Loved Romaine's! Took my husband their for an early birthday dinner. Originally, we got seated at a table- my husband asked if we could get switched to a booth and the staff was very nice and accommodating and switched us within minutes. Our waitress was very nice and our orders came at a relaxed and well timed pace. Drinks: I ordered the Planter's Punch which was very strong and quite good with just the right mix of alcohol and fruitiness. My husband got the Pumpkin Martini- this was amazing! A perfect fall flavor and again strong! For Apps-we split the Maine Crab Cake Fritters- which were lightly fried crisp and Jonah crab, fresh corn salad, and chipotle aioli. They were fantastic! The clam chowder was very good as well with corn, bacon, and sweet potato- it was a little thin for my taste- but I am a chowder snob coming from the Cape. They also gave us a complementary order of fresh baked bread with a roasted garlic bulb and whipped butter- superb For dinner I ordered Veal Bolognese that came with penne pasta with tomato, pancetta, and freshly shaved parmesan- it was easily the best meal I have had this year- flavorful and decadent- a good portion size. For dessert: Armeno Roasters Coffee (this was ok- but would have liked a stronger brew) and an amazing light and beautifully made Vanilla Bean Creme Brûlée. HIghly, highly recommend. The prices aren't cheap but it is well worth it! read more

Very good. This and Via Alto 27 in Clinton are my two middle-Mass favorites right now. I'm a CA food-adventurer and I'm picky. The food and wine selection here is good. I've liked everything I've had here. This is amazing since a lot of the clowns who live around here think Outback and TGI Fridays are places to eat, so if this restaurant can survive in the den-of-food-cluelessness and satisfy California customers its a testament to good management. The New Englanders are generally penny pinchers and to get them to pay for food they don't usually appreciate is an impressive feat. (Sorry to sound so offensive in terms of the local populace, but I've lived in Massachusetts and the driving and lack of proper food and general penny-pinching is really hard to take.) I like the calamari, the lamb dishes, and the red wines by the glass, they have nice CA wines here. read more

Absolute gem. Clam chowder: BEST THING ON THE MENU!!! TRY IT!!! (It has sweet potatoes, corn, and bacon in it.....does life get any better?) Risotto Balls: HEAVEN. Give me more. Mixed Green Salad: The ONLY salad my dad eats. (IT's OMG SO good) For the meal: Do the veal bolognese. Or the brick chicken. They usually have a scallop option for the special....TRY IT. For desert: Creme brulee is awesome....but the bread pudding will make you CRY it is SO good!! Thank you for existing. read more

This unassuming little gem tucked away in a strip center holds a world of pleasant surprises from the minute you open the door and take in the aroma of the brick oven. What's in store is not your typical brick oven experience, though. Our culinary experience was one of the most delightful one we've had in ages. We dined with friends who were familiar with the menu. We had a great selection of the Brick Chicken, Salmon, Pot Roast from the special menu (grab it whie it lasts! ) and Lamb. Two people had some dietary issues that were seamlessly addressed and overcome with wonderful options ~ an art I wish more restaurants would acquire. My personal favs were the amazingly fork tender pot roast that went beyond being just good comfort food. Then there was the succulent Brick Chicken that had an amazingly smokey taste, crispy exterior and juices that never stopped running. Each were paired with artfully chosen side dishes like root vegetable mash that enhanced the flavors of the main dish and show cased the season's best offerings. Top I all off by a small, but nice selection of wines and you've got yourself a great little hideaway in th middle of Northborough. I recommend reservations even on a Sunday night. read more

Great bar, good food and wine! I had to go up to MA for training and found this delightful little place. Recommended the chicken and a seat at the bar. Great people watching and all the locals are super friendly. read more

I want to eat their Bolognese every day for the rest of my life. Food is always tasty, and presented nicely. Good technical execution. This should be the standard for all suburban restaurants around the country. Definitely Recommend. read more

