Roman Cucina
Alongside Coit’s treacherous roads lies Richardson’s best kept secret, Roman Cucina — a paradise of all things Italian. Soft candles and dark interiors greet you as you cross the threshold and wait for your eyes to adjust. All the waiters at Roman Cucina are the sweetest, most attentive people in the world. No matter who you meet, they’ll lead you to your table with a smile. You’ll be seated in a romantic, though slightly cramped, booth and offered bread and butter. We opted for the Al Fuoco in fettuccine, though our waiter helpfully reminded us that we could choose a different pasta shape if we so desired. Along with the dish, we were pleasantly surprised to receive a starter house salad, which was absolutely delicious. The pasta initially wasn’t spicy, but was perfectly delicious after a generous helping of red pepper flakes. We also ordered the tiramisu, which was soft, decadent, and irresistible. We finished the entire thing in a few bites. Overall, Roman Cucina is an excellent place for a romantic sit down dinner for two. The ambiance is unmatched, the food is absolutely delicious, and the waitstaff is incredibly helpful and friendly. The only restaurant that I’ve been to where every aspect has been a 10/10!
Food: 10/10
Ambiance: 10/10
Value for money: 10/10
Service: 10/10
Zenna Thai
Zenna Thai is located close to CityLine on Renner — if you’ve ever been near Chuy’s, it’s only five minutes away. However, visit with caution; this place was NOT it, at least for me. At first glance, the restaurant was homey and inviting, with live music and a bustling atmosphere. We took our seats near the live musician and browsed through the menu. I ordered the Pad Thai with a miso soup on the side, and my friend ordered the chicken skewers. Imagine my surprise when her chicken skewers came out as chicken skewer, singular. My Pad Thai wasn’t so bad, but my friend’s noodles were so sweet that it tasted like “peanut butter with no jelly” — her words. The miso soup tasted too much like vodka, but was otherwise tolerable.
On the dessert menu, fried ice cream caught our eye, but fried ice cream was not what we received. Our waiter morosely deposited a chunky ball of flour on our plates, and when we took a bite, not only was the ice cream frozen solid, it tasted incredibly sour. For the first time in my life, we sent a dish back. My friend raised her hand and waved the server over, but he pointedly avoided our gaze and busied himself behind the counter. Eventually, however, another server noticed our plight and caught his attention. He took the dish back, but we were still charged for the food. Overall, Zenna Thai was not the place for me in terms of food, service, and overall value for money. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m heading back to Roman Cucina.
Food: 4/10
Ambiance: 8/10
Value for money: 4/10
Service: 2/10
