Four of us went out on a Sunday night for a birthday dinner. The atmosphere is very nice and the noise level totally acceptable to our middle aged ears. That's where the good stops... Seeing this place is specializes in wood grilling, 3 of us ordered Ribeye. At $30 for a 16oz portion, we expected decent steak and were disappointed to find my husbands' was at least half gristle, mine was 1/3 fat. The steaks were served with a demiglace that made it hard to see what was meat and what was not, further aggravating the situation. When raised to the server, he said "that's how ribeye is" and said if we ordered it more well done, it wouldn't be so fatty/sinewy. Yeah, right. He took 1 entree off the bill so with 3 meals, 2 cocktails, 2 coffees and 2 deserts, the bill was $180, which in my opinion is too high for the quality of the meal served. read more

This is a beautiful, bright restaurant with an open, airy feel. The staff was friendly, but service was painfully slow, even though there was hardly anyone sitting. I was disappointed at the Luke warm tap water that came to the table, especially on a hot day. I can only assume that if I wanted a cold drink I was going to have to pay for it. In fairness I did not ask for ice, but instead opted for a beer. Our waitress was extremely friendly and bright bread over to the table with a cooked garlic bulb and butter. The menu is limited, but had some interesting sounding choices. We ordered the calimari as an appetizer not cam out nice and hot. I think the breading could have been cooked more, but my companion liked it the way it was. I would have liked a different sauce but again, my companion enjoyed it. The clam chowder was flavorful. Just a warning -- it is definitely NOT New England clam chowder (they did not advertise it as such, but as a New Englander eating in Massachusetts I kind of expected it), but if you are looking for something other than that, you should be good. I ordered the steak tips with party fries and salad. I told my waitress that I have an onion allergy and asked the onions to be removed from the salad. My dinner came and the onions were right on top so I had to send it back. When it came back sans onions, my steak was delicious, the fries were crispy. I did not eat the salad as the dish came back quickly and I was afraid that they just removed the onion. My dinner partner, who got the steak and potatoes supper graten said his steak was burnt and did not like his asparagus. He did say that the potato was delicious. Overall, a mixed bag for me. It was a decent experience but not great. I don't know if I'll go back, but I think if you're curious it's worth a try. read more

I've had great experiences dining at Romaine's but until recently I had never considered it for a private function venue. I'm so glad I discovered what a fantastic place it is for small functions. Two days ago I hosted a bridal shower at Romaine's and I can't rave enough about how easy the staff is to work with, the amazing food, the beautiful function room, and convenient parking. My shower guests loved the food and the ambiance of the private function room. As a host, I loved how the servers anticipated guests' needs and quickly met them. Planning the shower with Erin, who coordinates the private events at Romaine's, was a pleasant experience. Erin was very accommodating to our special requests and room set up for the shower. read more

Romaine's - a table set with place settings - New American Near Me - Northborough, Massachusetts

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When you want to impress your friends or a business associate. Take them to Romaine's! Their food is scrumptious; their fish is freshly caught... I go for the Rib-eye. Great staff! Another one of Northboro's best. read more

First time in and YOU have to go! It's the cutest spot with amazing food. We were celebrating my daughter's birthday. The service we received from Sandy was so amazing and we will definitely be back again. They made us feel welcomed and gave us an amazing experience. I'm going to book my daughters wedding shower here! read more

If I could give them a negative 0 I would. Horrible customer service, waitress too busy socializing with the locals than taking care of new customers... food over priced and meh atmosphere read more

Man, the truffle fries are AMAZING. I still think about it weeks after. So fresh so amazingly light for being a fry. (Tad too salty- wish they'd go light on the salt but maybe next time I'll request that). The sauce that comes with it is bomb. I'll bathe in that if they'd let me. Drinks: they do not joke around with liquor- the cocktails are strong and interesting. And for approximately $11-13 not bad at all. Highly recommend. The best: interior design. Beautiful!!! Idk who designed it but someone knows how to set a mood. Perfect for date (not too crowded especially probably due to COVID) and for girls night out. You know the restaurant is trying to be fancy when you have super thick towel like disposable towels in the bathroom. I really think this place is trying to be more romantic and trendy but the crowd is a mixture of families (imagine kids in like dirty soccer jerseys) and the young clientele they are going for. It's not a bad thing at all but I can def see this place being a greatttt hip location for Saturday nights and just chill wine nights for girls. Food: pretty good. The chicken with the capers is very good. I'd stick with the popular dishes. My "special" salmon was a little dry. My other friends steak and frites was okay,m. The manager did kind of ask us to leave bc of COVID reservation restriction reasons, which is totally okay. She asked sooooo nicely and I appreciated that. We stayed the maximum time allowed and we enjoyed every second. I like the booths for sure bc it seems very private and kind of drowns out excess chatter. Honestly I'd go back just for the truffle fries. read more

Great environment, great service, great cocktails and wine. Duck pastrami deviled eggs are fantastic!

