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I went to a private wine dinner at Bocca on yesterday evening. It was my first time visiting this restaurant, but I heard generally good reviews so I was looking forward to it. Valet parking is available, but my husband found close street parking so we did that. I started off by having a twist on an old-fashioned. They use ginger liqueur instead of simple syrup. It was a good drink. Our wine dinner consisted of four courses. Each course was paired with a different wine. The wine maker gave us details about each of the four wines. I'm normally not much of a wine drinker, but I absolutely loved each wine that I tried on last night. The food was phenomenal. My favorite thing was the third course which was a red snapper dish. The dessert was intentionally made not to be too sweet. The chef didn't want dessert to overpower the wine. The dessert was still so good! I know we probably received exceptional service since we were a part of a private wine dinner. However, I think since it was so great, I have to come back and try it again.
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!!
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.
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.
I tried Bocca for the first time two weeks ago and have already been back each visit was for a different purpose but both were great. My initial visit was for an anniversary dinner and we noted this on our reservation, they were kind enough to place us in a more intimate setting away from crowds this was a Saturday and they were pretty busy but it didn't feel overly busy or loud in the area we were seated. Upon arrival the hostess was very nice and welcoming to the restaurant. We had a selection of drinks all of which we were pleased with. The first round included: Botanica 9.5/10 ($16) it was similar to a gimlet light and refreshing Circa 1975 9/10 ($15) a nice spin on the classic French 75 using Hennessy in place of gin. Second round: Espresso Old Fashioned 8/10 ($17) it had a good flavor and was different and something to get used to with the Espresso. Bocca Russo 8.5/10 ($15) still light and refreshing but felt like something was missing. Food: We split the caesar salad ($16) and it was really good, but size wise was smaller than some other restaurants, you do have the option of anchovies. We did choose to have them I think they had always add to the overall flavor of the ceasar salad. Pan Snapper Destin Florida Red Snapper ($43) was paired with creamy risotto, white wine butter sauce and over dried tomatoes. It had some broccolini on it as well and all the flavors melted together. I was very pleased with the selection I made. I would give it a 9/10 overall. Cast Iron Seared Tuscan Ribeye ($56) paired with tomato butter, artisanal mushroom, and Potato Gratin it also included broccolini. We opted to not have dessert on this visit but hopefully in future we will be able to check out that menu as well. The most recent visit was to check out their Happy Hour which is Tuesday-Thursday 4:30-6:30 pm. It includes a caesar salad, wine and pasta for $29. We selected the red wine for the wine selection but you have the option of red or white. It is a house wine so you don't have a large variety it's literally two options but still for the price it's worth it. The Caesar Salad was a decent portion no complaints there. There are maybe six pastas to choose from and you have the option to add protein to each if you decide. Garganelli with Asparagus (added Chicken $6) 10/10 Primavera (added shrimp $10) 10/10 the pasta had amazing flavor. I would say the $10 for 3 shrimp did seem like a lot but I just know for the future to select chicken of choosing to add to pasta.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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
The ABSOLUTE best pasta!!! My friend and me came here during their pasta happy hour ( look it up) and we had the most amazing experience! The hospitality was top tier. The hostess girl who seated us was really friendly & accommodating. Our server, Becca took such great care of us from drinks to apps to entrees to dessert. She did such a great job throughout our time here. I had their bolognese dish /caesar salad/ red house wine with the HH special. The pasta and Caesar salad were prepared and plated with perfection! I ate every bite... literally!!' The ingredients were all so fresh & I really could go on & on. I won't! Haaha The dining space is classy and decorated nicely. The ambiance provided the perfect mood for a fun night with great food/ drinks /great company! I already know I'll be returning to Bocca real soon. read more
18 days ago
New happy hour alert! We tried Bocca's new Pasta Happy Hour (Tuesday-Thursday, 4:30-6:30 PM), and it did not disappoint. For $29, you get wine, salad, focaccia, and pasta--a great deal for both the quality and portion sizes. We ordered the house wine, Caesar salad, spaghetti and meatballs, and the Garganelli with asparagus (plus added shrimp). Since it was such a beautiful day, we sat out on the patio, which I didn't even realize they had! The service was stellar, the food was delicious, and we left completely full. They also offer complimentary valet, which is always a nice bonus with downtown traffic and parking. We had a wonderful experience and will definitely be back! read more
