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Roman Village
Categories: Restaurants Italian Restaurants Pizza Italian, Pizza [Edit]
9924 Dix AveDearborn, MI 48120
(313) 842-2100
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 10:30 am - 10 pm
Fri 10:30 am - 11 pm
Sat 4 pm - 11 pm
Sun 1 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Jessica M. said: "I love Italian food! My boyfriend also loves Italian food, but is not as crazy about all the bread and pasta that usually comes with it, plus it is a little bit expensive (though worth it), so we do not come here as often as I might…" read more »
50 reviews for Roman Village
Review Highlights
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"pizza is great, pasta is awesome." In 17 reviews -
"...down THE BEST LASAGNA I've had anywhere in the Detroit-area." In 8 reviews -
"Food= over the top, honest to goodness, killer italian." In 3 reviews
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50 reviews in English
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Review from Kari C.
Ecorse, MI
5/8/2012
This past weekend my husband and I decided to drive around Metro Detroit because it was such a beautiful day. By the time we were headed home, it was already close to dinner time so we decided to try and find somewhere to eat.
It just so happened we were driving past Roman Village when my husband (who also works nearby) told me that he always sees their parking lot full and asked if I wanted to give it a try. So I said why not.
I'm so glad we did because we just found our new favorite Italian restaurant!
Upon entering the restaurant, I was not overly impressed as the interior design is a bit outdated, however we were immediately seated at a comfortable booth and greeted by a young man who filled our glasses with water. A few moments later we were greeted by our waitress who gave us menus and took our drink orders.
Looking over their menu we were impressed. They have a large selection of Italian foods to choose from, but it's not so overwhelming that it would leave you confused. Their prices are pretty reasonable too, with most meals averaging between $10 and $15.
After a few minutes of checking out the menu, my husband decided on the chicken parmesan and I chose the eggplant parmesan. Each meal came with either soup or salad. My husband chose the minestrone soup and I chose a salad with their house dressing.
While we were waiting for our soup and salad, we were brought a complimentary plate of fresh baked (literally piping hot) garlic bread. And we're not talking about little pieces of garlic bread, they were big! The smell alone was enough to make my mouth water! The taste was even better! My husband and I were practically salivating over this bread!
When our soup and salad arrived, my husband's soup was hot and fresh and you could tell it was homemade. I tasted it and it was the best minestrone soup I've ever had! (Needless to say on our next trip I will be ordering soup!) My salad was also tasty, however I wasn't that fond of their house dressing as it seemed to have too much oregano in it for my liking.
When we received our meals, I was very impressed with the portion sizes and the taste was out-of-this-world good! I've had eggplant parmesan at other places, but the eggplant parmesan at Roman Village completely blew the others away! My husband thought the same of his chicken parmesan.
Our meals also came with a side of spaghetti with meat sauce. We didn't think we would have room to eat that, but we tried it and absolutely loved it! I had even mentioned to my husband that I thought the pasta was homemade. You could really tell the difference! Sure enough, as we were leaving there was a booth near the front door that you could see into. There was a woman in there making homemade pasta!
Overall, our meal was spectacular and we did not go away hungry! As a matter of fact, we went away stuffed and quite impressed with Roman Village. Since then we've told everyone we know about Roman Village and we will definitely be making frequent trips to this restaurant! If you're in the area, we would highly recommend you stopping to eat! -
Review from Mohan K.
Dearborn, MI
3/12/2012
This place is amazing. I've never had a bad thing here, and I've been about a dozen times.
First off, he ambiance is really nice. Kind of rustic, honest, and definitely not chain style Italian decorations. The staff is super friendly too. It's a great place for families, kids, and even a romantic dinner for 2.
I seriously know people who go just for the free bread. Its some kind of seasoned dense buttery Italian bread, and it's ridiculously addictive. They happily bring it all night, which is a great change from places that are stingy with the bread.
All the food is great. Gnocchi, sandwiches, pasta...and especially the pizza. We always get a Shareable Greek salad to start, too. Delicious!
A true gem tucked away in Dearborn...not to be missed. -
Review from Angela R.
Portage, MI
1/8/2012
Based on past reviews we had fairly high expectations and was very disappointed. We were in the area for the night (canton) and looking for a nice dinner, so as we often do, we consulted yelp. We were willing to drive a bit as we were in no hurry so based purely on reviews we took the jaunt to Dearborn. For a Sunday night there was a reasonable crowd, no wait but oddly we were seated in the bar (we were not asked if that was ok either) where the Denver Steelers playoff game was on. There were only a few patrons in the bar and half the staff bringing the noise level way up! We had a nice waitress who was attentive but didn't notice that the first beer we ordered wasn't drank due to the fact it was flat. Throughout our dinner the various staff would rush past our table to check the game and make loudish comments that would be just fine in a sports bar, since we had driven past many sports bars on our way to this place, this WAS NOT what we were looking for. Even the lady that appeared to be a manager didn't seem to see this as a problem!
