it, you'll like it!
(4)Ron C.
only 4 Stars due to the aloof waiter 'EMO' he stood 2-3 feet away from the table & would not look or speak directly to my wife?!? C+ for him Food & Bread A+ Soup Flavor A Temperature C- [ I didn't send it back, because EMO was nowhere to be found ] I was willing to 'try ' the polenta , but the waiter highly recommended against it SO I ordered Lasagna My Lasagna was truly fabulous and served very HOT A+ My wife ordered the Chicken Marsala which I sampled and it was truly, without question the 'VERY BEST' Chicken & Marsala sauce I have ever had A++ The Bread Oh The Bread !!! Both baskets were excellent ,plus the brand of EVO they use is flavorful A++
(4)Mohan K.
This place is amazing. I've never had a bad thing here, and I've been about a dozen times. First off, he ambiance is really nice. Kind of rustic, honest, and definitely not chain style Italian decorations. The staff is super friendly too. It's a great place for families, kids, and even a romantic dinner for 2. I seriously know people who go just for the free bread. Its some kind of seasoned dense buttery Italian bread, and it's ridiculously addictive. They happily bring it all night, which is a great change from places that are stingy with the bread. All the food is great. Gnocchi, sandwiches, pasta...and especially the pizza. We always get a Shareable Greek salad to start, too. Delicious! A true gem tucked away in Dearborn...not to be missed.
(5)Iman E.
Great food and atmosphere. The bread is to die for, and the noodles are made right there in front of you! It's a little hard to find and out of the way but so worth it.
(5)Sarahjeanne J.
This is where I go when I've got a craving for Italian (which is pretty much...always) and I'm too lazy to cook. There are places closer to home, but I like the laid back atmosphere at Roman Village. The service is friendly and everyone always seems happy and welcoming. Everything I've tried has been fantastic. The real super star here is the bread. I've been known to eat a whole basket of it all by myself. Anyone can do a good bowl of pasta, but bread this delicious is an art.
(4)Ruben L.
Rock on Roman Village: Generally speaking, I'm not a huge fan of Italian food. Not because I dislike it, but I cannot discern good from great. No issues with that here. AMBIANCE- the place is dimly lit and rather cozy. As you walk in, you can see the number of famous people who have dined here. From Il Volo to Bill Clinton, this place has seen its share of celebrities. And don't let the outside of this place fool you- this place can pack em in no doubt. Needless to say parking can be a real pain. SERVICE- service here has generally been very good, especially given how busy this place typically is. Seriously, I went here at 2pm for lunch, and there was still a wait to get a table. Probably tells you more about how good this place is as opposed to the type of service you get. Only hiccup I really had- I got a lunch special once, and asked for a caesar salad instead of a house salad, and the server neglected to tell me there would be a $4 substitution fee (my meal was $6 without the salad). MENU- pasta abounds. They make their pasta fresh daily, and you can actually see where they make it when you walk in. Wed. they have 1/2 off pizza (dine in only) and I think Tuesdays are 1/2 off pasta (dine in only as well). The selection is pretty nice from you standard pastas and sauces (alfredos, pestos, carbonara) to lasagna and manicotti. It's pretty hard to choose anything that isn't delcious. FOOD- portions are generous, and if they aren't enough, they serve an awesome bread that makes Olive Garden seem like they are serving wonder bread. I have had their house special pasta (I forget the name, something with a woman's name I believe) and it rocked my world. Hell, every pasta dish I have had here has rocked my world. My co-workers seem more than content with their lasagna, and their desserts are pretty rocking as well. OVERALL- Rare is it for me to recommend Italian, but this would be one of the few. Not really close to anything, you're pretty much making a trip to go out here, and it is worth it. Just set some time aside for it. CELEBRITY RATING- IL VOLO (for real, they were there for dinner back in Nov. when they had a concert in the D)
(4)Amy M.
We were visiting Detroit for our annual Tigers Pilgrimage & found this restaurant via Yelp. Thanks Yelp! It was great! We were a group of 8 and rarely are ALL of us happy a the same time - but somehow when we left we all were. And full! The food was fresh, authentic, and delicious! The service was amazing, and the staff all friendly.
(4)Moe A.
Roman Village is one of the best Italian restaurants in Detroit, they treat you like family. Been going there since I was a kid, there all you can eat bread, they have the best pizza in town, if you haven't tried it, try it once and I guarantee you go again!!!
(5)Jennifer H.
Family special take out $27.51 out the door. Includes pizza, chicken, spaghetti, salad, bread and jumbo drink. Can't beat that anywhere
(4)Rae M.
Service had always been great and the food is unbelievable. They bring hot bread to your table and it's amazing!! It's on the expensive side, but you get a ton of food- and it's all awesome. Heavy, but awesome. We've never been disappointed. Can't wait until our next visit!
(5)Ryan L.
I'm always on the prowl for good Italian food. I don't know why, but I've been able to find good Italian food in Detroitopolis. There are a lot of Italian restaurants but I find most of them to be lacking. Also, it seems like Italian restaurants may be dying as Italians have stopped immigrating into to the US in scores as in the 19th and 20th Centuries. The 21st Century may have ushered in a brave new age of information, but Italian food is slowly morphing into tasteless, high-priced chains. Now that my diatribe is over, I will state that Roman Village is the best Italian I've had in Detroit so far. It's located in an area of Dearborn that seems quite strange now. When it opened in the 60s, this was probably prime real estate. Now, it's located near strip clubs, dive bars and giant oil refineries. The exterior is unassuming, but once you decide to be brave and walk through the doors, you'll be ushered into a clean, simple restaurant. Sure it looks like it was last decorated in '91, but it's still in good shape and you've gotta love all the shiny brass. Warning: you must have respectable dress on, according to the signage. Improper dress means that you must wear shoes and a shirt, but the shirt can't be just an undershirt. Also, "bum wear" is strictly verboten. Does this mean you can't wear the "Derelicte" line of clothes by Mugatu in Zoolander? Probably not, but I think it really means, "pants on the ground, pants on the ground, can't go to Roman Village with your pants on the ground". I'm sure the servers wouldn't mind if you wore a bow tie as all the servers wear. The menu is big. You can choose from all kinds of pasta dishes with all kinds of sauces. You can substitute angel hair, whole wheat or gluten-free pasta for a charge. You can add melted cheese, mushrooms and other toppings for a couple dollars. The menu continues with a whole range of stuffed pastas including lasagna. On the next page of the menu is the meat dishes, mostly chicken and veal, each served with a side of pasta. Pizza is also available along with calzone and panini. All of the entrees are served with choice of soup or salad (caesar is extra) and delicious homemade bread. The bread at this place is divine. Seriously, this bread is the most amazing thing ever. It took all my will power not to eat the whole basket. I tried the polenta with a meat sauce and italian sausage. Everything was perfect and had great flavor. The sausage was spicy and robust in flavor. The sauce highlighted the sweetness of the tomatoes but exhibited layers of flavors. I tried the pasta fagoli and it was a large serving and very delicious. The dessert tray had 2 cheesecakes, tiramisu, profiteroles, cannolli, spumoni, and some custard thing. Everything looked amazing and I wanted to try every one. The cream in the cannolli is homemade as well as many of the desserts. The dishes were $10-15 on average and you are given a lot of food. I will definitely have to return the next time I have a craving for Italian food. You can't find this quality and flavor at any other Italian restaurant that I've found so far.
(5)Hymae W.
Had the fettuccine con pollo and it was very good. The serving size was so big that i couldn't come close to finishing it. Also came with a salad and really good bread. They brought me the wrong salad but I honestly didn't care. Only thing negative about this place is that they are slightly on the expensive side.
(4)Kristin G.
Three words sum up my overall feeling of Roman Village: Family. Tradition. DELICIOUS. In that order. Family is at the root of places like this. You don't get food that has this much flavor perfection without years of tradition & a passion for food. AND...unless you're seriously doing it wrong, you don't get Family & Tradition without delicious results and the results at Roman Village are just that. Taste like this comes from years of perfecting and reworking family recipes...but not overworking. Roman Village knows a good thing when they have it and that pride shines through in their cuisine all the more for it. The bread was this amazing slightly flat yet fluffy yet dense buttery yet garlicy yet salty basket of delicious flavors. The bread sticks got me excited knowing that this is only a taste of what's to come. The minestrone soup tasted as though the Italian Grandma I never had spooned it out of a ladel fresh just for me. The flavor was oh so fresh, yet simple in the most pleasant way soup can be simple...not too "done up" it's secure in it's ingredients & flavor. No extra finesse was needed to make it delicious. Whoever came up with this delicate version of minestrone is someone who is no nonsense & truly knows his/her stuff. It wasn't much to look at, they wouldn't win any awards for presentation at Roman Village. But I'd like to meet the person who complains about something like that after trying food like this. The star of the show: the Sinatra of Lasagna. Their Lasagna is something, my friends, that dreams are made of. It charmed me. It is something I can't quite put into words but all I can tell you is that you HAVE to try it. Don't waste your first meal here on anything else. The flavors were so well rounded and so bright and delicious without being overly heavy or greasy...this Lasagna is unforgettable. It uh...might have flown me to the moon. Haha...in all seriousness. Get it. Dessert? Oh the Canoli's looked oh so delicious cruising by on a server's tray but, alas I had no room in my happy Lasagna filled belly for anything more. Next time. And there WILL be a next time! Oh and our leftovers were even better the next day. I was literally inspecting my lasagna trying to figure out what made it SO good. Haha. Oh to be a fly on the wall in that kitchen! ;)
(5)Kyle R.
One of the best Italian restaurants around. I have been here at least 5 times and every meal has been perfect; pizza, pasta dishes, salad, the bread are all fantastic. It is a must visit!
(5)Kristine Z.
Been coming here for years. They have the best garlic bread.
(5)Rebecca S.
My family and I have been eating here for years. They definitely have the best pasta in the area. Bread is always warm and delicious. Haven't found anything that I don't like. Pasta Rita and the Carbonara (sp?) are our go-to meals. The cannoli's at the end are always a wonderful treat, especially since they have mini ones so you don't have to get a huge order to try one.
(5)Allison F.
This is my favorite Italian restaurant! I've gotten many things off their menu and I've never been disappointed. Their food tastes great, the portions are large, the prices are small, and the waitstaff are amazing. You really can't get much better than Roman Village. Try their stuffed cannelloni!
(5)Kari C.
