Bistro Romano

Went to dinner Mother’s Day weekend and the food and service was good. We had the moscato wine, lamb chops and carrot cake which was really good. They have a great wine selection. There was live music upstairs near the bar but we sat downstairs which is more quiet and intimate.

We’ve been to Bistro Romano twice now, and it’s officially one of our favorite restaurants in Philly. The food is absolutely delicious,- the ossobuco and gnocchi are standout dishes that we keep dreaming about! The Montepulciano wine paired perfectly with everything, adding that extra special touch to both visits. A huge shoutout to Kishore, our server on both occasions. He’s incredibly attentive, knowledgeable, and guided us through the menu with warmth and genuine hospitality. He truly makes you feel right at home, and his positive attitude adds so much to the experience. Our first visit was for the tasting menu, and the second was à la carte.- both were flawless. The atmosphere is cozy yet elegant, making it perfect for date nights, dinners with friends, or even something more special. Kishore mentioned they also host private events, which we’re definitely keeping in mind. It’s the perfect spot for a private party or celebration. Can’t wait to return!

My husband said the mussels are the best he ever had. The sauce was amazing. I really enjoyed the focaccia with both ricotta and mussels. Wonderful birthday dinner here.

We love bistro! I came across them randomly one day and I started getting their emails about their $20 pasta and wine specials on Wed/Thurs nights and man I have been a fan since. You cannot beat the prices or quality! We usually order other menu items along with the special depending on how hungry we are and we’ve ordered outside the pasta special a few times. My partner ordered lobster ravioli once. I tried it but wasn’t a huge fan however i loved the crab ravioli. So you just make your way through the menu. Everything I’ve personally ordered has been a 10/10. Also the decor and whole vibe of the restaurant is awesome. Highly recommend for a date night, solo date, or just hanging with friends at the bar. The staff the hostess, bar staff, and waiters /waitresses are amazing. Always pleasant and attentive. Such a great atmosphere! Oh yeah and they have a small wine shop to purchase bottles!

Major Husband points for this one fellas. The staff was great. The food was good. We'll definitely be back sooner then later.

Seriously one of the best diners I have had in my life 🤩 This experience will definitely reflect on the bill so keep that in mind. The decor is antique and really interesting, the food is perfect, and the wines were just as good. I must’ve had atleast 3 bottles 🍷 They are so Italian here that they have no hot sauce whatsoever and took a good half hour finding enough red pepper flakes to fill a tiny bowl. Top 5!

The Christmas Eve 7 Fishes Feast was amazing. They almost offered an alternative for the meat eater. Can't wait to return and experience the regular full menu. Hidden gem people need to check out!

Food was delicious and the service was excellent. We went with the chefs picks and the selections were great. My husband and I had a great time trying foods we would generally not pick and it was fun. Cute and interesting building. This is definitely a nice spot for a romantic dinner.

Great location in Headhouse, romantic basement atmosphere, and good Italian food. My friend and I went for their $20 pasta and wine deal at the bar, but after seeing the gorgeous downstairs menu and ambiance we decided to do a full meal instead. Service was prompt and courteous! The vibe here skews older and more corporate, and the menu reflects that kind of clientele. We went with the focaccia and ricotta to start along with a Caesar salad. The bread dish was the stand out of the evening for me! Great soft focaccia creamy ricotta makes for a decadent start. Too much for two people! Delightful. The Caesar was as basic as Caesars come and, while fine, something I would skip the next time. The hugo-inspired Romano spritz was drinkable but needed soda to cut the St. Germain and tartness from the fruit. The pasta dish came out piping hot and was very much your standard bolognese. We each got a fabulous glass of Montepulciano with our pasta. I loved that the wine list focussed on Italian heavy hitters and would come back to the bar in a heartbeat for the wine. This rating really stems from the fact that there's just SO MUCH good Italian food in the city. This is a great spot for pleasing a group and for fairly specific occasions, but not one I find to be as remarkable. Thanks for the fab hospitality from the team here!

