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    Bocca Ristorante

    4.4 (149 reviews)
    Closed Closed

    Bocca Ristorante Photos

    BOCCA RISTORANTE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Romantic
    Upscale
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Bocca Ristorante

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    Tyler M.

    Phenomenal all around, one of the hidden gems in Birmingham. They were doing a Tuesday-Thursday happy hour deal that included a house wine, Caesar salad, choice of pasta and focaccia for $29. You won't find a better deal in the city. Focaccia was soft and warm, Caesar salad was delicious (server asked if we wanted anchovies, that's a no), and I chose the linguine with meatballs. Everything was so good and friendly hostesses and waiter. Inside was a lot more spacious than you'd expect. We celebrated my mom's birthday so we got the caramel glazed donut with ice cream which capped the meal nicely. They don't have a kids menu but they were great about bringing us extra plates for sharing. A great dining experience beginning to end.

    Linda R.

    Love at first bite! We heard good things about Bocca, and decided to try it out for Valentines. We went on a Thursday night because we wanted to avoid the weekend crowds. I made a reservation the night before and was easily able to get a table for two. Parking can be a pain in downtown Bham, so we were so glad to see that they had a valet, and inside they even had a coat check. Thank you for thinking of your customers!!!!!! The service was excellent. From the valet who parked our car, the hostess at the reception desk, the wait staff that filled our water and of course our waitress. The food was delicious. We ordered and split the Garganellu with Asparagus for an appetizer. The lemon, cream, and pecorino added to the flavor and I loved the sun dried tomatoes. They made the dish complete. My only suggestion was to add a little more asparagus. For my main dish, I went with the Gulf Shrimp Scampi. It featured fresh shrimp with linguini, garlic butter, white wine, and came with broccolini. It was great, and I had plenty for left overs. The ambiance of the restaurant was nice. Our table was off by itself. Perfect for a romantic dinner. So many restaurants try to cram a bunch of tables into a space. This was definitely not the case. Again they were thinking of their customers!! Great place!!

    Handkerchief pasta
    Sara W.

    A friend and I went for their Thursday happy hour and it was a fantastic experience overall. The staff was amazing and the food was excellent. I will absolutely be back to this cute venue!

    Pan seared Grouper
    Josh D.

    I'm very upset with this place. The audacity to price gouge for Valentine's Day. They make you stick to a small preset dinner menu and pay $115 per person. It's so outrageous. The same dinner there would cost probably no more than $80 if you pick the most expensive items. Just hate to see a good restaurant stoop so low.

    Duroc Pork Loin Milanese
    Gabe M.

    I adore fine dining as a little treat to myself every now and then. On this occasion I was celebrating my 25th birthday, which just so happened to coincide with Bocca's "The Best of Italy" Wine Dinner--an event where they served a five-course-meal complete with wine pairings. Now, I know this normally doesn't reflect what the restaurant is actually like on a normal basis, but hosting an event like this does take some logistical planning so I'm basing my review on this alone. Upon arriving, I was guided over to the bar for cocktail hour. I am visually impaired, and I had a bit of trouble finding my way, but the staff was more than happy to walk me around and make sure I was in the right place. After a drink, it didn't take too much longer for us to get seated. The service was absolutely impeccable. Bocca had flown in an Italian sommelier who explained each of the wine pairings alongside our dinner. Luckily, he just happened to sit next to me and I got to learn more about the very niche field that is fine wine importing. All of the waiters moved with purpose and not a single plate was dropped, nor was a wine glass spilled. The only real mix up was that one of the wines was served in the wrong order, but that's trivial. The food? Absolutely incredible. Everything was delicious and cooked just right. I've never had oysters like this, and I don't think I'll have them unless they are made like they were here. The pork loin was crispy and delicious. The gnocchi was mouth-watering. The lamb--well, I have to admit I don't like how chewy lamb is, but it was still really good. I do feel like the dessert was a little underwhelming, but then there's hardly any space left after four courses and a non-insignificant amount of wine. As an aside, I nearly forget to mention that the restaurant remembered my birthday and the bartender gave me my drink on the house. I really appreciated it, especially after a rough patch over the last few years, it was nice to start the night on a high note. Overall, I had an unforgettable experience at Bocca. I would most definitely come back here again.

    Davida B.

    The food, the atmosphere, the ambience, the service... I can't name enough - it was wonderful. I'd recommend Bocca for a nice upscale experience.

    Scallop risotto
    Bella A.

