This place serves delicious food and has great service! We ordered the duck, Caprese salad, truffle pasta, spaghetti ala limon. They were all delicious but my favorite was definitely the spaghetti. read more

Rocca - Caprese Salad - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Will return; 3.5 really This Michelin one-star restaurant has a simple, industrial decor consistent with other venues in Armature Works. I like their Spiegelau wine glasses, Fortessa tableware, pared-down menus (though the wine list is extensive), and crisp, professional service. Everything feels controlled and competent. But the food, overall, didn't quite rise to the same level of distinction. We ordered - sourdough bread - fresh mozzarella - pork arrosticini - agnolotti - tagliolini al ragù - two reds - semifreddo The bread is excellent, especially with the whipped butter/cream--unexpected and genuinely delicious. I was anticipating olive oil or old-fashioned butter, but this was a pleasant surprise. Both red wines, Franc Rodaro and Chianti Moro were decent. Our server asked whether we had dined there before and introduced their "sharing concept." I find this framing dated. It's 2026--sharing food isn't a concept; it's a norm. Maybe it's cultural (I'm Chinese, sharing is instinctive), but Italians share as well. Labeling it as a "concept" feels oddly performative. The tableside mozzarella is showy. The young man preparing it is skilled and fluent in the ritual, but the cheese itself was unexpectedly firm and chewy. Fresh mozzarella, at its best, should be soft and moist--something I've had plenty of elsewhere, including at places like Iavarone Brothers. The pork arrosticini arrives beautifully plated, with two tiny purple sakura blossoms that are delicate and striking. Visually refined. The barbecue, however, would benefit from better-quality meat. The pastas are the standouts. The agnolotti, finished with sparkling breadcrumbs (& salt?), is deeply flavorful. The tagliolini al ragù is impressively al dente. Saving a small piece of bread to soak up the sauce elevates the dish to its best possible version. Dessert redeems the ending: the birthday gelato was excellent (thank you), and the Persian lime semifreddo was light and well-balanced. No tiramisu, unfortunately--I'm a big bore. Some practical notes: - The bathroom stall locks are awkward to use. - No toilet seat covers. - Two tables by the kitchen (each seating four) typically carry a $1,000 minimum spend. - Complimentary parking is available, entry on Ola Street. - A 2% facility fee is added to the bill. Background context: this is chef-owner Bryce Bonsack's first restaurant. He trained at Italian kitchens and two Michelin-starred New York restaurants--Blanca and Corton. Tampa Bay Times critic Helen Freund (who profiled another restaurant, Hales Blackbrick frivolous lawsuit over my initial 3-star review last June) gave the restaurant a 10/10. Chef Bryce received Michelin stars in 2023 and 2024. Their website may need updating--I saw 2025 posted on the front door. read more

ROCCA!! I had to roll my Rs and use my Italian accent for Siri to know where to take me LOL. We booked this Michelin Star restaurant out about a month ago for a party of 4. First sat and noticed the environment and ambiance was quite casual. Light and airy, kind of cheap looking chair. It didn't strike me as a fancy place at all. We sat with a great view of the wine cellar. Overall the food was delicious don't get me wrong, but the pastas I feel like I could have also gotten at a nice Italian place. The crab and ragu pastas were delicious. We also did the waygu beef strip (Bistecca). So tender and juicy cooked perfectly. The highlight of the show was the fresh mozzarella makes table side. Worth it alone to come here for that!! Apps we had the bread service and the salumi which came with the most delicious melons I've seen. Dessert was okay, I wouldn't do the burnt cheese cake. We did get these cute little scoops of gelato for our celebrations. Service was on point, but it was very fast paced. They were cranking things out. They didn't miss a beat though. That's what sets Michelin restaurants apart. Plates and silver reset at every juncture, as well as the tables crumbed. Attention to detail was amazing. Although the server made to attempt to engage us in friendly conversation. To sum it all up, amazing meal. Would I be running back here immediately? No. But definitely worth a visit for a social occasion. read more

