I really want to give 3.5 stars but can't. Came here because of a restaurant.com coupon I had and would probably return. First off they give small garlic chunks of bread with what I think is a roasted red pepper dipping sauce. The bread was cold and hard and could've been flavored more (wasn't a fan). However we then got our appetizer - mussels fra Diablo and these were really good. It's a pound of mussels and comes with 2 pieces of crostini (wish this was the bread we got served at first). Delicious Then for entrees we got the spaghetti carbonara (with shrimp added) and the pan seared salmon. We both liked our entrees except I wish my salmon was larger as it was good and I was looking for more after I was done. The salmon came with garlic mashed (more like black pepper mash) and green beans. The spaghetti came with 3 jumbo shrimps my husband enjoyed it and took his leftovers home. Still being hungry (me) we got the three chocolate mousse dessert to share. It was delicious and wish it had more of the fresh raspberries to eat with it. The restaurant itself seems like it has an identity crisis. The menu is clearly leaning towards Italian and the columns in the middle of the restaurant go with that theme but then the rest is metal work, odd pictures of horse jockeys and ladies. Also the napkins were these weird purple and blue PAPER napkins. Just odd. The restaurants look I would give 2 stars. Also there is only one chef, one pizza chef, one waitress and one bartender. Could definitely see this being an issue If they were busy. For a Friday at 7 it wasn't very busy so maybe this works for them. Waitress seemed knowledgeable of the entire menu and wine list. There is a good amount of space, especially outside but it was too cold for that. We most likely would return when the weather is nice to sit outside. One stall bathrooms so don't hold it if you gotta go! Prices were a little steep for portions I feel like but at same time wasn't stuffed and it was good. So I don't mind paying more money as long as it's good. read more

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Place is a total joke. Brought my mother here for her 75th birthday and a party of about 15. Essentially every single drink was sent back. Half of the food made it. I think our server didn't know how to read (actually felt bad about that). But this is not a serious place. read more

Literally a joke. Couldn't handle our rez of 12 made well in advance. First offered to serve us family style $30 each with 6 total items. Then took away 2 of the items but left the price the same. On day-of, service was non-existent. We ended up each paying $30 for hard penne and one piece of chicken. Server had an attitude all night, even though she negotiated our rez. read more

Heard great things about this place including the chef. Today I placed an oder of the grilled octopus to go for the first time and was very disappointed When I got home. It was supposed to have broccoli rabe instead had dry broccol. It looked nothing like the picture on their website, and doesn't look like it was even prepared by a chef Very disappointing for my first time ordering there. read more

OC Kitchen-Bar - This is what I got - Italian Near Me - Rocky Hill, Connecticut

One of our favorite restaurants!! If you want good Italian food with a family homey feeling you have to come here! The food is amazing and Marcela and the owner provide excellent service. read more

Well above average food. Excellent service. Very comfortable environment with live local musicians

wanted to give this place a try, sat at bar and they acknowledged us with a glass of water gave us menus and we sat there for 15 minutes with nobody asking us if we were ready to order. There were a total of six people sitting at the bar, including us, and two tables and the owner was sitting right next to us, and did not say anything. after 15 minutes of no one acknowledging us you're locked out. terrible customer service. read more

I order take out. They make the best meatballs. The sauce is wonderful they add a little fresh cheese the sauce is yummy

I was surprised at how few people were here. It made me feel as if they all knew something I did not. The service was pleasant. The interior is nice, bar area has exposed beams, very cool look. We sat outside. One thing I thought was odd was the curled place mats they put down on our table. They reminded me of the cheap plastic ones my grandparents would use when I was a kid. The menu was different than the one online. There were just a few things that made me and my friend look at eachother like, 'what?' I wasn't blown away by the food however it wasn't terrible. Interesting! That's how I'll summarize. read more

OC Kitchen-Bar - Inside bar area - Italian Near Me - Rocky Hill, Connecticut

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Went on a Saturday night at 630, place was empty. Server seemed new, friendly, but inexperienced. He took a long time to do many things that should be basic and quick. Didn't know if they served bread. An Italian Restuarant with no bread on a Weekend night? He finally brought lukewarm Focaccia after 30 minutes of us sitting down. No manager in sight the whole time we were there. One meal was good, but my Bolognese had watery sauce with very little meat in it, no Ricotta on the meal, and very bland tasting overall. Desert likewise was cold and bland, a tasteless tart. Server kept bragging about the "chef" to several tables that came in after us. He also said that the "chef" worked at Carbones in Rocky Hill. I really doubt this "chef's" cooking ability after this dining experience. Will not go back again, it's sad because it has a great ambience inside until you eat... read more

