Roma Italian Ristorante — Restaurant in North Vancouver

We received the following email and booked a late lunch August 21st. I indicated in the online reservation made that we had the BOGO coupon and received acknowledgement back thanking us for the reservation.

The coupon was not accepted by chef Aby and his response to showing it to him was that it wasn't their coupon but that Wednesday was 30% off on pizzas. We stayed as there were other stops to be made in the area. The pizza was decent with a very soft bottom.

As far as wanting to come out and meet new customers the only interaction we had was as stated above.

So if you received a BOGO coupon I suggest you phone and clarify the authenticity of the offer rather than using the online reservation option.

Would we return? I really don't think so with so many eating out options available and the reception we received was nowhere near the suggestion described in their email.

Buongiorno, T

If you live in North Vancouver, you must appreciate that we live in one of the most beautiful places! I am constantly reminded of how fortunate I am to be getting to live a part of my dream creating authentic Italian food in one of the most beautiful places in Canada (If not the world. I have traveled many places, and I am proud to call this my home.

I was visiting with a couple from Langley last Tuesday in the restaurant, as I like to meet as many of you as possible. Find out where you are from, see what brought you in, kind of thing. I enjoy wanting to make you feel like a part of our family.

They had come to North Vancouver for a visit with some friends for a few days and they were on their way to drive home and decided to have an early afternoon lunch. Funnily enough, they said that their friends visit us regularly and mentioned how much they enjoyed the experience here. (I knew who they were talking about).

It is such an honour for us to have somebody recommend our restaurant as, to me, it is the highest form of thank you! So, if you are reading this and you are one of those people. Then… Thank You! I am so grateful for you doing that!

Based on that lunch, I decided to offer you an exclusive promotion, only available because you are one of our VIP Roma Family customers.

I have included a special coupon, just for you, at the bottom of this email for a Buy One – Get One free lunch entrée. Now, it is only available from Monday to Wednesday. As I am usually too busy on Thursday and Friday lunches to come out and meet you. So, now you know my motive. I’d love to meet you and say thank you in person, so I’m going try and get to you come in with a BOGO. Seems like a fair trade to me.

Now, if for whatever reason you cannot make it in for lunch on those days, but there is somebody in your circle of friends or family who can, I’ll make a deal with you. If you send it to them and they use it, I will send you another special coupon that you can use when you do have a chance to come in. (It has to be somebody you care about and they have to use the coupon and mention your name, deal?) Win-Win!!

I hope that you have a wonderful rest of your day and I look forward to meeting you at lunch!

Chef Aby Executive Chef Roma...

Update: Feb 14, 2025 Our second visit. Upon arrival, as soon as you open the door, 3 issues: no immediate greeting. We had reservations but still stood by the door nearly 5 full minutes before anyone acknowledged us. In that time, the speaker placed right besthe door was playing music right in our ears. It needs to be moved away from the door or the volume lowered. We didn't notice it at first, but later, once we were seated, when anyone opens the door and/ or it gets stuck open ALL the heat goes out of the dining room. This explains the number if guests with their coats on. That included us, once we figured that out. While we like a leisurely pace for dinner, eventhough I reiterated my salad order, the kitchen sent the wrong one. Caprese sounds nothing like Misto so I'm not sure how that got mixed up. During dinner, no one came to ask if we wanted a second drink. I did. Once we finished our dinners, the empty dishes sat on the table a long time even when staff walked by, empty-handed. During a last coffee, a waitress showed up with a bowl of pasta and asked if we'd ordered it? Uh, no. We were done. With only 2 choices of regular desert on Valentines Day, we passed and headed home. Spent less than last time since we skipped the cocktails and desert. Still spend about $70 for one salad, a small pizza, one bowl of pasta with prawns, one pop and a coffee. Thoroughly enjoyed the singer who made us feel special and deserved the applause after each song. I want to like this restaurant more but service isn't yet up to the standard I expect in Vancouver.. It can be improved and I truly hope it will be if it hopes to become a mainstay on the main strip in North Vancouver. Nov, 2024 We had dinner on a quiet pre-Christmas evening. Just a couple of other guests in the new place on Lonsdale Avenue where a Persian restaurant was. I hope it lasts as the dishes were excellent, classic fare with lots of flavour. Live music that evening from a talented guitar player who sang in 5 language s and took requests. This could easily become a nice romantic go to place in North Vancouver if they make some sharable plates...

First of all, this restaurant is not Italian—they are from Iran. Secondly, there is no such thing as a "#1 Italian Cuisine" rating.

Hygiene standards are questionable. I noticed an employee entering the kitchen with dirty hands to assist the chef. They also do not cover their hair, so if you find hair in your meal, don’t be surprised—perhaps they consider it an "Italian cooking style."

Their treatment of delivery workers is also disappointing. I witnessed a gray-haired man rudely telling a delivery person, "Go stand there," instead of politely saying something like, "Sorry, we are behind on orders. Please take a seat. Would you like something to drink?" A good restaurant treats all customers and workers with respect. When the delivery worker was unhappy with this behavior, he attempted to leave a negative review on the app for the driver. It seems they forget that many delivery workers are actually doctors and engineers.

As for the food, while the pizza smells good, it doesn’t taste great—and I eat pizza, not just the smell. I will never go back to this restaurant again. Within just 100 meters, there are plenty of other restaurants with better food and a more...