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Have you ever left a restaurant and found yourself licking your fingers in the car ride home because the food was so good?
That is what I caught myself doing after dining at Ruocco’s Pizzeria and Restaurant.
The night started out with the typical Tuesday night dilemma. Tired, hungry, cold, and desperate for something warm and delicious to fill the void. Limited time to choose a restaurant before the man gets impatient and decides to throw it in.
Not willing to settle on an average bowl of pasta which I could cook better myself for a ridiculous $32 in the Claremont area, we headed south to the hidden gem of South Terrace, Fremantle. South Terrace is pocketed with casual, warm restaurants, full of people from all walks of life.
Ruocco’s epitomises the traditional family Italian restaurant. Kinda kitsch, walking in you are flooded with the warmth and smell of pizza cranking in the woodfired over; look around and see Frescos of the Amalfii coast, and homemade tiramisu and sticky pudding in the dessert cabinet.
The menu is simple which is what I love in an Italian restaurant. All the classics: pizza, pasta, carne. And the prices are very reasonable: average around $15 for a pasta or pizza, $19 for steak.
The food was sensational: unassuming, uncomplicated and simply delicious.
Had to wait for a while to order –service was slow, but Danny and I chatted and took in the warm, relaxed atmosphere while enjoying a glass of the Outboack Chase Cabernet Sauvignon from Coonawarra in south Australia. Not bad for only $4.50 a glass
We started with some garlic bread ($3.50 for 4 slices).
Sometimes we get the bruschetta which is great - lots of galic, roughly chopped tomato, parsley. Drizzled with olive oil. Yum.
The mains arrived and were more than generous. I had a large chilli mussels ($13 small, $19 large), and Danny had the penne picante ($14). An entrée would have been ample for both.
The mussels were exactly what I was craving – tasty, traditional tomato sugo, freshened with some finely chopped parsley. Not trying to complicate things by adding too many ingredients. Just enjoying the taste of the local Fremantle mussels and the fresh tomato. The mussels were served with a crusty thin loaf don’t know what its called but it was warm and delicious.
The penne picante was fresh but a little overpowering with the sausage. It was demolished very quickly though and Dan sat and watched me as I ate every last mussel, savouring every mouthful.
No room for dessert we paid only $44.50 for this most enjoyable evening.
Of course, Ruocco’s is famous for its pizzas and I have tried the calzone on another occasion and it certainly lives up to the expectations. Very large, beautiful dough, full of meat. Yum!
Food: 3.5 stars
Wine: 2.5 stars
Service: 2 stars
Ambience: 3 stars
Price: 5 stars
Overall: 3.5 stars
Unfortunately since this review I have revisisted Ruocco’s and the chilli mussels were a little watery - I like it when they are served in a thick, rich tomato sugo. I will visit again soon and let you know if the good mussels are back..
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