Who knew this little gem was hiding away on Monroe Ave? It was new to me, but given that the restaurant was full at 8pm on a Monday, it's not a total secret. I was looking for a nice date spot and my top choices (Cure, Good Luck, Zeppa) were all closed. I was starting to lose hope until I came across Rocco on Yelp. After reading the reviews and visiting their website I called and made a reservation (and I'm glad I did). We entered through the back door from the Marshall St. parking lot. This felt strange, and it was a slightly awkward greeting in a narrow hallway next to the bathrooms, but we were quickly led to our table. Dimly lit, well decorated with various art and candles in wax-covered wine bottles, this place is just adorable. We started with the house made ricotta and charred bread. The cheese was wet and crumbly, perfect for scooping up and spreading onto the grilled triangles of toast. Next we shared the butcher's choice pizza, which featured crumbled lamb, served whole to be cut at the table with a pair of kitchen shears. We thought about ordering another dish (I do want to try the gnocchi) but instead skipped right to dessert. The butterscotch budino was sweet, creamy, and salty. Perfect to share and top off our meal. All of this and a glass of wine came out to just over $40. New date-night spot discovered. Definitely get a reservation even if you go at an off time. Also, maybe enter through the front door. read more

It's been about a week since we went to Rocco and I have yet to come up with the right words to describe how good this meal was. Every aspect was perfectly made and phenomenal!!! House-made ricotta...damn good. In fact, after the ricotta appetizer I was so impressed that I picked the birkshire pork chop to put this place to the ultimate test. NEVER have I gone to a restaurant that didn't serve their pork chop a little dried out. (Richardson's Canal House...I'm talking to you). I was not disappointed...perfectly cooked and juicy. And the dessert...some sort of caramel pudding that made me want to slap somebody it was so good. Can't wait to go back. Rocco gets a perfect score! read more

My husband and I went for the first time on our anniversary and we were SO impressed. We consider ourselves foodies and were very excited to try this place with all the great reviews we had been hearing about. We had the fresh homemade Ricotta with charred bread and we could not get enough of it! Great portion size to share, it was so fresh and full of natural flavors - I loved the contrast of the charred bread with the mild fresh Ricotta... SO good! You MUST try it! My husband had the meatballs with pasta and it was SO good (I had to try some). Everything from the sauce to the meatballs to the pasta was fresh, flavorful, authentic, great portion and great price. I had the pulled pork entree which had crispy polenta with sauteed rapi and I was blown away. The pork had a fennel garlic flavor that was wonderfully Italian and the BEST flavor pork I have had! It went perfectly with the sides and the polenta was cooked perfectly... I could have licked the plate dry it was so tasty! The atmosphere was cozy, romantic, darker lighting (which is why I don't have photos of the food, I couldn't see them very well with out a flash). Server was polite helpful and let us chat the night away. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for an nice evening with an authentic Italian dinner - great for a date night, girls night out, ect. Not sure a big group would fit in here well but I kind of like the small private atmosphere. Definitely going here again! read more

I could eat the housemade ricotta with charred bread everyday. Light and fluffy with deliciously crispy on the outside chewy inside bread. Definitely a must everytime. Would love to see ravioli on the menu (with that ricotta!). Last visit had the spinach pizza which was loaded with spinach, a nice change, very good. No substitutions to menu items which is always a tad annoying but I understand from a kitchen perspective. read more

Our first time at Rocco's. We had very high expectations and were pleasantly surprised that this place exceeded our expectations. The service was excellent, very prompt and always there. The food was amazing. The arancini was rally crisp on the outside and hot on the inside. The cocktails are very clever and delicious. Great wine selection too. All of the food came out very hot, served directly from the kitchen staff. We will be back. read more

My boyfriend had made reservations at Rocco for an anniversary dinner and we were promptly seated when we arrived. We tried 2 pizzas - the funghi e fontina di aoste (mushroom and white truffle oil) and the special of the day - and I found both to be overly salty. We also ordered the lasagne which was nothing special EXCEPT that we added a meatball which was delicious. The meatball was only $2 extra and a pretty good chunk of meat. Overall the food was just okay and likely overpriced. read more

Way overpriced for what you get. They bill themselves as homestyle Italian but charge $22 for a simple linguine dish. Atmosphere was nice but did not like the service. The server plopped down our check before we even finished our meal--such a pet peeve of mine. read more