In all fairness our food was good, the bread was good and the complimentary canoli was tasty. But we felt cheated. Too bad the ambiance due to the staff couldn't live up to the write ups. Please check the sports calendar prior to visiting this restaurant. You'll be better off. -
Review from Rebecca S.
Trenton, MI
5/16/2012
My family and I have been eating here for years. They definitely have the best pasta in the area. Bread is always warm and delicious. Haven't found anything that I don't like.
Pasta Rita and the Carbonara (sp?) are our go-to meals. The cannoli's at the end are always a wonderful treat, especially since they have mini ones so you don't have to get a huge order to try one. -
Review from Stormy D.
Chicago, IL
5/11/2012
A hidden gem. Glad it's still thriving. Just less one star for the difficulty in trying to find it.
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Review from Kristin G.
Royal Oak, MI
12/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Three words sum up my overall feeling of Roman Village:
Family. Tradition. DELICIOUS.
In that order. Family is at the root of places like this. You don't get food that has this much flavor perfection without years of tradition & a passion for food. AND...unless you're seriously doing it wrong, you don't get Family & Tradition without delicious results and the results at Roman Village are just that. Taste like this comes from years of perfecting and reworking family recipes...but not overworking. Roman Village knows a good thing when they have it and that pride shines through in their cuisine all the more for it.
The bread was this amazing slightly flat yet fluffy yet dense buttery yet garlicy yet salty basket of delicious flavors. The bread sticks got me excited knowing that this is only a taste of what's to come. The minestrone soup tasted as though the Italian Grandma I never had spooned it out of a ladel fresh just for me. The flavor was oh so fresh, yet simple in the most pleasant way soup can be simple...not too "done up" it's secure in it's ingredients & flavor. No extra finesse was needed to make it delicious. Whoever came up with this delicate version of minestrone is someone who is no nonsense & truly knows his/her stuff. It wasn't much to look at, they wouldn't win any awards for presentation at Roman Village. But I'd like to meet the person who complains about something like that after trying food like this.
The star of the show: the Sinatra of Lasagna. Their Lasagna is something, my friends, that dreams are made of. It charmed me. It is something I can't quite put into words but all I can tell you is that you HAVE to try it. Don't waste your first meal here on anything else. The flavors were so well rounded and so bright and delicious without being overly heavy or greasy...this Lasagna is unforgettable. It uh...might have flown me to the moon. Haha...in all seriousness. Get it.
Dessert? Oh the Canoli's looked oh so delicious cruising by on a server's tray but, alas I had no room in my happy Lasagna filled belly for anything more. Next time. And there WILL be a next time! Oh and our leftovers were even better the next day. I was literally inspecting my lasagna trying to figure out what made it SO good. Haha. Oh to be a fly on the wall in that kitchen! ;) -
Review from Ruben L.
12/29/2011
Rock on Roman Village:
Generally speaking, I'm not a huge fan of Italian food. Not because I dislike it, but I cannot discern good from great. No issues with that here.
AMBIANCE- the place is dimly lit and rather cozy. As you walk in, you can see the number of famous people who have dined here. From Il Volo to Bill Clinton, this place has seen its share of celebrities. And don't let the outside of this place fool you- this place can pack em in no doubt. Needless to say parking can be a real pain.
SERVICE- service here has generally been very good, especially given how busy this place typically is. Seriously, I went here at 2pm for lunch, and there was still a wait to get a table. Probably tells you more about how good this place is as opposed to the type of service you get. Only hiccup I really had- I got a lunch special once, and asked for a caesar salad instead of a house salad, and the server neglected to tell me there would be a $4 substitution fee (my meal was $6 without the salad).
MENU- pasta abounds. They make their pasta fresh daily, and you can actually see where they make it when you walk in. Wed. they have 1/2 off pizza (dine in only) and I think Tuesdays are 1/2 off pasta (dine in only as well). The selection is pretty nice from you standard pastas and sauces (alfredos, pestos, carbonara) to lasagna and manicotti. It's pretty hard to choose anything that isn't delcious.
FOOD- portions are generous, and if they aren't enough, they serve an awesome bread that makes Olive Garden seem like they are serving wonder bread. I have had their house special pasta (I forget the name, something with a woman's name I believe) and it rocked my world. Hell, every pasta dish I have had here has rocked my world. My co-workers seem more than content with their lasagna, and their desserts are pretty rocking as well.
