I sat at the bar and ordered a house salad and the Salmone Con Aragosta. It was dim. They asked me if I wanted some bread. The bread arrived cold and hard. I think it was sourdough. I was also given a dish of olive oil with salt and pepper at the very bottom. The salad arrived. It had a couple slices of cucumbers, a couple slices of tomatoes, onion slices, olives, and lettuce. They only have three types of salad dressing. I chose the oil and vinegar option. The salmon was good. It wasn't the best salmon I've ever had, but it was decent. It was overcooked. It sat in a pool of butter, lemon, and white wine sauce. I didn't like the bearnaise sauce. The mashed potatoes were good. Also, it couldn't find it on their menu, but they gave me a small dish of zucchini and yellow squash in a marinara sauce. It was so good! Salmone Con Aragosta - fresh grilled Atlantic salmon topped with Maine lobster meat & asparagus spears sauteed in white wine & lemon. Finished with a dollop of Bearnaise. Served alongside mashed potatoes. 3.5/5 Salad 4/5 Zucchini and yellow squash - 5/5
(4)
J G.
I've been to this restaurant 4 times. If I had reviewed after my first 3 visits I would have given 4-5 stars-each time. However, my last visit (Valentine's day 2015) was a true culinary disaster. I ordered a chicken/mushroom/pasta dish in a red sauce that cost $45+. Unfortunately, the mushrooms & tomato sauce were both canned!! Seriously?! Canned, rubbery, tasteless mushrooms have no business in a "fine-dining" restaurant and if you HAVE to use canned tomatoes b/c fresh aren't in season, learn to cook to cover the canned taste. The plate was simply awful and I told our server who apologized but never offered to switch it... The asparagus that accompanied my friend's meal was as thick as his thumb and completely inedible-he sent it back. We asked for a basket of bread (as we always do) and the bread tasted as if it had been microwave reheated-several times. Those are just a few (of many) things that struck me as completely off, culinary-wise that evening. I could write more but suffice it to say that no one was happy with their meal that day. We did mention our concerns to our server but he never offered to call the manager over. He just said "I'll let both the manager & chef know". thanks, whatever... As always, the ambience was nice but at $280 + tip (for four) I need the meals to be super as well. Obviously, Something has happened in the kitchen since I first started going and if they don't manage to fix it they'll loose more than just my business. That being said, I may give it one more try just for old times sake and see if things have improved to their previous standard-which I did like. If not, too bad, R.I.P. To one of the few truly nice restaurants in South County.
(3)
Marilyn R.
Gluten-free options were great! Jose was a wonderful server. I also had the Vodka Infusion martini which I highly recommend. Next time I'll come without my 16 month-old so I can have a few!
(5)
Jenny Crai G.
I sat at the bar and ordered a house salad and the Salmone Con Aragosta. It was dim. They asked me if I wanted some bread. The bread arrived cold and hard. I think it was sourdough. I was also given a dish of olive oil with salt and pepper at the very bottom. The salad arrived. It had a couple slices of cucumbers, a couple slices of tomatoes, onion slices, olives, and lettuce. They only have three types of salad dressing. I chose the oil and vinegar option. The salmon was good. It wasn't the best salmon I've ever had, but it was decent. It was overcooked. It sat in a pool of butter, lemon, and white wine sauce. I didn't like the bearnaise sauce. The mashed potatoes were good. Also, it couldn't find it on their menu, but they gave me a small dish of zucchini and yellow squash in a marinara sauce. It was so good! Salmone Con Aragosta - fresh grilled Atlantic salmon topped with Maine lobster meat & asparagus spears sauteed in white wine & lemon. Finished with a dollop of Bearnaise. Served alongside mashed potatoes. 3.5/5 Salad 4/5 Zucchini and yellow squash - 5/5
(4)
J G.
I've been to this restaurant 4 times. If I had reviewed after my first 3 visits I would have given 4-5 stars-each time. However, my last visit (Valentine's day 2015) was a true culinary disaster. I ordered a chicken/mushroom/pasta dish in a red sauce that cost $45+. Unfortunately, the mushrooms & tomato sauce were both canned!! Seriously?! Canned, rubbery, tasteless mushrooms have no business in a "fine-dining" restaurant and if you HAVE to use canned tomatoes b/c fresh aren't in season, learn to cook to cover the canned taste. The plate was simply awful and I told our server who apologized but never offered to switch it... The asparagus that accompanied my friend's meal was as thick as his thumb and completely inedible-he sent it back. We asked for a basket of bread (as we always do) and the bread tasted as if it had been microwave reheated-several times. Those are just a few (of many) things that struck me as completely off, culinary-wise that evening. I could write more but suffice it to say that no one was happy with their meal that day. We did mention our concerns to our server but he never offered to call the manager over. He just said "I'll let both the manager & chef know". thanks, whatever... As always, the ambience was nice but at $280 + tip (for four) I need the meals to be super as well. Obviously, Something has happened in the kitchen since I first started going and if they don't manage to fix it they'll loose more than just my business. That being said, I may give it one more try just for old times sake and see if things have improved to their previous standard-which I did like. If not, too bad, R.I.P. To one of the few truly nice restaurants in South County.
(3)
Marilyn R.
Gluten-free options were great! Jose was a wonderful server. I also had the Vodka Infusion martini which I highly recommend. Next time I'll come without my 16 month-old so I can have a few!
(5)
Chris R.
4 of us went last Saturday and ate at the bar. The bartender, Audrey, was excellent. Pleasant, smiling, knowledgeable, efficient, everything you want in a bartender/server. I split a monster meatball as an app. Served with a small salad on the same plate. It was pretty good - or so I thought. More on that later. Two of us got the Pollo Francese and it was quite tasty. Someone else had lobster rav and then oen other had the salmon special. I had one glass of Kim Crawford and shortly after getting halfway through my entree I started getting that all-over cold sweat / nausea. Uh oh. Not good. Since it came on so quickly I am pretty sure it was food-related. And since I split the meatball I don't think it was that. BUT, I was the only one that ate the small salad that came with the meatball. I was pretty sure I was going to give back what I had recently consumed right there - one way or the other. Mercifully, we live pretty close. My wife and I left and I got home just in time not to leave it all at the restaurant. I was fine the next day but boy, something I ate was not right. And for me, getting sick on something I ate makes it difficult to go back to the place I ate it. I am guessing that this is an isolated incident. The place gets great reviews and looks very clean. But, being honest, my experience was not particularly optimal. Actually, it sucked. A lot. No, I didn't ask for my meal to be taken off the check. Honestly, I was not thinking about that. I just knew I had to get out of there or make a spectacle out of myself.
(2)
Meghan M.
Not really a huge fan. The ambiance of the restaurant just doesn't match the area. It's in between a bank and a pre school. I think you can get MUCH better Italian food in the south county area. I've also heard from friends and family also not having the most pleasant experience with service, food, etc. I just feel for what it is, there's so many places you can do better at.
(2)
Ashleigh C.
My husband I have been talking about going here for 2 years since we moved down to SK. When our friends from NYC came down we figured it would the perfect spot- unfortunately we were wrong. Nothing lived up to the reviews we read- chicken parm was nothing special, calamari was tough and came with plain cocktail sauce and the device was HORRIBLE. The only thing good we got was the wine and it severely overpriced. Our waitress spilled out friends beer on him and STILL charged us for it.... Don't waste ur money. We spent almost 300 and it was worth about 50.... Ur better off to walk across the street and go to Shogun.
(2)
babs c.
This is one of our favorite places to eat as a couple or with family. Either at the bar or any table with a crowd, the service is good and the food always satisfies. The servers know the specials and can make recommendations which is good, because I fall back on the same dishes - bolognese with a cabernet! We buy gift certificates for friends and family and know it's going to be well received.
(4)
Niki K.
Not sure why this place is so popular. True, its convenient and a nice looking place inside, nice atmosphere. I'll admit to that. But, oh the prices for such meh food. I've been here maybe 3 times, always hoping that my meal will justify the absurd prices for a strip mall restaurant, but sadly they did not. Last time out I ordered the veal prepared in the "boconcini della nona" style, which boasts veal medallions stuffed with mozzarella cheese and prosciutto. I ended up getting chicken instead of veal, but didn't say anything because somebody else was paying the bill and I didn't want to kick up a fuss. I was floored to see that not only did I not get the veal I ordered, but instead of a big, fat juicy chicken breast stuffed with mozzarella and prosciutto, I literally got 3 small chicken thighs (I cook; I know a chicken thigh when I see one) with maybe dime size pearls of mozzarella in each. All for $22.95 (or if they charged the chicken price, $20). I've been trying not to eat carbs, but I had to dip into the bread basket twice just to feel satisfied. Just a lot of hype for incredibly disappointing and overpriced food.
(2)
jane y.
The place itself looks inviting and the hot bread was a good start. It went downhill from here. The veal could not have been pounded any thinner - the Milanese tasted like breaking only. I could go on, but will never return for their pricey & disappointing entrees.
(2)
Heather C.
We went for dinner and were disappointed. The sauces were bland and the food had no flavor. Their signature drink is a mojito and it was not made well. The tables were narrow. Everything but the bathroom which is nice was disappointing. We would not go back which is a shame because we were looking forward to dinner at this place.
(2)
John L.
Great food and great service...NY style Italian! You can't can't go wrong at this restaurant
(4)
Tracy N.
Once again a Canova creation is amazing!! Being a regular at the family's Attleboro Ma location, I had to try this place being on vacation here. The manager Scott was a complete gentleman and when he knew it was my Birthday dinner bought us a drink. He had recommended a steak in the Ala Mama style and it was beyond fabulous!!! The bartender Ann Marie was so attentive, couldn't be more available, and accomidated all of our needs. We had the eggplant rolatini appetizer and it was enough for a meal! My boyfriend got the lobster mac and cheese and it seriously was enough for 2 people and had an entire lobster in it! The bar back was very nice as well and refilled my water 20 times and brought out bread and oil as soon as we got our menues. The prices were similar to the surrounding restaurants, atmosphere was beautiful, very clean nice bathrooms, ouside seating, enormous wine list, specialty martinis, I highly recommend trying this place!!!!
(5)
Jake C.
My girlfriend and I were in the mood for Italian and figured, based on the reviews, this place would be a high-end joint with good house-made fare. Unfortunately, we were both disappointed. The ambience was very nice and so too was our server. However, the food did not live up to expectations; it was average and bland, not at all worth the price we paid. I had a house salad with blue cheese and the dressing was definitely not "homemade" as claimed; tasted like it was store-bought right from Sysco. For entrees I had the Bucatini Al Pomodoro and she had the Sea Bass with Risotto special. The San Marzano marinara sauce on the bucatini was bland and unflavorful - seemed like it came right from a can. My gf tried it and agreed. Her see bass was good, but for literally drowning in butter, lemon and white wine sauce. No supposedly high-end restaurant should have to drown food in butter to make it taste good. On the basis of the food alone, we don't plan on returning. The ambience and staff, however, seemed quite nice.
(2)
David B.
Amazing rip-off. Swordfish puttanesca was mediocre - all sauce and no flavor costing almost double ($37) compared to most restaurants in larger urban areas. Glass of La Crema PNoir at $14 a robbery if one of theirs that retails $17. Chocolate gelato delish but can't make up for rest of meal. Insist to management for better food and much lower entree and wine prices or stay away.
(1)
Eleni Z.
Food is consistently good, the very best bread !!!! Service is always excellent and food is plentiful. Seafood pasta dishes always perfect as well as the veal parmesan. Will continue to enjoy eating there in the future!
(4)
Kim P.
Love this place! Have never had a bad experience here. The wait can be long on weekends, so it is best to make reservations. We ate there with a party of eight last night, including 2 children, and everyone had a great time. The salmon dish was delicious, as well as the tender veal dishes. They also serve the most delicious bread...... So crusty! And if you are lucky enough to have Mike as your waiter, expect to be served by the best.
(5)
Liz P.
Pros: lovely atmosphere, delicious food. Service for the most part was okay. Located in a little shopping mall in the Wakefield/South Kingstown area. Cons: I had to ask for my water glass to be refilled several times. Night prices were pricey although they do have a $15.95 special from 4:30-5:30 during the week, or at least M-Thurs, I believe, where you get an entree, soup/salad, and coffee or tea, which isn't awful. My mom also said her pasta was warm/hot but chicken was room temperature. I would come back here if I was in the mood for a fancy dinner but otherwise not sure. Overall I'd give it 3/5 or 3.5/5 stars though.
(3)
Bob P.
Trattoria Romano is simply one of the better Italian restaurants in RI other than those on Federal Hill in Providence. We've been to the original in Lincoln, RI; this a smaller restaurant but equally fine. While the menu is extensive, we almost always order pasta dishes when dining at an Italian restaurant. Here the pasta is fresh, cooked perfectly and the quantities are generous to say the least. For a first course we split a Caesar salad - very fresh Romaine lettuce and a nice light lemony Caesar dressing. For entrees we had the Pollo Francese and the Pappardelle Bolognese and both were delicious. The chicken was extremely tender and served on top of capellini pasta. The Bolognese sauce was made of a nice blend of meats and clearly simmered for a long time. We'll be back when on the Narragansett area - highly recommended.
(4)
Jeffrey B.
We had dinner here for the first time this evening. If I was rating just on my dinner I would give 3 stars however the other 3 people with whom I had dinner would have given 4 or 5. The atmosphere is nice, but a little too dark. The host was welcoming and our table was ready for us. Our server was friendly and attentive. I had the sole special which was fine however the side of spaghetti carbonara was not very good. Sections of it were hard and overall too dry. One person ordered the lamb and it looked and tasted great. The portion was huge but so too was the price. The veal dishes were very good and the Italian bread was excellent. So if in the area I recommend giving it a try.
(4)
Michael L.
My first time dining here was very good. The service was attentive and the food very good. Of the four in our party everyone was very pleased with their entrees. I would recommend Trattoria Romano to anyone looking for an upscale Italian dining experience in South County.
(4)
Steven P.
I really want to give them two stars. It feel ALL the things they do well, and there are plenty of things....but they are all negated by the most miserable bar staff I have ever experienced. And this is not from one visit. This is from 20-30 over a two year period. I can say SO many great things about Tratoria but that one thing...being made to feel like you don't matter, that you are a nuisance, clearly not wanted at the bar. Hey, don't believe me. Go there some Th night and see how long it takes you to get served at the bar! You'll get served when the waiters are damn good and ready....and generally only when the bar tenders finish all their non-customer related work. Their bar chores come FIRST...customers are simply a nuisance they have to tolerate. Go see!
(3)
Carrie C.
I was lucky enough to get some time to go out with a friend of mine and we chose Trattoria Romana, I wasn't disappointed at all. A big plus was being able to use Open Table for our reservation, thank you Trattoria for making that so very easy for me. I was a little disappointed that the only fish they had on the menu was Tilapia, I mean really? That's not even really fish in my book. Having a fish like that on the menu seems very unprofessional for such a sophisticated place, they need to change that. They were offering a special of Backed Scrod so I went with that and it was very good. The fish seemed fresh frozen but was still excellent. They were happy to swap mashed potato for their pasta, which I had to try, sauce on the side. The meal was excellent, as was my friends, so she said. Our waitress was just OK, I needed a refill on my wine and waited a while before she noticed and that annoyed me a bit. It's not that hard to keep a wine glass full and it wasn't that busy in there so she could have been more attentive. I don't eat much at all, I mean like three bites due to medical reasons so it always appears that I don't like my food and they were very concerned and had two managers come over to ask if everything was OK after the waitress did. I said excellent the first time so either they didn't believe me or they were just be extra cautious, which isn't bad. Overall, excellent food that's a little over priced for what it is, and a fine dining atmosphere. The waitstaff could be a little better and the prices a touch better.
(4)
Tweeter A.
Perfect. Don't need to mention the bread because others have... Here is why I wish I could give more stars: 1) mom's in a walker. It was invisible to wait staff (other night in the Cove in Charlestown they were completely thrown and wanted us hidden. 2) waitress Maura. Like a foodie friend as happy to be there as we were. 3) the food. Ok, 4 through 10: the food. Veal Milanese. And I'm a New Yorker. The best Milanese this side of Tarry Lodge. Go to this restaurant. Go early and eat for 3 hours. A perfect night
(5)
Stephanie W.
Very few restaurants do everything right. This one does. The servers are attentive, the ambience is elegant yet relaxed, and the food is near perfect. Try the lasagna -- it's one of the best I've ever eaten. The pasta is as light as air, with the perfect ratio of pillowy ricotta to sauce.
(5)
Susan M.
We get take-out from here often. We love the veal parm. Wasn't the best tonight, but we will be back.
(4)
Sally S.
Have been to Trattoria several times. The service is always excellent and the food is delicious. I love the lasagna and the cannelloni. Any of the pasta is great. The large meatball appetizer is also a favorite.
(5)
Bobby G.
I've had Trattoria Romana on my list of new spots to try since I moved back to Narragansett almost two years ago. I have quite a few friends who really enjoy it, and after 6 weeks in Los Angeles, where good Italian food is about as rare as a chupacabra sighting - it seemed like a logical choice for an old friend to take me for a birthday dinner. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go 3 or 4 stars on this because of all the rave reviews I've heard in the past - but I'm going on my sole experience, and will adjust in the future if I feel like this review is unfair. Our waitress was very friendly and knowledgeable and attentive - A. The bread they bring to the table is fantastic. Crunchy crust and a soft center - top notch Italian bread like you can only get in the northeast - A+ 5 stars. We started off with a caprese special that they had prepared with burrata. The burrata was creamy and delicious and the tomatoes were nice but not the most flavorful. The light olive oil drizzle was also tasty. If the tomatoes were a bit more flavorful this would have been much better, but still delicious - A-. We both had a glass of wine and there were no complaints. I went with another special for my entree. It was a combo plate with chicken parmesan, a couple of meatballs and a bolognese manicotti. The chicken was juicy and tender and the breading was okay - but the cheese left it a bit flat. The meatballs were small to medium sized and flavored well - good, but not fantastic. The manicotti was flavorful but seemed to lack substance. Further on the down side - I woke up at 2 am with the worst heartburn I've had in months. My friend ordered the veal scalopini. She loved it and said it may even become her go-to meal there. It came with a salad on the side of the plate that was lightly dressed and had large parmesan shavings over it. The three pieces of veal were lightly breaded and fried. It did look delicious and I will probably order that the next time I go. I do have high hopes for future visits - and this was by no means a bad experience. I may just have had my expectations too high going into it.
(3)
Lisa E.
We had a nice evening at Trattoria Romana. It was a Sunday night so it was not crowded or too loud. I had asked for a 'quiet' table in my reservation, so we did wait about 10 minutes upon arrival for a quieter table. We had what appeared to be a new waiter. He was a bit nervous, but very effective and attentive. The food was fantastic, as I had expected. My BF enjoyed the bread, no surprise there. My Bolognese was excellent and the serving was more than ample. MY BF's meal was also very good. (some chicken and lemon with olives and linguine). We stayed at the table for quiet a long time, enjoyed some wine and conversation and were never rushed or pressured. Overall a great evening; we will be sure to go again.
(4)
Brittany S.
I ordered a pesto dish with chicken. Very good. Good service. Pretty restaurant. Overall a good experience!
Had dinner at the bar tonight. Audrey is a delight. Great food as always. This is as good as a restaurant gets in RI.
(5)
Amanda C.
This is for the South location. We had a party of seven come here for a birthday occasion. Two of our party didn't like their dishes- and they are not picky eaters. The service was a little slow. What was the biggest annoyance of all is the fact that they CHARGE $2 PER PERSON TO CUT A CAKE! This is not a joke. An $18 cake ended up costing $30 at the end of the night; because 6 people had a piece. I brought the cake in. The only thing they did was cut it. Are you kidding me? I will not be wasting my time or my money here ever again.
(1)
Laurie P.
A friend and I had a long day at URI orientation where our sons are headed in the fall. We were staying at the Hampton Inn, and I found this place was in walking distance. Service was attentive, and the food was really good. I had the Spaghetti Alla Vongole Veraci and my friend had the Gnocci Al Segreto Posilipo. Portions were large, and the drinks were tasty. I'm sure to be back when visiting URI.
(4)
Matt J.
What an outstanding experience! I had concerns about this restaurant because it is in an outdoor mall. Don't let that stop you, this place is amazing! We had an opportunity to sit outside to eat on a warm late summer day. The atmosphere and service were great. I loved my meal. Great place even to take my kids.
(5)
Mark P.
I was not too impressed with the service. They messed up on my order twice (first time it was something completely wrong, second time it had cheese, which I can't eat and told to my server). Since we were out of time, I had to ask for something quick...a plate of pasta with sauce. I was surprised I was just not comped for the meal, which I had to pay $15. I just would have expected them to do something for the mess up.
(1)
Robert M.
I have been to the South County location numerous times with my family. On each occasion, we received excellent service, and the food was top-notch. I will definitely come back soon!
(5)
Toby T.
I go here roughly 2x a month and love it. The food is amazing and priced really well. Large portions, great wine list, nice ambiance, great service, and very accommodating. I come here with my toddler who's basically a regular now and we've always had a great time.
(5)
Gail B.
We were looking for spot in South County that would feel special, yet not too pretentious. Trattoria Romana fit the bill quite nicely. This is a neighborhood place kicked up a notc h or two. Richard, our server, took good care of us throughout with some good suggestions. We were seated at the continuous banquette along the wall and at first I was not thrilled. But we were fortunate to have 2 separate couples on one side of us who were very pleasant and chatted a bit at times. Very pleasant. Dinner consisted of some great apps - the caprese with a soft cheese (not mozz, but not sure of the exact name) and quartered tomatoes. I prefer sliced, but this wasn't my app so I didn't care and my hubby didn't seem to either. My app was possibly the standout of the entire evening. You must try the watermelon salad this summer! Juicy watermelon, mint, feta cheese, olive oil, salt & pepper. Tangy, fresh and oh, so addictively yummy! Many people around us were having it and it seemed everyone was enjoying it. I did! Dinners were the scallop special and the chicken saltimbocca. The scallops were the only item close to a fail. Hubby thought something was off about them. My chicken was very good. Now on to the main course - desserts of course! If you do nothing else, try their housemade Limoncello. Tangy, delicious, and oh so powerful. We shared a glass with their limoncello truffle dessert and a cannoli...whew! we took leftovers home for another meal. We had a great time, but yes, I agree with other posters, it can get quite noisy. So if you're in the mood for a quiet romantic dinner, this may not be your spot. Or at least don't go on the weekend. But I do recommend you go!
(4)
Sharon G.
Nice atmosphere great food. Love the stoli doli container at the bar. Saturday night just the two of us, we didn't have to wait long and we didn't have a reservation. We will go back.
(4)
Kristina D.
This place rules. They have gluten-free pasta!! I asked if I could create my own dish of gluten-free penne with basil pesto sauce and shaved Parmesan and they totally hooked it up. By "they" I mean Jeremy, who could and should win the Server of the Year award, if there were such a thing. He was informative, but charming; attentive, but cool. He really had the timing just right. My husband got the chicken parmigiana and it was outstanding. My brother-in-law got the osso bucco special and it too was to die for. Loved the vibe... dim lighting, leather upholstered booths (in good condition), white, linen table cloth and napkins. Classic and tasteful. I hope to go back next time I'm in town! It's the perfect place to go for date night!
(5)
Mike L.
The atmosphere is terrific, especially in the bar area with the beautiful mahogany wood work, the wine racks and nice bar. No expense was spared on decor. The food is the best you will find anywhere in RI (including Federal Hill). Everything on the veal menu is incredible, not to mention reasonably priced for the good portion. The seafood menu is impressive as well but not quite the value imo. This is a superb restaurant that anyone who appreciates good Italian food in a great atmosphere will love. If you research the owner's background it is no surprise this is a gem.
(5)
christina P.
Good food, large portions, ambiance a little cheesy but nice outdoor seating.... reasonable prices, very good bread. All in all I will give this restaurant a B+
(4)
Kristi L.
After visiting the Lincoln, RI location I wanted to give the South County Commons spot a whirl. The menus are very similar, and both offer great options for our gluten free friends. That said, it's $2 extra for gf pasta, and $3 extra for gf bread crumbs....so if you are gluten adverse I recommend not ordering gf chicken parm with pasta otherwise you're fronting an extra $5!
(4)
Kimberly S.
Service was great and delicious food. Try the lobster mac and cheese!
(4)
Helen P.
We had another great meal there last Friday night. I loved the chicken sorrentino. My family was really pleased with their selection as well. Nice ambience. I just wish restaurants would do more to manage the noise. Service was attentive but not intrusive or fussy.