This past weekend my husband and I decided to drive around Metro Detroit because it was such a beautiful day. By the time we were headed home, it was already close to dinner time so we decided to try and find somewhere to eat. It just so happened we were driving past Roman Village when my husband (who also works nearby) told me that he always sees their parking lot full and asked if I wanted to give it a try. So I said why not. I'm so glad we did because we just found our new favorite Italian restaurant! Upon entering the restaurant, I was not overly impressed as the interior design is a bit outdated, however we were immediately seated at a comfortable booth and greeted by a young man who filled our glasses with water. A few moments later we were greeted by our waitress who gave us menus and took our drink orders. Looking over their menu we were impressed. They have a large selection of Italian foods to choose from, but it's not so overwhelming that it would leave you confused. Their prices are pretty reasonable too, with most meals averaging between $10 and $15. After a few minutes of checking out the menu, my husband decided on the chicken parmesan and I chose the eggplant parmesan. Each meal came with either soup or salad. My husband chose the minestrone soup and I chose a salad with their house dressing. While we were waiting for our soup and salad, we were brought a complimentary plate of fresh baked (literally piping hot) garlic bread. And we're not talking about little pieces of garlic bread, they were big! The smell alone was enough to make my mouth water! The taste was even better! My husband and I were practically salivating over this bread! When our soup and salad arrived, my husband's soup was hot and fresh and you could tell it was homemade. I tasted it and it was the best minestrone soup I've ever had! (Needless to say on our next trip I will be ordering soup!) My salad was also tasty, however I wasn't that fond of their house dressing as it seemed to have too much oregano in it for my liking. When we received our meals, I was very impressed with the portion sizes and the taste was out-of-this-world good! I've had eggplant parmesan at other places, but the eggplant parmesan at Roman Village completely blew the others away! My husband thought the same of his chicken parmesan. Our meals also came with a side of spaghetti with meat sauce. We didn't think we would have room to eat that, but we tried it and absolutely loved it! I had even mentioned to my husband that I thought the pasta was homemade. You could really tell the difference! Sure enough, as we were leaving there was a booth near the front door that you could see into. There was a woman in there making homemade pasta! Overall, our meal was spectacular and we did not go away hungry! As a matter of fact, we went away stuffed and quite impressed with Roman Village. Since then we've told everyone we know about Roman Village and we will definitely be making frequent trips to this restaurant! If you're in the area, we would highly recommend you stopping to eat!
(5)Paul L.
It's true - "Yelping is helping". My discovery of this restaurant, and the resulting review, are courtesy of fellow Yelpers in an unfamiliar city. I found myself in Detroit (when was the last time I was in Detroit?), or more accurately, Dearborn, without a clue as to where I should stuff my face after working late. Yelp.com to the rescue, natch. Sorting it by rating gave me a whole bunch of ethnic restaurants, for which I wasn't in the mood, but it soon took me to Roman Village resplendent in its prevailing 5-star ratings and glowing reviews. But what sealed the deal was the mere mention of one word in their menu, as I set voice to the object of my desire: "PANCETTA!" Soon I was panting like that cartoon dog in the "Beggin' Bits' commercial, except with an Italian accent. The intervening hours when I had to work were a torture, interrupted frequently by having to wipe drool off my face, as strangers gave me strange looks. Finally, work was done, and I drove to the place that could scratch my itch. My gastronomic promise land for this evening was found just off the darkness on the edge of town (sorry, Mr Springsteen)! But I didn't feel unsafe, as the lot is brightly lit. I was greeted warmly upon entering, well after 9 p.m,, when a lesser staff would have frowned upon a lone late customer so close to the 10 p.m. closing time. There were only a couple of stragglers left when I was seated, and I soon had the dining room all to myself. The place is pretty big, with a couple or three different dining rooms. Look past the borderline cheesy decor with its fake plants and naugahyde benches, and it's not an unpleasant decor, with a rather homey feel to it. The music of choice helped the cause: the eclectic mix of nostalgic pop, Italian tunes, and some great classic jazz tunes lent warmth and authenticity. My waitress Sarah gave me prompt and courteous service. The problem was with me - how do I decide? The Baccala (cod in zesty tomato sauce) looked really inviting, especially at $12.95. I was also tempted by the osso bucco on polenta ($18.95), stuffed shrimp ($14.95), veal chop ($23.95) - you really want one of each. I was really bemoaning the fact that I was not dining with a huge family, all the better to sample more dishes. Eventually, I had to heed the siren call of the pancetta, and settled on Mostaccioli with Rita sauce $12.50. Since a reviewer or two were raving about the meatballs, I added a side ($2.50). Dinner came with soup or salad; I chose a bowl of minestrone, which I quickly devoured, spurred by a basket of hot bread being brought. The bread is like a cross between a bread stick and a roll, quite salty on the outside, but delicious. The Mostaccioli they call "stove pipe" pasta, but it's really just a super-sized elbow macaroni. The salty pancetta added a dimention to the Rita sauce. This sauce is named after the matriarch; it is a blend of marinara and al fredo. You could call it a vodka sauce, but richer. (On a side note, I've never understood the allure of vodka sauce - why would you add perfectly good vodka to a sauce, have all the alcohol evaporate, and really add nothing to the sauce, seeing how vodka is supposed to be odorless and tasteless?) The meatballs are like a couple of golf balls on steroids, and good, but not as out-of-this-world as a reviewer had suggested. Didn't help that the sauce was just slathered on top of them, and they weren't quite hot. When I mentioned that the temperature was a little off, the manager gladly took the remaining uneaten one back, and doubled it up with another, this time piping hot. It might have been on account of my mentioning that I'm a yelper, or maybe it's just standard good service. I hope it's the latter, as I don't really believe yelpers should get any special treatment. In any case, there was no way I was going to pack away another meatball. Hate wasting food, though. I also had a half carafe of chianti at $10.95 that was eminently drinkable. All in all, while this was not the Everest of culinary accomplishments, it deserves 5 stars. Here's a high-quality family-owned restaurant that offers good variety and a price that can't be beat. A good, good meal and wine for $26? Where are you going to find that. I'd come back in a heartbeat if I lived any where near Detroit. There you are, Sarah. I told you this wasn't going to be a bad review, didn't I?
(5)Rob B.
This is our regular Italian choice. Service was great, and food came out quickly. The bread is great. We always want more especially with a light dip in the provided olive oil, with cheese and pepper added to the mix. Some in my group like the Minestrone - I like the Pasta Fagoul - Bean. The Chicken is good also. I have found the pasta dishes better than the other parts of the menu. Ravioli is great and for $2.50 extra you can get it with pesto sauce and lots of pine nuts (yum) - I like this better than the meat sauce which I find a bit heavy. The stuffed shells are great. Gnocchi are very good with the regular choice of sauces or their special Rita sauce. Roman Village has as others have noted a different take on Italian food than some other restaurants. Maybe a Country style Italian?
(4)Vickie R.
Love their homemade pasta! I've been there now several times and I've always had great meals and great service. My favorite pasta there is the linguine. When linguine is made too thick, it often gets chewy when it's cooked al dente, Their linguine is made really thin, which is a welcomed change. I've had the linguine arrabiata (my favorite by far) and the fettuccini con gamberi (shrimp) for entrees. Their calamari is fantastic. No bells or whistles about it, just great seasoning, light breading, and great texture. To end our meal, we ordered a canoli. Our Italian friend judges an Italian restaurant based on the food and their canoli. He has given the official blessing. :-)
(4)Jason A.
I love this place. It blow its counterpart, Antonio's, out of the water. Consistently good food and service. The bread they serve is the highlight of every visit. Not to say the food isn't great, because it is, but dat bread... hnnnnngghhhhhh! But besides the bread, I recommend the gnocchi with Rita sauce, cheese tortellini, calamari fritti, pizza, and calzones. I've tried quite a few things, and these are what stand out. So quit wasting money on the Olive Garden, and give Roman Village a go. It's fantastic.
(5)Michael N.
I haven't been here in a really long time, but assuming nothing has changed, this place is an excellent hidden gem of an italian spot. As the other reviews have mentioned the portions are massive and the bread they bring out before dinner with the oil is to die for. My go to was the Linguine Al Pesto. Prepared with olive oil, pine nuts, garlic, parmesan cheese and plenty of basil. What's not to like? Parking wise, they have their own lot which is helpful considering this area is a little shady. Overall, I would go out of my way to hit up Roman Village again.
(4)Harris N.
So we were leaving a Detroit Lions training camp event in Dearborn and needed lunch. I looked at the trusty Yelp app and found this place. Plenty of stars for this neighborhood so we decided to try it out. I don't think it's in the right rating class. I expected much more for such high ratings. I figured either the service or the food has to be excellent. The place was okay. They make much of the food inhouse. The pasta is made in an area in the front of the restaurant. The bread is definitely baked in the kitchen. My son ordered a spaghetti with meat sauce. I tried his spaghetti, and it was a bit tough for pasta. Good pasta should be firm and stretchy. This was firm and seemed to have a grainy texture. I had a Caesar salad and Veal Marsala. The veal had plenty of mushrooms and a fragrant Marsala sauce. Both were good, but felt a little expensive for the type of restaurant. This place is okay, but don't expect 4/5 star food or service. This place also reminds me of Pasquales in Royal Oak. Very similar type restaurant.
(3)Amy B.
I came here last night to eat with a bunch of other fellow yelpers and I was pleasantly surprised. Not only have I never been here before, but I've never even heard of it! I was pleasantly surprised when I walked in to see how nicely decorated it was. I was expecting it to be a lot smaller, and the place actually had a decent amount of seating. After scouring the menu, I decided to get something light. I wasn't overly hungry and some of the dinners seemed big for my appetite at that moment. I went with the Garlic shrimp off the appetizer menu, and it was delicious! It really hit the spot. I wish I had ordered dinner but I knew I would have taken most of it home, so I passed. Everyone got something different, and the servings were nice and big. Service here was consistent and professional and they were not overly pushy about anything. To me, this is more of an authentic Italian restaurant then, lets say your typical Olive Garden or corporate chain restaurant. Granted, it's not in the prettiest side of town, but it's a gem none the less. All dishes looked delicious and portions seemed appropriate for prices. I gave 4 stars only because even though it's really good family Italian, it's not "the best" Italian food I've eaten. If your in the area and want something authentic, swing by!
(4)Adrianna S.
I'm 100% Italian and have grown up eating my families cooking my whole life. That being said, I'm a tough critic of Italian cuisine. Roman Village is the only place I will eat Italian at, but there are some dishes I do not like. I love the pizza (amazing), antipasto, fettuccine Alfredo, gnocchi, and the sausage appetizer is to die for and reminds me of a dish my father used to make for us. It has housemade Italian sausage which is very flavorful with fennel, peppers, onions and potatoes. I do not like their red marinara pasta sauce at all. It is watery and flavorless. I also do not like their eggplant Parmesan, but my mom makes that THE BEST so maybe I am a little biased! Portions are large. Service is OK. Parking lot is always packed.
