Italian

Pellegrino’s Ristorante (Boca Raton)

Posted on December 11th, 2011 · Boca Raton Italian

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***** Pellegrino’s Ristorante, 3360 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton, Florida 33431, (561) 368-5520.

Back on July 7, 2008 I did a “review” on a terrific Italian restaurant—Pellegrino’s Ristorante located in Deerfield. Here’s the original story…

Pellegrino’s Ristorante (Deerfield Beach)
Posted on July 7th, 2008 · Deerfield Beach Italian ·
***** Pellegrino’s Ristorante, 847 SE 8th Avenue, Deerfield Beach, Florida 33441 (954) 418-0611.

Pellegrino’s Ristorante is a white table cloth-hole in the wall Italian joint located in a non-descript Deerfield Beach strip shopping center. This is one of the best Italian Restaurants in South Florida, so make sure that your GPS system is working…so that you can find it.

Take a look at Pellegrino’s website at www.pellegrinosrestaurant.com for menu details. Also take a look at the joint’s history and picture gallery. In the “history” you will find that Bobby Pellegrino (Pellegrino’s owner) is a nephew of the owners of Harlem’s world-famous Rao’s Restaurant. Folks who have eaten at Rao’s have told me that the Pellegrino’s and Rao’s food is very similar as is the total dining decor/ambiance. All I can tell you (having never eaten at Rao’s) is that Pellegrino’s sets the right mood, that being that you are eating at a family run NYC Italian joint circa 1950 by having an old juke box playing doo wop records when you enter the joint.

I have eaten in Pellegrino’s exactly 4 times. The food is absolutely terrific… delicious veal chop valdostano, veal parmigiana, shrimp scampi, zuppa di pesce.

Like I said before, this joint is a hole-in-the-wall, so you are going to need a reservation. As for pricing, this joint ain’t cheap…but “you get what you pay for.”

Pellegrino’s is open Tuesday-Sunday for dinner…closed on Monday.
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Let me update this one for you guys.

Pellegrino’s which originally opened in Deerfield in 1999 closed in April, 2010. About a week ago-the joint re-opened finding a new home in Boca Raton. Last night, I gave the “Boca” Pellegrino’s a try. The only difference between the “versions” is locations and the fact that the Boca spot is a drop larger and has a nice sized outdoor patio for dining. The food like before- was delicious, the service was good, the prices are still a “drop” on the high side–but nothing that’s gonna kill anyone or chase you away. The old juke box wasn’t there, but Bobby Pellegrino assuerd me that in coming days it was going to be installed.

Let me sum this one up for you, Pellegrino’s is one of the best Italian restaurants in South Florida.

Like I said a few seconds ago, Pellegrino’s has only been open a week or so (as a matter of fact, its website www.pellegrinosofboca.com is still basically under-construction)—for sure it’s got a few bugs to workout, but the bet here–there will soon be lines trying to get in.

Pellegrino’s is open Tuesday-Saturday for dinner, closed on Monday.

27 Comments to “Pellegrino’s Ristorante (Boca Raton)”

  1. EVERYMAN says...

    food is very good.
    as you indicated a bit pricey.
    fully orders of pasta at $23-$24 too small for the money.
    house sald at $9 to expensive.
    1 meatball appetizer for $8 too high.
    food is good but dishes here and there are too much.

  2. Jon Greenberg says...

    From: Jon Greenberg
    Subject: new place in town

    Message Body:
    Gamaroff’s at 100 S. Federal Hyw. Hallandale Beach, FL. 33009
    The place just opened about a month ago. They are primarily a steak place. It’s outrageous they have a 16oz prime rib at $12.95 and a bone in 32oz at $24.95. I’m telling you it’s just as good or better in my opinion as any upscale steak house. Check the web site http://WWW.gamaroffs.com it casual great service. This place is a must go!!!

  3. Nat says...

    Jeff,
    i’ve eaten in the deerfield restaurant several times. the food was always delicious. you are 100% correct that some items are a bit on the high side.
    with that in ,mind, if readers watch what they order, they will be just fine, but the pasta portions aren’t overly generous.
    i enjoyed deerfield and will definitely try boca.

  4. Marty Kramer says...

    Pellegrino’s owner is a nephew of Rao’s owners.
    Bobby Pellegrino did a great job in Deerfield. He was in a really bad location but was packed every night.
    The key was really good food.
    No question the food is a bit on the expensive side but nothing major.
    A group of us recently ate in the new spot. It’s bigger and has a great patio.
    The menu is basically the same.
    The food is as good and Bobby is the same character that he was in Deerfield.
    Got to agree with Jeff that Boca is going to love Pellegrino’s. The new location is right next door to Gary Woo’s on Fed Hwy so it’s real easy to find.
    Try this joint you will enjoy it.