(5)
Tom C.
I have had the luck to come to this restaurant several times over the past two years. Have never been disappointed until last night. They just brought our food too quickly and our experience was over too fast. I know usually we are complaining the service is too slow. My wife and I sat at the bar with Audrey who is awesome and personable, but not in your face. The food was excellently prepared and the salad wedge app was fantastic. The atmosphere is casual. The clientele is very friendly and we met several new friends while we say and ate and enjoyed out cocktails. The exterior is deceiving certainly a must try when in the area !
(4)
Judith R.
I got very ill from the clam sauce at this restaurant. I've had good meals in the past but this was a truly awful experience. If you go, avoid the seafood.
(1)
Melissa D.
Cannot believe that this place has only 3 stars! We have been here 2 times for our night away from our 3 kids. Keep in mind we are never happy where ever we go. We always have something to complain about some might say we are picky but when you are spending your hard earned money everything should be stellar. Trattoria Romana is as I told the waiter and one of the owners this place is belligerently good! There are 3 things for a restaurant to be good 1. Good Service 2. Good food 3. Owners that care and have their hand in the work as well Trattoria Romana has all the above and more We LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! Go ahead try it and thank me later!
(5)
Simon B.
Excellent! I've been here 4 times in various seasons and it has never disappointed. The food is absolutely terrific, including the seasonal specialties. The real treat is to sit outside as the sun is setting during the summertime and enjoy the escargot platter. I've taken my girlfriend, parents, and friends here, and everyone has really enjoyed it. The wait staff was kind, friendly, and quick, which was appreciated. Also, they were very knowledgeable about the menu and ingredients, so my vegetarian friend could just as well as everyone else. I've tried something from every category on their menu and they have all been really enjoyable, so you can't really go wrong no matter what you order. Inside, it's a bit loud (as some folks have mentioned), but you can tell everyone is enjoying themselves, so it's not a "bad" loud. If I could eat here every day, I would!
(5)
AJ H.
We love this restaurant! We have been coming here since it opened. Everything on the menu is delicious. We usually order from the list of specials which is plentiful. The quality of the food and prices can't be beat by any other restaurant here in south county. We have even ordered take out which was packaged to perfection! Maura is an exceptional server and everyone takes time to ensure you are satisfied with your meal.
(5)
Jennifer C.
This is my favorite restaurant. We are originally from Cumberland and always frequented the Lincoln location. We recently relocated to south county. This is my 2'nd trip to trats down here. What a let down! This review is only for s county location and for this visit. The service was horrid!! This is by far the worst service I ever had. My drink was terrible and I felt like I just wasted $80 on my bill. There was a party of 7 next to us and we were shoved in a corner table behind them and ignored. Our waiter stood at their table chit chatting and discussing their overlooked seafood while holding out drinks for. No less than 4-5 minutes. At one point I jokingly reached toward my drink as if to grab it. The waiter eventually replaced my drink and said Audrey made it Ns it was significantly better! I am not sure we will be back to this location. The service made me feel subpar to the large group. I felt treated like a 2nd rate citizen! I tried to be nice. But the waiter was odd and rubbed me the wrong way. Plus I had to continually flag him down!
(2)
Nev K.
this is a terrific, Italian restaurant. I'm amazed by the food and thrilled by the service. The menu is EXTENSIVE...and then they have many, many specials each and every day. The bread basket includes some of the best, tasty bread I've ever had. I'm a fan of the penne with basil pesto sauce. The antipasta plate is different and extraordinary each time. This delightful restaurant gives the impression that you are dining with their family. A wonderful experience!!
(4)
Emma N.
We couldn't get a reservation or a seat in the dining room, so we decided to try the bar. It was great. We met several interesting people, enjoyed banter with the bar tenders and ate the delicious food. We each had the caprese salad - not the best idea in February since tomatoes aren't in season. Mozzarella was great, but the tomatoes were meaty (belch!). The gnocchi was good and very cheesy, but a bit undercooked. My husband's veal saltimbocca was delicious. The molten lava cake was yummy, but too small to split. Overall, I enjoyed our dining experience and meal at Trattoria Romana. I'd chose different items next time though.
(4)
Nicole A.
Having enjoyed the Trattoria in Lincoln on several occasions, it was a no brainer to book my mother inlaw's birthday dinner here. We had an exceptional time. The server was attentive but not overbearing, the bar staff were super friendly and the food was FANTASTIC! My husband had the cannelloni which he thankfully couldn't finish so I enjoyed it the next day for lunch. It was out of this world. I had the spaghetti with pesto and grilled chicken which the kitchen kindly substituted pappardelle pasta for the spaghetti. I loved it. Our entire party enjoyed their meals which included Chicken Rossinni, Fruitti Di MAre, Sea Bass and Eggplant Parm.
(4)
Chris S.
Solid food good atmosphere nice price points!
(4)
Howard W.
very good food. excellent service and as others have said it's the best around...
(4)
Megan K.
We went here on Saturday 6/22 because I'd been given a gift card. Our server was the famous Jeremy, and he did do a good job. The beer list is really bad, but I guess most customers probably order wine. I liked the restaurant and the food was pretty good, but I'm mostly writing this review hoping the manager will see my suggestion that if you're going to go to the trouble of making your own pasta, surely you can also put decent olives on your antipasto and make the croutons for your Caesar salad? That said, the place won't knock your socks off, but it's nice and the food is good.
(3)
Kenneth S.
My fiancee had her Grad School graduation dinner here. The food itself was good however the wait staff tried to rush us out after we had booked the table two months in advance. When we commented to the manager about the rude staff member all he did was defend his staff member. There is no need to be rude to patrons of your establishment directly.
(2)
Kathy D.
It's gotten better. When they first opened I ordered lobster mac & cheese which got sent back. Sauce was runny & not at all creamy. I'm not a big fan of Italian food so that limits me. I also refuse to eat veal & they use that in their meatballs. We've been back 4 times and each time was an improvement. The service was great but it's noisy. I don't understand why people have to be so loud. I wouldn't suggest it for a romantic dinner unlike Bouchards in Newport where it's extremely classy & you can hear a pin drop. Considering it's close to the cinema the convenience makes it worthwhile as the only other places to dine in The South County Commons are Applebee's & Shogun. Also, someone else called this place 'upscale'. I have to disagree. They don't even require a jacket and any place that has a TV does not qualify as upscale. jmo
(3)
Marina F.
I have been to Tratoria Romana South many times, and I must admit, without going to Federal Hill in Providence, this is as good as it gets in South County. If you enjoy the bustling night scene and love restaurants like Siena, you will love Tratoria Romana. It is true that reservations are a bit tough to make. If you are set on going there, make sure to make a reservation on Open Table a week ahead. However, if you enjoy the scene almost as much as you enjoy the food, your best bet is to score a seat at the bar, just like we did last night at 8.30. We ordered a few martinis ($8.25 for Grey goose is a steal!), an antipasti plate ($10 for a variety of cold cuts and cheeses), a pizza margarita with fresh tomatoes and mozzarella ($10) which was to die for, and a Caesar salad. I love how in upscale restaurants you can tell your server that you are sharing a salad, and they bring it out already separated. Some people complain about the noise level, but I think that's what makes a restaurant vibrant. If you wanted a "quiet"" place, eat in the comfort of your home. Other delicious things on the menu are the mussels. For $8 you get a very generous heap, and may want to, as I did, eat the sauce with a spoon. The sauce is slightly spicy and rich, really amazing. If you do love seafood, you should also try their Fruti Di Mare Posilipo. The seafood is really tender, and the pasta is made fresh daily. be prepare to take a lot home. Their portions are very generous. On the other hand, daily specials seem a little too pricey, but if you are a regular at the restaurant, you may want to stay clear of them. I personally, do not feel comfortable spending $15 on an appetizer, especially if you have other choices all under $10. Overall, this is my favorite restaurant in South County!
(4)
Sandy C.
Had a great evening...actually been there twice in the last week. Maura, our waitress, couldn t have been nicer...concerned about a bottle of wine we ordered that she felt had too much sediment...she opened another bottle, but it had more sediment. I just said....lets try it...it was fine!!! but she was willing to change it up for us. THEN, we happened to see some very dear friends dining with another couple...all four dressed in red holiday sweaters....we couldn t resist and had Maura quickly bring them four "slippery red headed sluts". This made for lots of laughter and surprised them, totally! Food was terrific....a very nice experience!
(5)
Heather D.
Really incredible food and Jeremy was great!
(4)
Rich T.
Restaurant was excellent. Food was made with quality ingredents and very tasty. Lasagna was great............served with extra sauce and meatballs.... Prices were reasonable, average mid to high teens.... no big city prices..... Service was also very good, attentive to us , and check came quickly when we finished. We ate in the dining room, that had beautiful high ceiling. Saw the bar area and was impressed by the huge screen tv over bar,,,, Will be back to watch sporting events there, The dining area was separate from bar area so it was peaceful. One quirk that we noticed was that the restrooms didn't provide paper towels or hand towels. The electronic hand dryer is just not right in a quality restaurant, Noticed the huge space heaters on outside patio, Would defintely be great place for outside dining....
(5)
James T.
We have been to Trattoria Romana Bar and Grill twice now. Each time the service and food has been very good. Their pasta was very fresh. This is some of the best Italian food we have had in South County.
(4)
Brian O.
We live in California where the Italian food is terrible so whenever we visit New England we're constantly searching for good Italian up and down the coast. We really liked Trattoria Romana - the ambience, food, and service were excellent. We've had a lot of Italian food in South County and this was the best in my opinion. The bar room was VERY loud and crowded, but fortunately we sat in the dining room. Our server Jeremy was absolutely stellar - knowledgeable and helpful in making our wine and food selections. Our table loved the pappardelle bolognese, baked rigatoni, scallops and shrimp on capellini in the most amazing rose sauce, and a special ravioli with short rib. We'll be back for sure.
(5)
Mark C.
We ate here on 7/5/12 and had a very good meal ad is always the case. Our waiter dropped a drink on the table which resulted in a broken glass. Several staff members came right over and helped. Within a few minutes they cleared and set a new table for us and all was well. Great food great staff. We will be back again.
(4)
SC S.
One of the best Italian restaurants I have visited! Outstanding service from the start when we walked through the doors. I enjoyed the Vitello Arragosta which I may even order again. The fresh Maine lobster garnish with the veal medallions was an enjoyable treat. I will defiantly be visit again soon!
(5)
Dennis G.
was there sunday 10-13 i sat at the bar after my second glass of wine and asking the bartender if there was a problem with my order twice i approached the manger, i asked if there was a problem with the food coming out of the kitchen he stared at me and i never seen him again. when the food came out it was just ok at best. when i asked where was my appetizer was she stated that she forgot, with 3 people at the bar i asked how she could have forgotten when i asked her twice if there was a problem. ugh not going back ever
(1)
Ashleigh C.
My husband I have been talking about going here for 2 years since we moved down to SK. When our friends from NYC came down we figured it would the perfect spot- unfortunately we were wrong. Nothing lived up to the reviews we read- chicken parm was nothing special, calamari was tough and came with plain cocktail sauce and the device was HORRIBLE. The only thing good we got was the wine and it severely overpriced. Our waitress spilled out friends beer on him and STILL charged us for it.... Don't waste ur money. We spent almost 300 and it was worth about 50.... Ur better off to walk across the street and go to Shogun.
(2)
babs c.
This is one of our favorite places to eat as a couple or with family. Either at the bar or any table with a crowd, the service is good and the food always satisfies. The servers know the specials and can make recommendations which is good, because I fall back on the same dishes - bolognese with a cabernet! We buy gift certificates for friends and family and know it's going to be well received.
(4)
Niki K.
Not sure why this place is so popular. True, its convenient and a nice looking place inside, nice atmosphere. I'll admit to that. But, oh the prices for such meh food. I've been here maybe 3 times, always hoping that my meal will justify the absurd prices for a strip mall restaurant, but sadly they did not. Last time out I ordered the veal prepared in the "boconcini della nona" style, which boasts veal medallions stuffed with mozzarella cheese and prosciutto. I ended up getting chicken instead of veal, but didn't say anything because somebody else was paying the bill and I didn't want to kick up a fuss. I was floored to see that not only did I not get the veal I ordered, but instead of a big, fat juicy chicken breast stuffed with mozzarella and prosciutto, I literally got 3 small chicken thighs (I cook; I know a chicken thigh when I see one) with maybe dime size pearls of mozzarella in each. All for $22.95 (or if they charged the chicken price, $20). I've been trying not to eat carbs, but I had to dip into the bread basket twice just to feel satisfied. Just a lot of hype for incredibly disappointing and overpriced food.
(2)
jane y.
The place itself looks inviting and the hot bread was a good start. It went downhill from here. The veal could not have been pounded any thinner - the Milanese tasted like breaking only. I could go on, but will never return for their pricey & disappointing entrees.
(2)
Heather C.
We went for dinner and were disappointed. The sauces were bland and the food had no flavor. Their signature drink is a mojito and it was not made well. The tables were narrow. Everything but the bathroom which is nice was disappointing. We would not go back which is a shame because we were looking forward to dinner at this place.
(2)
John L.
Great food and great service...NY style Italian! You can't can't go wrong at this restaurant
(4)
Tracy N.
Once again a Canova creation is amazing!! Being a regular at the family's Attleboro Ma location, I had to try this place being on vacation here. The manager Scott was a complete gentleman and when he knew it was my Birthday dinner bought us a drink. He had recommended a steak in the Ala Mama style and it was beyond fabulous!!! The bartender Ann Marie was so attentive, couldn't be more available, and accomidated all of our needs. We had the eggplant rolatini appetizer and it was enough for a meal! My boyfriend got the lobster mac and cheese and it seriously was enough for 2 people and had an entire lobster in it! The bar back was very nice as well and refilled my water 20 times and brought out bread and oil as soon as we got our menues. The prices were similar to the surrounding restaurants, atmosphere was beautiful, very clean nice bathrooms, ouside seating, enormous wine list, specialty martinis, I highly recommend trying this place!!!!
(5)
Jake C.
My girlfriend and I were in the mood for Italian and figured, based on the reviews, this place would be a high-end joint with good house-made fare. Unfortunately, we were both disappointed. The ambience was very nice and so too was our server. However, the food did not live up to expectations; it was average and bland, not at all worth the price we paid. I had a house salad with blue cheese and the dressing was definitely not "homemade" as claimed; tasted like it was store-bought right from Sysco. For entrees I had the Bucatini Al Pomodoro and she had the Sea Bass with Risotto special. The San Marzano marinara sauce on the bucatini was bland and unflavorful - seemed like it came right from a can. My gf tried it and agreed. Her see bass was good, but for literally drowning in butter, lemon and white wine sauce. No supposedly high-end restaurant should have to drown food in butter to make it taste good. On the basis of the food alone, we don't plan on returning. The ambience and staff, however, seemed quite nice.
(2)
David B.
Amazing rip-off. Swordfish puttanesca was mediocre - all sauce and no flavor costing almost double ($37) compared to most restaurants in larger urban areas. Glass of La Crema PNoir at $14 a robbery if one of theirs that retails $17. Chocolate gelato delish but can't make up for rest of meal. Insist to management for better food and much lower entree and wine prices or stay away.
(1)
Eleni Z.
Food is consistently good, the very best bread !!!! Service is always excellent and food is plentiful. Seafood pasta dishes always perfect as well as the veal parmesan. Will continue to enjoy eating there in the future!
(4)
Kim P.
Love this place! Have never had a bad experience here. The wait can be long on weekends, so it is best to make reservations. We ate there with a party of eight last night, including 2 children, and everyone had a great time. The salmon dish was delicious, as well as the tender veal dishes. They also serve the most delicious bread...... So crusty! And if you are lucky enough to have Mike as your waiter, expect to be served by the best.
(5)
Liz P.
Pros: lovely atmosphere, delicious food. Service for the most part was okay. Located in a little shopping mall in the Wakefield/South Kingstown area. Cons: I had to ask for my water glass to be refilled several times. Night prices were pricey although they do have a $15.95 special from 4:30-5:30 during the week, or at least M-Thurs, I believe, where you get an entree, soup/salad, and coffee or tea, which isn't awful. My mom also said her pasta was warm/hot but chicken was room temperature. I would come back here if I was in the mood for a fancy dinner but otherwise not sure. Overall I'd give it 3/5 or 3.5/5 stars though.
(3)
Bob P.
Trattoria Romano is simply one of the better Italian restaurants in RI other than those on Federal Hill in Providence. We've been to the original in Lincoln, RI; this a smaller restaurant but equally fine. While the menu is extensive, we almost always order pasta dishes when dining at an Italian restaurant. Here the pasta is fresh, cooked perfectly and the quantities are generous to say the least. For a first course we split a Caesar salad - very fresh Romaine lettuce and a nice light lemony Caesar dressing. For entrees we had the Pollo Francese and the Pappardelle Bolognese and both were delicious. The chicken was extremely tender and served on top of capellini pasta. The Bolognese sauce was made of a nice blend of meats and clearly simmered for a long time. We'll be back when on the Narragansett area - highly recommended.
(4)
Jeffrey B.
We had dinner here for the first time this evening. If I was rating just on my dinner I would give 3 stars however the other 3 people with whom I had dinner would have given 4 or 5. The atmosphere is nice, but a little too dark. The host was welcoming and our table was ready for us. Our server was friendly and attentive. I had the sole special which was fine however the side of spaghetti carbonara was not very good. Sections of it were hard and overall too dry. One person ordered the lamb and it looked and tasted great. The portion was huge but so too was the price. The veal dishes were very good and the Italian bread was excellent. So if in the area I recommend giving it a try.
(4)
Michael L.
My first time dining here was very good. The service was attentive and the food very good. Of the four in our party everyone was very pleased with their entrees. I would recommend Trattoria Romano to anyone looking for an upscale Italian dining experience in South County.
(4)
Steven P.
I really want to give them two stars. It feel ALL the things they do well, and there are plenty of things....but they are all negated by the most miserable bar staff I have ever experienced. And this is not from one visit. This is from 20-30 over a two year period. I can say SO many great things about Tratoria but that one thing...being made to feel like you don't matter, that you are a nuisance, clearly not wanted at the bar. Hey, don't believe me. Go there some Th night and see how long it takes you to get served at the bar! You'll get served when the waiters are damn good and ready....and generally only when the bar tenders finish all their non-customer related work. Their bar chores come FIRST...customers are simply a nuisance they have to tolerate. Go see!
(3)
Carrie C.
I was lucky enough to get some time to go out with a friend of mine and we chose Trattoria Romana, I wasn't disappointed at all. A big plus was being able to use Open Table for our reservation, thank you Trattoria for making that so very easy for me. I was a little disappointed that the only fish they had on the menu was Tilapia, I mean really? That's not even really fish in my book. Having a fish like that on the menu seems very unprofessional for such a sophisticated place, they need to change that. They were offering a special of Backed Scrod so I went with that and it was very good. The fish seemed fresh frozen but was still excellent. They were happy to swap mashed potato for their pasta, which I had to try, sauce on the side. The meal was excellent, as was my friends, so she said. Our waitress was just OK, I needed a refill on my wine and waited a while before she noticed and that annoyed me a bit. It's not that hard to keep a wine glass full and it wasn't that busy in there so she could have been more attentive. I don't eat much at all, I mean like three bites due to medical reasons so it always appears that I don't like my food and they were very concerned and had two managers come over to ask if everything was OK after the waitress did. I said excellent the first time so either they didn't believe me or they were just be extra cautious, which isn't bad. Overall, excellent food that's a little over priced for what it is, and a fine dining atmosphere. The waitstaff could be a little better and the prices a touch better.
(4)
Tweeter A.
Perfect. Don't need to mention the bread because others have... Here is why I wish I could give more stars: 1) mom's in a walker. It was invisible to wait staff (other night in the Cove in Charlestown they were completely thrown and wanted us hidden. 2) waitress Maura. Like a foodie friend as happy to be there as we were. 3) the food. Ok, 4 through 10: the food. Veal Milanese. And I'm a New Yorker. The best Milanese this side of Tarry Lodge. Go to this restaurant. Go early and eat for 3 hours. A perfect night
(5)
Stephanie W.
Very few restaurants do everything right. This one does. The servers are attentive, the ambience is elegant yet relaxed, and the food is near perfect. Try the lasagna -- it's one of the best I've ever eaten. The pasta is as light as air, with the perfect ratio of pillowy ricotta to sauce.
(5)
Susan M.
We get take-out from here often. We love the veal parm. Wasn't the best tonight, but we will be back.
(4)
Sally S.
Have been to Trattoria several times. The service is always excellent and the food is delicious. I love the lasagna and the cannelloni. Any of the pasta is great. The large meatball appetizer is also a favorite.
(5)
Bobby G.
I've had Trattoria Romana on my list of new spots to try since I moved back to Narragansett almost two years ago. I have quite a few friends who really enjoy it, and after 6 weeks in Los Angeles, where good Italian food is about as rare as a chupacabra sighting - it seemed like a logical choice for an old friend to take me for a birthday dinner. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go 3 or 4 stars on this because of all the rave reviews I've heard in the past - but I'm going on my sole experience, and will adjust in the future if I feel like this review is unfair. Our waitress was very friendly and knowledgeable and attentive - A. The bread they bring to the table is fantastic. Crunchy crust and a soft center - top notch Italian bread like you can only get in the northeast - A+ 5 stars. We started off with a caprese special that they had prepared with burrata. The burrata was creamy and delicious and the tomatoes were nice but not the most flavorful. The light olive oil drizzle was also tasty. If the tomatoes were a bit more flavorful this would have been much better, but still delicious - A-. We both had a glass of wine and there were no complaints. I went with another special for my entree. It was a combo plate with chicken parmesan, a couple of meatballs and a bolognese manicotti. The chicken was juicy and tender and the breading was okay - but the cheese left it a bit flat. The meatballs were small to medium sized and flavored well - good, but not fantastic. The manicotti was flavorful but seemed to lack substance. Further on the down side - I woke up at 2 am with the worst heartburn I've had in months. My friend ordered the veal scalopini. She loved it and said it may even become her go-to meal there. It came with a salad on the side of the plate that was lightly dressed and had large parmesan shavings over it. The three pieces of veal were lightly breaded and fried. It did look delicious and I will probably order that the next time I go. I do have high hopes for future visits - and this was by no means a bad experience. I may just have had my expectations too high going into it.
(3)
Lisa E.
We had a nice evening at Trattoria Romana. It was a Sunday night so it was not crowded or too loud. I had asked for a 'quiet' table in my reservation, so we did wait about 10 minutes upon arrival for a quieter table. We had what appeared to be a new waiter. He was a bit nervous, but very effective and attentive. The food was fantastic, as I had expected. My BF enjoyed the bread, no surprise there. My Bolognese was excellent and the serving was more than ample. MY BF's meal was also very good. (some chicken and lemon with olives and linguine). We stayed at the table for quiet a long time, enjoyed some wine and conversation and were never rushed or pressured. Overall a great evening; we will be sure to go again.
(4)
Brittany S.
I ordered a pesto dish with chicken. Very good. Good service. Pretty restaurant. Overall a good experience!
Had dinner at the bar tonight. Audrey is a delight. Great food as always. This is as good as a restaurant gets in RI.
(5)
Amanda C.
This is for the South location. We had a party of seven come here for a birthday occasion. Two of our party didn't like their dishes- and they are not picky eaters. The service was a little slow. What was the biggest annoyance of all is the fact that they CHARGE $2 PER PERSON TO CUT A CAKE! This is not a joke. An $18 cake ended up costing $30 at the end of the night; because 6 people had a piece. I brought the cake in. The only thing they did was cut it. Are you kidding me? I will not be wasting my time or my money here ever again.
(1)
Laurie P.
A friend and I had a long day at URI orientation where our sons are headed in the fall. We were staying at the Hampton Inn, and I found this place was in walking distance. Service was attentive, and the food was really good. I had the Spaghetti Alla Vongole Veraci and my friend had the Gnocci Al Segreto Posilipo. Portions were large, and the drinks were tasty. I'm sure to be back when visiting URI.
(4)
Matt J.
What an outstanding experience! I had concerns about this restaurant because it is in an outdoor mall. Don't let that stop you, this place is amazing! We had an opportunity to sit outside to eat on a warm late summer day. The atmosphere and service were great. I loved my meal. Great place even to take my kids.
(5)
Mark P.
