Roma Cafe Changes Chef and Updates Menu

They claim to be the oldest restaurant in Detroit, but after years of staying the same Roma Cafe is finally updating the menu and making some much needed changes under the guidance of their brand new chef. The Detroit News reports that after 40 years at the restaurant, chef Mike Saeed has decided to retire, and Guy Pelino of Mario's has stepped in to take his place.

The paper reports that Roma Cafe is looking to add farm-to-table dishes to the menu, to take advantage of what Eastern Market has to offer. Considering how Detroit has gone local product crazy in the past few years, it's an important update. However, that isn't the only change:

"Pelino, who [owner Janet] Belcoure calls "the key to blending the old and the new ways," won't change what many love about Roma's hearty and classic Italian menu, but he will come up with new dishes, including a happy hour bar menu that debuts next week from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Look for limoncello martinis, eggplant Parmesan sliders and basil and tomato sliders."

Pelino left Mario's, another classic Italian restaurant in the city, because he wanted to be a bit more creative with the cuisine. It remains to be seen how it all plays out, but so far it seems like a step in the right direction, based on recent Yelp reviews.
· New Roma Cafe Chef Guy Pelino to Accentuate Classics [Facebook]
· All Roma Cafe Coverage [-ED-]