Cozy, Warm and welcoming with outstanding, friendly service. Owners or other family are present and are authentically grateful for their customers business. They make you feel like visiting family for dinner. Freshly baked bread with olive oil for dipping starts your table. Appetizers are very good and very FRESH we enjoyed our house made Zucchini sticks and the Special Appetizer of Tripe Marinara. Dinner was a Double Cut Pork Chop Scarpiello and was cooked to perfection. Moist, flavorful roasted pork. Worth every penny! Cacio e Pepe was a perfect al dente proving even the simplest ingredients done right can elevate it. The biggest thing we noticed was how FRESH the ingredients were. The quality of the ingredients are also seen in their dishes. Ending with a Toffee Pudding (Housemade) rounded it out. Highly, Highly recommended this GEM of a restaurant! read more

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Great spot. Went there Saturday. The restaurant is beautiful inside. Perfect for a date or special occasion. Service was fantastic. Our server Kristen was very good. We had meatballs and Zuppa d' clams for appetizers and they were delicious. Entree's were extremely good. I had a Paella that was on special for the night and it was great. Wife had the Carbonara and it was just as good. We had NY Cheesecake and Cannolis for desert that were wonderful. Restaurant is a BYOB but if you forget to pick up a bottle, they do offer a selection of local wines. Family run. Isabella introduced herself and greeted us which was very nice. I'll be going back soon for sure! read more

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Always enjoyed good food and consistancy in service. I now go to Ruocco's in Boynton Beach, Florida. My new local favorite for good Italian. read more

Solid dinner at Ruoccos BYOB.....love to see it Service was good Live music on Friday night, Frank Sinatra type music which was a bit loud Baked clams were ok, needed 2 minutes under the broiler Fried Calamari was very good Meatballs were as good as you will get in a restaurant Chicken Sorrentino was excellent, veal chop special with asparagus looked phenomenal. The pork chop with the peppers was reported as very good. The short rib with the gnocchi was a mixed bag, small portion of short rib and the gnocchi cream sauce was not good. The red snapper was sent back. The Almond cake is off the charts delicious. More positives than negatives. I would go back, stick to traditional Italian. read more

We such a fabulous meal and had some music going to add to the ambiance. Great BYOB. Service was impeccable - food was amazing and they were very accommodating to meal requests/changes. Will definetly go back again. read more

The food was great, we sat outside(the only table) which was so nice as it was a beautiful night. The service was excellent, I would definitely recommend this restaurant. read more

Great food and service. We got there just as they opened - delicious chicken dishes and calamari. Service was excellent as well. read more

Ruocco’s Restaurant - Indoor dining - Italian Near Me - Manalapan, New Jersey

Food was good, nice presentation overall. Service was ok as well. Location is a little tough for parking but it was a Friday evening so understandable. read more

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! read more

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This was my husband n I first visit to Ruocco's. My mom always raved about it. Well she was right. Food was amazing . We started with delicious Italian bread with some olive oil Then we had for an appetizer artichokes Franchise. Dinner for us was Chicken Sorrentino. Chicken was tender and eggplant was cooked perfectly. The sherry sauce was the perfect complement to this dish. Mom had chicken franchise her chicken was also very tender and the franchise sauce had a great favor. For dessert we ordered the mini cannolis omg the shell was crisp and the creme delicious. The ambiance was very nice. They have outdoor sitting as well. We left full and happy. We will be back and look forward to the new location in boynton beach Fla. . The Servers was friendly and attentive. It was a pleasure meeting and talking with the owner Stephen. Truly enjoyed our dining experience. read more

Ruocco’s Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Manalapan, New Jersey

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We've passed this restaurant countless times over the last few years, and decided to have dinner there on Saturday. We were greeted warmly by Isabella, a very pleasant member of the family. We started off with an Apple Harvest Salad that we shared. It was huge. I had the Eggplant Rollatini and my wife had Honey Roasted Salmon. Both dishes were excellent and filling. We have now added Ruocco's to our "go to restaurants." read more