I was not too impressed with the service. They messed up on my order twice (first time it was something completely wrong, second time it had cheese, which I can't eat and told to my server). Since we were out of time, I had to ask for something quick...a plate of pasta with sauce. I was surprised I was just not comped for the meal, which I had to pay $15. I just would have expected them to do something for the mess up.
(1)
Chris R.
4 of us went last Saturday and ate at the bar. The bartender, Audrey, was excellent. Pleasant, smiling, knowledgeable, efficient, everything you want in a bartender/server. I split a monster meatball as an app. Served with a small salad on the same plate. It was pretty good - or so I thought. More on that later. Two of us got the Pollo Francese and it was quite tasty. Someone else had lobster rav and then oen other had the salmon special. I had one glass of Kim Crawford and shortly after getting halfway through my entree I started getting that all-over cold sweat / nausea. Uh oh. Not good. Since it came on so quickly I am pretty sure it was food-related. And since I split the meatball I don't think it was that. BUT, I was the only one that ate the small salad that came with the meatball. I was pretty sure I was going to give back what I had recently consumed right there - one way or the other. Mercifully, we live pretty close. My wife and I left and I got home just in time not to leave it all at the restaurant. I was fine the next day but boy, something I ate was not right. And for me, getting sick on something I ate makes it difficult to go back to the place I ate it. I am guessing that this is an isolated incident. The place gets great reviews and looks very clean. But, being honest, my experience was not particularly optimal. Actually, it sucked. A lot. No, I didn't ask for my meal to be taken off the check. Honestly, I was not thinking about that. I just knew I had to get out of there or make a spectacle out of myself.
(2)
Meghan M.
Not really a huge fan. The ambiance of the restaurant just doesn't match the area. It's in between a bank and a pre school. I think you can get MUCH better Italian food in the south county area. I've also heard from friends and family also not having the most pleasant experience with service, food, etc. I just feel for what it is, there's so many places you can do better at.
(2)
Robert M.
I have been to the South County location numerous times with my family. On each occasion, we received excellent service, and the food was top-notch. I will definitely come back soon!
(5)
Toby T.
I go here roughly 2x a month and love it. The food is amazing and priced really well. Large portions, great wine list, nice ambiance, great service, and very accommodating. I come here with my toddler who's basically a regular now and we've always had a great time.
(5)
Gail B.
We were looking for spot in South County that would feel special, yet not too pretentious. Trattoria Romana fit the bill quite nicely. This is a neighborhood place kicked up a notc h or two. Richard, our server, took good care of us throughout with some good suggestions. We were seated at the continuous banquette along the wall and at first I was not thrilled. But we were fortunate to have 2 separate couples on one side of us who were very pleasant and chatted a bit at times. Very pleasant. Dinner consisted of some great apps - the caprese with a soft cheese (not mozz, but not sure of the exact name) and quartered tomatoes. I prefer sliced, but this wasn't my app so I didn't care and my hubby didn't seem to either. My app was possibly the standout of the entire evening. You must try the watermelon salad this summer! Juicy watermelon, mint, feta cheese, olive oil, salt & pepper. Tangy, fresh and oh, so addictively yummy! Many people around us were having it and it seemed everyone was enjoying it. I did! Dinners were the scallop special and the chicken saltimbocca. The scallops were the only item close to a fail. Hubby thought something was off about them. My chicken was very good. Now on to the main course - desserts of course! If you do nothing else, try their housemade Limoncello. Tangy, delicious, and oh so powerful. We shared a glass with their limoncello truffle dessert and a cannoli...whew! we took leftovers home for another meal. We had a great time, but yes, I agree with other posters, it can get quite noisy. So if you're in the mood for a quiet romantic dinner, this may not be your spot. Or at least don't go on the weekend. But I do recommend you go!
(4)
Sharon G.
Nice atmosphere great food. Love the stoli doli container at the bar. Saturday night just the two of us, we didn't have to wait long and we didn't have a reservation. We will go back.
(4)
Kristina D.
This place rules. They have gluten-free pasta!! I asked if I could create my own dish of gluten-free penne with basil pesto sauce and shaved Parmesan and they totally hooked it up. By "they" I mean Jeremy, who could and should win the Server of the Year award, if there were such a thing. He was informative, but charming; attentive, but cool. He really had the timing just right. My husband got the chicken parmigiana and it was outstanding. My brother-in-law got the osso bucco special and it too was to die for. Loved the vibe... dim lighting, leather upholstered booths (in good condition), white, linen table cloth and napkins. Classic and tasteful. I hope to go back next time I'm in town! It's the perfect place to go for date night!
(5)
Mike L.
The atmosphere is terrific, especially in the bar area with the beautiful mahogany wood work, the wine racks and nice bar. No expense was spared on decor. The food is the best you will find anywhere in RI (including Federal Hill). Everything on the veal menu is incredible, not to mention reasonably priced for the good portion. The seafood menu is impressive as well but not quite the value imo. This is a superb restaurant that anyone who appreciates good Italian food in a great atmosphere will love. If you research the owner's background it is no surprise this is a gem.
(5)
christina P.
Good food, large portions, ambiance a little cheesy but nice outdoor seating.... reasonable prices, very good bread. All in all I will give this restaurant a B+
(4)
Kristi L.
After visiting the Lincoln, RI location I wanted to give the South County Commons spot a whirl. The menus are very similar, and both offer great options for our gluten free friends. That said, it's $2 extra for gf pasta, and $3 extra for gf bread crumbs....so if you are gluten adverse I recommend not ordering gf chicken parm with pasta otherwise you're fronting an extra $5!
(4)
Kimberly S.
Service was great and delicious food. Try the lobster mac and cheese!
(4)
Helen P.
We had another great meal there last Friday night. I loved the chicken sorrentino. My family was really pleased with their selection as well. Nice ambience. I just wish restaurants would do more to manage the noise. Service was attentive but not intrusive or fussy.
(5)
Tom C.
I have had the luck to come to this restaurant several times over the past two years. Have never been disappointed until last night. They just brought our food too quickly and our experience was over too fast. I know usually we are complaining the service is too slow. My wife and I sat at the bar with Audrey who is awesome and personable, but not in your face. The food was excellently prepared and the salad wedge app was fantastic. The atmosphere is casual. The clientele is very friendly and we met several new friends while we say and ate and enjoyed out cocktails. The exterior is deceiving certainly a must try when in the area !
(4)
Judith R.
I got very ill from the clam sauce at this restaurant. I've had good meals in the past but this was a truly awful experience. If you go, avoid the seafood.
(1)
Melissa D.
Cannot believe that this place has only 3 stars! We have been here 2 times for our night away from our 3 kids. Keep in mind we are never happy where ever we go. We always have something to complain about some might say we are picky but when you are spending your hard earned money everything should be stellar. Trattoria Romana is as I told the waiter and one of the owners this place is belligerently good! There are 3 things for a restaurant to be good 1. Good Service 2. Good food 3. Owners that care and have their hand in the work as well Trattoria Romana has all the above and more We LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! Go ahead try it and thank me later!
(5)
Simon B.
Excellent! I've been here 4 times in various seasons and it has never disappointed. The food is absolutely terrific, including the seasonal specialties. The real treat is to sit outside as the sun is setting during the summertime and enjoy the escargot platter. I've taken my girlfriend, parents, and friends here, and everyone has really enjoyed it. The wait staff was kind, friendly, and quick, which was appreciated. Also, they were very knowledgeable about the menu and ingredients, so my vegetarian friend could just as well as everyone else. I've tried something from every category on their menu and they have all been really enjoyable, so you can't really go wrong no matter what you order. Inside, it's a bit loud (as some folks have mentioned), but you can tell everyone is enjoying themselves, so it's not a "bad" loud. If I could eat here every day, I would!
(5)
AJ H.
We love this restaurant! We have been coming here since it opened. Everything on the menu is delicious. We usually order from the list of specials which is plentiful. The quality of the food and prices can't be beat by any other restaurant here in south county. We have even ordered take out which was packaged to perfection! Maura is an exceptional server and everyone takes time to ensure you are satisfied with your meal.
(5)
Jennifer C.
This is my favorite restaurant. We are originally from Cumberland and always frequented the Lincoln location. We recently relocated to south county. This is my 2'nd trip to trats down here. What a let down! This review is only for s county location and for this visit. The service was horrid!! This is by far the worst service I ever had. My drink was terrible and I felt like I just wasted $80 on my bill. There was a party of 7 next to us and we were shoved in a corner table behind them and ignored. Our waiter stood at their table chit chatting and discussing their overlooked seafood while holding out drinks for. No less than 4-5 minutes. At one point I jokingly reached toward my drink as if to grab it. The waiter eventually replaced my drink and said Audrey made it Ns it was significantly better! I am not sure we will be back to this location. The service made me feel subpar to the large group. I felt treated like a 2nd rate citizen! I tried to be nice. But the waiter was odd and rubbed me the wrong way. Plus I had to continually flag him down!
(2)
Nev K.
this is a terrific, Italian restaurant. I'm amazed by the food and thrilled by the service. The menu is EXTENSIVE...and then they have many, many specials each and every day. The bread basket includes some of the best, tasty bread I've ever had. I'm a fan of the penne with basil pesto sauce. The antipasta plate is different and extraordinary each time. This delightful restaurant gives the impression that you are dining with their family. A wonderful experience!!
(4)
Emma N.
We couldn't get a reservation or a seat in the dining room, so we decided to try the bar. It was great. We met several interesting people, enjoyed banter with the bar tenders and ate the delicious food. We each had the caprese salad - not the best idea in February since tomatoes aren't in season. Mozzarella was great, but the tomatoes were meaty (belch!). The gnocchi was good and very cheesy, but a bit undercooked. My husband's veal saltimbocca was delicious. The molten lava cake was yummy, but too small to split. Overall, I enjoyed our dining experience and meal at Trattoria Romana. I'd chose different items next time though.
(4)
Kathy D.
It's gotten better. When they first opened I ordered lobster mac & cheese which got sent back. Sauce was runny & not at all creamy. I'm not a big fan of Italian food so that limits me. I also refuse to eat veal & they use that in their meatballs. We've been back 4 times and each time was an improvement. The service was great but it's noisy. I don't understand why people have to be so loud. I wouldn't suggest it for a romantic dinner unlike Bouchards in Newport where it's extremely classy & you can hear a pin drop. Considering it's close to the cinema the convenience makes it worthwhile as the only other places to dine in The South County Commons are Applebee's & Shogun. Also, someone else called this place 'upscale'. I have to disagree. They don't even require a jacket and any place that has a TV does not qualify as upscale. jmo
(3)
James T.
We have been to Trattoria Romana Bar and Grill twice now. Each time the service and food has been very good. Their pasta was very fresh. This is some of the best Italian food we have had in South County.
(4)
Brian O.
We live in California where the Italian food is terrible so whenever we visit New England we're constantly searching for good Italian up and down the coast. We really liked Trattoria Romana - the ambience, food, and service were excellent. We've had a lot of Italian food in South County and this was the best in my opinion. The bar room was VERY loud and crowded, but fortunately we sat in the dining room. Our server Jeremy was absolutely stellar - knowledgeable and helpful in making our wine and food selections. Our table loved the pappardelle bolognese, baked rigatoni, scallops and shrimp on capellini in the most amazing rose sauce, and a special ravioli with short rib. We'll be back for sure.
(5)
Marina F.
I have been to Tratoria Romana South many times, and I must admit, without going to Federal Hill in Providence, this is as good as it gets in South County. If you enjoy the bustling night scene and love restaurants like Siena, you will love Tratoria Romana. It is true that reservations are a bit tough to make. If you are set on going there, make sure to make a reservation on Open Table a week ahead. However, if you enjoy the scene almost as much as you enjoy the food, your best bet is to score a seat at the bar, just like we did last night at 8.30. We ordered a few martinis ($8.25 for Grey goose is a steal!), an antipasti plate ($10 for a variety of cold cuts and cheeses), a pizza margarita with fresh tomatoes and mozzarella ($10) which was to die for, and a Caesar salad. I love how in upscale restaurants you can tell your server that you are sharing a salad, and they bring it out already separated. Some people complain about the noise level, but I think that's what makes a restaurant vibrant. If you wanted a "quiet"" place, eat in the comfort of your home. Other delicious things on the menu are the mussels. For $8 you get a very generous heap, and may want to, as I did, eat the sauce with a spoon. The sauce is slightly spicy and rich, really amazing. If you do love seafood, you should also try their Fruti Di Mare Posilipo. The seafood is really tender, and the pasta is made fresh daily. be prepare to take a lot home. Their portions are very generous. On the other hand, daily specials seem a little too pricey, but if you are a regular at the restaurant, you may want to stay clear of them. I personally, do not feel comfortable spending $15 on an appetizer, especially if you have other choices all under $10. Overall, this is my favorite restaurant in South County!
(4)
Sandy C.
Had a great evening...actually been there twice in the last week. Maura, our waitress, couldn t have been nicer...concerned about a bottle of wine we ordered that she felt had too much sediment...she opened another bottle, but it had more sediment. I just said....lets try it...it was fine!!! but she was willing to change it up for us. THEN, we happened to see some very dear friends dining with another couple...all four dressed in red holiday sweaters....we couldn t resist and had Maura quickly bring them four "slippery red headed sluts". This made for lots of laughter and surprised them, totally! Food was terrific....a very nice experience!
(5)
Heather D.
Really incredible food and Jeremy was great!
(4)
Rich T.
Restaurant was excellent. Food was made with quality ingredents and very tasty. Lasagna was great............served with extra sauce and meatballs.... Prices were reasonable, average mid to high teens.... no big city prices..... Service was also very good, attentive to us , and check came quickly when we finished. We ate in the dining room, that had beautiful high ceiling. Saw the bar area and was impressed by the huge screen tv over bar,,,, Will be back to watch sporting events there, The dining area was separate from bar area so it was peaceful. One quirk that we noticed was that the restrooms didn't provide paper towels or hand towels. The electronic hand dryer is just not right in a quality restaurant, Noticed the huge space heaters on outside patio, Would defintely be great place for outside dining....
(5)
Mark C.
We ate here on 7/5/12 and had a very good meal ad is always the case. Our waiter dropped a drink on the table which resulted in a broken glass. Several staff members came right over and helped. Within a few minutes they cleared and set a new table for us and all was well. Great food great staff. We will be back again.
(4)
SC S.
One of the best Italian restaurants I have visited! Outstanding service from the start when we walked through the doors. I enjoyed the Vitello Arragosta which I may even order again. The fresh Maine lobster garnish with the veal medallions was an enjoyable treat. I will defiantly be visit again soon!
(5)
Dennis G.
was there sunday 10-13 i sat at the bar after my second glass of wine and asking the bartender if there was a problem with my order twice i approached the manger, i asked if there was a problem with the food coming out of the kitchen he stared at me and i never seen him again. when the food came out it was just ok at best. when i asked where was my appetizer was she stated that she forgot, with 3 people at the bar i asked how she could have forgotten when i asked her twice if there was a problem. ugh not going back ever
(1)
Megan K.
We went here on Saturday 6/22 because I'd been given a gift card. Our server was the famous Jeremy, and he did do a good job. The beer list is really bad, but I guess most customers probably order wine. I liked the restaurant and the food was pretty good, but I'm mostly writing this review hoping the manager will see my suggestion that if you're going to go to the trouble of making your own pasta, surely you can also put decent olives on your antipasto and make the croutons for your Caesar salad? That said, the place won't knock your socks off, but it's nice and the food is good.
(3)
Kenneth S.
My fiancee had her Grad School graduation dinner here. The food itself was good however the wait staff tried to rush us out after we had booked the table two months in advance. When we commented to the manager about the rude staff member all he did was defend his staff member. There is no need to be rude to patrons of your establishment directly.
(2)
Chris S.
Solid food good atmosphere nice price points!
(4)
Howard W.
very good food. excellent service and as others have said it's the best around...
(4)
Nicole A.
Having enjoyed the Trattoria in Lincoln on several occasions, it was a no brainer to book my mother inlaw's birthday dinner here. We had an exceptional time. The server was attentive but not overbearing, the bar staff were super friendly and the food was FANTASTIC! My husband had the cannelloni which he thankfully couldn't finish so I enjoyed it the next day for lunch. It was out of this world. I had the spaghetti with pesto and grilled chicken which the kitchen kindly substituted pappardelle pasta for the spaghetti. I loved it. Our entire party enjoyed their meals which included Chicken Rossinni, Fruitti Di MAre, Sea Bass and Eggplant Parm.
(4)
Marina F.
I have been to Tratoria Romana South many times, and I must admit, without going to Federal Hill in Providence, this is as good as it gets in South County. If you enjoy the bustling night scene and love restaurants like Siena, you will love Tratoria Romana. It is true that reservations are a bit tough to make. If you are set on going there, make sure to make a reservation on Open Table a week ahead. However, if you enjoy the scene almost as much as you enjoy the food, your best bet is to score a seat at the bar, just like we did last night at 8.30. We ordered a few martinis ($8.25 for Grey goose is a steal!), an antipasti plate ($10 for a variety of cold cuts and cheeses), a pizza margarita with fresh tomatoes and mozzarella ($10) which was to die for, and a Caesar salad. I love how in upscale restaurants you can tell your server that you are sharing a salad, and they bring it out already separated. Some people complain about the noise level, but I think that's what makes a restaurant vibrant. If you wanted a "quiet"" place, eat in the comfort of your home. Other delicious things on the menu are the mussels. For $8 you get a very generous heap, and may want to, as I did, eat the sauce with a spoon. The sauce is slightly spicy and rich, really amazing. If you do love seafood, you should also try their Fruti Di Mare Posilipo. The seafood is really tender, and the pasta is made fresh daily. be prepare to take a lot home. Their portions are very generous. On the other hand, daily specials seem a little too pricey, but if you are a regular at the restaurant, you may want to stay clear of them. I personally, do not feel comfortable spending $15 on an appetizer, especially if you have other choices all under $10. Overall, this is my favorite restaurant in South County!
(4)
Stephanie W.
Very few restaurants do everything right. This one does. The servers are attentive, the ambience is elegant yet relaxed, and the food is near perfect. Try the lasagna -- it's one of the best I've ever eaten. The pasta is as light as air, with the perfect ratio of pillowy ricotta to sauce.
(5)
Susan M.
We get take-out from here often. We love the veal parm. Wasn't the best tonight, but we will be back.
(4)
Sally S.
Have been to Trattoria several times. The service is always excellent and the food is delicious. I love the lasagna and the cannelloni. Any of the pasta is great. The large meatball appetizer is also a favorite.
(5)
Tracy N.
Once again a Canova creation is amazing!! Being a regular at the family's Attleboro Ma location, I had to try this place being on vacation here. The manager Scott was a complete gentleman and when he knew it was my Birthday dinner bought us a drink. He had recommended a steak in the Ala Mama style and it was beyond fabulous!!! The bartender Ann Marie was so attentive, couldn't be more available, and accomidated all of our needs. We had the eggplant rolatini appetizer and it was enough for a meal! My boyfriend got the lobster mac and cheese and it seriously was enough for 2 people and had an entire lobster in it! The bar back was very nice as well and refilled my water 20 times and brought out bread and oil as soon as we got our menues. The prices were similar to the surrounding restaurants, atmosphere was beautiful, very clean nice bathrooms, ouside seating, enormous wine list, specialty martinis, I highly recommend trying this place!!!!
(5)
Jake C.
My girlfriend and I were in the mood for Italian and figured, based on the reviews, this place would be a high-end joint with good house-made fare. Unfortunately, we were both disappointed. The ambience was very nice and so too was our server. However, the food did not live up to expectations; it was average and bland, not at all worth the price we paid. I had a house salad with blue cheese and the dressing was definitely not "homemade" as claimed; tasted like it was store-bought right from Sysco. For entrees I had the Bucatini Al Pomodoro and she had the Sea Bass with Risotto special. The San Marzano marinara sauce on the bucatini was bland and unflavorful - seemed like it came right from a can. My gf tried it and agreed. Her see bass was good, but for literally drowning in butter, lemon and white wine sauce. No supposedly high-end restaurant should have to drown food in butter to make it taste good. On the basis of the food alone, we don't plan on returning. The ambience and staff, however, seemed quite nice.
(2)
Niki K.
Not sure why this place is so popular. True, its convenient and a nice looking place inside, nice atmosphere. I'll admit to that. But, oh the prices for such meh food. I've been here maybe 3 times, always hoping that my meal will justify the absurd prices for a strip mall restaurant, but sadly they did not. Last time out I ordered the veal prepared in the "boconcini della nona" style, which boasts veal medallions stuffed with mozzarella cheese and prosciutto. I ended up getting chicken instead of veal, but didn't say anything because somebody else was paying the bill and I didn't want to kick up a fuss. I was floored to see that not only did I not get the veal I ordered, but instead of a big, fat juicy chicken breast stuffed with mozzarella and prosciutto, I literally got 3 small chicken thighs (I cook; I know a chicken thigh when I see one) with maybe dime size pearls of mozzarella in each. All for $22.95 (or if they charged the chicken price, $20). I've been trying not to eat carbs, but I had to dip into the bread basket twice just to feel satisfied. Just a lot of hype for incredibly disappointing and overpriced food.
(2)
Tweeter A.
Perfect. Don't need to mention the bread because others have... Here is why I wish I could give more stars: 1) mom's in a walker. It was invisible to wait staff (other night in the Cove in Charlestown they were completely thrown and wanted us hidden. 2) waitress Maura. Like a foodie friend as happy to be there as we were. 3) the food. Ok, 4 through 10: the food. Veal Milanese. And I'm a New Yorker. The best Milanese this side of Tarry Lodge. Go to this restaurant. Go early and eat for 3 hours. A perfect night
(5)
Carrie C.
I was lucky enough to get some time to go out with a friend of mine and we chose Trattoria Romana, I wasn't disappointed at all. A big plus was being able to use Open Table for our reservation, thank you Trattoria for making that so very easy for me. I was a little disappointed that the only fish they had on the menu was Tilapia, I mean really? That's not even really fish in my book. Having a fish like that on the menu seems very unprofessional for such a sophisticated place, they need to change that. They were offering a special of Backed Scrod so I went with that and it was very good. The fish seemed fresh frozen but was still excellent. They were happy to swap mashed potato for their pasta, which I had to try, sauce on the side. The meal was excellent, as was my friends, so she said. Our waitress was just OK, I needed a refill on my wine and waited a while before she noticed and that annoyed me a bit. It's not that hard to keep a wine glass full and it wasn't that busy in there so she could have been more attentive. I don't eat much at all, I mean like three bites due to medical reasons so it always appears that I don't like my food and they were very concerned and had two managers come over to ask if everything was OK after the waitress did. I said excellent the first time so either they didn't believe me or they were just be extra cautious, which isn't bad. Overall, excellent food that's a little over priced for what it is, and a fine dining atmosphere. The waitstaff could be a little better and the prices a touch better.
(4)
jane y.
The place itself looks inviting and the hot bread was a good start. It went downhill from here. The veal could not have been pounded any thinner - the Milanese tasted like breaking only. I could go on, but will never return for their pricey & disappointing entrees.
(2)
Heather C.
We went for dinner and were disappointed. The sauces were bland and the food had no flavor. Their signature drink is a mojito and it was not made well. The tables were narrow. Everything but the bathroom which is nice was disappointing. We would not go back which is a shame because we were looking forward to dinner at this place.
(2)
John L.
Great food and great service...NY style Italian! You can't can't go wrong at this restaurant
(4)
Bob P.
Trattoria Romano is simply one of the better Italian restaurants in RI other than those on Federal Hill in Providence. We've been to the original in Lincoln, RI; this a smaller restaurant but equally fine. While the menu is extensive, we almost always order pasta dishes when dining at an Italian restaurant. Here the pasta is fresh, cooked perfectly and the quantities are generous to say the least. For a first course we split a Caesar salad - very fresh Romaine lettuce and a nice light lemony Caesar dressing. For entrees we had the Pollo Francese and the Pappardelle Bolognese and both were delicious. The chicken was extremely tender and served on top of capellini pasta. The Bolognese sauce was made of a nice blend of meats and clearly simmered for a long time. We'll be back when on the Narragansett area - highly recommended.
(4)
Jeffrey B.
We had dinner here for the first time this evening. If I was rating just on my dinner I would give 3 stars however the other 3 people with whom I had dinner would have given 4 or 5. The atmosphere is nice, but a little too dark. The host was welcoming and our table was ready for us. Our server was friendly and attentive. I had the sole special which was fine however the side of spaghetti carbonara was not very good. Sections of it were hard and overall too dry. One person ordered the lamb and it looked and tasted great. The portion was huge but so too was the price. The veal dishes were very good and the Italian bread was excellent. So if in the area I recommend giving it a try.
