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Roma Imports
Categories: Restaurants Italian Restaurants Delis Italian, Delis [Edit]
627 S Vine AveTucson, AZ 85719
(520) 792-3173
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 9 am - 6 pm
Fri-Sat 9 am - 8 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
We are a corner store that specializes in Fresh Foods, Catering, Grass Fed Beef, Fresh Fish, An amazing Salad Bar, Our Deli has all Boars Head Meats &… read more »
78 reviews for Roma Imports
Review Highlights
"Anchovie Stuffed Olives Marinated in Olive Oil."
(in 7 reviews)
"...Genoa with its roasted red peppers, salami, and provolone..."
(in 4 reviews)
"Kind of hard to find, but well worth it."
(in 7 reviews)
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78 reviews in English
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Review from Jessica C.
Tucson, AZ
1/8/2012
While writing a review about the crappy food/service I had at Luna Bella last night I realized I was currently eating a fantastic dinner - Roma's take-away, part-cooked pastisio. I felt the urge to review.
I love you, Roma. I love you so much. I love that I put a somewhat nondescript aluminum pan filled with 'stuff' in the oven and what came out is magic. Pure, glorious, nectar-of-the-effing-Gods food magic. I have had the same experience with everything I have bought at Roma. It's beautiful, it's like poetry. It's a food unicorn in the moonlight.
Me, my fiancee, and my roommate buy a pan, cook it, and then we fight like rabid dogs for the remaining portions. It usually turns into a contest to see which of us can cram more pasta into our faces the fastest because dammit if we're going to let another person eat more than us.
Sometime we feel sick. But it's not because of the food. -
Review from Karuna M.
Tucson, AZ
1/1/2012
Roma is one of our favorites. It's my go-to place for ingredients: caperi salati, anchovies, dried porcini, olive oil, cannoli shells (and even filling, already in a pastry bag ready to go.) They have a wonderful huge selection of antipasti in the deli counter, *real* Italian salumi, fresh baked bread. You can order a wonderful sandwich or meal, or grab any of their wonderful home-made frozen dinners, pastas or desserts from their huge wall of freezer cases.
I could write pages about their salumi - but you should go and try it yourself. I'll just say the wine-cured salami, hot capicola, gorgeous imported prosciutto and true mortadella were the hands-down favorite of my family's Christmas antipasto platter. Just go. They're local. They're delightful. They're delicious. -
Review from Michelle C.
Tucson, AZ
12/31/2011
This place is a gem.
I spent a lot of time with my Italian grandmother growing up. There was a little deli in Phoenix called Capitano's, and later Napolitano's when his son took over, where she would get all of the good meats, sausages, cheeses, pasta, and other ingredients for her cooking. I will never forget how she used to harangue them about how thick to slice the Genoa salami. "Paper thin!", she would yell hoarsely over the deli case. (To this day, I prefer my salami very thinly sliced.) Sometime during my teen years, the deli closed down.
I hadn't been able to find a place as good until someone told me about Roma. I almost cried when I found the spiral chicken parmesan sausage in the freezer. I hadn't had it in so many years, so I bought some. It was delicious, and very much like what I remember having as a child.
So many other things in the store are wonderful. If you can get in early enough before it sells out, the caponata is amazing. The sandwiches I've tried so far are great. I like the Vesuvio, with the Count Dracula sausage, and the Parma; the olive paste is soooo good, and the proscuitto is high quality. I always take home a few stuffed peppers, and something from the freezer, like a lasagna, or a pastitsio.
They're often very busy when I come in, but they are friendly and always ready to answer questions. They speak my language ("gabagool", "mootsarrell", "brajoot"), and they know what I mean when I ask for "paper thin" salami. :D
The eating area is very small, but it's a deli, not a restaurant or sit-down sandwich shop. If you are expecting a "Jimmy John's" experience, you will be disappointed. If you're looking for a truly great delicatessen, here it is. -
Review from Mari M.
12/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
People of Tucson, you lucky ducks! This place is a gem. As soon as we walked in the door, we were greeted by friendly people who helped us make a decision on a very tasty lunch.
