Rocco's — Restaurant in Houston

There are definitely better places in Houston to enjoy a meal.

If I had to sum up my recent experience at Rocco Italian in Houston, I'd have to advise against stopping by. I ordered online, hoping for a quick and tasty meal while in town for work, but ended up regretting my choice.

I ordered a small Mista salad, with some arugula mixed in, and the chicken piccata, requesting angel hair pasta as a substitute. Despite the app saying the food would be ready in about 25 minutes, they didn’t even accept my order from the online platform and start preparing it until after I arrived, 14 minutes after I ordered it.

My Mista salad wasn't what I envisioned at all. A few mushy and not at all appetizing cherry tomatoes, some Kalamata olives and absolutely zero Romain lettuce, it was only arugula. The Roasted Red Pepper vinaigrette was tasty, yes, but definitely not a good match with just arugula.

The chicken piccata wasn't much better. The pasta was overwhelmingly lemony, which overshadowed the few capers that were in it. The chicken itself was dry, chewy, and very bland—hardly what you’d hope for at any price, let alone for what they charged.

I also asked if they had any bread, and I was told I'd get some rolls with my meal. These turned out to be a big letdown—they were obviously reheated, most likely in a microwave as they were hard on the bottom, and overly soft on top, with a Thanksgiving stuffing-flavored butter that was way too strong in sage and thyme. Needless to say, they were inedible and ended up in the trash.

The ambiance of the place had a hipster dive bar feel, which was ok. However, the staff weren't welcoming at all, barely acknowledging me except when handing over my food.

In summary, the food didn't live up to what I ordered or expected, and certainly wasn't worth the $23.81 I paid. The vibe of the place might be okay, but the unfriendly service and the poor quality of the food make it hard...

This place knows his to satisfy a craving for Italian!

A small indoor dining area with extra seating on a covered patio area, a relaxed and almost-cozy atmosphere created by some quaint-looking decor, and really amazing food is what you'll find here to make this restaurant your go-to Italian in the area.

We've had the Marsala twice now, as well as the Linguine Alla Norma and the Rigatoni Vodka Sauce, and none have been disappointing in the least. The spinach and artichoke dip is one of the best we've had, and we'd love to steal the recipe!

We've had the caprese and mista salads, and both were fresh and wonderful. The chocolate mousse has been our finishing touch twice now, and we've been happy with it.

One thing we both feel could be improved upon are that the chicken in the Marsala dish has been slightly tough/dry both times we had the dish. (I know we said the dish was not disappointing in the least, but we're talking about the sauce, which to my partner, is really the most important part of the dish!) It's not bad, just could be better. The second - and last - improvement would be a very minor tune up in service. The servers who have taken care of us have been very friendly and helpful! There were just a couple of hiccups on our visits, such as leaving me on hold when I call until the phone drops the call, not offering to take our names to reserve a table when we ask if there's a wait (and the first time, we were lucky to grab a spot, really - but I recognize this may not be policy, so tell us if that's the case), and ensuring your guests don't let their drinks run out. They are quick to remedy the last issue when we mention it. Those are simply recommendations to make this restaurant 5 star worthy to me!

My partner and I love this place for a great Italian date night, and we'll be back. If you want a relaxed evening with amazing food, give this...

Edited review - 2nd attempt at this place and called 3 times to place an order - NO ONE PICKS UP! Terrible

Rocco’s has such a super cute and cozy ambiance — it’s definitely the kind of spot where you can dress up a little for a fun date night without it feeling too formal. The pizza was tasty, and the mid-range price point makes it a great option for a relaxed yet slightly elevated evening out.

A few notes that could enhance the experience even more: • The Alfredo sauce could be richer and more flavorful — right now it’s a bit light for those who love a creamy sauce. • Please, add hot sauce to the tables! I get the local flavor vibe, but a little spice option would be a welcome touch. • There is a kids’ menu and dessert, but you have to ask the waitress to find out what’s available. It would be so much better (and easier for families and planners) if those were listed directly on the menu.

Overall, a really charming spot with great potential. With just a few small tweaks, it could become a top local favorite for both date nights and casual...