Cafe Roma in Leicester

Tried a platter made up of three types of pasta and each one was delicious.You can choose any three for £19, which sounds fantastic. Tried the tiramisu and it was the best I've ever had, it had a boozy flavour but wasn't strong at all. Liking a cloud melting in your mouth. Cocktails were good too and free water was offered. Very cosy little restaurant, loved the red checkered tablecloths.Perfect. ————— Highly recommend their lunch set, for £8 you get a pasta, a drink and a toast. The pasta was very tasty and the toast would have been better with more butter. Also had his panna cotta to finish and the ricotta was wonderful. Of course, the service wasn't as good as in the evening considering the price of the lunch set. If you're only going to have a coffee, remember to bring change, and you can't swipe your card until it's over £5.

The staff were very kind and service was quick! The diavolo pizza (pepperoni pizza) tasted great and the portions sizes were more than adequate. Would love to see a thick crust pizza! The atmosphere was relaxed and homely. Everything was reasonably priced 🙂 Next time I will try the tiramisu 🤩🤩

Staff were friendly but not very attentive, didn't come ask on is everything the older chef came in from having a smoke and didn't wash his hands before starting to cook and the other chef I saw only washed his hands once the whole time I was there. I had full full of the kitchen and pot wash/sink to see what was what. Food wasn't very authentic. The spaghetti was al dente but the chilli and garlic spaghetti the Chilli just overpowered it that you couldn't taste anything else the carbonara tasted it was more creamy than with eggs and the vegetables were more mushrooms than any other veg but didn't have a great deal of flavor the Parmesan cheese was in a salt pot type thing and it was more the cheese you can buy off of the shelf that has a long life instead of it being fresh cheese Great idea of doing the shearing pasta for mains, but would recommend that they separate the dishes better. Sorry to say but I have had better Italian food from Bella Italian and that's not great food to what I had in this place. Half the tables were empty but was told there wasn't any and needed to come back in a hour, when we did the same tables was empty.

Great food super coffee ☕ cosy beauty full place

Just been for lunch with 9 of my friends, 10 of us in total. Service was brilliant, food came out fast, hot and fresh. The only complaint I have is that we weren’t warned about the £5 card minimum which caused a little bit of a hassle. But other than that it was amazing!!

lovely italian kid cleaning the tables properly like a gentleman although he did give my daughters a weird face and gesture but overall it was a lovely experience and great food.100% visit😉

A lovely find, we enjoyed a delicious homecooked Italian meal here. It's a popular venue, so you definitely need to book in advance. It's open lunchtime only Monday, Tuesday but evenings the rest of the week. It is situated close to the Curve and therefore ideal for a meal before seeing a show. Thank you for making my husbands birthday a special one.

We were very hungry, had train in an hour and a half so ate all - wish to choose a different restaurant 😌 Chips over salted - they could tell us that, that they salt them for us. Pizzas - not Italian way - hard and tasteless Service.... dear lady in black bazer- loosen up a bit. Your tone and face expression tell all- if you hate customer service- just go .

Cafe Roma in a nutshell is traditional Italian food, done to perfection. I've eaten in many places all over the world and my very favourite place, where I feel at home, comfortable and well looked after, is cafe Roma. The clientele is varied, diverse and friendly. The staff are caring, attentive and make you feel great. So whether you're there for a really good coffee or a 3 course meal, I can guarantee you will be super satisfied. Quality starts from the top down; Azizza (owner) is always on-hand, who is not only a great cook, but just a brilliant personality that adds to the experience. Highly recommended from someone that is very picky about food. If you haven't already, go try it today!

Food was delicious, atmosphere and service was superb and it was very modestly priced! Definitely will be back 👌🏽celiac & gluten free friendly 👍🏽

Tried Roma for the first time last week. We will be back. A small, cosy and independent restaurant, the atmosphere was laid-back, and the service friendly and attentive - though I did get the sense they were keen to turn tables quickly. The food was remarkably good - all the Italian classics, served unfussily. An unpretentious restaurant, serving great food at exceptional prices.

Visited today and was served by a women in her 50's/60's. I've never met such a rude and unpleasant person in my life. We left and visited the Greek Corner Bakery instead which was very friendly and welcoming.