(4)Scott S.
Holy portion-size, Batman...consider splitting an entree. Never one to eat at a chain restaurant if we can avoid it, we sought out some good food in Dearborn tonight, and this place came highly recommended, so we decided it was time for some Italian. My gnocchi were plentiful enough to easily feed two people, and came with some of the best bread I've ever had, and a huge bowl of soup. I powered through it, because I'm no quitter, and didn't even leave myself any room for dessert... ...but that didn't stop me from ordering some anyway. There are not one, but two tiramisu options, so I opted for the toasted almond. I sort of wish I'd gone for the other one, simply because I adore that coffee flavor, and this one tasted much more almondy instead, but it was delicious in its own rite. A fantastic, massive meal that could have resulted in leftovers if we had anywhere to put them. All told, only $50 including wine.
(5)Silvana E.
I haven't tried anything that I didn't like here the pizza is good bread is amazing my favorite is the seafood stuffed shells there service is awesome and they prices are pretty good the food is larged portion
(5)Mike G.
Allison F. told me that this was a place to check out when I'm in the area. As I was driving along Dix Avenue, I began to wonder if she was crazy or just trying to get me killed. Roman Village? It ain't in Rome folks. The area, let's say, "isn't pretty". I'm glad I made the trek through no man's land. This is an old school family run Italian restaurant that's celebrating it's 50th anniversary this year. I opted to sit at the bar as they were on a 20 to 25 minute wait at 8:15 on a Thursday. (Did you just read that?) This is a seriously good sign folks. Zeinab, the bartender was really nice and helpful as I had 4 different things in mind but I only brought one stomach with me... Lasagna, shrimp scampi, stuffed shrimp or Pizza Bianca? Which to do? The envelope please. And the winner is....Pizza Bianca, it's a no sauce pizza with mozzarella cheese, fresh diced tomatoes, basil and garlic. The crust is hand tossed and has a little crisp with some chew to it. Everything was fresh and flavorful like it should be. Their small pizza is as big as most other places medium size. It's a great value for the $10.50 it cost me. Be forewarned folks, they cut their pizza into wedges, not squares. When In Rome...
(4)edgard k.
Pretty out of place...the only Italian restaurant in a middle-eastern neighborhood. They make their own pastas which you can see in the small room just when you get in to the place. Service is quick, and the complimentary bread is good. Portion is big...even the bambino portion is good for a grown man.
(4)Celia C.
Tasty...and their breadsticks are addicting.
(4)Len M.
Best place for Italian in SW Detroit.
(5)Wilma D.
The ratings for this place benefit a bit from the "but c'mon, it's in Detroit!" ratings inflation. Detroit, even in its heyday, was never a good town to eat in. I have never encountered a US city more exclusively enamored with processed and fried food. There seems to be little in the way of Detroit specialties other than chili dogs and greasy pizza. So food sensibilities are very slowly evolving here, and it's unfortunately far away from having the rich dining scene of even its diminutive neighbor Ann Arbor. So saying, is the food in this particular establishment edible? Yep, in fact it's downright tasty. The portions are big enough to give a T-Rex gas, so there's also that. It feels like a classic family owned nostalgia-fest as well, and is blissfully free (mostly) of hipsters who eat here ironically. But the food isn't really reinventing any wheels, and succeeds more by not messing anything up than by doing anything incredibly right. Come here if you'd like to feed a family cheaply on hearty red sauce classics. Don't bother if you want refined food that feels fresh or modern, or food that at all tastes like it comes from Italy (this is classic American Italian, a serious difference). Most things you can order here the coroner would proclaim died by drowning in mozzarella. That's not necessarily a bad thing. There's something so satisfying about seeing your friendly teenage server in a bowtie haul a bubbling cauldron of melted cheese your way, piping on top of a red sea in which floats gnocchi, or cannelloni. The food here is seasoned and salted just right, but there's still the "Italian First Aid kit" of pepper flakes, a shaker of parmesan, salt, pepper and olive oil at each table anyway. I started my meal off with the complementary bread that tastes like addictive strips of pizza dough brushed with ample melted butter and studded with salt. I followed with the pasta fagioli soup (cup 3.50), which tasted freshly made, a small miracle in most classic American Italian joints. The gnocchi in Rita Sauce (15.50) is the standout here, with the perfect chewy doughy texture, bite size and smooth creamy red sauce. The veal and chicken filled cannelloni (13.55) was also delicious, with the pasta shells not too mushy under their robe of melted cheese. The décor looks tired, and the neighborhood isn't the safest. Overall, I enjoyed my experience, and would be back if in the area. It is good food, and great food by current Detroit standards.
(3)Mia C.
I did carry out. The arancinis appetizer (rice balls) and their bread was delicious. For my entree, I ordered lasagna. It was ok, but a little salty, and the only cheese was on top (none layered in between the noodles). It was a huge portion though- could have easily been shared between 2-3 people. I upgraded to a caesar salad for an extra $2.50, which was really over priced considering the only thing extra you get is a small packet of grated Parmesan & croutons. My total bill was around $24, which I thought was a bit high for one appetizer and one entree.
(3)James M.
Not enough stars for their bread alone!!! Their pasta shrimp amore is "THE BEST!!!" Rita & pesto sauces are "PHENOMINAL", as well! Pizza is really good. Probably in my top 5 favorite restaurants of all time?! Salad is just okay (I've tried all 3, House, Ceasar & Greek), but their ranch is house made & is "EXCELLENT!" The only 2 negatives I have is that they charge you for every little extra, such as sauces, ranch etc... & service is not always the best, but the food is "ALWAYS AWESOME!!!" My "FAVORITE" Italian of all time & there's not even a close second! Do yourself a favor & go :-))
(5)Adele M.
Upon arriving, the parking lot was PACKED!we were then approached by a homeless man asking for money. We only waited about 5-10 min on a Friday night before we were sat. Roman village is our first option when wanting Italian food. We ordered a veggie pizza which was really good and also the eggplant parm with pasta and a salad. The egg plant parm was good but the spaghetti had a weird smell to it. The salad was delicious and very fresh. They always give you fresh baked bread and its to die for. Just don't eat too much or you will not be able to eat the entree. The service wasn't that great. Our server never asked us for refills and when we wanted him we couldn't find him. Our saying is, you can't have good service and good food, so thankfully the food is awesome!
(4)Neil Y.
I'm stuck because it really was a 4.5/5 experience. For those of you who have eaten at Antonio's at numerous places around the Metro area, don't overlook Roman Village in SW Detroit/Dearborn as it is part of the Antonio's family. Same menu and same quality. BTW-If you're eating at Olive Garden, you are missing out on this Detroit-based gem. The prices are the same or better. First the place is super clean and decor reminiscent of the Antonio's concept. Lot's of tile! It's cozy, comfortable and has become one of our favorite places to eat. Service is friendly, attentive and quick without being over imposing. If you have read my reviews, you know kids' menus and pricing are important to us. At Roman Village, the kids' menu is for kids 10 and under with everything priced at $5.95. Now that's not the least expensive we have seen but the value for money simply doesn't compare to any restaurant we have ever eaten at. Kids get 11 options to choose from: pasta selections, pizza, and chicken fingers that include a bowl of soup (that could have been the meal in itself), the fresh bread basket and a beverage. Kids could easily split one meal here or take a box home per child. Ohhhhh, the bread. I'll get that in a minute. The menu is expansive. Appetizers, soup, salads, pasta-pasta-pasta (even a gluten-free option), subs, calzones, seafood and meat based dishes including Provimi veal. Only one item on the menu exceeds $20. We like to order a Misto Antonio Deluxe which is a meat and cheese tray and an entree to split. I love the soup. Only Deli Unique in West Bloomfield makes a better soup. Yes sir, there is the bread. It's non stop fresh, warm homemade rolls out of the oven. Why more places don't serve warm bread is beyond me. Watch yourself here or you will most certainly carbo-load and end up taking your entree home. Pasta is all made in house and it shows in it's taste and texture. It is also my understanding that they make their fennel sausage as well. Don't ask me how dessert is because I have never made it that far--ever! Only items that we felt keep this from a 5-star experience is that my wife was allowed to order chicken picatta instead of veal picatta and was charged the same price when veal is more expensive. Further, the chicken breast was not breaded and fried but rather poached. Weird. She also noted to save your money on the Caesar salad up charge as the dressing is bottle dressing not homemade as told. You can really tell the difference. However, we see this as a mere bump in the road and know not to order this in the future. We had our rehearsal dinner at the Farmington Hills location but since our relocation to Hamtramck, we frequent this one instead. If you're in SW Detroit and Mexican doesn't sound good at the moment, drive a mile further and consider Roman Village for a great, overall experience.
(4)Marcy R.
I came here for the first time last week and fell in food love. My pasta shrimp amore was delicious, even when I ate it cold for leftovers the following day. The fresh-baked bread was warm and seasoned to perfection. I was ready for more, so I came back a few days later. Well, I've still only dined there once. We were seated... That was it. We patiently waited over 10 minutes and were not acknowledged, at all. We quietly got up and left, and happily acquired delicious noms elsewhere. I understand busy, but to sit there and see the wait staff congregating in the corner while we sat unattended, left me feeling underwhelmed and unimportant. Will I give Roman Village another try? Absolutely, we all have bad days. I'm still taken aback, as I've never been to an establishment and been ignored like I was last night.
(3)Josh Q.
Easily the best Italian food I had in Detroit. A bit out of the way for most but the quality of the food is well worth it. The quantities are huge; you only need to order half as much food as at other places. The bread was amazing. I had to work incredibly hard to push it away from me:) Family owned and operated with prices beyond reasonable, I recommend Roman Village to all.
(5)Sarahi C.
I haven't been disappointed yet! Love the bread!! Their ribs are great :) Love their soups!
(5)W. John R.