OVERALL- Rare is it for me to recommend Italian, but this would be one of the few. Not really close to anything, you're pretty much making a trip to go out here, and it is worth it. Just set some time aside for it.
CELEBRITY RATING- IL VOLO (for real, they were there for dinner back in Nov. when they had a concert in the D) -
Review from Darrell T.
Smiths Creek, MI
3/20/2012
My coworker gets this for us from time to time. They have the best calzones and salads EVER!! Their breadsticks are AMAZING!!
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Review from Hymae W.
9/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Had the fettuccine con pollo and it was very good. The serving size was so big that i couldn't come close to finishing it. Also came with a salad and really good bread. They brought me the wrong salad but I honestly didn't care.
Only thing negative about this place is that they are slightly on the expensive side. -
Review from Bob N.
7/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
Oooooo the meatballs mmmmmmmm. I could end this review right here and be happy, but I have to tell you. GET THE MEATBALLS!!!! After seeing patrons leave this super duper hidden gem, (down the road from the Marathon refinery next to a mosque, hey it used to be a Italian neighborhood) with trays of meatballs I just had to try em. I ordered the spaghetti with said meatballs and wowey wow they were melt in your mouth and jam packed with flavor. The spag. was just as good with meatsauce and wonderful bread.
I sampled the better halfs gnocchi with sauce and it was just a pillow on my tongue.
Service was attentive and informative.
Find this gem and dig in. -
Review from kristina a.
Wyandotte, MI
1/31/2012
Tried this out for the first time on Sunday with a group of 6.......around 3:00... to start with, I'm a fresh bread nut....and their's is great....the waitress brought out several baskets, right out of the oven......I could have overloaded on that alone. I ended up having the pasta fagiole soup, which was very hearty. Our group had a steak mama calzone (so big they bring it on a pizza tray) $10 (we got two meals out of it), shrimp fettucine, a baby calzone (2 were pleasantly full), crab stuffed shrimp.....stuffed with REAL CRAB.......pizza - which was fantastic.......we're going back..... bonus - I DIDN'T HAVE TO ASK FOR WATER....lol....keep up the good work!
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Review from Jessica S.
Detroit, MI
8/4/2011
Hands down THE BEST LASAGNA I've had anywhere in the Detroit-area. Seriously, try it! You will not be disappointed! Other highlights include the bread (obviously!), calamari fritti, the stuffed shrimp, the Pasta Shrimp Amore', the Broiled Salmon and the Spaghetti Carbonara "Alla Bocelli." Oh my gosh, so good! Writing this review is actually making me hungry....
The soups have never really done much for me. The Chicken Pastina seemed pretty bland flavor-wise, and I'm not the biggest Minestrone fan, generally. Otherwise, I love Roman Vilage! Extra points for providing a delivery service for those nights when you get home from work and don't want to cook, or get back into the car to pick something up. Delizioso! -
Review from Brianna R.
Sterling Heights, MI
10/20/2011
There are so many Italian restaurants to choose from in metro Detroit, all at a variety of qualities and prices. Roman Village really stands out, because the food tastes great and the prices are reasonable. They also have a surprising variety of traditional Italian foods - not many restaurants have stuffed shells!
The pasta e fagioli is delicious, as well as the bread. I like how they give you the dipping ingredients separately so you can have as much or as little as you want. The gnocchi rita is great. The leftovers heat up nicely the next day, which is good because I'm so full on soup and bread I can never finish! -
Review from Paul L.
11/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's true - "Yelping is helping". My discovery of this restaurant, and the resulting review, are courtesy of fellow Yelpers in an unfamiliar city. I found myself in Detroit (when was the last time I was in Detroit?), or more accurately, Dearborn, without a clue as to where I should stuff my face after working late. http://Yelp.com to the rescue, natch. Sorting it by rating gave me a whole bunch of ethnic restaurants, for which I wasn't in the mood, but it soon took me to Roman Village resplendent in its prevailing 5-star ratings and glowing reviews. But what sealed the deal was the mere mention of one word in their menu, as I set voice to the object of my desire:
"PANCETTA!"
Soon I was panting like that cartoon dog in the "Beggin' Bits' commercial, except with an Italian accent. The intervening hours when I had to work were a torture, interrupted frequently by having to wipe drool off my face, as strangers gave me strange looks. Finally, work was done, and I drove to the place that could scratch my itch.