Great recommendation from friends. Attractive interior, super waitstaff, and a really great menu. The french fries were enough to go for alone, but don't miss the Nashville hot chicken sandwich!!! read more

I really like Romaine's so you are probably wondering why I am giving a 3 star review. They messed up minor things that compounded over the course of the meal. For starters, we ordered the Korean BBQ wings & the crispy brussels sprouts. The flavor of the wings was spot on but the cook was just a touch to much but overall very solid. The Brussels were solid as well...nothing too special but they got the job done. For my main meal, my mother & I decided to split the veal bolognese & the jambalaya. I've ordered the veal bolognese before and it was fantastic & this time was no different. The jambalaya on the other hand needs some work. The flavor of it was bland...I think they forgot the salt? Secondly, they skimped on the shrimp. There was barely any in there (I think 3 in the whole dish). As a bonus, I tried my fiancée's steak tips and they flat out were not good. There wasn't a good crust on the steak and I question the quality of the cut as well. Outside of the slightly above average fare, the service was so-so. It wasn't the fact that they were understaffed but because our server disappeared from the dining area for 10 minutes. Whether she had to use the bathroom, had to take a call, a break or whatever, there should have been some time of coverage from manager/other servers. I still really like Romaine's but when I go back in the future I'll stick to just the veal bolognese and hope the service improves. read more

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I've never had a bad meal here everything is always good especially the fish tacos. My only comment is they need to get proper martini glasses like they used to have. read more

Romaine's - Full of fish! - New American Near Me - Northborough, Massachusetts

Been going to Romains occasionally for 4 years now, it's been consistently busy the whole time. The more I go the more I fall in love with the place. The drink menu has kept up with the industry's trend of serving craft cocktails with quality ingredients. The food menu has changed over the years and they have specials regularly but a few of the very popular items remain consistent. Unfortunately they no longer offer free bread butter and roasted garlic but I understand, most restaurants in this class don't usually offer it anymore as turning profit in the business has become increasingly difficult. The meals that I consider a must try and the tips and frites, the bolognese, the chicken piccata( soooo damn good). The atmosphere is sophisticated, classy and clean all while remaining relaxing and casual. The service has always been spot on and the woman that work there are all great and treat the regulars like family. It's a well run old school kind of bar and grill with elevated fair with something for everyone. My favorite place in town and is one great perk of living in Northborough Massachusetts!!!! read more

A great local spot for date night or dinner with friends. It's just fancy enough to make the experience special, without feeling fussy. The fish dishes are consistently good and Abby behind the bar makes excellent cocktails and never forgets a name. read more

Outstanding From cocktail app Entree sucker for there bread n butter Shout out to Meghan for her service Gig read more

Nice little restaurant in Northboro. Stopped in for a work function. Nice atmosphere, servers were great, pretty good drink selection. Ordered the brussel sprouts for an app and the "under the brick" chicken. Brussel sprouts were meh but the chicken, mashed potatoes, and salad were delicious. Definitely recommend. read more

Came in here on a whim due to the Yelp reviews and this place was wonderful! All the food we got (Brussels sprouts as a starter, Jumbalaya and Atlantic salmon), was delicious, have no complaints. Food is reasonably priced and is expertly prepared. If you're going on a weekend, have a reservation or be ready to wait for a spot at the bar. read more

Live the design i side!! Modern and clean! All the food sounded amazing but went with the pork chop.. soo glad I did!! Best chop Ive ever had!! read more

Romaine's - Grilled pork chop, mashed cauliflower and roasted carrots - New American Near Me - Northborough, Massachusetts

