Juliana
A gem of a restaurant in Old City. Lovely ambiance, very cozy. Great service from professional staff. Delicious food. They have a separate vegetarian menu, which is basically a condensed version of the regular menu. The only veg exclusive dish is a risotto. We really liked the squash pasta, Caesar salad, and affogato. It costs about $100 for date night anywhere you go, so you might as well go someplace good. The only issue is that it’s not wheelchair accessible, which is a shame considering that this restaurant definitely caters to an older clientele. I saw some diners having trouble getting up the large spiral staircase.
Matthew Schillizzi
This was awesome! They did a wine tasting in their upstairs space with snacks, live music, and wine experts talking about what we were tasting. There was so much to choose from and I'll definitely go back for their next one. This was my first time there and the service, ambiance, and food/beverage options were very impressive.
Alec V
I had an absolutely delightful experience at Bistro Romano! It's the perfect spot for a romantic date night. The food was truly amazing, from the delectable main courses to the mouthwatering desserts. The only minor hiccup was that our waitress seemed a bit slow in checking in on us for additional orders. Nonetheless, the ambiance, flavors, and overall experience made it a memorable evening. Highly recommend for a special night out!
J
Great food! The Gnocchi entree and the Squash Blossom appetizer is a must try. Believe me pls 👍🏻 Atmosphere wise, not my typical type of spot to dine in- a little too dark for me inside. We sat at the bar. Service was good but not the most friendly.
Vera Gordon
Bistro Romano is one of our favorite restaurants. It has excellent food and drinks, great staff and service many of whom know you by name, classic atmosphere with a large bar on the first floor and a large room with tables on the ground level. We always enjoy our meal at Bistro Romano. Certain nights of the week guests could enjoy live piano music as well as other regular events. It is a great place for a romantic meal or a large group celebration. Specials are always a great choice but the menu has a large selection of many different outstanding dishes. Dietary restrictions are well accommodated and the restaurant now has a special gluten free menu. Highly recommend.
Rosalie Brown
There are so many great things I could say about this restaurant, although the food would definitely still be number 1. The ambience is so cool with the dining room being downstairs in the cellar. Our server was amazing, very friendly and thoughtful about our specific needs. And the food was incredible, especially the gnocchi. Be prepared to eat a lot if you're doing the three or four courses because they do not skimp on portions! All around I highly recommend this as a place for date night, celebrations, etc.
Alaina
A winner hands down whether it be for a date night, girls night or this time an Easter dinner. Introducing this spot to my family members for the first time was an absolute pleasure as they had only great things to say about the amazingly tender seafood and steak meals. I hands down recommend the risotto, steak, ravioli and the goat cheese appetizer. And I can't forget the service which is always on point. Thank you for a wonderful meal and experience as is your norm.
#Hashtag SteveJ
This awesome Italian restaurant is broken up into a few mini restaurants. The main floor is a piano bar. We were downstairs in the cellar which was great for our date night. The 200 year old building and architecture adds to the atmosphere. Then add in the superb service. And on top of that, add the outstanding food. The fresh pasta dishes can be ordered in half sizes if you order a entree. This was a great alternative to the chef tasting menu. We were able to taste a few pastas which were both amazing. The veal saltimbocca was great. Light and tasty veal over mashed potatoes. The seafood broth was full of fresh seafood. Ended with cappuccino and carrot cake. Full bar and great wine selection.
Brett Skipper
We love Bistro Romano. It's a unique Italian joint in Philly. The food and service are very good! We were particularly impressed with the octopus appetizer. The ambience is great with lots of wood, brick, and old foundation stone. There is often live piano music as well.
Natalie Suchodolski
We love bistro Romano so much , my husband proposed to me outside of the restaurant. Everything is beyond amazing— The ambience, the service, and then of course the food.. We celebrate our anniversary every year and they always give us the same table and champagne on the house. I could not love a restaurant more than Bistro Romano. The food is presented so elegantly and tastes incredible. Last night we had Luke as our server and his personable and professional service was a great addition to our celebrations.
