Fish and pierogi platter – 2 pieces of fish, 2 potato cheddar pierogi, cabbage & noodles and cole slaw – $11.99

Fish and pierogi lunch – 1 piece of fish, 1 potato cheddar pierogi, cabbage & noodles and cole slaw – $8,99

Fish dinner – 2 pieces of fish, cabbage & noodles and cole slaw – $9.99

Fish sandwich – Breaded baked fish on a toasted onion bun with chips and cole slaw – $7.99

Appetizer

Cheese plate featuring Kashkaval cheese and homemade crackers

Main Course

(choose two)

Sirloin Steak with Mashed Potatoes

and Green Beans

Potato Flake Chicken with Mixed Vegetables and Cabbage and Noodles

Crepes topped with Savory Sauce served with Mixed Vegetables and Apple Sauce

Dessert

Assorted Dessert Plate

For Reservations call (614)447-9120

Regular menu also available

Shawn Mason’s connection to Trattoria Roma predates his driver’s license! The once teenage busser climbed the ranks at the restaurant’s original Morse Road location to become the General Manager, and was then given the charge of opening a new location in Grandview in 2000. Who better to spot the work ethic and talent of a scrappy apprentice on break from Columbus State’s culinary program? Soon after the Grandview opening, Shawn hired Matt Prokopchak as a prep cook. Shawn became a partner in the business, and over several years and a number of transactions, a majority owner. As he was navigating the business of operating a restaurant, Matt graduated from Culinary school and sharpened his skills at each of the kitchen stations, eventually becoming the Executive Chef, and then a co-owner.

Together the guys have shaped a restaurant that embraces classic Italian cuisine with a contemporary approach. The chef works closely with the finest purveyors and local farmers to ensure that his kitchen produces a lovely progression of dishes that take each patron on a journey from antipasti to primi, then onto secondi and dolci.

The handsome dining room and Sinatra-esque bar provide perfect spaces for intimate dinners, as well as long lunches around a table packed with friends. A monthly schedule of wine dinners allow Chef Matt to pore over his library and match wines with dishes from the selected region of Italy, always with a hint of the gluttony and lust of the early Roman banquets that capture his imagination. On February 28 a winemaker from the Graffigna Winery in Argentina will describe what happened when an Italian family immigrated with their business to South America. The kitchen is jazzed to play with Argentinean fusion cuisine. Or, quite possibly, to invent it.

The energy of young talent and authentic hospitality infuses the experience of dining at Trattoria Roma. Shawn and Matt welcome you with wonderful dishes, interesting and affordable wines, and a vibe that seems more uptown than the address would indicate. Their passion for creating memorable occasions, rather than just perfectly executed dishes, is in perfect alignment with the sensibilities of the tight knit Dine Originals community. Whether collaborating on cooking classes at the North Market, launching the Dine Originals Culinary Scholarship at Columbus State, or serving on the Board of Trustees, they bring a spirit of camaraderie and diligence that explains their remarkable accomplishments over the last decade.

When I said “handsome dining room” did I forget to mention it is a painted a deep rich red? Make a reservation there for the 3 course Valentines Day Dinner value-packed at $45, and you won’t have to do another thing but sit back and let the evening play out. Trattoria Roma is, Matt tells me, not a first date sort of place, but a come-to-close-the-deal destination when you know there is a considerable connection. Artisanal food, sparkling glasses of crisp champagne, a deep red dining room…none of that should be taken lightly. Or too seriously. A balance that has only been mastered by the Italians.

Trattoria Roma
1447 Grandview Ave, Columbus, OH 43212
614-488-2104
www.trattoria-roma.com »
Lunch: Monday-Friday 11-2 Dinner: Sunday-Thursday 4-9 Friday & Saturday 4-11
**Photos by Melissa Roberts