Omaha Exploration

The son of Sicilian immigrants from Carlentini, Sam Amenta never intended to open a Mexican restaurant. In fact, when he purchased Casa de Reyes at 72nd and Harrison Streets in 1974, his plan was to convert it into a pizzeria. The food at the restaurant must have been popular, however, because he delayed his plans until 1976, when he opened a new restaurant and finally realized his dream of running a pizzeria.

When Amenta opened the new restaurant at 90th and Blondo, he brought the recipes from Casa de Reyes with him—but from the beginning, the focus was on pizza. The Mexican dishes, however, proved so popular with diners that the owners decided to give customers what they wanted: the first restaurant in Omaha to specialize in both Mexican food and pizza. They officially changed the name from Romeo’s Pizza to Romeo’s Mexican Food and Pizza in 1983.

Alongside his wife, Dianne, the family-run business expanded the 90th and Blondo location in 1981 by taking over the adjacent bay in the Camelot Village strip mall. This expansion increased seating from 100 to 145. The Amentas later changed the name of Casa de Reyes on 72nd and Harrison to Romeo’s as well and opened a third location at 146th and West Center. From there, the restaurant continued to grow, adding locations at 29th and Farnam and 96th and L Streets. By 1987, Romeo’s had seven locations, including branches in Council Bluffs and Des Moines.

The ability to order both Mexican food and pizza proved to be a winning formula. Combined with reasonable prices, it appealed especially to families who might otherwise have chosen one cuisine over the other. The restaurant’s most popular item is the fried soft-shell taco, though most of its Mexican dishes—enchiladas, burritos, sanchos, tostadas, nachos, and tacos—share similar core ingredients.

This unlikely pairing of tacos and pizza turned out to be the key to the restaurant’s longevity. Nearly 50 years later, Romeo’s remains as popular as ever, with four locations across the metro area. While its Mexican fare leans more Tex-Mex than traditional, it has earned accolades from both Omaha Magazine and The Reader. It’s no wonder the family-friendly restaurant proudly calls itself “Nacho Typical Restaurant.”

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