Rocca Tampa
Nestled in the lively Tampa Heights district, we found a bit of the Old World. Handmade pastas and family recipes are a short walk from Armature Works and Tampa’s Riverwalk. Take a step inside Rocco, named for a the family that Rocco’s Owner and Chef Bryce Bonsack lived and worked with in Italy, while learning about Italian food and culture. Under the direction of Bonsack, Rocca offers a simple menu filled with tantalizing dishes of delicious starters, fresh pastas, meats and fish.
We began our meal with an order of the calamari that was crispy and prepared salt and pepper style with pieces of jalapeño and a tomato passato for dipping. For the ultimate dining experience, be sure to order the Mozzarella Cart. Prepared tableside, the server pours steaming hot water into mozzarella curds and mixes it together until it forms the most tasty and savory cheese. The cheese is then cut and placed on to a delicious plate of heirloom tomatoes, fresh basil and topped with aged balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil. It’s perfect to share with four people, or you can always take the remaining salad home.
The pasta is the true hero on the menu and there is a selection of fresh, handmade pastas. We had the Tagliolini al Ragu that was pasta topped with beef ragu, basil and 30 month aged parmigiana. The portion is certainly large enough to share. For meat lovers there is Bistecca, a 20 oz. prime ribeye or for fish try the Branzino served with roasted potatoes, olives and pine nuts.
If you saved room for dessert, the menu offers several flavors of gelato and sorbett. We finished our meal with the delicious Burnt Cheesecake and a tasty expresso martini.
The bar area offers open seating with a great menu of hand-crafted cocktails, along with an impressive selection of wines by the glass or bottle. The decor is clean and simple, offering an inviting seat at the table with dishes that are fresh and flavorful. If you haven’t been to Rocco yet, make a reservation, and savor the taste at this gem of an Italian restaurant. M
Rocca Tampa
323 West Palm Avenue
Tampa, FL 33602
Open Tue. – Sun. at 5 p.m.
813.906.5445
www.roccatampa.com
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