  5. frank w says...

    We’ve eaten at the Deerfield location many times and always found the food and atmosphere to be perfect. It is a bit pricey but in this case you get what you pay for.

  6. Karen says...

    You forgot to mention the chef, Tony Taliercio from La Stella of Forest Hills, New York and Sunrise ,Florida is
    there. Veal ala Stella is the best!

    • Joey R. says...

      Karen, is this the same guy?

      La Stella South Restaurant (Sunrise)
      Posted on December 27th, 2006 · Italian Sunrise
      ***** La Stella South Restaurant
      3801 North University Drive
      Sunrise, Florida 33321
      (954) 748-4788

      Let me start by saying, that La Stella is one of just a handful of restaurants in South Florida, that I will actually “discard” my shorts for and put on a pair of pants, in order to “go” eat. Now don’t get me wrong, this neighborhood hole-in-the wall joint, is not the most fancy joint in the world, but I think that its decor-food-service warrant my “gussing-up” a bit.

      The food in this Southern Italian Restaurant is terrific. I recently had a stuffed veal chop valdostanta that was as good as any that I have ever eaten. This joint makes some absolutely delicious pastas, fish and meat main dishes. I have eaten in this joint three times and steak pizzaiola and lobster tail fra diavolo entrees were delicious. Just so you know, all entrees come with a soup or salad and a pasta side. La Stella’s prices are “give or take” a few dollars more than the local mom and pop joints that dot the South Florida landscape.

      La Stella is open Saturday-Sunday for dinner. Try this joint, it is an absolute “gem.”

      Joey R.

  7. Karen says...

    Yes it is…

  8. LYNN R. says...

    i at in la stealla’s about 10 years ago. as a matter of fact i must have eaten there 5 times.the food was excellent. havent been there in years because i moved up to the boca area and it was a big trip.
    now that i’ve read jeff’s review and karen’s info i’m definitely going to get over to pellegrino’s.

  9. JOE K. says...

    Jeff, I ate at Pellegrino’s. The food was excellent. I found the prices especially in the pastas to be very high. Come on! $23 for a not so big ziti with marinara sauce? My veal parm was delicious same for the yellowtail snapper my wife had. also the 8 bucks for a small meatball was not a great value, shall we say.
    next time we go we’ll know better how to order, but the food was really delicious.

  10. AlSoto says...

    Tony is the best!. Karen’s right about the Veal ala Stella too.

  11. benny says...

    food is ok but nothing great

  12. MARLO says...

    didnt like it when it was in deerfield. it was also very expensive for what they gave you. maybe boca is better.

  13. sophia says...

    Heard That Chef Luigi from the original Pelligrino’s in Deerfield was back to the new Pelligrino’s in Boca. Went for dinner. As usual the Veal Chops he prepared were unbelievable. Will be back many more times to come. Welcome back Pelligrino’s & Chef Luigi

  14. Sophia says...

    We heard Chef Luigi is back. Chef Luigi is from the original Pellegrino’s in Deerfield. We went and had an excellent dinner as always from the new Pelligrino’s. So happy to see Pelligrino’s & Chef Luigi back.

  15. frank w says...

    Ate at the new location with out of town friends last night. All the food was superb. Don’t miss the hot shrimp appitizer. Best Italian in Boca by far.

  16. frank w says...

    Jeff, Pellegrino’s is now open seven days a week.You need to amend your blog.

  17. John says...

    What can I say…Hands down the best Italian food in South Florida…Glad too see them…in their NEW location!

    • Steve Walin says...

      You are out of your mind. Try Renzo , Casa dangelo, trotrria Romano , just to name a few.

  18. Sid L. Turner says...

    Food is good but a bit pricey.

  19. mr. kramer says...

    food is good but a bit on the expensive side.

  20. Steve Walin says...

    Worst dinner experience I have had in long time. Service terrible. Waiter not trained, seemed stoned. Owner rude an unapologetic. Food mediocre at best. Never again!

  21. Big Al says...

    I heard that the chef Tony that came from La Stellas is no longer there

  22. WH2012 says...

    Jeff, food is good. not great. a bit on the expensive side. the owner is playing on family’s connection to rao’s in nyc. this is definitely not in rao’s league.

  23. TURNER says...

    Too expensive.
    Food only fair.

  24. BOBBY J. says...

    ate there last night.
    service stunk.
    food was passable but nothing to rave about.
    the owner walks around like his sheet doesn’t stink.
    prices way too high.
    won’t ever be back.

  25. SidRidesANike says...

    Food is just fair as is the service.
    Very overpriced.

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