Paris France III
My wife and I found Bistro Romano while wonder around South Street after the X Games in 2002 and we been enjoying the food,service and atmosphere ever since!!! I've never had anything negative, the food is always awesome!! Thank you Bistro Romano!!!)
Christopher Lumps
My girlfriend and I had a wonderful experience here. I’ve been coming to this restaurant for a few years now and by far, had the best service tonight. Our server, Kishor had wonderful suggestions based on our palette and had perfect timing with questions between courses. We didn’t feel rushed at all which is always appreciated with a later reservation. As always the ceasar salad was phenomenal, followed by the lobster ravioli which was perfect and not over seasoned. If you ever come here I highly suggest saving room for their desserts. Although the desserts are a little pricey it is highly worth it. I will definitely continue to frequent this restaurant and suggest it to anyone looking for amazing service and food….
Michele Gargiulo
Great meal! The staff was all incredibly friendly. Luke was our server. He did a fantastic job. The food was wonderful, we ate too much. The osso was definitely worth ordering. The octopus was delicious and light. Fried calamari was delightful. Did not photograph the Zeppoli‘s but those were also worth ordering!
Julian Andrews
Decided on celebrating a 6-month anniversary (mensiversary if we are being technical) at Bistro Romano for dinner on a Saturday evening.
We started off the night with an order of their calamari which was amongst the best calamari I’ve ever had. It was lightly fried and seasoned well. I’m typically a thai chili dip over marinara person but the aioli they served with the marinara made me an instant fan. For entrees, my partner got the Brodetto and I got the Seafood Risotto. The Brodetto came out beautifully and took me back to a vacation in Italy. The risotto was the best I’ve ever had. The amount of seafood loaded into the dish was unreal. Large scallops, shrimp or crab meat was loaded into every bite. We weren’t extremely hungry this night but both servings were big enough to warrant to-go boxes. To pair with all of this we ordered a Bordeaux Rose off of the chef-recommended menu. Finally, for dessert, we tried the zeppole which is similar to fried donuts. The lemon curd served with them was a star and I typically am not crazy about lemon flavor.
Overall, very fortunate to spend a great night at Bistro Romano. Seems like you can’t miss when ordering off the menu. Will definitely return for more!
Nicolette Miller
An absolutely fantastic place to host a private event! The staff did an excellent job. They were personable, attentive, and flexible. We had a guided wine tasting and not only were the wines delicious, but the sommelier could really read a room and knew exactly when to interject in the conversation and when to hang back and let the room flow. I highly recommend them for any event!
Morgan DW
New favorite Italian spot in Philadelphia…food is to die for, and the atmosphere in the entire place is intimate and romantic. Service is always great, and the owner’s homemade wine is delicious. My only complaint would be that the tables are often sticky to the point where menus stick…but we really do love it here!
Dan DuPraw (DanLikesToEat)
Incredible spot! The wine tasting events are super fun and a great way to learn more about some fun wines. Stayed for dinner after and the food was incredible. Highly recommend!
Jon B
Fantastic Italian restaurant that cant do enough for you. The staff was amazing and took care of us as we celebrated our anniversary. Towards the end the manager came over and thanked us for coming and was very responsive to conversation about the meal.
We ended up booking the special "cellar" room for an extra fee, overall it comes with a very romantic setting, a glass of champagne and after dinner shot. If you are looking to spend a little extra on an evening its very worth it. The best part is if you had a bottle of wine with your meal they let you sign it and keep it in the room.
The only downside is it is certainty not a wine cellar. Its just a small semi-private room with some old wine bottles in it. They make the best of it though.
Khek Dengmanivanh
The food was good. The young server was nice but has a lot to learn to serve at a finer dining establishment. My wife ordered a seltzer and he dropped the unopened can and glass at the table. We asked for black pepper for our ceasar salads and he dropped of the pepper cracker. He did space the food out properly.
8/10/22
A few days later I received a call from Joette from BR. She was concerned with my review and wanted to make sure they correct the issue. Please support an establishment like this. Places that care about their integrity are becoming rarer to find. I have never received a personal call before from any of my reviews. Class is hard to come by. Well done Bistro Romano!!!