First time coming to Rocco's. When you walk in the owner greets you. He is very casual, friendly and polite. While we waited to be seated, we sat outside. After 5 minutes, the owner came out to ask our preference of where we would like to sit. Once seated, our server came over, introduced herself and asked if we wanted anything to drink. You need to bring your own, so this was soft drinks. We placed our orders and the Grandma salad and calamari were both excellent. Once we got our main dishes, I found my chicken parmigiana to be very thin and dried out. The sauce was on the bland side and the cheese not melted enough. My husbands dish was fair. He had the orchetti, sausage and broccoli rabe. It looked a bit brown but had flavor. Our friends the same but did not comment. The decor was simple but appealing and the bathrooms very clean. I may go back and give it another choice, but either so many Italian restaurants around, I'll probably go back to my favorite, especially since prices are just about all the same read more

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I wish Yelp allowed 1/2s because I would like to give this place a 3.5. I came here with my husband to celebrate our 4 year anniversary. First of all, it was SO pretty to see this place decorated inside and outside with Christmas lights. So beautiful! The prices are somewhat high so my husband and I stuck with the pasta dishes. It did seem like everything is made fresh though which was great. We had several servers come to our table and all of them were very nice and the service was extremely fast. We did not have any appetizers but for entrees, I ordered the Pasta Bolognese. My husband ordered the Gnocchi. They were both good, with a good portion as well. It wasn't too big, or too small. We also ordered dessert. My husband ordered the Mini Cannoli's, and I ordered the Toasted Almond Cake - both of these were great! They also threw in a complimentary fruits with whip cream on the side. With the exception of being a bit more pricy, it was still a good restaurant. Personally, I've just been to better. Would I come back? Probably not. Would I suggest it? Sure. I would definitely recommend reservations though. We did reservations and it was pretty busy so I was glad we did! read more

Previously a small cafe on Rt 9 in Howell they have moved North to Manalapan still on Rt 9 into a much larger space. Further they have a big outdoor dining area. We sat indoors and the room had a nice ambiance. Opting for just main dishes at this visit we were in and out of the place in about an hour. The service was alright but having to ask for certain things like bread we were a little put off. The food was very good however, please see my attached photos. So overall, not a bad dining experience and we will return again. read more

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What can i say about Ruocco's. We happened to be greeted by the owner at the front door with a smile. Our server was excellent and the Chicken Parm may have been the best I've ever had. I would highly recommend this restaurant for a couples night out or friends night. So happy a friend turned us on to this place. I'd give it 6 stars if I could. read more

Ruocco’s Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Manalapan, New Jersey

Everything here is delicious! I came on two separate occasions--once for a normal dinner and another time for Mother's Day. I ordered the pink panther both times and it is beyond delicious with a perfectly coated cutlet. I love chicken parm, but replacing marinara with vodka sauce is a game changer. Both times it didn't come with a lot of sauce, but we asked for a side of extra vodka sauce and they brought it out without a problem. On Mother's Day, they only had a limited menu available which my dad found disappointing, but their options were tasty nonetheless! Wished the pink panther came with a side of pasta instead of just vegetables. The orecchiette with sausage and broccoli rabe made up for the lack of pasta with my meal, packed with plenty of sausage and broccoli rabe. The arancini was my favorite appetizer, sooo cheesy. I love their dessert, the tiramisu and pistachio panna cotta were to die for. Friendly service and they are nice family-owned establishment. Our waiter on Mother's Day was so personable and hardworking. Something to note: They host events every so often like disco night which piqued the interest of my parents, so make sure to check their website for details. I highly recommend Ruocco's! read more

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One great place to have dinner & drinks. Can't wait to visit the Ruocco in Boynton Beach.

We have been there multiple times. Very consistent good food great service, and nice atmosphere. Their pricing is fair, considering portion quality and size. read more

I gotta say for my 400th review, Ruocco's did not disappoint. The pink panther knocked it out of the park, and I loved how they went easy on the sauce. I had zero heartburn after this meal. My wife had the lobster and shrimp ravioli. She absolutely loved it. We topped the night off with the almond cake, which put me into a direct food coma. Had a great experience overall. The food was great, service was great. Make sure to put your reservation online because this place gets packed. read more

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I recently went to dinner with the family and it was an amazing experience. Everyone enjoyed their meal and they were very accommodating to my daughter who has celiac disease. The service was top notch. For dessert we chose some type of fried zeppoles filled with chocolate and it was a great ending. I would definitely recommend this restaurant and I can't wait to go back. read more

First rate food & service. The owners are always out on the floor making sure everyone is enjoying their food. Music on Friday nights.