Good food Very poor welcome from a young female staff member , no eye contact, no greeting, refused to allow choice of tables, refused a couple a table as 'we're full' ( but weren't full , 3 tables of 2 unoccupied) and overall surley. Portuguese lady who servered us was lovely and exemplified good customer service , so it's not a systematic thing. We loved the food and very close to The Curve theatre, but will have little tolerance for poor service if there is a next time.

You know those little places that just seem to get everything perfect e.g. the seasoning, the flavours, the price, the happy and friendly staff, the drink selection, the sides and even the desserts, well this is one of those places. I absolutely love café Roma, we've only been 5 or 6 times but it's probably my alltime favourite place, don't get me wrong I've eaten much more expensive and fancy foods but I don't think I've been to many places as enjoyable, friendly and downright enjoyable. It's a simple menu but it's all done really well, from my experience theyre happy to make minor changes to accompany certain tastes or requirements. The prices are incredible when you consider both the food quality and the portion sizes, for the hungry folk I'd recommend the calzone, for those wanting something super tasty but saving room for pudding I'd recommend anything from the mains section as the pizzas are pretty big and the pasta very filling. But yeah overall it's great, couldn't recommend it highly enough, it's a real treat whenever we go, I hope it never changes

Ordered from Roma for a work lunch and have been to eat there. The lunch deal would be great value for money but unfortunately the portion sizes are a little small and not filling. I would say the lunch deal is a child's portion size and left quiet a few of us still hungry. Maybe next time I will try the full sized meal and see if its any better. The lasagna was okay nothing stood out about it too much and the garlic bread was mediocre unfortunately. Good atmosphere when eating it but it can become full very quickly.

Counting down to our next visit. Really welcoming friendly place, best pizza I've had in years and much cheaper than elsewhere.

1st Time - I Have Ever Been To Roma Café On Halfords Street In Leicester Was On The 4th December 2023,To Celebrate My Finaceë Birthday - Atmosphere Was Relaxing And Busy,You Were Made Welcome By Everyone Who Worked There,All The Food Was Freshly Made On Site,I Definitely Recommend Going On The Lunch Time Special - You Can Get The Lunch Time Special Meal Deal - You Can Get A Hot Or Cold Drink Included With Meal - Dessert Are Delicious And Can Be Served Hot And Cold Apart From Tiramisu Or The Lemon Tiramisu - Note:- My Best Advice Is To Book Ahead For The Lunchtime Special,It Can Be Really Busy And They Will Reserve A Table For You, Enjoyable For All Occasions - Birthdays, Special Occasions - I Will Definitely Go There Again - (Highly Recommend This Place)

1st Time Ever Been To Roma Cafe On Halfords Street - A Delightful Cafe Serving All Dishes To Do With Italian Food - All Food Freshly Prepared On Site And Brought To You,Pipping Hot - The Staff That Work There Are True Professional And Dedicated To Their Job - My Advice Go On A Lunch Time Deal - They Have A Meal Deal And Comes With A Hot Or Cold Drink Of Any Choice - Everyone In The Roma Café Made Me And My Finaceë Feel Really At Home - And Wanting To Come Back For More - I Always Say Book 1st :- Can Be Really Busy

Great night out, excellent food together with good service. Thanks will be back

Portion size is greatly reduced so much so that I was left hungry after meatballs and spaghetti. I had to pay £5 for a tiny portion of dried (not fresh) spaghetti to accompany my meatballs which were delicious. The combined portion was the size of a child's or starter portion. All in all a disappointing experience. Will not be returning.

From the moment I stepped into this amazing place, I was greeted by warm and friendly staff and drink order taken before I reached my pre booked table! The food is extremely tasty and brought out very professionally and in good time considering we were a large party and not the only party in! They cater perfectly for coeliac vegetarians and any desserts can be made to order by prior arrangement. Thank you to all the lovely staff, you will definitely be seeing me again!

Lovely and informal, service was quick and friendly. Food is fresh and tasty. Did not feel rushed and was able to sit and chat after the meal.

Excellent lunch menu. Super staff.

