Bocelli Restaurant
521 Plymouth Rd, Gwynedd Valley, PA, 19437
Bocelli Restaurant Menu
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Antipasti
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Address :
521 Plymouth Rd
Gwynedd Valley, PA, 19437 - Phone (215) 646-9912
- Website https://www.bocellidining.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm
- Mon : 11:30 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Jane D.
Went here for dinner after showing our classic car at a car show. The restaurant is tiny and is located in an old train depot. Loved the use of space. Two Septa trains arrived and departed during our Sunday night meal. I would have enjoyed the experience more if I didn't feel like I was treated like a second class citizen. We waited forever before our waiter took our order. In the meantime he stopped by all of the other tables twice to check on how they were doing and refill drinks. Hubby had a homemade sausage and penne dish that was out of this world. I had the special, linguini and clams in white wine sauce, which was just okay. Turns out it was at least $5 more than the most expensive entree on their menu, and I would have appreciated a heads up from the waiter about that. It was nothing special compared to what was already on the menu to warrant such a high surcharge. Other tables got bread right away. It took about 15 minutes after we finally ordered our entrees that we got ours. We read in other reviews that you get free limoncello shots if you order dessert, and indeed, all of the tables around us got limoncello shots when they ordered dessert. In fact our waiter brought the couple at the table next to us TWO rounds of limoncello shots because they liked it so much! Us? We got our check along with our dessert. Tacky. And no limoncello for us. Boo! To top it off, our creme brûlée was way too burnt on the top. Ridiculously so. It was inedible. We only ate part of it. FYI - the prices on their website must be a few years old. The prices on their menu were about $3 more for most dishes. The bill said 10% off when you pay in cash and that is what we did. Hubby tipped WAY more than I would have given the service and food. His main dish was phenomenal but everything else was lacking. Meh about sums this place up. Too bad.
(2)Tom M.
I have to write and update and knock off a star. I went on Friday night 1/15/10. The service was a real downer. The guy who is usually there who is so affable and friendly was not there. I'm hoping he was just sick for the night because without him the experience goes down somewhat. The long and the short of it is 1) they were not very attentive or friendly. 2) They tried to charge us for something that was 50% more than what we ordered for dinner even though we both had specifically not ordered the higher price special version of one of their standard entrees from the menu. I will probably go back because the food is decent. But I'm going to give it a while. I have a sad feeling that Bocelli might be heading downhill.
(4)Mark S.
We went here on a Tuesday night and it wasn't busy, yet the servers seemed rushed and not overly friendly. Food was OK. Their bolognese isn't bolognese. It's a chunky tomato sauce, not a bad one, but not a bolognese. Lasagna was nicely layered & the carbonara was rich. All in all, not a bad meal. Nice touch with the bruschetta and lemoncello. I'd go back.
(3)Sutirtha B.
My wife and I went here after buying a Living Social coupon. The coupon was good for dinners on either Sunday/ Monday and we chose to use it for tonight's dinner on a Sunday evening. As per the suggestion in the LS coupon, I called the restaurant ahead of time to book a table. We were offered a table for 7:30 which worked well for us. The restaurant turned out to be very small and so as soon as we popped our heads in, someone greeted us, confirmed our reservation for 7:30, and seated us at a table right next to the window. We were offered some bread with olive oil (standard fare) and somewhat remarkably, some bruschetta, also on the house. The bread was quite average whereas the bruschetta was nice, with the sweetness of the tomatoes coming through. Our appetizer and entree order was for a calamari, a linguini pasta with pesto sauce and shrimp, and a bowtie pasta with pink vodka sauce and shrimp. The orders came out very promptly and the entrees were absolutely piping hot, something I loved. The bowtie pasta with the pink sauce was very flavorful but the linguini which I had was much too under-seasoned. It required the addition of a considerable amount of salt (and I generally go easy on salt) and the calamari had also required some salt earlier. I would have loved to have a few more shrimps per dish given that there were only 3 shrimps in each pasta. One other complaint was that even though my pasta was supposed to come with pine nuts, I didn't see any! Those issues notwithstanding, the food had piqued our attention enough that we ordered a dessert -- their flourless chocolate cake along with coffee. The cake, like the entrees, before it was piping hot and had a solid richness to it. The coffee complemented the cake very well. All things considered, if I were just rating the food, then I would give this place a 3.5/5. Service however was even better and that explains my overall rating of this place at a 4. Both our servers (possibly a father-son duo) were hospitable and we enjoyed their warmth. The feel of this restaurant is very homey and by the end of our meal, I wanted the restaurant to do well and still stay open in 5 - 10 years' time. The place is not cheap (our total meal came to $79 before the LS coupon) but overall, it was fresh and good Italian food and the complimentary bruschetta and lemoncello shots after our meals were welcome. All in all we enjoyed our evening.