Went here for an early Valentine's Day dinner and it was exactly what I was looking for. The ambiance is so nice and romantic and cozy. Our server was Bill and he was incredible. His service was beyond perfect and was probably the best I've experienced in Philly. The food was delicious - I scarfed down my lobster ravioli in about 5 minutes. My boyfriend had the fettuccine bolognese and it was so good as well. The manager came back to check on how everything was going and was very sweet. I could not recommend this place more! Go here for the perfect date night or a night out with friends.

Loved the wine and saltimboca. The olives were warm and delicious. Wasn't a fan of the ceasar salad. Great date spot. Service was on it and super nice and quick. Would definitely go back and big big fan.

Bistro Romano is an intimate, delicate romantic experience. The overall experience was delightful. The restaurant is beautiful inside. The offer wine bottles to purchase. This is multi leveled and you are able to reserve seating in the wine cellar. We were sat upstairs where the pianist played live music. The wine was delicious. The calamari was tasty. I enjoyed my FETTUCCINE BOLOGNESE however, I will say the pasta was somewhat hard in some parts so there was a miss there. I did give 4 stars due to ambience, and attentiveness with service. Our waiter was patient and checked in constantly. They were very mild mannered in temperament however I appreciated the attentiveness. Definitely a date night spot to try out in our city.

The restaurant has 2 floors and they had a live pianist which was nice. The environment is really dark and intimate. It's a good place for family dinner or a romantic date, not really for friends to sit down and catch up in my opinion. The food was good/okay, just regular fancy Italian food. Our waiter was very nice and pleasant though. We ordered 2 dishes (chicken parm and a pasta dish) and an appetizer and the bill came up to $95 which is quite pricy. I'd recommend this place for a fancy dinner date, or celebrating a special occasion.

Excellent service! We started with the Caesar salad, which had an excellent light dressing the gnocchi was fluffy and wonderful. The veal Ossobucco fell off the bone, served with broccolini and polenta. Absolutely perfect meal!

Loved the food, loved the old school vibe, and our server was polite, prompt and attentive. We would most definitely go back.

Last night was my son's birthday and he wanted to go to a fancy Italian restaurant (he actually wanted to go to Vetri - for their $165 pp tasting menu, I said, uh, maybe when you are gainfully employed we'll go there to celebrate). Bistro Romano was an acceptable alternative for fancy but not break the bank fancy. It happened to be restaurant week so we opted for the four course $40 chef's menu, between the three of us we had: amuse bouche: ricotta on disc of bread 3/5 - not that interesting (had read that ordering bread for the table was $5 so we didn't go for it) primi: caesar salad - 3/5, lettuce leaves were a little wilted/maybe too much dressing brussels sprouts cacio pepe - 5/5, delicious, plentiful serving, but not quite sure how this was cacio pepe burrata - 4/5, tasty but significantly smaller portion than the others second course: rigatoni with pork sugo, broccoli rabe - 4/5, tasty branzino - 5/5, very generous portion of fish with roasted artichokes and tomatoes NY strip steak - 4/5, large portion, mashed potatoes were a bit overpowering with the cheese and a very small serving of not very flavorful broccolini dolci: tiramisu - 4/5, ratio of cake to cream was a bit high, so the mouthfeel was a bit dry which is unusual for a tiramisu mini cannoli trio - 4/5, shells were a bit thick/hard, chocolate chip and pistachio were good, strawberry not quite as good in comparison We also ordered: broccoli rabe - 5/5 black pepper macaroni - 4/5 (not very peppery, became a 5/5 when we added the broccoli rabe to the pasta) calamari - 5/5 - perfectly crisp, not too oily, with delicious fried sliced peppers for a nice kick - this and the broccoli rabe were my favorite dishes of the night The ambiance is lovely, we were seated downstairs in a little nook (but not the romantic cave behind us where a couple had red rose petals strewn across their table), and it was quiet enough for us to have good conversation and the service was excellent!

Basement provided very nice ambience for intimate date night. Food was delicious as well as the wine, with great selection. Very well priced for the quality. Overall great place and would recommend. Pictures include lobster risotto, black pepper macaroni, crème brûlée and tiramisu.

Bistro Romano, do not sleep on it! In a residential neighborhood, amazing spot, atmosphere, food and cocktails. A quick rideshare from the campground in NJ, well worth the trip!