We visited Rocco's with a group of four and as some other reviews stated, the service was mediocre. Our server didn't come to introduce herself or get our orders until almost 10 minutes after we were seated. Once we placed our orders, the food wasn't very fast to come out. In addition, it was hard to get a hold of our waiter after our food arrived. The food itself was pretty mediocre. I got pasta with meatballs, and honestly, the texture just felt like mush. The pasta was overcooked and had the texture of canned pasta (think spagetti-o). The meatball was also very soft and mushy, which would not have been too bad had the pasta been cooked properly. Overall, I feel I paid $20+ for a can of spagetti-o. I will not be back here. read more

We ate at Rocco based on the reviews and we're delighted with the meal. The food was outstanding and the staff was charming. Appetizers - we had the fried mozzarella, house made ricotta (out of this world) and meatballs. Each dish was superb, very fresh and perfectly balanced. Main - the gnocchi was exceptional and a very generous portion. The braised pork was delicious and the beef steak was perfectly done. The tuna special was exceptional and the olive sauce not to spicy. Dessert - as previously reviewed, the butterscotch Budino was worth the trip alone. The chocolate Panacotta was also fantastic. The restaurant was somewhat dark, something my daughter found off putting. Not a problem for me. It was also a bit loud but overall I found it a very cozy atmosphere. We loved it and will go back should we find ourselves in town again. read more

One of small restaurants that serves fine food. The restaurant that won't make you feel you are in Rochester, NY. The food, service and ambience makes me feel I am dining in one of the restaurants in Manhattan's West Village. Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! Definitely one of my favorites. The only disappointment: CLOSED on SUNDAYS. read more

Everything from the soup to the salad to the custom, spicy pasta and meatballs were off the charts good!

I enjoyed Rocco it was a pretty solid meal and the best cooked pork I've eaten in Rochester . I would absolutely recommend stopping in for some food. It's small and quaint which is nice if you're just looking for some solid food and not in a rush. This past time it took quite a while to get the appetizer and quite frankly that's because they forgot to put it in. Otherwise service was decent, the porchettta was super moist and delicious would highly recommend. read more

The food and service here were phenomenal! Our server recommended a few dishes that turned out to be huge favorites! Alyssa took extra special care of our table and made our whole family feel right at home. We have recommended Rocco to many people since this visit! Thank you ! read more

Small, intimate, and delicious! The lay out isn't to small and isn't to big. It's a magical place for a date, so recommend taking your significant other there! Price point is wonderful. Drinks are good. Food is delectable. All that's left to do is get there and try them! Do your self a favor and have the fresh ricotta to start, you'll be happy you did! read more

OUTSTANDING ! Superb value ! Other yelpers turned us on to this place...after quaffing a few beers at Jeremiahas tavern...we ventured north to this outstanding restaurant...never expecting to get a seat...but...alas...twas room at the bar ! A really chrming palce with excellent service...professional..friendly...without being overbearing.. Bartender had some superb wines by the glass..excellent recommendations...yummm ! The hot young lady and I shared a grilled octopus on scewer...with half of a romaine head...grilled as well....excellent...maybe a bit too salty...but...we don't use any salt...and I forgot to tell them "no added salt"....things we find salty....would be normal to normal folks.. I had an excellent lasagna...not oversauced..overcheesed..overmeated...like so many places.. the HYL had a a sea bass thingy...which she said was the best she had ever had.. Just a terrificaly fun place with an enthusiastic and fun staff...small well chosen menu.... Go here soon ! read more

Delicious and authentic. I will echo the other poster by saying that my meal was probably the best I have ever had in Rochester. I am afraid the masses will find this place and I will not be able to get in however. The service was professional yet casual and unpretentious. I was wearing a baseball cap and shorts and we ducked in on a Saturday night right at 5 when they opened and we got the one unbooked table, next time we will make a reservation although the bar was inviting. The food was delicious, we shared the grilled octopus- my favorite dish, and a simple but perfect bitter green salad. Then we had the steak and the all day pork, both delicious. And of course finished with the affogato, with home made gelato. Sangria was perfect as were the well chosen Italian wines by the glass. Rocco is my new favorite restaurant in Rochester. read more