(4)Elyse M.
We had dinner last night at Bocellis for my father's birthday. Everything was delicious and on point. Friendly and attentive waitstaff. Everyone's meal from the flounder and salmon to the Filet mignon and lasagna were cooked to perfection with fresh ingredients. The byob aspect is just an added bonus. Will definitely be back and recommend to others who love fresh Italian cuisine paired with excellent service!
(5)Beeg R.
I have been complaining about the lack of a good Italian meal nearby. My husband found this place and took me here recently. Now I am a fan! We started with the grilled veggies and smoked salmon for appetizers. The veggies were cooked and seasoned perfectly. The smoked salmon was on top of a bed of lettuce and was very flavorful. For entree, I got the Tagliatelle ai Frutti di Mare. Turns out you can have it as fra diavolo (spicy version). For some reason, every time I try out a new Italian restaurant, seafood fra diavolo is what I get. The pasta was of perfect thickness (I think it is homemade) and the sauce was well balanced. It had a hearty portion of shrimps, scallops, clams, and mussels. For dessert, we usually split one. But thank goodness we each ordered our own homemade tiramisu this time with cappuccino. The cappuccino was smooth and the tiramisu was one of the best I've ever had. Definitely a perfect combo. The only downside was the noise. The place was very small (seems smaller than my living room). It wouldn't be too bad if it weren't for a table of 4 who were yelling to each other every time they spoke and laughed loudly every few minutes. At one point it sounded very quiet and we realized that was b/c the waitress was telling them about the dessert. There were several other 4-person table and none of them was that loud. We do understand that's the "risk" of dining in a smaller restaurant (my rating did not factor in the noise b/c we expected that.) But for the food, I'd definitely come back again.
(4)Erick C.
Dinner was amazing, service was great, the specials that were made to order, excellent. Would highly recommend dinner her anytime.
(5)Brad P.
Who knew that a hollowed out train station house would be home to the most stellar lunch deal in Montgomery County? I'm not even saying this because of the insanely low price for a 4 course lunch($12.95). The food tastes like it comes right out of Modo Mio or a Marc Vetri joint. I've only eaten here once and I love it. The first course was some exceptional chicken soup. The second/third was lemon caper tilapia with mushroom ravioli Dessert was a small chocolate crepe. Wow. It was filling and extremely disciplined. If you are within a reasonable drive and have the funds to support going to this place for lunch, then do it. If you don't, you will die miserably and alone.
(5)Sam H.
Delizioso is the way to describe this place. It has been a looooong time since I have been here. And my wife and I looked at each other and asked why we haven't been back sooner. Its because this place is so good and good Italian food is decadently rich. I had the osso buco and my wife had the bowtie special with a rose sauce and lobster and shrimp. The Pope would have enjoyed either meal. The osso buco was prepared perfectly - no need for a knife here. And my wife's pasta dish was fantastic. It had generous portions of shrimp and lobster and the rose cream sauce was perfect. I try to avoid eating Italian food because of the richness/carbs. But if you want great Italian food, this is the place to go. Arrivederci
(5)Mike K.
If you're coming to Bocelli's come prepared with a bottle of wine and an appetite. This cozy BYOB located in the old Gwynedd Valley train station is one of the best places in the area for good Italian cooking. All of their salads and appetizers are delicious and their specials change constantly to reflect whatever the freshest ingredients at their cooks disposal is. Often they'll bring out a complimentary appetizer in addition to what you order. Their main courses are all superb, the pasta is all cooked perfectly and all of the fish dishes are incredibly fresh. After dinner stick around for a complimentary shot of homemade limoncello!
(5)Lindsay Y.
This BYOB is perfecto! If you have a large group, ask for the upstairs level which is separate and looks over the rest of the dining room. The chicken marsala was delish and everyone else in my group seemed to enjoy. They were able to accomodate our last minute reservation and even gave us a free round of apps (for no reason)! The waitstaff was friendly and oh, did I mention it's BYOB!?
