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Romano's Pizza & Italian Restaurant

MY REVIEW: One of two best pizza places in all of Houston area if you grew up in New York City, and want TRUE New York Pizza. Great Crust, Great Sauce, Enough Cheese, and of course Oregano on every table. They sell by the slice or by the pie, and add any toppings you may want (for a price). I try to control myself and only have 2 slices, but its soooo good, I could easily eat 4 at a sitting.

They also have Great Veal Parmigiana. Comes with Nice size portion of Pasta, and a good side salad w/garlic bread. Small bottle of Parmesan cheese on every table, not like Olive G*arden, where you have to beg for grated cheese. And Olive G*arden no longer has Veal Parmesan.

Not exactly romantic atmosphere, but they have serve-yourself Soft drinks including Coke Zero.

NAME: Terablogger
SUBMITTED: 9/23/2011   LAST VISIT WAS: August 2011
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: I wonder how many shoppers to Marshalls and TJMax have just walked by this place time and time again. I finally stopped in for a quick slice and it was GREAT. I heard favorable comments from several other patrons as well. Nothing fancy, but a clean and comfortable place. The stuffed pizza slice I enjoyed had a good crisp crust and the stuffings were delectable...the way Italian food is supposed to taste ... without being the Americanized version of too much cheese, too much salt, too much sugars, or too much tomato paste. A fair price to boot! I've added Ramono's to my short list of top eateries.

NAME: Just Wondering
SUBMITTED: 11/28/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: November 2010
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: Just want to add to all the pizza reviews (it is great!) that Romano's has many other wonderful dishes. All great values I'd say, despite the opinion of the person who'd prefer O*live Garden. We aren't talking chain food here--we're talking fresh made, on the premises, meals of superior quality for an informal family friendly place. And yes, if you need quantity over quality and value this isn't the place for you.

Specifically, I'd like to recommend the portabello mushroom ravioli which is perenially on the special board next to the cash register. Great for vegetarians I would think but excellent choice for anyone. Earthy, flavorful filling contrasts nicely with the pink sauce which begins with a saute of lots of sliced garlic. YUM!

And yes, Vinny (not so much Frank who I think is at the othr store now) can be a little intimidating but is really a nice person and seems to appreciate his repeat customers. I'm not from New York but I recognize the attitude--all bluff really. Think about it. Why would they want to turn off their customers here in friendly Texas just to maintain a New York atmosphere. Trust me, you want attitude go to this type of place in NYC. They'll straighten you out really quickly.

NAME: John R.
SUBMITTED: 9/23/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: Sep/2010
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: Read the many good reviews so went there last evening for a Sicilian Deep Dish pizza.

Price was $30 and it was so skimpy on pepperoni and ham that I thought for sure it must be under the cheese. Nope, not there.

Took my first bite of the pale, bland and wet slice and nearly choked. This was bad pizza... really bad pizza. Am I missing something? The reviews were great, so I'm puzzled.

Both the pepperoni and ham were paper thin and well... down right stingy!

Sauce was flavorless (aka Hunt's tomato paste?) and the onion and green pepper toppings were cold and had no evidence of ever being in an oven. Waste of 30 minutes drive time and 30 bucks.

Good grief what a rip!

NAME: Dave B
SUBMITTED: 3/7/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: 03/2010
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: So I am native New Yorker (born and raised in Brooklyn) who just moved to Houston. I was less than hopeful for any establishment claiming to be a "New York Style" pizzeria. To my pleasant surprise, my husband and I went to Romanos for a slice to test the theory and let me tell you that it was GOOD. Now, a real NY Slice has cheese that is a little more oily :) but the taste and consistency were so close that I didn't miss the extra grease. I haven't had anything else in the restaurant so I can't attest to anything else. What I will say is that buying something to drink there is a rippoff unless you plan to stay for a couple of hours to get refills. I say drink water and get a slice!!!

NAME: TT from BK
SUBMITTED: 1/21/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: 1/2009
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: I love their spaghetti and meat sauce. The sauce is thick and perfectly spiced. I don't care for their pizza, though. So, I stick with the spaghetti type dishes and am perfectly happy. Great atmosphere, and great waitstaff.

NAME: marva
SUBMITTED: 10/30/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 10/2008
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: We get take-out about once a week..usually the pizza and an antipasto salad. We have tried about 100 pizza places in Houston claiming to be NY style, but this is the only one that measures up. Truly NY style pizza served up by real New Yorkers. Not a fancy place, real casual, but the food is consistently great. Love it, love it, love it and tell everyone we know about it.

NAME: imissNY
SUBMITTED: 8/8/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 08/2008
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: WHAT?!?!? Ordered the spinach ravioli ($10.50) and got 10 quarter size ravioli (I swear it looked just like the kind in the refridgerator section of the grocery store). There was mounds of sauce and an appetizer portion of food underneath it. It was served in a cereal size bowl so you know there wasn't much there! I ordered the childrens spaghetti for my kids and my 5 and 7 year olds were still "starving" after they ate. Their portion was extremely small too. I will never, ever go back. I'm not going to pay that much for food and have everyone still starving. I thought I'd like a local place much better but $10.50 at the Olive Garden will go a LOT farther than Romanos. It was ridiculous.