I ordered a sandwich which was a tasty Italian roll full of thinly-sliced Italian meats, fresh mozzarella, lettuce, giardinera with balsamic vinegar. I ate the whole damn thing. My dining companion has the pasta bolognese which came with some fresh Italian bread. Needless to say that when the noodles were gone we began spreading the most tasty bolognese on the bread. Wow.
When we left we took the time to peruse the freezer, after freezer full of frozen homemade product. Fresh pastas and raviolis in a variety of combinations, lasagnas made with beef or chicken or sausage, numerous Italian cookies all for lucky ducks to take home.
You'll need GPS to find this place but if you haven't been there ... get there! -
Review from Eva N.
Tucson, AZ
10/28/2011
In a nut shell: A little hard to find, great food, and good grocery shopping.
My coworker and I went to lunch here last week. We called in an order of two sandwiches and picked those up when we got there. The staff was pretty friendly, but busy. It was our first time, but we enjoyed it. We browsed the huge freezers aftewards for potential food for home. We also shared and enjoyed on freshly filled cannoli. It was great!
We'll be back. Just a warning, it is hard to get here, even with Google Maps and a smart phone. The map on their page is hard to read, but it really is the easiest way to get there: From Campbell/Kino. -
Review from Mark S.
8/11/2011
With all these glowing reviews I absolutely abhor being the voice of dissent here. I pondered not writing this review at all, but here goes...
My friend and I went for lunch. It was a little out of our way, but we were hoping it was worth the drive.
What we ordered:
Me - Pizza with Vodka sauce and Prosciutto. Came with a salad.
Him - Matt's special. This sandwich was touted as one of the top 15 sandwiches in the city.
We ended up waiting nearly half an hour for our food. We eventually found out the pizza was the culprit. You think they could mention that when you order.
We ended up splitting the entrees in the interest of trying out different stuff.
Pizza: I did not taste the vodka sauce. I am a cheese person and even I thought there was too much cheese. Crust seemed like Pillsbury pizza crust you buy in the grocery store. Prosciutto was high quality.
Salad: It was under-dressed. I ate a couple of forkfuls and decided not to bother with it any more.
Sandwich: WAY too much balsamic vinegar and too many roasted red peppers. Those two things overpowered everything else on the sandwich, which was a shame, because the bread was good and the meat was high quality.
Ambiance: They have several six person tables crammed into a small area. They end up being communal tables, so you end up eating with people you don't know.
Price: $8 per entree. Not totally outrageous, but I know I can spend $8 elsewhere and be MUCH more satisfied.
Heavy Sigh... another place I had high hopes for that let me down.Listed in: GRRRRRR..., The Boot
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Review from Greg E.
Tucson, AZ
8/2/2011
Oh my gosh Roma's is the best.
This market/deli is phenomenal. You can go there for lunch, to buy raw ingredients, or pre-made food to cook later. They have homemade pasta and sauces that you can cook yourself for dinner which make for some great meals. If you want any kind of Italian food Roma's is your place, their stuff is Fresh and out of this world. -
Review from Jessica L.
Tucson, AZ
8/7/2011
I like this place. It's great in that it definitely reminds of the Italian restaurants and bakeries in the East. I went in for dinner one weekend and grabbed a meatball sub (next time, i will definitely be more adventurous). It was delicious! The bread was a little tough but I expect that's just how it's supposed to be. My friend also liked her Ultimate Roma, and commented that there were so many flavors that it was tough to focus on just one (that's always a good thing in my book). The grocery and frozen foods section was interesting and I'll have to look more closely at it next time!
I know that they aren't a bakery, but my one big disappointment was that they didn't have fresh cannolis :(...where can I get a good cannoli in Arizona?! -
Review from Derrick D.
Eugene, OR
5/1/2011
I love this place. It looks much like every little Italian-American sandwich-shop-cum-grocery I've ever been to back home in Chicago, and that's a good thing.
First: the freezer/fridge section. Excellent homemade sausages--the ironically named Count Dracula's garlic sausage is my favorite. Wonderful homemade pastas--I like the round asiago ravioli. If you need a pre-assembled lasagna for last minute quick dinner party plans, fresh or frozen, this is the place to go.
Their red sauce is quite tasty. I like the texture; it's not tomato paste nor chunks of tomato, but that perfect medium. And not bland, either.