In my mind, I compared this to other Italian restaurants in Southeast Michigan when writing this review, but the style is different, so it's a tough comparison. I had been encouraged to visit here for years by friends, but never got around to it due to the slightly out-of-the-way location. This is Dearborn in name only - it's further from my place than many restaurants in Detroit. The bread was coated in a light brushing of butter, and was phenomenal, enhanced even more with a light dip in the provided olive oil. Our soups were both delicious: my vegetable beef might have been a bit on the salty side, but it was hearty and full of flavor, veggies, and beef. The chicken noodle soup my companion had was more subtle, but very fresh and delicious. The noodles were delicious and fresh, and the cooks avoid the common crime of overcooking the noodles to remove some of their subtle flavors. The meat sauce and tomato sauces were delicious. The meatballs were gargantuan and filled with flavor. I had the lasagna, and it's in the top two or three lasagnas I've ever tried anywhere in my life. The service was an absolute delight! Water refills at appropriate times, great suggestions on menu items for some newbies, and a really positive attitude. Even if the ambiance and food didn't already justify 5 stars (which they did), the service would push it over the edge. This is a landmark in Dearborn that everyone should try. Now I just need to justify a trip to Antonio's so I can have the enviable opportunity to compare the two. :)
(5)Kyle K.
Food was absolutly amazing! They had great calazonis. I got the pizza one and my girl friend got the steak and cheese. It was so good! For desert we shared a slice of tarimasu and it was also great. The only downfall was our waitor. He was very slow and hardly checked on us. There was other waitresses that were there seemed to be better. They had a lot of staff, and two hostess'. It wasnt busy, and i will be returning when im in the area.
(4)Hamze Z.
I adore Roman Village. My family and I try to make it there at least once per month. I only eat kosher so I'm excited that they have halal pepperoni now. The wait staff is always exceptional, the food is always great, and our time there is always fun. I highly recommend it to anyone in the Detroit area. They even cater and have a beautiful banquet hall.
(5)Rola S.
This restaurant is usually my family's go to place for big family celebrations. It is my mothers favorite place to eat at with no complaints from her. Start out with that bread that's so addictive. I call it crack bread, so yummy. We then order huge Greek salads, big family so yeah they eat a lot. Very fresh, and I love that they keep the feta cheese in small blocks to break up to my liking. Feta cheese is the best part for me. I think they use the domestic Greek feta, as the feta from overseas are stronger. Then we had a few party pizzas which are probably 20+ slices. Delish!
(5)Diana C.
Best Italian in Detroit and some of the best italian I have ever had. Great place for families. Was very pleased with the service we received (everyone was friendly and attentive). Loved the dishes and we took fresh noodles home to cook later (fantastic deal!)
(5)Crystal R.
It's been over 2 years since I've been here, holy cow! However, things have not changed :) Service was great, the bread basket was never empty, and food came out quickly and piping hot. Don't be alarmed if the parking lot is packed- there is still room inside for you! We did not have a wait for our party of 5 1/2 on a Sunday afternoon.
(5)Nicole B.
Been a favorite of mine and a friends for years. Their bread is to die for And so is pretty much everything else on their menu. Fast service every time and always clean. Close your eyes and point to the menu, order it, and you'll be satisfied!
(5)Nader K.
We came here today. Everyone seems friendly. The parking lot was slammed but we were seated as soon as we walked in. Everything on the menu looked great. I ordered a chicken parmigian sub with the works with a salad. I never got my fries that was spose to Come with it and I was kinda upset that they only offer 2 maybe three kinds of salad dressing house, ranch and Cesar. I went with the ceasar. It was great. The chicken parm sub was perfect. Can't wait to go back again
(4)Diane B.
Recommended by my son on our visit to MI the staff was friendly food delicious good portion for the money gD a but one pasta dish get 2nd 1/2 off. The garlic bread was awesome and served hot and fresh. The owner stopped by the table several times to check in us and was very friendly and proud of her establishment. Worth a trip. Very busy but we were sat immediately quick friendly service and our water glasses were never empty
(4)Jesse J.
Not sure about all the hype! Maybe after reading reviews my expectations were to high but came here for my wife's birthday and was a bit disappointed. I will say the reserved room was clean, restaurant was clean, and the waiter we had was beyond EXCELLENT! However the pizza wasn't what I expected. Maybe I ordered the wrong kind but after reading reviews I thought this pizza would be the best I've had. Well we ordered a party tray pizza, round that had about 6-8 toppings. The slices were really long but not tasteful. Don't get me wrong its better than Little Caesars hot & ready's but I feel Jets or many well known chains have better tasting pizza. Maybe it was the wrong pizza to try but not anything special. We also ordered spaghetti and once again disappointed. The noodles were mushy as if they let them soak in water all day then served with sauce on top along with boiled meat. My wife ordered an Alfredo dish and I've had better Alfredo from a jar. Once again the sauce had no substance or flavor, it was very watery! Not that I want it thick as pudding but it was like drinking Alfredo gatorade. There was a side of soup I can't remember what it was but it was delicious, as well as the onion rings, and their melted garlic butter or something similar is to die for! Excellent tasting with their warm bread! All in all I may go back due to the excellent service and to try something else. Maybe they were having a bad day or I ordered the wrong dishes but as of now, don't believe in the hype!
(3)Lisa M.
Okay, let me just say I waited TOO long to try this restaurant, way too long. This place is freaking awesome. The only reason why I couldn't give it five stars is because the service is not exactly the best. Literally my only complaint it that it seemed like the servers had other better things to do and/or were bored with our table. Needless to say the food was AMAZING. Homemade noodles, sauces, bread. Oh so so very good. For an appetizer I suggest the arrancini balls. They are delicious balls of rice stuffed with cheese and served on top of marinara sauce. Worth every penny. My favorite entrees are the mostaccioli with meat sauce and the carbonara (add chicken - it's awesome!) It might be in a weird location, we got a little weirded out having to drive past the refineries and that industrial area of southwest Detroit/Dearborn but the food is worth it. Check this place out!
(4)Tiffany D.
This is for the fresh, homemade pasta that they offer. I purchased the fettucine. You can purchase it for $2.65 a lb. It is a steal, and it is amazing! They package it carefully and are happy to answer any questions you may have about how to use/store it. Great customer service, great pasta!
(5)Gus M.
Such a great place. When I sat down and the waiter gave us our menu it looked very familiar. Well it turns out it was familiar, they are the same owners that own Antonio's in Dearborn heights. I wish I would have known that before I went but never the less it was still an awesome experience. The bread is to die for, it always comes out golden brown and very soft. I ordered the Gnocchi with a blush sauce except I asked them to make it spicy. The waiter accommodated the request no problem. When my dish came out it was everything I expected it to be, fantastic flavors. Of corse it helps that they make their pasta's in house which is always great. Another great Italian dinning experience I highly recommend this if your in the area.
(4)Jerry M.
I think this may be the best Italian restaurant I've been to in the Detroit Metro area. This reminded me as close to authentic Italian as I've had since going to Italy in 2011. The homemade noodles really make the dish and I look forward to taking my father-in-law to visit when he's in town. The service is a little hit and miss but trust me the food is so good that it deserves 5 stars. We spoke to the owners last time we were there and they were very nice and helpful. Note that if you are coming from 75 you are driving in what looks like a bad area but it's well worth the trip.
(5)Andrea M.
The pizza is outstanding, and the manicotti is okay. I've tried all of the other pasta dishes, and would never order them again. Both the meat sauce and marinara sauce is rather plain and tasteless. It's also a little overpriced. The staff and service is phenomenal, and like I said before the pizza is very good; so that will make me keep coming back.
(3)Jillian R.
First time I went was a few weeks ago for my moms birthday! It was excellent! Everything was delicious! And tons of food had left overs for a few days! Will return asap!
(5)Faye H.
My family & I come here for almost all of our occasions! We love this place that much. The bread & ranch is amazing & so is their pizza and greek salad! The place is clean and their staff is very accommodating as well as clean! I've never had a problem that they did not adjust immediately. Their dessert menu is amazing as well. Only problem sometimes is that they are packed usually on weekend evenings but that's what happens when your food is that good!
(5)Paul M.
Food is very good. Service is very good as well. I had the Steak & Cheese Calzoni. It was very good!
(4)Brittiany R.
Being from the neighborhood I love that quality Italian is just around the corner but I wouldn't give Roman Village 5 stars.... yet. Others speak on the pros of our gem: the bread, the pasta, the familial vibe and all are extremely true! But, Roman Village has been hit or miss the past 3x times I've been there. On one occasion my usual pasta came out horribly wrong & was frankly horrible tasting & one another day it came out amazingly delicious. That uncertainty makes me reluctant to return as Vince's is just around the corner with equally impressive family service & tasty Italian. I also have to dock them for sub-par service (on more than one occasion).... Once, They tried to seat us in the bar area WITH reservations. What's next? Am I going to eat standing up in the kitchen?? Another time they had no high chairs for my 1 year old. Super enjoyable meal with an antsy, wants-to-run-away, squirmy angel on my lap!
(3)Ryan B.
We were visiting town for one night for a birthday celebration. Found this restaurant on Yelp and now we will make it a point to eat here every time we visit! The food was amazing--every single thing we ordered-just amazing. The family atmosphere was also wonderful. Spent some time chatting with the owner and we were hugging her by time we left. Love this place!
(5)Joe T.
Ah, Roman Village. I have dined in once here & catered food from here a handful of times. Truthfully, I enjoy dining in more than carry out. Only because I had a few bad experiences with the sparse portions of meat in their pans of pasta. Their breads are a real treat & they have a real nice hometown, authentico Italian feel inside. For those looking for a real feel Italian restaurant on this side of town, this is as real as it gets near the Dearborn area. Prices are fair, food is good but don't expect to see any Sopranos eating here, and customer service is on point!
(3)Richard R.
Wow, once again Yelp reviews drew me to this place while traveling in the area. The Bread Sticks were amazing, the Gnocchi great and the service excellent. I am delighted I stopped!
(5)Daniel S.
I don't indulge in pasta very often. But when I do, Roman Village is on the top of the list. Check out the little pasta making stand on the left as you walk in the restaurant. (clearly positioned to draw attention to fact that you're getting the fresh stuff) I've had the pizza and a few other things on the menu, but for me the pasta is the standout. The "Rita" sauce is pretty killer. Keep an eye out for specials. They have pasta deals on Tuesday!
(4)Tony G.
Great pizza and excellent service. The exterior is unassuming but don't let that fool you. It's a nice family owned Italian restaurant. The garlic bread is killer.
(4)Bob R.
I'm not even sure why I am giving this place two stars. I was really in the mood for some good spaghetti so I checked yelp. I was impressed with the ratings so I went there. The spaghetti was mush and tasted terrible. Not being in a confrontational mood, I ate less than half of the meal and left. I honestly believe canned spaghetti would have been better. I can't see myself ever going there again.
(2)Michael W.
Nice place
(4)Rachel H.
