Best Restaurant Columbus Circle: Bad Roman NYC

Looking for a fun, inventive restaurant to dine at in the heart of New York City? My vote for the best restaurant in Columbus Circle is Bad Roman NYC! Check out a recent meal we ate at this playful Italian restaurant.

During a recent 4 Days in NYC to celebrate my birthday, my husband and I wanted to dine at a mix of restaurants.

We enjoyed fine dining at an upscale Italian seafood restaurant, Marea. On my birthday, we dined at the popular Via Carota Italian neighborhood restaurant. We also enjoyed a tapas lunch at Chef José Andrés' Mercado Little Spain in Hudson Yards.

And our most playful meal at all was a fabulous lunch at Bad Roman restaurant.

Part of the Quality Branded portfolio of restaurants, Bad Roman is described as a "playful, maximalist Italian restaurant." Located on the third floor of The Shops at Columbus Circle, it's got a great location right across from Central Park.

Here, you'll find a mix of small sides and hearty mains. Dishes are colorful, creative, and full of flavor. I like that they are playful, yet still approachable and satisfying.

Restaurant Vibe

The vibe at Bad Roman is 1990s playlist meets old school Italian in neon meets quirky Brooklyn art collector.

As your eye scans the room, there's a lot to take in. And it's mostly pretty freaking cool.

You're greeted by a neon Bad Roman sign and then a large wild boar cast in stone with a lit neon collar.

Ivy plants hang down from the rafters. Plush-back booths matched the color of our tuna tartare. Checkered designs and squigly neon lights connected the seating areas.

The atmosphere says that there's a lot of fun to be had at Bad Roman NYC. And you can take it all in while enjoying equally fun and playful food and beverages.

🍷 The Drinks

The wine list and cocktail program at Bad Roman is commendable. Since it was lunch and I knew we'd be enjoying more wine at dinner later that night, I opted for a non-alcoholic wine. It was like a Pet-Nat, but with flavor that immediately fell flat.

I should have ordered one of Bad Roman's cocktails. I watched quite a few walk by me, and next time I'll try the Spritzy Spritz or Bad Ombré cocktails.

Marea does currently have an Oregon Pinot Noir on its by-the-glass wine list, and I highly recommend getting that. Or, go for a glass of the Barolo on the menu.

Starters

Bad Roman offers a Raw Bar menu with four items. We opted for the Tuna Tartare ($23) with Agrumato, Lemon. It's served with a crispy salted breadstick that was so delicious. We only wish there were one or two more breadsticks with this dish.

There are many more playful menu items offered as starters. The Black Truffle Honey Whipped Ricotta looks beautiful and seems popular on social media.

Main dishes

Since we were enjoying lunch here, I ordered the Lobster Mango Salad. This is a seasonal salad that I just noticed currently is no longer on the menu. But if it is on the menu during your visit, I highly recommend it!

First, the salad is massive. I cannot underscore this point enough. It can easily feed three people. I did my best to eat as much of it as I could, but only got through about half. It was delicious!

My husband ordered the Short Rib Pappardelle ($34). Wide egg noodles were coated with a hearty San Marzano tomato sauce with forkfuls of short rib and a delightful crunchy breaded topping.

There were so many pasta options on the Bad Roman menu that were tempting. The Penne Luongo alla Gricia sounds and looks amazing.

In addition to the pastas, you'll find large main seafood items such as Scallops Piccata and Faroe Island Salmon. Meat lovers might enjoy the Grilled Pork Shoulder or Chicken Milanese.

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Where to stay nearby

• 1 Hotel Central Park
• Westin New York Grand Central