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I'm no stranger to a Michelin experience, so I came with pretty high expectations. Unfortunately, Rocca did not live up to the hype for me. The restaurant is beautifully laid out. As for first impressions, the hostess could be friendlier. We were never greeted or welcomed but quickly asked if we had reservations the second we opened the door. Luckily, our server was a delight! She was friendly, knowledgeable and patient with us first timers to Rocca. We started off with the bread appetizer, chicken liver & foie gras pate, and the tagliolini al ragu. We decided if we loved it we'd order more but if not, we'd pay and continue dinner elsewhere. I'll say, the hit of the three items was the chicken liver & foie gras pate. Delicious! Honestly, I would come back just for this dish because the rest fell flat for me. The main dish which was the ragu, tasted like nothing special. It wasn't rich or flavorful... it was bland. It did taste fresh but definitely not memorable. After that, my boyfriend asked if I wanted to try the other pastas but I said no & opted to finish dinner next door. It was our anniversary, so the little complementary ice cream was a cute surprise. Overall, I would come back for the chicken liver & foie gras pate but that's it. read more

Rocca - Tagliolini al Ragu 07/2025 - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Took the family for our daughter's first Michelin dining experience. We drove 45min from Clearwater beach and it was well worth it. Service was excellent, and food was exceptional delicious. The restaurant itself is beautiful but the place was really loud. Appetizers - we would recommend the the Shrimp Fritti. We also tried the Steak Carpaccio which was very rich and rather fatty for our taste. The Bread came with oh-so-light lemony whipped butter. We ordered three pasta: 1. Spaghetti al Limone - my fam's fave but my least fave. I found it too lemony and rather one tone in flavor. 2. Tagliolini al Ragu - my fave. The deep and complex flavor of the Ragu was outstanding. 3. Agnolotti - I would put this as no 2. Supposedly the staff's fave. The filling was very rich and has a little kick to it. Most importantly, you have to order and reserve the Burnt Cheesecake as soon as you sit down. It was one of the best cheesecake we had and I'm not even a cheesecake person. The cheesecake was super light, not overly sweet and complemented with sweet plantain sautéed in maple syrup. We also tried the Chocolate custard which was ok. read more

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Again Rocca is incredibly well deserving of its highly regarded reviews and reputation for providing a delicious meal. We had awesome service and our waiter was knowledgeable and thoughtful, making our celebration extra special with customized menus. The mozzarella cart is an absolute must every time! read more

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We picked Rocca for a fancy mother-daughter date night. Our server was attentive and helpful. We got the bread, little gem salad, mozzarella cart, agnolotti, and peace alla ligure. My qualm with the salad is that the leaves were whole/not cut up. Drives me nuts-no one's eating a full lettuce leaf. However, the mozzarella cart more than made up for it. It was fun watching it be made tableside and the whole plate was absolutely delicious. The fish was the next best item- and let's not forget the crispy potatoes that came with the fish! We barely had room for dessert but that didn't stop us from getting the pistachio gelato and chocolate custard. My mom, who notoriously does not like chocolate, ordered the custard and found it to be her favorite. Would definitely return for a similar occasion. read more

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Came here for my birthday purely because of the Michelin star rating. I was immediately at home with the decor, atmosphere and vibe. If I lived closer, it would be a regular hang out spot for sure. The bar area was real upscale. The Black Negroni was the best Negroni I've ever had. Their other cocktails were well crafted also. The menu was otherwise very small. For just me and my wife, we ordered the Whole fish and two pastas (Ragu and Limone). The food was legitimately good. We just had to order a lot of it to be full. After many years of dining, I think I'm going to avoid Michelin rated restaurants. Sure the food is good but it seems there's a juxtaposition between culinary art and quantity. If I'm going to spend $300 on a meal for 2, at some point quantity matters. read more

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Don't you love it when a restaurant exceeds your expectations? That was the case when my friend took me to Rocca for my birthday dinner. She had made reservations (for the wrong date) but fortunately caught the error the day before we wanted to go, and was able to get a 5:15 pm reservation. Friendly greeting when we walked in, and lead right to our table. The restaurant was decorated in pleasing shades of blue and white, leaving a clean and cool impression. Our waiter came right over, and in no time we had our wine and champagne. Our waiter, Taylor, has to be one of the best servers I have ever had. His ability to describe things on the menu, and off the menu, was outstanding. So much detail you really felt like you knew what you would be getting. For our meal, we started with fresh bread, and the mozzarella cart. On busy nights they have 2 or even 3 carts going at a time. So fun to watch and hear all the steps involved in making a ball of mozzarella, and the caprese salad we were presented with at the end was fantastic. Our entree we decided to share the fresh catch of the day - we chose yellowtail snapper - that was pan fried and served with tomatoes, onions, olives and fingerling potatoes. Nice touch that when the fish is served, it is accompanied by a chef who pours the sauce over it in front of you. We also shared a smaller side of pomodoro, one of my favorite pasta dishes, and it was outstanding. I, of course, never leave without dessert, and this experience we chose the pistachio gelato with honey and lemon zest. Divine! They were also kind enough to bring me a vanilla scoop with sprinkles and a candle in it. Decaf cappuccino was perfect as well. 10 out of 10 for the food, and 10 of of 10 for the service - I absolutely can't wait to go back. read more