Rocco has the best food in the city. Hands down. The service is always friendly, attentive, and knowledgable. One of the servers always recognizes us and chats us up a bit when we get there (despite the fact that we only go every couple of months or so). It makes me feel like this is a home away from home, only with better food than I could ever make. Sure, the place is small and awkward, but that's part of its charm! We usually skip the entrees and focus on the superb appetizers, pizzas, and dessert. The octopus is my favorite, deeply charred but still tender, and the ricotta is a close second. I believe they use bread from Flour City, and it is always grilled to perfection (which may be a bit dark for some people). The pizzas are great, large enough to split between two people, grilled crispy and served with scissors to cut them. Save room for dessert because the butterscotch pudding is a small miracle made from unicorn dust and rainbows (and probably crack judging from the way I crave it). read more

I really, really wanted to love this place because of all the good things I've heard, but I will not be back, and it's not because of the food. The food was good (I got the linguine with green garlic and clams and, save for the box linguine, it was fine. Not brain surgery to drown dinner in garlic, but it was garlic week, and I'm not complaining. Gimme all the garlic.) My sister commented that the pork was 'dry as hell' but the garlic budino was interesting (consensus: tasted like Cheez-Its) and roasted peaches are always enticing. The burrata was deeeeelicious, and the corn soup got rave reviews from my mother. So kind of hit or miss, but mostly good. The service, on the other hand, was depressing at best. I made it my personal mission to get this woman to smile at me, and I failed miserably. I was overly appreciative while she cleared my plate, even as she reached half her body across my dad to get his silverware (without even an 'excuse me'). She barely acknowledged us. I was nervous to ask her for anything, and when I asked for parm for my pasta, she came over with a block and a grater and said, 'Well I guess I could grate it for you.' I'm sorry this place is too shi-shi for pre-grated parm for occasions such as this, but I would rather you have said 'We don't do that' than make me feel as though I am an inconvenience to you. Others have commented that they're quick to drop the check, and they're right. After horrible service, she wasted no time in getting us out of there. And we were happy to oblige. read more

Skip it. The good?... homemade mozzarella, mortadella and soppressata The bad?...pizza was burnt on the bottom. Not 'classic pizzeria' char spots,. just burnt black smeared with oily creosote from the greasy bottom of an uncleaned pizza oven. The lasagna was overcooked and dry and the waitress seemed like she wanted to be anywhere else but there. Save your money, eat anywhere else. read more

This is the only restaurant in town I recommend when someone asks where to go for a special occasion.

We checked out Rocco's after seeing the stellar reviews on Yelp. Everything was good, but I'm not quite sure what all the hubbub was about. The service was excellent, but the food was only ok (and was a bit pricey for being lackluster). I got the pork with rappini and polenta, and neither my husband nor I were particularly intrigued. He loved his gnocchi, though. Then we got to the dessert. After the first bite of chocolate pudding, I thought I might never eat anything that delicious again. Then I tried the butterscotch budino, and I forgot all about the chocolate pudding. Oh my goodness, I could eat it every day for the rest of my life. In short: I will definitely hit this place up for dessert again, but it will be a while before I go back for dinner. read more

We gathered at Rocco for a friends birthday, and I was very excited to try Rocco because I've heard about it a lot from various friends and coworkers. The cocktails are very good and $9 The appetizer we had (charred bread with ricotta) was TOOOOO DIE FOR!! Ok so now you're wondering, why the three stars? The service was SUPER weird. We are a group of 20-early 30 y/o's with some extroverted members and were immediately treated like children (from someone who wasn't out of our age range). The server mocked our friend who's birthday it was for ordering a non-alcoholic drink (I assume he thought she was underage, she's not, she just doesn't drink). Then he went to take our order, interrupted us and left for 5 minutes. Any interaction left is feeling like he seemed to want us to leave. The lasagna wasn't that great. But the spinach pizza was ok. For the money we spent, I would have liked way better service. read more

We love Rocco. It's one of our go-to spots for a date night out. However we went last week and seemed to have a similar experience as another reviewer. Overall, things were good. It was a special "garlic week" menu and we were a little disappointed our favorites weren't there. The ricotta and garlic was good but I really missed the grilled bread. The clam pizza was great, definitely the star of the night. However, we got the pork chop and it was SO SALTY. We couldn't even eat it. We are not ones to complain unless something is really wrong. Our waitress asked how it was and we said "it's too salty." She said "ok" and walked away. So we couldn't even eat it, she came back and we had each had maybe 2 bites, we'd eaten the polenta under it. She said "How was it?" Again, we said "It was too salty." She said "Ok" and took it away. That's it. Nothing. Not even a "I'll let the kitchen know" (I'm sure they would have wanted to know). I wasn't looking for a freebie. Maybe just another pork chop or an offer to bring us something else. Or an "I'm sorry." If a customer barely touches a dish and tells you twice that it's not right, as a server you should listen and try to make it right. We will be back, but just hope that the service is a little better and maybe the food a little less salty. read more