NAME: Hungry
SUBMITTED: 8/1/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 7-31-08
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: FIRST OFF, PIZZA HAS NEVER TRADITIONALLY BEEN "TOSSED OR SPUN" THAT IS JUST AMERICANIZED AMUSEMENT. NEXT, I AM SHOCKED THAT SO MANY HOUSTONIANS DO NOT KNOW WHAT A TRUE NEW YORK STYLE SHOULD TASTE LIKE. GO TO ROMANO'S HAVE A TASTE AND REMEMBER IT. NOW YOU CAN BEGIN TO BECOME A CONNISOIR. PLAIN AND SIMPLE, ROMANO'S PIZZA IS OF THE HIGHEST CALIBER. AND, NO I DO NOT WORK THERE NOR KNOW ANYONE THAT DOES.

NAME: ALL THINGS PIZZA
SUBMITTED: 7/10/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 06/08
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: I usually just get the pizza because it is the best in town. I usually have one every week. The pizza maker guy knows my name and makes the pizza extra extra thin the way I like it. I understand what one of the reviewers was saying about the Pizza Nazi. I got that when I first started going there. But I grew up in NJ with a bunch of these guys and I know it's just their schtick. Thy really are nice guys. A friend of mine thinks they are mob guys in a witness protection program. But if you are longing for that great pizza you used to get back east, this is the closest I have come.

NAME: Tom
SUBMITTED: 6/15/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 06/08
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: At every lunch break that I get a chance to escape my depressing office, I always head to Romano's to enjoy some real good food. Usually I just grab a couple of slices, but on extremely stressful days, I'll sit down and enjoy a plate of pasta.

They have some of the best pizza I've ever tried,and I'm always traveling around to different cities. They undoubtedly have the closest thing to "NY Style" Pizza in all of Houston. Fresh ingredients, and always steaming hot from the oven. Their linguini is delicious and you can't go wrong with their baked ziti or manacotti.

And since I've gotten to know the owners, the thought of Vinny and Frank (the owners) writing reviews makes me want to sit down and laugh, I'd be surprised if they've even ever touched a computer...

So, if you you want to WOW your taste buds and have a delicious meal, try Romano's!

NAME: WilliamAstros
SUBMITTED: 6/12/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 06/2008
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: I go there all the time, and it is great. Granted, it is a restaurant in a strip mall, but you arent going there for the ambiance. You go there for the food. It is a great family place, yet not to much children. It is a great place to grab a bite either by yourself or with a friend. It is a great place to get a pickup order from, then eat it at home.

Most people whom I have spoken with agree that it's the best pizza in town. IMO, the question is what is the second best pizza in Houston. Nothing in this city compares to Romano's. However, there are also alot of other things on the menu worth trying. I think the lasagna is very good and reasonably priced ($7). It also comes with garlic bread and a small salad. I think the chicken parmesan is awesome ($15) and comes with garlic bread and salad.

It is usually crowded during peak business hours (weekday lunch, weekday and weekend dinner) but it is never too crowded. I have probably been there at last 50 times and have never seen a line out the door or no vacant tables. Also, children at this restaurant are alot better behaved than at other restaurants for some reason.

If you are looking for a romantic dinner, Romano's isnt your place. If you are looking for good food for a reasonable price, then Romano's is your place.

NAME: Ed D.
SUBMITTED: 6/2/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: May 08
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: the only thing "amazing" about that last review is that it was written by one of the owner's workers or relatives. as are many of the reviews here. even the so-called "critical" reviews make you wonder who REALLY wrote them ...

NAME: PIZZA LOVER
SUBMITTED: 5/9/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 5/5/08
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: Who needs the Soup Nazi when you have the Pizza Nazi right here? I walked into Romano's last night and it was like an episode of Seinfeld... there was this one Italian guy standing in the corner right next to the cash register with a defiant look on his face and an air of complete control over his pizza. This guy burns you with his gaze. I felt like George Costanza and was like... side step, side step, hand over eight bucks, side step, and GO! And when I went back to refill my soda, I could still see this guy burning his gaze into the customers, daring them to not make a mistake. Amazing.

The pizza's not bad at all. The entire experience was quite memorable.

NAME: You messa wid me paesan?
SUBMITTED: 5/2/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 4/2008
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: Excellent pizza. Great crust (why is that so hard to find?), sauce and toppings were great, good quality and very flavorful. My problem is the pizza was just way too expensive- I ordered the Special (a mix of meats and veggies) and with tax, the pizza was $27.00- that is just too much for me to spend on a pizza. I guess I didn't pay attention when I was ordering (I was looking at the veggie pizza that was $19 on the board) and when he said $27, I just sort of gulped and handed over my credit card. The pizza was great- really some of the best in Houston- but I won't be going there very often. It's located in River Oaks, so I'm sure the locals wouldn't bat an eye if you charged $50 but for the rest of us peasants, that's one expensive pizza.

NAME: HappyTrails
SUBMITTED: 4/16/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: April 2008
FREQUENCY: Visited once

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