Romano’s Grill Downtown Savannah? Something you need to know
We almost never do this. In 16 years of Eat It and Like It, I can count on one hand the times I’ve told you to be careful about a local. If I don’t enjoy my food or dining experience, it’s never to be heard from again. Not from me anyway. Most people know that about me. If you don’t, you should.
But this past weekend I had a takeout experience at a brand-new Italian spot in central Savannah that was just questionable enough that I felt like I owed you a heads up. Romano’s Italian Grille on Habersham near 37th in Savannah.
Here’s the short version: I called in a pizza, got a pickup estimate, and showed up on time. And then I waited. And waited. What kept me in my chair wasn’t the pizza, it was what was happening around me. I wasn’t the only one. Other customers coming and going were in the same boat, and at least one of them told me, flat out, that this wasn’t a one-time thing. It had been happening to him pretty regularly.
Was it a catastrophe? No. Was the pizza decent? It was. A little too cheesy for my taste, but fine. The price was right, too. I’m sure they’ve got good people working hard in there, and a new restaurant is a tough machine to get running smoothly.
From my seat though, if an otherwise empty restaurant tells you 15 minutes and you’re still standing there long after that, that’s not a hiccup, that’s a pattern. And when other customers are already frustrated, you start to wonder what’s going on behind the scenes.
I’m not telling you to avoid the place. I’m not. Go if you’re curious. But if you’re planning on picking up dinner there, especially on a busy night or before a game, maybe don’t build your whole evening around that pickup time. They’ve got some work to do.
Consider this less of a review and more of a beware. The pie was fine and I’d love to see them get it figured out.
I’ve shared the entire story and the specific reasons why I’m sharing in this week’s podcast. Find it up above or Apple Pods, Amazon and Spotify. Trust me, you’ll want to hear how it all went down.
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