The ambiance at Bistro Romano especially over the holidays is amazing. It felt very quaint and romantic even though we were unable to get the wine cellar table. For appetizers we got the mussels and the focaccia with whipped ricotta. Both were very good but I wish the bread wasn't burnt. It was still good but I had to pick off the burnt edges. The whipped ricotta was amazing. The mussels were in a rich garlicky tomato broth that we are with a spoon once the mussels were gone. For entrees we split the lasagna special, I got the tortellini stuffed with goat cheese and my husband got a short noodle pasta with sausage and a cream sauce (can't remember the name). The tortellini was our favorite of the three. Unfortunately the lasagna was tiny and also burnt. For this caliber of a restaurant I wasn't expecting them to bring out burnt food. The sausage pasta was good but the pasta was a bit too chewy. For dessert we both got their special butterscotch pudding to go which caused some confusion because they weren't sure how to package it to take to go. It was pretty disappointing. Not sure if they just didn't include everything it would have included if you ordered it in the restaurant but it was just sort of run of the mill pudding. Maybe we had our hopes up and have been spoiled by the budino at Barbuzzo. Overall still a very good meal but I think some things could be improved.

I love coming to Bistro Romano. It's in Head House Square and in a nice cozy spot. Service here is slower - though, I think is appropriate because it mimics true Italian dining where you are given time to eat and chat. The food is amazing - I highly recommend the Grilled Swordfish, Pan Roasted Pork Chops, and the Garganelli.

I met a friend after work for a quick meet up to try the Pasta E Vino on Wednesday and Thursdays. The special includes the pasta of the day and a glass of house wine for $20 + tax and tip. The hostess greeted me as soon as I walked in. The special is only served in the bar area. Both bar seating and some tables are available. The restaurant has a beautiful bar. The vibe is old school Italian. The bartender came right over and offered us water. He was very personable. I had the House Chianti and my friend had the white. Both were good. Only one pasta option is available. This week it was Gnocchi Alla Vodka. The gnocchi was pillowy. The sauce had a nice tomato flavor with a bit of spice. It was delicious! We asked if bread was available. The bartender brought the bread but didn't tell us we would be charged $5. The bread was good but we probably wouldn't have ordered it. We debated about dessert and decided to split one. We were so happy we did! The chocolate torte was amazing-very chocolaty! The ricotta whipped cream, strawberries and Black Sea salt made it very unique! The service was very good and quick without being rushed. I will be back to try more of the pastas!

Amazing dinner find at the last minute on a rainy weekend. Food was amazing. We enjoyed all our dishes. There was a delay with the pork chop but the staff took care of us by comp'd glass of wine and appetizer to hold us over while we waited. The service is great and the place is impeccable.

Everything turns up mid here. The wife and I came here for restaurant week. We were looking forward to the vegetarian options and also trying out their wines. We were able to find decent parking close by which was nice since it was a colder evening and the closer to the restaurant, the better! It's an easy find with clear signage on the street. Inside it's rather spacious, there's a seating area on two different levels, a full wine bar to purchase from, and also a piano - how cool! We were seated in the lower level, and our waitress was great in providing options for us to choose from that we're vegetarian friendly. We ended up ordering both on and off the restaurant week menu which was nice as it allowed for us to have more variety. As the food came out, we started to eat away. I found our beet salad pretty mediocre and nothing too exciting to write home about. The meal we chose was a pesto pasta dish for myself, and my wife chose the vegetarian ravioli, and for dessert we selected the pistachio tiramisu. Overall the service was great and very attentive, I just found the food rather dull and uninspired. The flavor of the dishes were so-so and I didn't care too much for the dessert. No return trips planned but maybe we'll surprise ourselves and give it another chance!

This was my first time coming here, and I've got to say it won't be my last time. I came here for a special date with my girlfriend and it didn't disappoint at alllllll!! The food was delicious. I love seafood, so we ordered the mussels as an appetizer. They were so flavorful. The bread they are served with was the cherry on top. For our main course, I ordered the gnocchi, and she ordered the fettuccine bolognese. Both were so good. I personally am a sucker for anything truffle, so the gnocchi was the best between the two, in my opinion. It was just so soft and rich. The service here was exceptional. We were taken care of. Our water never went low, and when my girlfriend wanted to make substitutions (like she always does), they were really cool about it. The manager even came and stopped by our table! That's never happened to me before. It really gave this place an even more personal touch. The vibe here is rustic, Italian, romantic, and classic. I really like it. It's dim and it's perfect for a date. Ended up paying $73 before tip for the 3 things we ordered. Didn't get any drinks.