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Finally made it to Rocca! And adding to the gazillions of reviews, ha. Reservation at 5pm and was seated quickly. The restaurant was quiet when we arrived and didn't get too noisy as it filled up. There were 4 in our party so we immediately started with the bread and table side mozzarella. Both were excellent and the server and mozzarella served were friendly and helpful. I was happy they had 2 non alcoholic beer options too! I read some reviews about just getting pasta dishes instead of proteins so that's what we. I had the gnocchi and it is easily now one of my top favorite meals. The salmon roe adds a little something to it that's unexpected. The ragu my friend ordered was also delicious. We each ordered a different dessert to try them all and I think the ricotta gelato was the standout. Rocca hit a great note of delicious food and a fun experience. read more

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Excellent service by the staff from hostess to wait staff which made the experience wonderful. The restaurant is well decorated and allows for ample yet spacious seating. Food was excellent. My daughter and husband ended up having changing dishes since she found his to be more what she was in the mood for. Lovely dining experience. read more

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As an avid cheese lover, the mozzarella cart alone is worth the visit, easily deserving its own Michelin star. The carpaccio was the best I've ever had, and served over a bed of pickled mushrooms so flavorful it doesn't even need the bread. For the main course, we had the agnolotti, perfectly balanced with a subtle spicy kick. I'll definitely be back to try the burnt cheesecake, order it early before it sells out. The dark, moody ambiance paired with top-tier service makes this place an absolute Tampa gem. read more

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Roccas food is always amazing and their service as well. We enjoyed all our dishes. The spaghetti al limone was light and fresh and had the perfect amount of lemon! The cappellacci was a great entree as well. The sauce reminded me of flavors I find in curry. The mozzarella cart is a must have. My partner doesn't love balsamic vinegar yet he still loved the dish and was even dipping his bread to get some of the left over balsamic vinegar and oil mixture. We were celebrating my birthday and they gave me a nice treat to end the dinner with. read more

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I can't say enough good things about Rocca. While I miss the early days of not needing a reservation on the weekend, the recognition is well deserved. The restaurant is aesthetically pleasing and clean. I've never had a meal from Rocca that was less than perfect. Now that we no longer live in Tampa, Rocca is a must every time we visit. read more

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Finally made it out to Rocca, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. Every pasta dish we tried was delicious, but the standouts for me were the agnolotti and the gnocchi. The agnolotti had a perfectly spicy kick from the salame calabrese ricotta filling, while the gnocchi was unlike anything I've had before--topped with trout roe, garlic cream, and potato crisps, it was both creative and incredibly flavorful. The real showstopper, though, was the Mozzarella Cart. They prepare the entire dish table-side, and it's not just for show--it was hands down some of the best caprese I've ever had. The service also stood out--our waiter was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive to every detail, which really elevated our experience. read more

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We recently visited Rocca, one of Tampa's newer Michelin starred restaurants. We made a reservation about a month ago, which I recommend since they were very busy even on a Tuesday evening! We were seated right away and greeted with water as we waited for our friend to arrive. A few of us ordered drinks (rum punch and Prosecco) and the bread starter. The bread was very good with the lemon butter. We also ordered the mozzarella cart to share and highly recommend. It's essentially like table side caprese; the finished product is so good and it's cool to watch them make the mozzarella from curds! The menu description of our entrees is in each photos caption if you'd like to take a look. But I personally had the Agnolotti which was very good; heads up, it does have a bit of spice but I really enjoyed it. We all tried a bite of each entree so I can say that everything was very good; the pasta is made from scratch and you can absolutely tell. After our server took our checks he brought over a celebratory scoop of ice cream. We were all a bit surprised since we weren't overtly celebrating anything specific. Thats when our server mentioned he heard/saw us presenting our "bring your own celebration" cards and wanted to make it even more special - mission accomplished, we were all so touched by this! (And the ice cream was delicious ) Before we went, I looked up a few reviews for recommendations on food and drink and saw a few reviews mentioned the noise level of the restaurant. I would say I agree with some of the comments that it is a bit loud but with the type of flooring and having an open bar concept, it's not surprising. We struggled a bit to hear the gentleman preparing our mozzarella cart, otherwise we likely wouldn't have noticed the noise level. Overall, I highly recommend Rocca - the service was very attentive and the food was phenomenal. It is a bit pricey but absolutely worth it for the quality! read more