GREAT homemade pasta and amazing bread, soup, and salad. I haven't tried anything else but I'm sure everything on their menu is amazing. My fiancé and I were in the area and Greenfield Village and in the mood for Italian. We googled this place because it was nearby, and we are so lucky we did. We are now return customers and Ive told everyone about it, including my Italian mother. Great service, great food, and great price. I would easily pay twice the price and not think twice. (that's not to say that the owners should raise their prices but only that its a real gem)
(5)Bob N.
Oooooo the meatballs mmmmmmmm. I could end this review right here and be happy, but I have to tell you. GET THE MEATBALLS!!!! After seeing patrons leave this super duper hidden gem, (down the road from the Marathon refinery next to a mosque, hey it used to be a Italian neighborhood) with trays of meatballs I just had to try em. I ordered the spaghetti with said meatballs and wowey wow they were melt in your mouth and jam packed with flavor. The spag. was just as good with meatsauce and wonderful bread. I sampled the better halfs gnocchi with sauce and it was just a pillow on my tongue. Service was attentive and informative. Find this gem and dig in.
(5)Nancy M.
My friend and I were heading to a concert in Dearborn and she told me about this wonderful Italian place that she went to for lunch. So we plug it into the GPS and get there around 645 pm on a Saturday. The place is packed so we sign in and head to the bar. Small bar with limited supplies but the Bartender is great. Grab a glass of wine and wait for our table. Not much time to think so quick look at the menu and I order the Chicken Marsala and she orders the Vegetarian Lasagna. They bring some bread - melt in your mouth bread that if I ate 2 baskets full I wouldn't stop. I knew my dinner was going to be unbelievable and it was. Add the side of spaghetti and I was in heaven. If you ever get a chance to stop on in...do it. You will not be let down, everything is made to order and delicious! Fresh aldente pasta - yumm Thanks for taking me Karen and let me know when you go back...I want to try their pizza.
(4)Lynn H.
Roman Village is -- almost literally -- in the middle of nowhere. It is on a bare patch right where Vernor Highway crosses Dix, stuck between Mexican Town and the east side of Dearborn. We just happened across it on a meander out of Detroit after visiting Eastern Market, and boy am I glad we did! We were really surprised at how crowded it was before 5pm on a Saturday afternoon. But then we tasted their food. Roman Village makes from-scratch food like mama used to (if mama happened to be a gourmet cook). The bread is served still steaming from the oven - wonderfully fresh and springy. The pasta e fagioli is thick and beany. And the polenta with Italian sausage, absolutely authentic tasting with house-made sausage. Hubby and bro's-in-law had pizza, which they all agreed was good. Oh! And the service was wonderful. Our waiter made Speedy Gonzales look like Regular Gonzales. Try it, you'll like it!
(4)Ron C.
only 4 Stars due to the aloof waiter 'EMO' he stood 2-3 feet away from the table & would not look or speak directly to my wife?!? C+ for him Food & Bread A+ Soup Flavor A Temperature C- [ I didn't send it back, because EMO was nowhere to be found ] I was willing to 'try ' the polenta , but the waiter highly recommended against it SO I ordered Lasagna My Lasagna was truly fabulous and served very HOT A+ My wife ordered the Chicken Marsala which I sampled and it was truly, without question the 'VERY BEST' Chicken & Marsala sauce I have ever had A++ The Bread Oh The Bread !!! Both baskets were excellent ,plus the brand of EVO they use is flavorful A++
(4)David K.
I tried Roman Village after all the positive reviews here. I agree with Chiwei "amazing light pillows of love" is an accurate description of the gnocchi. The pasta e fagiol was great too. here is the kicker, Tuesdays are 1/2 off. I spent less then 8 dollars and brought enough food home for a second meal. Thanks for the referral
(5)Andrea H.
My family goes here when they want excellent Italian food. My family and I have been coming here ever since my Dad used to work at the Ford Rouge plant....and we are still coming here! We love the different pastas. Oh and don't forget to try the Rita sauce, it's to die for! My dad always orders their bbq spare ribs, he can't get enough of them! Hey it's gotta be good since even the opera singer Andrea Bocelli visited this place last time he was in Detroit.
(5)Ruben L.
Rock on Roman Village: Generally speaking, I'm not a huge fan of Italian food. Not because I dislike it, but I cannot discern good from great. No issues with that here. AMBIANCE- the place is dimly lit and rather cozy. As you walk in, you can see the number of famous people who have dined here. From Il Volo to Bill Clinton, this place has seen its share of celebrities. And don't let the outside of this place fool you- this place can pack em in no doubt. Needless to say parking can be a real pain. SERVICE- service here has generally been very good, especially given how busy this place typically is. Seriously, I went here at 2pm for lunch, and there was still a wait to get a table. Probably tells you more about how good this place is as opposed to the type of service you get. Only hiccup I really had- I got a lunch special once, and asked for a caesar salad instead of a house salad, and the server neglected to tell me there would be a $4 substitution fee (my meal was $6 without the salad). MENU- pasta abounds. They make their pasta fresh daily, and you can actually see where they make it when you walk in. Wed. they have 1/2 off pizza (dine in only) and I think Tuesdays are 1/2 off pasta (dine in only as well). The selection is pretty nice from you standard pastas and sauces (alfredos, pestos, carbonara) to lasagna and manicotti. It's pretty hard to choose anything that isn't delcious. FOOD- portions are generous, and if they aren't enough, they serve an awesome bread that makes Olive Garden seem like they are serving wonder bread. I have had their house special pasta (I forget the name, something with a woman's name I believe) and it rocked my world. Hell, every pasta dish I have had here has rocked my world. My co-workers seem more than content with their lasagna, and their desserts are pretty rocking as well. OVERALL- Rare is it for me to recommend Italian, but this would be one of the few. Not really close to anything, you're pretty much making a trip to go out here, and it is worth it. Just set some time aside for it. CELEBRITY RATING- IL VOLO (for real, they were there for dinner back in Nov. when they had a concert in the D)
(4)Amy M.
We were visiting Detroit for our annual Tigers Pilgrimage & found this restaurant via Yelp. Thanks Yelp! It was great! We were a group of 8 and rarely are ALL of us happy a the same time - but somehow when we left we all were. And full! The food was fresh, authentic, and delicious! The service was amazing, and the staff all friendly.
(4)Moe A.
Roman Village is one of the best Italian restaurants in Detroit, they treat you like family. Been going there since I was a kid, there all you can eat bread, they have the best pizza in town, if you haven't tried it, try it once and I guarantee you go again!!!
(5)Jennifer H.
Family special take out $27.51 out the door. Includes pizza, chicken, spaghetti, salad, bread and jumbo drink. Can't beat that anywhere
(4)Rae M.
Service had always been great and the food is unbelievable. They bring hot bread to your table and it's amazing!! It's on the expensive side, but you get a ton of food- and it's all awesome. Heavy, but awesome. We've never been disappointed. Can't wait until our next visit!
(5)Ryan L.
I'm always on the prowl for good Italian food. I don't know why, but I've been able to find good Italian food in Detroitopolis. There are a lot of Italian restaurants but I find most of them to be lacking. Also, it seems like Italian restaurants may be dying as Italians have stopped immigrating into to the US in scores as in the 19th and 20th Centuries. The 21st Century may have ushered in a brave new age of information, but Italian food is slowly morphing into tasteless, high-priced chains. Now that my diatribe is over, I will state that Roman Village is the best Italian I've had in Detroit so far. It's located in an area of Dearborn that seems quite strange now. When it opened in the 60s, this was probably prime real estate. Now, it's located near strip clubs, dive bars and giant oil refineries. The exterior is unassuming, but once you decide to be brave and walk through the doors, you'll be ushered into a clean, simple restaurant. Sure it looks like it was last decorated in '91, but it's still in good shape and you've gotta love all the shiny brass. Warning: you must have respectable dress on, according to the signage. Improper dress means that you must wear shoes and a shirt, but the shirt can't be just an undershirt. Also, "bum wear" is strictly verboten. Does this mean you can't wear the "Derelicte" line of clothes by Mugatu in Zoolander? Probably not, but I think it really means, "pants on the ground, pants on the ground, can't go to Roman Village with your pants on the ground". I'm sure the servers wouldn't mind if you wore a bow tie as all the servers wear. The menu is big. You can choose from all kinds of pasta dishes with all kinds of sauces. You can substitute angel hair, whole wheat or gluten-free pasta for a charge. You can add melted cheese, mushrooms and other toppings for a couple dollars. The menu continues with a whole range of stuffed pastas including lasagna. On the next page of the menu is the meat dishes, mostly chicken and veal, each served with a side of pasta. Pizza is also available along with calzone and panini. All of the entrees are served with choice of soup or salad (caesar is extra) and delicious homemade bread. The bread at this place is divine. Seriously, this bread is the most amazing thing ever. It took all my will power not to eat the whole basket. I tried the polenta with a meat sauce and italian sausage. Everything was perfect and had great flavor. The sausage was spicy and robust in flavor. The sauce highlighted the sweetness of the tomatoes but exhibited layers of flavors. I tried the pasta fagoli and it was a large serving and very delicious. The dessert tray had 2 cheesecakes, tiramisu, profiteroles, cannolli, spumoni, and some custard thing. Everything looked amazing and I wanted to try every one. The cream in the cannolli is homemade as well as many of the desserts. The dishes were $10-15 on average and you are given a lot of food. I will definitely have to return the next time I have a craving for Italian food. You can't find this quality and flavor at any other Italian restaurant that I've found so far.
(5)Dennis F.
Our party of four men got together at Roman Village to talk over old times. I mentioned this to our waiter and he did a superb job of checking on us as to filling water glasses and refreshing the drinks. We were not rushed. The food (everything from soups, pastas, salads, meats) was terrific. This is one of those staple restaurants located in the shadow of the Rouge that always comes through. Great homemade food and wonderful service.
(5)Kristin G.