An impressive array of imported Italian meats and cheeses sit in the deli counter. Yum! Haven't bought any yet because my pockets aren't that deep, but it's the good stuff.
Next: The sandwiches/lunch specials. I love their eggplant parmesan, either in sandwich or entree form. Yes, the eggplant slices are fried so no it's not health food, but it is delicious. Spaghetti and meatballs here are what they should be: a fresh, simple, flavorful classic. The chicken meatballs are tasty too! The aforementioned Count Dracula's sausage is available on a hot sandwich for dining in. As is the delicious lasagna!
The only thing I've had that was so-so was the chicken parmesan (both entree and sandwich) because the chicken was a bit rubbery. But that doesn't take down my 5-star review at all because everything else is still awesome.
Seating is very casual, no frills--just some vinyl-topped tables in the back. Order up front and they'll bring your food out when it's ready.
Best Italian food I've had in Tucson, and honestly, I think that Roma would do well in one of Chicago's little Italian neighborhoods, too. -
Review from Zack J.
Tucson, AZ
5/12/2011
I had my first visit to Roma Imports today and I was all around pleased with the experience.
What brought me to Roma was the promise of good anchovies. It seems that no matter which grocery store I try, the anchovies are just plain bad; more like cat food than people food. I figured that an Italian import store just had to have good anchovies, and I was not disappointed.
The staff at Roma were full of smiles and glad to help out, even though I arrived 15 minutes before closing time. I was shown to the dry goods section for a selection of anchovies at first, but then upon asking a very nice fellow behind the counter which anchovies he recommended I was turned onto the Martel brand. These anchovies are in a HUGE can (well, huge in the case of anchovies) that holds something like 14 ounces of flat fillets in olive oil. The employee told me that those were his favorite, but he also showed me the deli anchovies (sold by the pound) but warned me that they were very mild, which was entirely true.
I left with the giant can (luckily it come with a snap-on plastic lid) of anchovies and a frozen slice of lasagna. I will definitely be going back for more.
Thank you Roma Imports! I'll see you soon! -
Review from Paul D.
Oro Valley, AZ
4/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Roma Imports and places like this are the reason I Yelp. It is one of those special places that when you find it, you feel like you are in on a secret. Though it is not much of a secret anymore. It is located in a desolate industrial area. Desolate except ,of course, for the area right around Roma Imports. There were cars in the pull up spots in front of the store / restaurant, and up and down the street.
There is a menu right outside the front door giving you a clue what you are in for once you enter the establishment. They have a wide range of sandwiches had Italian dishes that they serve up. The store is also very interesting to browse through. They have a nice assortment of olive oils, spices, etc... There is a deli counter with a lot of pre-made food ready to go.
In the back on the right side sits the refrigerators. Here is where they have the ravioli and other frozen dishes that are ready to bring home and serve.
I really liked this place. Next time I will bring a cooler. -
Review from Colin W.
Tucson, AZ
4/22/2011
I can't explain how happy I am to know this is in Tucson and that I'm not dreaming. Everything here is exceptional, from the pasta to the frozen bakes to the sausage (spicy!) to the sandwiches for lunch. It's just beautiful REAL Italian stuff, and you can't beat that.
My wife and I did a taste test on our famous sausage pasta: one with Roma's sausage and one with "the other guys"...it was a good laugh. Roma's crushed it and proved themselves worth the drive (or extra trip) to get the good stuff. -
Review from Jackie T.
2/17/2011 ROTD 8/5/2011
"Only the kind in heart can make a good soup." This humble sign hanging in the dining room symbolizes Roma Imports' passion for food. This discreet building with only an Italian flag to make it stand out is hidden in an industrial part of town past a massive Cox Communications building. It's the last place you would expect to find a family-owned Italian market with frozen homemade lasagna and imported wedges of parmigiano-reggiano.
Once I found a parking spot behind one of the white work trucks on the side of the street, I stepped in and felt immediately comforted by the aroma. Baked bread and sauces simmering with garlic tickled my nose and made my stomach growl even though I just had breakfast.