Disappointed with our last visit there, which was for our 20th anniversary dinner. First, we were offered complementary champagne, but we don't drink. Most nice places have started accommodating for non-drinkers with a mocktail or NA menu. They didn't have one, so I asked our waitress if the bartender could make me something. We were surprised when we were charged the same price as the alcoholic drinks, especially when we were offered free champagne in the beginning. Second, I ordered something I hadn't ordered before, the chicken piccata. I knew it was lemon, but this had cooked lemon slices on the top that made it SO strong & it was also so salty, I couldn't eat a lot of it. Worst thing I've eaten here, by far. Third, the couple sitting behind us was extremely chatty with their waiter & tried getting into a political discussion & the waiter took the bait for a bit. Not the place for politics! Let people eat in peace! read more
I went to a private wine dinner at Bocca on yesterday evening. It was my first time visiting this restaurant, but I heard generally good reviews so I was looking forward to it. Valet parking is available, but my husband found close street parking so we did that. I started off by having a twist on an old-fashioned. They use ginger liqueur instead of simple syrup. It was a good drink. Our wine dinner consisted of four courses. Each course was paired with a different wine. The wine maker gave us details about each of the four wines. I'm normally not much of a wine drinker, but I absolutely loved each wine that I tried on last night. The food was phenomenal. My favorite thing was the third course which was a red snapper dish. The dessert was intentionally made not to be too sweet. The chef didn't want dessert to overpower the wine. The dessert was still so good! I know we probably received exceptional service since we were a part of a private wine dinner. However, I think since it was so great, I have to come back and try it again. read more
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!! read more
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. read more
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. read more
3 months ago
I tried Bocca for the first time two weeks ago and have already been back each visit was for a different purpose but both were great. My initial visit was for an anniversary dinner and we noted this on our reservation, they were kind enough to place us in a more intimate setting away from crowds this was a Saturday and they were pretty busy but it didn't feel overly busy or loud in the area we were seated. Upon arrival the hostess was very nice and welcoming to the restaurant. We had a selection of drinks all of which we were pleased with. The first round included: Botanica 9.5/10 ($16) it was similar to a gimlet light and refreshing Circa 1975 9/10 ($15) a nice spin on the classic French 75 using Hennessy in place of gin. Second round: Espresso Old Fashioned 8/10 ($17) it had a good flavor and was different and something to get used to with the Espresso. Bocca Russo 8.5/10 ($15) still light and refreshing but felt like something was missing. Food: We split the caesar salad ($16) and it was really good, but size wise was smaller than some other restaurants, you do have the option of anchovies. We did choose to have them I think they had always add to the overall flavor of the ceasar salad. Pan Snapper Destin Florida Red Snapper ($43) was paired with creamy risotto, white wine butter sauce and over dried tomatoes. It had some broccolini on it as well and all the flavors melted together. I was very pleased with the selection I made. I would give it a 9/10 overall. Cast Iron Seared Tuscan Ribeye ($56) paired with tomato butter, artisanal mushroom, and Potato Gratin it also included broccolini. We opted to not have dessert on this visit but hopefully in future we will be able to check out that menu as well. The most recent visit was to check out their Happy Hour which is Tuesday-Thursday 4:30-6:30 pm. It includes a caesar salad, wine and pasta for $29. We selected the red wine for the wine selection but you have the option of red or white. It is a house wine so you don't have a large variety it's literally two options but still for the price it's worth it. The Caesar Salad was a decent portion no complaints there. There are maybe six pastas to choose from and you have the option to add protein to each if you decide. Garganelli with Asparagus (added Chicken $6) 10/10 Primavera (added shrimp $10) 10/10 the pasta had amazing flavor. I would say the $10 for 3 shrimp did seem like a lot but I just know for the future to select chicken of choosing to add to pasta. read more
1 month ago
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. read more
4 months ago
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. read more