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My wife recently treated me to dinner reservations at Rocca for my birthday and the meal was one of the best I have experienced in Tampa. I started with a cocktail, the Rocca Old Fashioned, which had quality bourbon, a hint of orange and was lightly sweet. Next we had an order of bread which was super airy and paired with a heavenly lightly salted creamy butter. Now, we wanted to save most of our bread for the next dish in order to soak up any escaping sauce. The Spaghetti Al Limone is possibly one of the best pasta dishes I have had in the US. Perfectly al dente pasta was marinated in a tangy buttery lemon sauce and mixed with flakey meaty lightly briny crab and strips of crisp zucchini. My stomach is rumbling as I think about this dish. Now the star of the show came next: the Dry Aged Rohan Duck. I had to reserve this dish in advance to make sure they didn't run out for our meal. The dish was massive and could have fed three or four people (We took about 1/3 of the dish home). Strips of super tender juicy duck breast had a thin layer of buttery crisp skin and topped with a flavorful sweet glaze. A pair of duck legs were super tender and rich and surrounded by a nice crisp skin. Rich buttery melt in your mouth foie gras paired nicely with the meat. The meat sat on a bed of savory creamy polenta which had a texture similar to grits. Finally, for dessert we had the Burnt Cheesecake. This airy creamy dessert was paired with tender lightly salted caramelized plantains. Overall, Rocca is well deserved in their Michelin star and is a must indulge in Tampa. read more

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The food was delicious especially the Mozzarella cart! I thoroughly enjoyed the tortella although it was a little undercooked. Part of it was still a little hard, not Al dente. The bread was also tasty! The service was good. And the ambiance was trendy. The prices are very reasonable for a Michelin star restaurant. Will definitely go back! read more

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Tonight was our second time visiting Rocca. Both times everything was phenomenal. Our waiter Daniel was outstanding and very friendly. I started with the Prestige cocktail which was very good. We had the bread and mozzarella cart for starters. We tried multiple pasta dishes and everything was delicious. The Agnolotti was by far the best of the bunch. Next visit we may just order several plates of that. The steak was cooked perfectly and melted in your mouth. Our waiter suggested the chocolate custard and strawberry Riso Al Latte for dessert and both were incredible. Last visit we thought the desserts were Roccas weak point but these tonight made up for it. 10/10 experience. My only complaint is that it got very loud as the night went on and the table next To us was very close and as the night went on they got louder and louder. read more

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The service and tableside mozzarella was the highlight of our meal. Our entrees, drinks and appetizers were all good too, but the presentation is a must for a fun and special dining experience. Reservations are a must, but it's tough to get a weekend dinner reservation. You either have to book weeks in advance or check the day of for cancelations. read more

I've really been wanting to try Rocca after hearing such fantastic reviews. I put in a pick up order for dinner and ordered the Torchio Nero entree. Oh my gosh, it was SO delicious! So flavorful and despite the small serving, pretty filling as well. I would love to return and enjoy the dine in service as the inside looked very elegant and perfect for a date night or celebration! read more

Rocca - Inside - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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My in-laws are big fans of this place, so I have been excited to try it for awhile. Reservations are a must! This place books up in advance. Even with a reservation we found ourselves waiting a bit for our table. I am a lover of all things cheese. The mozzarella cart did not disappoint. The salumi was heavenly. The Cavolo Nero Kale (fall squash, pomegranate, honeycrisp apple, ricotta salata) was stunning to look at, and each bite was a thoughtful, fresh surprise. The pastas we tried were solid. The cocktails were delicious (the Love Buzz was a table favorite), the wine list overpriced. It is hands down the loudest Michelin Star restaurant I've ever been to, but the food makes up for the noise. read more

