Romano's Macaroni Grill - Buford

The food was quite disappointing. While the service was excellent, the quality of the food fell short. The prices were too high for such basic options. My meal arrived warm rather than hot, even though it wasn’t a busy evening. I visited the Duluth location years ago and had an amazing experience, but now it’s just mediocre. Perhaps a change in management is necessary.

No wait time, not busy. $16 for a truffle Mac and cheese with no meat. I ordered meat and was charged for meat but none came. Also ordered truffle fries. If you?ve ever had truffle oil you know it has a distinct and strong flavor. Our food had zero flavor. We asked for a small thing of truffle oil on the side and after pouring it on we knew for sure they had left it off. I?m wondering if it was an oversight or if they legit left it off to cut costs. They also left the Vodka out of the $10 mixed drink. The wait staff was friendly and we didn?t take it out on them. However, the cost of the food (photo is $16 for some boxed pasta and I guess cheese) for the lack of flavor was terribly disappointing. Food was stuck on our unused silverware as well. Won?t be back.

The bread they served with olive oil wasn't much to my liking—it had a bitter taste that was a bit off-putting. However, the bruschetta was a highlight; it was one of the best I've had in a while. The bread was perfectly toasted, and everything else complemented it well. I also tried the Brussels sprouts, which were decent, but the caramelized flavor didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Still, it was acceptable. For the main courses, I chose the "make your own" pasta with pesto and rigatoni, including sun-dried tomatoes, roasted peppers, and broccolini. This dish was actually quite tasty, and the pesto was well-integrated. I did expect the broccolini to be a bit larger, as it was quite small, but it was still enjoyable. I personally opted for the mushroom ravioli, which was really good. Surprisingly, it had a hint of sweetness that I didn’t anticipate, but it added to the overall flavor nicely. I enjoyed it a lot, although the amount of mushrooms on top felt excessive, so I didn't end up eating many of them. Overall, it was a satisfying meal that wasn’t overly creamy or heavy, which I appreciate. There were a few things I didn’t quite love (hence the four stars instead of five), but I would definitely return to this restaurant. It offers a refreshing change from typical Italian eateries like Olive Garden, which I really appreciate. Additionally, the service was quite prompt, but that might have been due to the restaurant being relatively empty at the time.

The staff were friendly, and while one of the dishes was good, the other fell short. There appeared to be little to no air conditioning. Our table and the floor were sticky, giving the impression that the place was quite outdated and in need of maintenance. I wanted to enjoy it, but it didn't quite live up to expectations given the price. We would have been better off going to Waffle House. With so many excellent choices nearby, I would recommend looking for a different option.

Our server was awesome and the food tasted great! Also got a complementary dessert for my birthday.