Amazing food, lovely little place, 10/10 attentive service. Found it on accident and it will be my new go to :)

Very busy lunchtime venue for traditional Italian food. Ideally book a table in advance

If there had been Italian type music and possible table cloths etc I would give 5 stars for the atmosphere. The Roma is excellent value for money with lovely friendly staff and the food does not disappoint - lovely, thank you x

I've never written a review before, but Cafe Roma has compelled me to share my experience. It consistently delivers the kind of high-quality food that I usually expect but often find lacking, especially when faced with prices 50-100% higher elsewhere. This warm and hospitable cafe boasts a traditional decor that enhances the overall dining ambiance. Let me be unequivocal the food at Cafe Roma is nothing short of outstanding. Fresh, simple, hearty, and unpretentious, each dish is a testament to excellence. The traditional flavors, served piping hot, are not only comforting but also delicious. The execution is flawless, making every bite a delightful experience. Equally impressive is the fantastic service, making a visit to Cafe Roma a must. It's not just about the amazing value; rather, it stands out for successfully achieving what more expensive establishments so often fail to do. The fact that this gem is reasonably priced is a welcome bonus. If I were to suggest any personal improvement, it would be the addition of draft beer. That would elevate my rating to a perfect 10. In conclusion, Cafe Roma is doing something truly special, and my advice is to stay true to this winning formula. Don't change a thing—double down on what makes it exceptional.

Went to Roma on a Saturday evening. Called ahead to book a table the week before. Unfortunately we were sat upstairs with only one other table occupied by the time we had finished eating. The upstairs dining room offered no atmosphere at all. We ordered starter and mains. Starters were great but my pizza was disappointing. Crust was too thick and not enough pepperoni. The rest of our food was good. I would visit again but choose a different main as the menu was extensive and interesting.

What a great accidental find. This is a typical 'moms & dads' type of small restaurant which you find all over Italy. 5 stars on the door for food handling & hygiene which was a bonus. Great value for money, excellent food which was so good we went two nights on the trot. The lady owner & staff are very friendly and chatty, nothing was too much trouble, they all made us very welcome. So different from the big Italian themed chain restaurants like Prezzo's etc who just churn out the same old pasta & pizza but without any passion unlike the folks at Cafe Roma who love & eat there own food. Very much recommended place to visit.

Loved the £8 lunch deal, good value. Like the authentic atmosphere.

Really tasty authentic food. Great price

Freshly made Italian food, friendly staff

Pasta sauce tasted like tomato soup.

First time there for lunch menu. There wasn't a lot of taste in the pasta dish, very bland which was disappointing.

We had a lovely meal, garlic bread to start 3 pizzas and 2 drinks. All delicious and great value.

FORZA ROMA! When you find yourself working away from home finding a good place to eat is a must. So it was for me when I found myself spending 2 weeks in Leicester. After the first night’s truly awful dining experience at my hotel, I had the good fortune to stumble across Café Bar Roma on Halford street in the city centre, and what a find it was. Decked out as you would find many a trattoria almost anywhere in Italy (plenty of wood and subtle lighting) it had a warm and welcoming ambience which chimed perfectly with the friendly and efficient service provided by the owner, Azziza, and her team who work tirelessly to ensure your time there is a happy one. It is a café bar during the working week and open as a restaurant in the evening from Wednesday on. Although I did not luncheon there, I wish I had! The lunchtime offers look remarkably good value. Yet, however welcome you are made to feel, you are there to eat, and if the food fails, you won’t return. I did! 4 times. And not once was I disappointed. All the traditional Italian staples are there. Pasta, pizza, meat and fish (and a selection of homemade desserts). First up, my tagliatelle salsiccie (with traditional fennel sausage) was delicious; light but filling, with the pasta al dente and just the right hint of fennel to the overall flavour. Not too strong but not missing in action either. The pizzas are simply first rate. I tried two! A simple rossa at £4.50 and a puttanesca with olives, capers and anchovies at £8.50; combining a light, crispy base (but still retaining a bit of that all-important “chew” factor) married to toppings packed with flavour. The scallopine al marsala (pork escallope in a cream and marsala sauce) at £16 was again beautifully cooked. Tender and moist with a sauce that did not overpower the meat but complemented it just as it should. Finally, to cover all areas of the menu, I had the sea bass fillet in a lemon butter and caper sauce (£16.50). This is an easy dish to get wrong. The fish can be dry or the sauce too sharp. No such trouble here. The fillets were cooked perfectly; skin crisp, flesh soft and the sauce was, again, a subtle but truly flavoursome accompaniment. Compliments to the chef! So, pasta, pizza, meat and fish all perfect; and the prices are so reasonable that one imagines they must rise soon. To produce this quality at the prices charged is nothing short of a miracle. And the well- chosen wines were sensibly priced too, with a carafe of the house at £10 (a real boon for the lone diner) and a bottle of house red or white at £14. It was no surprise to my lonesome self, as I eavesdropped, to hear that many of the diners were frequent visitors. All in all, a terrific dining experience. Great food; great service; great value. It is no wonder the place has been here nearly 30 years. If I am any judge, it will be here many years more. It deserves to be.

