Loved this place and everyone raved about the pizza . Ordered 9 X large pies for takeout on way back from a kids hockey game and we ate almost all of them. They were so good. The service was fast and friendly. Definitely hit this place if you are around. Damn good pizza! read more

Great dinner and atmosphere. First time visiting last night. Pizza was very good, great toppings and sauce. Sandwich was great too, loaded with everything. Server was attentive, friendly and helpful. A must try if you're looking for a great place. Will definitely be back! read more

Well absolutely get you some pizza from here. Crispy crust and tons of toppings. It was the perfect pre-bbgame dinner!

Service was great, very friendly. Complete family atmosphere. A few tv's to catch some football while you eat, pizza was delicious! read more

Rocco's Restaurant - Veggie combo aka margherita pizza, delicious! - Pizza Near Me - South Bend, Indiana

Old school Italian restaurant. Very nostalgic. Pizza was good, and the Spumoni was a great way to cap off a solid meal. I would highly recommend when in South Bend cheering on the Irish. read more

Hard to add to the million of other reviews, but I thought this place was very solid. We had the vegetable pizza (the extra large - which is humongous!) and a spaghetti with tomato sauce and caprese salad. All very traditional and also very good. Service was fast and friendly. They have birthday cannolis, which was fun. Parking behind the building -we had no troubles. Very kid friendly. Solid family dinner experience read more

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Side Salad and Coke: $17.10- I ALWAYS HOPE a new Restaurant will be great so I have another good place to eat- unfortunately that did not happen today. This is one of those reviews I genuinely hate to write. But I have to be honest. Rocco's is famous around South Bend. Just in terms of sheer longevity you have to respect the fact that they have been in business since 1951! They have pictures of some minor celebrities on their walls (Regis Philbin, etc.) and seem to be always busy. I've never been here before- I had to give them a try. I LOVE good spaghetti so I ordered that with meat sauce and an extra "snazzy" salad ($4.00) as the waitress called it. As I waited for my food I noticed that the owner and his wife were at the door greeting everybody, smiling, glad-handing with many of the customers who were clearly regulars and the owners genuinely seem to care about customer service. The place has a genuinely cozy, family friendly feel to it - a real "Mom and Pop" atmosphere. You can tell this restaurant is their whole life. I received my salad in due time and was a little disappointed that this $4 extra salad was mostly just lettuce. There were 4 pepperonis on top, 1 tomato wedge, a few carrot shreds and some cheese- but it did not seem to be a $4 extra salad. As soon as she brought the spaghetti I new it was not going to be very good. The sauce did not have that dark, rich, thick appearance of good, long-simmered sauce. It did not smell all that great- no zesty seasonings and garlic wafting up through the steam. The sauce looked cheap and unremarkable. And so it was. The sauce tasted tomatoey in a bad way- like Campbells Tomato Soup without the flavor. I literally picked through the sauce 3 or 4 times with my fork to be sure it WAS in fact MEAT sauce! The "meat" was such tiny little bits of flavorless "whatever" that I honestly could not tell by tasting that this was supposed to be meat sauce. All in all, VERY disappointing! AND expensively disappointing- $17.10 for spaghetti and a salad? Olive Garden has MUCH better sauce and all you can eat salad or soup and bread sticks for about $5 less!!! As I ate (because I was hungry!) I thought about the decades of customers who believe this is actually good sauce, who believe that this restaurant has special food! Maybe this is all they know- maybe they never leave South Bend's city limits. As I paid the bill ($17.10!), the owner asked how everything was and I managed half a smile and said "Fine". I generally speak my feelings no matter what when it comes to food and service- but like I said the owner seems like the nicest guy in the world and I couldn't tell him his food wasn't very good. The place has been here 60 years- they're not gonna change their recipes because I don't like their food, so what would be the point of hurting the guys feelings. I would be lying though if I said I liked the food- it was not good and I doubt I will ever go back. When a restaurant becomes a "tradition" or "legendary" or a "landmark" sometimes they start selling something other than good food- sometimes they believe they can just sell "the experience". read more

