Playful Italian at Bad Roman…NYC Restaurant Review


Bad Roman.

It’s a Win Win situation.

Another home run from the Quality Branded group which boasts Don Angie, Quality Eats, Quality Meats, Quality Italian and Zou Zou among its stable of standout restaurants.

And, Bad Roman, is located on the upper west side.

That’s two for two.

I dined at Bad Roman just after the opening.

The interior is unexpected, especially after the industrial decor of Landmarc, Mark Murphy’s Columbus Circle mainstay for more than a decade which shuttered several years ago.

Bad Roman presents an explosion of color and texture with an unusual twist on authentic Italian fare.

The staff had me at hello.

They convey an air of professionalism combined with  a warm and welcoming attitude, ranging from our server Jamie, to the impressive management team, including Elliott and Damien.

The food is stellar and the pricing doesn’t break the bank.

The entrance is decorated with a half-ton wild boar figure with a neon necklace.

The color-drenched 250-seat dining room sports a wild blend of salmon and Valentino pink banquettes.

The cocktails are ample and delectable. My Aperol Spritz ($18) and my dining partner’s Rye Manhattan ($20) prepared by the gracious bartender, Salma, were fabulous.

We started with an amazing Yellowtail Crudo enhanced with grapefruit slices. It was sweet and fresh ($19).

The Black Truffle Ricotta was whipped to perfection and drizzled with honey, accompanied by warm crispy focaccia ($18).

The Shrimp Garganelli was spectacular with honey nut squash and enhanced with miso, hazelnuts and a slight infusion of chili ($34).

The unique twist on a classic piccata dish included perfectly seared jumbo Scallops, presented in a caper brown butter bath ($48).

The Mushroom Misto combined seven different mushrooms and was beyond delicious ($15).

I selfishly hesitate to post this review because Bad Roman is definitely going to be my go to dining spot close to home and I know it’s going to be a huge hit.

I just hope I will be able to do frequent drive bys and not be stonewalled.

Bad Roman is damn Good Italian and a welcome addition to the upper west side of Manhattan.

Bad Roman 10 Columbus Circle 3rd floor New York City. Open Nightly 5-11pm. Reservations on OpenTable.com.

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