Aashideep
Restaurant week<br/><br/>Really enjoyed dinner here during restaurant week. The pricing is a steal. The staff were very friendly and the food was delicious. I recommend and will definitely return again.
Brenda Patterson
My husband and I came here 3 years Ago when we were visiting from Texas. Met The family who runs It and tried amazing food! It was on our list to Come back on This visit. It was as wonderful as we remembered! My husband had duck and I had salmon. Whipped potatoes were super as Well. We had The best limoncello to finish off The Meal which I understand Is homemade. I would buy This if I could! Oh my gosh It was so good! Ashley was our server and we loved her. So friendly and helpful. The restaurant seems to have had some remodeling but It seems even more homey and inviting! I love This Place and cant say enough good things about It. You Will not be disappointed if you eat here. I Hate we Didnt get to see The owners again to tell them Hello and tell them once again How much we Enjoyed their restaurant and food.
Swativerma
We had the pleasure of dining at Bistro Romano this past Saturday night. It was a wonderful evening made more special by the magnificent surroundings of this former 18th century granary turned restaurant.
Jennifer Dey
I have been here at least three times now, and each time, it's been truly amazing. I was here for a Valentine's dinner, the night of my engagement, and for a casual bite to eat. Every time, the service has been friendly, helpful, and even jovial. The food is incredible! Everything that I've eaten here has been a "wow" experience. HIGHLY recommend.
Kelley Galloway
Bistro Romano is one of the most romantic places in the city. If you can, try to score the table in their private wine cellar. Order the table-side made caesar salad (impressive and delicious) and enjoy the dark, sexy ambiance.
Kris4mom
HORRIBLE MEAL!. I dined at this restaurant, on October 3 of 2014. Maybe the kitchen was having a very off night based on some other reviews that I read, but this is one of the worst meals that I've ever had, for the cost. My fiancé took me here for my birthday and we reserved the private dining area in the basement. That was a plus along with our server. Unfortunately, that was the best part of the meal. They did not have the wine that we wanted so the sommelier recommended another wine. It was one of the worst bottles of wine either of us have ever drank. We decided to have the Caesar salad, which is prepared by the table. It had so much cheese that it was inedible. For our entree we both ordered fish, which was over cooked and lacked flavor. At this point, we decided that the meal was a wash but how bad could dessert be... IT WAS BAD!!! We wanted chocolate but there was none. So we settled on a creme brûlée but they only had a creme brûlée with berries. The dessert topped the meal off nicely and followed the trend for the evening. We did not complain because it was a special evening and we were just happy to be out without the kids. I would never recommend this restaurant to anyone. Spending $200.+ on a meal for 2 is acceptable only when the meal is exceptional.
Cletus McPherson
Amazing Food with Superior Service. I ate there last night with my girlfriend and I was overwhelmed with the service and the quality of the food. If you don't stop by here you are missing out. <br/>Thank you for a great night!
Lesleygomes15
Delicious. We enjoyed everything about our recent dining experience. at Bistro Romano. The service was fine and the food delicious. We have been coming here for a long time and expect to return here for a long time.
Barry
Pleasant dining experience. Attentive staff, waiters & waitress's are very knowledgeable of the menu, dining experience was exciting.
BobbyK
It was wonderful as usual! The food, atmosphere and service were top-notch. Excellent waitresses - very nice, kind, and fast.
Julie
Satisfying. Very good!. The food is good tasty, hot and the restaurant has a nice feel and ambience about it. Excellent food and service!
Elsie
Weekend delight. It was altogether pleasing! I love this restaurant. Always a pleasant experience together with my colleagues and associates on alternate weekends.
Antonia
Bistro is one of our favorites. Your restaurant is in our steady mix of restaurants that we patronize. We visit Bistro every month, or twice. And happy to hear that my parents-in-laws enjoy the food there.