Best restaurant in Manalpan. The workers are professional, friendly, and take care of the patrons needs. The food is incredible, especially the fried calamari. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

I never thought the food was particularly good here, but this review is not about that. My wife has a sesame allergy and ended up in the hospital once. She asked the owner if their breadcrumbs contain sesame. He said: "Theyre 4C, they don't have sesame." Luckily, she knows that 4C does have sesame, and told him so. How irresponsible of the owner to answer the question without double checking! P.S. Not to mention that he uses a supermarket brand of breadcrumbs. read more

Had dinner there a few weeks ago. We were seated on time. The server was very knowledgeable. Our dinner was quite good. My only complaint was that we were served toasted bread. I think fresh bread would be more appropriate since this is an upscale restaurant. read more

Visiting the area for the week and the vote was for Italian. After some research we landed on Ruocco's. I called to see if they could accommodate a party of 4 in an hour and was told they are reservations only on weekends and we were able to secure a reservation. The chef really likes ricotta cheese, if you take a look at the photos you can see a big scoop of ricotta on the appetizers and the ricotta cheese with a side of gnocchi and braised short ribs as one of the entrées. The ricotta was good on the appetizers but there was too much and made the dish look clunky. The meatballs and Sicilian rice balls were great! We've never had Sicilian rice balls but I dig them. Way better than arancini because it's not deep fried. It's basically a meatball stuffed with rice. Wifey got the special pappardelle with smoked sausage, beans, and mushrooms. It was pretty good, maybe a little overly cheesy. The parents said the flounder was good but I thought it was supposed to be stuffed with crabmeat instead of topped with 5 pieces of lump crab. I'm not sure if the waitress made a mistake when she recited the specials or the kitchen made a mistake. The gnocchi was the least successful dish. The waitress said it is the most popular. Maybe it's just wasn't for me. The gnocchi was good but smothered in ricotta. It was too rich for me but the braised short rib was good. I was debating between this and the veal with vodka sauce but was coaxed since it is what they were known for. The restaurant is byob but they also serve wine by the pitcher or bottle. We got the blueberry sangria and it was really good. A pitcher yielded about 4 glasses. They have a credit card up charge of 4%, so pay with cash to save a little. Overall I would come here again,get the same appetizers but try different entrées. It does take some time for food to come out of the kitchen as everything is cooked to order. read more

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I have nothing but great things to say about Ruocco's. Family owned and it shows. They take pride in the meals they prepare. Just like mom used to make. I'm Italian and pretty picky about eating meatballs out, I mainly don't because they are too bready. BUT, these meatballs are amazing the flavor is fresh and tasty and meaty. The sauce, like it was freshly squeezed and cooked to perfection. Calamari, fresh, crisp and tender!! Pasta, fresh and perfectly aldente! We enjoyed everything about this meal from The fresh bread to the tiramisu. Putting that aside, the Servive was pretty great as well. The owners daughter was as sweet as they come and did her job very well!! read more

One of my favorite restaurants in my area. The owner was extremely welcoming and kind and the staff are very attentive! I love a family owned restaurant. His dad was there and we chat for bit, such a nice family. The waitress made excellent recommendations I loved my dish and the almond cake is Ahmazing! I wish them tons of benedizioni and grande successo in Florida! I will most definitely be back with my hubby, and will see you in Fla! Thank you famiglia Ruocco !!! read more

Ruocco’s Restaurant - chicken scallopini delicious!!! - Italian Near Me - Manalapan, New Jersey

FYI no liquor license but it's worth the trip for the food . Everything I tried was done to perfection. The staff was super nice and our waitress gave us great recommendations off the specials list . I enjoyed the atmosphere and will hopefully be back soon! read more

Ruocco’s Restaurant - Octopus salad - Italian Near Me - Manalapan, New Jersey

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It is such a warm and inviting atmosphere in this restaurant. I highly recommend it for anybody who wants to try something delicious in the area. read more

