Discover The Englewood Restaurant That Roasts Its Own Beef For Unbeatable Subs

Some restaurants survive on nostalgia alone, serving mediocre food to customers who remember better days.

Roman Inn takes a different approach entirely.

This Englewood institution has been making sandwiches since 1965, and somewhere along the way, it figured out how to improve with age rather than coast on its reputation.

The spot transformed from a simple takeout counter into a full-service restaurant with seating for 30, outdoor dining space, and a menu that reaches far beyond the pizza-and-subs basics.

You’ll find brunch dishes, Italian dinner entrees, craft burgers, and even lobster specials alongside those legendary sandwiches that made the place famous.

Related

More in New Jersey

This Jaw-Dropping East Rutherford Destination Is Home To North America’s Largest Indoor Water Park And Only Indoor Ski Resort

Keep Exploring →

The interior got a complete makeover too, giving the space a surprisingly contemporary feel that sets it apart from your typical neighborhood pizza joint.

Sandwiches That Justify The Drive

The Roman Inn Special: This signature creation piles ham, salami, capicola, pepperoni, and provolone onto an eighteen-inch roll with such generous portions that a half-sub becomes a full meal. The shop sources premium cold cuts from Dietz and Watson rather than cheaper alternatives.

When you order it all the way, you get lettuce, tomato, red onions, oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, and oregano creating that classic Italian sub profile.

House-Made Roast Beef: The kitchen actually roasts its own beef rather than buying pre-sliced deli meat. You can order it as a traditional sub or try the roast beef parm topped with peppers and onions. The difference between fresh-roasted beef and the typical deli counter variety becomes immediately apparent with your first bite.

The Spicy Roman: This amped-up variation features salami, spicy capicola, pepperoni, and prosciuttini for those who want more kick without losing the quality ingredient foundation. The spice level adds interest without overwhelming everything else.

More in New Jersey

Discover The True Taste Of Ireland With Perfect Pints Of Guinness And Authentic Shepherd’s Pie In Morris County

Discover More

Contemporary Options: The menu extends into modern territory with choices like the American Chicken showcasing bacon and all the trimmings, a buffalo chicken creation with arugula and blue cheese crumbles, and an Italian eggplant option combining fried eggplant, mozzarella, arugula, roasted red peppers, and balsamic glaze.

Every sandwich arrives with seasoned fries or a fresh salad on the side.

Pizza That Holds Its Own

Quality Ingredients Make The Difference: The kitchen uses whole milk mozzarella instead of generic pizza cheese, fresh mushrooms rather than canned, and San Marzano tomatoes in the sauce. These small upgrades add up to a noticeably better pizza than what you’d find at most suburban spots.

Crust Execution: The dough gets rolled thin and develops proper char in the Bari steel deck ovens. You’ll experience a crispy exterior that gives way to a fluffy, airy interior with each slice. The crust achieves that balance where it’s substantial enough to hold toppings but won’t leave you feeling weighed down.

Buffalo Chicken Success: This specialty pie combines buffalo chicken, scallions, and ranch drizzle in proportions that work. The toppings actually cover the entire pizza rather than clustering in the center, and the spice level complements without dominating.

Related

More in New Jersey

This Cozy Basement Spot Was The First Serious Ramen Destination In Central Jersey—And It’s Still The Best

Keep Exploring →

Creative Specialty Options: The HUD Street Pie features prosciutto, arugula, fresh mozzarella, parmesan, and balsamic glaze for something more refined. The Italian B-hive brings spicy soppressata, hot peppers, honey, and arugula together.

For something completely unexpected, the Mac Pie translates burger flavors onto pizza with ground beef, American cheese, red onions, tomatoes, pickles, and special sauce.

Tomato Sauce That Works: The sauce achieves a pleasant sweetness from quality San Marzano tomatoes without tipping into candy territory. You’ll taste both the tomato and the seasoning in proper proportion.

Expanded Menu Worth Exploring

Weekend Brunch Offerings: Saturday and Sunday mornings bring chicken and waffles made with red velvet waffles and fried chicken wings, bread pudding French toast, and shrimp and grits. The breakfast tacos exceed expectations for a spot that built its reputation on sandwiches and pizza.

Serious Burger Program: The burgers arrive juicy even when cooked well-done, paired with seasoned fries that hit the right notes. You can order a bacon blue burger with housemade bacon jam, a Texas burger crowned with a fried onion ring and guava BBQ sauce, or a California option with avocado relish.

More in New Jersey

Walk Just Inches Above Sharks At This Thrilling Aquarium Across The River In Camden

Discover More

Italian Dinner Entrees: Full dinner plates include chicken francese served with lemon sauce over linguine, marry me chicken featuring parmesan cream sauce with roasted vegetables, and fish florentine with cod over creamy spinach. The eggplant rollatini comes stuffed with pesto ricotta and dressed in a la rum sauce.

Standout Surprises: The arugula salad arrives in an edible bread bowl that catches first-timers off guard. Sweet Thai chili shrimp appears both as an appetizer and as a specialty topping. Fried Oreos get battered in red velvet and served with ice cream for dessert.

The Space And Setting

Contemporary Design: The recent renovation elevated the interior far beyond typical pizza shop aesthetics. The space feels modern and polished, landing somewhere between casual dining and upscale pizza restaurant territory.

Seating Configuration: You’ll find approximately 30 seats inside plus outdoor tables when weather cooperates. The layout accommodates both quick lunch service and leisurely dinner experiences throughout the week.

Overall Vibe: The atmosphere stays casual and comfortable during moderate noise levels at busy times. The setting works equally well for family dinners or catching up with friends over food.

Related

More in New Jersey

This Beloved Montclair Institution Has Served Its Legendary, Custardy Baguette French Toast Every Day For 36 Years

Keep Exploring →

Practical Considerations

What To Expect Price-Wise: Half subs typically cost twelve to fourteen dollars, while full eighteen-inch versions can feed two people comfortably.

Pizzas start at fourteen dollars for plain cheese. Dinner entrees range from the high teens into the low twenties. The pricing sits slightly above basic pizza shops, but the portion sizes and ingredient quality make sense of the difference.

BYOB Advantage: You can bring your own wine or beer for a ten-dollar bottle fee per table. This setup helps control costs while letting you drink what you actually want with your meal.

Parking Reality: Street parking on West Hudson Avenue becomes your only option. During peak dining times, you might need to circle the block or walk from a spot around the corner.

Operating Schedule: The restaurant closes on Mondays. Brunch service runs Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM. Dinner extends until 8 PM on Sundays and 9 PM on Saturdays.

Catering Available: The kitchen handles corporate events, party buffets, and sit-down catering. School pizza catering comes at reduced rates, making it popular for local gatherings.

Kid-Friendly Setup: Children can order from a dedicated menu featuring chicken tenders, mini subs, and burgers with fries included.

Dietary Accommodations: The menu includes vegan and vegetarian selections, plus gluten-free pasta upon request. Multiple salad options provide lighter alternatives to the heartier sandwich and pizza choices.

Roman Inn
📍 19 W Hudson Ave, Englewood, NJ 07631