Trattoria Romana Lincoln — Restaurant in Lincoln

Alright foodies, gather 'round and let me spin you a yarn about my recent pilgrimage to the hallowed halls of Trattoria Romana! Prepare yourselves for a tale of culinary triumphs, a minor salad skirmish, and service so charming it could melt a block of Parmesan.

First off, let's talk about the main event – the entrees. Oh. My. Goodness. My own tomahawk porkchop arrived looking like a prehistoric club fit for a very discerning caveman. And the taste? Grilled to utter perfection. Seriously, each bite was a juicy, smoky symphony that had me doing a little happy dance in my seat. My son, a discerning young carnivore, declared his contrafilletto di manzo cooked precisely to his desired temp – a victory in any parent's book! My lovely wife opted for the short rib ravioli, which she thoroughly enjoyed. Now, just a little chef's note (because we're all friends here, right?): perhaps a more elegant presentation, maybe elevating those delectable little pockets of goodness, or a swap to a vibrant sage butter sauce instead of the gravy could really take this dish to the next level. Just a thought!

Now, let's address the elephant in the room, or rather, the extra-flavorful romaine in the bowl. My Caesar salad arrived with a dressing that was, shall we say, having a very enthusiastic day. It was a tad heavy-handed, a bold statement that didn't quite land for me this time. However, this is where the magic of Trattoria Romana truly shines. Our incredible waitstaff, the dynamic duo of Andres and Laura, were absolute champions. They swooped in with genuine apologies, handled the situation with grace and humor, and promptly removed the rogue salad from our bill. Honestly, their attentiveness was top-notch – they were there when you needed them, without being intrusive. A true masterclass in service!

And speaking of familiar faces, it's always a delight to see other fantastic waitstaff we know stopping by to say hello. A special shoutout to Brendan for the friendly wave – it really adds to the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the place. It feels like you're dining amongst friends, which is always a huge plus.

Fear not, dear readers, for the story doesn't end with a slightly over-dressed salad. Oh no! The sweet finale was nothing short of spectacular. The creme brûlée was the epitome of creamy custard meeting crackly caramelized sugar – pure bliss. And the lemon cake? A zesty, light, and utterly delightful way to cleanse the palate. Both were fantastic and left us with sweet memories.

The Verdict: Trattoria Romana remains a firm favorite in our book. The exceptional service from Andres and Laura (and the friendly faces like Brendan!) truly elevates the dining experience. The entrees were outstanding, particularly that magnificent tomahawk porkchop. While the Caesar salad had a momentary flavor frenzy, the swift and gracious handling of the situation speaks volumes about their commitment to customer satisfaction. And those desserts? Chef's kiss! Go, indulge, and prepare for a delightful Italian adventure. Just maybe mention your preferred dressing level when ordering...

What can you say about Trattoria Romana that hasn't been said before? As soon as you walk into the restaurant, you feel like you're in an old world Italian library- minus the books. The dark woods and rich coloring inside the restaurant and bar are perfectly in accordance with the scene. The long bar to the right is cozy but yet inviting. Directly to the back of the restaurant is the kitchen- and that's when it hits you. The smells from the kitchen are unmistakable, garlic, olive oil, meat being seared on a frying pan. As you make it to your table, which could be in the atrium room behind the wall of the main dining room, or behind the bar, you're never more than 4-5 feet from the action. Your server will take your orders with ease, while the bus boys come and bring offerings of water, bread and the always delightful olive oil dish. I like to mix my plate with some olive oil, balsamic(which is already in the mixture), grated cheese and some pepperoncini. The menu has a plethora of distant tastes that'll satisfy the most pickiest of eaters. A special appetizer that night was the caprese salad with burrata on top. The burrata melts in your mouth before you even know what happens. As for the entrees-a few veal Parmigiano, a veal with eggplant, a Margherita pizza, a cioppino, some veal marsala and finally, the veal francese. If you like capers, a light buttery, creamy lightly pan seared veal, then come to Trattoria Romana. One thing to note is I wish they offered affogato as a dessert, but alas they don't. I mean this will never stop me from eating at this establishment- because all of Luciano's restaurants are first...

GO TO OLIVE GARDEN IN ATTLEBORO FOR A GREAT TIME* I had a special day planned and called a few weeks in advance to ensure I had a table outside (not by the door) so we could enjoy the late Fall outside with the fire pits. On the day of event I called to confirm and told I was "all set". When we showed up we were put at the outside table and sat for 10 minutes while the server told me they were going to find out why the fire pit was not on; after 10 minutes and it was kind of chilly we were told the fire pit did not work. I asked if we could sit at another outside table at the other end. She placed us at the table right next to the door and I said I did not next to the door. There was another table further down with the fire pit on but that table was not cleaned (food and dishes left from previous customers). I was told that would not be possible (all they had to do was get someone to clean it which would have been about 5 minutes). They must of decided that our customership was not worth someone cleaning up a table. *CAVEAT: THIS PLACE IS ALL HYPE - DO YOURSELVES A FAVOR AND SKIP THIS JOINT. FYI - WE WENT TO OLIVE GARDEN IN ATTLEBORO AND HAD A GREAT TIME - WE CALLED AHEAD AND WERE SEATING PROMPTLY - WE REALLY ENJOYED OURSELVES AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT I HAVE NEVER, NEVER, NEVER BEEN DISSAPOINTED AT OLIVE GARDEN - THEY HAVE A GREAT SELECTION OF WINES AND THE FOOD AND SERVICE, EACH TIME, IS GREAT!

• FIVE STARS TO OLIVE GARDEN 0 STARS TO TRATTORIA ROMANA LINCOLN AND JUST SO YOU KNOW THE PRICES AT TRATTORIA ARE 3 TIMES THE PRICES AT OLIVE GARDEN - TRATTORIA IS TOTALLY...