(4)
Michael L.
My first time dining here was very good. The service was attentive and the food very good. Of the four in our party everyone was very pleased with their entrees. I would recommend Trattoria Romano to anyone looking for an upscale Italian dining experience in South County.
(4)
Steven P.
I really want to give them two stars. It feel ALL the things they do well, and there are plenty of things....but they are all negated by the most miserable bar staff I have ever experienced. And this is not from one visit. This is from 20-30 over a two year period. I can say SO many great things about Tratoria but that one thing...being made to feel like you don't matter, that you are a nuisance, clearly not wanted at the bar. Hey, don't believe me. Go there some Th night and see how long it takes you to get served at the bar! You'll get served when the waiters are damn good and ready....and generally only when the bar tenders finish all their non-customer related work. Their bar chores come FIRST...customers are simply a nuisance they have to tolerate. Go see!
(3)
Bobby G.
I've had Trattoria Romana on my list of new spots to try since I moved back to Narragansett almost two years ago. I have quite a few friends who really enjoy it, and after 6 weeks in Los Angeles, where good Italian food is about as rare as a chupacabra sighting - it seemed like a logical choice for an old friend to take me for a birthday dinner. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go 3 or 4 stars on this because of all the rave reviews I've heard in the past - but I'm going on my sole experience, and will adjust in the future if I feel like this review is unfair. Our waitress was very friendly and knowledgeable and attentive - A. The bread they bring to the table is fantastic. Crunchy crust and a soft center - top notch Italian bread like you can only get in the northeast - A+ 5 stars. We started off with a caprese special that they had prepared with burrata. The burrata was creamy and delicious and the tomatoes were nice but not the most flavorful. The light olive oil drizzle was also tasty. If the tomatoes were a bit more flavorful this would have been much better, but still delicious - A-. We both had a glass of wine and there were no complaints. I went with another special for my entree. It was a combo plate with chicken parmesan, a couple of meatballs and a bolognese manicotti. The chicken was juicy and tender and the breading was okay - but the cheese left it a bit flat. The meatballs were small to medium sized and flavored well - good, but not fantastic. The manicotti was flavorful but seemed to lack substance. Further on the down side - I woke up at 2 am with the worst heartburn I've had in months. My friend ordered the veal scalopini. She loved it and said it may even become her go-to meal there. It came with a salad on the side of the plate that was lightly dressed and had large parmesan shavings over it. The three pieces of veal were lightly breaded and fried. It did look delicious and I will probably order that the next time I go. I do have high hopes for future visits - and this was by no means a bad experience. I may just have had my expectations too high going into it.
(3)
Lisa E.
We had a nice evening at Trattoria Romana. It was a Sunday night so it was not crowded or too loud. I had asked for a 'quiet' table in my reservation, so we did wait about 10 minutes upon arrival for a quieter table. We had what appeared to be a new waiter. He was a bit nervous, but very effective and attentive. The food was fantastic, as I had expected. My BF enjoyed the bread, no surprise there. My Bolognese was excellent and the serving was more than ample. MY BF's meal was also very good. (some chicken and lemon with olives and linguine). We stayed at the table for quiet a long time, enjoyed some wine and conversation and were never rushed or pressured. Overall a great evening; we will be sure to go again.
(4)
Brittany S.
I ordered a pesto dish with chicken. Very good. Good service. Pretty restaurant. Overall a good experience!
Had dinner at the bar tonight. Audrey is a delight. Great food as always. This is as good as a restaurant gets in RI.
(5)
Jenny Crai G.
I sat at the bar and ordered a house salad and the Salmone Con Aragosta. It was dim. They asked me if I wanted some bread. The bread arrived cold and hard. I think it was sourdough. I was also given a dish of olive oil with salt and pepper at the very bottom. The salad arrived. It had a couple slices of cucumbers, a couple slices of tomatoes, onion slices, olives, and lettuce. They only have three types of salad dressing. I chose the oil and vinegar option. The salmon was good. It wasn't the best salmon I've ever had, but it was decent. It was overcooked. It sat in a pool of butter, lemon, and white wine sauce. I didn't like the bearnaise sauce. The mashed potatoes were good. Also, it couldn't find it on their menu, but they gave me a small dish of zucchini and yellow squash in a marinara sauce. It was so good! Salmone Con Aragosta - fresh grilled Atlantic salmon topped with Maine lobster meat & asparagus spears sauteed in white wine & lemon. Finished with a dollop of Bearnaise. Served alongside mashed potatoes. 3.5/5 Salad 4/5 Zucchini and yellow squash - 5/5
(4)
Megan K.
We went here on Saturday 6/22 because I'd been given a gift card. Our server was the famous Jeremy, and he did do a good job. The beer list is really bad, but I guess most customers probably order wine. I liked the restaurant and the food was pretty good, but I'm mostly writing this review hoping the manager will see my suggestion that if you're going to go to the trouble of making your own pasta, surely you can also put decent olives on your antipasto and make the croutons for your Caesar salad? That said, the place won't knock your socks off, but it's nice and the food is good.
(3)
Kenneth S.
My fiancee had her Grad School graduation dinner here. The food itself was good however the wait staff tried to rush us out after we had booked the table two months in advance. When we commented to the manager about the rude staff member all he did was defend his staff member. There is no need to be rude to patrons of your establishment directly.
(2)
Nicole A.
Having enjoyed the Trattoria in Lincoln on several occasions, it was a no brainer to book my mother inlaw's birthday dinner here. We had an exceptional time. The server was attentive but not overbearing, the bar staff were super friendly and the food was FANTASTIC! My husband had the cannelloni which he thankfully couldn't finish so I enjoyed it the next day for lunch. It was out of this world. I had the spaghetti with pesto and grilled chicken which the kitchen kindly substituted pappardelle pasta for the spaghetti. I loved it. Our entire party enjoyed their meals which included Chicken Rossinni, Fruitti Di MAre, Sea Bass and Eggplant Parm.
(4)
Chris S.
Solid food good atmosphere nice price points!
(4)
Howard W.
very good food. excellent service and as others have said it's the best around...
(4)
J G.
I've been to this restaurant 4 times. If I had reviewed after my first 3 visits I would have given 4-5 stars-each time. However, my last visit (Valentine's day 2015) was a true culinary disaster. I ordered a chicken/mushroom/pasta dish in a red sauce that cost $45+. Unfortunately, the mushrooms & tomato sauce were both canned!! Seriously?! Canned, rubbery, tasteless mushrooms have no business in a "fine-dining" restaurant and if you HAVE to use canned tomatoes b/c fresh aren't in season, learn to cook to cover the canned taste. The plate was simply awful and I told our server who apologized but never offered to switch it... The asparagus that accompanied my friend's meal was as thick as his thumb and completely inedible-he sent it back. We asked for a basket of bread (as we always do) and the bread tasted as if it had been microwave reheated-several times. Those are just a few (of many) things that struck me as completely off, culinary-wise that evening. I could write more but suffice it to say that no one was happy with their meal that day. We did mention our concerns to our server but he never offered to call the manager over. He just said "I'll let both the manager & chef know". thanks, whatever... As always, the ambience was nice but at $280 + tip (for four) I need the meals to be super as well. Obviously, Something has happened in the kitchen since I first started going and if they don't manage to fix it they'll loose more than just my business. That being said, I may give it one more try just for old times sake and see if things have improved to their previous standard-which I did like. If not, too bad, R.I.P. To one of the few truly nice restaurants in South County.
(3)
Marilyn R.
Gluten-free options were great! Jose was a wonderful server. I also had the Vodka Infusion martini which I highly recommend. Next time I'll come without my 16 month-old so I can have a few!
(5)
Ashleigh C.
My husband I have been talking about going here for 2 years since we moved down to SK. When our friends from NYC came down we figured it would the perfect spot- unfortunately we were wrong. Nothing lived up to the reviews we read- chicken parm was nothing special, calamari was tough and came with plain cocktail sauce and the device was HORRIBLE. The only thing good we got was the wine and it severely overpriced. Our waitress spilled out friends beer on him and STILL charged us for it.... Don't waste ur money. We spent almost 300 and it was worth about 50.... Ur better off to walk across the street and go to Shogun.
(2)
babs c.
This is one of our favorite places to eat as a couple or with family. Either at the bar or any table with a crowd, the service is good and the food always satisfies. The servers know the specials and can make recommendations which is good, because I fall back on the same dishes - bolognese with a cabernet! We buy gift certificates for friends and family and know it's going to be well received.
(4)
David B.
Amazing rip-off. Swordfish puttanesca was mediocre - all sauce and no flavor costing almost double ($37) compared to most restaurants in larger urban areas. Glass of La Crema PNoir at $14 a robbery if one of theirs that retails $17. Chocolate gelato delish but can't make up for rest of meal. Insist to management for better food and much lower entree and wine prices or stay away.
(1)
Eleni Z.
Food is consistently good, the very best bread !!!! Service is always excellent and food is plentiful. Seafood pasta dishes always perfect as well as the veal parmesan. Will continue to enjoy eating there in the future!
(4)
Kim P.
Love this place! Have never had a bad experience here. The wait can be long on weekends, so it is best to make reservations. We ate there with a party of eight last night, including 2 children, and everyone had a great time. The salmon dish was delicious, as well as the tender veal dishes. They also serve the most delicious bread...... So crusty! And if you are lucky enough to have Mike as your waiter, expect to be served by the best.
(5)
Liz P.
Pros: lovely atmosphere, delicious food. Service for the most part was okay. Located in a little shopping mall in the Wakefield/South Kingstown area. Cons: I had to ask for my water glass to be refilled several times. Night prices were pricey although they do have a $15.95 special from 4:30-5:30 during the week, or at least M-Thurs, I believe, where you get an entree, soup/salad, and coffee or tea, which isn't awful. My mom also said her pasta was warm/hot but chicken was room temperature. I would come back here if I was in the mood for a fancy dinner but otherwise not sure. Overall I'd give it 3/5 or 3.5/5 stars though.
(3)
Amanda C.
This is for the South location. We had a party of seven come here for a birthday occasion. Two of our party didn't like their dishes- and they are not picky eaters. The service was a little slow. What was the biggest annoyance of all is the fact that they CHARGE $2 PER PERSON TO CUT A CAKE! This is not a joke. An $18 cake ended up costing $30 at the end of the night; because 6 people had a piece. I brought the cake in. The only thing they did was cut it. Are you kidding me? I will not be wasting my time or my money here ever again.
(1)
Laurie P.
A friend and I had a long day at URI orientation where our sons are headed in the fall. We were staying at the Hampton Inn, and I found this place was in walking distance. Service was attentive, and the food was really good. I had the Spaghetti Alla Vongole Veraci and my friend had the Gnocci Al Segreto Posilipo. Portions were large, and the drinks were tasty. I'm sure to be back when visiting URI.
(4)
Gail B.
We were looking for spot in South County that would feel special, yet not too pretentious. Trattoria Romana fit the bill quite nicely. This is a neighborhood place kicked up a notc h or two. Richard, our server, took good care of us throughout with some good suggestions. We were seated at the continuous banquette along the wall and at first I was not thrilled. But we were fortunate to have 2 separate couples on one side of us who were very pleasant and chatted a bit at times. Very pleasant. Dinner consisted of some great apps - the caprese with a soft cheese (not mozz, but not sure of the exact name) and quartered tomatoes. I prefer sliced, but this wasn't my app so I didn't care and my hubby didn't seem to either. My app was possibly the standout of the entire evening. You must try the watermelon salad this summer! Juicy watermelon, mint, feta cheese, olive oil, salt & pepper. Tangy, fresh and oh, so addictively yummy! Many people around us were having it and it seemed everyone was enjoying it. I did! Dinners were the scallop special and the chicken saltimbocca. The scallops were the only item close to a fail. Hubby thought something was off about them. My chicken was very good. Now on to the main course - desserts of course! If you do nothing else, try their housemade Limoncello. Tangy, delicious, and oh so powerful. We shared a glass with their limoncello truffle dessert and a cannoli...whew! we took leftovers home for another meal. We had a great time, but yes, I agree with other posters, it can get quite noisy. So if you're in the mood for a quiet romantic dinner, this may not be your spot. Or at least don't go on the weekend. But I do recommend you go!
(4)
Sharon G.
Nice atmosphere great food. Love the stoli doli container at the bar. Saturday night just the two of us, we didn't have to wait long and we didn't have a reservation. We will go back.
(4)
Kristina D.
This place rules. They have gluten-free pasta!! I asked if I could create my own dish of gluten-free penne with basil pesto sauce and shaved Parmesan and they totally hooked it up. By "they" I mean Jeremy, who could and should win the Server of the Year award, if there were such a thing. He was informative, but charming; attentive, but cool. He really had the timing just right. My husband got the chicken parmigiana and it was outstanding. My brother-in-law got the osso bucco special and it too was to die for. Loved the vibe... dim lighting, leather upholstered booths (in good condition), white, linen table cloth and napkins. Classic and tasteful. I hope to go back next time I'm in town! It's the perfect place to go for date night!
(5)
Matt J.
What an outstanding experience! I had concerns about this restaurant because it is in an outdoor mall. Don't let that stop you, this place is amazing! We had an opportunity to sit outside to eat on a warm late summer day. The atmosphere and service were great. I loved my meal. Great place even to take my kids.
(5)
Mark P.
I was not too impressed with the service. They messed up on my order twice (first time it was something completely wrong, second time it had cheese, which I can't eat and told to my server). Since we were out of time, I had to ask for something quick...a plate of pasta with sauce. I was surprised I was just not comped for the meal, which I had to pay $15. I just would have expected them to do something for the mess up.
(1)
Chris R.
4 of us went last Saturday and ate at the bar. The bartender, Audrey, was excellent. Pleasant, smiling, knowledgeable, efficient, everything you want in a bartender/server. I split a monster meatball as an app. Served with a small salad on the same plate. It was pretty good - or so I thought. More on that later. Two of us got the Pollo Francese and it was quite tasty. Someone else had lobster rav and then oen other had the salmon special. I had one glass of Kim Crawford and shortly after getting halfway through my entree I started getting that all-over cold sweat / nausea. Uh oh. Not good. Since it came on so quickly I am pretty sure it was food-related. And since I split the meatball I don't think it was that. BUT, I was the only one that ate the small salad that came with the meatball. I was pretty sure I was going to give back what I had recently consumed right there - one way or the other. Mercifully, we live pretty close. My wife and I left and I got home just in time not to leave it all at the restaurant. I was fine the next day but boy, something I ate was not right. And for me, getting sick on something I ate makes it difficult to go back to the place I ate it. I am guessing that this is an isolated incident. The place gets great reviews and looks very clean. But, being honest, my experience was not particularly optimal. Actually, it sucked. A lot. No, I didn't ask for my meal to be taken off the check. Honestly, I was not thinking about that. I just knew I had to get out of there or make a spectacle out of myself.
(2)
Meghan M.
Not really a huge fan. The ambiance of the restaurant just doesn't match the area. It's in between a bank and a pre school. I think you can get MUCH better Italian food in the south county area. I've also heard from friends and family also not having the most pleasant experience with service, food, etc. I just feel for what it is, there's so many places you can do better at.
(2)
Robert M.
I have been to the South County location numerous times with my family. On each occasion, we received excellent service, and the food was top-notch. I will definitely come back soon!
(5)
Toby T.
I go here roughly 2x a month and love it. The food is amazing and priced really well. Large portions, great wine list, nice ambiance, great service, and very accommodating. I come here with my toddler who's basically a regular now and we've always had a great time.
(5)
Sandy C.
Had a great evening...actually been there twice in the last week. Maura, our waitress, couldn t have been nicer...concerned about a bottle of wine we ordered that she felt had too much sediment...she opened another bottle, but it had more sediment. I just said....lets try it...it was fine!!! but she was willing to change it up for us. THEN, we happened to see some very dear friends dining with another couple...all four dressed in red holiday sweaters....we couldn t resist and had Maura quickly bring them four "slippery red headed sluts". This made for lots of laughter and surprised them, totally! Food was terrific....a very nice experience!
(5)
Heather D.
Really incredible food and Jeremy was great!
(4)
Mike L.
The atmosphere is terrific, especially in the bar area with the beautiful mahogany wood work, the wine racks and nice bar. No expense was spared on decor. The food is the best you will find anywhere in RI (including Federal Hill). Everything on the veal menu is incredible, not to mention reasonably priced for the good portion. The seafood menu is impressive as well but not quite the value imo. This is a superb restaurant that anyone who appreciates good Italian food in a great atmosphere will love. If you research the owner's background it is no surprise this is a gem.
(5)
christina P.
Good food, large portions, ambiance a little cheesy but nice outdoor seating.... reasonable prices, very good bread. All in all I will give this restaurant a B+
(4)
Kristi L.
After visiting the Lincoln, RI location I wanted to give the South County Commons spot a whirl. The menus are very similar, and both offer great options for our gluten free friends. That said, it's $2 extra for gf pasta, and $3 extra for gf bread crumbs....so if you are gluten adverse I recommend not ordering gf chicken parm with pasta otherwise you're fronting an extra $5!
(4)
Kimberly S.
Service was great and delicious food. Try the lobster mac and cheese!
(4)
Helen P.
We had another great meal there last Friday night. I loved the chicken sorrentino. My family was really pleased with their selection as well. Nice ambience. I just wish restaurants would do more to manage the noise. Service was attentive but not intrusive or fussy.
(5)
Tom C.
I have had the luck to come to this restaurant several times over the past two years. Have never been disappointed until last night. They just brought our food too quickly and our experience was over too fast. I know usually we are complaining the service is too slow. My wife and I sat at the bar with Audrey who is awesome and personable, but not in your face. The food was excellently prepared and the salad wedge app was fantastic. The atmosphere is casual. The clientele is very friendly and we met several new friends while we say and ate and enjoyed out cocktails. The exterior is deceiving certainly a must try when in the area !
(4)
Judith R.
I got very ill from the clam sauce at this restaurant. I've had good meals in the past but this was a truly awful experience. If you go, avoid the seafood.
(1)
Rich T.
Restaurant was excellent. Food was made with quality ingredents and very tasty. Lasagna was great............served with extra sauce and meatballs.... Prices were reasonable, average mid to high teens.... no big city prices..... Service was also very good, attentive to us , and check came quickly when we finished. We ate in the dining room, that had beautiful high ceiling. Saw the bar area and was impressed by the huge screen tv over bar,,,, Will be back to watch sporting events there, The dining area was separate from bar area so it was peaceful. One quirk that we noticed was that the restrooms didn't provide paper towels or hand towels. The electronic hand dryer is just not right in a quality restaurant, Noticed the huge space heaters on outside patio, Would defintely be great place for outside dining....
(5)
James T.
We have been to Trattoria Romana Bar and Grill twice now. Each time the service and food has been very good. Their pasta was very fresh. This is some of the best Italian food we have had in South County.
(4)
Brian O.
We live in California where the Italian food is terrible so whenever we visit New England we're constantly searching for good Italian up and down the coast. We really liked Trattoria Romana - the ambience, food, and service were excellent. We've had a lot of Italian food in South County and this was the best in my opinion. The bar room was VERY loud and crowded, but fortunately we sat in the dining room. Our server Jeremy was absolutely stellar - knowledgeable and helpful in making our wine and food selections. Our table loved the pappardelle bolognese, baked rigatoni, scallops and shrimp on capellini in the most amazing rose sauce, and a special ravioli with short rib. We'll be back for sure.
(5)
Mark C.
We ate here on 7/5/12 and had a very good meal ad is always the case. Our waiter dropped a drink on the table which resulted in a broken glass. Several staff members came right over and helped. Within a few minutes they cleared and set a new table for us and all was well. Great food great staff. We will be back again.
(4)
Melissa D.
Cannot believe that this place has only 3 stars! We have been here 2 times for our night away from our 3 kids. Keep in mind we are never happy where ever we go. We always have something to complain about some might say we are picky but when you are spending your hard earned money everything should be stellar. Trattoria Romana is as I told the waiter and one of the owners this place is belligerently good! There are 3 things for a restaurant to be good 1. Good Service 2. Good food 3. Owners that care and have their hand in the work as well Trattoria Romana has all the above and more We LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! Go ahead try it and thank me later!
(5)
Simon B.
Excellent! I've been here 4 times in various seasons and it has never disappointed. The food is absolutely terrific, including the seasonal specialties. The real treat is to sit outside as the sun is setting during the summertime and enjoy the escargot platter. I've taken my girlfriend, parents, and friends here, and everyone has really enjoyed it. The wait staff was kind, friendly, and quick, which was appreciated. Also, they were very knowledgeable about the menu and ingredients, so my vegetarian friend could just as well as everyone else. I've tried something from every category on their menu and they have all been really enjoyable, so you can't really go wrong no matter what you order. Inside, it's a bit loud (as some folks have mentioned), but you can tell everyone is enjoying themselves, so it's not a "bad" loud. If I could eat here every day, I would!
(5)
AJ H.
We love this restaurant! We have been coming here since it opened. Everything on the menu is delicious. We usually order from the list of specials which is plentiful. The quality of the food and prices can't be beat by any other restaurant here in south county. We have even ordered take out which was packaged to perfection! Maura is an exceptional server and everyone takes time to ensure you are satisfied with your meal.
(5)
Jennifer C.
This is my favorite restaurant. We are originally from Cumberland and always frequented the Lincoln location. We recently relocated to south county. This is my 2'nd trip to trats down here. What a let down! This review is only for s county location and for this visit. The service was horrid!! This is by far the worst service I ever had. My drink was terrible and I felt like I just wasted $80 on my bill. There was a party of 7 next to us and we were shoved in a corner table behind them and ignored. Our waiter stood at their table chit chatting and discussing their overlooked seafood while holding out drinks for. No less than 4-5 minutes. At one point I jokingly reached toward my drink as if to grab it. The waiter eventually replaced my drink and said Audrey made it Ns it was significantly better! I am not sure we will be back to this location. The service made me feel subpar to the large group. I felt treated like a 2nd rate citizen! I tried to be nice. But the waiter was odd and rubbed me the wrong way. Plus I had to continually flag him down!
(2)
Nev K.
this is a terrific, Italian restaurant. I'm amazed by the food and thrilled by the service. The menu is EXTENSIVE...and then they have many, many specials each and every day. The bread basket includes some of the best, tasty bread I've ever had. I'm a fan of the penne with basil pesto sauce. The antipasta plate is different and extraordinary each time. This delightful restaurant gives the impression that you are dining with their family. A wonderful experience!!
(4)
Emma N.
We couldn't get a reservation or a seat in the dining room, so we decided to try the bar. It was great. We met several interesting people, enjoyed banter with the bar tenders and ate the delicious food. We each had the caprese salad - not the best idea in February since tomatoes aren't in season. Mozzarella was great, but the tomatoes were meaty (belch!). The gnocchi was good and very cheesy, but a bit undercooked. My husband's veal saltimbocca was delicious. The molten lava cake was yummy, but too small to split. Overall, I enjoyed our dining experience and meal at Trattoria Romana. I'd chose different items next time though.
(4)
Kathy D.
It's gotten better. When they first opened I ordered lobster mac & cheese which got sent back. Sauce was runny & not at all creamy. I'm not a big fan of Italian food so that limits me. I also refuse to eat veal & they use that in their meatballs. We've been back 4 times and each time was an improvement. The service was great but it's noisy. I don't understand why people have to be so loud. I wouldn't suggest it for a romantic dinner unlike Bouchards in Newport where it's extremely classy & you can hear a pin drop. Considering it's close to the cinema the convenience makes it worthwhile as the only other places to dine in The South County Commons are Applebee's & Shogun. Also, someone else called this place 'upscale'. I have to disagree. They don't even require a jacket and any place that has a TV does not qualify as upscale. jmo
(3)
SC S.
One of the best Italian restaurants I have visited! Outstanding service from the start when we walked through the doors. I enjoyed the Vitello Arragosta which I may even order again. The fresh Maine lobster garnish with the veal medallions was an enjoyable treat. I will defiantly be visit again soon!
(5)
Dennis G.
was there sunday 10-13 i sat at the bar after my second glass of wine and asking the bartender if there was a problem with my order twice i approached the manger, i asked if there was a problem with the food coming out of the kitchen he stared at me and i never seen him again. when the food came out it was just ok at best. when i asked where was my appetizer was she stated that she forgot, with 3 people at the bar i asked how she could have forgotten when i asked her twice if there was a problem. ugh not going back ever
(1)
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Address :71 S County Commons Way
Wakefield, RI, 02879
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Loud Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : No Best Nights : Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes 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.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Jenny Crai G.