I have been going to Romaine's since they opened. I consider myself a bit of a foodie and love to cook, so when I do eat out, I want it to be worthwhile. Romaine's NEVER disappoints! I continue to go back after all of these years because the food is delicious, the drinks are well made, and the staff is so friendly and accommodating that I have begun to consider many of them friends. That said, when I heard they were going to remodel I never could have imagined that the atmosphere could change so drastically, in a good way. There is a new, fresh vibe that is welcoming and, for lack of a better word, fun! To Jon B., the service is typically spot on, but every place has their off nights. I have been going for many years and find that the portions are more than sufficient, have not gone down in size, and are extremely reasonably priced for the quality of the food! Daniel C., I think you must have been getting a cold when you went, because your taste buds could not be more wrong. The veal bolognese at Romaine's is one of the best anywhere. So many people I know call it their favorite dish at the restaurant. It's definitely in my top 3, too. It has real chunks of meat in a delicious sauce with homemade pasta. The steaks are also always high quality and delicious! Give them another try! The bottom line is that I feel extremely lucky to have such a fabulous restaurant in my town! If you want good food and drinks in a great atmosphere go to Romaine's - you will not be disappointed! read more

Only thing wrong with Romaine's is that it is not just around the corner. I'd be a regular if they were in my neighborhood on Cap Hill, especially if they held the line on their prices (but it would be impossible o get near the door, they'd be the best value in DC!). Thanks to Yelp for helping us find this gem when plans changed unexpectedly when traveling through the area. Once again, a great find courtesy of the reviews on here. We shared two salads and one entree, plus dessert. The house cured duck bacon with roasted beet and arugula salad was stellar, and that duck bacon was absolutely wonderful. The other salad was just as good: mixed greens, Stilton and spiced pecans with roasted pear vinaigrette. The entree was roast duck with broccolini and spicy sweet fries. The duck was well done and not at all greasy, and those fries were noteworthy. They were sweet potato fries, perfectly fried to a nice crispy texture with a dry spice mix with just the right amount of sugar. Dessert was a creme brûlée, easily as good as I've ever had. We also got an order of bread pudding for take-out, which was carefully packaged with a hearty dollop of rum butter, and proved delicious when heated later. The only thing better than the food was the service. Our server was wonderful, attentive and congenial, and it was a wonderful surprise when she picked up on our splitting all the dishes by bringing each of them out already plated as two separate portions. Very thoughtful, and greatly appreciated. Definitely worthy of a return visit, and an enthusiastic recommendation. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants. I come out here to eat all the time. If you're undecided on what to eat... you can't go wrong at Romaine's. If you want pasta, get the bolognese. They have an amazing burger and..... They have one of the best Tenderloins you can find and it's always cooked perfectly. The seafood is delicious whether its fried, grilled, or raw. Fresh salads, wonderful breads and great cocktails. read more

I came here and maybe my expectations were too high? Or maybe I went on an off day? All I know is that both my food and my fiancée's food both seemed microwaved! Telltale sign was that it was scorchingly hot in the middle and unevenly heated through. Flavors were ok. All in all, I was not impressed. We had crab cakes as a appetizer. They were pretty good. If I remember the menu right... wealso had braised lamb, a pasta dish, breme brulee, and a chocolate cake. read more

Love this place! The atmosphere is nice, the service is good, and the food is fresh and delicious. Best of all, it's about 2 minutes from my house! We've had the clam chowder, calamari, burger, steak & frites, chicken piccata, scallops (a dinner special), and short ribs. All dishes were excellent. Most of the dinner menu entrees are priced from about $16-$22. If you're on a budget, you can also order off the bar menu (burgers, chicken piccata, truffle parmesan fries, chicken caesar salad), which is more in the $10-12 range. read more

Started out with the cauliflower soup which was amazing! A special dessert of the night called Beignets...a lovely fried dough with chocolate dipping sauce. Yum...like a fresh warm doughnut! The ambience was nice, not too loud and just enough light. The waitress Maureen was very attentive and clearly explained the menu well. The only drawback or suggestion I could make is to add some vegetarian options to the entree menu. With the delicious flavors the chef is capable of concocting, I'm sure a wonderful masterpiece could be added. I try to mostly eat vegetarian and would love to see this option added to their menu. read more

Yay! I finally found a place with great food near my home! Almost everything I've had off their (thankfully) concise menu has been good to great. They are somewhat seafood focused, but they have several other options as well. Their steak tips are amazing and a pretty decent value. Also their gumbo is my favorite thing on the menu, and I would go there just for that alone. read more