(4)The Daily Soirée ..
The restaurant is actually located inside an old train station. Reservations at Bocelli are a must because the restaurant is so small. Their menu has your standard Italian dishes like Lasagna, Eggplant Parmesan, Chicken Marsala and Veal Saltimbocca. However, like many restaurants, each night they have a specials menu and to say they all sounded incredibly delicious would be an understatement. One of my favorite parts of the evening was being served complementary bruschetta as soon as we were seated. After a recommendation from the waitress, my dad decided on classic lasagna. The lasagna was less cheesy and more meaty than your standard lasagna but still super delicious. My mom went with an item off of their specials menu, flounder topped with crab in a white wine lemon sauce with capers. The flounder was perfectly cooked and the lemon wine sauce complimented it perfectly. I had their crab and lobster ravioli with vodka sauce topped with tiny shrimp, another one of their specials. It was absolutely incredible. I used the hot bread they gave us to soak up all the extra sauce. We finished the night off with dessert. We decided to split two desserts between the three of us. The first was a limoncello cake. Our second dessert was a gelato bomba that had chocolate, strawberry and pistachio gelato wih a maraschino cherry in the middle. A bomba if you have never heard of it is a frozen ball of gelato coated in a layer of hard chocolate. Both of the desserts were knockouts, but the limoncello cake was our favorite. Overall, definitely suggest trying one of their specials if you are looking for something different. Other than the food, one of the best parts about Bocelli is it is BYOB.
(5)Steven C.
I had some high expectations after reading the reviews for Bocelli. Homemade pasta, some classic northern Italian dishes tucked into a cozy former rail station. Add the BYOB factor and I was expecting high quality and a reasonable price - they delivered. My partner and crime was with me and we were continuing our tour of the northern Philly burbs. We checked the menu on the way over and were pretty much set when we got there. Then our server threw about 6 specials at us. They sounded great but I wanted to stick with the Frutti di Mare. My partner chose the bowtie, shrimp and rosa sause. When we're together, both plates are fair game so I tried the bowtie first. Nice al dente with a tasty and creamy sauce. My plate was filled with expertly prepared shrimp, scallops and shellfish. Pair that with a zesty sauce and perfect pasta and the results was heavenly. Thanks yelpers for helping us find this.
(4)Maggie L.
Bocellis is a great place for authentic Italian cuisine. BYOB and located in the old Gwynedd Valley Train station, it is truly one of the finest gems in the 'burbs. I have been dining in and taking out for years and to date I haven't had a bad experience here. The service is very friendly and accommodating and they often bring out small dishes on the house so you can really get a taste of everything! Everything is freshly made in their open kitchen from italian pastas to veal, chicken & seafood. Because Bocelli is tiny, make sure you call ahead on Friday and Saturday to save your party a table! Don't forget to pack a few bottles of your favorite wine to share and compliment the delicious authentic dishes! A great experience from the beginning to the end!
(5)Cathy G.
We had dinner last night and the restaurant is small and located in an old train depot which was kind of cool. The food was excellent but we weren't overly impressed with the wait staff. They were knowledgeable and efficient but "disappeared" after the main course arrived. We ordered dessert, which promptly arrived along with the check. There are two servings on Saturdays: 6:15 and 8:30. At 8:20, we were told our table was needed....I thought that was rather aggressive and certainly ended our nice dinner rather abruptly. Not sure I would return!
(3)Jenny H.
This place is pretty good, you wouldn't think so as it's right by a train station and a tiny little place. They have really good eating specials and deals every day. I had an order of their lasagna to go and their chicken parmigiana, and they were both decent. The sauce was a bit watery for my taste, and everything was a little salty, but I liked how the lasagna was thinly layered with pasta, bechamel and bolognese sauce. I liked the bread they provide as well with the meal.
(3)Joan M.