Haven't been here in so long decided to give it a try. Sunday early evening just one other couple here. Started by splitting a Beet Salad which turned out well but needed a sprinkle of olive oil and some salt to moist it up a bit. The olive oil on the table was good but the bread was better. Need salt and pepper on the table. My dining partner had a special of night: Shortribs over mashed potatoes and carrots. The piece of meat was huge and cooked properly proved by falling off the bone. It was declared very good. My Tagliatelle Bolognese was good and filling. The Pinot Noir was a good pour. Homemade Tiramisu was def homemade and huge. Good service. Will go back for Happy Hour. read more

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Long wait even though not busy. Food was okay. Terrible coffee at dessert. Not terrible but will not be returning

For Valentine's Day my wife requested we go to here. For appetizers we had the calamari and buratta caprese. The squid was Nicky cooked and Rhode Island style with the peppers. The buratta was very tasty but underripe tomatoes, which I can't fault this time of year. For our main dishes we had the scallop risotto and bronzino. The fish filet was very small, served with a few potatoe slices asparagus and a mini salad and a mustard sauce. My wife had the scallop risotto which really didn't need the balsamic glaze it had. The times it took for dishes to come out were quite long. We were there for about 2 hours. We opted against dessert. Thought the food was decent they had all the appearance of being overwhelmed by the number of patrons on the holiday read more

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The food was mediocre at best (and a bit overpriced) and the service was absolutely horrible. I would go into greater detail, but I feel they have already wasted enough of my time. We won't be back. read more

Came here for dinner last night for the first time, and I have to say I was impressed! Their chef is from Italy, and you can tell with the authenticity of the food. The bolognese was perfect, and I really enjoyed the thick layer of mozzarella on the "Italy" Neapolitan style pizza. We chose the trio di formaggi for our appetizer, and all of the cheeses were so tasty. I thought the blueberries and pears were a great pairing. My boyfriend loved his cocktail, and we ended the night with some great cannoli. I would recommend this place to anyone! read more

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Went to the oc kitchen a few weeks ago to scope it out as a possible seminar venue with dinner. It was a Thursday. There were only two other tables occupied in the restaurant area. To get to the point, I will never go back. There was one waitress!bartender for the whole place. It took one hour and ten minutes to get my mixed drink. Food took longer. In fairness, the calamari, meatballs and Italian ribs were good, but the other 6 entrees were horrible. The risotto was inedible. It tasted like it was cooked in water. . The Catalonia seafood dish was all potatoes, one scallop cold in the midfield and a couple of pathetic looking shrimp. The pizza tasted like cardboard Everyone left their food except for the pork ribs. To add insult to injury, the bread that came with the meatballs came out 20 minutes after the meatballs and entrees came out staggered. Nobody cares, no apologies for the lateness, no effort to accommodate. Worse meal ever. read more

Good staff. Good people to chit chat with. I ordered the Lobster Ravioli with carbonara sauce. It was awful. I do NOT fully blame the restaurant/chef for two reasons. 1: I got it with a heavy cream sauce, which was my mistake. 2: I had it reheated. Although, the lobster in the raviolis tasted like it was past its prime, so I have to deduct stars for below par lobster. read more

Drinks are the worse here for the money you pay don't even taste right I had 1 drinks Manhattan was and it was the worse drink taste ever I had to force my self to drink it Bc I spent the money read more

I have eaten here a few times and each time the food has been fresh and tasty. The cook is most definitely Italian. You can tell by the food. It is made with love. I have tried the proscuitto appetizer, the pasta, the pizza and the salad. Everything is delicious and I am happy to say this is one of my favorite restaurants. (And I am a major foodie and proud Sicilian) Accolades are high! read more

We used to enjoy coming here until last night. Scallops were cooked to leather. Risotto was just rice. Took over an hour and a half. Had to hunt down the server bc he never came back after dropping off our entrees. No water, drink refills, no check without searching for him. Penne alla vodka actually had cold sausage- not room temp- but cold from the fridge. read more

Didn't eat...but looks like a great spot. Stopped for a drink and a conversation and enjoyed both.

