Rocco's Italian Kitchen — Restaurant in South Bradenton

A Taste of Italy in Bradenton – Perfect Night at Rocco’s Italian Kitchen

We discovered this gem last night and so glad that we did! we had a wonderful dinner and pleasantly surprised to enjoy a jazzy violin player adding to the ambiance.

From the moment we walked into Rocco’s Italian Kitchen, we were transported straight to the heart of Italy. The ambiance is warm, charming, and authentically Italian – rustic brick accents, soft lighting, and a romantic, cozy vibe that sets the stage for an unforgettable dining experience.

We came with a large party of 18, which can often be a logistical nightmare at most restaurants, but the team at Rocco’s handled it flawlessly. From the warm greeting at the door to the seamless coordination of our orders, the service was impeccable. Every server was attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about the food and wine they were serving. Water glasses were never empty, plates were cleared promptly, and every request (and there were many!) was met with a smile.

To start, we enjoyed an amazing selection of appetizers – the calamari was crispy and tender, the bruschetta was piled high with fresh tomatoes and basil, and the italian eggrolls were packed with flavor. It was the perfect way to awaken the palate.

We had many pasta dishes, all wonderful. The highlight of the night was undoubtedly the tomahawk steak. Cooked to perfection – a beautiful crust on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside. It was served with a rich garlic butter that elevated every bite. The steak was large enough to share and became the talk of the table. Everyone who had a bite was blown away.

We also indulged in a bottle of Amarone, a bold and elegant red wine that paired beautifully with the steak and many of the pasta dishes on the table. The wine list is well-curated, and the staff made excellent recommendations to complement our meal.

Desserts were just as impressive – from creamy tiramisu to rich cannoli, each bite was indulgent and satisfying. No detail was overlooked.

It’s not easy to find a restaurant that can perfectly blend authentic Italian cuisine, top-tier service, and a welcoming ambiance for a large group, but Rocco’s absolutely nailed it. Whether you're on a romantic date or celebrating with a big group, this place is a must-visit in Bradenton. We will absolutely be back.

There is a small humidor there also to enjoy cigars after dinner outside on the patio. Bravo to Rocco’s and Cathy, great for the area and worth the trip.

Grazie, Rocco’s, for an unforgettable...

We’ve typically really enjoyed this restaurant and have referred it to others. However, for the first time ever this evening I felt that I had to express our disappointment with our experience here. It is Valentine’s Day and I made our reservations weeks ago. We show up and are eventually seated. Our waitress comes and introduces herself asks if we will be having the Valentine’s Day special to which we say yes. She asks if we will be having wine and we said yes we wanted the carafe that comes with the special. Then she says she is going to get a wine menu and that she will be back. Maybe 15-20 minutes go by and she comes back and says sorry for the wait and that she was waiting for bread to bring us and that it was being “sliced” and then disappeared again. She also did not have the wine list that she had originally said she was going to get. Mind you there was 4 of us, myself, my husband and my in-laws who were visiting from out of state and with whom we were excited to share one of our favorite places to eat. The manager (not our waitress) then comes over with 2 and 1/2 pieces of bread, clearly not even enough for four people to have one slice each. The. Another 15-20 minutes later our waitress comes back grabs the water bottle and says I’ll be right back with more water and my mother in law says no wait we would like to order before you disappear again. So she looks annoyed but says ok. She takes our order and says she will be right back with the wine and more water. Another 15-20 minutes later she says I’m here with your salad with no tomato and no olive…..we didn’t ask for a salad like that so we tell her that and she again looks annoyed and wanders away. She was walking by and my mother in law grabs her and my husband says where is our wine? She pulls the ticket from her pocket to look and he says you haven’t turned in our ticket yet? She stumbles over her words and finally admits that no she hadn’t but that she would put it in right away. My father in law chimes in and says “we’ve been here over an hour and a half and haven’t even gotten our wine yet.” She apologizes but at this point were all famished and frustrated so I stand up and say I think we’re just going to leave. Neither she nor the manager seemed too concerned that we were there an hour and a half and couldn’t even get drinks and that we walked out. I’m so disappointed 😔 I don’t think I’ll be going back or sending...

Posting this for my cousin whom I was with during this whole experience

Extremely Disappointing Experience – Poor Food, High Prices, and Rude Management

We came in as a party of 8, excited to enjoy what we hoped would be a great Italian meal. The restaurant was nearly empty, with only one other table seated, so we expected timely service. While our waitress was polite and professional, the food took an extremely long time to arrive.

Given the high prices, we had high expectations — and unfortunately, the experience didn’t come close. I ordered the $54 filet, which came with roasted potatoes and broccoli. The steak was ordered medium and came out well done. The vegetables were absolutely inedible — bland, overcooked, and just plain awful. My mother ordered a chicken dish that was completely raw in the center, topped with nothing more than melted cheese. Everyone else at the table had pasta, and not one dish had flavor. The tomato sauce was so watered down it was closer to soup than a proper sauce.

We asked to speak to the owner, who had introduced herself earlier and said to let her know if there were any issues. She never came to the table — instead, we saw her outside smoking cigarettes and drinking wine while all of this was going on. She never acknowledged the situation once. A male manager came out instead, and instead of trying to resolve the issue professionally, he was defensive and rude.

My food and my mother’s were eventually taken off the bill, but they still charged her $4 for a tea she wouldn’t even drink. After the checks were dropped off, other members of our party also asked to speak to the manager about their poor experience. When my 15-year-old daughter politely clarified something during the conversation, the manager basically told her to “shut up.” That was completely unacceptable, and at that point I had to step in. I’ve been a server in the same restaurant for 19 years, and there is absolutely no excuse for a guest — especially a child — to be spoken to like that.

The manager ended up discounting one more meal but never returned to the table. As we were leaving, we noticed him and several staff members sitting at the bar, all staring at us as we walked out. It felt childish, petty, and hostile.

Save your money, your time, and your dignity — eat literally anywhere else. This restaurant is overpriced, flavorless, and completely unprofessional from top to...