This Pennsylvania Restaurant Has Been Family-Owned For Several Generations And It’s Perfect For A March Meal
Some restaurants carry more than great recipes. They carry stories.
The kind of place where familiar aromas drift from the kitchen, conversations echo across the dining room, and every plate feels like it came from a tradition carefully passed down through the years.
It is old school comfort, family table warmth, and the timeless joy of enjoying a meal that feels rooted in history.
Restaurants with that kind of legacy continue to shape the dining culture across Pennsylvania. When a family spends generations perfecting their craft, the result often shows in every bite.
Guests return not only for the food but for the sense of continuity and welcoming atmosphere that makes the experience feel personal.
March can be a perfect time for that kind of meal, when cozy dining rooms and comforting dishes feel especially satisfying.
I sometimes picture sitting down on a cool evening, hearing the gentle buzz of conversation around the room, and realizing that places like this keep their charm alive simply by doing things the same heartfelt way year after year.
Founded in 1944: A Restaurant Born During a Historic Era
Nazzareno “Nat” Romano opened this restaurant on December 1, 1944, at a time when the world was still in the middle of World War II. That kind of origin story carries real weight.
Starting a family business during such a turbulent period shows the kind of grit that gets passed down through generations.
Romano’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant in Essington, Pennsylvania has been feeding the community ever since that first day, making it the oldest family-owned Italian restaurant in Delaware County.
That title is not handed out lightly around here. Nat Romano immigrated from Italy and built a local following with tomato pies before establishing something permanent.
That kind of rise is the sort of story that makes a place feel earned rather than simply established. Eight decades later, the legacy still stands strong on Wanamaker Avenue.
The Birthplace of the Stromboli: A 1950 Invention That Changed Everything
Back in 1950, Nat Romano did something that would echo through Italian-American food culture for decades.
He invented the Stromboli sandwich, a creation that has since become a staple on menus across the country.
The fact that this invention happened right here in Essington, Pennsylvania is something locals wear as a badge of honor.
What separates Romano’s version from every imitation is the bread itself.
The Stromboli is made with artisan bread, not pizza dough, which gives it a flaky, one-of-a-kind crust that holds the fillings together without turning soggy.
That distinction matters more than most people realize until they actually taste it. The marinara sauce served alongside it has been made using the same recipe for nearly a century.
Customers consistently describe it as the kind of sauce that makes everything better. Some fans have even shipped frozen Strombolis from Essington all the way to Florida just to share the experience.
246 Wanamaker Avenue: Conveniently Close to Philadelphia International Airport
Sitting at 246 Wanamaker Ave, Essington, PA 19029, Romano’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant is one of those spots that rewards people who know where to look.
The location puts it just a short drive from Philadelphia International Airport, which means travelers passing through Pennsylvania have a genuinely great option nearby.
Rather than grabbing something forgettable at an airport terminal, smart visitors make the detour to Essington.
The address sits in a quiet, accessible part of Delaware County that does not feel chaotic even during busy travel periods.
Hours run Monday through Thursday starting at 11 AM, with Friday and Saturday staying open until 9 PM and Sunday running until 8 PM.
Planning around those hours makes the visit smooth and stress-free for anyone coming in from out of town.
Four Generations of Family Ownership: A Rare Achievement in the Restaurant World
Keeping a restaurant in the family for one generation is hard. Doing it for four is practically unheard of in the food industry.
Romano’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant has managed exactly that, with Pete Romano Jr. currently running the operation that his grandfather started after building a local following in Essington, Pennsylvania.
Each generation has added something to the story without erasing what came before. That kind of continuity builds a trust between a restaurant and its regulars that no marketing campaign can replicate.
Families who ate here in the 1970s are now bringing their own grandchildren through the same doors.
Pete Romano Sr., who still stops by the restaurant, has become something of a living legend in Delaware County.
The current ownership has also expanded operations, opening a wholesale and retail location in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, and bringing Romano’s stromboli to Philadelphia Union home games at Subaru Park. Growth and tradition, running side by side.
The Menu: Italian Favorites That Go Way Beyond Stromboli
The Stromboli gets most of the headlines, but the menu at Romano’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant runs much deeper than that one iconic item.
South Philly Tomato Pie, pasta dishes, chicken parm, fettuccine Bolognese, and Philly-style cheesesteaks all share space on a menu that covers serious ground.
There is something for every kind of appetite. The cheesesteak Stromboli deserves its own moment of appreciation.