Great food and great atmosphere. Always recommend OC to friends and family. The food is simply amazing. You can never beat authentic Italian like they have. read more

First time we've eaten here in a long time. My wife and I both had a salmon dish. Both dishes were very good. Service was good but we were doing a very late lunch so the place was pretty empty. I only have one knock on the restaurant, but is one that is really bothering me. We ordered two vodka and soda for a drink. Nothing elaborate, Absolute vodka, that is not exactly top shelf. The drinks were very light on the vodka. The real issue was the bill. $28 for two very weak drinks. That is outrageous. Even in high end restaurants they don't charge you $14 for a shot of vodka. Not sure we will go back, I felt taken advantage of. read more

Last night I went to OC Kitchen-Br for the 1st time with 2 other people. Our entire experience was outstanding. The restaurant itself and the atmosphere is beautiful-not like your typical Italian restaurant. The high ceilings with steel beam arches are modern, industrial, and gorgeous. Our waitress was very attentive and friendly. Best of all, the food was sensational. We all commented that the restaurant is a hidden gem and we all can't wait to return. I brought home leftovers and can't wait to eat them. read more

Have loved this bar and restaurant every time we have gone! Amazing fresh drinks! Fresh juice used. Great Moscow mule in perfectly cold copper mug! My sister said she had the best dirty martini ever. Wines are delicious and the staff know alot to help you choose Now food.... we ordered as many plates that could fit in front of us read more

OC Kitchen-Bar - Italian Near Me - Rocky Hill, Connecticut

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It's Tuesday night and we're stretching out the last days of summer. Started at happy hour al fresco. They have a nice indoor/outdoor patio. Aperol spritzs - a taste of Venice. Our waitress #Deb was delightful and was awesome in guiding us in our choices. Chef T came out to talk with hubby to make sure she knew exactly how he wanted his angus steak prepared. Grilled to perfection with the accompanying ensemble of glazed mushrooms, potatoes, carrots and freshly picked cherry tomatoes. I had pasta all a Norma, rigatoni with eggplant and ricotta with a sprinkling of fresh basil. Perfectly balanced combination. I was tempted to eat the entire dish in one sitting. Unusual for me. read more

OC Kitchen-Bar - Rigatoni Alla Norma - Italian Near Me - Rocky Hill, Connecticut

I was here recently and I would describe it as "fine." The food was okay; my wild mushroom risotto was perfectly edible but nothing to write home about. The waitress was ... weirdly judgemental. For example, a friend who isn't supposed to drink any alcohol for medical reasons asked for a cocktail with no tequila, and the waitress rolled her eyes. After our meal was finished, I requested the check (rather than have coffee and dessert) and she again sighed and made a face. The ambience is nice; it was active and crowded but not too loud to have a nice conversation. In the past I've had desserts and they were delicious. read more

I found the delivery person to be rude and the indifferent to my request for a receipt and a napkin and knife and fork. I ordered the scallops with rice and a salad which was 50 dollars. I would think I could get a knife, fork and napkin. Never again will I order from this place. read more

My family went here for the first time, we were very impressed! The waiter gave my brother a free pizza! The chef is Italian and we love his home-cooked style meals. The food was spectacular and the overall experience was amazing. Our family definitely recommends this, and we will be back for more. read more

This is my first time here. Italian food so you can't usually go wrong. I'm not in the mood for tap water (it sometimes give me headaches) so I'm starting out with a Pellegrino sparkling natural mineral water bottled in Terme (Bergamo) Italy! i am sitting at the bar tonight (which has all of 7 seats). That glass is ice cold ! For my starting appetizer, off of the "officina cucina" (official menu), I am having the Mussels Fra Diavolo (a full pound of local mussels in a spicy red sauce with homemade crostini). Extra spicy I asked for. Let's see if it happens. Don't get your hopes up for heat at an Italian restaurant. The red dots in the photos are caused by the red lights above the bar. interestingly, when I take a photo of the lights, they do not appear to be red. For my first drink, I am trying a Villa Antinori wine (Toscana, 2013). That is a damn good wine. I could smell the wine when she served it! Those prices on the menu? Yes, that is per glass ($210, etc.). It's definitely a bit spicy. Mussels are good. Crostini seems "homemade" too. The bartender said she didn't think they were that spicy but loves it much hotter. I may take her up on that! For my salad, I am having the Sportiva Salad (mixed greens , fresh tomato , prosciutto crudo (thinly sliced raw beef ), taggiasca olives, shaved "sharp" (?) provolone and house balsamic dressing. Nice presentation! Tastes really good. I like the high quality greens. Dressing is light but good. Tomatoes are fresh too. For my next glass of wine, I am trying a Riva Leone wine (Barbaresco, 2012). Very nice. A little drier than the last one I had. For my next item, I am trying the weekly special creamy seafood soup with salmon , shrimp , carrots and celery. Scratch that! 86'd!!! Boo!!! I guess I'm going to the main course; Pork Scaloppine (mushroom cream sauce - not the lemon butter version - with roasted potato and Brussel sprouts - very lightly sautéed). Everything cooked just right! Gravy is real good. Brussel sprouts lightly sautéed and potatoes cooked perfect! For dessert, I am having the "Sampler" (tiramisu, pistachio and ricotta cake and Oreo Cream Caje in place of cannolis). I'm not sure exactly what to expect so you're guess is as good as mine! Wow! This is good! No body does it better than this place! OK. That might be a stretch, but it's damn good! Tia, the bartender is very friendly too. read more