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! read more
2 months ago
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! read more
5 months ago
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. read more
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 read more
2 years ago
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. read more
7 months ago
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. read more
I'll start with the only disappointing point of the night which was that the restaurant was really hot at our 5:30pm reservation time. The server kindly explained that they're closed on Sundays and Mondays so the place isn't cooled those days and the AC should be kicking in soon.. but it was very unpleasant to sweat in nice clothes and ruin my hair for the first 30-40 minutes of a pricy dining experience. I can't fathom why staff wouldn't come in early and get the AC going well ahead of service but I digress.. That aside, the service, food, little details, and ambiance were all fantastic. My husband and I compared it to our favorite high end dining experiences and this is tied at the top for us in Birmingham. We went ahead and tried many dishes including the panzanella, Arancini, garganelli, tagliatelle bolognese, and the snapper. We also had the italian doughnut for dessert. Our food and drinks really shined. Every member of staff from the valet, to hostesses, servers, and rotating staff topping off water were so lovely and friendly. This was more food than enough for 2 people so we took some leftovers home. It's hard for me to remove a star even though my first glass of wine tasted off (they replaced it from a fresh bottle) and I didn't enjoy sweating so much for the first part of dinner, but.. the food was so good that I can get over those shortcomings. I'm looking forward to returning (will definitely be ordering the Garganelli again - it was so rich but such a treat), and hopefully trying some new rotated menu items. Thanks, Bocca crew for making my birthday dinner (mostly) lovely! read more
1 year ago
The seafood dish was a whole experience. Very fresh and left nothing to be desired. Lovely ambiance and lighting on the outdoor patio. Great staff. Would definitely come again. read more
2 years ago
Met up with some friends here for the first time for a celebration dinner. The decor and layout were interesting with some semi-private areas and lots of nice artwork on the walls. We had a hard time deciding what to order and the chef came out and was so nice and suggested some dishes for us. Our server Tatum was also super sweet and very attentive. I ordered the linguine with clams and it was so light and flavorful. My friends got the chicken piccata and the eggplant lasagna. The lasagna was so good! The piccata was nice too but I didn't love the gnocchi. The chef sent out some desserts for us to try and my favorite was the affogato! So decadent and delicious! I can't believe I've never been here before. Would absolutely return! read more
11 months ago
3 years ago
Was recommended to go to this restaurant, and I like the food but they were very eccentric. This was in the middle of downtown Birmingham, and they made my friend takeoff his hat to come in, although they were people in there in shorts. The portions are extremely small, and my friend is not a big fan of Italian food and asked if they could make fettuccine Alfredo the most basic of Italian dishes, and they refused. The waiter was extremely snooty. He acted like he was doing us a favor by us eating there. I had the bouillabaisse and it was good, but not great. My friend who was unable to get a fettuccine Alfredo took the spaghetti carbonara instead, and it was just OK. For an appetizer, we got the carpaccio which was pretty good. I'm not sure why this place has such a snoozing us about it in downtown Birmingham, but the prices are not good and we were not made to feel welcome. read more
6 months ago
6 months ago
Came here during the week to celebrate one of our friends birthday and had an absolute wonderful time!! The vibe is definitely upscale and we all dressed up for the occasion. The service is pretty quick and we loved our server! I will say, everything is a bit on the pricier side. We brought cake to be cut and they do have a $5 PER SLICE charge for the cake to be cut and brought to the table so keep that in mind if you do bring cake from outside. The menu has a lot of seafood options so if you're like me and not a big seafood fan, then there's only limited options. Now on to the good part, the food! We got a few appetizer for the table starting with the Caesar anchovy salad. I'm not a seafood fan but my girlfriends liked the salad. We also got the veal meatballs. These were delicious! I definitely recommend ordering off the menu. The Arancini Di Roso was also good! Probably not the best one I've ever had. It was not as flavorful as ones I've had before. We also got a bread basket which was good!! The bread was delicious! Slightly crispy on the outside but very soft on the inside! My main course was the short ribs with polenta. I thought the short ribs tasted excellent! The meat was soft and not tough. Buuut I wasn't a fan of the polenta. The polenta tasted like it was cooked a little too long. Overall, I did enjoy coming to this restaurant! Would come again! read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