Very romantic date night place for some Italian. The lighting is dim inside and there is a candle at each table. The menu is also great - they have a good selection of pastas! Prices are slightly on the higher end so expect to pay around 30$ per entree. The mussels ($15) I got were delicious and would definitely recommend. The staff are also super nice. Our waitress came by and checked in on us and made sure everything was good. The manager also stopped by to make a bit of conversation and check in! Location is also great. Stop in for dinner and walk around the area for a cute stroll.

Pretty empty on a Friday night, much appreciated. Server was knowledgeable. Octopus was grilled to perfection- fingerling potatoes were a nice added touch. Garganelli was tasty. Caesar salad was not good. The dressing had a balsamic twang to it..

My boyfriend and I dined here for our one year anniversary. They put out rose petals and an anniversary card, which is so sweet! We sat at a high top upstairs because there was no room for a table downstairs when we booked. I've seen how romantic it is downstairs, so next time I'd like to go back to sit in the main dining area. However, have a piano bar on Friday and Saturday nights, which was romantic and still perfect for our night out! The service was great, and our waiter was very attentive. We tried the chef's tasting and everything was delicious! This was what we had: Burrata: 4/5-delicious as-is but would have loved some more flavor incorporated, maybe if the balsamic was on the top instead of bottom, I could have caught the taste more. Ravioli: 5/5 this roasted corn ravioli was delicious!! It was sweet and the flavors of the dish went really well together. Rigatoni: 5/5 OMG sooo delicious! The pork was tender and the sauce reminded me of my mom's homemade recipe. Definitely recommend. NY Strip Steak: 5/5 soooo tender! Like a filet!! I would definitely recommend as a main dish. I don't like brussels sprouts but these were cooked really well. I also loved the sauce in this dish and basically licked it clean. Chocolate Panna Cotta: 3/5: I might be a little pickier about dessert, but I didn't finish this one. I wish the chocolate flavor was a little more rich and I couldn't get away from the strawberry puree. My boyfriend ate the whole thing and the rest of mine, though! Addition: Side of Brussels sprouts: 5/5 absolutely delicious! Like I mentioned, I'm not a fan of Brussels sprouts but what they did here was down to a science. The side of sprouts were tossed with lemon juice, oil, and Parmesan. Definitely something I'll try to recreate at home. These were given to us as an extra because one of our courses was slightly delayed. Drinks: Romano Spritz: 3/5 I expected this drink to be served on ice but my mistake because it comes out more like champagne/a mimosa. Tastes like a liquid raspberry! It was too sweet to get another but still enjoyed it. Old Fashioned: 5/5: my boyfriend got one and it was very strong. He seemed to enjoy it, though he also did not get another. Cabernet Savignon: 5/5 this was smooth and buttery. It was a great pairing with our meal! I would have gotten another but this lasted me the entire rest of our meal. Limoncello: 5/5 enjoyed at the end! This place is romantic and has such delicious Italian food. I'm happy it has been a Philly staple of mine over the years. Keep it up, Bistro Romano!

To preface, my family and I used to come here all the time for holidays to celebrate as this resturaunt has a wonderful ambiance and reliable food. However in my recent experience, the service was incredibly rude with a very dismissive server who esssentially never came to check in on us and when we did leave, she hunted us down to make sure our card had "run through". The food was mediocre and also gave my entire family diarrhea. Unfortunately, we will not be returning.

Very delicious and authentic Italian dishes been coming here for years. I am a chicken Parm guru and they make a delicious one here the pasta fresh and the seafood delicious.