This restaurant is quaint and absolutely out-of-this-world delicious. The menu is concise, featuring hearty portions of rustic italian food. There is a pleasant ambiance in the dining area. Simple, classic decor. Everything we order is fantastic, from the appetizers to the rich gelato for desert. I highly recommend this restaurant. Don't forget to make reservations to guarantee a spot! read more

Raised my expectations because it was listed on google as one of the top restaurants.... It was okay. Not memorable. The arancini was delicious, freshly fries and piping hot. The sauce was not so special. Also got the smoked salmon pizza, and then the anchovy Caesar salad which I am still unsure how it tasted due to my screwed up taste buds from the arancini and the nachos (see Dorado's). Service was okay, nothing to rave about (see Biaggi's) read more

Wow what a hidden gem in the city. Loved the Ricotta and the butterscotch dessert. The server sang an amazing opera style song at the end and I think that was the highlight of my evening. We had pizzas and they were outstanding too. read more

So I really think the reviews for this place are misleading. After all the rave reviews I was really excited to go here and I wanted to take a friend out for his belated birthday dinner so we went here. I went on a random Tuesday night and the place was packed solid, I thought that would be a great sign but wasn't as good as I expected. We started off with the Ricotta and Meatball Brushetta. I actually really enjoyed both of them. A lot. My only gripe is that the grille bread was just a little bit too charred for my liking. But honestly, the apps were really good, and the reason for 3 stars instead of 2. For our meals I had the all day pork and he got the duck. All I could taste was salt. And that weird cheese thing it was served with just tasted like salt and butter. That's it. There was wayy too much pork on the plate and nothing proper to compliment it with. I liked the greens it was served with, but was too salty and didn't really compliment the pork well. I could tell my friend didn't really like his food much either but he didn't outright say it because I was treating him to dinner. I wanted to try a dessert but nothing on the dessert list sounded good so we skipped it. Also, the service here was very slow. For me, I love that because I like to drink wine, slowly graze at my food, and enjoy conversation. The actual service was ok, but the kitchen was very slow to produce the meals. To me this means they are actually spending time cooking the food from scratch, which I like, but I did notice a few others complaining about how long it was taking. Lastly, the restaurant was really really smokey. I don't know if they had an accident in the kitchen earlier or if it is always like that, but I could barley even see in there. It started to bother my eyes after a while. I think if I were to go again I would stick to just appetizers and pizza. From what I hear their pizza is pretty good. I'm going to give this place another shot and hopefully update my review given that things go well. read more

Oh...my. This place is delicious. Me and my gf went out for a cozy little dinner here and it is surely that, on the verge of cramped, but worth it. Inside this little establishment of maybe 8 legitimate tables, we had one of the best meals in a while. We started off with the house-made ricotta with oven-roasted heads of garlic and crostini along with the octopus and green sauce. Followed by the mushroom and truffle oil pizza and all-day cooked pork. We finished with the butterscotch budino. The ricotta and oven-roasted garlic was a familiar combination executed very well, the garlic drizzled with olive oil spread like butter on the crostini, and topped with ricotta were very pleasing and nonabrasive to the senses. But the real star of the appetizers and the whole meal was the octopus with green sauce. Uhh, I'm getting hot and bothered thinking about it, easily the best octopus I've had in the US. The trick with cephalopods is that they get tough very fast, so you either have to cook it just right or cook it until it becomes tender again (it does eventually) at Rocco, it seemed as though they'd cooked it until tender again, just freaking fantastic with the green sauce, which I sopped up with a piece of crostini. The entrees didn't disappoint either, the mushroom and white truffle oil pizza was good, maybe even a little better than that, but nothing outstanding. The slow cooked pork was like an Italian rendition of southern pulled pork, and came in a massive serving alongside rapini and a fried polenta cake, gf didn't like the dish too much, I thought it was good, not great, the best thing on that plate was the rapini, polenta was a little over-fried. The dessert...this butterscotch pudding is definitely a worthwhile part of Rocco's menu. Atop the cool butterscotch pudding they pour a warm and light caramel sauce with almonds (lightly smoked I think? If not at least salted) the first bite creates a perfect blend of contrasts, all of which you know you've loved before, but in a context to which you're likely foreign. My gf said that it was arguably the best dessert she's had in years. Now the downside: We were probably at least 20 years younger than the average couple, so our waiter just abandoned us for the last 45 minutes when it got busy because I guess servers just size people up by age. He must have thought we'd give him a bad tip because we're young, Too bad he missed out, we give 30% on good service upon my gf's insistence having been a server previously. Instead, the industry standard 15% for you. The bill was right under $80 after tax and tip. read more