    Spectacular. Over the years, I have heard a lot about Bocca but never quite made it out to dinner until now. Cannot believe I haven't been here sooner!!! Located on 2nd Avenue north, Bocca is right by some of bhams hot spots. Valet is offered, but there is nearby paid or street parking. Service was kind, though food did take some time to come out (but we were in a large group!). AH FOOD. Started off appetizers with arancini- a must. The sauce was a perfect pair to this gooey fried risotto ball. Also enjoyed the caprese salad, not anything different from what you can get elsewhere but an Italian classic. For entrees, I had the scallop risotto - absolutely fantastic 10/10 would order every single time. Dessert - the doughnut is the way to go - warm with icecream on top. Wow, I am already planning my next return. Must visit.

    Tyler T.

    The atmosphere and restaurant is really nice. The server and host were kind and attentive throughout our visit. We went for brunch and they had a decent selection for options. I tried the pancakes and my significant other got a pasta. Both were good, but not amazing. I am excited to try their dinner menu so I will definitely have to be back!

    Pasta with Lemon Cream Sauce and Asparagus
    Sheri C.

    This Northern Italian establishment did not disappoint! Lovely, warm atmosphere, beautiful decor and very good customer service. The cuisine was incredible! Eggplant lasagna, Cioppino, Buccotini with Pomodoro and spicy veal meatballs and the Pasta with lemon cream sauce and asparagus were all incredible. Delicious cocktails and wine list. Housemade pasta was cooked perfectly Al dente. Mito Frito was fresh and cooked perfectly. Salami was perfectly balanced. We will return!

    Focaccia bread is delicious and pillowy soft
    Jay T.

    Friday night was our first time at Bocca. A reservation was easy to get, even just an hour before we intended to eat. We arrived 15 minutes early and were immediately shown to a table in the mostly empty restaurant. Our table was in the foyer, completely exposed to the front door. It was an odd place to seat anyone, to even have a table, but we took our seats. The space is hard to define. Imagine Z Gallerie decorating a generic hotel restaurant and you've hit on the aesthetic. It's a weird mix of brick and dark grey with lots of mixed metallic accents. I'm not sure how the space is supposed to reflect the food. I laughed when I saw that the soap dispenser in the men's room was a shabby chic mason jar- an example of just how disconnected some of the elements were. We started dinner with cocktails and a couple of appetizers. The fritto misto was disappointing. The chunks of fried grouper were overcooked and dry. The calamari was tough and way overcooked. The shrimp fared best. The marinara was totally flavorless. Were there tomatoes? It served to lubricate our bites but certainly didn't add any flavor. The bread service is very good. Pillowy focaccia was soft and delicious. The texture was almost like eating angel biscuits (without the sugar). The olive oil with freshly cracked pepper was nice for dipping. We ordered a couple of pasta dishes as our first (primi) course. The tagliatelle bolognese was very buttery with hunks of weird, tasteless meat. No cream or milk? This wasn't a bolognese at all. Not even a long simmered Sunday sauce. It was largely flavorless and not what we were expecting. We also ordered the linguine with mussels. Now, this was a primi course, so we weren't expecting a large portion, but there were only five tiny mussels on the plate. One of which wasn't opened, so we couldn't eat it. The mussels were overcooked and very tough. The dish mostly tasted of butter and had very little flavor otherwise. Additionally, the pasta was horribly undercooked. I hate mushy pasta and always want mine very firm to the bite (al denté), but this was half raw. Both pasta entrees were served with more focaccia. But, the service was very brisk, whisking away plates too quickly. The busser took a whole piece of my bread between courses 1 and 2. And sadly our next pasta dish didn't come with any bread. For our secondi, we just split the shrimp scampi. I predicted that this dish would taste exactly like the linguine, and I was correct. The shrimp were not fresh and smelled very fishy; I could only eat one. The dish was served with broccolini that was roasted with a little too much char. The sauce was largely flavorless and the pasta tough. We took a look at the dessert menu, but by that point in the evening, we were so disappointed with our meal that we just asked for the check. It's not expensive for Birmingham's fine dining scene, but there's no way I would call this space or the meal we had "fine dining." Bottega Café, Giuseppe's, Gianmarcos, North, Olive Garden (I know, right?) all would deliver a better experience at a cheaper or comparable price point.

    David K.

    Ciao, Yelpies If you're in the Birmingham area and want authentic Italian cuisine with service that would trump any high end restaurant out there this is the spot. Very knowledgeable staff and the bartender is on point. This has got to be one of the most comfortable restaurants around.... I mean you will not want to leave. The food was good as well. They definitely know what they are don't here. Cheers

    Red Snapper
    Harrell B.