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Having a hard time with this review. Good service, good drinks. Liked our appetizer (but it was just cut up cheese & fruit-) and my husband liked his food. But I just didn't like my meal that much. The menu looked great but I was just underwhelmed with my meal choice. I will however, try again and update if necessary! :) read more

Gave them another chance and had another fail. There was hardly anyone in there and drinks took forever. Started with the cheese plate and bread which were great. That's where it ends. I ordered the riccotta gnocci special without really reading the board. I saw riccotta gnocci when walking in and that's all I need to see or so I thought. The gnocchi themselves were tasteless and kind of tough but not inedible and I only picked a few of them out to eat and packaged the rest to take home. There was an odd additon of potatoes which I though was strange but not a deal breaker and what I thought was mushrooms that I didn't touch. My husband ordered the octopus which he said was okay but he probably wouldn't order again. We were never offered coffee or dessert and had to ask for a second cocktail. The real problem came the next day when I reheated the gnocchi and stirred them up. That's when I found out that the dark objects were not mushrooms but clams and that they were not cleaned at all. I literally ended up with bowl of inedible gnocci mixed with rubbery clams and sand. My husband went to try some to see what I was talking about with the sand and he not only got sand but a stone as well. We've tried multiple times to like this place because it's close by but they are just not consistant and the sand and stone in my meal can't be excused. We won't be back. read more

THIS PLACE IS HORRIFIC!!!! You should be shameful for serving uncooked food. The owner will fight with you and justify why his food is uncooked and then tell you it's how Italian food is made. read more

Excellent customer service, very knowledgeable, regarding menu options. Muscles appetizer was excellent.. Highly recommend this restaurant.. Ambiance is great also read more

Called the manager to see if I could purchase a bottle of champagne to have ready at my daughters table to celebrate her saying yes to the dress The Manager walked to CVS to purchase a special card to present to my daughter with the champagne snd signed it for me It's so rare when somebody takes the time to really think about pleasing the customer that they've never even met I often do this because I live in California and my daughters are in Connecticut so I like to have wine or champagne purchased for their special occasions No one else has ever done this for me I have worked in the restaurant business for years this is something that I would do as a manager when it's done for me it's really appreciated Real class act read more

OC Kitchen-Bar - Making me feel a part of the future brides day Thank you so much! - Italian Near Me - Rocky Hill, Connecticut

If I could 0 stars I would Horrible service and food was drowned in sauce I've had better food at Olive Garden Do not go here read more

Came here on a weeknight last August. The Mussels Fra Diavolo were the best mussels I've ever had. The Rughetta salad was good but could have used a little more flavor. My pork entree (I think the Scaloppine) was too heavy on the salt and is my only complaint about a dish, although it was still good otherwise. Service was a little slow for there only being one to two other tables with few people, but I don't know how many takeout orders might have been going on during the pandemic. The kitchen was also very receptive about my dairy/egg intolerance. Our waiter was great and it was one of his first nights working there. I loved the inside and could see the bar area being great during the colder months, but we ate outside and that was perfect. read more

My husband and I went to OC Kitchen less than a year ago and loved it so much that I brought my parents recently. They loved it!! The staff are so friendly, and it's a quiet setting therefore you can carry a conversation without yelling across the table. And, finally the food!! The food is excellent!! Everything prepared is so fresh!! I would recommend this gem to anyone!! read more

OC Kitchen-Bar - Italian Near Me - Rocky Hill, Connecticut

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The atmosphere is comfortable, clean, and well lit/decorated. The waitress was personable and timely. I felt comfortable and had great conversation with the staff. Our food was prepared quick, but well. Portions are a good size for lunch offerings read more

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Waiting over 15 to somebody ask what me and my girlfriend want to drink and after waiting another 25 minutes for drinks we just left. Disappointment and no excuse because table next to us was serviced few times while we waited. read more