Ruocco's on 9 - NJ

Ending this year with a bang! We checked out Ruocco's Restaurant in Manalapan, NJ @ruoccosrestaurant and if you like Italian food, this place is a must try! For appetizers we got the Meatball Special, which is served with fresh Ricotta and Parmesan, Fried Calamari, and Spiedini Alla Romana. This was my first time trying Spiedini, and it was by far one of the best things I've ever tasted, I could have licked the plate. The Lobster Ravioli was so delicious, as was the Lobster Beurre Blanc and Jumbo Shrimp it was served with. The kids got the Penne Vodka, which was fantastic. I forgot to mention the bread which comes out crispy, warm, and fantastic. It was so good, and I believe it was noticed because we were quickly asked if we'd like another basket, excellent for dipping in all of these amazing sauces! We ended the night with a tartufo that was out of this world! Ruocco's is a family owned and operated business, and you can tell how much pride they put into their restaurant, this shines through with the level of quality and flavors of their food. Their food is a combination of old world comfort with a contemporary twist. The restaurant is beautiful, both inside and out, and you can tell that everyone there wants you to have a great dining experience. We can't wait to go back and experience the rest of the menu! I definitely recommend making reservations in advance. With the food being this delicious, they obviously book up quickly!

We had reservations at Ruoccos for a large party. The hostess greeted and seated us quickly. Our waitress was pleasant and made recommendations from the menu. The food was excellent and overall the staff was very pleasant.

Amazing amazing restaurant!! I ordered the house lasagna and it was soo good , their mocktail was also delicious I just forgot the name of it, their customer service was great and very welcoming; I came from far but they made me feel welcome; I’ll definitely come back there again ; thank you for a wonderful dinner

Calling this place, a hidden gem is not doing it justice, this is truly a diamond in the rough! I’m starting to find that all the best restaurants in New Jersey are in strip malls, because I was absolutely blown away by all the food here! Our server, Bella started us out with some bread with the most amazing olive oil for dipping, and a few other toppings if we wanted. Delicious. I then tried the artichoke oreganata, special, wow. Also tried the Philly cheesesteak eggrolls, they came with a cheese wiz sauce, definitely very tasty. I cannot resist a spicy rigatoni vodka, and this one was stuffed, very different than anything I’ve ever had, and incredibly delicious! My friend, and I were fighting over the last bites. For the main course, I tried the honey glaze salmon with roasted potatoes and spinach, I got it well done so the honey made the salmon very crisp. Oh my God, quite possibly the most amazing thing I’ve ever eaten, didn’t even need sauce! And then my best friend had the oso bucco Which was so enormous it came with a bone that was about the size of my head! Soft, tender fall off the bone, meat, and a bit of mashed potatoes underneath, I was absolutely jealous. We were offered dessert, but possibly eat another bite especially after trying Bella‘s favorite, blueberry sangria, I will absolutely be back to try the rest of the menu!

This place was amazing all the way around, from spectacular service, friendly family vibes, to mouth watering food! If you're looking for a family environment with traditional Italian cuisine, Ruoccos is the place to be! Spent my sisters 40th Birthday here. I enjoyed their Scallop special, many of their appetizers, as well as their desserts. Which most are homemade, just incredible. Topped with their welcoming hospitality. We'll definitely be back to book a party! Thank you for a great dinner experience.

We have a group of friends that have been together for over 35 years and we get together every three months and we are so glad that we were referred to and chose this place. The food the service the atmosphere made you feel like you were having dinner at home with friends and that’s all you can ask for when you go out. I HIGHLY recommend you try this place and you too can experience what we did last night. Ciao for now👍🙏🇮🇹🍷

This place has that fine local restaurant vibe.. food is just amazing. We were there for the first time yesterday and loved the food we ordered Calamari with marinara sauce was yumm.. I ordered the sea food marechiara which was perfectly cooked and my wife orders the halibut Francese which was very delicious. Their desserts are also great we tried the Tiramisu which was sooo good.. No wonder they only open for dinner and they are sold out .. Amazing staff and wonderful service.. this is going to be our local go to place when we want to have good Italian food .. Oct 16th .. our 2nd visit to Ruocco’s wonderful experience and fantastic food . Tried their sea food risotto which was well done , interesting was their egg rolls and nice Italian touch to the Asian dish comes with Hoisin sauce .. dish is so tasty that you don’t need a dipping sauce . Their chef shd consider paring this with a spicy sauce.. looking forward to our next meal there

My daughters & I ate here tonight! The food was simply delicious! I had lobster ravioli with extra large shrimp in a perfect creamy sauce.. My one daughter had eggplant rolatini & the other had chicken marsala! All cooked to perfection! We will be back real soon! 🌹🌹🌹🌹