My gastronomic promise land for this evening was found just off the darkness on the edge of town (sorry, Mr Springsteen)! But I didn't feel unsafe, as the lot is brightly lit. I was greeted warmly upon entering, well after 9 p.m,, when a lesser staff would have frowned upon a lone late customer so close to the 10 p.m. closing time. There were only a couple of stragglers left when I was seated, and I soon had the dining room all to myself. The place is pretty big, with a couple or three different dining rooms. Look past the borderline cheesy decor with its fake plants and naugahyde benches, and it's not an unpleasant decor, with a rather homey feel to it. The music of choice helped the cause: the eclectic mix of nostalgic pop, Italian tunes, and some great classic jazz tunes lent warmth and authenticity.
My waitress Sarah gave me prompt and courteous service. The problem was with me - how do I decide? The Baccala (cod in zesty tomato sauce) looked really inviting, especially at $12.95. I was also tempted by the osso bucco on polenta ($18.95), stuffed shrimp ($14.95), veal chop ($23.95) - you really want one of each. I was really bemoaning the fact that I was not dining with a huge family, all the better to sample more dishes. Eventually, I had to heed the siren call of the pancetta, and settled on Mostaccioli with Rita sauce $12.50. Since a reviewer or two were raving about the meatballs, I added a side ($2.50).
Dinner came with soup or salad; I chose a bowl of minestrone, which I quickly devoured, spurred by a basket of hot bread being brought. The bread is like a cross between a bread stick and a roll, quite salty on the outside, but delicious. The Mostaccioli they call "stove pipe" pasta, but it's really just a super-sized elbow macaroni. The salty pancetta added a dimention to the Rita sauce. This sauce is named after the matriarch; it is a blend of marinara and al fredo. You could call it a vodka sauce, but richer. (On a side note, I've never understood the allure of vodka sauce - why would you add perfectly good vodka to a sauce, have all the alcohol evaporate, and really add nothing to the sauce, seeing how vodka is supposed to be odorless and tasteless?)
The meatballs are like a couple of golf balls on steroids, and good, but not as out-of-this-world as a reviewer had suggested. Didn't help that the sauce was just slathered on top of them, and they weren't quite hot. When I mentioned that the temperature was a little off, the manager gladly took the remaining uneaten one back, and doubled it up with another, this time piping hot. It might have been on account of my mentioning that I'm a yelper, or maybe it's just standard good service. I hope it's the latter, as I don't really believe yelpers should get any special treatment. In any case, there was no way I was going to pack away another meatball. Hate wasting food, though.
I also had a half carafe of chianti at $10.95 that was eminently drinkable. All in all, while this was not the Everest of culinary accomplishments, it deserves 5 stars. Here's a high-quality family-owned restaurant that offers good variety and a price that can't be beat. A good, good meal and wine for $26? Where are you going to find that. I'd come back in a heartbeat if I lived any where near Detroit.
There you are, Sarah. I told you this wasn't going to be a bad review, didn't I? -
Review from Lynn H.
Roman Village is -- almost literally -- in the middle of nowhere. It is on a bare patch right where Vernor Highway crosses Dix, stuck between Mexican Town and the east side of Dearborn.
We just happened across it on a meander out of Detroit after visiting Eastern Market, and boy am I glad we did! We were really surprised at how crowded it was before 5pm on a Saturday afternoon. But then we tasted their food. Roman Village makes from-scratch food like mama used to (if mama happened to be a gourmet cook).
The bread is served still steaming from the oven - wonderfully fresh and springy. The pasta e fagioli is thick and beany. And the polenta with Italian sausage, absolutely authentic tasting with house-made sausage.
Hubby and bro's-in-law had pizza, which they all agreed was good.
Oh! And the service was wonderful. Our waiter made Speedy Gonzales look like Regular Gonzales.
Try it, you'll like it!Listed in: My Favorite Places to Eat in…
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Review from Crystal R.
Belleville, MI
6/29/2011
They are part of the Antonio's family. My best experiences as far as consistent service are from here, though.
Bread is amazing, but I'm sure everyone said that already :)
Chicken Antonio is one of their signature dishes, and one of my absolute favorites. My fiance has liked every dish he has tried, but I always get the same thing now! -
Review from Matt S.
Dearborn Heights, MI
6/12/2011
My wife and I decided to give Roman Village a try given all of the positive reviews. It was a rare night out without the kids, so we had high expectations.
As others have said, Roman Village is in the middle of nowhere. The area around it is all industrial. Not a scenic drive by any means, but a fun drive every now and then.
The bread was very good, some of the better bread I have had. It was very fresh, and went well with the olive oil. The salad with the house dressing was also quite good.
My wife ordered the Linguine Arrabbiata, and I'd have to say, we would not order it again. It was a little bland, but not awful.
My food, however, was delicious. I ordered the Mostaccioli Casseruola with italian sausage, and we took home no leftovers. I would without a doubt order it again.
