Rocco's Plum Tomato - The Original

We have been going to Rocco's at their Islington Avenue location for many years and just recently started visiting their original location on the Queensway. Rocco's original restaurant does not have a whole lot of street appeal. The facade appears somewhat aged and tired and certainly does not project an air of a Michelin starred restaurant. But looks can be deceiving. Inside the restaurant is that home-like, Art Nouveau, comfortable feel that is ready to transport you to a gastrointestinal experience filled with joy. The food is prepared by Chef Rocco who has been cooking practially all his life. The food is fresh, highly flavourful, exquisitely presented, and the portion sizes are very generous. Customer service is exceptional. At Roccos, you are treated like family. Staff are jovial, very friendly, they take the time to get to know you and really know how to deliver that personal touch that is so sadly missing in many restaurants today. The restaurant does get very busy during dinner times, and especially on weekends and special occasions like Mother's Day, so reservations are definitely recommended. It should also be noted that Rocco's has a wing of the restaurant dedicated for take out. The only real con we could identify is the restroom. Located in the basement, the stairwell leading to the restroom is somewhat narrow and steep and is most likely something that some people who generally frequent restaurants are not used to. The bottom line is that Rocco's delivers excellent value for the money, fantastic home-style cooking that will keep you coming back for more, and super customer service that makes you feel like your coming home to spend time with family.

August 13, 2024 on Google

Small feel restaurant. Giovanni, our waiter was great. Knowing and friendly. The bathroom stairs were very steep, so be aware of that. Almost dropped a star for that, but that was the only concern. Thanks for a great dining experience.

July 25, 2024 on Google

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐From the moment we walked in, the warmth and friendliness of the staff made us feel right at home. We started our meal with a flavorful eggplant cheese plate that was a delightful introduction to what was to come. For our main courses, we chose two different pizzas, each boasting a perfect crust and generous toppings that were both fresh and satisfying. The calamari was crispy and tender—a real treat! But the standout was undoubtedly the shrimp and scallop pasta, richly flavored and served in a hearty portion that promised a fulfilling meal.Every dish was a testament to authentic, homemade Italian cooking, earning this restaurant a well-deserved five stars from us. This is definitely a place to visit if you're craving Italian food done right. Don't miss out on this local gem!

April 14, 2024 on Google

This is our Favorite restaurant we love it everytime delicious meals great taste and always try something new and every time the taste is awesome. One of our favorite dishes are the veal picata and the spaghetti with shrimp and the calamari always perfect and crispy with the sauce omg fabulous . The veal sandwich is one of the best dish and you wont regret it . The creamy chicken omg delicious, The complementary bread taste great all the dishes are a party in your mouth. Best restauran ever.

February 28, 2024 on Google

Came here on a weekday night for dinner, it was pretty empty so lots of seats available. Interior has lots of decor and the restaurant is deceptively big on the inside. Tried the seafood risotto and veggie rigatoni with grilled eggplant. Both excellent entrees, with the shrimp being especially juicy. Our server was really nice and the food was delicious. Ive heard their sandwiches are amazing as well.

June 22, 2023 on Google

The food was delicious and our actual server was very professional. Unfortunately our experience being seated was so unpleasant that I can't rate this experience higher than 3 stars. We called a couple of days beforehand to make a reservation and confirmed over the phone that we could reserve a table on the patio. We also spoke to someone the day of and again confirmed that the reservation was for the patio. When we arrived they were obviously short staffed and someone from back of house decided to seat us. He insisted that they didn't take reservations for the patio and he made a big fuss about trying to fit us in. At the time there were quite a few open tables on the patio, so if seating was first come first serve it shouldn't have been a problem anyway. There was also a "Reserved" card on one of the patio tables (presumably put there by another staff member for us). For the entire 2 hours it took to have our meal, that reserved table sat empty. He had no problem seating other people who arrived shortly after us on the patio. It felt like because we weren't regulars or the typical demographic for the restaurant he didn't want to waste a good table on us. It's a shame because the rest of our dining experience was quite nice. The pasta with rose sauce is fantastic, and our actual server was very polite and knowledgeable about the menu. The patio is quite pretty if they will let you sit there.

June 17, 2023 on Google

Family party of 10 (with kids age 2 and 10). Visited Jan 27 for my birthday dinner. Food was amazing!!!! Flavours were so good, pasta was cooked just right, everything was delicious. Especially liked the farfalle pasta, seabass, lobster spaghettini, penne alla vodka & spaghetti bolognese. Kid's size pasta portion was very generous. Pricing is decent for what you get. We haven't been to Rocco's for almost 20 years and coming back again definitely did not disappoint. They haven't changed their quality of food, just as great as we remembered it to be. Service from Giovanni was wonderful. He was very accommodating to all our requests. Location is great and easy to access. Street and plaza parking available. Highly recommend.

March 7, 2023 on Google

Homey feel of being back at Nonnas for Sunday brunch. Fresh produce, perfectly grilled meats, and superb service. That first bite gave me a flood of memories of coming to a home cooked meal. Absolutely 💯 recommend Always the same great value and impeccable flavour! Roccos does it again with a great meal. Look at the size of this sandwich! Omglob so freakin good!

September 9, 2022 on Google