394. Buon Appetito – February 23, 2019 – Romeo, MI

After dining at Cantoro Trattoria the Saturday prior, Italian was again on the docket for me the following weekend, this time at Romeo’s Buon Appetito.

I certainly did not object to the repeat in cuisine; I LOVE Italian food. And I loved Buon Appetito’s Eggplant Parmigiana, which I enjoyed as my lunch that day. It was rich, cheesy, deep-fried goodness.

(BTW, how is it that eggplant transforms into something so melt-in-your-mouth amazing when it’s simply dipped in bread crumbs and deep-fried? I’m not a huge fan of that veggie otherwise, but when it’s fried – MAN!)

The restaurant offers a wide array of traditional Italian favorites, including veal-, steak-, and seafood-centered choices and various pastas (with the ability to build your own customized pasta dish). It also serves beer and wine.

No flowery elaboration required here: Buon Appetito’s cuisine is simply delicious, and it’s definitely worth a visit!

117 W. Lafayette St.

Romeo, MI 48065

www.buonappetitoitaliancuisine.com

259. The Rustic Bluebird – July 8, 2017 – Romeo, MI

I like downtown Romeo. It’s got a homey, small-town vibe that I find comforting. And the Rustic Bluebird fits in well within that tranquil aesthetic. It’s a café with a cheery vibe and a wide selection of sandwiches, salads, and bowls (as in veggie bowls, nacho bowls, etc.) that you order from the counter.

The Power Bowl that I decided on was delicious – and HUGE! I definitely got my money’s worth here with a portion size that easily gave me two filling meals from this brown-rice bowl loaded with mixed greens, black beans, chickpeas, avocado, walnuts, sunflower seeds, cranberries, cucumber, onion, and Swiss cheese.

211 N. Main St.

Romeo, MI 48065

www.therusticbluebird.com

230. Thee Office Pub & Cookery – February 11, 2017 – Romeo, MI

OK, Thee Office Pub & Cookery = favorite name ever! Is that not an intriguing moniker? When my friend who lives in Almont and I were trying to think of a halfway spot between our homes to meet for lunch the Saturday before last, she proposed downtown Romeo and some restaurant options there; this one got my vote on name alone.

I’m gathering that this unique name comes from the fact that Thee Office Pub & Cookery is comprised of two rooms with distinct personalities: the restaurant side (the Cookery), which looks like a traditional dining area, and the pub side, which is everything I love in a bar: dimly lit and rustic, with wood paneling and eye-catching memorabilia (a fish made out of beer bottle caps, for instance) scattered all over the walls; reasonable prices; and friendly, attentive service.

I ordered the Cuban sandwich, which was excellent! The last Cuban sandwich I had (at a restaurant not in the Metro-Detroit area – we know better!) was crappy, so I was relieved to have its memory erased from my mind by this delicious one.

So Thee Office Pub & Cookery = amazing-ness! And downtown Romeo – I’m loving it, too! I’d actually never been down there prior to this, which is kind of shocking to me, considering I only live about a half hour from it. It’s a really cute small town with an old-fashioned vibe. On the Saturday we visited, there was an ice sculpture event going on, with many of the local businesses featuring outside their doors a Valentine’s Day-themed ice sculpture also incorporating some aspect of their trade (the dentist had one of a smile with hearts etched around it, while the toy store had an ice castle with hearts carved into it). And there was a horse-drawn carriage giving rides. Definitely planning to come back and soak in more of the town.

128 S. Main St.

Romeo, MI 48065

www.theeofficepub.com