The store has one long narrow room to explore. To the right is the deli with delectables from around the world. Prosciutto (an Italian cured ham), elusive cipolline onions and freshly baked focaccia are some of the Italian goods. Spanish serrano ham, Portugese linguica sausage, and hummus made in-store are some of the other goods available. The left has a wide assortment of packaged goods such as canned San Marzano tomatoes (which taste riper in sauces) and DeCecco pasta (a premium Italian brand that stands better to reheating). Tubed tomato paste and tubed anchovies (convenient for making sauces such as puttanesca) are also available. Further into the store you'll see the heart of the store: the freezers.
There are the Italian standards like lasagna and spaghetti. There are more adventurous items such as the goat cheese, caramelized onion and roasted red pepper quiche and the veal scaloppini. You will find a plethora of homemade sausages without any fillers or additives. There are Italian sausages, Weisswurst (Bavarian veal), and Count Dracula (a garlicky sausage with fennel). There is no room for a smoker so they imported their smoked sausages such as Andouille from a butcher in Phoenix. There are homemade Italian cookies, tiramisu, turnovers, and more meals than your freezer has room for.
One of the biggest time-savers to stock up on would be the sauces made here from scratch without added sugar. All of the ingredients are listed directly on the label for the homemade items. Knowing what you're getting even when it's homemade is a rarity that is very helpful for the nutritionally-conscious. Try asking the girl at the bake sale stand what she put in her brownies.
If you are not here to stuff your pantry, you are probably here to stuff your belly. You will have to stuff yourself into the small dining room and even share a table with a stranger if it's crowded enough. Nobody minds though. They are too focused on their sandwiches and portabella ravioli with sage butter.
Some of the things you will have trouble finding elsewhere are salted capers (essential for chicken piccata), anise oil (used for baking biscotti and pizelles), 00 flour (the Italian grade of finest-ground flour, usually used for pasta making), filleted anchovies (an addition to sauces to add umami, or savoriness) and dried porcini mushrooms. Giardiniera is also sold here in bulk. It makes a necessary addition to sandwiches and the Chicago Italian roast beef sandwich, which you need to eat before you die.
The family atmosphere helped draw me in. The cashiers always greeted me and said bye whenever I left the store. If my arms are overflowing with boxes of pasta, one of the workers will notice and rush to my aide, putting some of the items behind the cash register to be ready for me when I leave.
I haven't been here too long, I'm getting homesick.
Disclaimer: I interviewed the owner Lillian to clarify some information when I was writing about Roma for a class of mine. She gave me a free sandwich afterward. She didn't know I'd yelp about this place but I thought I would include this bit of information for fairness. -
Review from Beverly M.
Tucson, AZ
11/4/2011
Roma Imports is really the only place in T-Town to find authentic Italian subs and all my favorite Italian specialties. They even stock my favorate Italian noughat candy, and Brioshchi, the best indigestion relief. I am a huge fan of this place.
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Review from Brennan M.
Manhattan, NY
The fiance and I found out about this place on yelp and headed over right away. Seriously, there was only about a ten minute gap between the moment of discovery and the movement towards the car. I guess I'm just a slave to yelp.
We went in for lunch and ordered the signature pork sandwich and the salami and havarti sandwich. They were both really delicious and really large and really cheap (considering how much you get). The pork sandwich was so stuffed full of pork and slaw that I actually found myself thinking (and even saying out loud!) "this sandwich has too much pork in it." Too much pork?! Let me tell you, in the world of problems, we call this a good problem. The salami and havarti sandwich was perfect: high quality fixin's on a divine piece of bread.
Being so pleased with our lunch, we decided to buy up some of their frozen offerings. We figured that we couldn't really judge the place fairly until we've tried some of the frozen stuff that they make in their own kitchen. So we picked up the spinach-artichoke-feta rigatoni and diavolo sauce to top it, the asiago and garlic ravioli and puttanesca sauce to top it, a block of tallegio and ball of mozzarella, and a big crusty baguette. It all made for an amazing meal. My mouth is watering just thinking about it again. I definitely recommend doing a Roma Imports dinner like we did. It was extremely affordable (about $4.50 for a bag of ravioli big enough to feed two and about $4 for a container of sauce), easy to make (you pretty much just need a sauce pan and knowledge of how to boil water), and just really freakin' delicious.
