The stuffed rigatoni and the Lumache were very good. Both were made with vodka sauce. Good service, nice ambiance. read more

Ruocco’s Restaurant - Stuffed Rigatoni - Italian Near Me - Boynton Beach, Florida

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I'm all in on this place. Not super fancy by any means, but no slouch either. Service was really good. Seems the chef is the owner maybe, or at least it feels that way. The waitress wanted us to order apps and entrees together since they are a scratch kitchen. I wonder if they can handle a full dining room and how it would affect the kitchen or not, but when we went on a Thursday night, first week back to school was very quiet. The arancini with a creamy truffle sauce was the best arancini I've had. The eggplant stack was delicious. And the cutlets with vodka sauce...wow. Perfect in every sense. You can tell the sauce was legit. We will be back and encourage others to come join read more

5 star service, everything was delicious. Appetizers - Arancini was super crispy and so much flavor, Eggplant stack was thin, crispy just the way it's supposed to be. Lumache and Lobster ravioli for main courses - on point! Almond Cake and Toffee Sponge cake were SO moist! Highly recommend supporting this family owned and runned restaurant! Seeing in the reviews it was loud? It was packed by 8pm and we could all hear each other just fine at the table. If you're worried about getting a table at a desired time then make a reservation, we're all adults here! Lol There's not that many non-corporate gems in East Boynton and this one will now be my go-to Italian! I grew up in RI and lived in NY and NJ for 12 years, this is the slice I needed close to my home now in FL read more

Ruocco’s Restaurant - Lumache - Italian Near Me - Boynton Beach, Florida

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I had read reviews over the months extolling Ruocco's and told friends who had been there many times and said we wanted to go. So there were 3 couples who went on a Saturday night . The place was packed and had to wait 15 minutes for our table with reservations, not so bad. It was extremely loud. Sat there for quite a while before our server showed up, said there was a communication problem as to who was waiting on us. They have a small but over priced wine list offering bottles, and wine by the glass either 6 or 9 oz. Their corkage charge is $ 35 outrageous, saying they want want people to bring their own wine. My wife was told that their Chicken Parmigiana was great. Comes with either penne or linguine. We told they make their on premise except for the linguine. Surprising since linguine is probably the most popular. Nice portion and she thought it was very good but not the best. I tried the Zuppa Di Pesce , linguine with clams, shrimp, mussels, and calamari in a seafood broth. Good. I don't understand the hype. So for us, one and done. read more

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Solid 4.5. There are no half stars on Yelp. We got the lemon chicken and it was superb I got the veggies. My girl got the risotto Melt in your mouth chicken. Drinks and food a bit pricey but it's worth it. New York family runs this place and they do a nice job. Nice warm bread basket too. Lively loud restaurant but that's a sign the locals like it. Well be back and did reco to our friends. Friendly waitress and nice manager too. Sebastian at the bar pours a good drink. read more

Ruocco’s Restaurant - Lemon chicken - Italian Near Me - Boynton Beach, Florida

Heard nice things about this place... wish it was nice. It's a nice ambiance, nice relaxing. Everything else was very sub par. We walked in with only 2 other couples in the place, which we should have left at that point. They asked if we had a reservation. We didn't, EVERY table had a reservation plate on it, idk about that..? We started with the burrata app. I asked what do you eat it with? It's not under salads and it doesn't come with crustinis. The server said he can bring us bread... It was a salad, it came greens. So not as expected or explained. I got the short ribs with gnocchi. The small portion of meat was crazy. Maybe 7 small bites. The white sauce was split, so the flavor was lost. My friend got the pasta "pillows" I forgot the name (see photo.) the portion was good. The flavor was lacking. The only thing that was ok was the almond cake. Nothing special but good This seems to be a place for people who don't want flavor. My friend even had to put salt in her pasta to get any. I had to ask for a lot of cheese on mine. This is a no go. read more

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We came here for Mother's Day brunch/lunch and it wasn't too busy when we arrived. After our reservation was confirmed, we were seated right away. Our waitress took our order and the owner came over to introduce himself as well. The bottomless mimosas were wonderful. We split the meatballs and the artichoke hearts for the appetizers. The pasta carbonara was delicious! The creamy sauce in the pasta dish made every thing much more flavorful. The almond cake was a nice dessert to end the meal with. All the dishes were executed beautifully. The staff worked together to make sure the drinks and food came out smoothly. As time went on, there was more people coming in and we are happy we got in earlier since it's a busy holiday for restaurant. It was a lovely way to celebrate Mother's Day! read more