I sat at the bar and ordered a house salad and the Salmone Con Aragosta. It was dim. They asked me if I wanted some bread. The bread arrived cold and hard. I think it was sourdough. I was also given a dish of olive oil with salt and pepper at the very bottom. The salad arrived. It had a couple slices of cucumbers, a couple slices of tomatoes, onion slices, olives, and lettuce. They only have three types of salad dressing. I chose the oil and vinegar option. The salmon was good. It wasn't the best salmon I've ever had, but it was decent. It was overcooked. It sat in a pool of butter, lemon, and white wine sauce. I didn't like the bearnaise sauce. The mashed potatoes were good. Also, it couldn't find it on their menu, but they gave me a small dish of zucchini and yellow squash in a marinara sauce. It was so good! Salmone Con Aragosta - fresh grilled Atlantic salmon topped with Maine lobster meat & asparagus spears sauteed in white wine & lemon. Finished with a dollop of Bearnaise. Served alongside mashed potatoes. 3.5/5 Salad 4/5 Zucchini and yellow squash - 5/5
(4)J G.
I've been to this restaurant 4 times. If I had reviewed after my first 3 visits I would have given 4-5 stars-each time. However, my last visit (Valentine's day 2015) was a true culinary disaster. I ordered a chicken/mushroom/pasta dish in a red sauce that cost $45+. Unfortunately, the mushrooms & tomato sauce were both canned!! Seriously?! Canned, rubbery, tasteless mushrooms have no business in a "fine-dining" restaurant and if you HAVE to use canned tomatoes b/c fresh aren't in season, learn to cook to cover the canned taste. The plate was simply awful and I told our server who apologized but never offered to switch it... The asparagus that accompanied my friend's meal was as thick as his thumb and completely inedible-he sent it back. We asked for a basket of bread (as we always do) and the bread tasted as if it had been microwave reheated-several times. Those are just a few (of many) things that struck me as completely off, culinary-wise that evening. I could write more but suffice it to say that no one was happy with their meal that day. We did mention our concerns to our server but he never offered to call the manager over. He just said "I'll let both the manager & chef know". thanks, whatever... As always, the ambience was nice but at $280 + tip (for four) I need the meals to be super as well. Obviously, Something has happened in the kitchen since I first started going and if they don't manage to fix it they'll loose more than just my business. That being said, I may give it one more try just for old times sake and see if things have improved to their previous standard-which I did like. If not, too bad, R.I.P. To one of the few truly nice restaurants in South County.
(3)Marilyn R.
Gluten-free options were great! Jose was a wonderful server. I also had the Vodka Infusion martini which I highly recommend. Next time I'll come without my 16 month-old so I can have a few!
(5)Jenny Crai G.
I sat at the bar and ordered a house salad and the Salmone Con Aragosta. It was dim. They asked me if I wanted some bread. The bread arrived cold and hard. I think it was sourdough. I was also given a dish of olive oil with salt and pepper at the very bottom. The salad arrived. It had a couple slices of cucumbers, a couple slices of tomatoes, onion slices, olives, and lettuce. They only have three types of salad dressing. I chose the oil and vinegar option. The salmon was good. It wasn't the best salmon I've ever had, but it was decent. It was overcooked. It sat in a pool of butter, lemon, and white wine sauce. I didn't like the bearnaise sauce. The mashed potatoes were good. Also, it couldn't find it on their menu, but they gave me a small dish of zucchini and yellow squash in a marinara sauce. It was so good! Salmone Con Aragosta - fresh grilled Atlantic salmon topped with Maine lobster meat & asparagus spears sauteed in white wine & lemon. Finished with a dollop of Bearnaise. Served alongside mashed potatoes. 3.5/5 Salad 4/5 Zucchini and yellow squash - 5/5
(4)J G.
I've been to this restaurant 4 times. If I had reviewed after my first 3 visits I would have given 4-5 stars-each time. However, my last visit (Valentine's day 2015) was a true culinary disaster. I ordered a chicken/mushroom/pasta dish in a red sauce that cost $45+. Unfortunately, the mushrooms & tomato sauce were both canned!! Seriously?! Canned, rubbery, tasteless mushrooms have no business in a "fine-dining" restaurant and if you HAVE to use canned tomatoes b/c fresh aren't in season, learn to cook to cover the canned taste. The plate was simply awful and I told our server who apologized but never offered to switch it... The asparagus that accompanied my friend's meal was as thick as his thumb and completely inedible-he sent it back. We asked for a basket of bread (as we always do) and the bread tasted as if it had been microwave reheated-several times. Those are just a few (of many) things that struck me as completely off, culinary-wise that evening. I could write more but suffice it to say that no one was happy with their meal that day. We did mention our concerns to our server but he never offered to call the manager over. He just said "I'll let both the manager & chef know". thanks, whatever... As always, the ambience was nice but at $280 + tip (for four) I need the meals to be super as well. Obviously, Something has happened in the kitchen since I first started going and if they don't manage to fix it they'll loose more than just my business. That being said, I may give it one more try just for old times sake and see if things have improved to their previous standard-which I did like. If not, too bad, R.I.P. To one of the few truly nice restaurants in South County.
(3)Marilyn R.
Gluten-free options were great! Jose was a wonderful server. I also had the Vodka Infusion martini which I highly recommend. Next time I'll come without my 16 month-old so I can have a few!
(5)Chris R.
4 of us went last Saturday and ate at the bar. The bartender, Audrey, was excellent. Pleasant, smiling, knowledgeable, efficient, everything you want in a bartender/server. I split a monster meatball as an app. Served with a small salad on the same plate. It was pretty good - or so I thought. More on that later. Two of us got the Pollo Francese and it was quite tasty. Someone else had lobster rav and then oen other had the salmon special. I had one glass of Kim Crawford and shortly after getting halfway through my entree I started getting that all-over cold sweat / nausea. Uh oh. Not good. Since it came on so quickly I am pretty sure it was food-related. And since I split the meatball I don't think it was that. BUT, I was the only one that ate the small salad that came with the meatball. I was pretty sure I was going to give back what I had recently consumed right there - one way or the other. Mercifully, we live pretty close. My wife and I left and I got home just in time not to leave it all at the restaurant. I was fine the next day but boy, something I ate was not right. And for me, getting sick on something I ate makes it difficult to go back to the place I ate it. I am guessing that this is an isolated incident. The place gets great reviews and looks very clean. But, being honest, my experience was not particularly optimal. Actually, it sucked. A lot. No, I didn't ask for my meal to be taken off the check. Honestly, I was not thinking about that. I just knew I had to get out of there or make a spectacle out of myself.
(2)Meghan M.
Not really a huge fan. The ambiance of the restaurant just doesn't match the area. It's in between a bank and a pre school. I think you can get MUCH better Italian food in the south county area. I've also heard from friends and family also not having the most pleasant experience with service, food, etc. I just feel for what it is, there's so many places you can do better at.
(2)Ashleigh C.
My husband I have been talking about going here for 2 years since we moved down to SK. When our friends from NYC came down we figured it would the perfect spot- unfortunately we were wrong. Nothing lived up to the reviews we read- chicken parm was nothing special, calamari was tough and came with plain cocktail sauce and the device was HORRIBLE. The only thing good we got was the wine and it severely overpriced. Our waitress spilled out friends beer on him and STILL charged us for it.... Don't waste ur money. We spent almost 300 and it was worth about 50.... Ur better off to walk across the street and go to Shogun.
(2)babs c.
This is one of our favorite places to eat as a couple or with family. Either at the bar or any table with a crowd, the service is good and the food always satisfies. The servers know the specials and can make recommendations which is good, because I fall back on the same dishes - bolognese with a cabernet! We buy gift certificates for friends and family and know it's going to be well received.
(4)Niki K.
Not sure why this place is so popular. True, its convenient and a nice looking place inside, nice atmosphere. I'll admit to that. But, oh the prices for such meh food. I've been here maybe 3 times, always hoping that my meal will justify the absurd prices for a strip mall restaurant, but sadly they did not. Last time out I ordered the veal prepared in the "boconcini della nona" style, which boasts veal medallions stuffed with mozzarella cheese and prosciutto. I ended up getting chicken instead of veal, but didn't say anything because somebody else was paying the bill and I didn't want to kick up a fuss. I was floored to see that not only did I not get the veal I ordered, but instead of a big, fat juicy chicken breast stuffed with mozzarella and prosciutto, I literally got 3 small chicken thighs (I cook; I know a chicken thigh when I see one) with maybe dime size pearls of mozzarella in each. All for $22.95 (or if they charged the chicken price, $20). I've been trying not to eat carbs, but I had to dip into the bread basket twice just to feel satisfied. Just a lot of hype for incredibly disappointing and overpriced food.
(2)jane y.
The place itself looks inviting and the hot bread was a good start. It went downhill from here. The veal could not have been pounded any thinner - the Milanese tasted like breaking only. I could go on, but will never return for their pricey & disappointing entrees.
(2)Heather C.
We went for dinner and were disappointed. The sauces were bland and the food had no flavor. Their signature drink is a mojito and it was not made well. The tables were narrow. Everything but the bathroom which is nice was disappointing. We would not go back which is a shame because we were looking forward to dinner at this place.
(2)John L.
Great food and great service...NY style Italian! You can't can't go wrong at this restaurant
(4)Tracy N.
Once again a Canova creation is amazing!! Being a regular at the family's Attleboro Ma location, I had to try this place being on vacation here. The manager Scott was a complete gentleman and when he knew it was my Birthday dinner bought us a drink. He had recommended a steak in the Ala Mama style and it was beyond fabulous!!! The bartender Ann Marie was so attentive, couldn't be more available, and accomidated all of our needs. We had the eggplant rolatini appetizer and it was enough for a meal! My boyfriend got the lobster mac and cheese and it seriously was enough for 2 people and had an entire lobster in it! The bar back was very nice as well and refilled my water 20 times and brought out bread and oil as soon as we got our menues. The prices were similar to the surrounding restaurants, atmosphere was beautiful, very clean nice bathrooms, ouside seating, enormous wine list, specialty martinis, I highly recommend trying this place!!!!
(5)Jake C.
My girlfriend and I were in the mood for Italian and figured, based on the reviews, this place would be a high-end joint with good house-made fare. Unfortunately, we were both disappointed. The ambience was very nice and so too was our server. However, the food did not live up to expectations; it was average and bland, not at all worth the price we paid. I had a house salad with blue cheese and the dressing was definitely not "homemade" as claimed; tasted like it was store-bought right from Sysco. For entrees I had the Bucatini Al Pomodoro and she had the Sea Bass with Risotto special. The San Marzano marinara sauce on the bucatini was bland and unflavorful - seemed like it came right from a can. My gf tried it and agreed. Her see bass was good, but for literally drowning in butter, lemon and white wine sauce. No supposedly high-end restaurant should have to drown food in butter to make it taste good. On the basis of the food alone, we don't plan on returning. The ambience and staff, however, seemed quite nice.
(2)David B.
Amazing rip-off. Swordfish puttanesca was mediocre - all sauce and no flavor costing almost double ($37) compared to most restaurants in larger urban areas. Glass of La Crema PNoir at $14 a robbery if one of theirs that retails $17. Chocolate gelato delish but can't make up for rest of meal. Insist to management for better food and much lower entree and wine prices or stay away.
(1)Eleni Z.
Food is consistently good, the very best bread !!!! Service is always excellent and food is plentiful. Seafood pasta dishes always perfect as well as the veal parmesan. Will continue to enjoy eating there in the future!
(4)Kim P.
Love this place! Have never had a bad experience here. The wait can be long on weekends, so it is best to make reservations. We ate there with a party of eight last night, including 2 children, and everyone had a great time. The salmon dish was delicious, as well as the tender veal dishes. They also serve the most delicious bread...... So crusty! And if you are lucky enough to have Mike as your waiter, expect to be served by the best.
(5)Liz P.
Pros: lovely atmosphere, delicious food. Service for the most part was okay. Located in a little shopping mall in the Wakefield/South Kingstown area. Cons: I had to ask for my water glass to be refilled several times. Night prices were pricey although they do have a $15.95 special from 4:30-5:30 during the week, or at least M-Thurs, I believe, where you get an entree, soup/salad, and coffee or tea, which isn't awful. My mom also said her pasta was warm/hot but chicken was room temperature. I would come back here if I was in the mood for a fancy dinner but otherwise not sure. Overall I'd give it 3/5 or 3.5/5 stars though.
(3)Bob P.
Trattoria Romano is simply one of the better Italian restaurants in RI other than those on Federal Hill in Providence. We've been to the original in Lincoln, RI; this a smaller restaurant but equally fine. While the menu is extensive, we almost always order pasta dishes when dining at an Italian restaurant. Here the pasta is fresh, cooked perfectly and the quantities are generous to say the least. For a first course we split a Caesar salad - very fresh Romaine lettuce and a nice light lemony Caesar dressing. For entrees we had the Pollo Francese and the Pappardelle Bolognese and both were delicious. The chicken was extremely tender and served on top of capellini pasta. The Bolognese sauce was made of a nice blend of meats and clearly simmered for a long time. We'll be back when on the Narragansett area - highly recommended.
(4)Jeffrey B.
We had dinner here for the first time this evening. If I was rating just on my dinner I would give 3 stars however the other 3 people with whom I had dinner would have given 4 or 5. The atmosphere is nice, but a little too dark. The host was welcoming and our table was ready for us. Our server was friendly and attentive. I had the sole special which was fine however the side of spaghetti carbonara was not very good. Sections of it were hard and overall too dry. One person ordered the lamb and it looked and tasted great. The portion was huge but so too was the price. The veal dishes were very good and the Italian bread was excellent. So if in the area I recommend giving it a try.
(4)Michael L.
My first time dining here was very good. The service was attentive and the food very good. Of the four in our party everyone was very pleased with their entrees. I would recommend Trattoria Romano to anyone looking for an upscale Italian dining experience in South County.
(4)Steven P.
I really want to give them two stars. It feel ALL the things they do well, and there are plenty of things....but they are all negated by the most miserable bar staff I have ever experienced. And this is not from one visit. This is from 20-30 over a two year period. I can say SO many great things about Tratoria but that one thing...being made to feel like you don't matter, that you are a nuisance, clearly not wanted at the bar. Hey, don't believe me. Go there some Th night and see how long it takes you to get served at the bar! You'll get served when the waiters are damn good and ready....and generally only when the bar tenders finish all their non-customer related work. Their bar chores come FIRST...customers are simply a nuisance they have to tolerate. Go see!
(3)Carrie C.
I was lucky enough to get some time to go out with a friend of mine and we chose Trattoria Romana, I wasn't disappointed at all. A big plus was being able to use Open Table for our reservation, thank you Trattoria for making that so very easy for me. I was a little disappointed that the only fish they had on the menu was Tilapia, I mean really? That's not even really fish in my book. Having a fish like that on the menu seems very unprofessional for such a sophisticated place, they need to change that. They were offering a special of Backed Scrod so I went with that and it was very good. The fish seemed fresh frozen but was still excellent. They were happy to swap mashed potato for their pasta, which I had to try, sauce on the side. The meal was excellent, as was my friends, so she said. Our waitress was just OK, I needed a refill on my wine and waited a while before she noticed and that annoyed me a bit. It's not that hard to keep a wine glass full and it wasn't that busy in there so she could have been more attentive. I don't eat much at all, I mean like three bites due to medical reasons so it always appears that I don't like my food and they were very concerned and had two managers come over to ask if everything was OK after the waitress did. I said excellent the first time so either they didn't believe me or they were just be extra cautious, which isn't bad. Overall, excellent food that's a little over priced for what it is, and a fine dining atmosphere. The waitstaff could be a little better and the prices a touch better.
(4)Tweeter A.
Perfect. Don't need to mention the bread because others have... Here is why I wish I could give more stars: 1) mom's in a walker. It was invisible to wait staff (other night in the Cove in Charlestown they were completely thrown and wanted us hidden. 2) waitress Maura. Like a foodie friend as happy to be there as we were. 3) the food. Ok, 4 through 10: the food. Veal Milanese. And I'm a New Yorker. The best Milanese this side of Tarry Lodge. Go to this restaurant. Go early and eat for 3 hours. A perfect night
(5)Stephanie W.
Very few restaurants do everything right. This one does. The servers are attentive, the ambience is elegant yet relaxed, and the food is near perfect. Try the lasagna -- it's one of the best I've ever eaten. The pasta is as light as air, with the perfect ratio of pillowy ricotta to sauce.
(5)Susan M.
We get take-out from here often. We love the veal parm. Wasn't the best tonight, but we will be back.
(4)Sally S.
Have been to Trattoria several times. The service is always excellent and the food is delicious. I love the lasagna and the cannelloni. Any of the pasta is great. The large meatball appetizer is also a favorite.
(5)Bobby G.
I've had Trattoria Romana on my list of new spots to try since I moved back to Narragansett almost two years ago. I have quite a few friends who really enjoy it, and after 6 weeks in Los Angeles, where good Italian food is about as rare as a chupacabra sighting - it seemed like a logical choice for an old friend to take me for a birthday dinner. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go 3 or 4 stars on this because of all the rave reviews I've heard in the past - but I'm going on my sole experience, and will adjust in the future if I feel like this review is unfair. Our waitress was very friendly and knowledgeable and attentive - A. The bread they bring to the table is fantastic. Crunchy crust and a soft center - top notch Italian bread like you can only get in the northeast - A+ 5 stars. We started off with a caprese special that they had prepared with burrata. The burrata was creamy and delicious and the tomatoes were nice but not the most flavorful. The light olive oil drizzle was also tasty. If the tomatoes were a bit more flavorful this would have been much better, but still delicious - A-. We both had a glass of wine and there were no complaints. I went with another special for my entree. It was a combo plate with chicken parmesan, a couple of meatballs and a bolognese manicotti. The chicken was juicy and tender and the breading was okay - but the cheese left it a bit flat. The meatballs were small to medium sized and flavored well - good, but not fantastic. The manicotti was flavorful but seemed to lack substance. Further on the down side - I woke up at 2 am with the worst heartburn I've had in months. My friend ordered the veal scalopini. She loved it and said it may even become her go-to meal there. It came with a salad on the side of the plate that was lightly dressed and had large parmesan shavings over it. The three pieces of veal were lightly breaded and fried. It did look delicious and I will probably order that the next time I go. I do have high hopes for future visits - and this was by no means a bad experience. I may just have had my expectations too high going into it.
(3)Lisa E.
We had a nice evening at Trattoria Romana. It was a Sunday night so it was not crowded or too loud. I had asked for a 'quiet' table in my reservation, so we did wait about 10 minutes upon arrival for a quieter table. We had what appeared to be a new waiter. He was a bit nervous, but very effective and attentive. The food was fantastic, as I had expected. My BF enjoyed the bread, no surprise there. My Bolognese was excellent and the serving was more than ample. MY BF's meal was also very good. (some chicken and lemon with olives and linguine). We stayed at the table for quiet a long time, enjoyed some wine and conversation and were never rushed or pressured. Overall a great evening; we will be sure to go again.
(4)Brittany S.
I ordered a pesto dish with chicken. Very good. Good service. Pretty restaurant. Overall a good experience!
(5)S O.
We had wonderful service as always. The escargot was in need of a little more.. The entrées were delicious! The bread is amazing! Very good atmosphere!
(4)Jim C.
Had dinner at the bar tonight. Audrey is a delight. Great food as always. This is as good as a restaurant gets in RI.
(5)Amanda C.
This is for the South location. We had a party of seven come here for a birthday occasion. Two of our party didn't like their dishes- and they are not picky eaters. The service was a little slow. What was the biggest annoyance of all is the fact that they CHARGE $2 PER PERSON TO CUT A CAKE! This is not a joke. An $18 cake ended up costing $30 at the end of the night; because 6 people had a piece. I brought the cake in. The only thing they did was cut it. Are you kidding me? I will not be wasting my time or my money here ever again.
(1)Laurie P.
A friend and I had a long day at URI orientation where our sons are headed in the fall. We were staying at the Hampton Inn, and I found this place was in walking distance. Service was attentive, and the food was really good. I had the Spaghetti Alla Vongole Veraci and my friend had the Gnocci Al Segreto Posilipo. Portions were large, and the drinks were tasty. I'm sure to be back when visiting URI.
(4)Matt J.
What an outstanding experience! I had concerns about this restaurant because it is in an outdoor mall. Don't let that stop you, this place is amazing! We had an opportunity to sit outside to eat on a warm late summer day. The atmosphere and service were great. I loved my meal. Great place even to take my kids.
(5)Mark P.
I was not too impressed with the service. They messed up on my order twice (first time it was something completely wrong, second time it had cheese, which I can't eat and told to my server). Since we were out of time, I had to ask for something quick...a plate of pasta with sauce. I was surprised I was just not comped for the meal, which I had to pay $15. I just would have expected them to do something for the mess up.
(1)Robert M.
I have been to the South County location numerous times with my family. On each occasion, we received excellent service, and the food was top-notch. I will definitely come back soon!
(5)Toby T.
I go here roughly 2x a month and love it. The food is amazing and priced really well. Large portions, great wine list, nice ambiance, great service, and very accommodating. I come here with my toddler who's basically a regular now and we've always had a great time.
(5)Gail B.
We were looking for spot in South County that would feel special, yet not too pretentious. Trattoria Romana fit the bill quite nicely. This is a neighborhood place kicked up a notc h or two. Richard, our server, took good care of us throughout with some good suggestions. We were seated at the continuous banquette along the wall and at first I was not thrilled. But we were fortunate to have 2 separate couples on one side of us who were very pleasant and chatted a bit at times. Very pleasant. Dinner consisted of some great apps - the caprese with a soft cheese (not mozz, but not sure of the exact name) and quartered tomatoes. I prefer sliced, but this wasn't my app so I didn't care and my hubby didn't seem to either. My app was possibly the standout of the entire evening. You must try the watermelon salad this summer! Juicy watermelon, mint, feta cheese, olive oil, salt & pepper. Tangy, fresh and oh, so addictively yummy! Many people around us were having it and it seemed everyone was enjoying it. I did! Dinners were the scallop special and the chicken saltimbocca. The scallops were the only item close to a fail. Hubby thought something was off about them. My chicken was very good. Now on to the main course - desserts of course! If you do nothing else, try their housemade Limoncello. Tangy, delicious, and oh so powerful. We shared a glass with their limoncello truffle dessert and a cannoli...whew! we took leftovers home for another meal. We had a great time, but yes, I agree with other posters, it can get quite noisy. So if you're in the mood for a quiet romantic dinner, this may not be your spot. Or at least don't go on the weekend. But I do recommend you go!
(4)Sharon G.
Nice atmosphere great food. Love the stoli doli container at the bar. Saturday night just the two of us, we didn't have to wait long and we didn't have a reservation. We will go back.
(4)Kristina D.
This place rules. They have gluten-free pasta!! I asked if I could create my own dish of gluten-free penne with basil pesto sauce and shaved Parmesan and they totally hooked it up. By "they" I mean Jeremy, who could and should win the Server of the Year award, if there were such a thing. He was informative, but charming; attentive, but cool. He really had the timing just right. My husband got the chicken parmigiana and it was outstanding. My brother-in-law got the osso bucco special and it too was to die for. Loved the vibe... dim lighting, leather upholstered booths (in good condition), white, linen table cloth and napkins. Classic and tasteful. I hope to go back next time I'm in town! It's the perfect place to go for date night!
(5)Mike L.
The atmosphere is terrific, especially in the bar area with the beautiful mahogany wood work, the wine racks and nice bar. No expense was spared on decor. The food is the best you will find anywhere in RI (including Federal Hill). Everything on the veal menu is incredible, not to mention reasonably priced for the good portion. The seafood menu is impressive as well but not quite the value imo. This is a superb restaurant that anyone who appreciates good Italian food in a great atmosphere will love. If you research the owner's background it is no surprise this is a gem.
(5)christina P.
Good food, large portions, ambiance a little cheesy but nice outdoor seating.... reasonable prices, very good bread. All in all I will give this restaurant a B+
(4)Kristi L.
After visiting the Lincoln, RI location I wanted to give the South County Commons spot a whirl. The menus are very similar, and both offer great options for our gluten free friends. That said, it's $2 extra for gf pasta, and $3 extra for gf bread crumbs....so if you are gluten adverse I recommend not ordering gf chicken parm with pasta otherwise you're fronting an extra $5!
(4)Kimberly S.
Service was great and delicious food. Try the lobster mac and cheese!
(4)Helen P.
