Romano's

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  I was a little worried after reading some of the reviews but decided to check it out.
  
  Either someone at the restaurant read the reviews or there are new employees, because our service was prompt and fabulous. The waiter was helpful as well as cheerful as we made our choices.
  
  The food came promptly and in good sequence. (I've waited a lifetime in between appetizer and salad in some places for example.)
  
  The entrees are reasonable and very tasty. We've had a lot of Italian food over the years and these guys are very good.

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  Posted on 02.23.13 Joe D.

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  Great food, service can be a bit slow though...

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  Posted on 11.30.12 Melanie M.

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  Every time we go to Romanos we are super pleased.  Their pasta dishes are all huge and spiced just right. The front counter people, especially William, are gre.at to talk with when we are waiting for a pizza to go. Love this place.

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  Posted on 10.02.12 Bio P.

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  Man, I really hate to throw them under the bus.
  
  When I arrived for an early dinner, they had multiple staff out front smokin' butts and leaning against the wall with their aprons on and shootin' the breeze. I even stopped mid stride in the middle of the parking lot to ask if they were even open yet (5:30)...
  
  Inside is stale. Cheesy decor. Kinda an empty feeling. Like just a box with faux brick.
  
  The food was ok. Nothing too flavorful or surprisingly Delicious.
  
  I have to mention that the service was exceptionally professional however, very pleasant and polished.

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  Posted on 08.10.12 Adrienne K.

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  The stars are only for the quality of food.  I've ordered food at Romano's twice for take out and it was really good so we decided when my sister came for a visit we would go there and eat in the restaurant.  Small but ok place.  The food was good as when I picked it up for take out.  But - the service was horrible.  We had to ask for silverware and napkins and another glass of wine and for anything else we wanted.  Our waiter forgot the side of meatballs we ordered and we didn't get them until we again had to ask for them.  He never once came by to see how everything was or if we needed anything.  He didn't ask if we wanted dessert but just dropped off the check and didn't ask if everything was good.  We had planned on ordering dessert but changed our mind because we would have had to call him back and ask him again and by then I had had enough of him. Basically he didn't pay any attention to us at all. It was a Friday and the place was pretty busy but that's no excuse for the very poor service or I should say no service we received. I am a very good tipper but only left him a small tip.  Based on the service we got he didn't even deserve what I left.

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  Posted on 05.23.12 Mary Ann P.

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  Got the seafood stuffed shells. It's a tasty dish that comes with three big shells. I was told it's a 'big portion' but I wouldn't quite agree. Flavor was good, not amazing.. but I'd order it again, and I'll probably be back again to try other dishes.
  
  I hear the service was bad here, but I just did a 'to go' order... 15-minutes.

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  Posted on 04.20.12 Samantha S.

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  The food is good, used to be better though.  It is overpriced.

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  Posted on 06.17.11 Shawn B.

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  We were seated quickly, and out came the delicious garlic bread "knots" that others have written about.  The marinara sauce was so-so, but the bread didn't really need it.
  
  When they refilled our bread, it was no longer 'knots," but rather little "torpedoes" of garlic bread.  Perhaps the chef on the evening shift didn't know how to tie the knots?  It was a little crispier than the knots, but still good.
  
  We had a veggie alfredo pizza, and it was pretty good.  The crust isn't super thin, but not super thick, either.  I'm one of those strange people who don't like a lot of cheese on their pizza, so I requested that a quarter of the pizza have less cheese than the rest, and they took care of that request just fine.
  
  The dinner salads had iceberg and yuppie lettuce, and a small amount of tomato, but not much else.  Italian dressing was so-so.  I'd pass on it next time.
  
  Our service was fine, no complaints.  We left way more full than we had planned!

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  Posted on 05.13.11 Marianne G.

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  We mostly order pizza from Romano's as the pasta has never blown us away, but even the quality of the pizza has suffered and the last few times we've ordered from them, we've been disappointed.  They are on the cheaper side, so I guess you get what you pay for.