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New Jersey is definitely in this place. Finally an Italian restaurant I can compare with Jersey Italian food. From beginning to end everything hit the spot. We had Tara as our waitress, and she was beyond patient and thorough with every answer. Her recommendations were all spot on. We had the Arancini's as an appetizer and put a twist on them. I'm not a truffle sauce guy. I had them give me a side of the most delicious Vodka sauce known to mankind. Im not kidding, go try it. My main dish was the chicken Scarpariello. And it was packed with so much flavor. This will be my go to dish, but I will be trying other items on other visits. We finished the evening with another high recommendation from Tara. The Sticky Toffee Sponge cake with Vanilla Ice cream. Again spot on. These guys run a great restaurant and probably a little bias, as I think this beats out their jersey location. Much success to you Stephen. Job well done. read more

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What a hidden gem this place is! It's a beacon of deliciousness set at the back end of an uninspiring shopping strip. The interior is rich and modern. The staff is attentive and the food is generally very good. While perusing the dinner menu with some friends, we quickly devoured the warm, soft bread. Though it was tempting to ask for more, we decided to focus our attention and our appetites on the main dishes. We split the large apple harvest salad, which included arugula, granny smith apples, dried cranberries, gorgonzola cheese and a light honey apple vinegarette dressing. It was a delightful salad and could have used even more of the dressing. The menu featured traditional Italian fare such as chicken parmesan and a variety of pasta dishes... and "specialty" pasta dishes. One person in the group had the chicken parm and thoroughly enjoyed it. I had a variation of that entree called the Pink Panther, which is made with vodka sauce and comes with a choice of pasta noodle. It was a delightful twist on the usual chicken parm. The food temperature was a bit cooler than I expected, but not cold enough to send back. Another person had a terrific salmon dinner. It was a large portion of salmon cooked perfectly in a honey glaze and was accompanied by sauteed spinach. The pasta bolognese was also a large-size portion with a robust meat sauce, topped with ricotta cheese. Excellent! The one disappointment was the short rib dinner which included risotto, peas, and a thick demi-glaze. The risotto seemed too mushy and under-seasoned and the meat did not have an appealing taste. The person sent back the meal and ordered the chicken parm as a replacement. She was satisfied with that entree. The server was apologetic and the replacement meal was served relatively quickly. We all enjoyed the refreshing hot hand towels after dinner. It was fun to watch the little towels expand when the server poured hot water over them. Overall, I'd recommend Ruocco's to anyone who enjoys a classic Italian meal in a lovely setting. read more

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The ambience and the service is absolutely wonderful. You can tell it's a family owned business. Everyone treats you like family. Even the bus boy was incredibly courteous and sweet. The portions are tremendous you could feed four people off of one portion. read more

If you have not tried this place, run and make a reservation. This is the best italian food I have had down in Boynton. Everything we ordered was exceptional and delicious. This restaurant is definitely a gem, they have an outdoor seating option as well, thats what we did. The staff is phenomenal, from Jake our waiter, Mike the bartender and the rest of the wonderful staff we met, made our night even more enjoyable. Each member came over to our table at some point and chatted it up with us, often exchanging laughs. This truly was a great experience. The ambiance is ideal for a romantic date or even a group of friends/family sharing a meal. I will be recommending this place to anyone who needs a great place to dine. read more

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I've been to Ruocco's twice and overall it's a really lovely spot with a great atmosphere. The arancini were amazing, crispy, flavorful, and absolutely worth ordering. The second time I came back I tried the lumache pasta dish and it was delicious, perfectly cooked and comforting. That said, on my first visit I ordered the scallop dish and it was the one miss for me. I actually sent that dish back. Also, the toasted almond cake is the entire reason I returned and it did not disappoint. Truly one of those dreamy desserts you keep thinking about after you leave. One note for improvement: during my second visit, I came with a coworker who has a legitimate, task-trained service dog, and the hostess had a bit of an attitude initially. We were able to sit outside, but I think the team could work on how they handle situations like that. Warmth and professionalism go a long way. I'd definitely come back, especially for the dessert, and I'm looking forward to trying more of the menu. read more

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Had a phenomenal dining experience at Ruocco's. The service was up to par, you'd have no idea that they just opened this week. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with a clean classy look. If you sit there with your eyes closed for about 30 seconds you will feel as if you're back in Jersey. They have a great drink list with a good wine selection. We opted for the artichoke francese app, a couple bottles of Josh reserve to pair with the pink panther (chicken parm with a la vodka sauce), veal Parmesan and capped it off with an affogato (espresso soda style) and a toasted almond cake. Just incredible! This is now our favorite Italian spot and a big plus it's around the corner from us. read more