Went there on a Sunday night having a groupon and was so pleasantly surprised this small little byob right in front of the train station u could easily miss it if ur not paying attention. This is seriously a gem it is small but quaint we sat upstairs which I though was the best set in the place as I said it is small as soon as we where seated John came over opened r wine offered us water and gave us devious bruschetta. R server came over and told us there special I ordered the blacked salmon in I believe a rosa sauce which was wonderful my husband orders veal dish which was also outstanding for dessert we had a conollie and the lemon chello cake which were heavenly also we were give 2 complamtery shoots of lemon chello's a great way to end a great nite if u go I'm sure it's best to make reservations on any nite that's y we use groupon most of the time ur disappointed but every now and then u find a gem which this place is ( not sure y they even use groupon ) but I'm sure they glad they did or I would never have found this place again sevice was excellent wish I kne the servers name and also the girl they were great but John u were the best thank u for a wonderful nite I work seven days a week and unexpectedly had off tonight it was a great date nite
(5)Ryan L.
Had dinner this evening and we had a GREAT time! I had the lasagna alla bolognese and it was delicious. We were surprised with complimentary servings of a crab seafood dish and a limoncello dessert. The staff truly cared about us and we never had a shortage of water or bread. We aren't from this area but we look forward to coming back! Highly recommended!
(5)Cheryl F.
Lunch was delicious. You must start with the bruschetta. I had the grilled portobello sandwich which had the perfect flavor. It was served with a tasty salad. Just enough for lunch. Anxious to go back. Going to try dinner next time. I'm sure I won't be disappointed.
(5)Kunal P.
I totally concur with BradP. First time we went there, it was totally by chance and at the mercy of the previous yelp reviews. So, I guess this yelp is good to businesses after all - if they are actually good. Bocelli is is the prime example of what you call: "location location location" The first two of five stars are just for its location. If you are not from the area, it seems like its middle of nowhere. And we actually had to call the place for direction to guide us towards the place. But, its in a FREAKING train station. How awesome is that? Not like the train station stuff you seen in center city. Its a tiny old building that used be a train station ticket booth or something ages ago. But, now its a restaurant. The station still exist - its the lansdale/doylstown line that goes in/out of the city. So, the place definitely gets huge exposure. Food. Can't beat their lunch special $12.95 for a 4 course lunch: 1) option of soup or salad, 2) chose from 5 different types of pasta/carb, 3) chose from 4 or 5 different meats, 4) desert - fried chocolate filled wonton. If you twisted my arm and forced me, I'd say they could use extra virgin olive oil instead of regular for their herb infused oil for the bread. Other than that, two thumbs up!!
(5)Ann V.
Strawberry spinach salad - omg! One of the best salads I've ever had. Everything else there was also quite amazing - definitely a hidden gem!
(4)Erin M.
I hate to tell you about this restaurant, because it's difficult enough to get a reservation on the weekend.... but here goes. I found this place after a serious craving for spaghetti carbonara. I went on chowhound and searched for the dish, and came up with Bocelli. I made reservations for that night for my husband and I and we were quite enthused by what we found. This place is small. It is literally in a teeny train station and fits no more than 30 guests. When you're cooking for such a small amount of people, you can really focus on qualityl. My carbonara rocked. Not only that, but it came with a complementary appetizer. We have been served that complementary appetizer every time since then. When we started going here, they used to give free boxed wine served from carafes, but they have stopped that practice (sadly). That's ok, because you can bring your own. If you order dessert, they do still give you free homemade limoncello... which is incredibly alcoholic. This is the restaurant where we bring friends to show them our find and they are always happy that we share our secret. Now the secret is out.
(5)Deborah R.
Went to Bocelli to celebrate a birthday with a friend the other evening. The owner and servers are wonderful. Always helpful and attentive during the entire meal. Every dish was better than the last. The Portobello and Spinaci was excellent as was our appetizer salad. We opted for the Lobster ravioli special that evening which was amazing. It's a BYOB so take a bottle of your favorite wine to enjoy. We went at 5:30 and most other patrons came in about an hour later as the small restaurant began to fill up. I will definitely go back again and again . Dessert was mouth watering nutella and cream wontons. And - they have creme brulee every night! Is this heaven? Park right at the train station parking lot - you may miss the small blue signs, but easy to turn around.
(5)Danan R.