Three words sum up my overall feeling of Roman Village: Family. Tradition. DELICIOUS. In that order. Family is at the root of places like this. You don't get food that has this much flavor perfection without years of tradition & a passion for food. AND...unless you're seriously doing it wrong, you don't get Family & Tradition without delicious results and the results at Roman Village are just that. Taste like this comes from years of perfecting and reworking family recipes...but not overworking. Roman Village knows a good thing when they have it and that pride shines through in their cuisine all the more for it. The bread was this amazing slightly flat yet fluffy yet dense buttery yet garlicy yet salty basket of delicious flavors. The bread sticks got me excited knowing that this is only a taste of what's to come. The minestrone soup tasted as though the Italian Grandma I never had spooned it out of a ladel fresh just for me. The flavor was oh so fresh, yet simple in the most pleasant way soup can be simple...not too "done up" it's secure in it's ingredients & flavor. No extra finesse was needed to make it delicious. Whoever came up with this delicate version of minestrone is someone who is no nonsense & truly knows his/her stuff. It wasn't much to look at, they wouldn't win any awards for presentation at Roman Village. But I'd like to meet the person who complains about something like that after trying food like this. The star of the show: the Sinatra of Lasagna. Their Lasagna is something, my friends, that dreams are made of. It charmed me. It is something I can't quite put into words but all I can tell you is that you HAVE to try it. Don't waste your first meal here on anything else. The flavors were so well rounded and so bright and delicious without being overly heavy or greasy...this Lasagna is unforgettable. It uh...might have flown me to the moon. Haha...in all seriousness. Get it. Dessert? Oh the Canoli's looked oh so delicious cruising by on a server's tray but, alas I had no room in my happy Lasagna filled belly for anything more. Next time. And there WILL be a next time! Oh and our leftovers were even better the next day. I was literally inspecting my lasagna trying to figure out what made it SO good. Haha. Oh to be a fly on the wall in that kitchen! ;)
(5)Kyle R.
One of the best Italian restaurants around. I have been here at least 5 times and every meal has been perfect; pizza, pasta dishes, salad, the bread are all fantastic. It is a must visit!
(5)Kristine Z.
Been coming here for years. They have the best garlic bread.
(5)Jonathan M.
I used to work down the street for this place, and let me tell ya, the surrouding area is a mix of dirty heavy industry and burned down ghetto. All the restarunts in the area are just the same dirty, nasty, landfill quality, or just burned down. But for some reason this place is amazing even when surrounded by crap. The company I worked for would get catering from here regularly and the food was top notch!. The garlic bread is to die for and whatever the pasta stuff we kept getting was it was incredible too!
(4)Kari C.
This past weekend my husband and I decided to drive around Metro Detroit because it was such a beautiful day. By the time we were headed home, it was already close to dinner time so we decided to try and find somewhere to eat. It just so happened we were driving past Roman Village when my husband (who also works nearby) told me that he always sees their parking lot full and asked if I wanted to give it a try. So I said why not. I'm so glad we did because we just found our new favorite Italian restaurant! Upon entering the restaurant, I was not overly impressed as the interior design is a bit outdated, however we were immediately seated at a comfortable booth and greeted by a young man who filled our glasses with water. A few moments later we were greeted by our waitress who gave us menus and took our drink orders. Looking over their menu we were impressed. They have a large selection of Italian foods to choose from, but it's not so overwhelming that it would leave you confused. Their prices are pretty reasonable too, with most meals averaging between $10 and $15. After a few minutes of checking out the menu, my husband decided on the chicken parmesan and I chose the eggplant parmesan. Each meal came with either soup or salad. My husband chose the minestrone soup and I chose a salad with their house dressing. While we were waiting for our soup and salad, we were brought a complimentary plate of fresh baked (literally piping hot) garlic bread. And we're not talking about little pieces of garlic bread, they were big! The smell alone was enough to make my mouth water! The taste was even better! My husband and I were practically salivating over this bread! When our soup and salad arrived, my husband's soup was hot and fresh and you could tell it was homemade. I tasted it and it was the best minestrone soup I've ever had! (Needless to say on our next trip I will be ordering soup!) My salad was also tasty, however I wasn't that fond of their house dressing as it seemed to have too much oregano in it for my liking. When we received our meals, I was very impressed with the portion sizes and the taste was out-of-this-world good! I've had eggplant parmesan at other places, but the eggplant parmesan at Roman Village completely blew the others away! My husband thought the same of his chicken parmesan. Our meals also came with a side of spaghetti with meat sauce. We didn't think we would have room to eat that, but we tried it and absolutely loved it! I had even mentioned to my husband that I thought the pasta was homemade. You could really tell the difference! Sure enough, as we were leaving there was a booth near the front door that you could see into. There was a woman in there making homemade pasta! Overall, our meal was spectacular and we did not go away hungry! As a matter of fact, we went away stuffed and quite impressed with Roman Village. Since then we've told everyone we know about Roman Village and we will definitely be making frequent trips to this restaurant! If you're in the area, we would highly recommend you stopping to eat!
(5)Paul L.
It's true - "Yelping is helping". My discovery of this restaurant, and the resulting review, are courtesy of fellow Yelpers in an unfamiliar city. I found myself in Detroit (when was the last time I was in Detroit?), or more accurately, Dearborn, without a clue as to where I should stuff my face after working late. Yelp.com to the rescue, natch. Sorting it by rating gave me a whole bunch of ethnic restaurants, for which I wasn't in the mood, but it soon took me to Roman Village resplendent in its prevailing 5-star ratings and glowing reviews. But what sealed the deal was the mere mention of one word in their menu, as I set voice to the object of my desire: "PANCETTA!" Soon I was panting like that cartoon dog in the "Beggin' Bits' commercial, except with an Italian accent. The intervening hours when I had to work were a torture, interrupted frequently by having to wipe drool off my face, as strangers gave me strange looks. Finally, work was done, and I drove to the place that could scratch my itch. My gastronomic promise land for this evening was found just off the darkness on the edge of town (sorry, Mr Springsteen)! But I didn't feel unsafe, as the lot is brightly lit. I was greeted warmly upon entering, well after 9 p.m,, when a lesser staff would have frowned upon a lone late customer so close to the 10 p.m. closing time. There were only a couple of stragglers left when I was seated, and I soon had the dining room all to myself. The place is pretty big, with a couple or three different dining rooms. Look past the borderline cheesy decor with its fake plants and naugahyde benches, and it's not an unpleasant decor, with a rather homey feel to it. The music of choice helped the cause: the eclectic mix of nostalgic pop, Italian tunes, and some great classic jazz tunes lent warmth and authenticity. My waitress Sarah gave me prompt and courteous service. The problem was with me - how do I decide? The Baccala (cod in zesty tomato sauce) looked really inviting, especially at $12.95. I was also tempted by the osso bucco on polenta ($18.95), stuffed shrimp ($14.95), veal chop ($23.95) - you really want one of each. I was really bemoaning the fact that I was not dining with a huge family, all the better to sample more dishes. Eventually, I had to heed the siren call of the pancetta, and settled on Mostaccioli with Rita sauce $12.50. Since a reviewer or two were raving about the meatballs, I added a side ($2.50). Dinner came with soup or salad; I chose a bowl of minestrone, which I quickly devoured, spurred by a basket of hot bread being brought. The bread is like a cross between a bread stick and a roll, quite salty on the outside, but delicious. The Mostaccioli they call "stove pipe" pasta, but it's really just a super-sized elbow macaroni. The salty pancetta added a dimention to the Rita sauce. This sauce is named after the matriarch; it is a blend of marinara and al fredo. You could call it a vodka sauce, but richer. (On a side note, I've never understood the allure of vodka sauce - why would you add perfectly good vodka to a sauce, have all the alcohol evaporate, and really add nothing to the sauce, seeing how vodka is supposed to be odorless and tasteless?) The meatballs are like a couple of golf balls on steroids, and good, but not as out-of-this-world as a reviewer had suggested. Didn't help that the sauce was just slathered on top of them, and they weren't quite hot. When I mentioned that the temperature was a little off, the manager gladly took the remaining uneaten one back, and doubled it up with another, this time piping hot. It might have been on account of my mentioning that I'm a yelper, or maybe it's just standard good service. I hope it's the latter, as I don't really believe yelpers should get any special treatment. In any case, there was no way I was going to pack away another meatball. Hate wasting food, though. I also had a half carafe of chianti at $10.95 that was eminently drinkable. All in all, while this was not the Everest of culinary accomplishments, it deserves 5 stars. Here's a high-quality family-owned restaurant that offers good variety and a price that can't be beat. A good, good meal and wine for $26? Where are you going to find that. I'd come back in a heartbeat if I lived any where near Detroit. There you are, Sarah. I told you this wasn't going to be a bad review, didn't I?
(5)Mohan K.
This place is amazing. I've never had a bad thing here, and I've been about a dozen times. First off, he ambiance is really nice. Kind of rustic, honest, and definitely not chain style Italian decorations. The staff is super friendly too. It's a great place for families, kids, and even a romantic dinner for 2. I seriously know people who go just for the free bread. Its some kind of seasoned dense buttery Italian bread, and it's ridiculously addictive. They happily bring it all night, which is a great change from places that are stingy with the bread. All the food is great. Gnocchi, sandwiches, pasta...and especially the pizza. We always get a Shareable Greek salad to start, too. Delicious! A true gem tucked away in Dearborn...not to be missed.
(5)Iman E.
Great food and atmosphere. The bread is to die for, and the noodles are made right there in front of you! It's a little hard to find and out of the way but so worth it.
(5)Sarahjeanne J.
This is where I go when I've got a craving for Italian (which is pretty much...always) and I'm too lazy to cook. There are places closer to home, but I like the laid back atmosphere at Roman Village. The service is friendly and everyone always seems happy and welcoming. Everything I've tried has been fantastic. The real super star here is the bread. I've been known to eat a whole basket of it all by myself. Anyone can do a good bowl of pasta, but bread this delicious is an art.
(4)Allison F.
This is my favorite Italian restaurant! I've gotten many things off their menu and I've never been disappointed. Their food tastes great, the portions are large, the prices are small, and the waitstaff are amazing. You really can't get much better than Roman Village. Try their stuffed cannelloni!
(5)Rebecca S.
My family and I have been eating here for years. They definitely have the best pasta in the area. Bread is always warm and delicious. Haven't found anything that I don't like. Pasta Rita and the Carbonara (sp?) are our go-to meals. The cannoli's at the end are always a wonderful treat, especially since they have mini ones so you don't have to get a huge order to try one.
(5)Hymae W.
Had the fettuccine con pollo and it was very good. The serving size was so big that i couldn't come close to finishing it. Also came with a salad and really good bread. They brought me the wrong salad but I honestly didn't care. Only thing negative about this place is that they are slightly on the expensive side.
(4)Rob B.
This is our regular Italian choice. Service was great, and food came out quickly. The bread is great. We always want more especially with a light dip in the provided olive oil, with cheese and pepper added to the mix. Some in my group like the Minestrone - I like the Pasta Fagoul - Bean. The Chicken is good also. I have found the pasta dishes better than the other parts of the menu. Ravioli is great and for $2.50 extra you can get it with pesto sauce and lots of pine nuts (yum) - I like this better than the meat sauce which I find a bit heavy. The stuffed shells are great. Gnocchi are very good with the regular choice of sauces or their special Rita sauce. Roman Village has as others have noted a different take on Italian food than some other restaurants. Maybe a Country style Italian?