Been to this restaurant a bunch of times in the past and always had a great experience until yesterday. Friday 6:30 reservation Father's Day weekend. First off the place wasnt crowded yet everything took so long. I ordered the wood grilled tenderloin cooked medium. My son got pasta with marinara and my wife got the scallop special. It took a long time to get our drinks and our meals. Romaine's used to give you roasted garlic with your bread but not anymore I guess. Anyways when our meals came out the tenderloin was so dry and overcooked I couldn't even swallow the piece I was chewing. The waitress never checked on us after we got our meal so I had to get her attention. When I told her it was very dry she looked at it and said "oh it looks like they cooked it medium well".....let me tell you if you looked at this piece of meat it was so over it had the life cooked out of it so I'm not sure why she was defending the kitchen. Anyways she took it from me, then a few minutes later came back and asked if I wanted another one. Umm yes please? By the time I got a new tenderloin everyone was done eating. It took so long...why would you not prioritize my meal since it was a redo? The hostess brought it and asked me to cut through the center. I went to cut it and I new right away based on how it felt...the new one was very raw in the middle...so sad. I just wanted medium. This was a Father's Day meal and I never got to eat a meal lol. At any rate stuff happens so I told the lady I didn't want it. Luckily they give you bread so I had been nibbling on that. My son's pasta was ok. My wife's meal was alright but her scallops were a little chewy. Anyways, I didn't end up eating anything because we just couldn't wait anymore. Other than saying sorry no one tried to salvage our poor experience. No offer of dessert on them which would have been nice, or comping one of our drinks. When we got the check the only thing that was comped was the meal I never ate. Not a good experience. ****UPDATE**** So I got a call from a representative from the restaurant after writing this review. She was very kind and understanding. Part of me feels like it only happened because I wrote the poor review, but never the less she spoke to my wife and made us feel like Romaine's cares very much about the experience of its guests so I added a star. Thank you for reaching out. As you can tell from my previous reviews I'm sure we will be back! read more

Great restaurant, you can always count on a meal that is professionally prepared, fresh, flavorful and served as it should. Eaten here 20+ times, always great, servers generally good, had some misses, not bad by any means but for a finer established restaurant you expect high level servers. Ambiance is nice from decor, can be loud but I'm not deterred by that I think people are enjoying themselves. read more

Romaine's recently remodeled their restaurant which made the ambiance and environment pleasant to dine in. For starters, our server was very absent the entire meal. It took us almost 45 minutes just to get bread and butter. After the remodel, it seems that many items on the menu went up in price, but the portion sizes seem to have gone down. It's tough to justify paying the high prices for such meesly portions. The reason this review is 2 stars instead of 1, once our entrees finally came everything tasted delicious and was flavorful. The only exception was the parmesan truffle fries...these honestly tasted like plain old french fries. The steak tips I ordered were a bit overcooked (I had ordered medium) but still plenty flavorful and juicy. read more

Romaine's - Tips & Frites - New American Near Me - Northborough, Massachusetts

92 year-old mother and I were running late from a doctor visit and needed to find a spot to eat. Romaine's was close and had good reviews, so we stopped in. Entered with mom's walker and the hostess asked us to wait while she fiddled around with her touchpad trying to find which table to give us, since we did not have reservations. It was Friday night but it was early (5:15). We stood there for five minutes while the hostess fidgeted. With many, many empty tables in front of us I finally asked if we could just sit at one of them since mom was weak from standing. Blank stares and more fidgeting, and someone else came over and walked us to a table. There, our water glasses were quickly filled with fresh cold water, and our orders were taken right away. Mother and I both struggled with eating the crust of the complimentary bread. So tough! Tasty? Yes, and the inside was soft. It was just a challenge to eat! Menu was small and upscale, typically something I would welcome, but we were just there for a bite, so no cocktails or apps. We ordered the smash burgers. They were decent, but the fries were soggy and we were not originally offered an alternative to fries, i.e. veggies or side salad. I did order the large strawberry arugula salad which was very good, fresh. As is my luck, our waitress came by and asked if everything was good right while I had food in my mouth, so I couldn't suggest that we were close to accepting the check. She did not return anytime soon, and mom was getting twitchy because of her back. (The seat backs were not padded and we were declined the chance to sit in a side booth because they were reserved). Finally we hailed a busy busgirl who helped us get our check. She then disappeared and again we had to hunt down someone else to help us pay-still no waitress. I carried the bill and my card up to someone else at the front desk, and our waitress processed it and brought back. I still tipped 20%--the waitress was lovely, just too much going on for her I think. We will not be back--it was just too much stress, unnecessarily,for a simple meal with an elderly person. We are accustomed to hosts going out of their way to accommodate someone with mobility issues and who intuitively check in on things during the meal. That was not the case at Romaine's. read more

The chef at Romaine's made me lactose free chicken and broccolini fettuccine in a roasted red pepper cream sauce!! To say I'm grateful for his kindness is such an understatement. Never get to enjoy real Italian food anymore with my food allergies but this chef made my dreams come true! read more

Romaine's - New American Near Me - Northborough, Massachusetts

Good food, good service, good drinks. Romaines is a Staple go to for date night with my husband.

