<div id="c3be0912bb716eee4ca644c1dfc4ecde4"></div>There’s no doubt that almost everyone is familiar with the Michelin Man, he’s on tires all across the country, carrying the face of the Michelin brand in the automotive industry. But this tire guy has something else up his imaginary sleeve.
The Michelin Man is also the face behind the famous Michelin Star rating given to well deserving and prestigious restaurants around the world. The star stands as a symbol of elevated experience, delectable cuisine and top-notch service — I mean, who doesn’t love all of those things?!
It all adds up to one of the most romantic restaurants in Tampa Bay.
Rocca’s Delicious Truth
While Tampa is a growing city, so far only five restaurants in the area have been awarded the honor of a Michelin Star, Rocca is one of those restaurants. With many of their dishes on the menu ranging between $20-30, and a few selections available for market or premium prices, I would say this restaurant is on the reasonable end of Michelin Star costs.
The low-light atmosphere, gallery wall style decor, and ornamental plants created a young, vibrant atmosphere while still replicating the comfort of home. The soft lighting provided for a more intimate meal in the late evening hours once the sun began to set.
the most important part of the evening, the food.
From the tableside Mozzarella Cart to the handmade pasta, Rocca’s menu features Italian fare in several appetizers—good for sharing—and well-portioned entrees. The menu mostly stays the same with one or two changes or additions between occasional months.
Upon being seated we were promptly greeted by our waitress, who explained that a few of the menu items had run out for the evening before we began making our selections. Rocca takes the entire table’s order, including drinks, appetizers and entrees, to ensure the pacing of the meal is satisfactory.
As far as drink options, Rocca boasts a full bar, extensive Italian wine list and a specialty cocktail menu that also changes on occasion. I selected the Rocca House Punch, a rum based drink with many sweet notes, one being peach tea. The drink was well balanced with a presentation that was simple yet elegant.
For starters we selected the Bread, Little Gem Salad, and Crudo. Personally, I would say all of Rocca’s starter sizes are quite generous and plenty to share with 2-3 people if the table orders more than one dish.
The Bread appetizer features two pieces of focaccia and two pieces of sourdough with lemon butter on the side. New to my palate was Crudo. Rocca's Crudo features Hamachi fish, green tomato, crème fraiche, jalapeño and seagrape. Together, all of the elements mixed well while also being able to pinpoint the slight spice from the jalapeño and the saltiness and crunch of the seagrape.
Overall, the Crudo was a pleasantly light starter. A salad is usually my appetizer of choice, and the Little Gem Salad was the perfect refreshing shareable for our table of three.
For entrees we selected four dishes, the Tagliolini al Ragu, Raviolini del Plin, Agnolotti and a secret Carbonara that isn’t actually listed on Rocca’s menu. Each handmade pasta had amazing and distinct flavors with a few unique textures mixed in.
The Tagliolini al Ragu reminded me of a secret Italian red sauce pasta recipe handed down through generations. The Raviolini del Plin had a veal filling that was very mild in flavor and paired well with demi glace sauce. For those who enjoy a bit of spice, the Agnolotti came with a small kick from the Salame calabrese ricotta filling. The soft, filled pillows contrasted perfectly with a sprinkling of toasted garlic bread crumbs on top.
Now, Carbonara is probably a dish most everyone is familiar with, however, I would rank this among the top Carbonara dishes I’ve ever had! The pancetta was crispy while the sauce was perfectly creamy without becoming gooey.
For dessert, we selected the Strawberry Sorbetto and the Chocolate Custard. Both were outstanding! The Strawberry Sorbetto was light, sweet, and refreshing, and the presentation was stunning.
I highly recommend the Chocolate Custard for any coffee lover. With hazelnuts, espresso, and pizzelle, this dessert was rich, decadent, and perfect for sharing between a pair.
If you’re not sure what to order, ask your server. They are well studied and will make recommendations based off of a few personal preferences or allergens.
Is THere a dress code at rocca?
While there isn't a strict dress code at Rocca, I would recommend business casual at the very least, I mean who doesn't love dressing up for a night out?
Know before you go
When planning your delicious evening, there are some things to consider.
PARKING: There is no official parking lot attached to Rocca, but there is a dirt parking lot just across the street. Parking in the lot is available for free, Monday through Friday until 4 p.m. Outside of those hours you can pay digitally from your phone, just find one of the parking signs and follow the directions for payment. Metered street parking is available; however, these spaces are enforced seven days a week, 8 a.m. to midnight.
RESERVATIONS:Reservations for Rocca are highly recommended as limited walk-in bar seating is available. For weekend dining I would suggest making reservations plenty ahead of time as the weekend reservations can fill up quickly, especially if it’s a holiday weekend.
When making a reservation, be aware that some dishes have limited availability for the day, and anyone with a late evening reservation may find a selection or two unavailable. My group has had reservations around 8 p.m. both times we visited, and each time the Dry Aged Rohan Duck was unavailable. The duck is noted as having limited availability on the menu.
Rocca
Address: 323 W. Palm Ave. in Tampa Heights.
Hours: Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m.-10 p.m.
Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 5 p.m.-9 p.m., closed on Mondays.
*All images by Hailea Boykin