Romano's Macaroni Grill — Restaurant in Irvine

No improvement after more than 8 years. I dined here over 8 years ago and it wasn't any good so, I haven't been back since. But, I wanted to give them another chance so, I tried it again.

Our server was great so, it's not her fault. First problem: we were served the bread but we did not have any place settings. No napkins, no forks, no knives. After requesting it several times, out server told is that she had to go too roll the silverware in there napkins. Another server ended up bringing the place settings to the table BUT, the napkins and silverware were just placed on the table. Nothing was rolled together or presented nicely. It was placed on the table the way someone would take silverware out of a drawer all together. The napkins were as if you took them out of a dryer and didn't fold them.

Second issue: I order the unlimited soup. The first order of soup came out with a Small spoon, a teaspoon, not a soup spoon. When I asked about a soup spoon, the server said that they ran out and that she would get one for the next bowl of soup. Interesting how a large restaurant can run out of silverware.

Third issue: I ordered the chicken parmesan and my daughter order the Trio which also included chicken parmesan. My daughter said that hers had an interesting taste so I tried hers and she tried mine. They Definitely tasted different. Hers was crunchy while mine was the correct texture. The server did get her another piece which she tried and the new piece tasted correct.

Fourth issue:. The second soup I ordered was the Tomato Bisque. It was HORRIBLE! Bisque is supposed to have some viscosity while this soup was like water and lacked flavor.

So, how does a restaurant that has been in business for so many years not be able to have utensils ready? How does a restaurant that had been in business for so many years not be able to serve consistent food (chicken parmesan)? How does a restaurant that has been in business for so many years run out of utensils? How does a ITALIAN restaurant that has been in business for so many years not know how to make Tomato Bisque soup correctly,?

The sad thing is that the manger came out and brought the corrected chicken parmesan but never offered to takes that item off the bill.

So my assessment of why this restaurant had all of these issues is primarily due to extremely poor management. These issues should NEVER happen in any restaurant, let alone one that has been in business for many years!

Definitely will NEVER go back here again. I should have trusted my first experience but I generally try to give places a...

Been a while since going out and eating in a Table service restaurant, but here we go...

Wanting great Italian food, so stopped at this Romano's Macaroni Grill in Tustin this past weekend, sadly the more local RMG at Bella Terra in Huntington Beach closed early on during Covid.

I arrived at the Tustin - Romano's Macaroni Grill after 8 pm with no reservations. There was some seating outside, that was partially filled and internal seating was hardly being used. I was told a 30 min wait and waited the full 30 min. Meanwhile, both during and after seating the dining room was filled. Not sure why I had to wait, maybe server shortage, when there were plenty of spaced tables that were being freshly covered in Paper with each new diner.

The menu is accessed through QR code, paper covered tables, and masked staff complete Covid safety preparations. After being seated it took a while for someone to ask us for our Drinks and appetizers, by the Hostess/Manager. The server in that area seemed very tired and she was socially distancing(?) I guess (social distancing=slow, no table check, and having to wave down server).

We ordered Caprese Salad and Stuffed Mushrooms for App. They were great! The Mushrooms had goat cheese in the stuffing with a lightly toasted crunch and a complimenting flavorful sauce. Only bad thing about the appetizers were they are relatively small; good for 2 people, but inadequate if 3 or more.

Next was Bleu Bib Salad, a Tomato soup and Lobster Soup. Salad was great, very flavorful with salty Bleu cheese, a bit short on pickled onions, but still worthwhile. We asked for extra pickled onions for salad, but they were out. Tomato soup was hearty, very fresh and enjoyable. The lobster bisque was very buttery and fresh, not too much salt (over-salting is a common issue with most Lobster Bisque) and felt like a hug from the inside!

Than we had a Butternut squash Tortellini, with a glaze balsamic vinaigrette. For this dish, I asked for a side of Roasted Garlic sauce. Well the dish is great on its own with semi-soft butternut, caramelized onions, and perfect pasta, adding or dipping into the Roasted Garlic makes it more complex, more rich and pumps up the flavor.

Highly recommend, only failings were in service (the manager did try), the food itself was a great way for a first night out in months at a...

Horrible experience.

main reason I will never return - we heard our waitress say "we are behind - someone just got sick in the kitchen". regardless if she meant someone didn't come to work and they are short staffed OR if in fact an employee was sick while at work. I was uncomfortable thinking someone sick was touching my food....

We stopped in on our way home on Sunday - We were stuck in a back corner jammed between other diners - like they put all their guests in one corner. I asked to be seated in the more open section on the other side and was told this was the servers section. So I didn't argue and took my seat. Our server greeted us by saying hi (nothing else - just "hi") and then promptly walked away to our neighbor table to ask if they needed refills. Took care of that came back and re-greeted us again, did the thing where she writes her name on the paper tablecloth - almost like she forgot she was mid greeting when she walked away minutes before.

Calamari was probably the only flavorful item we got. My partner and I shared a dish and the kitchen was kind enough to split it onto two plates for us - which was in fact lovely as we didn't ask for this. so that was nice.

but the Trio is gross. I didn't eat it and the waitress kept asking if I wanted to take it home. I said no each time but didn't explain to her my reasonings. Which I think she waited for. I hate complaining about food to the waitress/waiter - they didn't cook it. it's not their fault it was gross. Amongst a lot of issues with the experience - I so badly wanted to say something quietly to a manager about the experience but my boyfriend asked that I don't.

it's been a long time since I waited tables -I get it, its a tough job and sometimes thankless - but the experience was unpleasant and left me bothered. Unless I filmed the whole experience a reader would never understand the unsaid parts that I have left out of the dining experience. I do not recommend this place. Quality has...