We went for our daughter's 30 birthday during the week and the food was fantastic. This was our first time and not our last, everything we ordered was beyond excellent and the service was great too! read more

This was my first time to Rocco's and have to say the place has a great vibe to it and very comfortable setting. We went a a family of 6, had reservations and had the table seated against the wall backing to the bar area. Started off with a round of cocktails, which everyone enjoyed theirs..... I had an Old Fashioned and once again, there was not a solid choice of RYE whiskey to choose from. Starting to think Rochester doesn't understand cocktails. We had a bottle of wine dropped on the table to breathe as well. Cannot remember what we ordered, but it was a great choice. For appetizers. We had the ricotta fatta in casa - pretty good, but was not feeling the bread as it tasted more burnt than charred and we had the arancini, which tasted like all the basic neighborhood pizza shops fried risotto fritters in Brooklyn. Then there were a couple insalata "caesar cardini" dropped on the table which had way too much dressing and white leaves to keep a balance to the salads. So, I was not highly impressed with the appetizers, as they tasted mediocre at best with a weak presentation. For entrees, there were a few pizza's which I had not had any of and heard they were delicious. A couple specials that were shrimp and seasonal vegetables that had some great flavor and then my dish which was the linguine alle vongole. The noodles were way over cooked, so that was a total fail. I was told that its normally really good, so will have to go back and try again. The finally, the final course which we all shared a piece of the tiramisu and a special called "The Butterscotch Budino". Both were the highlights as they were packed with flavor and well balanced. So all in all, I could only give Rocco's 3 stars at best..... The waitress was really well versed, the ambiance was perfect and the food was just mediocre at best. Not being a food snob, but travelling to Italy 3 times in different regions, traveling the world and living in NYC for 6.5yrs has really opened up my eyes to amazing Italian food. I will go back and try it again in hopes I can taste what everyone hyped the place up to be. read more

Had a great meal here Saturday night. This was the second time we have come for dinner. The first time, I wasnt blown away, but this past meal was great. The service, the food; all top quality. We started out with the house ricotta thats served with deliciously charred bread. My wife ordered the pasta and meatballs, I went with the grilled pork chop. Very reminiscent of Italian pasta. Rich olive oil flavor and fresh pasta. Will come back for sure. read more

Rocco redeemed themselves on our fifth trip there this year. The food was once again among the very best I've had in Rochester. Their pizzas are frankly amazing and put everyone else's to shame. The octopus as an appetizer is always amazing. Always done just perfectly and oh so good. The lasagna pizzamaker's style is a meatless treat. I happened to have the funghi 3 fontina di aoste pizza - white pizza with Italian fontina, mushrooms and white truffle oil. My God, everyone agreed that it was simply the best they've ever had. The crust is so flavorful. And once again, the blood orange martinis were superb! So why not 5 stars? First, it began with the reservation. Table of 4, we asked for 6. We were told nothing was available until 6:30. When we arrived, the restaurant was a bit over 1/3 full. Their policy is tables have 1 1/2 hours for parties of 2, 2 hours for parties of 4. Since they open at 5, no one cold have been ahead of us. No reason given and that put one of my dining companions off. Second, service wasn't 5-star. They have an annoying habit of bringing only one dish to the table at a time (sometimes 2, but mostly 1). I understand it's a really small kitchen but guys, can't you use your service staff to bring everything to the table at once? There was a small delay between when the first and last dish (mine), hit the table last evening. Really, no excuse for that in a good restaurant. And finally, when we were ordering dessert (everyone had the Butterscotch Budino, it's heaven in a glass), I asked for a tawny port. The waiter returned a short time later to indicate they didn't have any port. Really, in an Italian restaurant? He left the list and I picked out a brandy but unfortunately he didn't return until after dessert had been delivered and eaten to ask what I preferred. They were no more busy than they are on any typical night, maybe one 2 top open. The staff needs to be more attentive. But the food, ah th food. Only Warfields still tops them in that regard. read more

