I am late to write this review but we have been coming to romano since it opened on the peninsula. They have die hard staff who have stayed since they opened and I love that when we dine here, we recognize the staff. Here are some of the dishes that we just can't get enough of. Our usual go to's are: sauteed mushrooms appetizer, pesto fettucine with shrimp and the chicken parmesan with rosa sauce. Please do not skip dessert. Their cheesecake is one of the best I've ever had (including NYC cheesecake). Each month they have a different flavor cheesecake and literally every flavor we have tried has been phenomenal. We even ordered a full pumpkin cheesecake for Thanksgiving ($90) and it was the star of the dinner. Our entire dinner party LOVED the cheesecake. Once we tell our daughter we are going to Romano for dinner, she will immediately say "If I eat my dinner, can I have cheesecake?" Romano is incredible italian food on the peninsula (psssst, it's 1000% better than Mama D's!) read more

Romano Cucina - Alfredo with shrimp. Excellent! - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Was in the area with my friend and chose to have an early dinner here. Definitely wasn't disappointed! The place has a very cozy and homey vibe with many pictures showcasing its beautiful Italian history. I ordered the chicken alfredo, and it was splendid. Pasta was al dente, the sauce was rich and creamy, there was nothing to complain about. We were also given complimentary bread and butter plus a salad. Our waitress was so nice, checking up on us if we needed anything throughout our time there. I'm so glad we stumbled upon this restaurant! read more

Romano Cucina - chicken alfredo - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Popped in with my dad for a casual dinner. We sat outside with my dog and enjoyed a lovely dinner with great service. They provided warm bread and butter and each entree came with a large salad. We really enjoyed our meals. I felt like their prices were fair, and actually less than the other Italian restaurant down the street. And their portions were bigger. Recommend stopping in here! read more

Romano Cucina - Pasta Bolognese with pink sauce - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

I came here on a Weds night to celebrate Friendsmas with my work fam! Definitely a must get together and what better place than to have it at this lovely restaurant. One of the girls swears by this cute italian spot so we all just had to check it out! The Break Down: Location/Parking: - This restaurant has many locations, but we went to the one in Newport Beach specifically. Parking can be a little on the tricky side so best to get there earlier. They do have a small little parking lot on the side and you'd just have to walk to the restaurant, which isn't even a walk tbh. Alongside that there is a paid parking lot as well, but is free after 6pm. I was lucky since our get together started at 5:30pm. I just waited it out for a bit lol. Also if you are wondering, you make a payment through the app if you were to park in that paid lot. Atmosphere: - Give a rustic Italian homey vibe, with that touch of character. All around the restaurant you see frames of posters, pictures of places and people which I loved. The Food: Appetizers Bread + Oil/Vinegar (COMPLEMENTARY) - Who doesn't love free bread lol I know I love it, A++ for me. The bread is just a regular bread of course with butter on the side and self-serve of the oil & vinegar. I love it when restaurants have snackies as you wait :) Bruschetta ($12.95) 3/5 stars - For me I think it was more so that the tomatoes were larger than what I was used to. Usually bigger is better, yes, but I was looking for smaller chucks and more flavor profile as well. To me it was on the blander side, but to everyone else it was a hit. I think i amm a heavy salt person too. Twas still a good starter. Calamari Fritti ($15.95) 5/5 stars - UGH BOMB! I loved this so much. Then again I love seafood! The batter was not overwhelming at all twas light but still had that flavor that I love! It was cooked perfectly and not chewy at all. The sauce matched perfectly. You cant go wrong with calamari or well i have never been wrong lol. Main Entree Lemon Cream Sauce & Shrimp ($22.95) 3/5 stars - So i didn't go with my gut and I ordered something totally different from what I was used to. It's okay though because I want to try new things. This pasta was okay, I think when I was ordering this I wanted something creamy. Beforehand I was sold on choosing between lasagna or sausage pasta with ricotta, I'm more of that girl, but then again at least now i know lol. Next time I'm back I will definitely try the highly recommended Chicken parm! Drinks I love that this place was a BYOB type of restaurant and they DONT CHARGE A CORK FEE! So of course the sweetest coworker of mine (who also recommended this restaurant and the chicken parm that i didn't order), brought endless wines of all types lol. Service: - The staff was very nice! They were so patient with us and I knew we were louder than everyone else, but hey it's the holidays we are happy to be in each other's company! Again Thank you Romano Cucina!! read more