Fantastic restaurant. Food, service, atmosphere and value for money is top notch. Looking forward to coming back!

Jedzie bardzo smaczne, czas oczekiwania standardowy, przystępne ceny. Jedyny minus za dość specyficzną ofertę obsługę, mało miłą. Ale poza tym to polecam :)

Lovely meal and service, came after our daughter graduation

Great way to start 2023. Excellent food and service. Keep up the good work. Another visit - Sept 23. Pizza and cold beer. Pizza topping was great but difficult to cut and so had to use hands😊

Lovely little cafe, good food nice staff family go here often.

My husband and I were in the city for a show on Wednesday 6th September. The restaurant was clean and bright. The waitress was lovely and the food was excellent. Would recommend and would visit again.

went to celebrate my daughters graduation . food was lovely surroundings , only down was another table with a graduation on were given complimentary drinks and a desert and we weren't so it felt a bit odd.

Atmosphere and wine were lovely, a shame that the food was bland and overpriced for what it was.

We enjoyed the live saxophone music however food and service was very underwhelming so we won't be going again.

Definitely the best coffee in town, without question! Authentic Italian ambience and lovely, friendly staff. Grazie Roma!

The first time eating here and was very impressed, I will definitely be back. Reasonably priced and excellent service.

I've eaten here a few times over the years and it's a solid option at a very reasonable price point. There are gluten free options as well as vegetarian & vegan ones, so most dietary requirements would be met, I think. Pizza isn't the best here - I think there are better places if that's what you fancy. There's a smaller dining area downstairs and a much bigger room upstairs, suitable for large groups. Service can be a bit hit & miss. The ground floor seems to be accessible, but I'm not sure if there's a disabled toilet. The restrooms are upstairs and small cubicles. It's a popular choice for pre-theatre dining, and you need to book.

Such a popular place and deservedly so. Last couple of times we have called in but pre/ theatre dining meant they were fully booked. Booked last minute yesterday and we were successful. Curve is dark atm so could be why. What a lovely experience it is eating at Cafe Roma. Independent restaurant with delicious food and lovely authentic atmosphere. Highly recommend

Best pizza I've ever had in England

What an amazing find! Pre-theatre meal last night with my Mum. Wonderful food, lovely service & atmosphere. Really good value! Great to find an authentic family run business. Will definitely be returning. Thanks for a fabulous meal Roma!! 😋

100% would recommend. Great authentic menu with lots of options. For main we went for 3 pastas for £18 - ideal for 2 people sharing, each was incredible and delicious. We had a pizza as a side (lol), which was also lovely and fresh. The tiramisu was the best I’ve ever had, again great punch of flavour. Lovely prompt service. Will definitely be going back.

We booked here for a quick pre theatre lunch & it’s a good job we did! Very busy with a great atmosphere. Such a great value lunch time menu, all home made & delicious ,(especially the desserts!). A real Italian gem; friendly, great service & less than £20 for two courses, a Bellini cocktail & coffee🤩

Fabulous pizza, with a nice lemon drink, to go with it, + Great desserts too. :)

Booked well in advance for 5.45 on a Thursday evening to eat before the Curve. Taken upstairs which we’d never been seated at before and thought it’s going to be noisy and service not so good. Correct on both counts unfortunately and also my spaghetti vongole was a mass of clams and hardly any spaghetti. No dish provided for the clam shells . No where near as good as I’ve had there previously . I told the waitress , she just said oh dear I’ll mention it to the chef , no help to me. And at some point I thought live entertainment had stated downstairs , it was ridiculously loud but in fact coming from a ghetto blaster on a shelf near the kitchen . Had to go to the counter to try and pay due the time it took and no one taking payment at the table and it was chaotic . Never mind the noise , the chap trying to do the same in front of me was charged our bill , eventually the card machine was thrust at me without even a glance up . Been a few times before and recommended it to several people who then have also been . I hope it was a one off and indeed a week or so later a friend visited and said no loud music and was generally ok , so maybe it was.

