Bad Roman had me with the name. I am a Roman, after all. The menu was just icing on the proverbial cake.
We had dinner at Bad Roman on a Sunday night during our 3.5 days in New York City with a toddler, a 7:00 p.m. table for three after a long day at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. This Bad Roman NYC review covers everything we ordered, with scores, plus three moments worth talking about: one bad, one great, and one that was just a shame.
Bad Roman NYC Review: Is It Worth It?
Yes. It is a great place, and I would come back again. The ambiance and vibe are top-notch; my Agnolotti Bistecca was really good, and our server made a really cool moment with our toddler.
Here are our scores:
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Penne Luongo (Colleen): 8.2/10
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Agnolotti Bistecca (John): 8.1/10
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Tequila Granita (John): 7.7/10
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Yamilé "Sparkling Rosé," zero proof (Colleen): 7.7/10
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Bread with whipped ricotta and black truffle honey: 5.2/10 (John), 6.9/10 (Colleen)
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Chicken Parm Fingers (Johnny): possibly the winner of the chicken finger wars so far
Where Is Bad Roman?
Bad Roman is on the third floor of 10 Columbus Circle, inside The Shops at Columbus Circle, about 10 minutes from our hotel in Times Square. It opened in February 2023 and comes from the Quality Branded restaurant group. You can see the full menu on Bad Roman's website.
Is the Bread at Bad Roman Worth Ordering?
Not for me. The whipped ricotta with black truffle honey ($21) was just OK, and I would not order it again.
My issue was the bread, which comes as focaccia toast. It was just a little too much crust for me. I gave it a 5.2/10. Colleen liked it more and gave it a 6.9/10.
How Are the Pastas at Bad Roman?
They were the two highest scores of the night. Colleen gave her Penne Luongo an 8.2/10, and I gave my Agnolotti Bistecca an 8.1/10.
The Penne Luongo ($45) is a black truffle cacio e pepe. The Agnolotti Bistecca ($48) is filled with filet mignon and finished with balsamic dolce. Mine was really good, and I am happy with my pick. If I am nitpicking, the serving was not very big, but that was kind of expected.
What Are the Drinks Like at Bad Roman?
Both of our drinks scored a 7.7/10. I got the Tequila Granita, made with Dobel Diamante Cristalino, Cointreau, and Calabrian honey. The presentation is cool, with the drink poured over habanero shaved ice.
Colleen went zero proof with the Yamilé "Sparkling Rosé" ($17) and said it was good.
Is Bad Roman Kid Friendly?
Yes. There is a kids menu, and our server went out of his way for our toddler (more on that below). Johnny got the Chicken Parm Fingers off the kids' menu, which are chicken fingers with melted cheese and marinara for dipping.
He was not a fan of the marinara, but he enjoyed the chicken fingers. I tried a bite of one, and it was quite possibly the winner of the chicken finger wars so far. By this point Johnny had already ordered chicken fingers at Junior's and P.J. Clarke's, so that is saying something.
Three Moments Worth Talking About
Three moments stood out: the water refills, the toy basket, and the sold-out shirt.
The Water Refills
I was parched after our long day, and I finished my water pretty quickly. The lady refilling water missed our table while refilling the eight tops on both sides of us, twice. I finally had to ask, a few minutes after our entrees were served.
At a restaurant like this, that is table scraps. It is the basics.
The Toy Basket
This was an absolutely impressive moment. Right before our entrees came out, our server walked over with a basket of small toys.
I do not know if he saw the opportunity or if he could tell Johnny was in a mood and we needed help. Either way, he showed them to Johnny, demoed some of them, and walked him through his options. It was a really cool moment, and it totally changed Johnny's mood.
The Sold Out Shirt
I had read online and saw on the menu that Bad Roman sells a "Good Kid, Bad Roman" toddler shirt ($20). Given our last name, this was going to be a purchase. I planned to get Johnny's current size (3T) and the next size up so he had one to grow into.
They were out, and it sounded like they had been out for a while. That is a shame. If the shirt is not on the menu, nobody is going to be disappointed. Putting it on the menu while it is sold out creates a bad experience out of thin air. You always want to have things in place to avoid those moments. It is not the end of the world, but I was excited about that shirt.
Would I Go Back to Bad Roman?
Yes, I would come back. I would just skip the bread next time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bad Roman in NYC?
Bad Roman is on the third floor of 10 Columbus Circle, inside The Shops at Columbus Circle in Manhattan.
What should you order at Bad Roman?
Our two highest scores were the pastas. The Penne Luongo, a black truffle cacio e pepe, scored 8.2/10, and the Agnolotti Bistecca with filet mignon scored 8.1/10.
Is Bad Roman kid-friendly?
Yes. Bad Roman has a kids menu with Chicken Parm Fingers, and our server brought a basket of small toys to our table for our 2.5-year-old.
Does Bad Roman sell a kids shirt?
Bad Roman lists a "Good Kid, Bad Roman" kids shirt for $20 on its menu, but it was sold out when we visited.
Does Bad Roman have mocktails?
Yes. Bad Roman has zero-proof drinks, including the Yamilé "Sparkling Rosé," which Colleen gave a 7.7/10.
Is the bread at Bad Roman good?
The whipped ricotta with black truffle honey and focaccia toast scored 5.2/10 from John and 6.9/10 from Colleen. The bread had a little too much crust for John.
Final Thoughts
Bad Roman gave us three moments: a missed water refill, a server with a basket of toys who turned Johnny's mood around, and a sold-out shirt I was excited about. Overall, great place.