I only wish I discovered it sooner! -
Review from Amanda B.
Tucson, AZ
This is a fabulous little place. A friend started reading the menu to me about a year ago, bragging about her easy access. When I began working in Tucson, co-workers would regularly dart over for lunch and come back with amazing looking leftovers, but I could never quite make it between car trouble and odd hours. Finally about a month ago, on my day off, I decided to head down, pick up some sandwiches and try a few of the oven baked meals.
The beef lasagna is one of the best things I have ever had. I've decided that I can't stop in, unless I'm just on lunch break, without making sure I haven't been grocery shopping and have recently been paid. I can't seem to walk out the door without having spent $45 and have at least four days worth of meals and (either strawberry or old school) tiramasu. The frozen paprika chicken is amazing, the right amount of spicy, and best served with grilled red potatoes. The lamb kofta is currently sitting in my freezer, and my hopes are high. -
Review from Laura D.
So far, my favorite food spot in Tucson. After you get lost trying to find it, you pull up and park outside this unassuming store with an Italian flag waving in front of it. As you walk in, you are warmly greeted by the staff. When you walk in, grab a menu off the counter to look at all the amazing sandwich options. I went for the suggested Ultimate Roma (Slow cooked pork in mustard) served on fresh crusty bread with a homemade slaw on top. Awesome. Other sandwiches at our table were the Avocado Salad sandwich (Egg salad with lots of avocado in it), and an Italian Dip sandwich which had a plethora of meats like pepperoni, salami,roasted peppers etc and came with a bowl of dipping sauce that looks a lot like a rough spaghetti sauce with chunks of peppers and onions.
There are coolers and coolers of homemade meals just needing to be reheated, from homemade ravioli, Chicken Parmesan, baked ziti to lasagna.
The desserts? To die for....if you've never had it, pick up some homemade Spumoni ice cream (pistachio with chunks of cherries and nuts in it, amazing). They also offer platters of tiramisu (with special strawberry and lemon tiramisu flavors).
This place is full of items you can bring home and let everyone assume you're a brilliant Italian cook. Can't wait to go back...yum!Listed in: Tucson's Yummiest...So Far!
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Review from Josh H.
3/31/2011
I went to Roma because of Yelp.
I've gone back on average once a week for close to a year and a half now.
The staff is friendly, the food is fantastic, and if you haven't been to one of their feasts, you are SO missing out.
If you like them, be sure to sign up for the daily email detailing their specials. They rotate daily, and I've never seen one over $10.
Their grocery selection is great too, and I buy all of my good olive oil and canned tomatoes from them now.
My only slight, minor, tiny infinitesimal complaint is that I find their soups to often be somewhat underseasoned. But that's not a big deal. -
Review from Nicolas F.
Tucson, AZ
9/10/2011
This place is impressive. It's a little Italy right here in Tucson. Authentic as heck. I'm in love with this place. Everything is the bomb here!
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Review from Sal Q.
Tucson, AZ
2/26/2011
Can't remember when we developed the automatic 'drool' response to the word 'ROMA'. I read about human rights abuses in Europe, and I drool. SUP?
They are simply the best for pastichio, or any of their lasagna dishes. I could go on and on. The bread pudding with sauce is to-die-for.
Lillian is an angel because walking in the door is heaven when it comes to excellent food.
5 stars is not enough. -
Review from Dan J.
Sierra Vista, AZ
2/13/2011
So...I don't ever give 5 stars, and if the food was not so amazing, this would be a 4 star review because there is no wait-staff or true dining area. That being said, the reason you go here is for the food - and it is amazing. We had a great meal (the Roma sub and the Italian Dip) along with a sampling of about 4 of their different salads/sides. We left happy (and with a to go bag). We will definitely be trying both their take home dinners and their warm dinners as we come back to here.
Given that I am giving this a 5 star rating, my disclaimer is that this is on the food only along with the great service we received, but this is a deli. Don't come here looking for a 5 star romantic ambiance type of place. You come here for 5 star food and to get a truly authentic meal.
Also, good news...they are now open for dinner until 8PM on Fridays and Saturdays. -
Review from brian m.
