Romeo's Mexican Food and Pizza

2929 Farnam Street, Omaha, plus four other locations
(402) 346-1110
Mon-Thur 11 to 9,  Fri & Sat 11-10, Sunday Closed
www.romeosomaha.com

Romeo's in the Reader. Romeo's in the theater program. Romeo's on TV! That was it, we had to cave and try this local chain with near-viral advertising. We clipped our $5 off coupon and headed in. Just before noon and the place was already packed with people on their lunch breaks, adding to the cheerful din. Booth was comfy and rather dimly lit; service was prompt. Romeo's boasts both Mexican fare and pizza, so we tried both, but what was this? No complimentary chips? Fine, be that way. We ordered "chips and cheese" ($4.79) to start, and were served a very non-spicy bowl of cheese product, along with a basket of packaged chips that had been under the heat lamp all morning. One soft chicken taco, one pork and bean tostada, and one beef and bean "Sancho" later, we were full of some of the most bland and flavorless fat snacks ever experienced: Floppy tortillas, shiny cheese, wilted lettuce, the whole unsavory package. The pizza was better than Pizza Hut but worse than everything else if you know what I mean. In the sit-down version of Taco Bell, we paid our $28 dollar bill and left, knowing we would laugh about this someday. With everything shamelessly store bought on the cheap, the owner of Romeo's must be laughing, too, all the way to the bank.

Chips and Cheese Dip

Beef and Bean Sancho with Guacamole and Red "Chili"

"Soft" Chicken Taco (with Fried Flour Tortilla) and Pork and Bean Tostada with Sour Cream

Mini Pepperoni Pizza - 8"