Excellent food and service. Solid location and plenty of parking. Menu has good variations.

One star for food alone-delicious(except for glaze on duck, luckily I asked for it on side)--Total crap and birthday ruined came in for my birthday with 2 friends-initially was sat in the back room. There was a huge party screaming so loudly, we decided to move. This was after the waitress ignored us for 10 minutes, and asked what we wanted to drink and disappeared again. Had to flag down a host to ask to move because of the noise, moved, out our order in and then ignored by the waitress . She never checked on us, and by the time we finally did, we could've been on our 3-4th drink or dessert time. Got there at 7:30, left at 10:15-and it was slow. Total upset read more

We were there last night and I was so impressed on so many levels. We had outstanding service, constantly filled water glasses and lovely drinks. When our food came, we were all super impressed by the flavors and quality. Two of us had salmon on cauliflower rice and green beans - wow, I'd never had cauliflower rice taste like this. Light, fluffy and delicious. Salmon was excellent. Another friend had a pork chop which she said was moist and tender and delicious. Our fourth had shrimp fettuccini and he said it was amazing. Honestly though? Food always tastes better when you have great service and Kate D did just that. Funny without being rude, knowledgable about the food and drinks and available when it mattered. Can't recommend this place enough and I 'd recommend asking for Kate as your server! read more

We've been here twice and have been very happy both visits. The menu is a little small, but they also have daily specials. We think we had the same waitress both times, she is great. Very bubbly and attentive! We recently had the chili on special, it was absolutely delicious. My only con was how big the pieces of steak were, but still so delicious. I had the Tips and Frites and my husband had the Jambalaya Pasta. We were both incredibly happy. There are some decent options for craft beers and other beverages. I absolutely loved the Side by Sidecar! We have added this place to our restaurant rotation. read more

Very disappointed with the quality of food. Had the steak and fritz and the tenderloin. Ordered both medium. Took forever to get the meal, meat was cooked to shoe leather and ice cold. Not worth the $$$$ to eat hear. Two steps below the 99. read more

I really like Romaine's, I have been many times and haven't had a bad experience until last night. I wasn't going to write this but, hey why not. I'm writing about the service my friend and I received last night. We were really looking forward to going and having dinner to celebrate an occasion. We chose to sit at the bar and when we did sit down it took about 15 minutes for the bartender to take our drink order -abruptly- She placed our menus down -abruptly- and stormed about. Maybe she was having a bad day, maybe you were short handed? I don't know. But she didn't have a friendly tone about her what-so-ever and to us we felt like we were being mistreated and disrespected while we just sat waiting patiently to for someone to tend to us. Just a little sad that a place I thought was one of the better places around now completely turns me off from going and having a nice night ruined by rudeness. Thanks! read more

Attentive waitstaff... although ordered basic wine and they gave us the more expensive option? Either way, solid meal. Limited menu.

We went to Romaine's for Father's Day at the suggestion of my Father-in-Law (FIL). I had never heard of it (and was not happy about driving the 45+ minutes to Northborough), but my in-laws had apparently gone a lot and loved it. I immediately looked it up on here and saw great reviews, so I figured at least I'd have good food! First: The pictures on here don't do it justice. Looking at the photos, I thought it would be somewhat sparse and cold. In fact, it is a warm, cozy place perfect for a romantic dinner or a fun night with friends or family. Second: I was immediately happy to see a roasted garlic bulb on the table with the bread. Garlic warms my heart. Third: The menu selection is vast! I hadn't even seen the Bar Plates online - which are huge portions!! I went with the Mixed Greens Salad (Organic Field Greens, Stilton Cheese, Spiced Pecans, Roasted-Pear Vinaigrette) and the Wood Grilled Pizza (Charred Plum Tomatoes, Fresh Mozzarella, Basil, Santiago evoo, Red Pepper Flake Infused Drizzle - and added Chicken for an extra $5). I cleared the salad (DELICIOUS) and easily could have devoured the entire pizza, but I showed some restraint. It wasn't that the portions were small - the salad was large and the pizza was an entire plate - it was just so good! My husband went with the Tips and Frites (Wood Grilled Steak Tips, Parmesan Fries, Arugula, Red Onion, Bleu Cheese) - another generous portion. He ate about half (I had a few nibbles) and took the rest home for lunch the next day. For dessert, we all split the Ginger Snap Cone with 2 scoops of Snickers Ice Cream & 1 scoop of Vanilla. Nomnomnom. My MIL said it was too sweet - and it was very sweet, but it was also SNICKERS ICE CREAM. Sweet = heaven. The ginger snap cone was more like a bowl and was definitely hard to break. At one point, my husband tried to get a piece with his spoon and it went flying across the table! Very funny, but also very delicious. Service is fantastic - the waitress was VERY patient with us and super friendly. And one of the managers came over to help clear our plates. The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because it's too far away from me!! read more