This restaurant has become a regular in our friend group's Friday night rotation. The food is delicious, we never have to wait for a table, and the service is wonderful!!! Their bread is phenomenal so come ready to down a few loaves. Everything we have had from the menu has been great! From apps, to salads, to entrees, all of the dishes are made with love and taste so good! read more

I love this Italian spot! Awesome food, I recommend the shrimp and lemon sauce pasta, it's especially good with fettuccini noodles! The service is always awesome whether I'm dining in or grabbing takeout. They have both indoor and outdoor seating options which is awesome and the inside is decorated so cutely! Definitely recommend this spot to anyone looking for a new place to grab Italian food! read more

I'm updating this review so hopefully it gets pushed to the top and this fantastic restaurant shows up in your recommended. We love this family owned business (shoutout to Maria and her three sons Andy, Daniel, and Christian for managing three restaurants) Absolutely loved our time here on Sunday night. Vibes were cozy and our lovely server Carson was so sweet and thoughtful! He was very attentive and helped us with multiple rounds of complementary bread and their delicious bianca diavolo garlic dipping sauce and he also gave us great recommendations for what to order. I had the classic pasta and meatballs with angel hair and a side of ricotta cheese. Mom ordered the chicken alla checca also with angel hair and dad ordered a gluten free pasta gianni with red sauce. We had the sauteed mushroom appetizer and ended with a delectable cookie dough cheesecake that will most likely end up as heartburn tonight. Thanks everyone please consider going here if you're in the newport area:) read more

Romano Cucina - Pasta & Meatballs with a side of ricotta cheese and their fantastic bread from c'est si bon - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

If anyone is looking for good Italian food and really nice service, this is the place for you. I have eaten there twice and each time we have been impressed. Yesterday our server, Carson, went out of his way to spend some time with us. He knew everything on the menu and had great suggestions. Truly a dedicated young man who enjoys his work. All of the pastas were excellent and come with a nice side salad. We walked to the restaurant from the beach area and certainly will be going again. It is a quiet place filled with Italian pictures. I sure hope more people visit them. read more

Food was so good. The side salad came with the pasta entree and was served first. They added fresh ground pepper at the table. One of the best Italian dressed salads I've had in a while. The Pasta Tombrello was also fantastic. Had it made with mild spice and I love it. Will order again. The service was also great! Friendly and attentive. Excited to go back! read more

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Oh man, that was good! Megan was a great! Th up sbead out first time and everybbite was delish! read more

Romano Cucina - Look at that cheese! - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Always so good! Food is delicious! Service is great. Absolutely recommend if you love Italian food and a great atmosphere. read more

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Can I say "Buon Motto"! The food is so yummy, large portions, packed with flavor and the red sauce is delicious! Ordered the meatballs to start. Followed by pasta Tombrello, sautéed mushrooms and lemon cheesecake. Pasta is al dente, surrounded by sausage, mushroom, parm and a slight pepper kick. The cheesecake was one of the best I've ever had. It was light, airy, not too lemony. The star was the butter cake sitting under the thick layer of cheesecake. Sooooooo Good!!! Pietra is incredible. Friendly, knowledgeable, fun, hospitable and on top of everything. Can't wait to come back! read more

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The food was delicious and served hot. Pay attention at other places. Is your meal served luke warm, hot, or maybe close to cold? The portions were very filling! No small plate dining here. From the moment the four of us walked through the front door it was obvious these folks place a high level of value upon the customer's experience. The tempo of the whole evening was top notch. They allowed us time to sit and enjoy each other's company before approaching to take a drink order. There was no pressure to place our food order. After dinner, we didn't feel as though we were being rushed out so they could quickly turnover the table. read more