Rocco's Restaurant - Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Side Salad and Coke: $17.10- - Pizza Near Me - South Bend, Indiana

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Best. Pizza. Ever. Rocco's has the best pizza, best service, and beer in 40 oz. bottles. It just doesn't get better. Most nights, especially in the fall the line can extend down the street so get there early and give the kids something to do because you will wait. However, the wait is more than worth the standard thick crust pizza with fresh toppings to die for. I have never eaten at a pizza place that made you feel more like family than Rocco's. Go for the pizza but more importantly go for the best kept secret in South Bend Indiana. read more

Rocco's Restaurant - Pizza Near Me - South Bend, Indiana

Definitely a must go to when in the area! You can tell by the crowd that it's a well loved place! It was our first time so we just ordered pizza. Great crust and perfect amount of toppings! We'll be back for sure! read more

I don't get to SB often, but when I do... this is a MUST STOP! Pizza is very good, meatballs are wonderful. But it's all about the traditional sauce . Cozy, warm, welcoming interior, and the service is always attentive, thoughtful, and quick(even when it's super busy). No reservations accepted, but even when it's busy, you'll be seated quickly. read more

Best pizza in south bend! I'm a transplant from Chicago area and love Chicago pizza. Rococo's is good and ambiance is nice, could use a little remodeling. But this place has good history. read more

Without a doubt the best pizza ever. It's unfortunate we live 1,700 miles away. My wife and I came here for dinner on a Friday night. The food was incredible , the service was great, and the prices were super affordable. The pizza was delicious, with cheese stretching from all over as I grabbed one slice from the rest of the pie. My wife loved the lasagna. The interior of the restaurant is vey warm and inviting. My wife and I would be regulars if we didn't live in texas. If you're nearby , take advantage and go . You won't regret it. read more

Rocco's Restaurant - Lasagna - Pizza Near Me - South Bend, Indiana

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Outstanding food and staff.Treated like friends as you walk in the door. We go regularly and love Warren!!

Visited tonight for my 1st visit. It was a busy Friday night. Was greeted immediately and only waited 5 minutes to be seated. Staff was very friendly. We order a thin crust extra crispy pizza and baked spaghetti with meatballs. Our food was fantastic. The spaghetti portion was huge. We also left with a cannoli carry out. The ambiance had a good vibe. We'll be back! read more

The food from here is amazing, definitely a must when in south bend! We got their Hawaiian Pizza as well as the caprese and Julia salad for takeout. All of it was delicious. My favorite part was the sauce on the pizza, it tasted freshly made and definitely a family recipe. read more

Fun place, excellent food and great wait staff. Go early cause it's a long wait if you don't! It's a favorite of the ND group--for good reason! read more

I am a student nearby, and I cannot recommend Roccos enough. Wow! Originally from another Midwestern town, I love the atmosphere of this restaurant. The servers and employees are all so friendly, service is speedy, and the prices are great. AND, the food is outstanding! Roccos is a timeless place and a must have while in South Bend!!!!! read more

I hadn't been here since freshman year when a friend and I decided to grab a piece of pizza the other weekend; having tried most of the other places around here and been unsatisfied, we decided to hit up Rocco's again, hoping to beat the rush by getting in at about 4:30. It was, as I remembered, very good. If it's not authentic East Coast (I'm from Philly) pizza, then that is only because it's a good bit closer to being actual, authentic Italian. We decided to split a "Rocco's Veggie Combo" pizza, which in practice was a rather good rendition of a pizza margherita; crisp crust with good marinara, mozzarella (not fresh, mind you, but that's a bit expensive to come by out here in South Bend; they would have been charging quite a bit more it the pizzas were made with fresh, sliced mozzarella), and fresh tomato and basil overtop. Yum. I haven't had that good a piece of pizza in this city since the last time I was here four or so years ago. Service was decent; they weren't yet busy, so our server was lounging with the others watching TV, and we did have to flag her once, but she did stop in regularly after that to drop drink refills and see if we needed anything. The decor's pleasant; it's a pizza place, there's only so much I want or expect from the decor. It was comfortable and that was about all I cared about, though the AC and fans on a cool fall day were a bit much. In summation; this is probably the best pizza in town, or at least I've yet to find anything better. In addition to that, it's good even judged by the standards of a major city; I feel pretty confident Rocco's would do fine in NYC or Philly, even. Will be back soon, because yum. read more