Read an online article about Ruocco and his family owned business about just trying to survive during this virus era. So we decided to try their family restaurant. They are located on Rt.9 South in Manalapan in a strip mall that is visible from the highway. They are located far enough so the highway noise doesn't disturb you table conversation. They also have a line of trees to give you a garden effect which otherwise be drab. There are plenty of flower pots with blooming flowers making the outside dining an inviting place. Tables are spaced apart with overhead tents with lighting. Plenty of parking. Your party will have your temperatures taken at the entrance and mask are a must. Steve and his family are very welcoming making you feel welcomed and your business appreciated. The waiter was experienced and he also felt happy to serve us. He was attentive and gave us space. We started with fried Calamari and rice balls which were delicious and average. The star of the meal were the entrees. I had the recommended pistachio encrusted salmon over risotto which was well complimented and balance. The other dis was honey roasted salmon over garlicky spinach. The last was Chicken Pink Panther a chicken parm with fresh mozzarella over linguini in vodka sauce. We enjoyed our meal and would recommend Ruocco's.

This place is a must visit, easily the most unique and delicious Italian food we’ve ever tried. The appetizers were fantastic, we had plenty of bread with dipping items, the gnocchi with braised short ribs was out of this world good. We somehow managed to cap our meal off with tiramisu. The service was phenomenal and the experience was just amazing! You must visit this place, we will definitely return again!!

The food here is amazing! Some of the best food I’ve ever had. The pink panther is by far the best penne vodka I’ve ever had, they even provided me the recipe which I know won’t come out as good as Ruoccos! Highly recommend for amazing Italian food!

Really good food. From appetizers to desert it was delicious. Our waitress (Nicole) was fantastic. Also had the pleasure of live music by Twice the Spice- Tommy and Jeanne , very enjoyable Believe they have live music on Friday nights. Enjoyed the night. Highly recommend.

Ruoccos already has my favorite baked clams. But the special baked clams stuffed with crab meat were amazing !! The right amount of white fluffy crabmeat atop those perfect baked clams. Yes we did get a second order.

The food was absolutely amazing. The staff was super friendly. The chef/owner even came by to say hello. Great atmosphere. I'll definitely be going back.

I recently had my sons' double baptism dinner party at Ruocco's, and I couldn't be happier with how everything turned out! On short notice, Stephen was able to put together a large gathering where the food, from appetizers to dessert, was the talk of the party! The food is delicious, and everyone cannot wait to return to try more items on the menu! Even the guests of honor chowed down! :) Thank you, Stephen, Bella, and the rest of the staff, for making our day so special. Your attention and care were above and beyond. We are so grateful! See you soon!

We wanted to sincerely thank you for an incredible night, celebrating Susanna’s sweet 16. The food was delicious, the service was impeccable, and the atmosphere was that of a big family celebrating together. Susanna and all of us are very grateful for you playing an important role in making it a memorable night. We will surely call again soon. Faithfully, Susanna, Mariet and Saad

I cannot say enough about Ruoccos! We walked in this Saturday evening spur of the moment and even though they were super busy and booked, they made room for my husband and I to dine. The service was fantastic, so kind and attentive and the food was DELICIOUS! Thank you so much, we can’t wait to come back!

Wait staff professional, polite, efficient, responsive,... Food 9.9 out of 10 excellent, classic Italian just like Mom used to make Private room, 40 people, so it got a bit stuffy, but no complaints!

Had my daughter's graduation party here. Everything was fantastic. From the food to the room to the service....perfect! ..Bella does an amazing job and is easy to work with. Highly recommend Ruoccos...

We were in town for a day and found this place scouring for a local gem. Let’s just say we found it! It’s a BYOB shop, so don’t expect an extensive bar or cocktails, but the food is 🤤. With daily specials and Italian classics, there is enough for anyone to find something to swoon over - including that pink panther dish, which was new to us as a non-local. Don’t hesitate to give this them a visit - you won’t be disappointed.

We had the absolute best experience. Our server, Kristen, was nothing shy of amazing. Even our bus person, Isabella, was the best we’ve ever experienced. We have gone to countless restaurants but the service here was the best ever. I encourage anyone to go and request Kristen…. She is the best in the business.

Ruoccos was amazing. It was my first time and definitely not my last! The food was absolutely delicious 😋 it came hot and fresh. The ambiance was beautiful and all the servers worked together to help. The manager was accommodating. Great restaurant. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Had eggplant rollatini, pasta bolegnese, meatball appetizer, few other dishes with our other quests. Food was excellent as well as service on a busy Saturday night. Meatballs are best I've ever eaten. Definitely be back

This is a great place for dinner! The restaurant is so pretty, so clean and the food is delicious! The meatball appetizer is a must try. The pork chop with rice pilaf and the rigatoni bolognese are perfectly portioned, shareable and full of flavor! Never once reached for the salt and pepper. I love the family feel you get the second you walk through the doors. There are photos of the owners and their kids are on the wall and they are all on the floor, serving customers with a smile. You can definitely tell it’s a place filled with love, a passion for food and most importantly, family. Would definitely recommend to anyone!

Went on a Friday night with a group of friends. Made reservations, and we were immediately seated. Appetizers were excellent. Entrees were outstanding! Warm and friendly environment with a live singer. Definitely going back!