Tucson, AZ
9/12/2011
Ok, this place verges on 5 stars but it's really not a full blown cafe but rather a deli with awesome food made on site. Best olives in Tucson. Great daily lunch specials and awesome take and bake frozen entrees. Not far off from my favorite deli in my hometown in NJ.
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Review from Janice M.
11/9/2010
Roma Imports is one of a kind store. Not only they carry various imported Italian grocery items, they also have home-made baguettes, tomato sauce, pizza dough, fresh stuffed raviolis, ice-cream, cannolis , frozen Italian dishes, which are made in their kitchen just behind those double doors, and much more. If you wish to dine-in, they also got this little sitting area where you can order authentic dishes to enjoy before or after shopping for your grocery.
The store is located in the middle of nowhere near downtown. During my first visit, I thought I was lost when I found myself passing by the residential area just before arriving to Roma Imports. This little store is definitely not a big grocery store but I somehow find myself spending nearly an hour there every once in a while. They carry many imported items that can't be easily found in Tucson and not to mention their food is delicious.
Also, just a reminder, they don't accept credit card under $10 purchase, like many small ethnic grocery stores out there. So, bring some cash or get a couple of those frozen dinner for those upcoming lazy nights that you just want something quick, tasty, and way wAY WAY better than any pizzas you could get delivered to your doorstep. I am giving a 5-star rating for Roma Imports for their effort in providing Tucson good authentic Italian grocery and food. -
Review from Robyn N.
Phoenix, AZ
4/11/2011
I loved this place and would drive from Phoenix to Tucson just to stock up on amazing Italian cookies, some delicious sandwiches, and baguettes to go!
This is the best Italian bakery I have found so far in Arizona and I can't wait to go back. -
Review from David S.
Sahuarita, AZ
2/17/2011
Group from work wanted to try a new venue and someone suggested Roma Imports. So we piled in the car a headed over.
The establishment exterior is not picturesque by any means and parking is limited having to park along the street. Inside though it is quant with a semi-small area in the back to sit and eat. The staff is friendly and helpful and on their suggestion I choose the #1 the Ultimate Roma. A baguette loaf filled with Capocolla, Genoa Salami, Mortadella (sliced Italian sausage), Provolone, Giardiniera (pickled pepper and jalapeno - hot or mild), roasted red peppers, lettuce, tomato, and topped with vinaigrette. The various meats and cheeses were distinct and flavorful making for a great Italian sandwich. The rest of the crew's sandwich selections were just as awesome (chicken parmesan, egg plant parmesan, and roasted veggie and goat's cheese).
I wished I had more time to look around as they have various Italian products ranging from spices, olive oil, pasta, canned goods, deli meats, and cheeses. Also, you can select various take home foil "feasts" which are various pre-made dishes you can take home and heat (lasagna, Lamb Moussaka, quiches, etc.).
I will have to come back and pursues their wares so I can whip up a nice Italian meal from scratch. -
Review from David H.
Tucson, AZ
10/14/2010
Totally fantastic.
I'm not sure why, but it took me forever to finally find this place. I'm seriously regretting that though.
They have excellent options for lunch, as well as tons of great take-away options, refrigerated and frozen. I try to stop by every few weeks to pick up one of their many, many varieties of ravioli or frozen dishes. I've yet to find one that disappoints (the portobello mushroom raviolis are fantastic).
All told, it's a great place to stop by -- but it does get very busy during weekday lunches, so be prepared. -
Review from Amanda B.
Updated - 11/9/2010 2 Check-ins Here
I went in on Saturday afternoon really hungry and craving a sandwich.
I have shopped here numerous times and gotten the take home pasta, but I had never tried the food menu items. Knowing what others had said, I was excited.
The gentleman at the counter was helpful suggesting certain sandwiches... but I was at a point where I was so hungry everything sounded good.
However, when he explained the panini's are made with the focaccia bread, I was sold. I got the rosemary ham panini and a side salad and headed home.
First, the side salad was so much more than I expected. Olives, cucumbers, tomato's, and I believe feta (if my memory serves correct). In addition a good serving of a balsamic dressing on the side. Which I had some left over and have been putting it on my salads for the past two days...anyway. The salad was great. The panini was everything it could be and more. It was still warm and had a nice toasty, crunchy bread and warm gooey cheese. The rosemary ham was fantastic.