Rocco's Restaurant - They call it a vegetable special or somesuch, but what it actually is a pretty good pizza margherita. - Pizza Near Me - South Bend, Indiana

I pizza. Soooo good. An institution. Famous people come here. Try it if you're in town.

Haven't actually eaten inside before, but this is my go-to place to get takeout pizza in South Bend. My personal favorite is The Veggie pizza (red sauce, cheese, tomatoes, basil, garlic), but you really can't go wrong with any of the specialty options on the menu. Be sure to call early if you can, as the phone can get pretty busy, especially on weekends and gamedays. read more

We journeyed to South Bend after quarantine restrictions eased up to visit the local eateries and map out the town in preparation of our son attending ND. We've heard of the pizza joints and chose Rocco's as our first stop. Very good pizza. We ordered a Rocco's Combo and a pepperoni and sausage pie. Also had the meatball sub, homemade sausage appetizer, cheese bread, house salad, and a cannoli and spumone for dessert. All were very good. I really enjoy family owned businesses and pride of ownership is clear here. Service was friendly and great. South Bend Should be proud. read more

Loved the minestrone! Best I've ever had....my husband said spaghetti was great. Will come back again

In from out of town, looking for a great bite we found Rocco's. I knew when I saw the illustration on the pizza box that this was going to be top notch. Great pizza! I wish we could dine in, but COVID is happening so my son and I are chowing down in our hotel room. Thanks for a great pizza. read more

Alway our favorite place to stop when in South Bend. Great Food! Great People!!!! A Notre Dame tradition! They are open for dine-in now! read more

Always have great food from Rocco's! We order the veggie pizza with pepperoni and sausage. So good! Kids always love their food too.

We LOVE Roccos! They are a wonderful family. Highly recommend you check this place out when you are in South Bend!

Try good pizza when you can get a table. Used to go with co-workers occasionally. Was never disappointed.

While they have great food, I went to eat, sit down with my neighbor. She is a professional chef at Notre Dame. However she is black. I've never had any problems in there before tonight. I'm so disappointed that they are racist. They treated us like crap. read more

When we asked "Where is a must place to eat in South Bend?" The locals all responded "Go eat at Rocco's.". We took their advice and SO GLAD we did. Absolutely mouth watering pizza. We ate the combo pizza and the dough and ingredients were hot and fresh and perfectly cooked. Make sure you are not in a hurry as the wait for a table can take a while. We ordered ahead of time and took it back to the hotel. The staff all were incredibly friendly and knew all of the locals. I was greeted with a smile and handshake by the owners like they knew me. That means something! Could not have made a better choice. We will be back when in town! read more

Best pizza I've had in South Bend. Sausage was amazing, pepperoni super solid and well seasoned. The cheese mix is incredible and makes the pizza special read more

Great Italian eatery restaurant. First time. Food and set was great. We wanted pizza and it was soooo good.