We came here for their monthly wine tasting event and it was such a good time!! One day a month they host a wine event where you get to try 30+ different wines throughout the world and it's poured by experts that know everything about the wine. At the end of the event, you have the chance to buy your favorite bottles to take home with 50% off and they even let you stay for dinner in the restaurant with 10% off your check! The event was extremely busy, so I think we may go to the earlier time slot next time since the 730 was sold out and crazy. The only other thing I would say is the event was a lot of going back and forth between white and red but I don't think it's possible to organize it in a different way. After the event, we did stay for a bite to eat and got the mussels and truffle gnocchi! Both were to die for and helped us sober up before going home! Would highly recommend and will be returning for a full meal.

The food was amazing but the service was INCREDIBLE!! Jose was the best server I've ever encountered! 10/10 recommend

Went here for our birthday and we absolutely loved it. It was a wonderful experience and atmosphere. They gave us a birthday card as well, which was a lovely touch. Will always hold this in high regard.

We enjoy eating here a couple times a year and always have a wonderful experience. The ambiance of both the upstairs and downstairs is rustic and cozy, and the service is always good. This visit however, we were surprised that there no longer was complimentary bread for the table. We were told that the "chef is newer and the bread is more fancy, so it is no longer included". So, of course, we ordered the bread expecting something above and beyond the offerings of the past. Well, it wasn't bad, but certainly not worth the $24 charged to our bill! It wasn't something I would order in the future as it did NOT add anything of quality to the meal! Otherwise, my gnocci was phenomenal as always!!! Thank you!

Our son introduced us to one of his favorite Phili restaurants. WOW !!! The entire night was spot on from the ambiance, wine, entrees, to dessert. We can't stop thinking about this dinner. Can't wait to return.

We went here for my birthday dinner this year with my family! We had great service and the food was phenomenal. It was some of the best gnocchi I've ever had!

Food was great but the ambience of the place was my personal favorite. Our server, Nick, was awesome and really helpful. Highly recommend the braised veal ossobuco and the NY steak pepe verde. The veal dish we ordered, they gave us a little spoon to dig out the bone marrow, and everything else just fell apart so nicely.

Obsessed is an understatement! My boyfriend booked the private wine cellar for a romantic birthday dinner and it was truly lovely. Atmosphere is quaint and has an old world feel, perfect match for Italian cuisine. The building is almost 300 years old (as someone in the staff mentioned) with all original stone in the interior. Truly a cute place. The important part: the food! Everything was delicious. Our table got the burrata which was simple, but tasty. Who doesn't love cheese! Another appetizer we tried was the calamari which was to die for! A little bit of spice but well balanced with the flavors of a traditional red sauce. Entrees we're the gnocchi (house specialty) and the black pepper macaroni. The house made pasta makes all the difference and speaks for itself. Service also hit above the mark. Our waiter was tentative while also giving privacy when needed. He was also very knowledgeable about the menu, location, and different wines. P.s. if you book the private room (really affordable, 2 hour time slot for $35) they give you a sharpie to sign your wine bottle and put it on display. How cute!

Get the short rib ravioli!! It was absolutely mouth watering!! I had a great time at Bistro Romano. My friends and I made reservations for dinner but before that, attended their wine tasting event (very worth it.) We had a very friendly waiter who was attentive and quick to answer any of our questions. There was an unfortunate situation where one of our coats was taken, at the wine event. However, the staff was beyond helpful and willing to assist in anyway that they could. Fortunately, the jacket was found and it turned out to be a misunderstanding. We all left very pleased and content with our experience. I would highly recommend both the wine event and dining at this establishment.

We went to Bistro Romano looking for some outstanding Italian cuisine, and they did NOT disappoint! The ambiance wasn't too fancy, but it was inviting and warm.  Service was exceptional - both our waitress and the wine steward were very helpful and friendly; we got solid recommendations from both that enhanced the quality of our dining experience. The food was both solid and satisfying; we very much enjoyed both the Ravioli and the Gnocchi.  Portion sizes were more than generous :-) I wouldn't hesitate to return!

It's been a year and that's way to long. The best gnocchi in the country with prosciutto and a black truffle cream sauce...squash blossoms w/ ricotta and scamorza, herb vinaigrette and citrus aioli. I love this place

One of the best Italian restaurants in the city. The ambiance of the downstairs cellar is amazing for a date night. The gnocchi is one of my favorite entrees and the restaurant week deal was great - 4 courses for $40! I am never disappointed when I go to Bistro Romano!