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  Posted on 04.03.11 M F.

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  Garlic rolls were great. Service was mediocre. I ordered two appetizers and received one. The pesto tortelloni had three times the olive oil necessary but otherwise tasty.

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  Posted on 03.15.11 Adam R.

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  Food not bad..bread very good...pastas were ok..the bolognase was fair, the veal Marsala very small, little too sweet...calamari good

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  Posted on 03.12.11 vince k.

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  Romano's has great salads and pasta dishes, and their panini's are awesome.  I crave the bread knots with Romano's delicious marinara sauce.  The restaurant has a great atmosphere and everyone there is very friendly.

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  Posted on 03.05.11 Kari M.

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  Hidden within one of those unidentifiable strip malls out in OC off the beaten path. We had our choice of sushi, Mexican, or Italian. So we went with Italy. Service wasn't spectacular. Our server was NOT a morning person evidently. Put on a smile; you work in Orange County, things could be a WHOLE lot worse!
  
  3 stars for the food. Pesto chicken pasta was pretty damn tasty, and made for a nice snack a second time later in the day (or was it the morning after?)
  
  Anyhoo, it doesn't suck, but it's not the cat's meow either.
  
  OH!! I just remembered: one of the staff went into the restroom (the one customers use) with their APRON on. Is it me, or is that "slightly" unhygienic? Dookie cooties anyone? I waited 10 minutes for him to exit...
  Leads one to ponder, doesn't it?

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  Posted on 01.01.11 Johnny G.

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  Okay, first off- I don't mind Italian food, but I just happen to dislike everything on their menu.
  
  My bf absolutely loves their homemade lasagna so he's obviously the one who drags me out to San Clemente for cheese, noodles and meat. Whatever.
  
  The last time I went, I ordered their Berry Chicken Salad and expected to get chicken, I mean it's in the name of the damn dish right? Nope. I didn't get any chicken so when I asked for some I got a weird look like, "You want chicken? Or did you already eat it?" Really? Eff off. So then the waiter brings me the chicken in a "dish" for big enough for marinara- no wonder, the chicken was actually just bits of chicken. [Imagine a piece of chicken that doesn't meet Gordon Ramsey's standards, which then gets smashed/pulverized by his palm and thrown in the trash- then the bits that made it in the trash are the ones in that bowl]
  
  And that, my fellow Yelpers, was my experience at Romano's.
  
  Side note: Romano's got 3 stars instead of 2 because the bread they bring you in the beginning is friggen delicious.

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  Posted on 11.18.10 Melissa L.

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  I really wish I had the option of not giving stars at all.  Ever since this place opened, I had been excited to try it out because I was so hopeful for a good place to get Italian in town.
  
  We sat out on that patio and after 15 minutes, the server finally came and took our drink orders.  10 minutes later he finally brought us our drinks.  Another 15 minutes rolls by and he decides he can now be bothered enough to take our food orders. I can understand slow service if the restaurant is super busy on a weekend, but this was a Tuesday night and there was only one other table in the entire place.
  
  To add to this awful dining experience, one of my meatballs was frozen and the cheese was not melted. Its pretty hard to mess up baked spaghetti, but they managed.  I ended up getting Carls Jr. after this because I couldn't even eat my dinner.
  
  Hopefully we will get a decent Italian place in San Clemente!

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  Posted on 11.09.10 Brian L.

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  Great Italian food, good kids menu. The only negative is slow service. Expect to spend an hour or more at dinner

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  Posted on 10.20.10 Mike R.

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  Mmmm... I love pasta, and this restaurant makes delicious pasta.
  
  I've been here several times and even ordered ahead of time. My only complaint is that I'm still waiting an additional 15 minutes even if I've ordered 15 minutes ahead of time. Total 30 minutes is too long to wait for weekday lunchers.
  