I am was sooo happy with my selection, I will have a hard time forcing myself to try other things when I go back.Listed in: And this little piggy....., Local Christmas Shopping
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/8/2010
After reading other reviews, decided to go in and get some take home items for Christmas Eve.
I went… Read more »
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Review from Pedro D.
Tucson, AZ
This place is as authentic as it gets in Tucson!
This place is one of Tucson's hidden gems. Dont be fooled by look of this place, Roma has the best Italian sandwiches in town. Their bread is fantastic and the meat and cheese they use are top quality!
I usually come here for the #1 the Ultimate Roma which has Capocolla, Genoa Salami, Mortadella, Provolone, Gardiniera (hot or mild), Roasted Red Peppers, Lettuce, Tomato, Vinaigrette. This is basically the best itallian sandwich you'll ever have. What makes this so great in my opinion is the gardiniera which gives it that sweet, spicy and sour kick.
This place is very affordable and great for lunch, just make sure to come in early to beat the rush. If your craving some good ol classic Italian food this is the place to get your fix!Listed in: Favorites, Tucson Essentials
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Review from E M.
Tucson, AZ
8/4/2011
I have been going to Roma Imports forever!! I love all the choices, and their turnovers, lasagna, meats, bread,desserts, all rock!!! I cant say enough good things about this place!!! The staff is friendly, also!
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Review from Brooke R.
Bay Area, CA
10/7/2009 1 photo
This is a great little Italian market. They have uniquely Italian things, things that aren't sold at mainstream grocery stores. Many different dried pasta shapes, frozen pastas, sausages, spices, made-in-house marinara sauces, and various other Italian goodies.
They also offer sandwiches and a small selection of Italian dishes. Every sandwich is Italian and comes on a crusty sub. The ingredients are fresh and taste of a higher quality than your typical Subway or Jimmy John's. I must admit that the sandwiches aren't that amazing. As for the other dishes, they are hit or miss. I don't particularly like their marinara sauce, it tastes too plain, so most of their dishes don't appeal to me. They have seasonal dishes, such as a pumpkin alfredo during the halloween holiday.
They sell frozen cannolis, which are dipped in chocolate, for 2 for $5. There's also the option of ordering one fresh, but that's not dipped in chocolate. Best cannoli in Tucson, hands down.
About twice a year that will have a feast, where they prepare a buffet and charge $40 per person. The dining room is small, so tables are set up in the small back room as well as in the entry way.
Prices are reasonable considering the availability of their items. Sandwiches, which are what most people come for, run about $7.
They have a $5 minimum for credit card purchases. -
Review from Lindsay S.
Tucson, AZ
7/10/2011
Amazing! I just visited for my first time since their remodel. Their food has always been great, but I will enjoy visiting the store even more now that their products are better organized.
I have tried their bread, chicken meatball sandwich, and chicken pesto sandwich. Everything tasted incredible. The chicken pesto sandwich is something I could eat everyday, if possible.
Most of their staff is very nice. The only "downsides" can be the crowding that occurs, since it's a small space, and their 6-day/week operations. -
Review from Bob W.
Tucson, AZ
6/19/2009
After hearing about this place from my Son, and a few other friends, it was time to try them out. I am kicken' myself for not coming here sooner!
I wanted a sandwich, and the wife wanted cookies. We $65.00 later, no sandwich or cookies we went home with this HUGE box of food. Lasagna (sausage and an eggplant) for dinner. Sauce for pizza, and dough too!
I have to agree with all the other posts.
This place is Awesome! I live 25 min away, but willing to make this trip on a regular basis. -
Review from John B.
San Francisco, CA
1/17/2010 1 photo
Yelp led me to Roma Imports when I was driving through Tucson.
Wow this place was super hole in the wall. Tons of cook at home selections that I would try if I lived in Tucson. Not a lot of seating. Friendly staff. It has a lot of character. It seems to be in a random neighborhood.
I had the chicken pesto sandwich which was great and reasonably priced. If I could, I'd give this place a 4.35. -
Review from His T.
Tucson, AZ
Updated - 10/10/2009
Attended the Paesano Feast - unreal! As expected, it was an astounding meal. Chatted with some nice folks, drank some good wine, and stuffed ourselves to dangerous levels on so many wonderful dishes.
