Ruffinos Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria — Restaurant in Port Saint Lucie

Worst experience we’ve ever had. I am shocked this restaurant has a 4.3 rating. The utensils and plates were absolutely disgusting and it is a shame the employees are okay serving people with these in that condition. Our waitress, which I will keep her name private, was okay but didn’t pay much attention to us. We felt that she did the bare minimum while taking care of us. The food was subpar and didn’t have much flavor. The cuisine was about as “Italian” as Carrabba’s, if not worse. If you like Golden Corral quality food, then this is the place for you. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY HERE. I would highly recommended going somewhere authentic like Gigi’s.

Edit: we never even talked to the server about the terrible food. We talked to the busser who was very nice and way more attentive. We never said the mussels were “mushy”, just flavorless but still edible. Again, I never complain and if you check my review history you will see that. Me being pregnant has nothing to do with how terrible your food is. The silverware was disgusting and had to be sent back, the veal dish was also subpar and had a hair in it, and the risotto was extremely mushy and the scallops literally were so bad that they had to be spit out. 2 other people tried the dish and couldn’t even handle how awful it was. My 3 year old took some spaghetti home, but no one else took a single thing because all of our food was not good. We weren’t wanting to complain about everything and only brought up one dish that was inedible. The way you handled the situation was extremely disappointing.. especially when it is Mother’s Day and I was crying because I felt bad complaining and you were being extremely rude to us. I was very nice the whole time and only asked for the one meal to be taken off. The conversation you put in your response quite literally...

Some places do more than just serve food—they remind you why food matters in the first place. Ruffino’s in Port St. Lucie is one of those places. Nearly 40 years in business, owned by people who actually know what they’re doing—because they’re from Italy, because this isn’t a gimmick, because this is what they were born to do.

Walk in, and it’s not just a restaurant. It’s a home. The kind of place where the smell of garlic and simmering tomato sauce hits you like a warm embrace. Where the clatter of silverware, the hum of conversation, and the occasional burst of laughter remind you that this is what dining was meant to be—unpretentious, comforting, real.

The food? Exactly as it should be. The chicken parm? A masterpiece—crispy, golden, smothered in sauce that actually tastes like tomatoes, not some over-processed nonsense. The kind of dish that makes you rethink every mediocre version you’ve ever had. And then there’s the tiramisu—not just good. The best. Velvety, rich, with just the right hit of espresso, like a love letter to indulgence.

And speaking of espresso—this is how you end a meal. Fresh Italian coffee, bold and strong, served the way it should be. No fancy foam art, no syrupy nonsense. Just the real thing. Paired with homemade desserts that transport you straight to a café in Rome, where time slows down and life just makes sense.

Ruffino’s isn’t just a restaurant—it’s a reminder that the best meals aren’t about trends or Instagrammable plates. They’re about family, tradition, and food made with actual love. If you haven’t been here yet, fix that...

We’ve been going to Ruffino’s for years, and their extensive menu is an Italian food lover’s utopia. The only dish I wasn’t terribly impressed with was their eggplant parmesan, and the server was very gracious when I asked to return the dish for something different. This time I ordered a beautiful alfredo dish that has become my favorite. My family and I will indulge ourselves every week with a big pizza pie, crispy crust,(take-out) and it’s always done to perfection. A family owned business with consistently great food for a moderate price. On an average, and this is a generalization, two people can order two appetizers and entree’s, a bottle of house wine and two desserts for under $100. and I can’t complain about that, as it’s consistently delicious and I always leave with leftovers that take care of lunch the next day. So all in all, with the number of years I’ve been a faithful Ruffino’s follower who’s tried just about everything on their menu (no squid), their service, their timeliness in bringing appetizers, soup/salad and entree, you’re not left sitting, waiting and wondering why your there. Ruffino’s is a solid 5 star establishment, and they work hard to assure the customers satisfaction, 100%. Kudos to the dedicated crew who make this one of the best Italian...