This has to be our favorite upscale restaurant in Birmingham! It's such a fun place to go for an occasion or celebration. Everything here is top notch from food to service! The menu is set up for starters, first course pasta, and a second main entree, but unless you are famished, that's way too much food! I tend to do two of the three courses. Their menu is seasonal so I've had a few different versions of their pappardelle pasta and it does not disappoint!!! One time I got the pappardelle pasta with short ribs as my first course why my husband had a salad. He changed his entree to the pasta because it's really that good! Other menu standouts that have been a hit with me or with friends and family we come with are: the oysters, the arancini, various other pasta dishes, scallops, and red snapper. Honestly, we haven't had a bad meal here, so you can't go wrong! Enjoy! read more
Bocca is a sophisticated, Italian restaurant located in downtown Birmingham. Reservations are required. We dined on a Saturday night and our table for six was ready when we arrived. We were told the table was dedicated to us for the night so we should take our time and enjoy the evening. That was a nice feature. Our waiter was excellent. He was attentive and knew the menu very well. He took the time to explain that the Bocca dining experience usually consists of three courses. The first two courses (salad/antipasta and pasta) could be shared followed by individual's entrees. He suggested some of his favorites. He was also knowledgeable of the wine list, and after given input suggested an Italian fruit wine. For our appetizer course we selected three appetizers to share. The Prosciutto with Burrata, Beef Tenderloin Carpaccio, and the Spicy Veal Meatballs. The appetizers were nicely prepared and beautifully plated. The thin sliced prosciutto and beef were tasty and went well with fresh arugula. My favorite was the Beef Tenderloin Carpaccio. For our second course (pasta course), we shared the Garganelli with Asparagus and Bucatini Pomodoro. These special handmade pastas were amazing. Our parties favorite was the Bucatini. For my entrée I ordered the Braised Beef Short Rib. The ribs were tender and served on polenta and some grilled asparagus. My entrée was good but didn't "wow" me. It was a slight letdown after the wonderful appetizers and pasta. Overall a good experience. Nice place for a date night or special occasion. read more
Excellent food and service! In fact, our server was so knowledgeable and prompt I feel bad giving Bocca 4 stars. However, the cocktails we ordered were the smallest I have ever seen. We had a group of 6 and everyone who ordered cocktails said the same thing about their drinks as well. I was shocked that such a place would serve drinks that look like over half of the cocktail is missing and your cup is empty. The picture attached is a Negroni that I didn't even drink yet. Everything else was more than great! We had the spicy meatball appetizer, Cioppino, Ligunini Carbonara, and Apple Pie. The sauce on the meatball appetizer...omg!!! So good. Cioppino had so much seafood. My picture only shows half the entree since my husband and I shared it. It's plenty! The Linguini came with this egg that was breaded and fried but the inside was so perfect! The yolk was creamy and so delicious. The best part was the apple pie which is not typical apple pie. No giant crust and the apples were cut in cubes. It had roasted figs on top and fig the ice cream to go with was so amazing. I have to say the dessert was probably my favorite part. read more
Very fine dining, The service was excellent, the ambience was refined and the food was spectacular. Each appetizer had its special unique flavors. Eggplant could be less fried, but otherwise good balanced meal with the ricotta. The salad was supper fresh and the bread was superb, with the oil! Once again very difficult for me to give a 5 star on my first impression visit, it is definitely must return place. read more
3 years ago
Northern Italian Cuisine in downtown Birmingham, Alabama @ 2nd Avenue N. & 23rd Street N. We enjoyed several Buffalo Trace Bourbon Old Fashioned pre-dinner cocktails. CAESAR SALAD Romaine Hearts, Parmesan, Croutons, Anchovy VEAL MARSALA Veal Glace, Artisanal Mushroom, Asparagus CAST IRON SEARED TUSCAN RIBEYE Tomato Butter, Artisanal Mushroom, Gratin BOMBOLONE Italian style mini doughnuts with orange zest and cream Excellent service from Graham and a delightful dinner - THANK YOU! read more
2 years ago
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2312 2nd Ave N
Birmingham, AL 35203
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(205) 201-5980
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https://boccabirmingham.com
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Bocca Ristorante - italian - Updated July 2026
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