    My daughter chose Bocca to celebrate her 25th birthday. We entered to find a tastefully decorated space, upscale and refined, with an Art Deco influence. The resturant is spacious and the tables are amply spaced allowing for a comfortable and intimate dining experience. Our party of three was seated at a semilunar banquette which provided a very comfortable spot for conversation and repast. This resturant features a fine array of excellent wines and the in house sommelier is welcoming and highly skilled at aid in selection and recommendation. We began with a round of delight craft cocktails and the first act was accompanied by an antipasti salumi tray and Arancini di Riso. As this culinary ballet of delights began to unfold, our wait team of organized sprites spirited courses of food to and from our table with precision and flare. The primi act was a beautifully presented round of pastas, Garganelli with Asparagus and Linguine with Clams. The pasta is fresh and al dente and the sauces performed a delicate and delicious pirouette on my palate's stage. The secondi act consisted of Scallops Risotto, Pan Seared Gulf Red Snapper, and Chicken Picatta. All were an epicurean delight. The flavors were carefully balanced and refined. The final act was an Italian Butter Crunch Doughnut and Affogato. Really a quite fine dining experience and a great birthday celebration. One of my good friend's mother was in the habit of telling him after a particularly great celebration, "You've had and had and now you are not getting anything else for a long, long time". Hopefully, it won't be too long before we are back enjoying this establishment again. I highly recommend this restaurant and will certainly return.

    Seasonal sangria

    First, the valet parking. Second, the ambiance and impeccable service. We never searched for our server, because she was so attentive and yet not a helicopter server. The food was delectable, and drinks were amazing! I look forward to dining with them again.

    Pan seared gulf red snapper

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    Always consistent. Great customer service and the food is delicious. I'll be back soon :)

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    The service was fantastic and food was amazing! We left full and happy, already looking forward to the next time we can come!

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    Amazing service and food! The pasta is some of the best I've had and good portions! Highly recommend!

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    Trattoria Zaza - Pizza Caesar salad

    Trattoria Zaza

    4.5(490 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    This place is my type of vibe!…read more Trattoria ZaZa has been on my list of places to stop at for several years. Parking often deters me but after attending the Italian Festival earlier that day, we had a craving for pizza. I ordered the combo that includes 2 slices of the day with salad. Since I wasn't overly hungry, I offered him one of my slices and he added another slice to the order. We paid and were given a number to place on our selected table. Jazzy music played in the background while we waited on our order to be brought to the table. The natural lighting, while beautiful, made it a little warm in the building. One of the waitresses propped the door open that leads to the restrooms (which are in the hallway near the elevators) in order for cooler air to make its way in. That wasn't a deal breaker, but do be aware of that on warmer days. Our food came out after a short wait. I kept my 3 cheese slice, and gave him the pepperoni one. The cheeses were very rich and the salad, while simple without the frills, was perfectly sized and drizzled with a balsamic vinaigrette that was just the right amount. While I enjoyed my meal very much and the ambiance, he wasn't overly impressed with his. He didn't want the fresh herbs on his slices and knocked all of them off, lol. He's a simple guy with simple taste. This is definitely a place I will be revisiting with one of my girlfriends and not him next time as he didn't appreciate what ZaZA had to offer. Everyone we encountered was helpful and courteous. Our food, including drinks, was around $28, which was not bad for a cute, eclectic spot downtown. If you haven't been, make sure to try them out soon. Just don't wait as long as I did to visit!

    Where to start? Went on a weekend, place was packed. The…read moreBad: 1. SLOW. Waited in a line inside of 4 people in front of me. There was someone at the podium at the end who i thought was a server. Was not. After a 15 minute wait (why did it take that long?), we got to the podium person. And found out they were there to take our order, not seat us. Can only assume the 15 min delay was because people were trying to figure out what to order. No signage anywhere saying, please have what you want ready while you wait in line. 2. No menus, anywhere. Yes they can be printed and people in line could take one and figure out what they want. Yes, the menu could be put on the wall behind the server in large lettering. But no, they make you scan a QR code on the wall and view the menu on your phone, so that's inconvenient and a bit obtuse. 3. When we finally place an order for pizza, was told that, "they dont serve pizzas on the weekend, but we could order their "brunch pizzas", instead. Which on the counter, was small anemic cut slices of thick bready pizzas on the cutting board/table. Those each were $8.50 according to the menu. Figure the math of 2 small slices of pizza per person for 2 people vs just ordering a large pizza. But they don't serve pizza during brunch- Trattoria literally has the word "Pizza" in their last name- twice actually- yet you have to order a nearly $9 slice of pizza sitting out on a table for who knows how long, and of the flavor of their choice, not yours. It was flat out insulting to go to a pizza based establishment and be told they won't serve whole pizzas. We left and went to Uptown to a pizzaria there, and had a really good whole pizza, salad, dessert, and drinks, and all for half the price then if we had gone to Trattoria. Wanted to give this place a chance for years, but did not work out the way i had expected it to.