Went here for the first time tonight and will be back for sure! The food and service was amazing. I had the chicken and it was delicious! Also recommend the crispy Brussels sprouts. read more

I made a reservation at Romaine's after reading the wonderful reviews. I think.it takes a special kind of person to enjoy their food. We ordered 7 different dishes and they were all too avant-garde for us, with kale, grits and green colored chicken. Because of the unusual combinations, the choices were difficult. Of what we did order, the range was from okay to great. We are glad we tried Romaine's but realize it is not our cup of tea. read more

One of our favorite spots to eat! Food is consistently great and service is excellent! Only sat at and around the bar thanks to the wonderful & friendly service but always see the dining room busy as well. Love the homemade chips and bread with garlic they offer you to start with! The restaurant is truly lucky to have a bartender like Mike. He's one of the main reasons besides the great food that we and other regulars always come back! read more

Nice restaurant for a special occasion - not overly stuffy, but definitely a more upscale atmosphere. 4 star for atmosphere and service, 3.5 stars for food. Service was excellent and attentive. Gratuity was automatically added for our party of 6. Our group greatly enjoyed the haddock (huge portions); we found the lamb shank and the chicken piccata just okay (this was one of the "bar eats" and supposedly smaller sized than a regular entree but was plenty fine for my appetite). Kids meal option is offered - mac and cheese was tasty. read more

Oo la la! When you want to get your fancy on in the Boro's head to Romaine's in Times Square! Luckily for me, this gem is mere feet from my house so I can't wait to come here on more date nights & girls' nights out. My first visit here was a date with my boyfriend on a Friday night -- we were seated immediately. I like the ambiance - the room is open and high-ceiling'd like a warehouse, but still maintains an intimate feel with plenty of privacy between tables (think opposite of the now-closed Lazio formerly down the street). The menu is admittedly a bit pricey to make this a weekly stop, but I was actually so intrigued by the appetizer menu I ordered the seared ahi tuna as my dinner. The meal is preceded by delicious bread with fresh garlic cloves and oil. Careful because you can easily spoil your appetite with it! The meal was fantastic - the tuna came seared with sesame seeds and accompanied by ginger and wasabi (the wasabi is absolutely worth noting - it was perfect which is not always the case in all restaurants - spicy but not hot, absolutely perfect). The service was good - our waitress was very pleasant and casual but not too much so. I appreciated her not being stuffy, which -- with that menu -- wouldn't be totally surprising. She clearly knew her stuff and was prompt and polite. Romaine's is a great place for a few drinks (which were also very good), appetizers, or a full-blown dinner. Definitely a must-try! read more

Went two days ago and had the best steak tips I can remember. They were grilled to perfection with a moist marinade. This is how steak tips should be made. The atmosphere is intimate, wait staff friendly attentive, and well-trained. Great experience. read more

Simply the best. We hosted a company party in their private room and everything was beyond exceptional. Servers, Lisa and Kim, were exceptional. Professional, friendly and so efficient. Remembered everyone's drinks and responded to any requests with lightening speed. From apps to desserts the chef knocked it out of the park. Everything was absolutely delicious and the portions were huge. 5 stars for an outstanding experience. Would highly recommend. read more

We really like Romaines', especially their meatloaf. Nice atmosphere, great service and good menu variety.

I've been here a few times - - it's only a few miles away from home. It's a solid restaurant. Everything I've had so far has been delicious. I've tried their bolognese, grilled tuna, and fish tacos. I've not been disappointed so far. Love love love the parmesian truffle fries - -MMM - - and the warm bread with a whole head of roasted garlic and butter to start. I'll definitely come back and bring new friends! read more

Romaine's - Grilled salmon over spinach - New American Near Me - Northborough, Massachusetts

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Constantly good food and great service. My fiancé and I have been coming for two years and I love that they know us by name! Menu is changing relativity often but they always have the star dishes available. We really enjoy sitting in the bar area which does not take reservations. Worth the wait in my opinion. Love this place! read more