Ruocco’s Restaurant - Artichoke Francese - Italian Near Me - Boynton Beach, Florida

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Food was good but not worth the price is they're charging, especially since there's definitely much better Italian food in Boynton. Service was good but rushed. They have way too many stupid rules. You can't relax and enjoy yourself. They're only concern is how many times they can turn over the table in one night two hour minimum you can't order your appetizers while you look over the rest of the menu everything has to be ordered at once. read more

We came with friends who love the place so much, they wouldn't object to eating here every night. They've raved about the shrimp scampi. The chef suggested I order the oregonata shrimp instead. It was a little bland. The branzino was delicious and a nice portion. Oddly, the lemon chicken came with mozzarella on top. We sat outside. It was comfortable and easy to have a conversation. Inside looked elegant, but was very noisy. read more

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This was the most disgusting penne alla vodka I've ever had in my life a waste of $30 there's no sauce on it, it's as if they reheated what was penne alla vodka in the microwave and then gave it to me. In response to the owner yes I'm positive that's where it's from... see photos below. read more

Ruocco’s Restaurant - Penne alla vodka - Italian Near Me - Boynton Beach, Florida

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Oh my gosh, I can't believe I haven't done a review for this location yet--I'm way overdue! It's always packed for a good reason; the food is absolutely delicious, well-executed, and packed with flavor. The Arancini is one of my favorite appetizers; we requested a side mix of truffle and vodka sauce. While Alfredo sauce would be better than truffle, their vodka sauce is still the best! Their fresh bread is also so good. They have done a wonderful job selecting their employees. Our sweet waitress, Tara, helped us with our food selection. Back in NJ at their original restaurant, my favorite waitress was Gianna. I have always loved this restaurant; their service is excellent, and the place truly gives off a family environment. I highly suggest making a reservation or by calling them, as it is a very busy restaurant!. My few favorite dishes is the penne la vodka, chicken limone with potato croquettes or pasta and the entree I ordered today was the Lumache Pipette-shaped pasta, Vodka Sauce, Fried Chicken Cutlet, Hot Honey, Straccatelli Cheese. My hubby ordered Scaloppini Chicken & sausage made with marsala wine sauce, Mushrooms, Demi Sauce and he loved it. To top off our night the sticky toffee cake served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream was outstanding 10/10 delicious. Thank you Ruocco for making our evening special. Wish you all tons of blessings. read more

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Overpriced and not impressed with the shrimp scampi. It was the first time having spicy sauce in this dish. Owner was only interested in greeting his friends read more

Not too impressed with the food but the service was good. My fish special was served with tough inedible clams and not so fresh mussels. We won't return. read more

Excellent snapper tonight !!!! As always the service and ambience is incredible. This was tonights dessert!!! read more

Ruocco’s Restaurant - Strawberry shortcake - Italian Near Me - Boynton Beach, Florida

Great food , service and ambiance. If your looking for great Italian food try Ruoccos you won't be disappointed

We visited Ruocco's as a group of four on a recent Sunday evening and were very impressed overall. This is a new restaurant (opened around August 2025), and it already feels polished, confident, and well run. We started with an appetizer you almost never see on a menu anymore: Sicilian Panelle, served with fresh ricotta. It was excellent -- light, flavorful, authentic, and a real nod to traditional Sicilian cooking. It's also worth noting that Patrizia and both of our guests are Sicilian and very familiar with traditional Sicilian cooking, which makes the Panelle and overall execution stand out even more. The flavors, texture, and presentation felt authentic and respectful of the cuisine -- not "Italian-Americanized" or overworked. That authenticity was appreciated and noticed. For cocktails, I started with their house-made Egg Nog cocktail, which was surprisingly fantastic -- well balanced, thoughtfully presented, and served properly over one large rectangular ice cube. Another guest opted for a beer. Luigi, our server (from the Philippines), was wonderful all night -- professional, friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive without hovering. Luigi told us the bread is flown in from Staten Island, and it showed -- excellent texture and flavor. The butter appeared house-made, very creamy and fresh. Entrées were a strong point across the board: * I had the homemade cavatelli with shrimp and broccoli, which was excellent -- pasta cooked properly, shrimp perfectly done, and a very balanced dish. * Patrizia ordered the Chicken Sorrentino and added a side of risotto, which was rich, well-executed, and clearly made with care. * Our two guests both ordered the seafood risotto, and both were very happy with their dishes. The risotto was creamy and flavorful without being overly heavy. For dessert, we shared Bombolini, another item that's rarely done well -- these were outstanding and a perfect way to end the meal. After dinner, I had a cappuccino made with Lavazza (always a good sign), and another guest enjoyed a Frangelico. We had no reservation but were seated outside on a beautiful enclosed patio with elegant black screens. The space is attractive and well designed, though it did get a bit warm, even with openings on two sides. There was also a DJ spinning Sinatra-style music, which fit the atmosphere nicely. Everyone at the table was pleased with both food and service. Our guests are locals and said they would absolutely return. We paid about $350 all-in, including a 25% tip, which felt appropriate for the level of service and quality. Note: there's a mandatory 20% gratuity for parties of six or more. Bottom line: Ruocco's delivers strong food, excellent service, authentic touches, and a refined but welcoming atmosphere. It's clearly positioned as a higher-end Italian restaurant, and based on this experience, it earns that status. We would definitely return the next time we're in the area. Reservations are highly recommended. -- Sal & Patrizia read more