Service and ambiance are great! Went there for the steak and fries which is always my go to. Great local place.

Great food, service and ambiance. Always a great experience. Highly recommended for a great meal or special occasion.

bring back the coffee lacquered duck with spinach and sweet potato fries! that was one of the best entrees i have ever had! and it was still good the next day after being in a hotel fridge and microwaved! ok, i did have slight hesitation going here. $20+ entree options in dc usually means little plates of food. was i surprised that is not the case here in northborough, ma! i didn't have a duck leg, or 1/4 of a duck. i had 1/2 a duck with the most delicious crispy golden skin ever and the juiciest duck meat. i'm so drooling and reliving the moment right now. the spinach was delicious, but those sweet potato fries. O.M.G. how are they still crispy the next day after been nuked in the hotel microwave? how?!? i cannot stress how mouth watering delicious the food was. will i go here again?!? you betcha if i was ever again in northborough mass. locals, seriously, you have a treasure of a restaurant. the service was amazing, but tops to the chef! i love you guys! you need to open up in big town usa! read more

Romaine's - coffee lacquered duck with sauteed spinach and awesome sweet potato fries - New American Near Me - Northborough, Massachusetts

The clam chowder is delicious... Not thick and gloppy.. Just as it should be; flavorful with potatoes and sweet potatoes. And the clam pieces are quite tender. Overall, a great experience. The service is responsive but not overbearing. And the menu offers a good range of choices without being overwhelming. There's something for everyone including "bar plates" for those wanting a lighter dinner offering. read more

Romaine's - Roasted salmon with broccoli rabe - New American Near Me - Northborough, Massachusetts

Have been here several times recently, and it has always been great. Excellent food and good service that is there when you need them but not overwhelming the table. Will definitely return. read more

I absolutely love this place. The decor is comfortable, simple and down to earth. The service- friendly and efficient. Fresh ingredients, excellent core New England style cuisine with an added twist of Southwestern or California fresh, depending on the dish. Not to worry- everything works beautifully, there is no style or taste confusion. Special shout out to: The chowder (chowdah)- creamy but not too heavy, loaded with clams and potatoes- even some sweet potatoes! Amazing! The lobster corn tossed penne (special)- ok, that was a dish worthy of me taking a dive into epic faildom of my paleo diet. The lobster meat was succulent, abundant and sweet. Mixed with baby corn and light garlic olive oil, that plate of penne was... Heavenly! Romaine's is lovely. read more

Romaine's - Creamy, delicious chowder - New American Near Me - Northborough, Massachusetts

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Great food and service! The Caesar salad was amazing. My husband LOVED his pork chop.

I absolutely love this restaurant. I've lost count of how many times I have dined here, but the food is delicious, with complex, original flavor profiles, yet still accessible and unpretentious. The waitstaff treats us like family- actually better than most of my family treats me. Looking at some of the preceding reviews, I cannot help but feel that the authors are either in need of psychiatric medication or work for competitors, perhaps both. D--na J, I'm uncertain which is more disturbing, your derisive assessment of the calamari or the fact that you refer to your date as "the boy". Er-c V, if you feel that the shrimp Caesar is over-priced, there are plenty of chemical huts around, using ingredients twice as old and half as tasty as me, happy to give one a heaping helping of autoimmune problems. In closing, chow the chowder, feast your eyes and lips on the ribeye, try the absolute best Bolognese in the state, and tell how they make the sauce for the Creole shrimp without dark magic. People, please. read more

First time here and really impress with the design of the restaurant.. The menu is small but the food is great! I Had the " under the brick" chicken, Wood-grilled burger, Fried Calamari; and really like the way they did garlic bread! I vote 5 stars for the best service :") read more

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