I was in a comfort food mood so I decided to try the crabmeat-stuffed ravioli in a creamy rosa sauce. It was delicious with a flavorful, savory, and creamy pink sauce, and tender pasta filled with plenty of well-seasoned crabmeat. The grilled portabello topped with spinach, peppers, shrimp, and goat cheese was a great, rather creative appetizer that definitely provides a welcome change from the ubiquitous calamari frite and bruschetta (which they also have, btw). But I love goat cheese and portabello mushrooms so I may be biased. Dad got the chicken cacciatore and gave it the thumbs up. They have a pretty good dessert menu, with a wide range of options. As can be expected, I decided on a chocolate-based option. The white chocolate profiteroles were pretty good with a light, crispy pastry shell, but I personally would have liked a dark chocolate version more (*hint hint*); nevertheless, it was indulgent and tasty. Service was prompt and attentive, and we got complimentary limoncello shots, which was a nice touch. Definitely worth a visit. While it's not Modo Mio, it's probably one of the best Italian food options in the area, and much closer to home than South Philly.
(4)Brian H.
Been going here since it opened, at least 4 times a year. I love the tiny, quaint renovated train station In Gwynedd Valley, and a must visit BYOB. Other than being a bit drafty seated near the front door in winter, it is very cozy with the open kitchen, tight quarters, wonderful kitchen smells of Italian cooking and service with an accent. It takes you away from the world around you, and you forget you are in "just the burbs". And no, an occasional train (maybe once an hour at night) passing by does not affect the ambiance, it enhances it. Service is good, paying attention to the waiter for the specials is a must. The fish is always fresh, veal tender. A bit over-done, in my opinion, is the "pink vodka cream sauce" and the "white wine sauce". Although loaded with flavor, it seems like that's how half of the dishes are prepared. Complimentary bruschetta before and complimentary lemoncello afterward, round out the meal...a very nice touch. I do have to say that I wish they would buy the GOOD extra-virgin olive oil, as the oil's taste (for bread dipping) only has the flavor of the herbs infused, not what EVOO should be. Very reasonable pricing just adds to my kudos. Good job.
(4)Tina M.
Hidden gem. Lived here my whole life and never knew about it! Atmosphere is eh and the place is cramped, but the food totally made up for it. We both got the crab stuffed raviolli. Amazing! We practically licked the plates clean. Free taste of bruscetta when we sat down- nice and yummy touch, but skip dessert. It seemed like it was out of a box- nothing special for the price tag. Can't wait to go back, but I'm sure we'll need a reservation if we try to go on a weekend.
(4)bill g.
This small jewel of a BYOB Bistro is a must try for anyone looking for that perfect Italian bistro, where you can talk with the owner, watch the chef's create their magic, and consistently leave totally satisfied. Fantastic Food,Great Value,Charming ambiance, Great Parking ( SEPTA station in Lower Gwyned ) BYOB, and if you want to take a meal home they have an unbelievable meal to go for they hurried diner. Please don't go there when Nancy and I want to go as they only seat 45 at a time:) Suggest you call for a reservation, which somehow they always make work!
(5)Jerry K.
Specials are a RIP. This first, food next. I read one of the reviews that mentioned they do not give pricing on the specials and they charged $5 more than a comparable dish. I had asked pricing of a special before I ordered and they said $26. On the bill they charged me $30. I would typically not let anyone get away with this, but I just decided to pack it up and I will NEVER go back. Stupid business practice, and obviously done on purpose. Food - Osso Buco was ok with a red meat fat sauce. My Wife's lamb chops were good with tasty creamy potatoes and broccoli. Their complimentary brushetta was terrible, with plenty of pungent stale garlic. I ordered their $14 pricey grilled calamari, with half of it very chewy and half tender. The olive oil mix was very tasty, but unfortunately they threw in that stale garlic brushetta tomato mix. I informed them of this and the waitress told the cook over the counter that I said this, but he sure seemed uninterested. Made no effort to exchange the dish. Based on the fact that their is a dearth of decent restaurants outside of Philly, I would have gone back. The fact that they deliberately mislead with pricing - makes this a NEVER GO BACK. They have been in business here for a long time and have a strong following, but they simply work the clientele with their complimentary lemoncello and making every effort to seat them. Very charming indeed.
(1)Jennifer S.
It may look shakey from the outside, but this place is good eats. Wait staff is just the right kind of attentive--there when needed, invisible when not. The food was excellent. Veal scallopini and crab ravioli were both delish! We will definitely be back again.
(5)Thomas T.