Romaine's is quiet and super cute. All the locals go here on a Friday and by 6, it's packed. So easy to see why. The Nashville chicken is awesome, the truffle fries are delicate and perfectly crispy, and everyone is kind and attentive. They even split our shake in half in two perfect glasses. read more

Great local restaurant with a fantastic staff. Mike at the bar knows everyone and remembers your name. He is extremely welcoming. The soft tacos at the bar are amazing! After moving from Boston we were looking for a place to be our standard go to and Romaines is it! read more

Definitely a five star restaurant from every possible angle.The staff is always top notch,VERY informative and attentive at all times.We always dine in the bar area and it always a pleassure to be waited on by Beth,Ashley or Mike.We have sat down in and are at the bar in front of the brick over,also nice and cozy.The chicken under a brick is absolutely out of this world.Never had a back experience or a bad meal here in the past 4 years that we have been coming here and have brought over 50 friends,family and clients over the years.THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT SERVICE. And the loyolity card. read more

Pros Food is good, bar is good Staff are generally attentive Cons Nothing serious, just the menu doesn't excite. Can't think of anything I've had there that I later think, "Got to go back to Romaine's for xxx". read more

I have been to Romaines many times over the past several years. It is consistently good and frequently fantastic. I went tonight. Sat at the bar and had dinner. A lovely dinner special of Korean barbecue short ribs with rice and a slaw. Excellent. My one complaint is that the barbecue sauce was not really very Korean, a la bulkogi, but it was tasty nonetheless. My dinner partner had scallops over polenta that looked fantastic and he loved it - he is a foodie. I highly recommend Romaine's for dinner. I like the bar rather than the dining room, but the food is the same. read more

Went in here last night solo, first time in a while I was able to sit and have a quiet dinner in a nice place. I sat at the bar just after opening and it was already half full. The staff was still bustling about doing some last minute set up which gave the place a nice energy. I had the Thai spice duck on bitter greens. The duck was cooked perfectly, and was very tasty. The greens were good, with some carrots, green beans and cucumber mixed in. Were it fell a little short in my eyes was first I expected a little more heat out of the Thai spice and second, if you are going to dress the greens for me please spread it evenly not just one lump in one spot with the rest of the greens dry. The bartender was pleasant though I am not sure if I was uncomfortable or he was, it may have been me, because I was dressed like a hobo. a final pet peeve of mine, personal issue, is if you are going to serve me a vodka/soda in a small rocks glass please leave enough room for the lime so when I squeeze it and drop it in the glass it doesn't over flow. overall a good experience. read more

Romaine's is legend among the Northboro locals, basically an easy choice for a nice dinner out. The regulars have a few dishes that they promote, and I'll admit now they know what they are talking about. We've been to Romaine's twice recently, and the first time I did not order one of the recommended entrees. I went with a chicken and pasta dish and it was fine, not great. Caroline followed local instructions and ordered the steak tips and was very happy. Second time around she went with another recommended choice, the chicken under brick, and loved it. I stepped up to the steak tips and was impressed. They cooked the steak exactly how I like it and the meat was very good and very lean. Their beer list is solid -- we've gotten pretty lucky with the rotating taps and to see Switchback on the main beer menu is nice. Overall a good experience and just a few blocks from home. read more

Great place to have a drink, sit down for dinner, staff is extremely friendly and don't mention the food... To me is the best one around. Prices are reasonable read more

Romaine's rocks, in case you were wondering, and it rocks super hard. We had just tried Allora the week before and were severely disappointed. History was not to repeat itself at this restaurant - Thank goodness!! There is a nice function room in case you need to have a shower, rehearsal dinner, or other mid-sized event. Atmosphere, niiiiiiice, though sometimes a bit loud - we we're seated next to a pretty large boisterous group. The food - delicious. I had the beet salad and smoked duck. My husband had a clam chowder and double pork chop. Both were wonderful. The food was so good and the prices are very reasonable! The only reason I give it 4 stars was our waitress - she was very slow - we ordered drinks and appetizers, and she served at least 4 other tables with other drinks refills before even bringing drinks and then bread. She got a bit warmer through the meal - but I remember being a bit disappointed about it. Btw - the desserts looked fabulous but we were stuffed. So I guess we'll just have to go back! read more