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    Trattoria Zaza - Inside wait in line to order then pick your own seat inside or out

    Inside wait in line to order then pick your own seat inside or out

    Trattoria Zaza - Baked Feta

    Baked Feta

    Trattoria Zaza - Inside wait in line to order then pick your own seat

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    Inside wait in line to order then pick your own seat

    Bettola

    Bettola

    4.0(316 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    Who doesn't love a good bowl of pasta? Bettola does it right. I always applaud restaurants that…read morehave perfect length menus. I do not need millions of options, this is the correct amount. If you know me, you know that if there's burrata on the menu, I'm ordering it. Bettola's is one of the most unique I've ever had. It's almost soupy, and it's scrumptious. The wine list is good, and they serve good cocktails. My friends all raved about the espresso martini. This is a great place for date night or to dine with friends and family. They have an option for everybody. Service is great, no frills. I find parking to be very easy in this area. Like Hot and Hot, you do have to walk through a different hallway to get to a bathroom, a little strange but fine. I love the option of outdoor seating, but the inside is a fantastic atmosphere, too. I've yet to try any of the pizzas, but will have to come back at some point, of course :).

    Bettola was absolutely amazing. I take a lot into account when reviewing, atmosphere, service, food…read morequality, and price, and this place nailed almost everything. The atmosphere was perfect for dinner: ambient, romantic lighting, and a cozy setup both indoors and out. We sat inside and loved it. We started with the Funghi di Bosco pizza and... holy crap. Hands down the best pizza I've ever had. The crust was that perfect wood-fired crisp, the cheese melted just right, the mushrooms were fresh, the fresh egg was perfect, and the truffle oil? Unreal. I'd come back for that alone. For my entrée, I had the Quattro Formaggi pasta with added sausage great flavor, rich and creamy white base, though the mint was a touch heavy for my taste. Dessert was the Chocolate Budino. Not a showstopper, but still a nice, sweet finish to an incredible meal. Our bill was just under $100 for two, and it was 100% worth every penny. Bettola should be proud excellent food, great vibe, and that pizza will forever have my heart. Can't wait to come back and try more.

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    Bettola
    Bettola
    Bettola

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    The Essential - Sourdough bread with French butter.

    The Essential

    4.4(495 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    This morning, Sunday, February 15, 2026; My wife and I went to "The Essentials" for Sunday, Brunch…read more I have not eaten at "The Essentials" for a few years now. We don't like going out on holidays like Valentines Day so we usually do something the day after. Food: I got the Steak & Eggs. They were great. I did think the "Potato Cake" on the plate was a bit dry but I did eat it all. I was surprised that no Toast was provided for this item. Just an after thought. My wife go the Banana Bread French Toast. She also loved it. Service: This is where "The Essentials" understands what their clients want. Our server was outstanding. I looked around and felt the entire staff really knew how to work with their guests. Refreshing. Ambiance: At first, I thought the restaurant was a bit noisy. Yet my wife and my conversation was not strained. The Ambiance was upscale casual. Value: I thought the prices were a bit high yet the real story was, once I was finished, my mind was asking when the next time I would return. Cost a meal is in direct portion to how much you enjoyed it. I enjoyed my meal very much. Eat well, Drink well and stay healthy.

    This is a great spot in Birmingham. The menu was not clear, but the staff worked with us to figure…read moreout what they could make without seed oils and gluten-free options. I ended up with a bunless burger. The Caesar salad with chicken was my first choice, but both the dressing and the chicken had seed oils - not good. Still, the vibe was great, and we made the best of what was available. Thanks to the chef for working with us.