Lovely authentic Italian cafe/restaurant

This truly is a hidden gem for Leicester! Beautiful, authentic Italian food and great, friendly service. Seriously cannot fault this absolutely wonderful place!

First time visit and I couldn’t fault anything or anyone. The food was delicious and we will certainly be back. It looks innocuous from the street but once inside leaves the chains behind in terms of taste and value for money

I came here one evening hoping for a small portion, having overeaten elsewhere at lunchtime. It was just what I wanted, small and of acceptable quality. The waitress was excellent; friendly and attentive. I liked the layout of the place and could imagine I was in Rome. Prices were low.

Delicious food. We got the salmon pasta, alfredo pasta, sea food pasta with garlic and olive oil, meat ball spaghetti, 4 cheese and vegetarian pizza as well as lasagna ( this was in multiple visits because it was so good we kept going back) The salmon pasta specifically has been everyone’s favourite. The lasagna and cheese cake were not very impressive but the apple cake with ice cream made up for it. Overall, I strongly recommend coming, book a table because they are usually fully booked and try their salmon pasta!

We had a table booked for 4.30pm on Thursday 13th July 2023 so we had the evening menu. We both decided to go for bruschetta starters, Sea bass mains served with vegetables and a bottle of white wine. The portion size is perfect for us, allowing you to have three or four courses if you like. All were cooked perfectly well and tasted great. We then had Tiramisu for dessert with a glass of red wine ( we were on holiday) Our bill was about £65. The atmosphere is relaxed and you are never rushed. We were treated to entertainment by a single male musician playing Blues music via the PA system and also the saxophone in a background music type way and never too loud so that you could hold a conversation easily. He was brilliant, we had to buy him a drink. We will return many more times, Love it.

Just by chance we popped in for a meal on our way to the Curve and we will definitely be returning. Lovely food, good prices and comfortable setting. Live Saxophone was very nice.

Went here for a meal with friends on a Friday evening. We had booked the table, online, the previous week. Sat in the downstairs part of the restaurant, which has a very homely atmosphere. Staff were very friendly and helpful, and the service was excellent. We ordered 3 different starters and 4 different mains, and every dish was very good. Would definitely eat here again!

Booked this location due to the over-whelming good reviews. Table booked for 730pm Fri 30th June. Our friend got there about 15 minutes before we arrived so sat at our table. This was in the downstairs area which had maybe 10 or 11 tables. 3 were occupied. A larger group of diners could be heard upstairs. Our waitress was very rude and impatient. Our friend ordered a main but no starter, she asked what I wanted as a main but I said I wanted a starter. She walked over to the counter (approx 10 feet away), ripped the page out of her order book, screwed it up and left it on the top. She then returned to take the remainder of our orders. Our friend said in the time he was waiting for us to arrive, she had turned away 3 or 4 separate couples wanting a table. This was despite the downstairs having at least 7 empty tables. When our food was ready she bought it out, heavily placing it on the table; she did the same with our drinks. I have to say the food was pretty good but the waitress was very rude, impatient and clearly unwelcoming! After our meal, our table was cleared and we asked for the bill. We paid without leaving a tip (as none was earned). I asked to speak to the owner / manager who was a lady called Ariassa (or similar, sorry). She was very nice and apologised unreservedly. I said I wouldn't be going back there and probably the people who were turned away wouldn't be going back. Such a shame this was my experience.

Food was fab. Pizzas were so good and so do reasonable!

The best Italian food in Leicester

A brilliant little cafe/restaurant with lovely staff. A menu with a great selection of pastas, pizzas and other mains. On two visits this month I’ve had the spaghetti and meatballs and it’s been delicious, the spaghetti perfectly cooked with a great tasting sauce and meatballs (being greedy I feel it could come with more than 4 but that’s a minor point!). Whole ambiance is nice, on one visit there was a gentleman playing live music. On one visit I tried the apple tart dessert which was lovely. On the whole a great food in a nice setting. Recommend.

Good, very much palatable Italian experience. To dine.

