Is there parking nearby, or should I plan differently?

Romanissimo is in the Gaslamp Quarter, which has street parking and paid lots, but they fill up quickly—especially evenings and weekends. Your best bet: arrive early or use a parking app to find spots. Some reviewers mention it's a short walk from hotels in the area, so if you're staying nearby, walk it.

Do I need a reservation, or can I just walk in?

The spot takes reservations and you should absolutely use them, especially for dinner, date nights, or weekends. Reviewers note the place gets packed—one mention joining a Yelp waitlist before arriving. Walking in without a reservation during peak times means a real wait.

What should I order on my first visit?

Go for the carbonara—reviewers specifically praised it as hard to find and done right—and the beef short rib lasagna. If you're ordering seafood, the lobster ravioli ($40) gets praise, though some felt the prices didn't match the portion. The wine list is solid; staff will swap drinks if something doesn't land.

Is this place good for a date night or special occasion?

Yes—the vibe is designed for it, the decor is thoughtful (reviewers loved it for Valentine's Day), and service leans attentive. Just know the restaurant prioritizes volume, so tables are tight. If you like intimate spacing, this isn't it; if you want energy and ambiance, you're in the right spot.

Can I bring kids or my dog?

Both are welcome. The spot is marked kid-friendly and pet-friendly with outdoor seating, so you've got options. Just book ahead so staff can seat you appropriately—cramped tables aren't ideal for families or dogs in tow.

What vegetarian options do you have?

Romanissimo has solid vegetarian options on the menu. It's a strength of theirs according to the vibe tags, so you won't be scrounging for a salad. Ask your server what's seasonal or off-menu—they seem willing to work with you.

When's the best time to go without a long wait?

Lunch is your move if you want to avoid crowds. Dinner service is when they push hard to fill seats, which creates waits and that cramped feeling reviewers mentioned. If you're in the Gaslamp Quarter for the evening, book ahead and expect a vibrant, packed room—that's the trade-off for this neighborhood spot.

Romanissimo Cucina Italiana — Italian in Gaslamp Quarter, S…

“Romanissimo is downtown's rare Italian spot that ditches the Gaslamp party-district playbook for actual tablecloths and traditional carbonara.”

**What makes this different:** While most Gaslamp restaurants chase the bar-crawl crowd or lean into tourist-trap efficiency, Romanissimo commits to the kind of white-tablecloth Italian that feels imported from North Beach—right down to the traditional carbonara (egg, guanciale, no cream) that most places won't bother making properly. It's a weird move for Fifth Avenue, where the surrounding venues pulse with bass-heavy soundtracks and two-for-one drink specials. Here, someone actually swapped out a guest's moscato mid-meal when it wasn't hitting right. That level of service doesn't happen at spots optimizing for turnover.

The space skews romantic without feeling stuffy—Valentine's Day reservations pack the room tight, so if you need elbow room, come on a Tuesday. Tables are small, which matters when you're splitting a $40 lobster ravioli and the beef short rib lasagna (both solid moves). Servers like Alec run attentive without hovering, the kind of pacing that works whether you're celebrating an anniversary or just need a break from the Gaslamp chaos outside.

Parking is the usual downtown nightmare. Walk from your hotel if you can—it's five minutes from most Gaslamp properties, though you'll pass enough bar patios that the secondhand smoke situation is real. The Yelp waitlist works here, so join it before you leave your room.

Prices run high for what you get—$40 ravioli isn't a steal—but the kitchen takes the food seriously in a neighborhood where that's optional. Service occasionally drags when they're slammed, but the trade-off is they won't rush you out to flip the table. If you want Italian that doesn't feel like a conveyor belt, this is the Gaslamp spot that actually pulls it off.