We had another great meal there last Friday night. I loved the chicken sorrentino. My family was really pleased with their selection as well. Nice ambience. I just wish restaurants would do more to manage the noise. Service was attentive but not intrusive or fussy.
(5)Tom C.
I have had the luck to come to this restaurant several times over the past two years. Have never been disappointed until last night. They just brought our food too quickly and our experience was over too fast. I know usually we are complaining the service is too slow. My wife and I sat at the bar with Audrey who is awesome and personable, but not in your face. The food was excellently prepared and the salad wedge app was fantastic. The atmosphere is casual. The clientele is very friendly and we met several new friends while we say and ate and enjoyed out cocktails. The exterior is deceiving certainly a must try when in the area !
(4)Judith R.
I got very ill from the clam sauce at this restaurant. I've had good meals in the past but this was a truly awful experience. If you go, avoid the seafood.
(1)Melissa D.
Cannot believe that this place has only 3 stars! We have been here 2 times for our night away from our 3 kids. Keep in mind we are never happy where ever we go. We always have something to complain about some might say we are picky but when you are spending your hard earned money everything should be stellar. Trattoria Romana is as I told the waiter and one of the owners this place is belligerently good! There are 3 things for a restaurant to be good 1. Good Service 2. Good food 3. Owners that care and have their hand in the work as well Trattoria Romana has all the above and more We LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! Go ahead try it and thank me later!
(5)Simon B.
Excellent! I've been here 4 times in various seasons and it has never disappointed. The food is absolutely terrific, including the seasonal specialties. The real treat is to sit outside as the sun is setting during the summertime and enjoy the escargot platter. I've taken my girlfriend, parents, and friends here, and everyone has really enjoyed it. The wait staff was kind, friendly, and quick, which was appreciated. Also, they were very knowledgeable about the menu and ingredients, so my vegetarian friend could just as well as everyone else. I've tried something from every category on their menu and they have all been really enjoyable, so you can't really go wrong no matter what you order. Inside, it's a bit loud (as some folks have mentioned), but you can tell everyone is enjoying themselves, so it's not a "bad" loud. If I could eat here every day, I would!
(5)AJ H.
We love this restaurant! We have been coming here since it opened. Everything on the menu is delicious. We usually order from the list of specials which is plentiful. The quality of the food and prices can't be beat by any other restaurant here in south county. We have even ordered take out which was packaged to perfection! Maura is an exceptional server and everyone takes time to ensure you are satisfied with your meal.
(5)Jennifer C.
This is my favorite restaurant. We are originally from Cumberland and always frequented the Lincoln location. We recently relocated to south county. This is my 2'nd trip to trats down here. What a let down! This review is only for s county location and for this visit. The service was horrid!! This is by far the worst service I ever had. My drink was terrible and I felt like I just wasted $80 on my bill. There was a party of 7 next to us and we were shoved in a corner table behind them and ignored. Our waiter stood at their table chit chatting and discussing their overlooked seafood while holding out drinks for. No less than 4-5 minutes. At one point I jokingly reached toward my drink as if to grab it. The waiter eventually replaced my drink and said Audrey made it Ns it was significantly better! I am not sure we will be back to this location. The service made me feel subpar to the large group. I felt treated like a 2nd rate citizen! I tried to be nice. But the waiter was odd and rubbed me the wrong way. Plus I had to continually flag him down!
(2)Nev K.
this is a terrific, Italian restaurant. I'm amazed by the food and thrilled by the service. The menu is EXTENSIVE...and then they have many, many specials each and every day. The bread basket includes some of the best, tasty bread I've ever had. I'm a fan of the penne with basil pesto sauce. The antipasta plate is different and extraordinary each time. This delightful restaurant gives the impression that you are dining with their family. A wonderful experience!!
(4)Emma N.
We couldn't get a reservation or a seat in the dining room, so we decided to try the bar. It was great. We met several interesting people, enjoyed banter with the bar tenders and ate the delicious food. We each had the caprese salad - not the best idea in February since tomatoes aren't in season. Mozzarella was great, but the tomatoes were meaty (belch!). The gnocchi was good and very cheesy, but a bit undercooked. My husband's veal saltimbocca was delicious. The molten lava cake was yummy, but too small to split. Overall, I enjoyed our dining experience and meal at Trattoria Romana. I'd chose different items next time though.
(4)Nicole A.
Having enjoyed the Trattoria in Lincoln on several occasions, it was a no brainer to book my mother inlaw's birthday dinner here. We had an exceptional time. The server was attentive but not overbearing, the bar staff were super friendly and the food was FANTASTIC! My husband had the cannelloni which he thankfully couldn't finish so I enjoyed it the next day for lunch. It was out of this world. I had the spaghetti with pesto and grilled chicken which the kitchen kindly substituted pappardelle pasta for the spaghetti. I loved it. Our entire party enjoyed their meals which included Chicken Rossinni, Fruitti Di MAre, Sea Bass and Eggplant Parm.
(4)Chris S.
Solid food good atmosphere nice price points!
(4)Howard W.
very good food. excellent service and as others have said it's the best around...
(4)Megan K.
We went here on Saturday 6/22 because I'd been given a gift card. Our server was the famous Jeremy, and he did do a good job. The beer list is really bad, but I guess most customers probably order wine. I liked the restaurant and the food was pretty good, but I'm mostly writing this review hoping the manager will see my suggestion that if you're going to go to the trouble of making your own pasta, surely you can also put decent olives on your antipasto and make the croutons for your Caesar salad? That said, the place won't knock your socks off, but it's nice and the food is good.
(3)Kenneth S.
My fiancee had her Grad School graduation dinner here. The food itself was good however the wait staff tried to rush us out after we had booked the table two months in advance. When we commented to the manager about the rude staff member all he did was defend his staff member. There is no need to be rude to patrons of your establishment directly.
(2)Kathy D.
It's gotten better. When they first opened I ordered lobster mac & cheese which got sent back. Sauce was runny & not at all creamy. I'm not a big fan of Italian food so that limits me. I also refuse to eat veal & they use that in their meatballs. We've been back 4 times and each time was an improvement. The service was great but it's noisy. I don't understand why people have to be so loud. I wouldn't suggest it for a romantic dinner unlike Bouchards in Newport where it's extremely classy & you can hear a pin drop. Considering it's close to the cinema the convenience makes it worthwhile as the only other places to dine in The South County Commons are Applebee's & Shogun. Also, someone else called this place 'upscale'. I have to disagree. They don't even require a jacket and any place that has a TV does not qualify as upscale. jmo
(3)Marina F.
I have been to Tratoria Romana South many times, and I must admit, without going to Federal Hill in Providence, this is as good as it gets in South County. If you enjoy the bustling night scene and love restaurants like Siena, you will love Tratoria Romana. It is true that reservations are a bit tough to make. If you are set on going there, make sure to make a reservation on Open Table a week ahead. However, if you enjoy the scene almost as much as you enjoy the food, your best bet is to score a seat at the bar, just like we did last night at 8.30. We ordered a few martinis ($8.25 for Grey goose is a steal!), an antipasti plate ($10 for a variety of cold cuts and cheeses), a pizza margarita with fresh tomatoes and mozzarella ($10) which was to die for, and a Caesar salad. I love how in upscale restaurants you can tell your server that you are sharing a salad, and they bring it out already separated. Some people complain about the noise level, but I think that's what makes a restaurant vibrant. If you wanted a "quiet"" place, eat in the comfort of your home. Other delicious things on the menu are the mussels. For $8 you get a very generous heap, and may want to, as I did, eat the sauce with a spoon. The sauce is slightly spicy and rich, really amazing. If you do love seafood, you should also try their Fruti Di Mare Posilipo. The seafood is really tender, and the pasta is made fresh daily. be prepare to take a lot home. Their portions are very generous. On the other hand, daily specials seem a little too pricey, but if you are a regular at the restaurant, you may want to stay clear of them. I personally, do not feel comfortable spending $15 on an appetizer, especially if you have other choices all under $10. Overall, this is my favorite restaurant in South County!
(4)Sandy C.
Had a great evening...actually been there twice in the last week. Maura, our waitress, couldn t have been nicer...concerned about a bottle of wine we ordered that she felt had too much sediment...she opened another bottle, but it had more sediment. I just said....lets try it...it was fine!!! but she was willing to change it up for us. THEN, we happened to see some very dear friends dining with another couple...all four dressed in red holiday sweaters....we couldn t resist and had Maura quickly bring them four "slippery red headed sluts". This made for lots of laughter and surprised them, totally! Food was terrific....a very nice experience!
(5)Heather D.
Really incredible food and Jeremy was great!
(4)Rich T.
Restaurant was excellent. Food was made with quality ingredents and very tasty. Lasagna was great............served with extra sauce and meatballs.... Prices were reasonable, average mid to high teens.... no big city prices..... Service was also very good, attentive to us , and check came quickly when we finished. We ate in the dining room, that had beautiful high ceiling. Saw the bar area and was impressed by the huge screen tv over bar,,,, Will be back to watch sporting events there, The dining area was separate from bar area so it was peaceful. One quirk that we noticed was that the restrooms didn't provide paper towels or hand towels. The electronic hand dryer is just not right in a quality restaurant, Noticed the huge space heaters on outside patio, Would defintely be great place for outside dining....
(5)James T.
We have been to Trattoria Romana Bar and Grill twice now. Each time the service and food has been very good. Their pasta was very fresh. This is some of the best Italian food we have had in South County.
(4)Brian O.
We live in California where the Italian food is terrible so whenever we visit New England we're constantly searching for good Italian up and down the coast. We really liked Trattoria Romana - the ambience, food, and service were excellent. We've had a lot of Italian food in South County and this was the best in my opinion. The bar room was VERY loud and crowded, but fortunately we sat in the dining room. Our server Jeremy was absolutely stellar - knowledgeable and helpful in making our wine and food selections. Our table loved the pappardelle bolognese, baked rigatoni, scallops and shrimp on capellini in the most amazing rose sauce, and a special ravioli with short rib. We'll be back for sure.
(5)Mark C.
We ate here on 7/5/12 and had a very good meal ad is always the case. Our waiter dropped a drink on the table which resulted in a broken glass. Several staff members came right over and helped. Within a few minutes they cleared and set a new table for us and all was well. Great food great staff. We will be back again.
(4)SC S.
One of the best Italian restaurants I have visited! Outstanding service from the start when we walked through the doors. I enjoyed the Vitello Arragosta which I may even order again. The fresh Maine lobster garnish with the veal medallions was an enjoyable treat. I will defiantly be visit again soon!
(5)Dennis G.
was there sunday 10-13 i sat at the bar after my second glass of wine and asking the bartender if there was a problem with my order twice i approached the manger, i asked if there was a problem with the food coming out of the kitchen he stared at me and i never seen him again. when the food came out it was just ok at best. when i asked where was my appetizer was she stated that she forgot, with 3 people at the bar i asked how she could have forgotten when i asked her twice if there was a problem. ugh not going back ever
(1)Ashleigh C.
My husband I have been talking about going here for 2 years since we moved down to SK. When our friends from NYC came down we figured it would the perfect spot- unfortunately we were wrong. Nothing lived up to the reviews we read- chicken parm was nothing special, calamari was tough and came with plain cocktail sauce and the device was HORRIBLE. The only thing good we got was the wine and it severely overpriced. Our waitress spilled out friends beer on him and STILL charged us for it.... Don't waste ur money. We spent almost 300 and it was worth about 50.... Ur better off to walk across the street and go to Shogun.
(2)babs c.
This is one of our favorite places to eat as a couple or with family. Either at the bar or any table with a crowd, the service is good and the food always satisfies. The servers know the specials and can make recommendations which is good, because I fall back on the same dishes - bolognese with a cabernet! We buy gift certificates for friends and family and know it's going to be well received.
(4)Niki K.
Not sure why this place is so popular. True, its convenient and a nice looking place inside, nice atmosphere. I'll admit to that. But, oh the prices for such meh food. I've been here maybe 3 times, always hoping that my meal will justify the absurd prices for a strip mall restaurant, but sadly they did not. Last time out I ordered the veal prepared in the "boconcini della nona" style, which boasts veal medallions stuffed with mozzarella cheese and prosciutto. I ended up getting chicken instead of veal, but didn't say anything because somebody else was paying the bill and I didn't want to kick up a fuss. I was floored to see that not only did I not get the veal I ordered, but instead of a big, fat juicy chicken breast stuffed with mozzarella and prosciutto, I literally got 3 small chicken thighs (I cook; I know a chicken thigh when I see one) with maybe dime size pearls of mozzarella in each. All for $22.95 (or if they charged the chicken price, $20). I've been trying not to eat carbs, but I had to dip into the bread basket twice just to feel satisfied. Just a lot of hype for incredibly disappointing and overpriced food.
(2)jane y.
The place itself looks inviting and the hot bread was a good start. It went downhill from here. The veal could not have been pounded any thinner - the Milanese tasted like breaking only. I could go on, but will never return for their pricey & disappointing entrees.
(2)Heather C.
We went for dinner and were disappointed. The sauces were bland and the food had no flavor. Their signature drink is a mojito and it was not made well. The tables were narrow. Everything but the bathroom which is nice was disappointing. We would not go back which is a shame because we were looking forward to dinner at this place.
(2)John L.
Great food and great service...NY style Italian! You can't can't go wrong at this restaurant
(4)Tracy N.
Once again a Canova creation is amazing!! Being a regular at the family's Attleboro Ma location, I had to try this place being on vacation here. The manager Scott was a complete gentleman and when he knew it was my Birthday dinner bought us a drink. He had recommended a steak in the Ala Mama style and it was beyond fabulous!!! The bartender Ann Marie was so attentive, couldn't be more available, and accomidated all of our needs. We had the eggplant rolatini appetizer and it was enough for a meal! My boyfriend got the lobster mac and cheese and it seriously was enough for 2 people and had an entire lobster in it! The bar back was very nice as well and refilled my water 20 times and brought out bread and oil as soon as we got our menues. The prices were similar to the surrounding restaurants, atmosphere was beautiful, very clean nice bathrooms, ouside seating, enormous wine list, specialty martinis, I highly recommend trying this place!!!!
(5)Jake C.
My girlfriend and I were in the mood for Italian and figured, based on the reviews, this place would be a high-end joint with good house-made fare. Unfortunately, we were both disappointed. The ambience was very nice and so too was our server. However, the food did not live up to expectations; it was average and bland, not at all worth the price we paid. I had a house salad with blue cheese and the dressing was definitely not "homemade" as claimed; tasted like it was store-bought right from Sysco. For entrees I had the Bucatini Al Pomodoro and she had the Sea Bass with Risotto special. The San Marzano marinara sauce on the bucatini was bland and unflavorful - seemed like it came right from a can. My gf tried it and agreed. Her see bass was good, but for literally drowning in butter, lemon and white wine sauce. No supposedly high-end restaurant should have to drown food in butter to make it taste good. On the basis of the food alone, we don't plan on returning. The ambience and staff, however, seemed quite nice.
(2)David B.
Amazing rip-off. Swordfish puttanesca was mediocre - all sauce and no flavor costing almost double ($37) compared to most restaurants in larger urban areas. Glass of La Crema PNoir at $14 a robbery if one of theirs that retails $17. Chocolate gelato delish but can't make up for rest of meal. Insist to management for better food and much lower entree and wine prices or stay away.
(1)Eleni Z.
Food is consistently good, the very best bread !!!! Service is always excellent and food is plentiful. Seafood pasta dishes always perfect as well as the veal parmesan. Will continue to enjoy eating there in the future!
(4)Kim P.
Love this place! Have never had a bad experience here. The wait can be long on weekends, so it is best to make reservations. We ate there with a party of eight last night, including 2 children, and everyone had a great time. The salmon dish was delicious, as well as the tender veal dishes. They also serve the most delicious bread...... So crusty! And if you are lucky enough to have Mike as your waiter, expect to be served by the best.
(5)Liz P.
Pros: lovely atmosphere, delicious food. Service for the most part was okay. Located in a little shopping mall in the Wakefield/South Kingstown area. Cons: I had to ask for my water glass to be refilled several times. Night prices were pricey although they do have a $15.95 special from 4:30-5:30 during the week, or at least M-Thurs, I believe, where you get an entree, soup/salad, and coffee or tea, which isn't awful. My mom also said her pasta was warm/hot but chicken was room temperature. I would come back here if I was in the mood for a fancy dinner but otherwise not sure. Overall I'd give it 3/5 or 3.5/5 stars though.
(3)Bob P.
Trattoria Romano is simply one of the better Italian restaurants in RI other than those on Federal Hill in Providence. We've been to the original in Lincoln, RI; this a smaller restaurant but equally fine. While the menu is extensive, we almost always order pasta dishes when dining at an Italian restaurant. Here the pasta is fresh, cooked perfectly and the quantities are generous to say the least. For a first course we split a Caesar salad - very fresh Romaine lettuce and a nice light lemony Caesar dressing. For entrees we had the Pollo Francese and the Pappardelle Bolognese and both were delicious. The chicken was extremely tender and served on top of capellini pasta. The Bolognese sauce was made of a nice blend of meats and clearly simmered for a long time. We'll be back when on the Narragansett area - highly recommended.
(4)Jeffrey B.
We had dinner here for the first time this evening. If I was rating just on my dinner I would give 3 stars however the other 3 people with whom I had dinner would have given 4 or 5. The atmosphere is nice, but a little too dark. The host was welcoming and our table was ready for us. Our server was friendly and attentive. I had the sole special which was fine however the side of spaghetti carbonara was not very good. Sections of it were hard and overall too dry. One person ordered the lamb and it looked and tasted great. The portion was huge but so too was the price. The veal dishes were very good and the Italian bread was excellent. So if in the area I recommend giving it a try.
(4)Michael L.
My first time dining here was very good. The service was attentive and the food very good. Of the four in our party everyone was very pleased with their entrees. I would recommend Trattoria Romano to anyone looking for an upscale Italian dining experience in South County.
(4)Steven P.
I really want to give them two stars. It feel ALL the things they do well, and there are plenty of things....but they are all negated by the most miserable bar staff I have ever experienced. And this is not from one visit. This is from 20-30 over a two year period. I can say SO many great things about Tratoria but that one thing...being made to feel like you don't matter, that you are a nuisance, clearly not wanted at the bar. Hey, don't believe me. Go there some Th night and see how long it takes you to get served at the bar! You'll get served when the waiters are damn good and ready....and generally only when the bar tenders finish all their non-customer related work. Their bar chores come FIRST...customers are simply a nuisance they have to tolerate. Go see!
(3)Carrie C.
I was lucky enough to get some time to go out with a friend of mine and we chose Trattoria Romana, I wasn't disappointed at all. A big plus was being able to use Open Table for our reservation, thank you Trattoria for making that so very easy for me. I was a little disappointed that the only fish they had on the menu was Tilapia, I mean really? That's not even really fish in my book. Having a fish like that on the menu seems very unprofessional for such a sophisticated place, they need to change that. They were offering a special of Backed Scrod so I went with that and it was very good. The fish seemed fresh frozen but was still excellent. They were happy to swap mashed potato for their pasta, which I had to try, sauce on the side. The meal was excellent, as was my friends, so she said. Our waitress was just OK, I needed a refill on my wine and waited a while before she noticed and that annoyed me a bit. It's not that hard to keep a wine glass full and it wasn't that busy in there so she could have been more attentive. I don't eat much at all, I mean like three bites due to medical reasons so it always appears that I don't like my food and they were very concerned and had two managers come over to ask if everything was OK after the waitress did. I said excellent the first time so either they didn't believe me or they were just be extra cautious, which isn't bad. Overall, excellent food that's a little over priced for what it is, and a fine dining atmosphere. The waitstaff could be a little better and the prices a touch better.
(4)Tweeter A.
Perfect. Don't need to mention the bread because others have... Here is why I wish I could give more stars: 1) mom's in a walker. It was invisible to wait staff (other night in the Cove in Charlestown they were completely thrown and wanted us hidden. 2) waitress Maura. Like a foodie friend as happy to be there as we were. 3) the food. Ok, 4 through 10: the food. Veal Milanese. And I'm a New Yorker. The best Milanese this side of Tarry Lodge. Go to this restaurant. Go early and eat for 3 hours. A perfect night
(5)Stephanie W.
Very few restaurants do everything right. This one does. The servers are attentive, the ambience is elegant yet relaxed, and the food is near perfect. Try the lasagna -- it's one of the best I've ever eaten. The pasta is as light as air, with the perfect ratio of pillowy ricotta to sauce.
(5)Susan M.
We get take-out from here often. We love the veal parm. Wasn't the best tonight, but we will be back.
(4)Sally S.
Have been to Trattoria several times. The service is always excellent and the food is delicious. I love the lasagna and the cannelloni. Any of the pasta is great. The large meatball appetizer is also a favorite.
(5)Bobby G.
I've had Trattoria Romana on my list of new spots to try since I moved back to Narragansett almost two years ago. I have quite a few friends who really enjoy it, and after 6 weeks in Los Angeles, where good Italian food is about as rare as a chupacabra sighting - it seemed like a logical choice for an old friend to take me for a birthday dinner. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go 3 or 4 stars on this because of all the rave reviews I've heard in the past - but I'm going on my sole experience, and will adjust in the future if I feel like this review is unfair. Our waitress was very friendly and knowledgeable and attentive - A. The bread they bring to the table is fantastic. Crunchy crust and a soft center - top notch Italian bread like you can only get in the northeast - A+ 5 stars. We started off with a caprese special that they had prepared with burrata. The burrata was creamy and delicious and the tomatoes were nice but not the most flavorful. The light olive oil drizzle was also tasty. If the tomatoes were a bit more flavorful this would have been much better, but still delicious - A-. We both had a glass of wine and there were no complaints. I went with another special for my entree. It was a combo plate with chicken parmesan, a couple of meatballs and a bolognese manicotti. The chicken was juicy and tender and the breading was okay - but the cheese left it a bit flat. The meatballs were small to medium sized and flavored well - good, but not fantastic. The manicotti was flavorful but seemed to lack substance. Further on the down side - I woke up at 2 am with the worst heartburn I've had in months. My friend ordered the veal scalopini. She loved it and said it may even become her go-to meal there. It came with a salad on the side of the plate that was lightly dressed and had large parmesan shavings over it. The three pieces of veal were lightly breaded and fried. It did look delicious and I will probably order that the next time I go. I do have high hopes for future visits - and this was by no means a bad experience. I may just have had my expectations too high going into it.
(3)Lisa E.
We had a nice evening at Trattoria Romana. It was a Sunday night so it was not crowded or too loud. I had asked for a 'quiet' table in my reservation, so we did wait about 10 minutes upon arrival for a quieter table. We had what appeared to be a new waiter. He was a bit nervous, but very effective and attentive. The food was fantastic, as I had expected. My BF enjoyed the bread, no surprise there. My Bolognese was excellent and the serving was more than ample. MY BF's meal was also very good. (some chicken and lemon with olives and linguine). We stayed at the table for quiet a long time, enjoyed some wine and conversation and were never rushed or pressured. Overall a great evening; we will be sure to go again.
(4)Brittany S.
I ordered a pesto dish with chicken. Very good. Good service. Pretty restaurant. Overall a good experience!
(5)S O.
We had wonderful service as always. The escargot was in need of a little more.. The entrées were delicious! The bread is amazing! Very good atmosphere!
(4)Jim C.
Had dinner at the bar tonight. Audrey is a delight. Great food as always. This is as good as a restaurant gets in RI.
(5)Amanda C.
This is for the South location. We had a party of seven come here for a birthday occasion. Two of our party didn't like their dishes- and they are not picky eaters. The service was a little slow. What was the biggest annoyance of all is the fact that they CHARGE $2 PER PERSON TO CUT A CAKE! This is not a joke. An $18 cake ended up costing $30 at the end of the night; because 6 people had a piece. I brought the cake in. The only thing they did was cut it. Are you kidding me? I will not be wasting my time or my money here ever again.
(1)Laurie P.
A friend and I had a long day at URI orientation where our sons are headed in the fall. We were staying at the Hampton Inn, and I found this place was in walking distance. Service was attentive, and the food was really good. I had the Spaghetti Alla Vongole Veraci and my friend had the Gnocci Al Segreto Posilipo. Portions were large, and the drinks were tasty. I'm sure to be back when visiting URI.
(4)Matt J.
What an outstanding experience! I had concerns about this restaurant because it is in an outdoor mall. Don't let that stop you, this place is amazing! We had an opportunity to sit outside to eat on a warm late summer day. The atmosphere and service were great. I loved my meal. Great place even to take my kids.