Love the cellos and service . Love the menu choices esp the gnocchi and calamari cishes

Wonderful restaurant in Philly This intimate Italian eatery with a rustic vibe features a wine cellar & piano bar. Everything we ordered was amazing great wine selections and they even have a private wine room intimate table. Loved this place

Perfect spot for a date night! The ambiance is romantic, the food amazing, and the wine selection is pretty good too. The short rib garganelli is to die for! The Caesar salad was very fresh and a great way to start the meal. Tiramisu was a bit too heavy on the mascarpone in my opinion; didn't have much coffee/espresso flavor coming through. We will definitely be back!

Had a great dinner at Bistro Romano on Nov 26. We signed up for the Wine Cellar Experience and were so excited for the dinner. Everything surpassed expectations. The Wince Cellar outcove was wonderfully decorated with candlelight and rose petals on the table. There was a wonderful bottle of wine and 2 Bistro Romano wine glasses on the table for us to take home as well. Dinner (5 course chef's tasting menu) was delicious! Our favorite course was the diver scallops, but every course was great! Dinner was wrapped up with an amazing chocolate creme brulee and champagne. Service throughout the meal was simply the best. The entire team were wonderful throughout the evening...we couldn't have asked for better service. Experiences like this are why Bistro Romano continues to be our favorite restaurant!

We booked a table for 8 people and were "guaranteed" a reservation for 3 hours. At 2 hours and 15 minutes we were asked to leave after spending $1,000. After speaking to the manager we were comped $30in desserts and were told it's only because it's graduation weekend. We were here trying to celebrate a graduation...

I first came here years and years ago, but haven't been back in quite some time. I finally managed to make it back, and it's still as great as I remember! The ambiance in the restaurant is wonderful, with lots of privacy despite there being a lot of other patrons. Most seating is in the basement, which is quite quaint. Service is wonderful and super friendly, which is great, and it's easy to make reservations via OpenTable. Ok, so, the wine list. It's huge. lots of options by the glass, with various pour sizes, but also an extensive list of top quality bottles as well. They do have cocktails and beer as well if that's your preference. Now for the food. They have a great list of appetizers, pasta dishes, and main courses, and dessert. For appetizers, we decided to go with the mussels in a chili broth and the Caesar salad. Both were excellent! The mussels weren't those tiny-meat mussels you find in some places, these were huge by comparison. They weren't quite the same size as you typically find in Maine mussels, but still, pretty darn large. The broth was plentiful and had lots of flavor, which was great, because the huge pieces of fresh, grilled bread were perfect for mopping it up. The Caesar salad was pretty good too, lots of flavor, good portion size, and great croutons. Next up, dinner. We decided to stick to just pasta for this meal because that's really all we were in the mood for, but we were not disappointed! First off, all the pastas are homemade, so that right there is a great start. The black pepper macaroni was fresh, perfectly al dente, and had tremendous flavor. It was also an awesome portion size. The other dish was garlic truffle gnocchi in a cream sauce. Again, absolutely delicious! The gnocchi were fluffy and light, but also huge and had great texture. The sauce was insanely good, with huge garlic flavor. Honestly wished i had saved some of the bread from the mussels, but it was okay, they also gave us spoons. And yes, they came in handy. I'm not ashamed to admit it; I drank the sauce like a soup. I don't care, judge me all you want, it was delicious. AND I'D DO IT AGAIN! Lastly, the dessert came because we were celebrating a birthday, and it was great. Dense, chocolaty, and delicious. The cappuccino was also great, with a flavorful and moist biscotti. Overall, this place is just as good as I remember from years ago, and I'll definitely be coming back. I've honestly had bouts of disappointment from not having any leftovers in my fridge, because I bet they would reheat really well too. If you haven't been here, you need to go, it's some of the best pasta in the city, hands down.