This place is soo underrated it's a damn shame. I'm hesitant about telling Yelp how good and inexpensive it is because I like getting a table without waiting. Once u try this place i personally guarantee (not money back guarantee ) u will come back. Tell me I'm wrong...I know I'm not. If u r a light eater like me, u will want the single empanada, yummy and about the size of a pierogie. Their soup is a meal in itself, my friend felt the soup was expensive...she's super cheap. I it's $5-6. Please leave us comments so I can c them. It is not fancy, they do not have a liquor license and I believe u can byob. Tell the owner Barbara sent u. He's a Good man. read more

as my boyfriend and i entered we were greeted immediately, the staff was great especially Olivia she was professional attentive and hospitable, we did get different servers so it was confusing but they were all great so no complaints, the restaurant was beautiful and the chefs special was delicious, i don't usually eat italian food but this was by far the best, we didn't get any refills on our drinks but that's the only thing I can say that was negative. read more

Ruocco’s Restaurant - chef - Italian Near Me - Manalapan, New Jersey

Went there last week for a birthday dinner. The staff is AMAZING, it feels like everyone is family, great ambiance, the owner was AWESOME and makes everyone feel seen and important. The food was as great as everything else. They also had a gentleman singing and he was absolutely wonderful, he sang beautifully and was super nice on top of it all. Love this place and can't wait to bring people with me. read more

great service, friendly and attentive staff. byob. portions were not over sized so you didn't feel over stuffed. family size ceasar salad was amazing read more

Ruocco’s Restaurant - Chicken Francese - Italian Near Me - Manalapan, New Jersey

Our first visit here after hearing good things from some friends. This is a locally owned business (not a fan of chain restaurants) and the space is inviting but a little bland. The lighting is a little too bright and sitting by the door exposes you to a nasty draft (they told us they were putting in a vestibule after requesting permission over a year ago - local rules???) A little noisy as well, but they could install some noise panels. The menu is fairly extensive with some daily specials. We started with Baked Clams (Excellent) and a nice sized side Caesar Salad. My wife had the Sachetti with Boscaiola Sauce and it was terrific. I chose Gnocci with Ricotta Cream Sauce that was terrific, as well. We both brought home leftovers as the portion sizes were large. No dessert for us that night and being BYOB is a definite plus. Definitely will go back for a reprise. read more

Ruocco’s Restaurant - Short ribs with gnocci - Italian Near Me - Manalapan, New Jersey

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I have so far ordered from and been here twice and I think that the food is good when you want simple Italian food. I liked my dish and the appetizer that we got but my boyfriend said that his crab tasted like it had been dead for too long. read more

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Great service and very nice people but I did not think the food was good. It's not terrible, but not great. Admittedly, I grew up in an Italian-American household so it is difficult to match mom's cooking. My expectations are never met. read more

I wish you were in Detroit Michigan. Best food and wonderful atmosphere. When we visit New Jersey it's a must I eat here

First impression was nice we were greeted quickly and by a friendly staff. We ordered the meatball appetizer, it was very good comes with 3 large meatballs it's enough to share. The stuffed rigatoni in vodka sauce was delicious and the pork chop with vinegar peppers with potato Crocketts was great as well. So happy a good restaurant finally found a home in this space. read more

Ruocco’s Restaurant - Pork Chop with Cherry Peppers - Italian Near Me - Manalapan, New Jersey

We ordered delivery from here the other night. There are a lot of solid italian food places in the area and this one is one of them. The eggplant parm was a massive portion first off. The eggplant is not mushy and fried just right which is key to the dish. It was really good. The Chicken franchese came hot even with delivery. The chicken was cooked perfectly with a lemony and eggy taste to it. The pasta was good as well. For starters wer had the Sicilian rice balls and they were good. You can tell they are a popular item here and I know why! They are filling so you probably can't eat more than one and a meal. Even though you will probably need to hit the treadmill it is worth it! Overall I would definitely come back. Portions and prices are right. The delivery comes to your house hot too! You can't go wrong here. Check it out! read more

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DISAPPOINTED. Felt like we were strangers dropping in a family's house. In other words, the servers seemed generally annoyed to be working this Sunday afternoon and the chef didn't appear have professional training. The Christmas music was blasted while we ate, and even though we asked politely to have it lowered it just got louder as the night went on...everyone/servers were shouting to hear the others at their tables. Disappointing menu choices and poorly seasoned/cooked food. We had four entrees and two appetizers, the CALAMARI was very good but all other dishes were below average in terms of quality/freshness/preparation when compared to local restaurants. We frequently eat Italian and consistently explore great restaurants all over NJ. We also realize that just one experience doesn't tell the whole story for every restaurant. Unfortunately this particular restaurant misses the mark on so many levels we can't recommend it, nor will we try it again. read more