For dessert we shared a cannoli. It was not very good compared to other cannoli's we have had. We would not order it again.
Overall we had a very good dining experience with great service. We will definitely be going back to try some of the other food on the menu. -
Review from Ron C.
4/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
only 4 Stars due to the aloof waiter 'EMO' he stood 2-3 feet away from the table & would not look or speak directly to my wife?!?
C+ for him
Food & Bread A+
Soup
Flavor A
Temperature C-
[ I didn't send it back, because EMO was nowhere to be found ]
I was willing to 'try ' the polenta , but the waiter highly recommended against it
SO I ordered Lasagna
My Lasagna was truly fabulous and served very HOT
A+
My wife ordered the Chicken Marsala which I sampled and it was truly, without question the 'VERY BEST' Chicken & Marsala sauce I have ever had
A++
The Bread Oh The Bread !!!
Both baskets were excellent ,plus the brand of EVO they use is flavorful
A++ -
Review from Adam N.
Brownstown Charter Township, MI
12/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great food and great service. One of the few places to get real authentic Italian food in the Metro Detroit area. Best lasagna I've ever had!
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Review from Steve L.
Southgate, MI
5/18/2011
I live about 4 miles away and never knew this place existed until
I read a review here on Yelp! The reviews were accurate, the
service was good and the food was great. We will be going
Back soon to try other dishes ! Much better than the chain
restaurants. -
Review from david k.
Lincoln Park, MI
12/1/2010 7 Check-ins Here
I tried Roman Village after all the positive reviews here.
I agree with Chiwei "amazing light pillows of love" is an accurate description of the gnocchi. The pasta e fagiol was great too.
here is the kicker, Tuesdays are 1/2 off. I spent less then 8 dollars and brought enough food home for a second meal.
Thanks for the referral -
Review from Ryan L.
4/12/2010
I'm always on the prowl for good Italian food. I don't know why, but I've been able to find good Italian food in Detroitopolis. There are a lot of Italian restaurants but I find most of them to be lacking. Also, it seems like Italian restaurants may be dying as Italians have stopped immigrating into to the US in scores as in the 19th and 20th Centuries. The 21st Century may have ushered in a brave new age of information, but Italian food is slowly morphing into tasteless, high-priced chains.
Now that my diatribe is over, I will state that Roman Village is the best Italian I've had in Detroit so far. It's located in an area of Dearborn that seems quite strange now. When it opened in the 60s, this was probably prime real estate. Now, it's located near strip clubs, dive bars and giant oil refineries. The exterior is unassuming, but once you decide to be brave and walk through the doors, you'll be ushered into a clean, simple restaurant. Sure it looks like it was last decorated in '91, but it's still in good shape and you've gotta love all the shiny brass.
Warning: you must have respectable dress on, according to the signage. Improper dress means that you must wear shoes and a shirt, but the shirt can't be just an undershirt. Also, "bum wear" is strictly verboten. Does this mean you can't wear the "Derelicte" line of clothes by Mugatu in Zoolander? Probably not, but I think it really means, "pants on the ground, pants on the ground, can't go to Roman Village with your pants on the ground". I'm sure the servers wouldn't mind if you wore a bow tie as all the servers wear.
The menu is big. You can choose from all kinds of pasta dishes with all kinds of sauces. You can substitute angel hair, whole wheat or gluten-free pasta for a charge. You can add melted cheese, mushrooms and other toppings for a couple dollars. The menu continues with a whole range of stuffed pastas including lasagna. On the next page of the menu is the meat dishes, mostly chicken and veal, each served with a side of pasta. Pizza is also available along with calzone and panini. All of the entrees are served with choice of soup or salad (caesar is extra) and delicious homemade bread.
The bread at this place is divine. Seriously, this bread is the most amazing thing ever. It took all my will power not to eat the whole basket.
I tried the polenta with a meat sauce and italian sausage. Everything was perfect and had great flavor. The sausage was spicy and robust in flavor. The sauce highlighted the sweetness of the tomatoes but exhibited layers of flavors. I tried the pasta fagoli and it was a large serving and very delicious.
The dessert tray had 2 cheesecakes, tiramisu, profiteroles, cannolli, spumoni, and some custard thing. Everything looked amazing and I wanted to try every one. The cream in the cannolli is homemade as well as many of the desserts.
The dishes were $10-15 on average and you are given a lot of food. I will definitely have to return the next time I have a craving for Italian food. You can't find this quality and flavor at any other Italian restaurant that I've found so far.Listed in: P to the IZZ-A
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Review from Samantha G.