Haven't been here in a while and then went on a whim on NYE with the hubby. They remodeled earlier in the year and the ambiance was EXCELLENT. I really love it. Food was delicious as usual. Hubby had the jambalaya and really enjoyed it. I had the pork chop and it was perfect. We also had the chicken wings and we both really loved those as well. We shared a milkshake and it was very good, not too sweet and with premium vanilla ice cream. I would order this again for sure. Overall, better than ever with the updated interior. We have plans to go with friends again in two weeks. read more

Not happy with the recent renovations. They also changed their menu and offer a very limited selection. They also got rid of their loyalty card. We used to go there every year for our anniversary and quite often at other times, not anymore. Very disappointed. They need to decide if they want to be a nice restaurant or a pub type restaurant, not sure what they were going for. Food seems to be less impressive. read more

Went last month with daughter and grandson. Wasn't too hungry so ordered the crab cake appetizer with a cup of soup. Both were very good. Grandson had the mac and cheese which is his all time favorite. Limited menu which is why we don't go more often. Always happy with Romaine's when we do go. read more

Really as good as it gets. I loved the fresh bread and roasted garlic. The place is laid out a bit strangely so that you don't see the other diners around you, but you can hear them which reminds me very much of a near pitch dark restaurant in Tokyo, this one does the same thing with walls. Food wise, everything was fresh, delicious and creative. Bill wise, it's not cheap eats but it's reasonable. read more

Best in Northborough hands down. Always great ingredients skillfully prepared, service is impeccable and respectful and ambiance is nothing like the strip-mall exterior. The type of $100 3 course meal that you feel like you got a good deal. One thing they get dinged on is the slow menu changes, it always seems very familiar even though we only go 2 to 3 times per year. read more

Updating my previous review from a few years back. I once loved and adored Romaine's because their food and atmosphere were superior! But something has changed! For some reason that I cannot even begin to fathom, the owners removed all of their absolutely beautiful shiny sturdy wood tables and chairs and replaced them with this horrible white tin\metal cheap looking uncomfortable stuff that looks like they were once used for backyard bbq's before they got tossed away! The stuff looks HORRIBLE and does not match with the rest of the restaurants decor at all! The place was once shiny and sleek and upscale and now it looks like they were robbed and they had to borrow their neighbors lawn furniture till they can get good stuff again! Who ever thought to replace their old tables with this crap should have been fired! As for the food - I can't believe I am saying this - but it seems the quality has gone down in that area as well. They never had a very large menu to begin with but they did offer a fairly wide variety of apps and entree's - not any more! They cut down and cut out a lot of old familiar's in favor of less complex cheaper to make bar food. They still have some of the upscale entree's but the chef must be new because now everything comes with a heapin hoppin hell of amount of salt!!!! I never had a complaint before but since they "redecorated" the dinning room their food has steadily gone down hill. And they no longer offer a nightly or weekly special off the menu. But they did expand their "bar food" menu. I can not tell you how sad it makes me that one of if not THE best restaurants in this area has thrown up their hands and given in to the "pizza and wings" mentality. You used to have to got to Boston to get such good quality food till Romaine's opened and now it seems you will have to go back to Boston because Romaine's just seems to want to be an "average joe" type of place. Sad sad sad read more

Reservations are close to a must. The restaurant is located in a connected business community (aka strip mall) and the exterior facade is most welcoming. The interior decor however, is a bit reminiscent of the early eighties. Moments after we were seated, we were greeted by a friendly customer service attendant, who quickly served us homemade bread with butter & toasted garlic cloves as a spread. Our order of duck and salmon was served promptly and both were hot and delicious. At the time of ordering, exchanges of side vegetables were accommodated without concern or up-charge fees. As busy as it was, there was no pressure to accommodate the queued guests who were waiting for the next open table. Romain's is a pleasant, Italian cuisine family restaurant for sure. read more

Nice neighborhood restaurant in Northboro, which does not have many places to go for dinner. Menu has changed over the years and the new decor is nice. Great bar and great place to meet friends. Menu a bit limited but if you like their menu the food quality is good and a decent deal for the money. Not the cheapest place around but acceptable and pleasant experience. read more