Aroma - Diamondhead

This place is a gem. I've found it to be better than the more famous Italian restaurants on the Coast. read more This place is a gem. I've found it to be better than the more famous Italian restaurants on the Coast.

My best friend I loved this place!We ate fried calamari, Caprese salad, Mediterranean salad.Everything was absolutely delicious.Abundant portions the bread knot... read more My best friend I loved this place!We ate fried calamari, Caprese salad, Mediterranean salad.Everything was absolutely delicious.Abundant portions the bread knots were scrumptious!Service was great! Atmosphere was very relaxed. We shall return.Thank you Aroma!

The Sunday after Easter, I and two friends enjoyed an evening meal at Aroma Italian. At my friends' request, very fresh garlic bread was brought to the table al... read more The Sunday after Easter, I and two friends enjoyed an evening meal at Aroma Italian. At my friends' request, very fresh garlic bread was brought to the table along with a saucer of garlic-laden olive oil I do not know if this was a separate charge because I did not see the final bill, but I am glad that we could enjoy this beautiful bread. (Aroma must have a bakery in back !! We split an appetizer of fried calamari, which was unusual in that the pieces were larger than those from other restaurants, but the calamari was crisp in both the batter and the flesh. I confess my memory of a month ago is not so crisp, but I recall an excellent eggplant dish. My fellow diners enjoyed their meals as well. We shared a piece of cake from that secret bakery. I would love to give this place perfect grades, but there are tiny problems, which are understandable considering how moderate the prices are. The floor is poorly painted concrete. The tables and chairs are spare and spartan. However, the napkins were real cloth. The service was very good, but at the end of the night, several servers were pushing brooms as we finished our cake. Well, it was closing time. One last negative: no real wine. The restaurant did offer a Chateau Diana winish drink, but the drink could not match a real Tuscan. In most ways, I am happy to tolerate these minor lapses of decor and service, because if this restaurant could capitalize on its kitchen, I probably would not be able to afford to dine there.

Amazing food. Pleasantly surprised. read more Amazing food. Pleasantly surprised.

I ordered the Caprese Salad tomato, fresh mozzarella, basil, roasted red peppers, balsamic vinaigrette). The salad was drenched in balsamic vinaigrette. So much... read more I ordered the Caprese Salad tomato, fresh mozzarella, basil, roasted red peppers, balsamic vinaigrette). The salad was drenched in balsamic vinaigrette. So much so that it drowned out the other flavors. After the meal, I suggested to the waitress they serve the salad with a smaller amount of balsamic which is the way a Caprese Salad is normally served) and adding a side dish of extra balsamic for those who want more. Her response was for me to order it with less balsamic next time. I think to myself, “she is not helpful or interested in me as a customer or the next person who comes in and wants a light, fresh Caprese Salad not one drenched in balsamic.”