Romeo Trattoria Pizzeria — Restaurant in Playa del Carmen

Best find ever! One of the best restaurants ever! Who would expect some of the best Italian food in Mexico (and we’ve been to Italy)! We were searching online for a nearby restaurant and stumbled on Romeo. It’s down an unknown side street and looks like a local restaurant - there are 2 spaces crammed with tables. Make reservations (even the night before) otherwise, it is a very long wait hours. All the food is fresh – fresh bread, fresh homemade pasta… Probably our favorite dish is the clam souté – while listed under soups, this is a meal. The clams are outstanding and not sandy, the sauce is so good that you’ll all be fighting over the toasted bread to soak it up the sauce. Not one clam will be left. The caprese is a light fresh start – fresh mozzarella and basil paired with ripe tomatoes. We love the tagliolini scoglio and tagliatelle mushroom tris italian sausage and truffle – both are superb – cooked to perfection and in flavorful sauces. The salmon is lovely. Pizza is very good. Excellent wine. Service was impeccable. We knew we’d never find another restaurant as good so we reserved the next night. On our second night we made 2 big mistakes – over-ordering and not realizing that a lot of the other pastas are in very heavy (cream) sauces so we were totally unable to finish our food but we still enjoyed it immensely. We started with the caprese with burrata, clam souté and seafood soup. Clam souté was as great as the night before. The seafood soup is very good but the clam souté is better. The eggplant parmesan and lasagna are great but heavy dishes. The shrimp tagliatelle and strozzapreti chorizo are very good but in rich heavy cream sauces. The pulpo octopus a la plancha is outstanding. Save room for the chocolate volcano dessert. Our only compliant is the slightly overpriced water. After a full day of activities, we were particularly thirsty and ordered a lot of bottles because the biggest bottle they have Is 750ml. Six bottles at 105 pesos or $7 a bottle really adds up. In summary, make a reservation (can be done online), do not over-order as tempting as it, relax and enjoy the unbelievable food and friendly service. You won’t want to wait until...

One of my friends recently purchased a home in Playa del Carmen. After a lovely stay at Joia Paraíso, we extended our stay to hang with them at their condo & had dinner at Romeo.

Romeo is a long-standing, family-owned eatery serving salads, pizzas & pastas in downtown Playa del Carmen. The eatery is on the south end of downtown Playa del Carmen on 4th St. between 10th & 15th Avenues. The restaurant with the palapa roof is a close walk to Quinta Avenida, a pedestrian-only street lined with restaurants, cafes, stores, a mall, boutique hotels, cultural experiences, & clubs.

Patrons are encouraged to call ahead to make reservations, especially if you are ordering risotto for dinner, as the restaurant fills up for dinner (preparation is forty-five minutes).

There is a surprisingly decent amount of seating, given the crowded street it is situated on. The eatery is warm & cozy, and there are indoor & covered seating options (note: the seating is real tight). The customer service is excellent, & the staff is conversant in English.

We ordered: Tagliolini with Lobster Seafood Pasta Seafood Soup Contadina Salad Pepperoni Pizza

We did not have a bad bite at Romeo’s. I wanted to bottle up the spicy & rosemary-infused olive oils that came with the bread service. The tasty Contadina Salad (pears, Brie cheese) was lightly dressed and well-balanced, with sweet, peppery, crunchy, & savory notes. I am normally not a huge fan of seafood soup, but the broth was delicious & well developed. Both pasta sauces were amazing, & I found myself going back and forth between my (red pasta sauce) & my friend’s (creamy white sauce). Romeo’s is also generous with the amount of creamy lobster that comes with the pasta. My friend’s grandson ate with us, & he said the food was better than McDonald’s, high praise for a...

Looking for Italian food in Mexico might sound a little unusual, but honestly, it has been a pleasant surprise — and Romeo was no exception. I’ve tried a few Italian spots in the area, and I’ve consistently found that the oven-baked dishes are truly delicious. Romeo stood out not only for its food but also for the overall experience.

From the moment we arrived, the service was warm, friendly, and attentive. The staff made sure we felt welcome and were quick to take care of our orders. The food came out promptly, which was great considering how busy the place was.

We ordered a few pizzas, and each one was excellent. The mushroom pizza had a perfect balance of flavors — earthy mushrooms, fresh ingredients, and a light yet flavorful sauce that didn’t overpower the toppings. The sausage with prosciutto pizza was equally impressive, with the sausage adding just the right amount of spice and richness. The crust on both was outstanding — crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, and baked to perfection in their oven.

One helpful tip: if you’re staying in the area, it’s best to walk over. Parking can be a bit of a challenge due to limited spaces nearby. Also, while they have outdoor seating, I recommend sitting inside where you can enjoy the air conditioning and a more comfortable, relaxed atmosphere — especially on hot days.

Overall, Romeo offers a wonderful blend of great food, excellent service, and a cozy atmosphere. It’s a spot I’d definitely return to and recommend to anyone looking for quality Italian food...