Roma specializes in pre-made frozen entrees and the product they put out is so good it really makes me not want to cook again and just subsist on their stuff. That would, of course, make me quite fat, but after this meal I committed myself to making Roma part of my grocery shopping routine. Their food is just too good to only have once in a great while.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/25/2009
Easily the best food to be had in Tucson. I have so far tried the stuffed peppadews, grilled stuffed… Read more »
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Review from Stephen H.
Tucson, AZ
7/2/2009
How have I never been here before!
Frozen lasagna FTW, you gotta try it! -
Review from Mike E.
Tucson, AZ
8/18/2009
Drop in and get the caprese sandwich. The italian sausage they make is wonderful.
The small store front has a nice collection of assorted foods. Cute little local place. -
Review from Barnabas L.
Phoenix, AZ
6/6/2009
talk about diamond in the rough..this place is in the middle of...junkyards and what nots... I never thought a place like this would exist in that area. Well thankfully some of my customers at my work gave me their business card and said "you have to go here its a nice italian place"..
well i finally had time today and so i swang by to grab a bite to eat and a lasagna (which they prepare fresh, or you can grab a frozen one). They have lots of different types of italian pastas and breads. I really wish i knew more about italian food, BUT since i don't i can't really name off to you what they have. But i did purchase a sausage lasagna, which i can't wait to try ( i will update when i do). Then for my quick bite to eat, i grabbed a beef? turnover. It says spicy, but its more like a zip, it was very delicious even luke warm! (i didnt have a microwave and i was hungry!)
There is a sit down area for the fresh food you buy if you want to sit and eat, and there is a SMALL freezer section, fresh food, and eat it now type foods there. They have different, oils and vinegarettes and other things at this locations as well.. Like i said before dont know too much about italian cuisine so i wasnt sure what i was looking at half the time. But with such great prices and knowing its fresh, why not? I am excited for the lasagna! *fingers crossed*
Prices are cheap if you think about what you are getting and how much. of course depends on what you get is the price.
I totally wish i saw their deli/sandwich menu next time though..because i am definitely going back.
~~~~~edit~~~~~
just tried the lasagna it was amazing, BUT!!! a little on the salty side for me. Advice: Do not freeze all the way through, and if you do make sure it thaws for a good while. If it is frozen bake it a little longer than what is said on the label. I baked it for 50 (in a new oven so its not the oven's fault) minutes, was only luke warm in the middle but i'll still eat it if its not frozen or cold
The people here are extremely friendly and always have a smile on their face...i have now gone way too many times to count and i love this place to death now. The espresso ice cream is honestly to die for. Very buttery and creamy, my sister says it is Ben and Jerry's quality of ice cream.
~~~~~~~~thats right another update~~~~~~~~~~
I talked with one of the workers (this was awhile ago) and he told me that their shipment of sausages then (for the lasagna) was tainted. and too salty...so they are not always like that..
And i can attest after being there countless times since my first trip...i will never forget this place...i sincerely will miss ROMA the most once i leave tucson in decemberListed in: Eat Tucson, My Tucson 5
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Review from Andre M.
Tucson, AZ
5/6/2011
Great selection but way overpriced. Other then the cost, I think this place is amazing. Very dangerous for people who are impulse buyers.
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Review from Sam K.
Los Angeles, CA
6/9/2010
I came right at the end of the lunch rush to find out they were out of bread. I thought that was a good sign. It meant they actually use fresh Italian bread for their sandwiches.
I was told if I wanted food, I could choose from anything that was on the specials menu (basically anything that wasn't a sandwich) I ordered the Baked Ziti, and was informed I was lucky that I got the last one, so it sounded like they make a big batch at the beginning of the day and sell until they are out. Fair enough.
As I waited for my food, I browsed the large selection of Italian imports. Looks like a great place to go to buy hard-to-find products.
I received my Baked Ziti. It was quite tasty, but only warm on the outside and still cold in the center. Also not given any bread.
2 Stars based on this experience. Will have to come back next time I am in the area. -
Review from Tyler S.
3/8/2011
i am in love with this place! great food to take home as well as dining in. A+