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first time in this restaurant, it was very good service was excellent. I had the salmon honey glaze salmon, which was very good. We also had the chicken Parmesan. They enjoyed that very much the Bronzino and the chicken. France everybody enjoy their meal they give you fresh bread on the table. We also had the apple salad which was delicious the smaller size which was good for two indoor outdoor seating. Also, parking is easy cause it's in a shopping center. The only thing I was unhappy about was they charge 3% for using your charge card? I hope that doesn't become something that a lot of Restaurents # does. It's kind of something that really irritates me. this was a very good restaurant. Definitely make reservations and try. read more

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Lets start with the food, average and overpriced. Then there is the service, the owner/manager is super rude, to point that he insults you when there is an issue or you ask a question. With my service background I cannot recommend this restaurant. They say the pasta is fresh, however I question that. Do not bother. read more

Excellent food and customer service. The ambiance is very nice. The family is super friendly and accommodating. Highly recommend! read more

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I took my Valencia Sound Restaurant Group of 10 to Ruocco's on Wednesday night during "season" for a wonderful dinner. It's located in a non-de script plaza with parking but as soon as I walked in, I was blown away with how modern the decor was inside. I found some of my party sitting at the bar enjoying drinks at a reduced price because they came in time for happy hour. Our long table was ready and waiting for us. It looked so elegant. There are no round tables which would have made this perfect. Andrew was our waiter. When we were settled, he reviewed the specials with us. I never saw him look at a paper as he detailed each of the entrees. However, he needed to step away and get info as to their price when we asked. All the pasta is prepared from scratch. The venue was filling up fast and it was buzzing. The noise level was high and very difficult to hear each other talk. We managed the best we could. Our party was made up of neighbors, but we are basically meeting and greeting for the first time. The warm crusty bread was on the table: yum! The drinks and food came out on a timely basis. Paul and I shared the Grandma salad which had cheese and meats mixed in. Others had the Apple Harvest Salad, or baked clams. All our entrees had beautiful presentation and great flavor. I had the Bronzino Puttanesca and Paul had the shrimp scampi. Others had the short ribs, salmon, chicken Milanese. We all loved our dishes. We didn't order dessert tonight- maybe next time. We were 5 couples but their policy only allows for 3 checks at the table. It took a lot of time for us to figure it out which was a big negative. Also if you paid with a credit card, there was a 3% surcharge. Ruoccos is new on the Florida scene. It's very common here for couples to get separate checks, unlike in Manalapan, NJ. I hope they heed my comments to correct this because the experience would have been close to perfect if they did. We all felt that this restaurant choice was a good one. In fact, I have plans to return with another couple this coming Saturday. read more

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Old friends were here from out of town and we chose Ruocco's to visit for the first time for dinner. Partially because they took reservations, but also because we've gotten rave reviews about their happy hour and the quality of food. It did not disappoint! Our group of five helped us in sampling a number of the dishes. I went with a pasta dish called Sacchetti - that seemed most original to the restaurant. Totally enjoyed it. The artichoke appetizer, Veal Milanese and Cacio Pepe were all very good - and the service was exceptional. Appetizers for the table were no less enjoyable, especially the calamari. It was fresh and plentiful, and lacked the usual greasy aspect that is often experienced. It's more upscale than some restaurants, but not at all pretentious. We agreed that return visits are definitely in order. All in all, a great experience! read more

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Excellent dinner , the veal the eggplant rollatini shrimp scampi and lobster bisque were amazing. Excellent service .... Michael was great read more

The food was delicious. The artichoke appetizer was generously portioned. I ordered a gin Amalfi cocktail (pictured). read more

Ruocco’s Restaurant - Amalfi gin cocktail at Ruocco's Bar in Boynton Beach,FL. Service was outstanding. - Italian Near Me - Boynton Beach, Florida

The food was delicious, especially the fresh bread. Our server, Doreen, tended to our every wish. The restaurant itself was beautiful.

