Sam Amenta’s Romeo’s Mexican Food & Pizza

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Sam Amenta’s Romeo’s Mexican Food & Pizza

Category: Restaurants, Bars, & Local Business

Tags: Casa de Reyes, Dianne Amenta, Romeo’s Mexican Food and Pizza, Salvatore Amenta, Sam Amenta

Published December 26, 2023 | Updated September 15, 2026

December 26, 2023

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 Street 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, his focus was on pizza. With the Mexican dishes continuing to outsell the pizza, he leaned into it, and Romeo’s became known as a place where you could get both under one roof. At that point, they changed the name from Romeo’s Pizza to Romeo’s Mexican Food and Pizza in 1983.

December 2023 Omaha Exploration photo of the Bellevue Romeo’s location.

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 Street. By 1987, Romeo’s had seven locations, including branches in Council Bluffs and Des Moines.

December 2023 Omaha Exploration photo of the room with a soapbox car that features both Romeo’s and Casa de Reyes restaurant names.

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 including enchiladas, burritos, sanchos, tostadas, nachos, and tacos — share similar core ingredients.

Beef and Bean Sancho smothered in cheese sauce and beef soft shell taco from Romeo’s Mexican Food and Pizza.

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 five 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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