Generous portions, great tasting and good service what more can you ask for. This is one of the better Italian restaurants read more

So happy this place is back in action. It is our favorite Italian restaurant in the area. We are obsessed with their salad dressing and just want to drink it. Chicken parm, pesto and basic pastas (for the kids) are all hits. Only bummer is that parking structure is awful. read more

Always fantastic! I haven't eaten here in years, but was so glad to visit the new location on the Newport Peninsula. I ordered the Creamy Lemon Fettuccine with Shrimp and was in heaven with a glass of red wine. The servers are always very nice and the noise level was bearable. read more

Great spot with great food and nice ambiance. It's hard to find this spot since it's right off Newport blvd, but right across from Lido house. The service is always amazing and the servers go above and beyond to give every customer a great experience. I love the spicy options they provide and the food is very tasty. This is my second visit and I'll be back very soon. read more

Romano Cucina - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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As gluten free eaters, it's really hard finding good Italian food in the area. Romano Cucina really fits the bill. Their pasta (gluten free brown rice) dishes have all been delicious. Alfredo, Creamy Pesto, Gianni, and their Scampi. All amazing. They have great weekly specials on wine and pasta. We can't try their pizza, but it always smells scrumptious. read more

My friend and I were visiting from Arizona and wanted some good pasta. We found this gem of a restaurant on Yelp and gave it a go. Our server was great, the food was absolutely delicious - I had the Pasta Gianni. They also have a great atmosphere. I loved the photos all over the walls. Give them a try, you won't regret it! read more

Food was great. I got the lasagna bolognese and my wife got the chicken parm. Both dishes were served hot and fresh. Salad was great and the bread was hot and fresh. Service was great by Megan. I used to go to Roma Cucina in Costa Mesa. This is just as good or better. Thx read more

Yummy meal, great customer service, and such a fun New York vibe! Everything from the food to the atmosphere was spot-on. Loved it and can't wait to come back! read more

I went here last night with a very large group of people around 815 and they got us in no problem! Super nice staff and great service. I ordered the chicken Parmesan with the Roma sauce (pink sauce) and it was so good. Very large portion and I was able to take half home with me for another day. No one else had any complaints! Will go back and try Alfredo I am curious to see if it's good there. read more

Love this place! The people there are always friendly and service is always on point. We have not had a bad meal there yet

Amazing service on a Saturday night with Carson as our waiter! He was super attentive and friendly. The food and drinks (aperol spritz) was great and easy to walk in with no wait time. Highly recommend read more

This is a review worth reading .... Where do I start? I guess from the beginning. I needed to make a large catering order for my daughter's bridal "That's Amore" themed bridal shower. I called and placed an order with Christian, manager. He helped me make by making serving suggestions and then he even called the day before to confirm everything. We double checked the order and all was good. So far so good but here is where it goes from good to great! Christian delivered the catering order and not only did he deliver on time, he set it all up. Now that's great service as guests were starting to trickle in. It was during the set up that I realized I didn't have the correct serving tools. Christian seeing the low key panic in my eyes offered to drive to Smart and Final to purchase serving tools! Yep! Amazing. So he didn't waste any time and returned with brand new tools and didn't expect anything in return. Seriously, that was so above and beyond! Thank you Christian and Romano Cucina for the amazing food and exceptional service. Oh and food related, we had several guests who required dairy free and also gluten free options. Romano Cucina has delicious food and they accommodated the allergy requests. I would 150% recommend Romano Cucina for catering, delivery and also in house dining. Food was delicious! Service exceptional. read more

Everything was amazing from the apps to the dessert. We got the cheese ravioli special which was super yummy. The L'Italiano pizza was also delicious. They have beer, wine, and a refreshing aperol spritz as well! Definitely worth coming here for great prices, quality food, large portions, and great service! Can't forget about the homemade Reese's peanut butter cheesecake! read more

