Tucci's Pizza — Restaurant in Boca Raton

Where to start? This was a fantastically miserable experience that ended in our cancelling the order before it arrived. Tucci's approach to service is disastrous to put it mildly. I've worked many years in the restaurant business as a waiter and there are basic standards to running a decent (forget successful) restaurant and this place has none of it. The guy in charge was also the host and was unhelpful from the minute we put our name on the list.

As we sat and waited, I couldn't help but notice a 4-top sitting vacant on the patio for at least 10 minutes. No one came to set the table and get it ready for the next party. Finally I asked the host what the story was and he told me we were next for a table inside but was pretty rude about it. I could sense the service wasn't right at this point-this guy was running the restaurant. We sat ourselves at the table and then waited well over 5 minutes before even being approached by anyone. At that point I had the entire order for our waiter.

When he came back and brought a taste of a wine for my wife, he actually called her "baby". I couldn't believe my ears. I'm sure it was a slip but this was beyond belief. He seemed nervous after saying it like it accidentally slipped out. What was that???

Eventually our "tower" arrived, which is a caprese type salad, a stack of tomato and mozzarella with EVO and a balsamic reduction. A girl sets the plate down on the table and it topples over, touching the table. She quickly picked it up and reset it and said "oh, that was close good thing I caught it in time". In the meantime, there's a small pool of balsamic on the table, proof that she didn't "catch it in time".

My wife was livid. She took the plate straight to the kitchen and let them know what happened. They turned to make her a new one but her fuse was burnt. I let the "host' know our stay there was done. I explained what had happened and he replied "mistakes happen". I let him know it wasn't the mistake but how it was handled. I then added that his waiter had called my wife "baby" and that his hosting skills left something to be desired. I told him I needed to square up. Our kids had shared a root beer and I'd ordered a beer. He gave me a bill that included the "tower" that we hadn't touched, saying (one minute after it was returned) that they'd already made another.

I let him know I wasn't going to be paying for it and left money for the drinks. Bottom line: this is a crappy and poorly run wannabe Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza. In fact the whole menu is basically mimicing Anthony's. A joke, nothing more. All I can say is...

We hadn't really planned on having pizza, but you know how it is when you only had a fiber bar for breakfast and you walk past a place that smells like fresh pizza. This time, it was more than we could do to keep going. It just smelled too good.

We went in and the place was empty. I'm always a bit wary of an empty restaurant right at lunch time. This seems to be a later eating area, as it was nearly full by the time we were done. It was dark and cozy, with lots of wood and the big brick oven. Everything was very clean and the staff was friendly and welcoming.

We have to stick with really inexpensive places to eat, and noticed that the small pizza was $12. That seemed pretty steep for a small pizza with only two toppings. What we found out was that the small pizza was a full 14 inches. So we ordered our wine and a small meatball and sausage pizza.

When it said "house wine," we thought we were going to get whatever came out of a big box. I was surprised when we were given a choice of several wines. We settled on the merlot. I was a bit taken aback when it came out of the fridge. I figured we were not off to a stellar start. So, we held the glasses for a while, encouraging them to warm up. As you know, that doesn't take too long in So. FL. When they got closer to the proper temperature for a red wine, I took a sip. This was a really nice red wine! It was very smooth, with no hint of bite. The serving of wine was also a nice size, especially for a free serving. It wasn't the inch of wine in the bottom of a big glass, but probably 8 oz. So we were happy campers.

It didn't take too long to get our pie, straight from the big brick oven. In spite of the fact that there were only two toppings, it was nicely covered with meat. Both the meatballs and the sausage were very tasty, nicely spiced and not too salty. The sauce was a perfect blend of tomatoes and herbs and was spread in just the right amount over the crust. The only thing that needed improvement was the crust. It was nice and thin, and well baked, but not as crispy as it should have been. It was a bit on the limp side. We each had two big slices and still had two to take home.

Other than the pizza crust and the having to wait for the wine to warm up, I have no complaints about this cute little place. It was well...

🌟 Tucci’s – a Taste of Italy in Florida 🌟

On a friend’s recommendation, I decided to visit Tucci’s, and I’m convinced the name wasn’t chosen by chance. The owner was likely inspired by Stanley Tucci, the Golden Globe-winning actor and renowned culinary enthusiast. This cozy and welcoming spot instantly makes you feel at home. Despite the chilly weather, the warm atmosphere made up for it. The young man at the reception, though asking us to wait 10 minutes, seated us in just 3-4. The staff was all smiles – friendly, energetic, and attentive – adding to the overall charm.

📜 The menu is short but brilliantly crafted. 🍕 Tucci Margherita Pizza – thin, crispy crust, plenty of cheese, and a rich tomato sauce. Una vera pizza italiana! 🍖 Meatballs – two large, juicy meat patties, sliced in half, topped with a flavorful sauce and a generous layer of cheese. Delizioso – highly recommend! 🍗 Chicken wings – seasoned with fragrant herbs, crispy fried onions, and garlic. The first batch was slightly overcooked – maybe the chef was distracted by a bella ragazza in the dining room (just kidding! 😄) – but the re-order was spot on: juicy and perfectly spiced. Bravo!

👨‍🍳 It’s clear that the owner, a charming Italian named Alberto, knows his craft. The price-to-quality ratio is on par with what you’d find in Italy – slightly higher, but absolutely worth it. The kids loved it, which is always a good sign!

👍 Tucci’s is definitely a place worth revisiting. Highly recommended, especially if you’re dining with bambini. Grazie e alla prossima! 🇮🇹

P.S. It would be great if the menu included a truffle pizza and a separate pear pizza. I’m sure both would be a hit! 🍕👌 It would also be amazing to see burrata with truffle on the menu – that would definitely become a...