So good. This place was the destination for my birthday this year. I called the afternoon before and was lucky to grab a reservation. We arrived a little early, and our table wasn't quite ready so we sat at the bar. It was packed, but we grabbed a glass of wine and a negroni. When we got to our table, the dining room was also filled to the brim! There was a big table behind us and it got a little tight, but I soon forgot about the minor inconvenience. We started with the fresh ricotta on charred bread and were immediately blown away. WOW. That is one of the best appetizers I've ever had. My partner and I literally had to tell each other to slow down because it was going so fast! It is a must have! For the entrees, I had the gnocci and my fiance had the lamb special. My pasta came out very very hot, but after it cooled a bit, I was in heaven! This is not your typical gnocci, I actually thought it looked like scallops when it came out, but it was delicious. My only wish was that there was a little more of the sauce that came with it, but it is a minor thing. My fiance also really enjoyed his lamb, it fell off the bone and came with pasta and veggies that were drenched in the sauce and juice. He polished it right off! Finally we had the butterscotch budino and the semifredo (it was a cherry/ pistachio that night) for dessert. I'm not a huge butterscotch fan, but even I enjoyed the budino; my fiance LOVED it. It's an interesting texture, but the almonds on top are the perfect balance. The semifredo was good, and the cherries were amazing! The service was fun and friendly, we will very happily go back for a romantic date or when we're looking to splurge a little! It's pricey, but worth it :) read more

I love Rocco and would eat here every other night if I could! The atmosphere is super cozy (code for tiny, yes, but still cozy). There are only 11-12 closely placed tables in the dining room, and one in the small bar area. And when I say small, I mean you could probably sit 6-8 people at the bar with barely room to stand. That is still no deterrent for me because the food is delicious. I cannot go there without getting the fried mozzarella app. It's covered in really delicious red sauce. Last night the mozz was a round shape which I think was previously square. It may have tasted even better. Their salads are delicious (had the insalata Rocco last night), and the homemade ricotta app is excellent. Pizzas variety is strong and there are nightly specials too. One of the most delicious things I've eaten there ( maybe anywhere!) is their porchetta sandwich. Prob is they only make it during lunch, and only serve lunch on Fridays. I need to quit my job so I can be at Rocco on a Friday afternoons! You be wise to make a rez before you go. You're welcome! Oh, and service was excellent (thank Chris). read more

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I'll keep this short and sweet. AMAZING FOOD! As first generation Italian (and a picky one at that), I was impressed from start to finish.

Ecstatic Yelp reviews, lovely small room, truffle smell coming from the kitchen, friendly service... we had high hopes on a quick business trip to Rochester. Sadly, the meal was just OK. Wild mushroom soup was seriously underflavoured. Thin-crust pizza was very good, with a blistery crust, good toppings - the best part of the meal. And my main course? I should have asked more questions about the Berkshire pork chop. Whose damn fool idea was it to serve it smothered in tomato sauce, accompanied by a piece of deep-fried mozzarella (I can get mozzarella sticks at TGIFriday's) and a green salad whose dressing quickly blended with the tomato sauce. Nice piece of pork... largely ruined by the presentation. My colleagues fared better with their mains - pasta with meatballs and seafood linguini were pronounced very good. But really. Outstanding? Superb? Amazing? Come on! read more