Lincoln Park, MI
1/21/2012
I went there a few days ago and it was very nice inside, although it's not in the best neighborhood. I ordered the gnocchi rita sauce and it was delicious! The bread is also some of the best bread I ever had. I think this is my new favorite italian place!
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Review from Mitch M.
Ann Arbor, MI
1/3/2010
Mmmmmmmmm!
You will drive to this restaurant and think to yourself, really Mitch, really? You recommend this place?
I admit, it looks like nothing. It's in the middle of an area you normally wouldn't set foot in. But you should set foot in Roman Village!
They hand make their pasta and their attention to detail is as meticulous as it is wonderfully delicious!
This would be a 4.5 stars out of 5 for me, but the option isn't there. I really, really love this place.
Not pretentious at all, and very down to earth real world Italian food. One caveat, they have kind of odd hours. Make sure the restaurant is open before you drive there -- I've been disappointed by this twice now.
Great owners, great food, GREAT RESTAURANT! -
Review from Molly S.
Melvindale, MI
4/20/2010
Roman Village is one of my favorite restaurants.
Although it isn't in the fanciest of areas (okay, it's not the best area), it is totally worth going!
Their food is delicious. I have never ordered something here that I did not like. The have delicious garlic bread that they bring to your table. I honestly could make a meal out of just this bread. Even the ranch dressing for the salad is the best.
You get HUGE portions for a good price. There is no way you could finish your entire meal alone at Roman Village. I love the Carbonara, Lasagna, Pesto Linguine (PERFECT!), Pizza. They often offer great deals, too. They have half off pasta and pizza nights which is such a great deal for families on a budget.
The restaurant is clean and comfortable. They have large dining rooms and a small bar section with booth seating. They are very accomodating to large parties. We have had several family dinners at Roman Village. They have a seperate banquet type room with large tables. We have even called to host a small graduation party there and they were able to accomodate us for that.
The service has always been fantastic. I hate to admit this since I love the place but I did have hair in my lasagna once. This is bound to happen sometime but the waitress and manager were very apologetic. They made me something else and comped the meals.
They used to have a magician come in and entertain the kids at the table. I haven't seen them doing that recently but my nephew and nieces used to love it.
I recommend Roman Village and frequently have dinner here. -
Review from John T.
Redford, MI
5/2/2010
I love this restaurant. Members of my family have been going to this restaurant since the 50s. I have never had a bad meal there. I have once or twice encountered slow service, but that was because the kitchen got slammed and even though I had to wait the food did not suffer.
Pasta is made by hand daily, right there in the restaurant. The pizza is truly stellar. My favorite dish, bar none, is the Carbonara. Yum, yum, yum!!! The fresh bread they make is absolutely delicious. I've tried just about everything on the menu at one time or another except the seafood dishes, and all have been good to great without exception.
If not the carbonara, then the Gnocchi Rita Sauce is the way to go. Or any of the others...cannelloni, mostaccioli, ravioli, tortellini, etc. It is pretty much impossible to screw up here. Be prepared to take food home...the portions are huge. If you eat a whole plate of carbonara at lunch, do not expect to get anything done the rest of the day...all you will want to do is go someplace quiet and take a nap!!
A great place to eat! -
Review from Nikkie H.
Chicago, IL
11/29/2010
I was saddened by the closing of Dolce Vita in Riverview, but I've quickly found a replacement with Roman Village. I've been here twice and it's taken over the top spot as my favorite Italian restaurant.
The bread is yum, the spaghetti carbonara is yummy and the tiramisu is ultra yummalicious. I cannot wait to go back again! -
Review from Sarahjeanne J.
Detroit, MI
9/8/2010
This is where I go when I've got a craving for Italian (which is pretty much...always) and I'm too lazy to cook. There are places closer to home, but I like the laid back atmosphere at Roman Village. The service is friendly and everyone always seems happy and welcoming.
Everything I've tried has been fantastic. The real super star here is the bread. I've been known to eat a whole basket of it all by myself. Anyone can do a good bowl of pasta, but bread this delicious is an art. -
Review from Ellen W.
Detroit, MI
2/6/2010
Hands down the best Italian I've been able to find in the US. Food is amazing, staff is great, and it has a very comfortable and intimate atmosphere even when it's packed.
Don't let the outside fool you. Just dodge the potholes and you'll be fine.
I've always had the pasta dishes, which are to die for, but I hear great things about there pizza too. I can at least say it looks fantastic.
Most dishes will run you about $12-$15, this includes all the delicious bread you can eat and soup or salad. -
Review from Tanya M.
Ferndale, MI
5/2/2010
Love it!
I grew up by Roman Village and always ordered their pizza, breaksticks and soup...yummy!