Have eaten at Ruocco’s, had a baptism party here and just had them cater our Christmas party. They never disappoint! The food is 10/10 and the staff is 10/10. All of our guests rave about the food each time. Thank you!! We are customers for life

Very warm and cozy atmosphere. Food was delicious! We had the eggplant stack, calamari, and meatballs to start and they were all awesome. It was BYOB which went very well with the Pink Panther entrees we ordered. Overall experience was excellent and food was phenomenal.

I don’t normally leave reviews, but I have to say this place was amazing! From the moment we walked in the door, we were greeted with a warm welcome. Our server Lucy was so friendly and attentive. The food was absolutely delicious. I had the special which was short ribs and pasta in a cream sauce, which was not too heavy just perfect ! I’ve never finished a meal ever ! I cleaned my plate here ! The baked clams were delicious just like I’ve had in my hometown of Brooklyn and if you know anything about baked clams , everyone does them a little differently, but these were right on point ! Just perfect. I highly recommend this restaurant. Definitely need to check it out if you’re in the area and if not, it’s worth the drive. !

We had a party here for 40 people. The food was amazing! The service exceeded our expectations! The party room was beautiful! The owners were the nicest people! Every guest raved about the food, it was delicious & plenty of it! We loved Ruoccos and can’t wait to go back!

We made our very first visit last night. We met lovely Isabella our server with Sophia in training & Kayla. We also met Isabellas sis who's name we forgot but also so sweet. The staff is in constant motion. A definite team effort for all to help the guests. Service was on point. We were visited by the owner Steve who left us feeling like his new friends. The atmosphere of this restaurant is soft & lovely & not over the top. Bathrooms are maintained beautifully. We will definitely visit again. Continued blessings and success !! Keep up the good work and excellent work ethic!!

The calamari was prepared exquisitely,as were the baked clams. We were there for 60th birthday party and served family-style.

Went to Ruocco's on Wednesday evening. I'm so pleased to have an authentic Italian restaurant in Boynton Beach. Food was delicious, atmosphere was warm and inviting. Dee, our server, was a sweetheart. Her knowledge of gluten free options was impressive. She introduced me to panelle for an appetizer. It's a must try Can't wait to go back. I will definitely be a regular customer.

We had an amazing family dinner. The food is of course delicious. Everything from the calamari to the meatball platter, the cacio e pepe and white clam linguini, the burrata and the sausage and potatoes.. yum! But beyond that, the wait staff was very attentive and helped us enjoy our meal even more. Isabelle the manger came often to check on us and the servers and cleaning crew tended to our needs, whether it was to remove a plate or give us a new utensil. We are stuffed and happy and will be back again :)

Went with a party of 8. Restaurant is warm and inviting on the inside. Staff were fabulous, personable and attentive. Food was delicious! All 8 raved about their dinners and brought food home. We will be back! Thank you Ruoccos for a wonderful experience!’

One of the best meals we’ve ever had! Cacio e Pepe was life changing. Loved the atmosphere and service as well. Super kind and caring staff. We’ll absolutely be back 💓

My husband and I had a lovely dinner here. We love the artichoke hearts francese. You are sure to find an entree on the menu, or from the specials to enjoy as we have. The atmosphere is lovely, and the waitstaff are pleasant. I notice that almost all restaurant waitstaff use the term “guys” when addressing patrons and also ask are we still “working on that?” The same here. This restaurant is in my opinion an upscale establishment, and guests should be addressed as such. If you are like us you may agree that eating out is a pleasure and not “work”. This phrase just sounds gross. Please consider asking staff at restaurants to find a different phrase. Thank you.

It's more like 4-1/2 ☆ because they don't serve alcohol. I personally don't like to bring my own wine, BUT the food was great, service was awesome and location is convienant. Definitely give it a try.

Not for me. No seasoning on steak. Very bland. No steak sauce! Served on wood plates expected better Wife didn’t like her dish had two bites Service was excellent and dessert was good. Needs some music. Atmosphere was not good I would not return.

Service was good, shrimp marsala felt heavy, very buttery. Eggplant was fine, chicken parm was ok. Nothing really stood out on being fantastic. Food wasnt bad just wasn't great.

I was really looking forward to trying the food from this place. It’s one of those gray, rainy days that just calls for a warm meal, so I decided to place a delivery order through their website. I even left a 20% tip, hoping that would encourage them to follow my simple delivery instructions: just give me a call or text when they arrived so I could grab my food while it was still hot. Unfortunately, that seemed to be too much to ask. After waiting for a while with no word from them, I realized that my food had been left sitting outside, getting cold in the rain. The delivery person didn’t even ring the doorbell or knock! By the time I figured out what had happened, my meal was no longer the cozy comfort I had imagined, but a disappointing reminder of what could have been. It’s frustrating to invest in a meal and anticipate something special, only to be let down by a lack of communication. I really wanted to love this place, but my experience left me feeling pretty let down. I hope they can improve their delivery process because I know they have great food to offer, and it deserves to be enjoyed at its best.