Absolutely amazing!!! This was my second time dining at Bistro Romano. Me and my fiancé did the wine cellar dining to celebrate our anniversary. The wine cellar is a candlelight dinner. It's on the bottom floor of the restaurant tucked away from the other tables. Very romantic and perfect for date, anniversary, or celebration. The staffs service is very attentive. We started off with complimentary bread and a tomato purée spread. Then they brought us a complimentary glass of champagne as they looked for our bottle of wine!! For an app we got the oxtail arancini. Perfect for 2 people but would not be large enough for a bigger group. For dinner we split the gnocchi and weekly chef special braised short rib. They were both amazing. Literally the best dinner I've had in such a long time. Totally brag worthy. For a side we got the roasted brussel sprouts. For dessert we split the tiramisu and got house limoncello. Dinner was so good I'm coming back in 2 days with my girlfriends to eat again!

Food was really good. Basics were a little under seasoned. But highly recommend--great wines and ambiance. Server was less than stellar.

I had a wonderful Date night with my girlfriend at Bistro Romano. The dining room is a romantic basement setting. They keep everyone socially distanced and with the various partitions we didn't even see any other patrons as we ate. It felt like we had the restaurant to ourselves, except for when we heard laughter from another room. The food was delicious. We started with the beef short rib croquets. A fried ball of juicy short rib with a tasty aoli. I scarfed my portion down fast. Then it was on to the entrees. My entrée was the veal saltimbocca. It's a dish with veal & cheese over mashed potatoes with gravy. When it first arrived I thought it was too much food to eat in one sitting. But once I started eating I could not stop. It was so good. The veal was perfectly cooked and everything meshed together perfectly. For dessert we shared a carrot cake. The cream cheese icing was literally dripping down the sides. It was the perfect size for 2 to share and made for a delectable sweet treat to end the meal. Before this visit I hadn't been to Bistro Romano for a few years. But I have been here a few times over the past decade. With all the great restaurants in Philly it's hard for me to visit the same restaurant twice, let alone a few times. But Bistro Romano has been consistently great, making it worth multiple visits.

I would like to start my review with saying I have no idea how I ended up on Bistro Romano's email list but I'm glad that it happened! After receiving numerous emails I decided to check their rating on Yelp. I saw that Bistro Romano was well liked with a 4 star rating and 598 reviews. So when I received an email advertising their Food & Wine event I didn't hesitate to purchase two tickets. Five courses paired with wines from different regions of Italy for $85 tax and gratuity included sounded great to me. Me and the missus drove to the venue and were pleased to find plenty of street parking. We walked a short distance to the restaurant. Upon entry we received a pleasant greeting from the hostess. We were a little early so we decided to have a drink at the bar. My lovely dining companion ordered the Romano Spritz (stateside vodka, st. germain, raspberry, sparkling wine) and I opted for the Hell or High Water Watermelon draft. The missus loved the taste of her cocktail and said it was refreshing. I enjoyed the cold draft beer, it was crisp and refreshing with a hint of fruit. The venue began to fill up as the other guest's began to arrive. One of the hosts began pouring an apertivo for everyone. The Lambrusco was delicious. It was a red with bubbles, not sweet and definitely summer friendly. The host then invited us downstairs to take our seats and begin dinner. We descended the staircase into the lower level which was very romantic. The lights were dim and our table for two felt very intimate. We met Bill who I believe was the sommelier. He explained every wine as it was poured. The back of our menu also included a map of Italy and highlighted what regions the wines came from. I'll keep my opinions to the food only. My wine IQ is not the greatest. First course: tomato braised octopus, lemon, parsley, crostini The octopus was very meaty and tender. The sauce was light and tasty. Second course: arancini I thought the arancini was perfectly fried. The pecorino cheese and rice inside was yummy with a hint of mint. The sweetness from apricot purée paired well with the other flavors. Third course: lamb ragu, pecorino sardo The lamb ragu was my favorite dish of the evening. After the first bite my dining companion said this is fresh pasta! The pasta was delicious and the lamb was super tender. Fourth course: barolo braised steak, prosciutto and parmesan filling, polenta This dish was very good. The steak was tender and you could definitely taste that it had been braised in wine. The prosciutto and parmesan filling was rich and paired well with the creamy polenta. Fifth course: lucano infused, almond biscotti, panna whip The biscotti was flavorful. The panna whip looked like melted ice cream. I enjoyed dipping the biscotti into the sweet creamy sauce. Kudos to Executive Chef Andrew Kedziora and Bistro Romano for a successful event. It appeared that a good time was had by all. We'll definitely come back with friends.