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We had a friend recommend this place as our last night in Florida and it was well worth it. We didn't have a reservation so we asked how long until a spot open and they told us over an hour. We decided to get on the list and walked out for 4 minutes before we got a phone call that we can sit on the bar. I thought that was a bit odd as I've had experiences like that at other restaurants where we get told a long wait and then get on the list only to be called less than 5 minutes. Besides that moment in the beginning we were ecstatic to try the food! One of our favorite places to eat will always be at the bar. We met a lovely local that goes frequently and helped with recommendations. Both pasta dishes were super delicious and the salad as well. It was incredible service and loved the basque cheesecake with plantains. My coconut mock tail tasted exactly like this leche de coco cream and pineapple juice that my mother makes in the summer. Service was great and the place was beautiful. We look forward to visiting again. read more

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It's so difficult to get a reservation for Rocca and I can see why. My boyfriend and I had reservations for a Friday evening and started with the table side mozzarella. It's absolutely worth the $49. Just get it. We also tried three pastas and the spaghetti limone with crab ended up being our favorite. I was also surprised how much I liked the ricotta melone drink. It was refreshing and savory. read more

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I absolutely love this place--it's definitely earned its Michelin star. My all-time favorite here is the Mozzarella Cart. The ingredients are so simple, yet I would come just for this dish alone. If you're in the mood for something other than mozzarella, here are a few standouts: For starters, I highly recommend the Dry Aged Steak, Hokkaido Scallop Crudo, and Shrimp Fritti. When it comes to pasta, you honestly can't go wrong with any of the options, but my top picks are the Tortello all'Uovo, Torchio Nero all'Arrabbiata, and Agnolotti. Just a heads-up--the pasta is served al dente, so if that's not your style, well... shrugs. If you're planning to order the Dry Aged Rohan Duck, and especially if you have a later reservation, I suggest calling ahead to reserve it. We had a 7pm reservation on a Sunday and got lucky to snag one--it was down to just two ducks left when we sat down! read more

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The last time I went to Rocca, they didn't have their Michelin star yet and I was wondering why. This most recent time I went to Rocca, they do have their Michelin star and I'm wondering why/how long they'll be able to keep it with the decline in overall experience. My husband booked this reservation for my birthday... We were seated by a random side door leading to outside, so the ambiance suffered. Our server was very nice and attentive at first but then disappeared at the end of our meal and didn't reappear until our plates and water had been empty for around 20-30 minutes--so the prior attentiveness we'd experienced in the past, where our server never let our water glasses get even halfway empty, doesn't seem to exist here anymore. I ordered the $69 truffle pasta, described to have a "healthy portion of shaved truffles" which ended up being a quite small portion of grated truffles. If you are a fan of fresh truffle, you know there is a huge difference in experience/taste/texture between shaved and grated truffle. Something I wished I'd mentioned the one time our server checked on us after entrees had been served. When we first sat down, our server acknowledged it was my birthday, but by the end of the meal there was no candle , no anything at all to celebrate it. That was a very sad way to end a $300+ Michelin meal for two. I will also state some of the highlights, Our server , in the beginning, was fantastic at giving recommendations and led us to order the seasonal winter squash salad which we thoroughly enjoyed. The server who made our fresh Mozerella was a delightful person. Although, the last time we were here the fresh Mozerella came with heirloom tomatoes, and now they are kumatos--another huge downgrade in my opinion. The mocktails, just like the last time we were here, did not disappoint. I think the one I ordered was called "lime in the coconut" or something like that. It was very nice. And my husband enjoyed his Aperol spritz-ish mocktail. Overall, this visit, I'm sad to say, did not in the slightest live up to our previous experience & I fear the Michelin man may take his star back if things continue this way. read more

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Rocca was a great dining experience with good service and a nice elevated-casual ambiance. Highlights for us were the duck, agnolotti, blue crab spaghetti, mozzarella art, foie gras, and broccolini. The vegetables were especially flavorful, and the duck was the clear star of the meal. One thing to note: if you plan to order the duck, expect about an hour wait since it's prepared to order. Well worth it. read more

Amazing experience. Great customer service. I still think about the signature dish with duck. Pasta had great crunchiness and flavor read more

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What a beautiful and lovely restaurant. We've been excited to try it since we've they got their star. To start we got the chicken liver pate. Probably the best I've had in ages!! We did the truffle ravioli for our pasta dish which was so good, and our server Sebastian brought over some bread to soak up the sauce. Amazing. We finished with the steak. I'd say it could have used a pinch of salt, but overall amazing experience. read more