It combines two Philadelphia-area classics into a single satisfying package, with chopped steak and cheese wrapped in that signature artisan bread. Getting a side of marinara for dipping is not optional, it is essential.
Sweet Stromboli fans also have something to look forward to, and the lemon cake and cannoli round out a dessert lineup that feels genuinely homemade.
The portion sizes at Romano’s tend to be generous, which makes the affordable price point feel even more like a win for anyone eating in Essington.
The Atmosphere: Casual, Comfortable, and Full of Character
Romano’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant describes itself as casual dining, pizza parlor style, and that framing sets expectations perfectly.
There are no white tablecloths or theatrical presentations here. What you get instead is a room that feels lived-in and honest, with memorabilia on the walls and the kind of lighting that makes food look exactly as good as it tastes.
The space carries the personality of a place that has never needed to reinvent itself to stay relevant. Regulars come back not because it feels trendy but because it feels right.
That consistency is its own kind of comfort, especially on a chilly March evening in Pennsylvania when the wind is picking up outside.
Dine-in and takeout are both solid options here. The restaurant moves at a pace that feels unhurried without being slow, and the staff tends to make guests feel settled quickly.
It is the kind of atmosphere that turns a first visit into a regular habit.
The Delaware County Heritage Legacy Award: Official Recognition of a Local Treasure
Not every restaurant earns an official nod from a heritage commission, but Romano’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant is not every restaurant.
The Delaware County Heritage Commission presented Romano’s with a Legacy Award, recognizing its place in the cultural fabric of the region.
That kind of acknowledgment carries genuine meaning.
Walking into the restaurant, guests can see memorabilia and displays celebrating the famous figures who have dined there, along with a compilation video featuring the many times Romano’s has appeared on television.
WPVI 6 ABC is among the media outlets that have spotlighted the restaurant over the years.
I find it genuinely refreshing when a place lets its history speak without being overly theatrical about it. Romano’s wears its awards and recognition the way a well-loved jacket fits, naturally and without fuss.
The Legacy Award is just one more piece of a story that has been building since 1944 in Pennsylvania.
Catering Services: Bringing the Romano’s Experience to Your Event
Romano’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant offers catering services that bring the full range of Italian favorites to private events and gatherings.
For anyone planning a spring celebration in March, having the original Stromboli on the menu is a genuinely impressive move that guests will talk about long after the event ends.
The catering options draw from the same kitchen that has been feeding Delaware County since 1944, so quality consistency is part of the deal.
Whether the event is a family reunion, a work gathering, or a neighborhood party, the food travels well and lands with impact.
I have always thought that the best catering comes from places with a real identity, not just a production line. Romano’s has that identity in abundance.
The 80th Anniversary in 2024: Eight Decades of Culinary Excellence
In 2024, Romano’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant hit a milestone that most businesses only dream about: its 80th anniversary.
WPVI 6 ABC covered the celebration, and the restaurant marked the occasion by also commemorating the 75th birthday of the Stromboli sandwich, which Nat Romano created in 1950.
Two milestones, one unforgettable year. The anniversary also came with some major business wins.
Romano’s launched a USDA wholesale “bake at home” Stromboli facility in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, and the product became available in over 30 locations across the Philadelphia area.
Partnering with Subaru Park and the Philadelphia Union soccer team brought the Romano’s name to a whole new audience.
Winning the 2024 Herr’s “Flavored by Philly” contest added yet another feather to an already well-decorated cap.
For a family-owned restaurant that started with a handcart in Essington, the 80th year turned out to be one of the most eventful chapters in the entire story.
Why March Is a Great Month to Visit Romano’s in Essington
March in Pennsylvania is a genuinely wild month weather-wise. Early in the month, temperatures around Essington can swing warm enough to feel almost springlike.
Then midway through, a cold snap rolls in with rain and wind that makes a warm bowl of pasta feel like the smartest decision of the week.
Romano’s Pizzeria & Italian Restaurant is open seven days a week starting at 11 AM, which makes it easy to plan a weekday lunch or a weekend dinner without much hassle.
The affordable price point means a satisfying meal does not require a special occasion or a stretched budget.
Stopping in during March also means beating the heavier summer tourist traffic that comes with proximity to Philadelphia International Airport.
The restaurant draws strong feedback across a large number of public reviews, and that kind of consistent approval across a diverse crowd says a great deal about what Romano’s consistently delivers in Essington.