Chicken capri Photo by Mark Davis
Drive by too fast along upper Greenville and you might miss Roma’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant. Despite its slightly off-the-radar location, Roma’s has been in business nine years — owned and operated by husband and wife Jimmy and Adriana Rruka. Throughout spring, the mature trees surrounding Roma’s spacious outdoor patio deck are dense with vibrant green leaves. When it’s nice outside, Jimmy Rruka says, “the whole restaurant moves outdoors.” Their menu includes traditional Italian staples such as chicken parmesan and spaghetti, but Jimmy Rruka says regulars keep coming back for specialty items such as the Margherita pizza and the salmon salad. The Margherita pizza is hand-tossed and topped with fresh basil, garlic, tomatoes, mozzarella and extra virgin olive oil. Everything on the menu, Jimmy Rruka stresses, is made — with the freshest ingredients he can buy — from scratch.
Roma’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant, 7402 Greenville Avenue, 214.373.0500, romas-italia.com
Ambiance: Casual Italian
Price range: $6-$15
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
Did you know? Diners at tables overlooking the creek occasionally spot turtles, raccoons and other area wildlife.
| Three more spots to eat al fresco |
The coop burger at Goodfriend Beer Garden And Burger House comes with an over-easy egg, grilled bacon and brie. Photo by Mark Davis
1 Park Tavern
The upstairs patio of this gastropub boasts its own bar with 20 beers on tap and happy hour specials to boot. Pair your beverage with beef carpaccio, or a footlong grilled cheese for more traditional pub fare.
8166 Park Lane, 214.446.0710, parktaverndallas.com
2 Offshore’s Next Door
It’s easy to pretend you’re by the bayou at this casual Creole spot. Offshore’s fenced-in beer garden and picnic tables provide the perfect relaxed ambiance to balance the exciting flavors of Cajun fried asparagus or spicy crawfish étouffée.
9660 Audelia Road, 214.503.1012
3 Goodfriend Beer Garden and Burger House
Since opening in 2011, Goodfriend’s ample covered patio has rarely had an empty seat, and for good reason. Grab the pooch or the kids and join the crowds for a pint of craft beer and their gourmet grass-fed burgers.
1154 Peavy, 214.324.3335, goodfrienddallas.com
