Bad Roman

Bad Roman has a bit of a bad rap, and it is undeserved in my opinion. I’ve dined here on five separate occasions (3x for dinner, 2x for lunch) and have tried 20+ different dishes. I’ve left satisfied every time! The atmosphere is fun, and the homemade pastas are excellent. Admittedly, I have yet to try the filet topped with ravioli… and I likely never will.

I recommend coming with a large group so that you can share a bunch of different things. Below is a dish-by-dish review for each item I’ve tried.

Roasted Garlic Babka ($8) ★★★★★

This buttery, cheesy, Garlic Babka is a great dish to share with the table as a starter. If you are here with a group of 4 or more people, I’d say this is a “must order.” It’s a bit heavy, so if you are a party of 2, I’d skip it and go with the Black Truffle Honey Whipped Ricotta below instead!

Black Truffle Honey Whipped Ricotta ($18) ★★★★★

I’ve ordered this whipped ricotta drizzled with truffle honey and served with focaccia toast four out of the five times I’ve dined here. It’s a perfectly constructed dish that I think about often, and is a “must order” item for me!

Penne Luongo alla Gricia ($29) ★★★★★

The Penne Luongo alla Gricia is one of my favorite pasta dishes here. The penne noodles are super long (~ 5 inches) and are perfectly chewy! The sauce is simple but well done, with a is rich and cheesy flavor.

Kale Mafaldine ($24) ★★★★☆

The Kale Mafaldine was not memorable one way or the other. The noodle itself was nice, but the sauce was a bit bland.

Rock Shrimp Garganelli ($34) ★★★☆☆

This is objectively a nice dish, with a denser, chewy noodle, but unfortunately it had cilantro in it, and the menu didn’t note it, and due to an aversion I was unable to eat much of it. If you don’t eat cilantro, don’t order this.

Chicken Scarpariello Rigatoni ($28) ★★★☆☆

The rigatoni noodles were delicious, with a similar texture and flavor as the penne luongo, but I didn’t love the chicken itself in this dish, and found myself eating around it.

Short Rib Pappardelle ($34) ★★★★★

While Pappardelle is not my go-to noodle shape, I loved this dish and would definitely say it’s a “must order” item if you are visiting in the winter months! It’s a heavy dish with a generous amount of short rib ragu. The ragu itself is tender, juicy, and flavorful, and left a lasting impression.

Cappelletti Bistecca ($42) ★★★★★

This dish is definitely smaller and more expensive than the other pasta dishes, but is worth the little splurge! These cappelletti are stuffed with with a tender filet mignon filling, and are topped with 20-year balsamic, and you’ll savor every last bite!

Il Divorzio Half + Half Por Due ($64) ★★★★★

This pasta dish made for two comes with a pesto pasta, pomodoro pasta, and stracciatella cheese. The pesto in particular stood out, and if you are here with a group of 4+ I’d definitely order this to share!

Bad Roman Burger ($28) ★★★☆☆

I had high hopes for this lunch-only burger but it was overcooked and lacked flavor, and I don’t recommend ordering it. The pastas here are far more special.

Lemon Cheesecake ($19) ★★★★☆

These lemon-shaped white chocolate covered lemon cheesecakes are a true work of art, and are rich, creamy, and delicious! If you enjoy a good cheesecake, this belongs on your table!

Caramelized Chocolate Tart & Olive Oil Gelato ($14) ★★★★★

This caramelized chocolate tart with olive oil gelato is phenomenal. It’s very rich (think: fudgy undercooked brownie) with a silky texture and a buttery crust, and is my go-to dessert here.

Sticky Toffe Panettone ($14) ★★★★☆

I love a good sticky toffee pudding and was so excited to try panettone version. IT was a bit heavy on the orange for my taste, but was objectively good.

Tiramisu Ice Cream Cake ($17) ★★★★☆

The tiramisu ice cream cake is a fun and different way to enjoy the flavors of a traditional tiramisu dessert! The coffee flavor definitely comes through, and this is a great dessert to share with the table!

Blood Orange Sorbetto & Whipped Zabaglione ($10) ★★★★☆

For a light and refreshing bite that isn’t as rich as the other desserts on the menu, I recommend this blood orange sorbet! It was well balanced in terms of sweetness, and the texture was spot on.