  Still, I love their tortellini, eggplant parmesan, gnocchi, etcetera. I've tried almost all pastas, and have enjoyed every one. Perhaps I should order 30 minutes in advanced?

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  Posted on 10.07.10 Christine M.

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  Great food, You can taste the freshness in the food's. Place is always good. You can't go wrong. YOU WILL LOVE IT!

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  Posted on 05.15.10 Alex A.

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  I've eaten here a couple times, and i love it! just tried their gnocchi w/ cream sauce and bacon. it was to die for! sounds funky, but it was so good, it was addicting! i have also had their penne w mushrooms, spaghetti and meatballs. thy were also both very good! their garlic bread is also very tasty! love their salad dressing..homemade Italian!

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  Posted on 04.17.10 tiffany e.

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  Great Italian food!  It's a hole in the wall type place, next to an Albertson's, but it's the only gem in that entire strip mall.  We live up the street and love to stop by here for dinner.  Do yourself a favor and limit your intake on the bread they give you when you sit down...it's so good, you'll down an entire basket or two before your meal comes!  The plates themselves are delicious though and you'll leave feeling content and happy that you scored great Italian in a grocery store plaza.

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  Posted on 01.30.10 Mike J.

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  My family and I like Romano's food.  We have to restrain ourselves from filling up on the bread before the meal, and we love the pizza.
  
  The service is spotty.  Sometimes it's great, other times, not so much.
  
  The odd wire pizza stands they use are prone to tipping over.  Once, we lost a large pizza to one as it became unbalanced from taking all our slices from one side of the pie.  Crash!  Down to the floor it went.  Not to worry, the kitchen replaced it, but we were pretty embarrased.
  
  I see the other reviews don't like this place as much as we do.  I guess we have pedestrian tastes.  But we think it's worth a try.  And there was a line when we went there last time, so we're not alone!

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  Posted on 11.30.09 Mitchell T.

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  The food was too greasy; I didn't care for the taste. Plus, it made me a bit gurgle-y and full of indigestion. For the $10 price tag for lunch, I'd rather go elsewhere.

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  Posted on 11.24.09 Heina D.

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  I live in San Clemente and have only gotten take-out from Romanos but have to say that it's always been excellent.  Their garlic rolls are the best, always fresh out of the oven.  The pasta is always made to order and the portions are large.  The creamy marinara sauce and meatballs over pasta is my favorite!

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  Posted on 11.13.09 Shawn B.

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  Its not fast food, and its not really like a sit down dinner place you take a date. Its sorta strip mall, next to Albertsons, nicer than Daphne's. The bread is great and fresh. I was ready to leave after my salad and bread. Service is with a smile but not the best. Had to ask 3 times for plates  to eat my bread off of, never got my beer I ordered,  I dont go out of my way to recommend the place, but I do go back at least 1 time a month.

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  Posted on 03.29.08 Eric H.

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  I came to an area in San Clemente where it was either this or fast food restaurants... so I chose this restaurant.  For the first 7 mins after we were seated, the service was very slow.  In fact, we didn't get our menu right away.  They didn't appear to be all too busy, so I couldn't understand why.
  
  We ordered the mixed berry and chicken salad with vinaigrette.  The flavor is ok if you eat the berries (strawberries, rasberry) with the chicken and the salad.  Call me biased, but since I'm not a big fan of salad, that really may be the thing that ruined it for me.
  
  The garlic bread came out fresh and it is pretty good.  Once you get past the cheesy part, the bread is just plain ol' white bread, but really soft.
  
  We also had the penne arrabiata and a large combo pizza.  The arrabiata sauce is not spicy enough and too watered down.  The pizza compares to places like Domino's or Shakey's pizza only slightly better.
  
  The waiters were nice and friendly.  They do try very hard to do well so I can't really give this place a rating below average.  It's a shame the food is so average.

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  Posted on 06.03.07 Gerald S.

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