My wife, another couple and I went to Bocelli's for our anniversaries. I will concur with the other reviews lauding the food - the filet with crab was fantastic, as was the veal saltimbocca and pasta with pesto. It is also a BYOB. In addition, we also enjoyed sharing desserts. This review is only 3 stars based completely on the gentleman acting as "front of house". He would come over as we were deciding on our menu selections and if we hesitated, he would just leave and come back later - he seemed very impatient. Also, as we lingered over coffee, he abruptly came to tell us that he "needed the table" (when there were at least 3 free tables besides ours. I guess I would have understood had we only ordered entrees, but our party ordered appetizers, entrees, dessert, and coffee, so I expected a bit more leeway in the time allotted for our dining experience. All in all, though, I heartily recommend the food; the decor/atmosphere is also fine (though some of the paint could have used a bit of touching up as well).
(3)Chuck E.
Very good Italian meal. Decor is bare, lighting a bit bright but the food will bring us back.
(4)Timothy L.
Cute location. Excellent service. The food was good but not as great as Italian restaurants in the city.
(4)Mahesh K.
Looks like a quaint tiny restaurant from outside, but the food is awesome! This place gets really crowded in the weekends and you got to make a reservation atleast 2 weeks before. But certainly worth waiting! Absolutely delicious!
(4)Cricket H.
We discovered this great restaurant a few weeks ago. It seats about 40 so I highly recommend calling ahead for a reservation. We arrived around 9 on a Friday night and all the tables were full. The food is fabulous from the pasta to the sauces! It's a BYOB so don't forget to bring a great bottle of Chianti! If you are in no rush and savor a great, authentic tasting Italian meal - this is your place!
(5)Dan S.
Bocelli is a small place at a train station. Approximately 10 tables. Great food and service. We've taken many friends to Bocelli and all rave about the hot food, fresh ingrediants, and friendly service. They often give free appetizers or after dinner liquor. Entrees around $15. BYOB
(5)Ellen L.
good food but very disappointed with small amount of seafood that was served with my pasta- not worth anywhere near $20.00
(3)G And G.
Great atmosphere, food was great, wasn't happy with last few meals. Will try one more time.
(4)Jim O.
Tucked away in a suburban train station, this BYOB Italian restaurant serves up classic Italian food. Dishes are well executed, the Bronzino was melt in your mouth delicious, the Bolognese was excellent. Service was quick and friendly. Highly recommend this venue for classic Italian dishes.
(4)Mike H.
I rode the train past this hidden treasure for many years heading to and from the city. Tucked in the Gwynned Valley train station, this little Italian gem has fantastic and friendly service, and a nice selection of appetizers, salads, entrees and desserts. We made our first visit this evening celebrating our 27th wedding anniversary. The evening specials were tantalizing, making our selection of fare harder. But we felt that we couldn't go wrong with anything on the menu. To prepare your palate they start you out with excellent fresh bruschetta. We decided to split an fantastic arugula salad to start our dining experience. For main course we both ordered seafood dishes with Vodka sauce. Great choices. I had the shrimp and asparagus and my wife had a special with shrimp and lobster tail. We decided the night would be incomplete without dessert, so we split a piece of Tiramisu. A good choice. I give Bocelli's a 4 1/2 star. A few minor changes and they would be a 5 in my book. Definitely worth the venture. And it's a BYOB.
(5)Zach V.
Bocelli may be short on space but not on flavor. This small Italian restaurant is tucked in a small building that borders the tracks at the Gwynedd Valley train station. If you plan to stop in for dinner a reservation is a must. Bocelli is BYOB so bring your libations with you. As we sat down a complementary order of fresh bruschetta was set on our table. This was a nice touch and they also provided bread and olive oil. I'm not sure at what point during the meal they gave us another dish with rosa sauce and i think a stuffed pasta. I can't remember exactly what it was except for it was tasty! You can make a meal on the complementary items alone. I had heard their Penne con Salsiccia was a winner so that's what I ordered. It was home-made sausage and mushrooms in a light cream sauce for $16.95. I haven't had pasta like it before and I would order it again. Everyone in my group enjoyed their meals except for the Filet. It was just OK. All in all Bocelli is a solid Italian restaurant with good food and service to match. I am going to go back a few more times to try more of their menu. As of right now they didn't blow me away but they have potential.
(3)Aliki A.