The food(short ribs & lobster ravioli) were excellent. The service(Brie) was perfect. The first restaurant I have been in that did not carry Jameson Irish whiskey. No problem, they had an alternative. read more

OK, so I gave it a second chance. Came back a few days later with friends. Had a wonderful dinner with great service. Sat next to bar and again my wife complemented the great comfortable chairs. Food and special olive oil cake dessert was delicious. Changed rating to 5 stars. Way to go. read more

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All four appetizers and dinners were outstanding. Server was excellent. Will definitely go there again.

Ruocco's was recommended by friends so the 4 of us went on a Sunday evening. Our reservation was for a table outside at 6:30 and we arrived about 15 minutes early and although there were 3 empty tables outside we were told we could not be seated yet. The 2 young women behind the podium suggested we wait at the bar but none of us drink so they then suggested we sit on a bench outside. My friend said we were okay with not having a server immediately and she was still told NO. When we were FINALLY seated the food was good and our server was excellent. But since we all felt like we had been punished for being early, I will not go there again. read more

Great food and service close to New York little prices but worth it wonderful drinks happy hour 4 to 7

Absolutely disgraceful experience -- avoid at all costs. Six of us (three couples) dined at Ruocco's in Boynton Beach, and what followed was hands-down one of the worst restaurant experiences any of us have ever had. When the bill arrived, we noticed that TWO glasses of Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio were charged at $54. Let that sink in. A full bottle costs around $25 retail. Naturally, we asked for the manager to explain the charge. The "manager" turned out to be the owner's son, and from the moment he opened his mouth, the situation spiraled into a full-blown nightmare. He was condescending, obnoxious, and dripping with entitlement. Even worse, he repeatedly addressed one of the wives as "my love", despite being told--clearly and directly--that it was inappropriate, offensive, and demeaning. He ignored her and continued anyway. Things escalated fast. He raised his voice, became increasingly hostile, and then--in front of the entire restaurant--screamed at the top of his lungs, "GET THE F* OUT OF HERE!"** He even aggressively went after one of the husbands, turning what should have been a simple billing discussion into a completely unhinged confrontation. All three couples were stunned. None of us have ever experienced behavior like this from restaurant staff, let alone management. And as if the abuse wasn't enough--the food was mediocre at best. Bland, forgettable, and presented like something from a bad neighborhood banquet hall. Needless to say, we will never return to this dumpster fire of a restaurant. Do yourself a favor and stay far away. Boynton and Boca have plenty of excellent Italian options--388 in Boca, for example--that actually understand hospitality, professionalism, and value. Ruocco's has none of the above. read more

The atmosphere is lovely. The warm bread and arancini appetizer were very good. I ordered what I thought was going to be a double cut pork chop,expecting to be served a thick cut, on the bone chop. This dish was more like pork tenderloin medallions smothered in demiglaze. The carbonara was excellent.We had 3 servers it seemed, 2 bartenders and then a woman came by and took our dinner orders and yet I still had to ask for a second glass of wine. We were passed by several times without being checked on. I work in this industry, at a fine dining Italian restaurant in Wellington. Likely, I should have asked more questions as to how the pork chop was prepared, but definitely wasn't expecting what appears to be pork tenderloin which is not the same thing. read more

Food is delicious and service is exceptional! They have a very nice enclosed outdoor area that we love. read more

Too noisy inside. Jack our waiter couldn't be nicer. Small salad could feed 3 or 4 and good. I had the crab stuffed shrimp flavorless. My husband had the sole over cooked and also not much flavor. Asked for lemon piccata sauce to be used over both dishes. Made shrimp dish better but couldnt do anything for the overcooked sole. Major disappointment and expensive read more

I really liked Ruocco's and almost everything we ordered was very good with great service making it even better. Dinner started off on a high note with an order of Artichoke Heart Francese and this was ridiculously good and was the best item of the night. Because I liked the Francese sauce on the appetizer I tried Chicken Francese for the main course and it was better than most places. The problem was that it came low on sauce and the accompanying pasta was just a basic plate filler. The Lumache pasta was good with a simple but nice sauce. The only items I didn't really like were desserts and both disappointed especially a cake that was an overly sweet, overly creamy one note bore. No problem though as I'm looking forward to going back. read more

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