(4)Jessica S.
Hands down THE BEST LASAGNA I've had anywhere in the Detroit-area. Seriously, try it! You will not be disappointed! Other highlights include the bread (obviously!), calamari fritti, the stuffed shrimp, the Pasta Shrimp Amore', the Broiled Salmon and the Spaghetti Carbonara "Alla Bocelli." Oh my gosh, so good! Writing this review is actually making me hungry.... The soups have never really done much for me. The Chicken Pastina seemed pretty bland flavor-wise, and I'm not the biggest Minestrone fan, generally. Otherwise, I love Roman Vilage! Extra points for providing a delivery service for those nights when you get home from work and don't want to cook, or get back into the car to pick something up. Delizioso!
(4)Sip C.
Oh Roman Village. Just looking them up to review them has made me crave their Gnocchi Rita... Alright guys. Clearly other reviews have said it: this is the best Italian food you're going to get. They have legitimately traditional dishes (lighter, oil sauces over cream) as well as more American-Italian fare (like thicker crust pizzas, cream based sauces, etc.). It's all.so .good. Their bread is, I think, something that could help bring world peace if they would only ship massive amounts of trays over. Desserts are stellar, all food is consistently good. I have never had a bad meal at Roman Village. I think my only complaint (which has certainly not stopped me from going there the past few years) is some oddball service. I've had really good consistent waitstaff here, but the managers seem... less serviceable? Kind of grumpy? Not to mention, I've tried contacting them about catering through their website, in person, and on the phone and have yet to receive any communication. Oh well--I'd say it's their loss, but damn, do I want some Roman Village.
(5)Brianna R.
There are so many Italian restaurants to choose from in metro Detroit, all at a variety of qualities and prices. Roman Village really stands out, because the food tastes great and the prices are reasonable. They also have a surprising variety of traditional Italian foods - not many restaurants have stuffed shells! The pasta e fagioli is delicious, as well as the bread. I like how they give you the dipping ingredients separately so you can have as much or as little as you want. The gnocchi rita is great. The leftovers heat up nicely the next day, which is good because I'm so full on soup and bread I can never finish!
(5)Matt S.
My wife and I decided to give Roman Village a try given all of the positive reviews. It was a rare night out without the kids, so we had high expectations. As others have said, Roman Village is in the middle of nowhere. The area around it is all industrial. Not a scenic drive by any means, but a fun drive every now and then. The bread was very good, some of the better bread I have had. It was very fresh, and went well with the olive oil. The salad with the house dressing was also quite good. My wife ordered the Linguine Arrabbiata, and I'd have to say, we would not order it again. It was a little bland, but not awful. My food, however, was delicious. I ordered the Mostaccioli Casseruola with italian sausage, and we took home no leftovers. I would without a doubt order it again. For dessert we shared a cannoli. It was not very good compared to other cannoli's we have had. We would not order it again. Overall we had a very good dining experience with great service. We will definitely be going back to try some of the other food on the menu.
(4)Molly S.
Roman Village is one of my favorite restaurants. Although it isn't in the fanciest of areas (okay, it's not the best area), it is totally worth going! Their food is delicious. I have never ordered something here that I did not like. The have delicious garlic bread that they bring to your table. I honestly could make a meal out of just this bread. Even the ranch dressing for the salad is the best. You get HUGE portions for a good price. There is no way you could finish your entire meal alone at Roman Village. I love the Carbonara, Lasagna, Pesto Linguine (PERFECT!), Pizza. They often offer great deals, too. They have half off pasta and pizza nights which is such a great deal for families on a budget. The restaurant is clean and comfortable. They have large dining rooms and a small bar section with booth seating. They are very accomodating to large parties. We have had several family dinners at Roman Village. They have a seperate banquet type room with large tables. We have even called to host a small graduation party there and they were able to accomodate us for that. The service has always been fantastic. I hate to admit this since I love the place but I did have hair in my lasagna once. This is bound to happen sometime but the waitress and manager were very apologetic. They made me something else and comped the meals. They used to have a magician come in and entertain the kids at the table. I haven't seen them doing that recently but my nephew and nieces used to love it. I recommend Roman Village and frequently have dinner here.
(5)Kristina A.
Tried this out for the first time on Sunday with a group of 6.......around 3:00... to start with, I'm a fresh bread nut....and their's is great....the waitress brought out several baskets, right out of the oven......I could have overloaded on that alone. I ended up having the pasta fagiole soup, which was very hearty. Our group had a steak mama calzone (so big they bring it on a pizza tray) $10 (we got two meals out of it), shrimp fettucine, a baby calzone (2 were pleasantly full), crab stuffed shrimp.....stuffed with REAL CRAB.......pizza - which was fantastic.......we're going back..... bonus - I DIDN'T HAVE TO ASK FOR WATER....lol....keep up the good work!
(5)Mitch M.
Mmmmmmmmm! You will drive to this restaurant and think to yourself, really Mitch, really? You recommend this place? I admit, it looks like nothing. It's in the middle of an area you normally wouldn't set foot in. But you should set foot in Roman Village! They hand make their pasta and their attention to detail is as meticulous as it is wonderfully delicious! This would be a 4.5 stars out of 5 for me, but the option isn't there. I really, really love this place. Not pretentious at all, and very down to earth real world Italian food. One caveat, they have kind of odd hours. Make sure the restaurant is open before you drive there -- I've been disappointed by this twice now. Great owners, great food, GREAT RESTAURANT!
(5)Laya L.
Nice place. Good Italian food and the servers were really nice. It seemed very similar to the Antonio's restaurant in Dearborn Heights, except it was a bigger restaurant so we got seated faster and we received our food a lot quicker too!!
(4)Angela R.
Based on past reviews we had fairly high expectations and was very disappointed. We were in the area for the night (canton) and looking for a nice dinner, so as we often do, we consulted yelp. We were willing to drive a bit as we were in no hurry so based purely on reviews we took the jaunt to Dearborn. For a Sunday night there was a reasonable crowd, no wait but oddly we were seated in the bar (we were not asked if that was ok either) where the Denver Steelers playoff game was on. There were only a few patrons in the bar and half the staff bringing the noise level way up! We had a nice waitress who was attentive but didn't notice that the first beer we ordered wasn't drank due to the fact it was flat. Throughout our dinner the various staff would rush past our table to check the game and make loudish comments that would be just fine in a sports bar, since we had driven past many sports bars on our way to this place, this WAS NOT what we were looking for. Even the lady that appeared to be a manager didn't seem to see this as a problem! In all fairness our food was good, the bread was good and the complimentary canoli was tasty. But we felt cheated. Too bad the ambiance due to the staff couldn't live up to the write ups. Please check the sports calendar prior to visiting this restaurant. You'll be better off.
(2)John T.
I love this restaurant. Members of my family have been going to this restaurant since the 50s. I have never had a bad meal there. I have once or twice encountered slow service, but that was because the kitchen got slammed and even though I had to wait the food did not suffer. Pasta is made by hand daily, right there in the restaurant. The pizza is truly stellar. My favorite dish, bar none, is the Carbonara. Yum, yum, yum!!! The fresh bread they make is absolutely delicious. I've tried just about everything on the menu at one time or another except the seafood dishes, and all have been good to great without exception. If not the carbonara, then the Gnocchi Rita Sauce is the way to go. Or any of the others...cannelloni, mostaccioli, ravioli, tortellini, etc. It is pretty much impossible to screw up here. Be prepared to take food home...the portions are huge. If you eat a whole plate of carbonara at lunch, do not expect to get anything done the rest of the day...all you will want to do is go someplace quiet and take a nap!! A great place to eat!
(5)Shelly M.
I have to start out with what I ordered for dinner. I ordered the Mostaccioli Casseruola with meatballs, and wow, it was (high pitched voice) awesome... The meat was incredible, the sauce was perfect, it came in an individual baking dish, and had melted cheese over the top. It was hot gooey tasty magic. Was here for dinner with my son and we both really liked it. The bread basket was very interesting. I think the bread is baked then deep fried for just about 2 seconds in butter, i can't think of any way to get that buttery crisp over each and every piece that perfectly distributed. I could be wrong, but I'm very suspicious. We had the bruschetta appetizer, which was loaded in very flavorful and fresh tomatoes, really nice and enough for four people as an appetizer. My son ordered Chicken Scalloppini, and it was pretty good as well. Only bad was the side of spaghetti that came with his dish, the meat sauce that was on it was way too sweet and a had a weird taste, as if it had some bad tap water in it or something, not really an easy taste to describe. Everything else was fab so we just left that left alone.
(4)Tanya M.
Love it! I grew up by Roman Village and always ordered their pizza, breaksticks and soup...yummy! As an adult I've been back and really appreciate more on their menu. Their chicken parmesan with wine sauce is delicious. The cannelloni and veal parm are great too. My friend ordered a dish with pesto and enjoyed it. I always have leftovers and both the wine and food are reasonably priced! The only problem is I'm not in that area any more so I don't get to enjoy it often !
(5)Roy Dealmaster K.
9 of us went for an evening dinner 2/2/2013. I read the reviews here first and had high hopes. The latest two of three reviews did make me wonder, though. The location for me is a non-issue even though it may be um, off the beaten path. We were seated just after 7pm and 10 minutes later after asking some *good* bread was delivered, accompanied with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Drinks also took a while. Our server was an infrequent visitor even though the restaurant had maybe 7 other tables occupied. I saw only one other server and a couple bus boys. I ordered the veal parmigiana with spaghetti side/meat sauce. I found it consummately uninspiring. Not a fallacy of composition but certainly dispassionately constructed. The sauce was simply tomato flavored with no real distinction. My benchmark is Bravo Cucina Italiana in East Lansing, MI which has absolutely flavor-packed marinara. The veal itself was tender and was ok, the cheese was good. The spaghetti was broken up and twirling was impossible. Some people like that but not my preference, but it's ok. My daughters had veal marsala and mostaccioli. The picky one did not care for the mostaccioli and I agree - uninspired. She didn't even like the chocolate cake which surprised me. The marsala well, don't know what it was - eminently forgettable. We finally got outta there nearly 2 hours later and it's not like we were busy the whole time. I guess those latest two reviews were pretty accurate. Maybe something has changed in the kitchen.... I did take leftovers home as it makes for an easy lunch. The upside (??) was the portions were generous. And the bread was good.
(2)Nikkie H.