Enjoyed a great dinner at Rocco's 2 nights ago. Arrived early to find the business does not actually open it's doors until 5pm, so went to a bar across the street to have a drink. When we returned for our 5pm reservation, we were seated quickly. Ambience is very nice, and it's very cozy. Reservations are highly recommended, but they only take them before 4pm. Odd. The complete meal order is taken all at once, so we took some time to order drinks and review the menu and specials. All of the wine is Italian, so if you are looking for a chardonnay or pinot noir you won't find them. The waitress, however, was able to make a great recommendation from their choices. We started with the highly recommended ricotta appetizer. It was delicious - no other words to describe it. Just delicious. Definitely see why so many recommend it. It is rather filling, as the bread that comes with it is very thick. We also tried the stuffed clams. They, too, were very good, but just paled in a direct comparison to the ricotta. For our main course we each tried a pizza. My husband had the spinach pizza , and he thoroughly enjoyed it. I had the gringo, and loved cutting it apart with the shears. The crust is thin, just how we like it, and had a great flavor. We didn't finish them, as they are good-sized, and we had eaten all that bread already! We shared a butterscotch dessert since that was also very highly recommended. I've never had anything quite like it before, and loved it. The whole almonds on top gave it a beautiful plating and truly enhanced the flavor and texture contrasts. We really enjoyed the entire meal, and I'd definitely go again. (am, with a girlfriend in a few weeks!) The wait staff was attentive and helpful, and did a great job. Really a great find. read more

Every single thing I ate at Rocco was the best thing I have ever eaten. And I'm picky. Everything you've heard about the grilled octopus is true. I'm not usually adventurous, but I was having a magical anniversary dinner and knew my husband would be impressed if I actually tried something unusual. I wasn't sorry. Nor will you be. For entree I had the wild caught Alaskan Salmon, which came with grilled asparagus, bitter greens, and blood orange mayo. Unbelievable. I've only recently started eating seafood, but...wow. And if I could make asparagus taste like that I'd eat it every day. Dessert was a chocolate mousse of some sort that had red-wine poached cherries and pistachios for topping. It arrived looking like a weird chocolate steak, but was, again, the best thing I have ever eaten. It was Monday, so it wasn't too loud...a mellow middle-aged crowd. You know, people who can afford a fancy place on a Monday. I don't blame them. I'll be joining them here every night if I ever find myself wealthy. read more

Date night. We don't usually hit places like this, but since the kids were at the grandparents we thought we'd try a romantic upscale-ish place. This place came through. You're paying more than most places, so expectations are high for service and food. Atmosphere was also important in this case for romantic purposes. Service: Great all night, except one minor hiccup (see below). We were cared for by an extremely courteous and attentive staff. Worth the money. Food: Also great. The breakdown: - gnocchi, just awesome. It is not like normal gnocchi, more like the lightest, creamiest polenta you've ever had, but it's pretty magical. The toasty edges and the dleicious sauce beneath, it's great. We both wished there had been more sauce on the plate. - cheese lasagna, really nice. Since it's just noodles, cheese and sauce, it's important to get everything just right, and they did. The sauce is delicious, the cheese is luscious, and the noodles, while not al dente, were not overcooked badly. This is a plain but very satisfying dish. - marinated olives, delicious! A friend recommended I get these, and they did not disappoint. The citrus in there really makes me crazy. - ricotta, wow. Everyone on here says get it, and they are right. This is amazing. Atmosphere: Nice. This seems suitable for date night, would have been better at night but we couldn't get a reservation at the time we wanted because husband-of-the-year didn't call until the day of. It's very pleasant though, and would probably be more intimate after dark. Two weird hiccups, neither of which would prevent us from returning: We had a reservation at five, showed up at 4:59. Sign on the door says they open at 5 sharp, and I can respect that. They put on a great meal and I'm sure it takes a lot of prep. On the other hand, they didn't open the door until 5:05, not a long wait, but there were people inside watching us shiver, especially my lovely wife since women's date night fashions don't emphasize protection from the elements. Not a huge deal, but I definitely wouldn't go at 5 again. Also, there's no bread. Strange for an italian place, but what's really weird is they have packaged, factory-made breadstick-cracker things on the table. "Like from a supermarket?" Yes, exactly. They're made in italy, but still, mass produced in a food factory in italy. Some nice crusty bread or rolls would have been nice. This wouldn't stop me from returning, but it would stop me from giving 5 stars. read more

I cannot believe I forgot about this restaurant. That's what happens when you visit Rochester for 12 hours while en route to Zurich. I remembered Rocco once someone mentioned ricotta. I'm a sucker for housemade cheese like ricotta and burrata especially with charred bread. Gluten and dairy for the win. The server won points for the extra bread. We also shared the butcher's choice pizza with lamb. I thought the kitchen shears unusual, more so because I'm used to knives, but they were remarkably efficient. Dinner finished with their butterscotch dessert. Overall, I enjoyed my time here. Great service, lovely candles (the wax particularly mesmerizing to my pyro eyes), a intimate space for quiet conversation. read more