"Rocco's is Your Guy When You Need Some Pie"
Both Rocco's locations serve up the best pizza pie in town, and are the only places I'll go for pizza in Winona. They have reserved permanent tables in my stomach, and I'm proud to call myself a groupie!
The Place:
Rocco's has two locations: The first is on the east end of town, in the basement of the Winona Athletic Club (on 5th and Mankato Ave). The second is in Goodview, on the west side of town. You will find the same menu and quality of pizza at both locations. The biggest difference is that the east side Rocco's has a sort of "1950's-meets-the-Jetsons" feel to the bar area, whereas the west side Rocco's has more of a "cozy, hick-town, dive bar" feel.
The east side Rocco's is not marked well enough, made even more confounding by the fact that you have to walk down steps to a basement to get to the bar. You will probably sense that at any moment someone is going to call the police and you are going to have to run your hangry rear out of there, but that's precisely when you know you've found the right place.
Be prepared to order the pizza directly from the kitchen at east-side Rocco's, rather than from the bar (the kitchen entrance is at the left side of the bar). It might feel a little like an illegal, back-alley transaction. You will feel like you are creeping, but no code word needed--the cooks are used to the drill. Go on. Live dangerously.
At west-side Rocco's you can order and pay either at the bar or at one of the dining tables.
Take out or delivery hours:
Goodview location: 4-10pm, 7 days a week
East side: Sun-Tues, 4:30-10
Wed -Sat 4:30-11
The Pizza:
All pizzas are made in your choice of 9", 12", or 14" sizes. Both Rocco's make their own square-cut crust, thin crust only, and top it with a spicy sauce that has just the right amount of zing. The cheese is perfectly thick and gooey, and looks amazing strewn down your cheek or shirt! You have to save some for later, right? My go-to is always pepperoni, and that is the only pie of which I have partaken at Rocco's--it is perfection!
Some of their specialty pies are:
The Macho...it's got some beef to it! It comes topped with hefty amounts of sausage, beef, pepperoni, and Canadian bacon. Warn your kidneys!
The Rocco Taco
Beef with picante sauce baked into the crust, topped with cheddar and mozzarella cheese, tortilla chips, lettuce, and tomato. Ole!
The Hawaiian: Canadian bacon and pineapple, perfect for a backyard, summer luaou! Aloha!
The Veggie: No "missed steak"...it is topped with mushrooms, onions, olives, and green pepper.
Gluten-free options are available as well.
The Parking:
There are parking racks available for cyclists at the Goodview location. There are also a fair amount of parking spaces for cars there as well.
The east location is another beast entirely. There are parking spaces available, but it is not the easiest parking sitch.
The Perks:
Put your game face on and play Bingo-roni (what!?) every Thurs night 7-9 at the Goodview location. The nightly grand prize is free pizza from Rocco's for a month! Woot!
Depending on the day and time of year, you might be able to burn off the pizza by walking up to the top floor of the athletic club/east side to check out some ballroom dancing (register through Community Ed to join in, or chat with the amazing and friendly instructors for any questions)!
Any way you slice it, Rocco's pizza can't be topped! You wanna piece of this?
~The Nosy Norwegian
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