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Well Rocca has absolutely lived up to its name. The menu was small yes but what does that mean that every dish is executed to perfection if you're looking for tasty authentic Italian food I highly suggest coming here. This is a Michelin star restaurant with that being said I highly suggest making a reservation weeks in advance. The ambience is dark and moody and perfect for a date, special occasion or just a girls night. I recommend getting the mozzarella Cart, It was delicious and the best mozzarella I have ever had. They have a very large wine selection a little something for everyone. This restaurant is right across the street from armature Works. Therefore you can either park in that lot or use the offstreet parking. read more

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Rocco has one Michelin star, great service, a bit disappointed when I saw the menu, mostly pasta dishes, the bartenders, Stephanie and RICHARD was great, recommended a great wine for the food we had, I had the Pate for appetizer, was delicious, we had the salad, was also good, and then I had the Ragu pasta, the taste was delicious, but too much pasta, we also had the crab pasta, was delicious, and for dessert we had the pistachio ice cream or gelato, very good, the only problem was I got indigestion and heartburn after dinner. If you like pasta, you love this restaurant. read more

Everything is made in house.The ambience and our waiter Seabass was phenomenal. The ricotta drink blew me out of the water. It is so delicious. The tuna crudo and the mozzarella cart, blue crab pasta.Will return again! read more

This was, without question, the best dining experience I've ever had. We had a 9:00 PM reservation for my brother's fiancée's birthday. When we arrived, we were told there would be a short wait because a few tables had paid but hadn't left yet. About 15 minutes passed, but every staff member was incredibly kind throughout the process. They even came outside and brought us complimentary champagne to apologize, which immediately set the tone for the night. We hadn't even sat down yet, and they had already made us feel valued. From the moment we walked inside, the atmosphere was incredible. The energy, the ambiance, and the service exceeded every expectation I had for my first Michelin restaurant experience. Our server, Elijah, was exceptional. He was knowledgeable, intentional, and genuinely passionate about creating a great experience. Sophie also gave fantastic wine recommendations that paired perfectly with our entrées. The mozzarella cart is an absolute must. There is no reason to visit Rocca and skip it. While it was being prepared, we had the opportunity to talk with Mason about life, goals, and dreams, and it felt like talking with an old friend. Later, after mentioning how much we loved the music, Kingston came over, found out we were in town for the J. Cole concert, and played J. Cole throughout the rest of the evening. It was such a thoughtful, personal touch that made the night even more memorable. To top it off, the restaurant brought us additional complimentary bites as another apology for the initial wait, even though we already felt they had gone above and beyond. The food was phenomenal. Every dish was authentic, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. Two people in our group have spent significant time in Italy, and both said it was the best Italian food they've had anywhere in America. We finished the evening with espresso, stayed until closing, and never once felt rushed. In fact, we were told they would happily stay all night if we wanted to keep enjoying ourselves. Thank you to Elijah, Sophie, Mason, Kingston, and everyone at Rocca for creating such an unforgettable evening. If I'm ever within two hours of Tampa again, I'll be coming back. God bless you all. read more

Hands down best strip steak I've had in my life. Been to many high end steak houses and this takes the cake by a mile. Excellent atmosphere for an anniversary dinner. Surprise winner of the night besides the steak is the broccolini, the spreads paired with the crispy beats were shockingly good! read more

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Went for my birthday (this is my 4th or 5th time eating here) and had the worst experience we have ever had. We were seated right by the door, so lots of people crowding our table waiting for theirs. Not to mention, it was so LOUD we could barely hear eachother. The server also did not mention my birthday once (it was made clear in our reservation). I ordered a dirty martini with blue cheese olives and turns out, they don't have blue cheese olives - big miss. How can you have a michelin star and not have blue cheese olives?!! We ordered mozzarella, caviar service and two pastas. Food was just alright. They could really use a refresh to their menu, feels tired. Probably won't be going back which is disappointing because this was our favorite restaurant in Tampa at one point! read more