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I am so glad to have discovered this place! My husband and I were looking for Italian food in the area on a Saturday night and found Romano Cucina on Yelp. We were seated immediately by our gracious server Carson, who checked in on us throughout the night and was incredibly sweet. We ordered the spaghetti and meatballs and L'Italiano pizza and tried both variations of the house salads and everything was so delicious! The food came out quickly and was so fresh with shareable portions. The seating area seemed smaller and more intimate, so definitely a great spot for date night or for families. This was a great discovery for me and I cannot wait to come back here again, this is my new go-to spot for Italian food in Newport Beach and the surrounding area, definitely a must try! read more

LOVE LOVE LOVE them. fresh baked bread. delicious apps and pasta. wonderful staff. TIRAMISU to die for. totally cute spot for a casual date night. its one of my favorite places, please don't overbook them lol read more

When I saw five stars for this place, and how many people gave it that rating, I had to try it. It's a quick jaunt from the Lido House Hotel (See my review of that amazing place). Its outside looks is a little deceiving because it's in an old strip mall type building. But i promise you, walk in and you will immediately be greeted and sat. Well, at least on a Thursday in January that was the case. The place is small but the food was amazing. Authentic Italian. You can't go wrong eating at this place. read more

The food is quite good with generous portions, and the service is excellent. The ambiance is just okay, but that's understandable given its location right off Newport Blvd in an older strip mall. Overall, it's a nice, casual spot that's great for families. We live nearby and enjoy stopping by on a whim. read more

We live in the neighborhood, it was our first time at Romano Cucina. The interior is perfectly cozy, service was excellent and the food...even the vinegar (EVOO & vinegar) was delicious! I had spaghetti with half rosa & half Alfredo, I want to say it was the best pasta I've EVER had. A very nice serving which allowed me to take some home for lunch the next day. Still phenomenal!! I highly recommend it. P.S. Entrees come with a fresh Italian salad, the dressing is to die for. read more

Cute, cozy place, great service and food! We all loved the salad, enjoyed all of our entrees (eggplant parm w rosa sauce, pesto pasta, sausage/meatball w rosa sauce. All great! read more

we go here once a week, and it never disappoints! The food is absolutely delicious, and the portions are incredibly generous. Their chicken Parmesan is to die for. The prices are amazing for the quality and portion sizes. And whatever you do, don't forget to order a pizza -- it's fantastic! The servers are energetic and are great. If you're looking for a great Italian spot with consistently good food. read more

One of the best Italian restaurants in Orange County! I have been dining at both Romano locations (Sunset beach and Laguna hills) for over 10 years now, so I was very excited to try their new Newport Beach location this past weekend. Great food and awesome service just like the other locations. If you are in the area I would highly suggest giving it a try and support a small local business. read more

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Great food, speedy and friendly service, nice ambience! And a special thanks to the staff member who immediately reached out to me after I accidentally left my wallet, as well as the manager who kept it safe for me until I could come back to get it! read more

Great food and great service - we loved all the dishes...chicken parm, eggplant parm, pasta Gionni, lasagna and pasta bolognase. We ordered the sautéed mushrooms for appetizers and they were delicious and it was enough for our party of 9. read more

Romano Cucina - Yummy cannoli - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

This is a regular spot for me for great Italian food. They don't disappoint. I usually get the spaghetti and meatballs with a glass of Italian beer. read more

I'm a big fan of Romano Cucina. I used to go to the Fullerton location, then moved and went to the Sunset Beach location. The Newport one is actually a little closer to I gave it a try. Service was great. Food was great. Easy, tasty dinner. read more

Food... I ordered the chicken parm and my hubby ordered the pasta verdure.. and both dishes were absolutely delicious! Our service was AMAZING!!! Pietra was attentive, professional, funny and an all around amazing server! The ambiance is nice the restaurant is clean! We will definitely be back! 5 stars! read more

Five stars plus! The service was outstanding! The food was delicious! The portion size was great! The ambiance is very nice!! Highly recommend this restaurant!! read more