Roma D' Italia — Restaurant in Tustin

Roma D’Italia is a delightful Italian gem tucked away in old Tustin, offering a warm and nostalgic dining experience. The restaurant’s ancient charm and old-style décor create a cozy, inviting atmosphere that feels both authentic and timeless.

From the moment you sit down, you’re treated to fresh, hot homemade bread served with butter—an appetizer that sets the stage for the hearty Italian feast ahead. The menu is generous, featuring a wide variety of pastas, pizzas, lasagnas, and desserts, along with coffee and tea to complete the meal. Among the many delicious options, the spinach lasagna stands out as a true favorite—comforting, flavorful, and crafted with care. The homemade sauces paired with pizzas and pastas add a special touch that makes the dishes uniquely memorable.

The service at Roma D’Italia enhances the experience even further. The staff are genuinely friendly, greeting guests with warm smiles both at the entrance and upon leaving. Throughout the meal, they remain attentive, ensuring you feel well taken care of without ever being intrusive.

For larger groups, it’s worth noting that parties of eight or more will have a 20% gratuity automatically included, and only a single check is provided. This policy aside, the restaurant remains a wonderful destination for both intimate dinners and group gatherings.

Overall, Roma D’Italia combines authentic Italian flavors, warm hospitality, and a charming old-world ambiance, making it a must-visit for anyone looking to enjoy a satisfying and memorable dining...

Update 5/12/24 - 2 stars Portions were small and pasta was not drained well on our to-go order which we waited 1 hour for. So much water in the sauce made for a disappointing meal. The pizza was fine as was the chicken Marsala but the side of pasta that came with it was also watery on that dish. Disappointing Mother’s Day meal for this momma.

4 stars - Packed at 5:30 on a weds night. Ambiance was pretty loud, there were several large parties and I could barely hear the waiter.

Service was prompt and friendly. Our server checked back often enough to be helpful but never intrusive.

Large Pepperoni pizza was enough for one hungry adult plus several leftover slices. Rigatoni bolognese w added meatballs was incredible. The sauce was rich and dark with mushrooms and meat. The meatballs were perfectly tender and melt in your mouth. Pasta was cooked al dente and was properly drained as to not water down the sauce.

Meals served with bread and butter. Wished they’d have brought oil/balsamic and they probably would have had I asked. Drinks are a bit steep at $3.25 for iced tea but that’s inflation for ya.

Parking can be tricky. There are a few spaces in front and about a dozen and a half around the side/back. If you’re coming at peak times you’ll have to street park and walk. Not horrible but plan your shoes accordingly, ladies.

We don’t visit all that often but after tonight that might change. I forgot how delicious their food was. A good one to check out for real home style...

Service - fine Food - meh

When we arrived on a Wednesday night at 5pm, there was not a big crowd as expected for the early time and service was fine based on the size. I ordered the Tortellini Gustavo and was quite disappointed on a couple of things.

1. Most of the tortellini was super soft and a number of had already fallen apart while cooking and became floppy strands of pasta. I don't expect pasta at a restaurant to always be al dente, but this was wayyyy too overcooked.

2. It was absolutely swimming in sauce. For size of the bowl they gave me, the sauce was actually almost overflowing on one end. This most likely added to the issues mentioned in #1, cooking the pasta even further even after it was taken out of the pot.

3. Not as much of issue because I was able to resolve this at the table, but it was super bland so I had to throw on a bit of salt & pepper as there was no seasoning added in the kitchen at all.

As for the rest of my family, my parents both ordered cups of soup (minestrone and chicken soup) and they seemed to favor scooping up a 3:1 ratio of soup contents as opposed to the actual soup. There was a mountain of broccoli, celery, etc. over the cup and very little liquid soup...