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First time my girlfriend and I have dined in a Michelin star restaurant and let me tell you something.. AMAZING. It was worth every single penny I promise you. The restaurant had a refined blend of elegance and minimalism, where you can tell every detail is meticulously curated to enhance the dining experience. The food was the best food I've ever tasted. Every dish we got was a harmonious blend of high-quality ingredients, refined techniques, and artistic presentation. Flavors were bold yet balanced, with careful attention to texture, seasonality, and detail. I personally got the Tortello all' Uovo - it had a gorgeous egg yolk inside that complimented the filling, mushrooms and the Ravioli (or Ravioli-like) pasta itself. My girlfriend got the Raviolini del Plin. We shared two starters: Bread and the Dry Aged Steak Carpaccio. Needless to say, all delicious. Please see the pics I attached for a visual of all this. Service is impeccable, with waitstaff that move seamlessly between tables, their gestures precise and their timing impeccable, guiding you through each course with expertise and attention to detail. Our server was a BOSS. He answered all of our questions without stuttering and with full confidence. The overall atmosphere feels quiet yet lively, full of anticipation, as every element is designed to immerse you in an elevated sensory journey. Please do yourself a favor and make time to visit this place. You won't regret it. read more

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Worth it. I've been wanting to go to Rocca for a while, but I was never able to get a good reservation time. But for whatever reason, I found a 7:45pm slot for a Friday, and I grabbed it! We arrived on time, and we waited about 5 minutes for our table. Our server was pretty prompt and attentive. The restaurant is all hard surfaces, so it is loud. It's not horrible, but it's not the calm setting that Bern's is. My husband doesn't care for mozzarella, so we started by sharing the gem salad and the shrimp fritti. Both were absolutely fantastic. My husband usually doesn't like sauces, but he was scooping up extra beurre blanc from the shrimp. We decided to stick to pasta for dinner, having heard from my father that the bistecca was only okay. My husband kept it simple with the ragu, I went with the squid ink torchio. The pasta was absolutely divine. I would definitely return to eat more of their lovely carbs. Their wine list is impressive. The waiter told us that they had Tampa's largest collection of Italian wines, and I believe it. We ended up bringing our own Brunello (corkage $40) that my husband has been saving for over a decade, and our waiter graciously brought us an appropriate decanter. We ended up too full for dessert, but the waiter brought two tiny pieces of white chocolate with pepper with the check. They were absolutely delicious. Prices are not much higher than most upscale Italian places in South Tampa, and the food quality is excellent. I'd definitely return. The only annoyance is the parking. It's valet or AW parking (both $20 on a Friday) or hoping for a spot on the street ($2/h). And then walking over uneven surfaces in heels. I know that's the issue with all the restaurants in the area, but I do miss the days of plentiful free parking in Tampa. read more

Best meal you will ever eat in your life. If they have the tomato martini get it! Go sit at the bar if you can't get a resy.

I was hype by the the recommendation of friend and recent Michelin review. But all this hype did not surpass my expectations. Regarding my perspective expectations, it is in middle of the pack. This is due to value, taste, and quantity. We got the TORCHIO NERO all' ARRABBIATA. This is a squid ink pasta with octopus. You will notice the pasta is spread out flat on the plate with no pile up food. The red sauce on pasta is good. Quantity just enough for average hungry person not for really hungry person. The octopus on it is nice. I do taste some wine sauce on it. Our second dish is SPAGHETTI al LIMONE blue crab. This dish has crab meat on it. The spaghetti is home made. At least this dish has good enough quantity. The lemon is a bit overpowering. May be a little less lemon is good. Service is definitely excellent. Great for date night to impress your date. The restaurant provides open appetite cheeses and closing sweet. It is nice gesture. read more

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Not all Michelin star restaurants hold up to the recognition. Rocca certainly does!! celebrated my wife and I's 27 year wedding anniversary yesterday. Everything, from the advance service I receive from jenna managing a flower arrangement, had a concern about the flowers condition and reached out to me in advance, worked with the staff to bring the flowers at an appropriate time was the start of excellence service. Once we arrived, we were greeted and jenna knew it was me, and she arranged the table to include a menu that had a welcome 27th anniversary printed on the menu. The white staff was extra attentive, multiple coming by and saying congratulations. The food was exquisite! My wife and I, have had the fortunate opportunity to travel around the world and eat it unique and world, renowned restaurants, and being from Tampa and Rocca being here for six years and we have not been here yet we have heard mixed reviews, but we take those in stride depending on who's providing them. The food was so good that between us we actually added two additional entrées. For a total of four entrées, three appetizers and a dessert. The black truffle pasta was undeniably exquisite Their lobster pasta cream sauce was so balanced. We spooned the entire plate until nothing was left. Their chicken, liver pate, and Foi gras was outstanding! The simple salad, their version of a cesar was to die for. From our being received, the service, the staff, the food and presentation and delicate balance flavors. - there is no wonder why they are Michelin rated! read more

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