Romano Cucina

Once upon a time, Romano Cucina was a well-kept secret. Tucked between a McDonald's and the hum of the I-5, it was a little slice of Italy where South Orange County's pasta lovers could find refuge. But secrets don't stay secrets forever, and Romano Cucina has been rightfully discovered. These days, you'll wait 20 minutes or so for a table, but let's be honest--that's just enough time to sip one of the most consistently excellent dirty martinis you'll find anywhere.I don't know the owners, which is unusual for me with a place I frequent this much. But I admire what they've built. This isn't some polished, pretentious shrine to Instagram food culture. It's a small business with soul--a restaurant that's earned its place in the rotation for locals who crave real, hearty Italian food without pretense.The pasta? Forgettable it is not. Dish after dish comes out perfectly executed--comforting, rich, and carb-heavy in all the right ways. It's the kind of food you crave on a cold night or after a long week, dishes that remind you why you love eating out in the first place.It's not without its quirks. Those thick wine glasses--they belong in a roadhouse, not a restaurant serving pasta this good. But honestly? That's part of the charm. Romano Cucina isn't trying to impress you with fine stemware. It's here to feed you, to pour you a stiff drink, and to make you feel at home.So, if you haven't yet, go. Stand at the bar, dirty martini in hand, and soak in the warm chaos of locals who've made this place their own. Then, sit down and let the pasta do the rest.

I ordered 7 cannolis and 1 tiramisu to-go on a Saturday night and they were ready within 15 minutes. Sean and the staff were very friendly and there was plenty of parking.The cannolis were a huge hit. Very crispy shell and delicious cream inside. Portions were generous. Unfortunately, I'm not sure what cake we got but it wasn't a tiramisu. It was like a layered cheesecake. A bit disappointing but it was a decent cheesecake. The inside was very cozy and intimate but also had a great bar for watching sports. There was also some nice outdoor seating.

It was a busy Friday night tonight, so I understand the hustle. We put our names down for a party of two with the hostess and were informed there would be a 20-30 minute wait. After waiting for 30 minutes without any alert, we checked in, only to be told we had to wait another 20 minutes. After that additional time, we returned inside since we hadn't received any notification. At that point, we were told they were still cleaning our table. When our table was finally ready, it was located right in the middle of the left wing of the restaurant. We politely declined that table, and the hostess rolled her eyes, responding, "just wait until we get another table cleaned." We waited so long and saw so many people now leaving we figured, for sure we'd get seated soon. That didn't happen so we decided to leave. Now, I really enjoy the restaurant, the servers work quickly, chefs are great and so is bartender. So I feel terrible writing this. Being the first point of contact for customers, the hostess plays a crucial role in representing the restaurant. We were courteous, patient and polite, but unfortunately, her demeanor reflected a typical Gen Z stereotype. I believe staff training could be improved immensely to enhance the customer experience. There was just way too much stall between assisting tables outside and cleanup too. 60 minutes was too long of a wait with no responsible communication on hostess part!!!

We love coming here! Food is amazing and Everyone is so nice all the time! They have pretty cool specials and the ambiance is super chill and comfortable for all occasions.. you won't regret coming here

My husband and I are in town visiting and found this place on Yelp and decided to eat here because of all the great gluten free reviews. Let me say, it did not disappoint! I had the alfredo with GF pasta and my husband had the lasagna and we both loved our meals. It was obvious this was a popular place for the locals and we felt right at home. Service was great, staff were warm and welcoming, and the owner came to our table a few times to check on us after we told him we were from Alabama. It's unlikely we will be back in the area anytime soon, but if we lived close, Romano Cucina would absolutely one of our regular places to eat. Thank you for a wonderful dining experience and sharing with us your version of "Southern Hospitality." We absolutely loved it!

When I first walked into this dimly lit restaurant, I was immediately greeted with a warm smile by the lovely staff up front. My friend and I placed our names down, and the wait was about 20 minutes.Glancing through the menu, I settled on the pasta Gianni with fettuccine while my friend chose the primavera aglio olio with spaghetti. We were also served some bread as an appetizer. Our server, Sam, was extremely friendly and easygoing, offering plenty of suggestions and being very patient.While waiting for our pasta, I enjoyed looking around at the endless picture frames decorating the walls. The whole ambiance of the restaurant was homey and cozy, like dining at your grandma's house.When our pasta arrived, I was pleased to see that the portion size matched the price. Digging into the fettuccine, I found the pasta perfectly cooked to al dente. However, flavor-wise, it was on the blander side. The sauce had a tasty spice, and I liked that there were plenty of shrimp and crawfish, but I wished for more flavor overall. Despite this, the meal was still quite delicious, and I would definitely want to revisit for the cozy vibes and to try their lasagna.

I have been coming here for decades and their pasta is pretty good. There is a specific vibe and enough room inside. Definitely hits the spot when it comes to pasta, it's been a while since I've tried their pizza so can't comment much on there. The pesto is a must try. The service was great no complaints.

The vibes here are always immaculate! There is almost always a wait so be prepared but the food makes any wait more than worth it!

The food was pretty good, I enjoyed the pasta dish I ordered. The service was okay, nothing special but they weren't rude or anything. Overall, a decent experience, I'd probably go back if I was in the area.

Cole aassisted us at the bar while we waited to be seated he gave a suggestions on some of the dishes that was his choice until our table was ready. Harrison was our server, and he was equally attentive and knowledgeable about the dishes. Definitely checked up on us in a timely manner. Everyone was attentive to attention to detail, checked upon us. All of the food was delicious and fresh. It was our anniversary so we appreciate you guys making it a wonderful experience..Needlesss to say there was a seating hiccup and they acknowledged it and moved with grace. We said no worries and all is well. Overall experience was great!