100naudian
Excellent Romanitc Dinner. We celebrated our ten year anniversary at Bistro Romano. And I must say the entire experience was over the top. From our server, Keith who provide outstanding service, very caring without being overbearing, to the food which was sensational. The caesar salad was perpared right at the table, by our server and had a great flavor and was very fresh. For the main course we had the mushroom ravioli and veal saltimbocca, both of which exceeded our expectations, very fresh and clearly well executed. The place is located in a historic building that gives it ambiance of the old world and a flare of romance.
Brad
Intimate resto. Wonderful authentic and intimate experience. Wine cellar reminds me of my grandparents' house when I was a child.
Tom L
Truly a unique place with a wonderful menu. This review is late as we were there for restaurant week, but we chose off the menu. The mushroom appetizer was nice and paired well with the Pinot we were having. For entrees we had the smoked chicken ravioli which had well developed flavors, and the duck. For my taste, the breast was well done, and most restaurants ask what temperature you prefer. I asked if I had a choice, but wad told no. In any event, it was still worth it, but not my preference for future visits. We'll gladly go again when in Philly.
100naudain
Great Dinner. We had an excellent dinner. Make sure you order the caesar salad, they make it right at the table; it's the best i've ever had. The ravioli they prepare are equally sensational. The service was very caring and attentive without being overbearing.
Nova
Two words. Don't go! Absolutely the worst dinner theatre experience ever! Food was horrible and the food was worst. The actresses screamed and yelled through the whole thing. At the end we were asked to solve the mystery??? Are you kidding? There were no clues and the whole thing appeared to be written 10 minutes before we arrived. Ok, maybe five minutes.
Joe B.
Consistently Good. I've been going to Bistro Romano since 1997 or 1998, and think it's time I wrote a review.<br/>Over these years, Bistro Romano has been a consistently good value. I'm on their e-mail list, so I receive offers of an appetizer, entree and dessert for $30 per person. On Mother's Day, the offer was $35 per person, but you had the full menu to pick from plus complementary drinks. <br/>The last two times I went, I opted for the Bistro salad, which is all that. It has sliced almonds, Gorgonzola, etc. On Mother's Day, my Mom got the seafood bisque which was awesome. Both of us had entrees with seafood which were spectacular. We both got the same thing for dessert- tiramisu which was awesome too. Usually, I get the chocolate torte, which is decadent as well. <br/>What can I say, this is one of my faves for the last 13 or 14 years. The atmosphere is great too, which the ladies particularly appreciate. The food, atmosphere, and service have always been very good, plus the prices don't kill you like some other overrated places in the city- Vetri, Osteria, etc.
MetroFoodie
Hidden Treasure. The Caesar salad and calamari are worth the trip to this quaint and warm restaurant.
Dasman
Wonderful food & atmosphere. I've eaten here twice, once with my wife and the second time with a business colleague. Both times were exceptional -- I had the Bistro Duck once (great) and Chicken Romano the second time.<br/><br/>Both times we ate in the lower level of what must be a very historic location -- very rustic, great ambiance. Reservations definitely recommended, both trips were weeknights, I can't imagine getting a table on a weekend.
Mrs. T. Rog
Great food and we love the romantic setting. Great wine selection as well.
Andy
Best Italian food. I highly recommend this restaurant excellent service
Kathryn Murphy
Romantic setting. Really good food. Really good service. You can't really go wrong. The prices are a little strap but the portions match the price so you will leave satisfied.
Jim G.
Still has the same charm but I think the quality of the food has slipped a little
Sarah
Best romantic spot. Def one of Philly's best romantic restaurants.<br/>Especially if I can get reservations in the wine cellar- very intimate...in a "ask me to marry you" kind of way.<br/>Food is classic Italian, its good but the service could be better. Not that it's bad, but it could be better.
Le Anne Lindsay
I've know about Bistro Romano (120 Lombard Street) for a long time, because I've always said one day I'd go to experience the corny mystery dinner theater - "Crime of Your Life" is playing now. In our youth (early 20's) my sister LeVonne and I used to enj
An error has occurred! Please try again in a few minutes