ROMANO'S MACARONI GRILL

6361 Fallsview Blvd, Hilton Hotel, Niagara Falls ON, L2G 3V9, (905) 354-7887 Lunch and Dinner

On a snowy blustery December evening we decided to go to Romano's Macaroni Grill in the Hilton Hotel across from the Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls.  We have been here several times during the summer months but not during winter.  

When we arrived the large restaurant was quite empty so we had our choice of table and sat near the window looking out on the street.

Our waiter arrived and brought us the menu.  We have had the same waiter before and he is efficient and very polite.  While we scanned the menu we ordered a bottle of Masi wine.

The waiter brought us bread and oil to get us started and when we finished it he brought us another one.

We decided to skip the apps and choose only a main (having been here before we found the mains quite filling, especially with the bread).  My wife decided on the fettucini Alfredo ($19), which the menu described as parmesan, cream and butter.  However, she found it too plain (expecting at least some vegetables like peas, spinach or broccoli).  It also was skimpy on the sauce.

I decided on the Shrimp Portofino ($28).  It came with five very large perfectly grilled shrimp.  This dish also includes spinach, mushrooms, pine nuts, lemon butter all on a bed of capellini.  The flavours blend well and are very good in this dish.  I have had it here before and it is filled with flavour.

We finished our meal with cappuccinos.  The restaurant was quiet with only a few families showing up later, but normally it is quite busy.  It has a great location and nice patio in the summer, but is a tourist trap - like most Niagara restaurants with prices that are high for the quality of the food.  The total bill with one bottle of simple wine, one main each, one cappuccino each and tax and tip was approximately $130.

http://www.niagaramacgrill.com/