I was saddened by the closing of Dolce Vita in Riverview, but I've quickly found a replacement with Roman Village. I've been here twice and it's taken over the top spot as my favorite Italian restaurant. The bread is yum, the spaghetti carbonara is yummy and the tiramisu is ultra yummalicious. I cannot wait to go back again!
(5)Adam N.
Great food and great service. One of the few places to get real authentic Italian food in the Metro Detroit area. Best lasagna I've ever had!
(5)Michelle A.
Excellent! Friday night, jam packed, but quick service. The BEST pasta sauce we have ever had! Kind of pricey - the Caesar didn't look like it was worth the up-charge (hubbie had it) but everything else was YUM. I agree - who knows who rita was - but the Gnocchi with rita sauce.. mmm. The bread , just fabulous.
(5)Haroun K.
One hell of a vegetarian pizza!
(5)Samantha K.
I went there a few days ago and it was very nice inside, although it's not in the best neighborhood. I ordered the gnocchi rita sauce and it was delicious! The bread is also some of the best bread I ever had. I think this is my new favorite italian place!
(5)Shane N.
I was in Detroit for four days last week and I had Italian food for dinner every night for four different nights. It wasn't really planned, but it happened. As a result this is the first of my reviews of three different Detroit area Italian places (the fourth place I visited I have been to several times and already reviewed. I have been to Roman Village several times before, but only for pizza. This was the first time I went in and sat down for a meal. It is in a very Arab neighborhood, but it is a very Italian place. The inside is nice and spacious. The staff is courteous and attentive. First off let me say that there bread is excellent. It was fresh, warm and delicious. Second off let me say that the minestrone was not very good. I think it was in a beef stock. It just didn't look or taste like minestrone. For an appetizer we had some calamari. I thought it was pretty good. It was not overbreaded (maybe a little underbreaded) but it was still pretty good. For my main course, I had the gnocchi with the Rita sauce. I don't know Rita is but I give her props for her sauce. It was basically house made gnocchi in a blush sauce with pancetta. I thought the gnocchi was pretty good. It was cooked well, but it was a little too much like just potatoes. The sauce I tought was excellent. I am a big fan of blush sauce and I am a big fan of pancetta. The sauce was very good. For dessert we tried the tiramasu and an almond custard. The tiramisu had too much cocoa on it and the custard was kind of bland. Same for the almond custard. I have had the pizza in the past and I thought it was pretty good. Overall the place is pretty decent.
(3)Darrell T.
My coworker gets this for us from time to time. They have the best calzones and salads EVER!! Their breadsticks are AMAZING!!
(5)Angie P.
Terrible service. Our waitress took almost 15 minutes to come and greet us, and seamed to disappear on and off throughout our entire meal. I could understand if the place was packed, but it was a Thursday night and I could count the number of occupied tables on one hand. The food was not terrible, but the quality of service was so poor that unfortunately my boyfriend and I will not return to Roman Village.
(2)Chiwei L.
Have only had their gnocchi, which are amazing light pillows of love. I've never had anything quite like it, and it has made every other example a sad disappointment...
(4)James W.
My wife and I visited Roman Village for the first time on March 2, 2010 for our 5 year anniversary dinner. Her Veal Parmasean and my loaded Pasta Bowl were AWESOME and you will not believe just how tasty and rediculously addictive their tableside hot bread is. This place is a sure thing!
(5)Matt B.
One of the best Italian restaurants. The area is unusual, yes, but I don't thinks its scary. Just unusual to see a Mosque across the street. The food is very good (I'd use "very great" but don't think its grammatically correct). Try either the pizza and pasta. I've never tried chicken, etc. They stuff you with bread first, so be careful not to overeat.
(5)Jeffrey N.
I went to this place due to its proximity to my Dad's and its rating on Yelp. Yelp is great, isn't it? Anyway, Roman Village definitely deserves 4 stars. The food was quality. My Dad said the veal was great. We debated the decor. He thought it was too modern but I didn't think it was bad. It had a family restaurant feel to it. Not stale, like a chain restaurant, but not super nice either. The prices were good for the food and the serving size. A fair deal. The best was the service. We never had to wait for a water refill or for the waitress to come by. I never felt rushed to leave but I never had to wait long for service. If you're in that area on the west side, I can't recommend a better Italian restaurant.
(4)Jeffrey B.
Perfectly delicious and quite possible a contender for the best Italian in the Metro Detroit area. I had bookmarked the Roman Village after reading the positive reviews and found myself with friend/roommate/ fellow Yelp-star Ryan L. there after leaving Ikea heading towards the Eastside--we figured we're out this way, why not explore? I don't know how we found the restaurant, actually, I do, it was all grace à Ryan's iPhone. I do know I felt like I saw a weird warehouse wonderland of Dearborn (?) on the way. Walking in you're greeted with a warning informing us that service will not be provided if you're not wearing shoes, shirts, undershirts, or "bum wear". I told hostess that I was wearing an undershirt and that I hoped it would be okay, which she said was fine since I had a shirt on over it. I think they just like looking at chest hair. . . The menu was full of tempting options. I decided upon the Vegetarian Lasagna and upgraded my salad to a Caesar. I also had a Blue Moon draught because it was only $2.50 and I couldn't argue with that. The meals were served with wonderful bread--it was fresh, it was flavorful, it was perfection. My Caesar was good but I might hesitate about spending the additional $2.50 to upgrade since the house salad looked equally enjoyable. Sometimes I'm just a sucker for a Caesar. When the lasagna was presented I knew I was in for something fabulous. Served piping hot and covered with baked mozzarella it was an ovular dish of amazing. The lasagna was concocted with homemade noodles, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, and a delightful marinara. What was most satisfying is that it had a great flavor. For some reason it seems like finding Italian food with actual flavor is quite the feat. After finishing my meal I was perfectly satisfied though when the dessert tray was offered my interest was piqued so it was presented featuring tiramisu, cannolis, a chocolate torte, two kinds of cheesecake and more. It made me wish I hadn't finished my dinner. This dinner was seriously great despite a screaming child behind me a kid exploring all of the cell phone ringer options across the room and the most talkative random guy the next booth over. The Roman Village satisfied my desire for Italian and made me eager to return to try more on the menu like their pesto, or Florentine ravioli. Note: Gluten Free and Whole Wheat pasta are available for $2.00 more. On the way out we noted that Monday they had 1/2 off Pizza and Beer, Tuesday 1/2 off pasta, and Wednesday 1/2 off bottles of wine with the purchase of two entrées. The staff was very kind and attentive, plus they looked stellar in their burgundy bow ties. The restaurant really felt like an Italian restaurant. There was a large Last Supper painting on the wall and cushy red vinyl booths. If you're in the area check it out. Hell, if you're not and like Italian, make the drive. You may even be so fortunate to hear "Funiculi, Funicula!" if not, at least you'll have a glorious meal. Note: the $$ is closer to $12-$15/person including drinks.
(5)Michael C.
This is an absolutely wonderful restaurant on the outskirts of Dearborn. Though the location shouldn't hinder your desire to go there (I got lost trying to find it. Street signs! Arg). The experience far outweighs the journey. We were seated at a large table for dinner in the far room. We had made reservations for a birthday party - we were sick of the same old party/get drunk birthday, and wanted something a little more classy. Roman Village delivered! We ordered a few different dishes, appetizers and main course, family-style. The portions were huge and everything about the pastas were amazing: sauce, noodles, and spices. I'd recommend the regular old red pasta sauce because it really is a great gauge as to how well RV does what it does. The Alfredo was great too (Oh no! I mixed a white and a red sauce!), as well as the meatballs. They look like the meatballs from Happy Gilmore! (Or was that Billy Madison? I can't remember...) Their mixed drinks are pretty impressive as well. Just for the fun of it, we had margaritas all around. They came in these huge glasses laden with all sorts of fun things, most of all, the fruit juices tasted better than pre-frozen mixes. I couldn't say it was from fresh fruit, but it sure tasted like it was. In all it was a wonderful experience in a beautiful restaurant. This would be a great date spot (not too busy, great service, not bad on price either) or a special occasion spot - Mother's day, Father's day, George Washington's birthday, whatever.
(5)Heidi B.
Area= totally undesirable, prayed our car would be there when we got out. Building= beautiful, gorgeous, clean, open & airy. What was it doing in that dump of a neighborhood? Service= over the top, Laura, our server was friendly, helpful, had great suggestions, great 'up-seller', we tipped her 25%. What was she doing in that dump of a neighborhood? Food= over the top, honest to goodness, killer italian! Never had gnocci that good, try the Rita sauce, mixture of marinara & alfredo with bacon & mushrooms. Unbelievably delish. What was sauce that good doing in that dump of a neighborhood? Price=cheap. They were celebrating their 45th anniversary with a buy one, get the 2nd dinner for .45. Our meal was so cheap, it felt like we were stealing from the owner. Which made sense since we were in that dump of a neighborhood. Return Visit= absolutely, can't wait. Oh and our car was there when we got out, so we can return.
(4)Sandra B.
I have been eating at Roman Village for about 20 years - this place has been there for a while. The food is really good - this bread is yummy. If you are counting calories, this is not your place. If you are looking for some good food, you should really enjoy it. Pizza, pasta - all good! My one complaint - this is a recent thing that they have been doing - if you want to substitute one type of pasta for another, there is a $4.95 additional charge for that. It is just pasta - I could buy a ton of fresh made pasta from a market for less than that. Major disappointment.
(4)John C.
I was really impressed with this restaurant. Clean with a charming atmosphere. The service was great. The manager walked the room asking the guests how their meal was. The waiter informed us that certain dinners on the menu was buy one, get one at .45 cents. Cool! One heads up though was the salad. It was almost swimming in the house dressing. A little too much, but bearable. I had stuffed shrimp shells. Delicious! But I needed to give it a few minutes to cool. To me that was nothing. I loved the food and the friendly service. I think these restaurants are on to this site. Maybe it was the Yelp t-shirt I was wearing :)
(5)Julie J.
Just about the best Italian food in and around Dearborn. Great variety and they don't charge you extra for the salad or soup and the bread. Their bread is fantastic! I am a veggie and they have lots of choices for me. Bring your appetite; I always end up taking half of mine home. I like their service here better than their sister Restaurant Antonio's in Dearborn Heights. Prices are reasonable, too! Enjoy!
(4)Michael L.
Love the food. Service is adequate.
(4)Longball F.
This place is always a solid performer with great prices! two can get in and out under $25 with tip! Salad, pasta or pizza and soup, and they make the best bread for dipping or eating with a salad.
(4)