Everything from the service to the ambiance and ESPECIALLY the food is exactly why it has such good reviews. I cannot say enough good things about this place. Stop scrolling... if you're looking to take someone out... take them here.

NYE 21' Madness! There is so much to say about this restaurant. First, I am from Florida and we DINED OUTDOORS.... DURING WINTER!!!! The outdoor dining setup is quite unique. Cattycorner to the restaurant is a brick paved sidewalk with arched entryways in the middle of 2nd street. The restaurant has commandeered a section of this sidewalk that provides for great al fresco dining (even in the dead of winter) and makes for an elegant space. They have heat lamps and clear plastic that blocks the cross-breeze and they also have a few pretty cool yurts! Never thought that I would witness a day where dining in yurts on a sidewalk to protect you from dangerous air is a thing but here we are! Now to walk you through my experience beginning with the reservation process. We booked a table for 3 the eve before new year's eve. So last minute, I know! We booked online and called to confirm. Joetta was great! She was so pleasant and despite all the mix-ups (my friend is weird and books online under a different surname.‍ I called and provided his real name and of course everyone was super confused!). Victor greeted us at our table. He too was pleasant and sent a hello from Joetta. He made note that he recalled from Joetta that we were Floridians (its the little things). Makenzie (not sure if I spelled that correctly) was our server for the evening. Despite the chill in the air, she made our dining experience so warm. She was almost always there when we needed and despite the "full house", her service was prompt. Now I could drag on and on about the food but if you look at the pictures, there isn't much else to be said. Everything was beautifully plated. Despite the runners bringing food from across the street, each dish came out timely and hot. EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT! The seared salmon and the filet mignon were perfectly served at medium, the brodetto had ample seafood galore and the risotto.... Risotto risotto ... I am still having dreams about the risotto. We had so much food to eat and enough leftover to enjoy as a full meal. We ate and were served like kings and a queen on our NYE night in Philly.

Long time ago but awesome food and service Ambiance great We will come back for sure

Ok. Last review of 2020! Hope that 2021 is better for everyone. Anyway, I had a great date night with my wife at Bistro Romano. We've eaten here a few times over the years but it has been a long while since my last time. After today's wonderful meal, I realized I need to come here more often. Had a 7:30pm reservation for New Years Eve. Philadelphia still has only outdoor seating due to COVID-19, and we sat in our own plastic bubble igloo complete with a propane heater about a 1/2 block from the front door of the restaurant. Had to be a little concerned when the wind blew the "door" closed and just about got caught on the heater. Could've had a real "meltdown." No one came so I had to save the night and put it back on top of the bubble. I'm sure that the waitstaff was somewhat happy to get the exercise from the restaurant and bring food and drink to the customers. Anyway, my wife and I went with the Chef's Choice Tasting Menu. We skipped the wine pairings, but easily made up for it in margaritas and Cosmopolitans. Our meal, which I think I took pictures of everything which hopefully turned out in the dark, consisted of bread with sun-dried tomato and oil, tomato soup with crema fraise, a specifically requested Caesar salad, salmon sushi style with caviar, some of the best pillowy gnocchi I've ever had, a seafood risotto with fillet medallions that was a little too rare for our liking, and a wicked huge piece of moist carrot cake. All the food was great. My wife couldn't handle the raw salmon, so I got some extra. As I mentioned, best gnocchi I've ever had in an awesome cream sauce, and the seafood risotto was so tasty. The meat was a little too rare but still good. We each could only finish half our carrot cakes and took them home. We also topped the dessert with some Frangelico and Limoncello cordials. Service was quite friendly and attentive except for the possible igloo meltdown on the burner. $235 not including tip for two Chef's Choice Tastings, six mixed drinks, and two cordials. We had a wonderful date night ending to 2020 at Bistro Romano.

10/10. Very nice and efficient staff, stunning atmosphere and most importantly, the food was beautiful and delicious.

Went for my birthday dinner with friends. The restaurant is super cute, drinks were on point, great wine selection, knowledgable sommelier, staff were super friendly, and the food was delicious. Loved they would do half sized dinner plates as appetizers. It was a perfect dinner in the city experience. I would definitely recommend to others and would go again myself.