(5)Mark P.
I was not too impressed with the service. They messed up on my order twice (first time it was something completely wrong, second time it had cheese, which I can't eat and told to my server). Since we were out of time, I had to ask for something quick...a plate of pasta with sauce. I was surprised I was just not comped for the meal, which I had to pay $15. I just would have expected them to do something for the mess up.
(1)Chris R.
4 of us went last Saturday and ate at the bar. The bartender, Audrey, was excellent. Pleasant, smiling, knowledgeable, efficient, everything you want in a bartender/server. I split a monster meatball as an app. Served with a small salad on the same plate. It was pretty good - or so I thought. More on that later. Two of us got the Pollo Francese and it was quite tasty. Someone else had lobster rav and then oen other had the salmon special. I had one glass of Kim Crawford and shortly after getting halfway through my entree I started getting that all-over cold sweat / nausea. Uh oh. Not good. Since it came on so quickly I am pretty sure it was food-related. And since I split the meatball I don't think it was that. BUT, I was the only one that ate the small salad that came with the meatball. I was pretty sure I was going to give back what I had recently consumed right there - one way or the other. Mercifully, we live pretty close. My wife and I left and I got home just in time not to leave it all at the restaurant. I was fine the next day but boy, something I ate was not right. And for me, getting sick on something I ate makes it difficult to go back to the place I ate it. I am guessing that this is an isolated incident. The place gets great reviews and looks very clean. But, being honest, my experience was not particularly optimal. Actually, it sucked. A lot. No, I didn't ask for my meal to be taken off the check. Honestly, I was not thinking about that. I just knew I had to get out of there or make a spectacle out of myself.
(2)Meghan M.
Not really a huge fan. The ambiance of the restaurant just doesn't match the area. It's in between a bank and a pre school. I think you can get MUCH better Italian food in the south county area. I've also heard from friends and family also not having the most pleasant experience with service, food, etc. I just feel for what it is, there's so many places you can do better at.
(2)Robert M.
I have been to the South County location numerous times with my family. On each occasion, we received excellent service, and the food was top-notch. I will definitely come back soon!
(5)Toby T.
I go here roughly 2x a month and love it. The food is amazing and priced really well. Large portions, great wine list, nice ambiance, great service, and very accommodating. I come here with my toddler who's basically a regular now and we've always had a great time.
(5)Gail B.
We were looking for spot in South County that would feel special, yet not too pretentious. Trattoria Romana fit the bill quite nicely. This is a neighborhood place kicked up a notc h or two. Richard, our server, took good care of us throughout with some good suggestions. We were seated at the continuous banquette along the wall and at first I was not thrilled. But we were fortunate to have 2 separate couples on one side of us who were very pleasant and chatted a bit at times. Very pleasant. Dinner consisted of some great apps - the caprese with a soft cheese (not mozz, but not sure of the exact name) and quartered tomatoes. I prefer sliced, but this wasn't my app so I didn't care and my hubby didn't seem to either. My app was possibly the standout of the entire evening. You must try the watermelon salad this summer! Juicy watermelon, mint, feta cheese, olive oil, salt & pepper. Tangy, fresh and oh, so addictively yummy! Many people around us were having it and it seemed everyone was enjoying it. I did! Dinners were the scallop special and the chicken saltimbocca. The scallops were the only item close to a fail. Hubby thought something was off about them. My chicken was very good. Now on to the main course - desserts of course! If you do nothing else, try their housemade Limoncello. Tangy, delicious, and oh so powerful. We shared a glass with their limoncello truffle dessert and a cannoli...whew! we took leftovers home for another meal. We had a great time, but yes, I agree with other posters, it can get quite noisy. So if you're in the mood for a quiet romantic dinner, this may not be your spot. Or at least don't go on the weekend. But I do recommend you go!
(4)Sharon G.
Nice atmosphere great food. Love the stoli doli container at the bar. Saturday night just the two of us, we didn't have to wait long and we didn't have a reservation. We will go back.
(4)Kristina D.
This place rules. They have gluten-free pasta!! I asked if I could create my own dish of gluten-free penne with basil pesto sauce and shaved Parmesan and they totally hooked it up. By "they" I mean Jeremy, who could and should win the Server of the Year award, if there were such a thing. He was informative, but charming; attentive, but cool. He really had the timing just right. My husband got the chicken parmigiana and it was outstanding. My brother-in-law got the osso bucco special and it too was to die for. Loved the vibe... dim lighting, leather upholstered booths (in good condition), white, linen table cloth and napkins. Classic and tasteful. I hope to go back next time I'm in town! It's the perfect place to go for date night!
(5)Mike L.
The atmosphere is terrific, especially in the bar area with the beautiful mahogany wood work, the wine racks and nice bar. No expense was spared on decor. The food is the best you will find anywhere in RI (including Federal Hill). Everything on the veal menu is incredible, not to mention reasonably priced for the good portion. The seafood menu is impressive as well but not quite the value imo. This is a superb restaurant that anyone who appreciates good Italian food in a great atmosphere will love. If you research the owner's background it is no surprise this is a gem.
(5)christina P.
Good food, large portions, ambiance a little cheesy but nice outdoor seating.... reasonable prices, very good bread. All in all I will give this restaurant a B+
(4)Kristi L.
After visiting the Lincoln, RI location I wanted to give the South County Commons spot a whirl. The menus are very similar, and both offer great options for our gluten free friends. That said, it's $2 extra for gf pasta, and $3 extra for gf bread crumbs....so if you are gluten adverse I recommend not ordering gf chicken parm with pasta otherwise you're fronting an extra $5!
(4)Kimberly S.
Service was great and delicious food. Try the lobster mac and cheese!
(4)Helen P.
We had another great meal there last Friday night. I loved the chicken sorrentino. My family was really pleased with their selection as well. Nice ambience. I just wish restaurants would do more to manage the noise. Service was attentive but not intrusive or fussy.
(5)Tom C.
I have had the luck to come to this restaurant several times over the past two years. Have never been disappointed until last night. They just brought our food too quickly and our experience was over too fast. I know usually we are complaining the service is too slow. My wife and I sat at the bar with Audrey who is awesome and personable, but not in your face. The food was excellently prepared and the salad wedge app was fantastic. The atmosphere is casual. The clientele is very friendly and we met several new friends while we say and ate and enjoyed out cocktails. The exterior is deceiving certainly a must try when in the area !
(4)Judith R.
I got very ill from the clam sauce at this restaurant. I've had good meals in the past but this was a truly awful experience. If you go, avoid the seafood.
(1)Melissa D.
Cannot believe that this place has only 3 stars! We have been here 2 times for our night away from our 3 kids. Keep in mind we are never happy where ever we go. We always have something to complain about some might say we are picky but when you are spending your hard earned money everything should be stellar. Trattoria Romana is as I told the waiter and one of the owners this place is belligerently good! There are 3 things for a restaurant to be good 1. Good Service 2. Good food 3. Owners that care and have their hand in the work as well Trattoria Romana has all the above and more We LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! Go ahead try it and thank me later!
(5)Simon B.
Excellent! I've been here 4 times in various seasons and it has never disappointed. The food is absolutely terrific, including the seasonal specialties. The real treat is to sit outside as the sun is setting during the summertime and enjoy the escargot platter. I've taken my girlfriend, parents, and friends here, and everyone has really enjoyed it. The wait staff was kind, friendly, and quick, which was appreciated. Also, they were very knowledgeable about the menu and ingredients, so my vegetarian friend could just as well as everyone else. I've tried something from every category on their menu and they have all been really enjoyable, so you can't really go wrong no matter what you order. Inside, it's a bit loud (as some folks have mentioned), but you can tell everyone is enjoying themselves, so it's not a "bad" loud. If I could eat here every day, I would!
(5)AJ H.
We love this restaurant! We have been coming here since it opened. Everything on the menu is delicious. We usually order from the list of specials which is plentiful. The quality of the food and prices can't be beat by any other restaurant here in south county. We have even ordered take out which was packaged to perfection! Maura is an exceptional server and everyone takes time to ensure you are satisfied with your meal.
(5)Jennifer C.
This is my favorite restaurant. We are originally from Cumberland and always frequented the Lincoln location. We recently relocated to south county. This is my 2'nd trip to trats down here. What a let down! This review is only for s county location and for this visit. The service was horrid!! This is by far the worst service I ever had. My drink was terrible and I felt like I just wasted $80 on my bill. There was a party of 7 next to us and we were shoved in a corner table behind them and ignored. Our waiter stood at their table chit chatting and discussing their overlooked seafood while holding out drinks for. No less than 4-5 minutes. At one point I jokingly reached toward my drink as if to grab it. The waiter eventually replaced my drink and said Audrey made it Ns it was significantly better! I am not sure we will be back to this location. The service made me feel subpar to the large group. I felt treated like a 2nd rate citizen! I tried to be nice. But the waiter was odd and rubbed me the wrong way. Plus I had to continually flag him down!
(2)Nev K.
this is a terrific, Italian restaurant. I'm amazed by the food and thrilled by the service. The menu is EXTENSIVE...and then they have many, many specials each and every day. The bread basket includes some of the best, tasty bread I've ever had. I'm a fan of the penne with basil pesto sauce. The antipasta plate is different and extraordinary each time. This delightful restaurant gives the impression that you are dining with their family. A wonderful experience!!
(4)Emma N.
We couldn't get a reservation or a seat in the dining room, so we decided to try the bar. It was great. We met several interesting people, enjoyed banter with the bar tenders and ate the delicious food. We each had the caprese salad - not the best idea in February since tomatoes aren't in season. Mozzarella was great, but the tomatoes were meaty (belch!). The gnocchi was good and very cheesy, but a bit undercooked. My husband's veal saltimbocca was delicious. The molten lava cake was yummy, but too small to split. Overall, I enjoyed our dining experience and meal at Trattoria Romana. I'd chose different items next time though.
(4)Kathy D.
It's gotten better. When they first opened I ordered lobster mac & cheese which got sent back. Sauce was runny & not at all creamy. I'm not a big fan of Italian food so that limits me. I also refuse to eat veal & they use that in their meatballs. We've been back 4 times and each time was an improvement. The service was great but it's noisy. I don't understand why people have to be so loud. I wouldn't suggest it for a romantic dinner unlike Bouchards in Newport where it's extremely classy & you can hear a pin drop. Considering it's close to the cinema the convenience makes it worthwhile as the only other places to dine in The South County Commons are Applebee's & Shogun. Also, someone else called this place 'upscale'. I have to disagree. They don't even require a jacket and any place that has a TV does not qualify as upscale. jmo
(3)James T.
We have been to Trattoria Romana Bar and Grill twice now. Each time the service and food has been very good. Their pasta was very fresh. This is some of the best Italian food we have had in South County.
(4)Brian O.
We live in California where the Italian food is terrible so whenever we visit New England we're constantly searching for good Italian up and down the coast. We really liked Trattoria Romana - the ambience, food, and service were excellent. We've had a lot of Italian food in South County and this was the best in my opinion. The bar room was VERY loud and crowded, but fortunately we sat in the dining room. Our server Jeremy was absolutely stellar - knowledgeable and helpful in making our wine and food selections. Our table loved the pappardelle bolognese, baked rigatoni, scallops and shrimp on capellini in the most amazing rose sauce, and a special ravioli with short rib. We'll be back for sure.
(5)Marina F.
I have been to Tratoria Romana South many times, and I must admit, without going to Federal Hill in Providence, this is as good as it gets in South County. If you enjoy the bustling night scene and love restaurants like Siena, you will love Tratoria Romana. It is true that reservations are a bit tough to make. If you are set on going there, make sure to make a reservation on Open Table a week ahead. However, if you enjoy the scene almost as much as you enjoy the food, your best bet is to score a seat at the bar, just like we did last night at 8.30. We ordered a few martinis ($8.25 for Grey goose is a steal!), an antipasti plate ($10 for a variety of cold cuts and cheeses), a pizza margarita with fresh tomatoes and mozzarella ($10) which was to die for, and a Caesar salad. I love how in upscale restaurants you can tell your server that you are sharing a salad, and they bring it out already separated. Some people complain about the noise level, but I think that's what makes a restaurant vibrant. If you wanted a "quiet"" place, eat in the comfort of your home. Other delicious things on the menu are the mussels. For $8 you get a very generous heap, and may want to, as I did, eat the sauce with a spoon. The sauce is slightly spicy and rich, really amazing. If you do love seafood, you should also try their Fruti Di Mare Posilipo. The seafood is really tender, and the pasta is made fresh daily. be prepare to take a lot home. Their portions are very generous. On the other hand, daily specials seem a little too pricey, but if you are a regular at the restaurant, you may want to stay clear of them. I personally, do not feel comfortable spending $15 on an appetizer, especially if you have other choices all under $10. Overall, this is my favorite restaurant in South County!
(4)Sandy C.
Had a great evening...actually been there twice in the last week. Maura, our waitress, couldn t have been nicer...concerned about a bottle of wine we ordered that she felt had too much sediment...she opened another bottle, but it had more sediment. I just said....lets try it...it was fine!!! but she was willing to change it up for us. THEN, we happened to see some very dear friends dining with another couple...all four dressed in red holiday sweaters....we couldn t resist and had Maura quickly bring them four "slippery red headed sluts". This made for lots of laughter and surprised them, totally! Food was terrific....a very nice experience!
(5)Heather D.
Really incredible food and Jeremy was great!
(4)Rich T.
Restaurant was excellent. Food was made with quality ingredents and very tasty. Lasagna was great............served with extra sauce and meatballs.... Prices were reasonable, average mid to high teens.... no big city prices..... Service was also very good, attentive to us , and check came quickly when we finished. We ate in the dining room, that had beautiful high ceiling. Saw the bar area and was impressed by the huge screen tv over bar,,,, Will be back to watch sporting events there, The dining area was separate from bar area so it was peaceful. One quirk that we noticed was that the restrooms didn't provide paper towels or hand towels. The electronic hand dryer is just not right in a quality restaurant, Noticed the huge space heaters on outside patio, Would defintely be great place for outside dining....
(5)Mark C.
We ate here on 7/5/12 and had a very good meal ad is always the case. Our waiter dropped a drink on the table which resulted in a broken glass. Several staff members came right over and helped. Within a few minutes they cleared and set a new table for us and all was well. Great food great staff. We will be back again.
(4)SC S.
One of the best Italian restaurants I have visited! Outstanding service from the start when we walked through the doors. I enjoyed the Vitello Arragosta which I may even order again. The fresh Maine lobster garnish with the veal medallions was an enjoyable treat. I will defiantly be visit again soon!
(5)Dennis G.
was there sunday 10-13 i sat at the bar after my second glass of wine and asking the bartender if there was a problem with my order twice i approached the manger, i asked if there was a problem with the food coming out of the kitchen he stared at me and i never seen him again. when the food came out it was just ok at best. when i asked where was my appetizer was she stated that she forgot, with 3 people at the bar i asked how she could have forgotten when i asked her twice if there was a problem. ugh not going back ever
(1)Megan K.
We went here on Saturday 6/22 because I'd been given a gift card. Our server was the famous Jeremy, and he did do a good job. The beer list is really bad, but I guess most customers probably order wine. I liked the restaurant and the food was pretty good, but I'm mostly writing this review hoping the manager will see my suggestion that if you're going to go to the trouble of making your own pasta, surely you can also put decent olives on your antipasto and make the croutons for your Caesar salad? That said, the place won't knock your socks off, but it's nice and the food is good.
(3)Kenneth S.
My fiancee had her Grad School graduation dinner here. The food itself was good however the wait staff tried to rush us out after we had booked the table two months in advance. When we commented to the manager about the rude staff member all he did was defend his staff member. There is no need to be rude to patrons of your establishment directly.
(2)Chris S.
Solid food good atmosphere nice price points!
(4)Howard W.
very good food. excellent service and as others have said it's the best around...
(4)Nicole A.
Having enjoyed the Trattoria in Lincoln on several occasions, it was a no brainer to book my mother inlaw's birthday dinner here. We had an exceptional time. The server was attentive but not overbearing, the bar staff were super friendly and the food was FANTASTIC! My husband had the cannelloni which he thankfully couldn't finish so I enjoyed it the next day for lunch. It was out of this world. I had the spaghetti with pesto and grilled chicken which the kitchen kindly substituted pappardelle pasta for the spaghetti. I loved it. Our entire party enjoyed their meals which included Chicken Rossinni, Fruitti Di MAre, Sea Bass and Eggplant Parm.
(4)Marina F.
I have been to Tratoria Romana South many times, and I must admit, without going to Federal Hill in Providence, this is as good as it gets in South County. If you enjoy the bustling night scene and love restaurants like Siena, you will love Tratoria Romana. It is true that reservations are a bit tough to make. If you are set on going there, make sure to make a reservation on Open Table a week ahead. However, if you enjoy the scene almost as much as you enjoy the food, your best bet is to score a seat at the bar, just like we did last night at 8.30. We ordered a few martinis ($8.25 for Grey goose is a steal!), an antipasti plate ($10 for a variety of cold cuts and cheeses), a pizza margarita with fresh tomatoes and mozzarella ($10) which was to die for, and a Caesar salad. I love how in upscale restaurants you can tell your server that you are sharing a salad, and they bring it out already separated. Some people complain about the noise level, but I think that's what makes a restaurant vibrant. If you wanted a "quiet"" place, eat in the comfort of your home. Other delicious things on the menu are the mussels. For $8 you get a very generous heap, and may want to, as I did, eat the sauce with a spoon. The sauce is slightly spicy and rich, really amazing. If you do love seafood, you should also try their Fruti Di Mare Posilipo. The seafood is really tender, and the pasta is made fresh daily. be prepare to take a lot home. Their portions are very generous. On the other hand, daily specials seem a little too pricey, but if you are a regular at the restaurant, you may want to stay clear of them. I personally, do not feel comfortable spending $15 on an appetizer, especially if you have other choices all under $10. Overall, this is my favorite restaurant in South County!
(4)Stephanie W.
Very few restaurants do everything right. This one does. The servers are attentive, the ambience is elegant yet relaxed, and the food is near perfect. Try the lasagna -- it's one of the best I've ever eaten. The pasta is as light as air, with the perfect ratio of pillowy ricotta to sauce.
(5)Susan M.
We get take-out from here often. We love the veal parm. Wasn't the best tonight, but we will be back.
(4)Sally S.
Have been to Trattoria several times. The service is always excellent and the food is delicious. I love the lasagna and the cannelloni. Any of the pasta is great. The large meatball appetizer is also a favorite.
(5)Tracy N.
Once again a Canova creation is amazing!! Being a regular at the family's Attleboro Ma location, I had to try this place being on vacation here. The manager Scott was a complete gentleman and when he knew it was my Birthday dinner bought us a drink. He had recommended a steak in the Ala Mama style and it was beyond fabulous!!! The bartender Ann Marie was so attentive, couldn't be more available, and accomidated all of our needs. We had the eggplant rolatini appetizer and it was enough for a meal! My boyfriend got the lobster mac and cheese and it seriously was enough for 2 people and had an entire lobster in it! The bar back was very nice as well and refilled my water 20 times and brought out bread and oil as soon as we got our menues. The prices were similar to the surrounding restaurants, atmosphere was beautiful, very clean nice bathrooms, ouside seating, enormous wine list, specialty martinis, I highly recommend trying this place!!!!
(5)Jake C.
My girlfriend and I were in the mood for Italian and figured, based on the reviews, this place would be a high-end joint with good house-made fare. Unfortunately, we were both disappointed. The ambience was very nice and so too was our server. However, the food did not live up to expectations; it was average and bland, not at all worth the price we paid. I had a house salad with blue cheese and the dressing was definitely not "homemade" as claimed; tasted like it was store-bought right from Sysco. For entrees I had the Bucatini Al Pomodoro and she had the Sea Bass with Risotto special. The San Marzano marinara sauce on the bucatini was bland and unflavorful - seemed like it came right from a can. My gf tried it and agreed. Her see bass was good, but for literally drowning in butter, lemon and white wine sauce. No supposedly high-end restaurant should have to drown food in butter to make it taste good. On the basis of the food alone, we don't plan on returning. The ambience and staff, however, seemed quite nice.
(2)Niki K.
Not sure why this place is so popular. True, its convenient and a nice looking place inside, nice atmosphere. I'll admit to that. But, oh the prices for such meh food. I've been here maybe 3 times, always hoping that my meal will justify the absurd prices for a strip mall restaurant, but sadly they did not. Last time out I ordered the veal prepared in the "boconcini della nona" style, which boasts veal medallions stuffed with mozzarella cheese and prosciutto. I ended up getting chicken instead of veal, but didn't say anything because somebody else was paying the bill and I didn't want to kick up a fuss. I was floored to see that not only did I not get the veal I ordered, but instead of a big, fat juicy chicken breast stuffed with mozzarella and prosciutto, I literally got 3 small chicken thighs (I cook; I know a chicken thigh when I see one) with maybe dime size pearls of mozzarella in each. All for $22.95 (or if they charged the chicken price, $20). I've been trying not to eat carbs, but I had to dip into the bread basket twice just to feel satisfied. Just a lot of hype for incredibly disappointing and overpriced food.
(2)Tweeter A.
Perfect. Don't need to mention the bread because others have... Here is why I wish I could give more stars: 1) mom's in a walker. It was invisible to wait staff (other night in the Cove in Charlestown they were completely thrown and wanted us hidden. 2) waitress Maura. Like a foodie friend as happy to be there as we were. 3) the food. Ok, 4 through 10: the food. Veal Milanese. And I'm a New Yorker. The best Milanese this side of Tarry Lodge. Go to this restaurant. Go early and eat for 3 hours. A perfect night
(5)Carrie C.
I was lucky enough to get some time to go out with a friend of mine and we chose Trattoria Romana, I wasn't disappointed at all. A big plus was being able to use Open Table for our reservation, thank you Trattoria for making that so very easy for me. I was a little disappointed that the only fish they had on the menu was Tilapia, I mean really? That's not even really fish in my book. Having a fish like that on the menu seems very unprofessional for such a sophisticated place, they need to change that. They were offering a special of Backed Scrod so I went with that and it was very good. The fish seemed fresh frozen but was still excellent. They were happy to swap mashed potato for their pasta, which I had to try, sauce on the side. The meal was excellent, as was my friends, so she said. Our waitress was just OK, I needed a refill on my wine and waited a while before she noticed and that annoyed me a bit. It's not that hard to keep a wine glass full and it wasn't that busy in there so she could have been more attentive. I don't eat much at all, I mean like three bites due to medical reasons so it always appears that I don't like my food and they were very concerned and had two managers come over to ask if everything was OK after the waitress did. I said excellent the first time so either they didn't believe me or they were just be extra cautious, which isn't bad. Overall, excellent food that's a little over priced for what it is, and a fine dining atmosphere. The waitstaff could be a little better and the prices a touch better.
(4)jane y.
The place itself looks inviting and the hot bread was a good start. It went downhill from here. The veal could not have been pounded any thinner - the Milanese tasted like breaking only. I could go on, but will never return for their pricey & disappointing entrees.
(2)Heather C.
We went for dinner and were disappointed. The sauces were bland and the food had no flavor. Their signature drink is a mojito and it was not made well. The tables were narrow. Everything but the bathroom which is nice was disappointing. We would not go back which is a shame because we were looking forward to dinner at this place.
(2)John L.
Great food and great service...NY style Italian! You can't can't go wrong at this restaurant
(4)Bob P.
Trattoria Romano is simply one of the better Italian restaurants in RI other than those on Federal Hill in Providence. We've been to the original in Lincoln, RI; this a smaller restaurant but equally fine. While the menu is extensive, we almost always order pasta dishes when dining at an Italian restaurant. Here the pasta is fresh, cooked perfectly and the quantities are generous to say the least. For a first course we split a Caesar salad - very fresh Romaine lettuce and a nice light lemony Caesar dressing. For entrees we had the Pollo Francese and the Pappardelle Bolognese and both were delicious. The chicken was extremely tender and served on top of capellini pasta. The Bolognese sauce was made of a nice blend of meats and clearly simmered for a long time. We'll be back when on the Narragansett area - highly recommended.
(4)Jeffrey B.
We had dinner here for the first time this evening. If I was rating just on my dinner I would give 3 stars however the other 3 people with whom I had dinner would have given 4 or 5. The atmosphere is nice, but a little too dark. The host was welcoming and our table was ready for us. Our server was friendly and attentive. I had the sole special which was fine however the side of spaghetti carbonara was not very good. Sections of it were hard and overall too dry. One person ordered the lamb and it looked and tasted great. The portion was huge but so too was the price. The veal dishes were very good and the Italian bread was excellent. So if in the area I recommend giving it a try.
