Roma Cafe

03/15/08

Best restaurant in Detroit

by RickDog at Citysearch

I have been coming here for years, as well as my parents before me, as well as my grandparents before my parents.. Jan, the owner, and Dan, the host, are two of the most gracious and polite people you could ever meet. They have a superb way of running a restaurant and interacting with patrons.

Yes, Roma is old, and yes, it is somewhat cramped, but that doesn't count much, what does is the service and food. In 30+ years I have never had a bad meal. Not once! I have never been disatisfied in any way.

If you want quick, fast, and cheap, go to a chain-type fast food joint. If you want to enjoy a meal, come here.

Also, if you tell the staff you are in a hurry and have to go to a game or a show, they make sure that they accomodate you, and make sure you get to your location on time. They never keep you hostage, like another Italian restaurant on Second does- so they can sell you more booze.

The men who park your car are also very polite, and I have never gotten a car back damaged, dinged, or had something missing,

I have brought many friends here for their first time, and they keep coming back as well, and bring their friends. While the food is excellent, the service is even better. There is virtually no changeover in staff.

They have an extremely good way of processing your order, and the waiters are always quick with the drinks. The best part is once they get to know you, some of them don't bother with the menu's or asking if you would like another drink, or more bread, or dessert. They already know!

Jan, keep up the good work. The fact that you are on-site is what makes your place the best. I look forward to my next lunch or dinner!

• Pros: Owner on site, polite host, valet parking, food, all rank equally
• Cons: Not open on Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

09/13/09

terrible food and service

by art1047 at Citysearch

I would never go there again !My sauce was watery and the steak was rare when I ordered it medium.I've been treated better by McDonald's wait staff.Save your money and the drive to an unsafe part of detroit.

• Pros: none
• Cons: parking,food,service

01/02/09

Old and Overrated

by letseatdinner at Citysearch

I've been to Roma Cafe a few times and have been disappointed each occasion. I've read the other reviews and have to agree that I think the experience is directly related to who you know and how well the staff knows you. Frequent visitors seem to get a great deal of attention, while everyone else suffers through a rough dinner with tight seating. The food is simple but did not impress me as having the homemade, fresh ingredients as promised. This place is old, stodgy and severely overrated. I'd go to Assaigi in Ferndale any day of the week but I'll never go back to this place.

• Pros: Location
• Cons: Food, atmosphere

11/08/08

If you are not a regular

by DocSeverin at Citysearch

I know a lot of people who frequent this establishment who rate it as one of the best italian

restaurants that they go to. I have to say that these people do have good taste but I have

to say my experience there seriously fell short. My girlfriend and I got seated in a cramped

corner next to a big party of people who occupied the attention of our tuxedo clad waiter the

whole night.

THE GOOD: Old world atmosphere. The bartender was amiable and made a good bloody mary. There were a lot of people there who looked like regulars and they looked like they were getting special treatment.

THE BAD: Seeking to impress my girlfriend at a highly rated Italian restaurant I ending up getting mad instead because the waiter ignored us all night and when our meals arrived (mine being Linguine w/ Clam sauce) the waiter dropped my dish down like he was giving me my prison meal. It was the most unimpressive Linguini I have ever had. It was like someone dumped some butter and a can of clams on it. Someone later told me that maybe that's because what I ordered is more of a northern Italian dish and not sicilian, so I guess I should have ordered something with a red sauce. What I found there is It depends on who you are pretty much. Expect to get treated as special if you ARE special (to them) That's why the reviews are so off balance.

• Pros: Atmosphere, the bar is good
• Cons: If your not important to them, then forget about service and food

02/18/08

Best Italian food Downtown since Lelli's on Woodward closed.

by WopperFlopper at Citysearch

I've only had GREAT food and GOOD service here. MONDAY ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT BUFFET is absolutely the FINEST Italian food you can find anywhere (better than NYC!) and reasonably priced, too.

• Pros: Best Italian food Downtown since Lelli's on Woodward closed.
• Cons: none.

12/09/07

A big DISAPPOINTMENT

by june99 at Citysearch

I was really excited about eating there, especially after reading all of the great reviews, however I was very disappointed. We arrived on time only to discover that our reservation had been mistakenly been bumped up by a half hour, not a problem if the host had been sincere in his apologies instead of the shrug he gave us. We were crammed in at a table that was not completely set, they were tossing the bread plates and butter knives down the table, not what I expected at a restaurant with such a good reputation. The menu did offer your garden variety Italian choices and the bread and wine were good. The entrees were average and could be ordered at any local Italian restaurant. After my experience there I have no plans to ever go back or recommend it to any of my friends.

• Pros: None that I can think of
• Cons: Ambience, Price, Food, Service

08/27/06

The best Italian restaurant in Detroit

by goovno1234 at Citysearch

I have been coming to this restaurant for 30 years, and I am in my 40's. I have NEVER had a bad meal there. The food is well prepared, plentiful, and served correctly.

The Roma Cafe is always busy. There is a good reason for this- quality service, quality food, a decent price, and the owner is on-site, taking care of business.

Many of the people who work at Roma have been there for ages- there is virtually no turnover, thus making this restaurant very consistent.

I go there at least twice a month - usually more- for both business and with family. The interesting part is that when I take someone there who has never been there, they start to come back on their own, and bring their friends!

Highly recommended!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• Pros: Food, family run/operated
• Cons: busy, but worth the wait

Since 1890, the city's oldest restaurant has offered classic Italian dishes in a refined setting at the Eastern Market.

by Contributor at Citysearch

In Short
Situated in the Eastern Market, the Roma Cafe has been a Detroit institution since 1890, making it the city's oldest restaurant. Whether you're seated in themain dining room, the intimate Vatican Room or the cozy old-fashioned bar, the classic Italian food puts many newer restaurants to shame. Start with the minestrone soup and antipasto salad, then move onto any of the classic Italian favorites such as lasagne, gnocchi, veal piccante, chicken parmigiana, or calamari.

02/16/06

I'm back at my grandmothers house

by rickge1 at Citysearch

You step back in time when you go to this place. A 130 year old house with an atmosphere like you are at home. The servers have been there forever and are knowlegable warm and friendly like you were family. And the food! We had the veal for 2 which came with salad, pasta, bread 5 vegs and 4 different veal dishes (parmesean, marsala, tosca and lemon). Tiramisu to die for and coffee rounded out a huge meal which we wound up taking half home. Go to this place and you will leave feeling satisfied on many levels!

• Pros: Service, Atmosphere, Food

12/31/05

Simply the BEST

by chy8nna at Citysearch

Excellent food and service. An extensive menu with classic Italian favorites along with flavorful beef, seafood, and poultry selections. Salads are dressed with a very tasty Italian style vinaigrette that must be homemade. Cocktails contain a generous amount of liquor and the espresso with a twist of lemon is just delicious. Although the waiters are clad in tuxedos, day and night, patrons' attire is mixed; both casual and business attire. I only eat at two restaurants in the Detroit metro area. Roma Cafe is one of them!

• Pros: food, waiters , atmosphere
• Cons: none