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    The Essential
    The Essential - Mushroom Madame

    Mushroom Madame

    The Essential - Tuna tartar with house made chips

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    Tuna tartar with house made chips

    Bottega Italian Restaurant - Asparagus pizza

    Bottega Italian Restaurant

    4.2(219 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$$

    I got incredibly incredibly lucky to find this place on my first day in Birmingham…read more It'll go down as one of the best experiences I've ever had at a restaurant. My friend and I sat at the bar and got five star service; incredible recommendations for food, drinks and even other great spots to check out in town. We were befriended by several other guests at the bar who were locals, and overall the ambience was classy and professional, but the prices weren't too overwhelming. The bartender recommended a great bottle of wine and the spaghetti, and I truly believe it's the best spaghetti I've ever had, it will be hard to top. Can't wait to come back.

    I've heard so many great things about Bottega--from the food to the top-tier customer service--so…read morewhen my friend was in town for a lawyers convention and suggested dinner, this was one of the first places I recommended. We were deciding between here and Lapeer, and she ultimately chose Bottega because of its reputation. We had reservations for 8:30 PM and weren't seated until around 8:40, which wasn't a huge issue. However, once seated, the service quickly became disappointing. Our waiter took our drink order, dropped off the drinks, and immediately walked away without asking if we wanted to order anything else. He eventually came back and asked us for our appetizers. While waiting, we noticed the table next to us receiving significantly more attentive service--frequent check-ins, questions about their food, and overall engagement--while our table was largely ignored. When our appetizer arrived, it was dropped off without any follow-up. It's like he had the zoomies. He never came back to ask how everything was, which is something I'm not used to. At 9:29 PM, I stopped the waiter to ask if they were about to close (closing time was 9:30). That's when I realized we were never even asked if we wanted to order entrees. His response was that he thought we were "enjoying our food and we could still order if we wanted to ," but from the energy, we chose to go someplace else. To be clear, the food was excellent--I'd give it a 9/10. Unfortunately, the service was a 3/10. I considered whether timing played a role, but since the table next to us received attentive service during the same time frame, it was hard to overlook the contrast. I'm not sure if it was because we were black and the only minority there, but the difference in treatment stood out. I live not too far and truly wanted this to be a go-to spot, but the experience didn't reflect the "one of the best restaurants with the best customer service in Birmingham" reputation I've heard so much about. I might consider returning to the café side to see if the experience is different, but as of now, I left feeling underwhelmed. I'm sharing this in hopes that it helps improve consistency in service, because the decor was beautiful and the food itself is worth it. We had the Parmesan soufflé which was delicious and very comforting, so were the oysters.

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    Bottega Italian Restaurant
    Bottega Italian Restaurant - Baked Feta

    Baked Feta

    Bottega Italian Restaurant - Lemon martini and extra dirty martini

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    Lemon martini and extra dirty martini

    North Italia

    North Italia

    4.0(383 reviews)
    6.4 mi
    $$

    North Italia is a great date spot... which was mildly awkward because I went with a buddy whose…read morepants I was NOT trying to get into. The lighting is low, the tables are cozy, and the vibe basically demands deep eye contact and meaningful conversation. At one point I'm pretty sure he thought the night was going somewhere... and I had to subtly remind him this was a friendship risotto, not a romance risotto. Aaaaaanyway... the restaurant itself is excellent. The staff was friendly and attentive the whole night. I ordered an old fashioned that came with the proper large scube... always a sign the bar knows what it's doing. For dinner I had the braised short rib risotto and it was a knockout. The short rib was so tender it basically collapsed if you looked at it too hard, and the risotto was creamy and full of flavor. All jokes aside, it's a really solid spot and perfect for a date... or apparently a very emotionally confusing dinner with a friend. If I'm in town long enough on this work trip, I'll definitely be back.

    North Italia's food has the been consistently fantastic! We've been going since they opened. Every…read moretime, without fail, the food hits the mark. That said, pricing has always been outrageous, and it's becoming harder to overlook. For example our most recent trip, we had two mains, and an appetizer, and the bill was $90. Had we gotten drinks, desserts, or any extras, we'd be looking at $150+. I asked for extra tomato sauce to go, and I was given what was literally two tablespoons of sauce, charged at an outrageous $3.50. I get that things are pricier now, but tomato sauce is one of the cheapest ingredients, organic or not and as a chain, I can guarantee you this isn't small batch, nor locally made. The markup here was just shocking. I know things cost more these days, but the price does not match the value. For this price point, you would expect much higher quality dining and you can get that easily in Birmingham. It's still a great dining experience, but we're increasingly cautious because the pricing has been a concern for years. Just something to keep in mind if, like many of us, you're cautious about budget.

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    North Italia
    North Italia
    North Italia

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    Bocca Ristorante - italian - Updated May 2026

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