As an adult I've been back and really appreciate more on their menu. Their chicken parmesan with wine sauce is delicious. The cannelloni and veal parm are great too. My friend ordered a dish with pesto and enjoyed it.
I always have leftovers and both the wine and food are reasonably priced!
The only problem is I'm not in that area any more so I don't get to enjoy it often ! -
Review from Shelly M.
I have to start out with what I ordered for dinner. I ordered the Mostaccioli Casseruola with meatballs, and wow, it was (high pitched voice) awesome... The meat was incredible, the sauce was perfect, it came in an individual baking dish, and had melted cheese over the top. It was hot gooey tasty magic. Was here for dinner with my son and we both really liked it. The bread basket was very interesting. I think the bread is baked then deep fried for just about 2 seconds in butter, i can't think of any way to get that buttery crisp over each and every piece that perfectly distributed. I could be wrong, but I'm very suspicious. We had the bruschetta appetizer, which was loaded in very flavorful and fresh tomatoes, really nice and enough for four people as an appetizer. My son ordered Chicken Scalloppini, and it was pretty good as well. Only bad was the side of spaghetti that came with his dish, the meat sauce that was on it was way too sweet and a had a weird taste, as if it had some bad tap water in it or something, not really an easy taste to describe. Everything else was fab so we just left that left alone.
Listed in: Everything Dearborn
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Review from Shane N.
Annapolis, MD
5/25/2010
I was in Detroit for four days last week and I had Italian food for dinner every night for four different nights. It wasn't really planned, but it happened. As a result this is the first of my reviews of three different Detroit area Italian places (the fourth place I visited I have been to several times and already reviewed.
I have been to Roman Village several times before, but only for pizza. This was the first time I went in and sat down for a meal.
It is in a very Arab neighborhood, but it is a very Italian place. The inside is nice and spacious. The staff is courteous and attentive.
First off let me say that there bread is excellent. It was fresh, warm and delicious.
Second off let me say that the minestrone was not very good. I think it was in a beef stock. It just didn't look or taste like minestrone.
For an appetizer we had some calamari. I thought it was pretty good. It was not overbreaded (maybe a little underbreaded) but it was still pretty good.
For my main course, I had the gnocchi with the Rita sauce. I don't know Rita is but I give her props for her sauce. It was basically house made gnocchi in a blush sauce with pancetta. I thought the gnocchi was pretty good. It was cooked well, but it was a little too much like just potatoes. The sauce I tought was excellent. I am a big fan of blush sauce and I am a big fan of pancetta. The sauce was very good.
For dessert we tried the tiramasu and an almond custard. The tiramisu had too much cocoa on it and the custard was kind of bland. Same for the almond custard.
I have had the pizza in the past and I thought it was pretty good. Overall the place is pretty decent. -
Review from Hanya A.
Dearborn, MI
5/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Best pizza around! No doubt. Oh and the garlic bread with Ranch is the only reason we come here.
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Review from Michael C.
Detroit, MI
5/23/2008
This is an absolutely wonderful restaurant on the outskirts of Dearborn.
Though the location shouldn't hinder your desire to go there (I got lost trying to find it. Street signs! Arg). The experience far outweighs the journey.
We were seated at a large table for dinner in the far room. We had made reservations for a birthday party - we were sick of the same old party/get drunk birthday, and wanted something a little more classy. Roman Village delivered!
We ordered a few different dishes, appetizers and main course, family-style. The portions were huge and everything about the pastas were amazing: sauce, noodles, and spices. I'd recommend the regular old red pasta sauce because it really is a great gauge as to how well RV does what it does. The Alfredo was great too (Oh no! I mixed a white and a red sauce!), as well as the meatballs. They look like the meatballs from Happy Gilmore! (Or was that Billy Madison? I can't remember...)
Their mixed drinks are pretty impressive as well. Just for the fun of it, we had margaritas all around. They came in these huge glasses laden with all sorts of fun things, most of all, the fruit juices tasted better than pre-frozen mixes. I couldn't say it was from fresh fruit, but it sure tasted like it was.
In all it was a wonderful experience in a beautiful restaurant. This would be a great date spot (not too busy, great service, not bad on price either) or a special occasion spot - Mother's day, Father's day, George Washington's birthday, whatever. -
Review from James W.
Westland, MI
3/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
My wife and I visited Roman Village for the first time on March 2, 2010 for our 5 year anniversary dinner. Her Veal Parmasean and my loaded Pasta Bowl were AWESOME and you will not believe just how tasty and rediculously addictive their tableside hot bread is. This place is a sure thing!
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Review from Sandra B.