Brilliant place! Great home cooked Italian food in a very friendly atmosphere. Excellent value, good choice. House frascati was good (so often house wines are not). Everything was excellent. We couldn't see anywhere else for a nice lunch on a Monday so were very pleased to find this.

Food tasted nice, must say portion sizes were a lot smaller than expected. Only 3/4meatballs for what my friend ordered. My Salad which was Onions and Tomateo was a very small portion, I thought it was going to be bigger and more considering it was not the cheapest Salad available. I have heard great things about this place although it tasted great wasn't the best portion size. Maybe I ordered the wrong food.

Pasta is tasty and staff are helpful

Came in here during my lunch break. Very friendly staff and decent food. Everything is done fresh and the £8 lunch meal deal is a very good offer.

Great Italian food value for money. Staff kind friendly and courteous.

A nice café, decent food and nice atmosphere.

I wish to try their food but they told me their closing soon but on Webpage and on doors it says till 22 and last orderes befor 20:30 and we came at 20:15. I am very disapointed. Waiter a chef was looking at me with angry face and being rude. So if you do not have reservation do not even go there.

Three of us just had a really nice Thursday night out here.

Fantastic little gem of restaurant. We had a great evening in there will definitely be back. Thank you for your hospitality.

Wife had a meal that appeared to have had the life microwaved out of it, unnaturally too hot.

Amazing food and service staff very nice

Beautiful cosy restaurant with delicious food! Highly recommend

Myself and a friend ate here prior to going to a show at The Curve. Lovely friendly welcome. Plentiful menu. Authentic Italian food. The spaghetti vongole was delicious. 3 courses and a bottle of wine for under £40 what’s not to like.

A beautiful relaxed meal for a friends birthday and before going to the theatre. The food was delicious and the staff were excellent.

Perfect. It's a really good Italian restaurant. 👍

My go to place for fantastic coffee. Beautiful, authentic Italian food. Friendly staff.

This place is an absolute gem. Me my mother and my teenage daughter popped in for dinner after the theatre and we all loved every minute of our visit. The food was delicious and very reasonably priced - some great Italian dishes you don't find in the big chain restaurants. The service was excellent so polite and friendly. We are not near to Leicester but would come back just to eat here again thankyou

Excellent authentic Italian, friendly staff and lovely food and coffee.

We been here 4th times, first time it’s was really nice food quantity good and garlic bread taste good but the last two times the quantity gone down and the garlic bread the bread also the pizza base taste slightly different. Really think they change chef. Can understanding with £7 lunch but if we ordered a pizza to pay original price I expected a better quality pizza base.

Fab service and the food was 5 star red wine 5 star staff were great overall great night will go again

Fab experience the food was top class and red wine we had 3 different dishes with garlic bread and 3 sweets we will highly recommend this fab Italian restaurant

Lovely little place. Food great and value for money

For the first time in ten years I was so disappointed today. I know during inflammation you had to increase prices. It’s expected and we’re still happy to pay for your quality. But today I ordered the mista bruschetta I always get to find you reduced the portion size. I was gobsmacked when it was served. I never thought you would do that. You may not have increased the price on that but to reduce its size and disrupt continuity really was not good. I brought someone for there first experience telling them how good it was then looked stupid with the mini portion. I’m disappointed in you guys after 10 years

Very nice place,simple inside but incredibly tasty🥰

Delicious food and great service, will definitely be back :)

Lunch time menu offer is very good value.

A real gem. I've often been for lunch, but last week I went for a pre-theatre evening meal and it was excellent. We shared the 3 pasta platter for two, which was a great way of trying different dishes. The food is always very good, in a friendly atmosphere and sensibly priced.

Lovely friendly staff lovely food. Welcoming and reasonable one of my favourite places excellent service always fresh hot food and lovely wines teas coffees and cakes. Would highly recommend.

My favourite Italian in Leicester. Good quality food and very good value..The staff are always friendly and welcoming. My favourite part is it's old school feel, no pretentious here at all, no bling which seems to be coming more and more a part of Italian restaurants in the UK. If you eat out in Italy most restaurant's let the food do the talking and this place is the same. It's been in Leicester years so that says it all doesn't it. Fantastic!

What a great find. Why have I never been here before. Great food great value I've added it to my list.

Secret little Italian coffee house with authentic read-only priced food. Great atmosphere.

Great staff. Lovely Italian food. History recommend. Authentic.