I was looking for a restaurant to celebrate my son's college graduation on a Monday night, when a lot of restaurants are closed. Bocelli was open and after reading the reviews I made a reservation. The place is very small, and surprisingly on a Monday night it was very busy. Overall, we all enjoyed our meals and decided that we would return. Sitting in the tiny restaurant, watching the cook prepare our meals and the trains going by was great! Some of of the dishes we had were: clams casino (way to much jalapeno in them), fish in a wine sauce with crabmeat (yummy), lobster and crabmeat ravioli (my son loved it), chicken parm, and fillet mignon. We were also offered bruschetta and a lovely crepe filled with riccota appetizer on the house. When we ordered dessert, limoncello was also offered to all of us on the house! Reasonably priced, delicious food and a BYOB! How can you not like that!
(4)Kristi S.
I only gave 3 stars, but I hope to come back for a re-try because I feel like I should really like Bocelli, but after my lunch I'm just not sold! I was all excited to try Bocelli so I came for my birthday lunch with my grandmother, great-grandmother and Mom... we all had the special Strawberry Salad, which was quite good and the warm, crusty bread was nice to start with. My "mothers" all ordered the lobster ravioli special in a rose sauce and I ordered the pesto shrimp fetuccini with basil, pine nuts, garlic and I could of swore it said lemon in there. 1 was hoping for a lighter dish, but I was disappointed when a kind of creamy and a bit oily pesto dish came out. There were only TWO shrimp on the plate and it was (I believe) a $24 entree! The pasta was al dente, but you could tell they didn't season their pasta water enough and I felt bummed that I couldn't notice any lemon or pine nut going on in the dish. I did taste my Mom's lobster ravioli and it tasted great, but not mind-blowing. To finish, we had some kind of little fried puff dessert (maybe a sebada?) filled with banana and Nutella, which was a nice little sweet to end with. Our waitress was quite nice and it was not crowded at all. Only two other couples came in while we were eating. Knowing all this... the ambiance was great, I loved the little station, the menu looked great for all the things I didn't try, but I was disappointed by the lack of flavor and finesse in my pasta dish and the major skimping in the shrimp department. I want to like Bocelli as much as all the other reviewers, so I'll just try again another day I suppose, but today Bocelli only gets three stars from me. (Side note: My grandmother said the bathroom was a little "old" and gave me that look to just wait till we got home, if I needed to go...)
(3)Jim B.
Don't miss out on this gem! I used to take the train into Center City from Gywnedd Valley. On my way back to my car I would see all the happy faces of the people sitting in this tiny joint that appears as if it used to be a ticket office at the station. Their ear-to-ear smiles tell the tale of why you NEED to go eat at this restaurant. To date, I must have brought around a dozen people to this place for their first time. All of them still talk about how great everything was. They're hooked! Those that live near the station still frequent Bocelli's and bring their own newcomers, and the cycle continues. I haven't had a bad meal here and I've eaten most of what is offered on the daily menu. I don't know that I can make a recommendation of one dish over another, but I think my favorites are the Spaghetti alla Corbonara and the Spaghetti Bolognese. Most dishes are very reasonably priced (between $18-$22) but if you get one of the specials expect to pay around $30, however, it will be worth the extra fare. By the way, they greet as soon as you sit down with some fresh bruschetta, and top you off with a shot or two of limoncello before you leave....for free. You'll spend a good portion of your night here. As much as the food is authentic, the experience is authentic Italian as well: you relax, drink wine and converse your friends and family while round after round of appetizers, soup/salad, pastas, etc. is brought to you. Before you know it it's 11pm and you just spent 3 hours eating dinner. Best part of all: It's a BYOB. So, pack a couple of your favorite bottles of vino and tread carefully.
(5)Kathie P.
Went for an early dinner yesterday for my dads 94 th birthday. Food was excellent but the level of customer service even better . We did not know it was a BYOB and were presented with a complementary bottle of wine . We also received a complementary salmon and ricotta crepe appetizer and lemoncello after our meal !!!! Who does this anymore? The fungi salad was amazing as were the clams casino. Our entrees were all exceptional esp the flounder special . Small , quiet restaurant, cozy atmosphere even thought it is adjacent to a septa rail line. Two trains pulled into the station while we were having dinner but never heard them or felt any vibration. Highly recommend this restaurant for adults
(5)Matthew M.
This is one unique restaurant. It's in a tiny converted train house which is only one room that can maybe fit 30ish people. The kitchen is literally in the middle of this place which is neat but could be a little noise. I would say that the environment is somewhere between cozy and cramped with a slight preference to cozy. The wait staff was friendly and made the experience very comfortable. The food was absolutely delicious. I don't know what they put in their sauces because I had a hard time putting my fork down. They are rich, creamy and full of flavor. Definitely remember to bring a nice red. My wife and I brought a special bottle of Amarone and it went perfectly with the meal.