Grosse Pointe Woods, MI
3/25/2009
I have been eating at Roman Village for about 20 years - this place has been there for a while. The food is really good - this bread is yummy. If you are counting calories, this is not your place. If you are looking for some good food, you should really enjoy it. Pizza, pasta - all good! My one complaint - this is a recent thing that they have been doing - if you want to substitute one type of pasta for another, there is a $4.95 additional charge for that. It is just pasta - I could buy a ton of fresh made pasta from a market for less than that. Major disappointment.
Listed in: Viva Italia!!!
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Review from Dean S.
2/12/2009
Visited there for the office Christmas lunch (not "party" mind you, just an hour-long meal together). Had a really nice meal with above-average service. I wasn't a huge fan of the atmosphere (playing cards on the ceiling because of a magician?) which makes me hesitant to give a fifth star, but if I was in the neighborhood I would definitely eat there again.
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Review from Jeffrey N.
Astoria, Queens, NY
1/13/2010
I went to this place due to its proximity to my Dad's and its rating on Yelp. Yelp is great, isn't it? Anyway, Roman Village definitely deserves 4 stars. The food was quality. My Dad said the veal was great. We debated the decor. He thought it was too modern but I didn't think it was bad. It had a family restaurant feel to it. Not stale, like a chain restaurant, but not super nice either. The prices were good for the food and the serving size. A fair deal. The best was the service. We never had to wait for a water refill or for the waitress to come by. I never felt rushed to leave but I never had to wait long for service. If you're in that area on the west side, I can't recommend a better Italian restaurant.
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Review from Jeffrey B.
Oak Park, MI
4/12/2010
Perfectly delicious and quite possible a contender for the best Italian in the Metro Detroit area. I had bookmarked the Roman Village after reading the positive reviews and found myself with friend/roommate/ fellow Yelp-star Ryan L. there after leaving Ikea heading towards the Eastside--we figured we're out this way, why not explore?
I don't know how we found the restaurant, actually, I do, it was all grace à Ryan's iPhone. I do know I felt like I saw a weird warehouse wonderland of Dearborn (?) on the way. Walking in you're greeted with a warning informing us that service will not be provided if you're not wearing shoes, shirts, undershirts, or "bum wear". I told hostess that I was wearing an undershirt and that I hoped it would be okay, which she said was fine since I had a shirt on over it. I think they just like looking at chest hair. . .
The menu was full of tempting options. I decided upon the Vegetarian Lasagna and upgraded my salad to a Caesar. I also had a Blue Moon draught because it was only $2.50 and I couldn't argue with that. The meals were served with wonderful bread--it was fresh, it was flavorful, it was perfection. My Caesar was good but I might hesitate about spending the additional $2.50 to upgrade since the house salad looked equally enjoyable. Sometimes I'm just a sucker for a Caesar. When the lasagna was presented I knew I was in for something fabulous. Served piping hot and covered with baked mozzarella it was an ovular dish of amazing. The lasagna was concocted with homemade noodles, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, and a delightful marinara. What was most satisfying is that it had a great flavor. For some reason it seems like finding Italian food with actual flavor is quite the feat. After finishing my meal I was perfectly satisfied though when the dessert tray was offered my interest was piqued so it was presented featuring tiramisu, cannolis, a chocolate torte, two kinds of cheesecake and more. It made me wish I hadn't finished my dinner.
This dinner was seriously great despite a screaming child behind me a kid exploring all of the cell phone ringer options across the room and the most talkative random guy the next booth over. The Roman Village satisfied my desire for Italian and made me eager to return to try more on the menu like their pesto, or Florentine ravioli.
Note: Gluten Free and Whole Wheat pasta are available for $2.00 more.
On the way out we noted that Monday they had 1/2 off Pizza and Beer, Tuesday 1/2 off pasta, and Wednesday 1/2 off bottles of wine with the purchase of two entrées.
The staff was very kind and attentive, plus they looked stellar in their burgundy bow ties. The restaurant really felt like an Italian restaurant. There was a large Last Supper painting on the wall and cushy red vinyl booths. If you're in the area check it out. Hell, if you're not and like Italian, make the drive. You may even be so fortunate to hear "Funiculi, Funicula!" if not, at least you'll have a glorious meal.
Note: the $$ is closer to $12-$15/person including drinks.Listed in: It's Pasta-ble!
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Review from Allison F.
Dearborn, MI
6/16/2009 2 Check-ins Here
This is my favorite Italian restaurant! I've gotten many things off their menu and I've never been disappointed. Their food tastes great, the portions are large, the prices are small, and the waitstaff are amazing. You really can't get much better than Roman Village. Try their stuffed cannelloni!
Listed in: Dining in Dearborn