(4)Michael L.
My first time dining here was very good. The service was attentive and the food very good. Of the four in our party everyone was very pleased with their entrees. I would recommend Trattoria Romano to anyone looking for an upscale Italian dining experience in South County.
(4)Steven P.
I really want to give them two stars. It feel ALL the things they do well, and there are plenty of things....but they are all negated by the most miserable bar staff I have ever experienced. And this is not from one visit. This is from 20-30 over a two year period. I can say SO many great things about Tratoria but that one thing...being made to feel like you don't matter, that you are a nuisance, clearly not wanted at the bar. Hey, don't believe me. Go there some Th night and see how long it takes you to get served at the bar! You'll get served when the waiters are damn good and ready....and generally only when the bar tenders finish all their non-customer related work. Their bar chores come FIRST...customers are simply a nuisance they have to tolerate. Go see!
(3)Bobby G.
I've had Trattoria Romana on my list of new spots to try since I moved back to Narragansett almost two years ago. I have quite a few friends who really enjoy it, and after 6 weeks in Los Angeles, where good Italian food is about as rare as a chupacabra sighting - it seemed like a logical choice for an old friend to take me for a birthday dinner. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go 3 or 4 stars on this because of all the rave reviews I've heard in the past - but I'm going on my sole experience, and will adjust in the future if I feel like this review is unfair. Our waitress was very friendly and knowledgeable and attentive - A. The bread they bring to the table is fantastic. Crunchy crust and a soft center - top notch Italian bread like you can only get in the northeast - A+ 5 stars. We started off with a caprese special that they had prepared with burrata. The burrata was creamy and delicious and the tomatoes were nice but not the most flavorful. The light olive oil drizzle was also tasty. If the tomatoes were a bit more flavorful this would have been much better, but still delicious - A-. We both had a glass of wine and there were no complaints. I went with another special for my entree. It was a combo plate with chicken parmesan, a couple of meatballs and a bolognese manicotti. The chicken was juicy and tender and the breading was okay - but the cheese left it a bit flat. The meatballs were small to medium sized and flavored well - good, but not fantastic. The manicotti was flavorful but seemed to lack substance. Further on the down side - I woke up at 2 am with the worst heartburn I've had in months. My friend ordered the veal scalopini. She loved it and said it may even become her go-to meal there. It came with a salad on the side of the plate that was lightly dressed and had large parmesan shavings over it. The three pieces of veal were lightly breaded and fried. It did look delicious and I will probably order that the next time I go. I do have high hopes for future visits - and this was by no means a bad experience. I may just have had my expectations too high going into it.
(3)Lisa E.
We had a nice evening at Trattoria Romana. It was a Sunday night so it was not crowded or too loud. I had asked for a 'quiet' table in my reservation, so we did wait about 10 minutes upon arrival for a quieter table. We had what appeared to be a new waiter. He was a bit nervous, but very effective and attentive. The food was fantastic, as I had expected. My BF enjoyed the bread, no surprise there. My Bolognese was excellent and the serving was more than ample. MY BF's meal was also very good. (some chicken and lemon with olives and linguine). We stayed at the table for quiet a long time, enjoyed some wine and conversation and were never rushed or pressured. Overall a great evening; we will be sure to go again.
(4)Brittany S.
I ordered a pesto dish with chicken. Very good. Good service. Pretty restaurant. Overall a good experience!
(5)S O.
We had wonderful service as always. The escargot was in need of a little more.. The entrées were delicious! The bread is amazing! Very good atmosphere!
(4)Jim C.
Had dinner at the bar tonight. Audrey is a delight. Great food as always. This is as good as a restaurant gets in RI.
(5)Jenny Crai G.
I sat at the bar and ordered a house salad and the Salmone Con Aragosta. It was dim. They asked me if I wanted some bread. The bread arrived cold and hard. I think it was sourdough. I was also given a dish of olive oil with salt and pepper at the very bottom. The salad arrived. It had a couple slices of cucumbers, a couple slices of tomatoes, onion slices, olives, and lettuce. They only have three types of salad dressing. I chose the oil and vinegar option. The salmon was good. It wasn't the best salmon I've ever had, but it was decent. It was overcooked. It sat in a pool of butter, lemon, and white wine sauce. I didn't like the bearnaise sauce. The mashed potatoes were good. Also, it couldn't find it on their menu, but they gave me a small dish of zucchini and yellow squash in a marinara sauce. It was so good! Salmone Con Aragosta - fresh grilled Atlantic salmon topped with Maine lobster meat & asparagus spears sauteed in white wine & lemon. Finished with a dollop of Bearnaise. Served alongside mashed potatoes. 3.5/5 Salad 4/5 Zucchini and yellow squash - 5/5
(4)Megan K.
We went here on Saturday 6/22 because I'd been given a gift card. Our server was the famous Jeremy, and he did do a good job. The beer list is really bad, but I guess most customers probably order wine. I liked the restaurant and the food was pretty good, but I'm mostly writing this review hoping the manager will see my suggestion that if you're going to go to the trouble of making your own pasta, surely you can also put decent olives on your antipasto and make the croutons for your Caesar salad? That said, the place won't knock your socks off, but it's nice and the food is good.
(3)Kenneth S.
My fiancee had her Grad School graduation dinner here. The food itself was good however the wait staff tried to rush us out after we had booked the table two months in advance. When we commented to the manager about the rude staff member all he did was defend his staff member. There is no need to be rude to patrons of your establishment directly.
(2)Nicole A.
Having enjoyed the Trattoria in Lincoln on several occasions, it was a no brainer to book my mother inlaw's birthday dinner here. We had an exceptional time. The server was attentive but not overbearing, the bar staff were super friendly and the food was FANTASTIC! My husband had the cannelloni which he thankfully couldn't finish so I enjoyed it the next day for lunch. It was out of this world. I had the spaghetti with pesto and grilled chicken which the kitchen kindly substituted pappardelle pasta for the spaghetti. I loved it. Our entire party enjoyed their meals which included Chicken Rossinni, Fruitti Di MAre, Sea Bass and Eggplant Parm.
(4)Chris S.
Solid food good atmosphere nice price points!
(4)Howard W.
very good food. excellent service and as others have said it's the best around...
(4)J G.
I've been to this restaurant 4 times. If I had reviewed after my first 3 visits I would have given 4-5 stars-each time. However, my last visit (Valentine's day 2015) was a true culinary disaster. I ordered a chicken/mushroom/pasta dish in a red sauce that cost $45+. Unfortunately, the mushrooms & tomato sauce were both canned!! Seriously?! Canned, rubbery, tasteless mushrooms have no business in a "fine-dining" restaurant and if you HAVE to use canned tomatoes b/c fresh aren't in season, learn to cook to cover the canned taste. The plate was simply awful and I told our server who apologized but never offered to switch it... The asparagus that accompanied my friend's meal was as thick as his thumb and completely inedible-he sent it back. We asked for a basket of bread (as we always do) and the bread tasted as if it had been microwave reheated-several times. Those are just a few (of many) things that struck me as completely off, culinary-wise that evening. I could write more but suffice it to say that no one was happy with their meal that day. We did mention our concerns to our server but he never offered to call the manager over. He just said "I'll let both the manager & chef know". thanks, whatever... As always, the ambience was nice but at $280 + tip (for four) I need the meals to be super as well. Obviously, Something has happened in the kitchen since I first started going and if they don't manage to fix it they'll loose more than just my business. That being said, I may give it one more try just for old times sake and see if things have improved to their previous standard-which I did like. If not, too bad, R.I.P. To one of the few truly nice restaurants in South County.
(3)Marilyn R.
Gluten-free options were great! Jose was a wonderful server. I also had the Vodka Infusion martini which I highly recommend. Next time I'll come without my 16 month-old so I can have a few!
(5)Ashleigh C.
My husband I have been talking about going here for 2 years since we moved down to SK. When our friends from NYC came down we figured it would the perfect spot- unfortunately we were wrong. Nothing lived up to the reviews we read- chicken parm was nothing special, calamari was tough and came with plain cocktail sauce and the device was HORRIBLE. The only thing good we got was the wine and it severely overpriced. Our waitress spilled out friends beer on him and STILL charged us for it.... Don't waste ur money. We spent almost 300 and it was worth about 50.... Ur better off to walk across the street and go to Shogun.
(2)babs c.
This is one of our favorite places to eat as a couple or with family. Either at the bar or any table with a crowd, the service is good and the food always satisfies. The servers know the specials and can make recommendations which is good, because I fall back on the same dishes - bolognese with a cabernet! We buy gift certificates for friends and family and know it's going to be well received.
(4)David B.
Amazing rip-off. Swordfish puttanesca was mediocre - all sauce and no flavor costing almost double ($37) compared to most restaurants in larger urban areas. Glass of La Crema PNoir at $14 a robbery if one of theirs that retails $17. Chocolate gelato delish but can't make up for rest of meal. Insist to management for better food and much lower entree and wine prices or stay away.
(1)Eleni Z.
Food is consistently good, the very best bread !!!! Service is always excellent and food is plentiful. Seafood pasta dishes always perfect as well as the veal parmesan. Will continue to enjoy eating there in the future!
(4)Kim P.
Love this place! Have never had a bad experience here. The wait can be long on weekends, so it is best to make reservations. We ate there with a party of eight last night, including 2 children, and everyone had a great time. The salmon dish was delicious, as well as the tender veal dishes. They also serve the most delicious bread...... So crusty! And if you are lucky enough to have Mike as your waiter, expect to be served by the best.
(5)Liz P.
Pros: lovely atmosphere, delicious food. Service for the most part was okay. Located in a little shopping mall in the Wakefield/South Kingstown area. Cons: I had to ask for my water glass to be refilled several times. Night prices were pricey although they do have a $15.95 special from 4:30-5:30 during the week, or at least M-Thurs, I believe, where you get an entree, soup/salad, and coffee or tea, which isn't awful. My mom also said her pasta was warm/hot but chicken was room temperature. I would come back here if I was in the mood for a fancy dinner but otherwise not sure. Overall I'd give it 3/5 or 3.5/5 stars though.
(3)Amanda C.
This is for the South location. We had a party of seven come here for a birthday occasion. Two of our party didn't like their dishes- and they are not picky eaters. The service was a little slow. What was the biggest annoyance of all is the fact that they CHARGE $2 PER PERSON TO CUT A CAKE! This is not a joke. An $18 cake ended up costing $30 at the end of the night; because 6 people had a piece. I brought the cake in. The only thing they did was cut it. Are you kidding me? I will not be wasting my time or my money here ever again.
(1)Laurie P.
A friend and I had a long day at URI orientation where our sons are headed in the fall. We were staying at the Hampton Inn, and I found this place was in walking distance. Service was attentive, and the food was really good. I had the Spaghetti Alla Vongole Veraci and my friend had the Gnocci Al Segreto Posilipo. Portions were large, and the drinks were tasty. I'm sure to be back when visiting URI.
(4)Gail B.
We were looking for spot in South County that would feel special, yet not too pretentious. Trattoria Romana fit the bill quite nicely. This is a neighborhood place kicked up a notc h or two. Richard, our server, took good care of us throughout with some good suggestions. We were seated at the continuous banquette along the wall and at first I was not thrilled. But we were fortunate to have 2 separate couples on one side of us who were very pleasant and chatted a bit at times. Very pleasant. Dinner consisted of some great apps - the caprese with a soft cheese (not mozz, but not sure of the exact name) and quartered tomatoes. I prefer sliced, but this wasn't my app so I didn't care and my hubby didn't seem to either. My app was possibly the standout of the entire evening. You must try the watermelon salad this summer! Juicy watermelon, mint, feta cheese, olive oil, salt & pepper. Tangy, fresh and oh, so addictively yummy! Many people around us were having it and it seemed everyone was enjoying it. I did! Dinners were the scallop special and the chicken saltimbocca. The scallops were the only item close to a fail. Hubby thought something was off about them. My chicken was very good. Now on to the main course - desserts of course! If you do nothing else, try their housemade Limoncello. Tangy, delicious, and oh so powerful. We shared a glass with their limoncello truffle dessert and a cannoli...whew! we took leftovers home for another meal. We had a great time, but yes, I agree with other posters, it can get quite noisy. So if you're in the mood for a quiet romantic dinner, this may not be your spot. Or at least don't go on the weekend. But I do recommend you go!
(4)Sharon G.
Nice atmosphere great food. Love the stoli doli container at the bar. Saturday night just the two of us, we didn't have to wait long and we didn't have a reservation. We will go back.
(4)Kristina D.
This place rules. They have gluten-free pasta!! I asked if I could create my own dish of gluten-free penne with basil pesto sauce and shaved Parmesan and they totally hooked it up. By "they" I mean Jeremy, who could and should win the Server of the Year award, if there were such a thing. He was informative, but charming; attentive, but cool. He really had the timing just right. My husband got the chicken parmigiana and it was outstanding. My brother-in-law got the osso bucco special and it too was to die for. Loved the vibe... dim lighting, leather upholstered booths (in good condition), white, linen table cloth and napkins. Classic and tasteful. I hope to go back next time I'm in town! It's the perfect place to go for date night!
(5)Matt J.
What an outstanding experience! I had concerns about this restaurant because it is in an outdoor mall. Don't let that stop you, this place is amazing! We had an opportunity to sit outside to eat on a warm late summer day. The atmosphere and service were great. I loved my meal. Great place even to take my kids.
(5)Mark P.
I was not too impressed with the service. They messed up on my order twice (first time it was something completely wrong, second time it had cheese, which I can't eat and told to my server). Since we were out of time, I had to ask for something quick...a plate of pasta with sauce. I was surprised I was just not comped for the meal, which I had to pay $15. I just would have expected them to do something for the mess up.
(1)Chris R.
4 of us went last Saturday and ate at the bar. The bartender, Audrey, was excellent. Pleasant, smiling, knowledgeable, efficient, everything you want in a bartender/server. I split a monster meatball as an app. Served with a small salad on the same plate. It was pretty good - or so I thought. More on that later. Two of us got the Pollo Francese and it was quite tasty. Someone else had lobster rav and then oen other had the salmon special. I had one glass of Kim Crawford and shortly after getting halfway through my entree I started getting that all-over cold sweat / nausea. Uh oh. Not good. Since it came on so quickly I am pretty sure it was food-related. And since I split the meatball I don't think it was that. BUT, I was the only one that ate the small salad that came with the meatball. I was pretty sure I was going to give back what I had recently consumed right there - one way or the other. Mercifully, we live pretty close. My wife and I left and I got home just in time not to leave it all at the restaurant. I was fine the next day but boy, something I ate was not right. And for me, getting sick on something I ate makes it difficult to go back to the place I ate it. I am guessing that this is an isolated incident. The place gets great reviews and looks very clean. But, being honest, my experience was not particularly optimal. Actually, it sucked. A lot. No, I didn't ask for my meal to be taken off the check. Honestly, I was not thinking about that. I just knew I had to get out of there or make a spectacle out of myself.
(2)Meghan M.
Not really a huge fan. The ambiance of the restaurant just doesn't match the area. It's in between a bank and a pre school. I think you can get MUCH better Italian food in the south county area. I've also heard from friends and family also not having the most pleasant experience with service, food, etc. I just feel for what it is, there's so many places you can do better at.
(2)Robert M.
I have been to the South County location numerous times with my family. On each occasion, we received excellent service, and the food was top-notch. I will definitely come back soon!
(5)Toby T.
I go here roughly 2x a month and love it. The food is amazing and priced really well. Large portions, great wine list, nice ambiance, great service, and very accommodating. I come here with my toddler who's basically a regular now and we've always had a great time.
(5)Sandy C.
Had a great evening...actually been there twice in the last week. Maura, our waitress, couldn t have been nicer...concerned about a bottle of wine we ordered that she felt had too much sediment...she opened another bottle, but it had more sediment. I just said....lets try it...it was fine!!! but she was willing to change it up for us. THEN, we happened to see some very dear friends dining with another couple...all four dressed in red holiday sweaters....we couldn t resist and had Maura quickly bring them four "slippery red headed sluts". This made for lots of laughter and surprised them, totally! Food was terrific....a very nice experience!
(5)Heather D.
Really incredible food and Jeremy was great!
(4)Mike L.
The atmosphere is terrific, especially in the bar area with the beautiful mahogany wood work, the wine racks and nice bar. No expense was spared on decor. The food is the best you will find anywhere in RI (including Federal Hill). Everything on the veal menu is incredible, not to mention reasonably priced for the good portion. The seafood menu is impressive as well but not quite the value imo. This is a superb restaurant that anyone who appreciates good Italian food in a great atmosphere will love. If you research the owner's background it is no surprise this is a gem.
(5)christina P.
Good food, large portions, ambiance a little cheesy but nice outdoor seating.... reasonable prices, very good bread. All in all I will give this restaurant a B+
(4)Kristi L.
After visiting the Lincoln, RI location I wanted to give the South County Commons spot a whirl. The menus are very similar, and both offer great options for our gluten free friends. That said, it's $2 extra for gf pasta, and $3 extra for gf bread crumbs....so if you are gluten adverse I recommend not ordering gf chicken parm with pasta otherwise you're fronting an extra $5!
(4)Kimberly S.
Service was great and delicious food. Try the lobster mac and cheese!
(4)Helen P.
We had another great meal there last Friday night. I loved the chicken sorrentino. My family was really pleased with their selection as well. Nice ambience. I just wish restaurants would do more to manage the noise. Service was attentive but not intrusive or fussy.
(5)Tom C.
I have had the luck to come to this restaurant several times over the past two years. Have never been disappointed until last night. They just brought our food too quickly and our experience was over too fast. I know usually we are complaining the service is too slow. My wife and I sat at the bar with Audrey who is awesome and personable, but not in your face. The food was excellently prepared and the salad wedge app was fantastic. The atmosphere is casual. The clientele is very friendly and we met several new friends while we say and ate and enjoyed out cocktails. The exterior is deceiving certainly a must try when in the area !
(4)Judith R.
I got very ill from the clam sauce at this restaurant. I've had good meals in the past but this was a truly awful experience. If you go, avoid the seafood.
(1)Rich T.
Restaurant was excellent. Food was made with quality ingredents and very tasty. Lasagna was great............served with extra sauce and meatballs.... Prices were reasonable, average mid to high teens.... no big city prices..... Service was also very good, attentive to us , and check came quickly when we finished. We ate in the dining room, that had beautiful high ceiling. Saw the bar area and was impressed by the huge screen tv over bar,,,, Will be back to watch sporting events there, The dining area was separate from bar area so it was peaceful. One quirk that we noticed was that the restrooms didn't provide paper towels or hand towels. The electronic hand dryer is just not right in a quality restaurant, Noticed the huge space heaters on outside patio, Would defintely be great place for outside dining....
(5)James T.
We have been to Trattoria Romana Bar and Grill twice now. Each time the service and food has been very good. Their pasta was very fresh. This is some of the best Italian food we have had in South County.
(4)Brian O.
We live in California where the Italian food is terrible so whenever we visit New England we're constantly searching for good Italian up and down the coast. We really liked Trattoria Romana - the ambience, food, and service were excellent. We've had a lot of Italian food in South County and this was the best in my opinion. The bar room was VERY loud and crowded, but fortunately we sat in the dining room. Our server Jeremy was absolutely stellar - knowledgeable and helpful in making our wine and food selections. Our table loved the pappardelle bolognese, baked rigatoni, scallops and shrimp on capellini in the most amazing rose sauce, and a special ravioli with short rib. We'll be back for sure.
(5)Mark C.
We ate here on 7/5/12 and had a very good meal ad is always the case. Our waiter dropped a drink on the table which resulted in a broken glass. Several staff members came right over and helped. Within a few minutes they cleared and set a new table for us and all was well. Great food great staff. We will be back again.
(4)Melissa D.
Cannot believe that this place has only 3 stars! We have been here 2 times for our night away from our 3 kids. Keep in mind we are never happy where ever we go. We always have something to complain about some might say we are picky but when you are spending your hard earned money everything should be stellar. Trattoria Romana is as I told the waiter and one of the owners this place is belligerently good! There are 3 things for a restaurant to be good 1. Good Service 2. Good food 3. Owners that care and have their hand in the work as well Trattoria Romana has all the above and more We LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! Go ahead try it and thank me later!
(5)Simon B.
Excellent! I've been here 4 times in various seasons and it has never disappointed. The food is absolutely terrific, including the seasonal specialties. The real treat is to sit outside as the sun is setting during the summertime and enjoy the escargot platter. I've taken my girlfriend, parents, and friends here, and everyone has really enjoyed it. The wait staff was kind, friendly, and quick, which was appreciated. Also, they were very knowledgeable about the menu and ingredients, so my vegetarian friend could just as well as everyone else. I've tried something from every category on their menu and they have all been really enjoyable, so you can't really go wrong no matter what you order. Inside, it's a bit loud (as some folks have mentioned), but you can tell everyone is enjoying themselves, so it's not a "bad" loud. If I could eat here every day, I would!
(5)AJ H.
We love this restaurant! We have been coming here since it opened. Everything on the menu is delicious. We usually order from the list of specials which is plentiful. The quality of the food and prices can't be beat by any other restaurant here in south county. We have even ordered take out which was packaged to perfection! Maura is an exceptional server and everyone takes time to ensure you are satisfied with your meal.
(5)Jennifer C.
This is my favorite restaurant. We are originally from Cumberland and always frequented the Lincoln location. We recently relocated to south county. This is my 2'nd trip to trats down here. What a let down! This review is only for s county location and for this visit. The service was horrid!! This is by far the worst service I ever had. My drink was terrible and I felt like I just wasted $80 on my bill. There was a party of 7 next to us and we were shoved in a corner table behind them and ignored. Our waiter stood at their table chit chatting and discussing their overlooked seafood while holding out drinks for. No less than 4-5 minutes. At one point I jokingly reached toward my drink as if to grab it. The waiter eventually replaced my drink and said Audrey made it Ns it was significantly better! I am not sure we will be back to this location. The service made me feel subpar to the large group. I felt treated like a 2nd rate citizen! I tried to be nice. But the waiter was odd and rubbed me the wrong way. Plus I had to continually flag him down!
(2)Nev K.
this is a terrific, Italian restaurant. I'm amazed by the food and thrilled by the service. The menu is EXTENSIVE...and then they have many, many specials each and every day. The bread basket includes some of the best, tasty bread I've ever had. I'm a fan of the penne with basil pesto sauce. The antipasta plate is different and extraordinary each time. This delightful restaurant gives the impression that you are dining with their family. A wonderful experience!!
(4)Emma N.
We couldn't get a reservation or a seat in the dining room, so we decided to try the bar. It was great. We met several interesting people, enjoyed banter with the bar tenders and ate the delicious food. We each had the caprese salad - not the best idea in February since tomatoes aren't in season. Mozzarella was great, but the tomatoes were meaty (belch!). The gnocchi was good and very cheesy, but a bit undercooked. My husband's veal saltimbocca was delicious. The molten lava cake was yummy, but too small to split. Overall, I enjoyed our dining experience and meal at Trattoria Romana. I'd chose different items next time though.
(4)Kathy D.
It's gotten better. When they first opened I ordered lobster mac & cheese which got sent back. Sauce was runny & not at all creamy. I'm not a big fan of Italian food so that limits me. I also refuse to eat veal & they use that in their meatballs. We've been back 4 times and each time was an improvement. The service was great but it's noisy. I don't understand why people have to be so loud. I wouldn't suggest it for a romantic dinner unlike Bouchards in Newport where it's extremely classy & you can hear a pin drop. Considering it's close to the cinema the convenience makes it worthwhile as the only other places to dine in The South County Commons are Applebee's & Shogun. Also, someone else called this place 'upscale'. I have to disagree. They don't even require a jacket and any place that has a TV does not qualify as upscale. jmo
(3)SC S.
One of the best Italian restaurants I have visited! Outstanding service from the start when we walked through the doors. I enjoyed the Vitello Arragosta which I may even order again. The fresh Maine lobster garnish with the veal medallions was an enjoyable treat. I will defiantly be visit again soon!
(5)Dennis G.
was there sunday 10-13 i sat at the bar after my second glass of wine and asking the bartender if there was a problem with my order twice i approached the manger, i asked if there was a problem with the food coming out of the kitchen he stared at me and i never seen him again. when the food came out it was just ok at best. when i asked where was my appetizer was she stated that she forgot, with 3 people at the bar i asked how she could have forgotten when i asked her twice if there was a problem. ugh not going back ever
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