You know how in Lady & the Tramp sharing spaghetti is the epitome of romance? At Rocco's it's pizza and the people it has bound together makes your heart melt like cheese on top of their warm thin crust. Before you think I'm crazy, love really is at the root of this establishment. In the 1940s, Rocco worked as a cook at a Notre Dame dining hall and Julia as a waitress. You can figure out the rest pretty easy - the couple met, married and by the look of Rocco's name and both their dining experience...South Bend's staple restaurant was born! Rocco and Julia's daughter, Linda now co-operates the restaurant with her husband Warren (who--you guessed it--she met while they both worked at Rocco's). Linda and Warren run the restaurant with the same love and hospitality as their parents did. Their passion for good food and warm welcomes is one of my favorite parts of going to Rocco's. Just walking into the homey restaurant means either Linda or Warren will greet my family with a big smile and a hug. I feel like I just walked into my own Italian family gathering. okay okay enough of the mushy mushy. Let's get to the food. My family's (note: I always and almost exclusively go with my family at least once when I'm in town AKA good family vibes) usual order is a Julia salad to start and then a XL half cheese + sausage plus a L margarita that we sometimes do half veggie. That sounds like a lot and that's because it is but we love taking the leftovers home! Rocco's isn't anything fancy. It's just good people, good food and great service in a comfortable homey setting. read more

Really no reason to eat pizza anywhere else in South Bend - this is the real deal! The pizza is a traditional crust with generous toppings. House wine and local microbrews are reasonably priced. I love the big ole' house salad with all your favorite Greek toppings. And the vibe will make you feel like you're in Little Italy right here in South Bend. They are incredibly popular so give yourself plenty of time for dinner and order a salad or app. read more

Nice people awful pizza. The crust tasted like cardboard. No NY pizzeria would serve Italian sausage crumbled up, same with meatballs. I can't imagine they toss their pizza so it's not true Italian. Like I said nicest people in the world but would not return. read more

Fantastic experience with pizza and amazing service! Cannoli are a must if you can save room. read more

Rocco's Restaurant - Cannoli! Fantastic! Rocco's does more than just pizza. - Pizza Near Me - South Bend, Indiana

Some of the worst pizza we have had in South Bend. We wanted to try Rocco's pizza for so long. Our friends ordered two Supreme pizzas to go. When they arrived back home, we were all starving and couldn't wait to dig in! what a disappointment. Very soggy crust where it almost seemed wet - very floppy like a wet noodle. The Sausage was chewy almost like a rubber band. We have now been cured of our desire to try Roccos. read more

With personable, attentive owners/hosts, this place is clearly a local favorite. Strange layout for a restaurant (feels like a converted house that's been expanded more than once), but that's not really a problem. We had a large party (10 people) and had a reasonable wait both for a table and for food and drinks. I had the lasagna, which they are apparently known for, and the unimpressive starter salad that comes with it (tasted like standard bag-lettuce salad with predicable bottled dressing). The lasagna was huge, yet lighter than it appeared, which was a welcome surprise. The marinara was perhaps a bit sweeter than I would've liked, and the cheese a bit banal. Overall, solid, but unremarkable. My party of out-of-towners seemed satisfied with their meals, but there were few compliments on the food. If we go back again, that'll be fine, but I wouldn't go out of my way to dine here or recommend it. I'm not sure what the rest of the South Bend Italian restaurant scene is like, so this may be the best the area has to offer, but to our table of out of towners from all over the Midwest, it wasn't particularly impressive. read more

Maybe it was a bad night but I went there to try out their pizza. Absolutely the worst ever! Very salty, cracker like crust, no flavor at all! read more

Great pizza and Italian food with a wonderful ambiance. People were super nice and service was great

This place is without a doubt as "Italian as it gets!". I'm not talking about some flashy fusion menu items or pretentious wine lists...I'm talking about communion pictures on the wall behind the ancient cash register and soap opera meets south bend local who's-who crowds. In a word, intimate. The appetizers are all good looking, but the antipasto salad we had was fabulous. The fresh cured meats and fresh cheeses served within the simple salad were divine, even if a bit overdressed. One guy at the table ordered a meatball sub, which looked great, but after our pizzas arrived, he was immediately jealous. The ingredients were amazingly fresh, the pizzas cooked to perfection, with the perfect balance of sauce and cheese. Between the quart of beer served in the bottle, the picture of the pope and murals on the wall, and fantastic service with a smile, I felt like a Soprano in South Bend. I will ABSOLUTELY be back. read more