Bad Roman - New York

“i always come here when i want to celebrate something big or my birthday. i just came here for a celebration and the staff was PHENOMENAL. alerted me of dietary restrictions and what foods had alcohol in it. water was constantly full, finished plates cleared, manager stopping by to talk. the server was great, and so was all the support. even the host team was sweet. they even surprised me with a cake at the end!! thank you!”

“5 Stars + I came here on a Saturday night to celebrate my birthday and my best friend’s birthday. I was a little unsure because of the location as it is in the "Shops at Columbus Circle", which is a small mall. It is next to one of the most prestigious hotels in New York, which is the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. All I can say is "WOW"!!! I am not sure where the last person who wrote a review is living, under a rock, but everything was spectacular. Yes, prices are not cheap, although where can you go in New York City and not spend $35 to $50 on a fish dish? If you go to a diner and eat frozen fish, you will pay for that. Our bill with a generous tip was still more than $100 less than I thought I would have spent. I thought prices were fair, especially considering the overall experience, and the location in Manhattan by Central Park. Bad Roman is a beautiful, chic spot. It is nice to see a restaurant that is as well staffed as they are. Our service was great, even down to the runners who kept our water glasses filled, tables cleaned and wiped down and provided fresh silverware with every course. From the minute we walked in I knew it was going to be great night. There were two people at the host station who greeted us with a smile, our hostess asked if our entire party was here, and was ok with some of them being a few minutes late, as they were looking for parking. They also asked if we were celebrating anything and we informed them it was for both our birthdays. Once everyone was here, we were seated. My friend and I were handed an envelope. In it was a nicely written birthday card for each of us. I thought that was a nice touch! The manager Isaac came over to thank us for coming and said something that will stay with me for a lifetime when thinking about business and restaurants in general. He said "Thank you for coming and for choosing us. You could have gone anywhere to celebrate your birthday and out of all the restaurants in NYC, you choose us". What that tells me is that he and the restaurant do not take us for granted. We were not a number, and the rest of the night proved that. The restaurant is hip and modern; there is a beautiful bar as you walk in. The bathrooms were chic and clean. The tables were spaced out, and you can breathe, you are not on top of each other. As mentioned earlier, they are well staffed and everyone was great. Hat's off to Isaac who really made the night special. He came over several times and each conversation was meaningful. It was not idle conversation, we spoke for a few minutes about food, customer service, and you could see his passion for the customer. Our waiter Roosevelt was also great; he made sure everything was perfect. When asked, he shared his opinion on his favorite dish as did Isaac when we were torn on the selection. I am sure both dishes would have been great although each recommendation was spot on. Now to the food. We did not have a bad dish. Portions were satisfying, with great flavor and each was nicely presented. Here are some must have dishes. For appetizers, the Babka, Pepperoni cups, the Filet Mignon meatballs which can be a side dish or appetizer, the Black Truffle Ricotta, and the Peekytoe Crab Luigi, which has an amazing presentation. Favorite dessert was the Lemon Tartuffe Cheesecake, and the chocolate cake with gelato. Favorite entrees if we had to pick one were the Grilled Pork Chop. They have nice mixed drinks, wine selection, liquor choice, and beers. They also have a great pasta dish selection, and I will try one the next time we come back. For entrees we had the Faroe Island Salmon, the Grilled Pork Chop, and the Filet Mignon topped with Cacio E Pepe Raviolo which you must taste. Another favorite from Isaac is the Roasted Branzino. I highly recommend Bad Roman, a big shoutout to all their employees who work extremely hard and will be back again. Bad Roman will be one of the restaurants I recommend when asked for a special place to go if you want to have a wonderful time.”

“Everything was absolutely wonderful from start to finish. The food was delicious, the service was attentive and welcoming, and the decor created such a beautiful atmosphere. Every detail felt thoughtfully done. A special highlight was the lemon dessert, which was honestly one of the best desserts I’ve had in a long time. Perfectly balanced, fresh, and unforgettable. Highly recommend this place for anyone looking for a great dining experience with excellent food, outstanding service, and a beautiful setting. Will definitely be coming back.”

“This place totally lives up to the hype — and it’s the perfect spot for a birthday dinner. The vibes and atmosphere were absolutely on point: lively, beautiful, and just the right amount of celebratory. From the moment we sat down, the service was amazing — attentive without being overbearing, and everything felt really thoughtfully paced. We started with the Whipped Ricotta with Black Truffle Honey, which was honestly unreal — creamy, rich, and the perfect balance of sweet and savory. The Spicy Gem Caesar had a great kick, and the Cappelletti Bistecca was incredible — super flavorful and perfectly done. Of course we had to add fries (because how could you not). Then came dessert… and wow. The lemon cheesecake was light and bright, the blood orange sorbetto with whipped zabaglione was refreshing and delicious, and the funnel cake bites were dangerously good — warm, sweet, and impossible to stop eating. Yes, it’s definitely on the pricier side, but for a special occasion it absolutely feels worth it. Great food, great energy, and the kind of place where a birthday dinner actually feels like a celebration. I’d happily go back — maybe just after mentally preparing my wallet first. 🎂✨”

“You pay for the experience here. The vibe and service are both fantastic. It’s hard to beat. The food was good, but most of the dishes didn’t quite live up to the hype for me. The garlic babka was decent, though I wished it had more garlic and buttery flavor. The pappardelle with ragu was also solid but lacked the bold flavor I was expecting. The pepperoni cups with ranch were fun to try, but exactly what they sound like and probably not something I’d order again. The meatballs were fantastic! The standout was the cheesecake served inside the white chocolate lemon mold. It was unique, delicious, and a perfect way to end the meal. Overall, I’d recommend Bad Roman for the experience, service, and atmosphere. The food was good, but the ambiance was what really made the meal memorable.”