Me Oh My, Romano’s Julian Pizza Pie!

Overall Rating = 🍕🍕🍕🍕 (4/5)

You know when you want something you can't have and it makes you want it even more? That's what happened to me with Romano's pizza. 

Romano's Restaurant is located in Julian, a small town gem of San Diego, tucked away off the 78 and 79 freeway, inland. My favorite time to visit is during the winter months, when you can feel the cool, crisp mountain air and star gaze at night, away from bright city lights. 

My boyfriend and I have visited the past two years over Thanksgiving weekend for the Christmas tree lighting. Does going two times make it a tradition? Last year it was blistering cold, pouring rain, and the place was deserted because what kind of idiots drive almost two hours to hang out in a torrential downpour? Regardless, we had so much fun. Our one regret? We couldn’t eat at Romano’s Italian Restaurant because even with everyone in retreat from the cold, the place was still booked until closing! 

Pro Tip: Almost everywhere in Julian closes at 8 pm - it's a goldmine for anyone in their 30's going on 80. Romano's closes at 9, Friday and Saturday, so plan accordingly.

Insta Good

I could tell we were in for a treat when all the patrons leaving said "It's worth the wait!"

Winter time in Julian

One of my favorite times to visit.

We were smart this year because we knew there would likely be a long wait (they do take reservations just not over some weekends). So at 5 pm we went in and put our names on the list.

“It will be about a two- hour wait”, We were told, TO which we responded “We’ve only been waiting a year to eat here so that's not long at all!”

I’d like to point out, the wait normally isn't this long, as there were hundreds of people pouring in from neighboring towns for the tree lighting festival.

Now, let’s talk about all things Romano’s. 

When were were finally seated we were taken to the back part of the restaurant, close to the bar. I don’t think there’s a bad seat in the small restaurant. Red and white tablecloths line the two rooms and a cozy fireplace adorns the front entrance’s back wall. 

Our waitress greeted us within minutes and since we’d had over a year to think about our order... we still needed to look at the menus, so we opted for a carafe of house Chianti (highly recommended) and a vegetable plate.

We then decided on our main courses. Mine, shockingly, would be pizza, but what kind of toppings? They had a great selection of meats and veggies.

I rolled with the veggie pizza and being the vegetarian that I am not, ordered pepperoni to top it off.

I ordered the 10” pie, which I could have consumed all to myself if we hadn't eaten so much other food, but for reference, if you want a personal pizza, get this size. The veggies were fresh (zucchini, olives, mushrooms, tomatoes, and onion), piled high (always a plus in my book) and the cheese was light. You can always tell the difference between a good pizza and a great one by how much mozzerella they need to pile on. This one didn’t have too much which made it not too greasy.

Glorious Romano's Veggie Pizza

Add pepperoni if you know what's good for you.

The crust was on the softer and thinner side. It was also a genius idea (I knew I was dating my boyfriend for a reason) to dip the crust into a red sauce we had - he also ordered a meatball side (and now we just sounds like gluttons). 

I think what also made the overall experience great was the ambiance. The lighting fit the warm atmosphere, the music played classic romantic hits in the background, and it’s one of those places you just feel welcomed. The family feel and friendly service made this one of my tops stops this year. 

YUM.

That is all.

Lastly, the prices were reasonable. After a carafe...and a half of wine (if you can’t drink during the holidays when can you?), a few sides, and two main courses I thought our budget was going to be blown but it all came out to around $80 which was almost inconceivable! It's hard to find a quality Italian restaurant and have so many courses for so cheap.  

In summary, this place is a definite go-to Italian spot in the Julian area, and may even be worth a day trip out to explore the town and grab a pie on your way home. 

Julian may be known for its apple pie slices, but I say, step aside, it’s Romano's pizza pie’s time to shine!

Visit Romano’s Menu here: http://www.romanosrestaurantjulian.com/p/menu.html