(4)Roger S.
Delicious food, great ambiance! Small, so definitely make reservations if you're going on a weekend...you'll have to call, they don't use opentable :-(
(5)Aprille C.
I was very hesitant when my husband picked this place to bring his parents. Boy was I wrong. The food was delicious and the staff was very attentive. We were seated served and done within an hour. This is truly a tiny gem right in the heart of Gwynedd Valley. We will be back.
(5)Arseny R.
This is one strange restaurant. We are talking about a small restaurant occupying an old suburban rail station. At the same time this is a great Italian restaurant. Food is fresh and delicious. Kitchen takes up about a third of the space and you see your food prepared. Everything has a homemade feel to it, nothing looks like it was made before you ordered. Very often, the owner is right there, ready to take the role of metre d', server, etc.. The downside is that the place is small and cramped, no large parties there, but you can order takeout. If your group is 10 people or less, you can ask to be seated on the balcony above the kitchen. It is a great private spot with commanding view of the whole establishment, but you have to take the smallish spiral stairway up there and you will not find much more space when you sit down. Good thing is that the place is BYOB, so grab a bottle, or better yet, two bottles as the food is very good and time flies. Portions are of average size, so if you like to eat, make sure to order an appetizer. Best is to order few appetizers to share as they are very well made too. PS: Don't forget to pay for parking.
(5)Emily S.
Very cozy restaurant, delicious pasta, yummy house wine and salad, and very friendly staff!
(5)Gina C.
The Bocelli experience is near flawless. I've been going here for special dinners with my best friends for the past 5 years, and it has yet to disappoint. Knowledgeable wait staff that really takes care of you, cozy atmosphere (try and get the balcony seating-- you can look over the kitchen area-- it's awesome), and delicious Italian food. The place is a converted train station & they've really done something amazing with the space. It's beautiful. Their pasta dishes are wonderful (especially the Carbonara), and the desserts are primo. Great Italian espresso. Pricey but they really make a special occasion just that much more special.
(5)Joan R.
Such a cute place with okay food and a fairly miserable wait staff. I don't go out to dinner to be treated like a bother. My family liked their dishes, but mine was over cooked and very plain. I said something to the waitress and she just ignored me. The menu is fairly static and the specials expensive. Again, it is very cute inside. . .
(2)Elyce N.
First of all -- this has to have been one of the best Italian meals I have had outside of Italy! Secondly -- the setting was very cool! This is my first trip to Philadelphia in almost 25 years . . . I was looking for a memorable experience and boy did we get one! It's true what the other reviews have said - this incredible restaurant is located in a very tiny train station house. We sat at a table looking out the window at the train tracks -- several trains came and went as we ate our dinner which just added to the uniqueness of this experience. Now to the food and service. Stellar! I had called the restaurant earlier in the day to find out if we needed to make reservations and was told we didn't need to. When I walked in the owner asked me if I was the one that called in earlier in the day -- he gave us an appetizer on the house -- a ricotta and salmon cream crepe that was to die for! EVERYTHING was fresh -- from the mozzarella to the avocado salad to the veal and gnocchi to the tiramisu. The cappuccino was authentic Italian style and brought to mind the ones I used to enjoy while living in Italy. Impeccable service -- anticipating every need before we asked. If you don't find your way to this restaurant you will miss out on a true gem . . .
(5)Jamie W.
I live 8 houses up from the Gywnedd Valley Station where this is located. I try to avoid food establishments in train stations because I used to work in one, and the experience kind of scarred me, train stations are old, its VERY easy for critters to get inside, it's hard to keep it clean and free of dust. So my roommate and I decided to finally grab a bottle of wine and try this place out. We walked in and was very impressed with the decor! The place was nicely set up and not a spec of dust in sight ;]. We were greeted with a nice table with bread, olive oil and brushetta. This made up very happy. Our waiter was wonderful. We could see out food being cooked right in front of us. I has the chicken broccoli and cream sauce and it was delicious! I ordered a cannoli to go for my boyfriend back at home and our waiter threw in two extra cannoli's! Very nice first visit, they really know how to create customer relationships and I am coming back very soon!
(5)