We recently visited Pellegrinos Ristorante for the first time on a strong recommendation by a friend who knew we had been disappointed in other Italian restaurants we've tried in South Florida. We weren't disappointed this time. We found both the food and service to be top notch. I had the Chicken Scarpariello, also on a recommendation, and it was delicious. The chicken was fall-off-the-bone tender and the sausage and hot cherry peppers made this dish scrumptious. We started with clams on the half shell, and they were fresh and perfectly shucked, with a unique hot sauce that was made in-house. My wife ordered the Eggplant Parmesan, made with thin slices of eggplant smothered in red sauce and Parmesan cheese. It, too, was excellent. Another one of our party had spaghetti and meatballs. The gravy and meatball were delicious and the pasta perfectly cooked with a nice bite to it. We were too full to have dessert, but treated ourselves to an espresso and a decaf cappuccino, both perfectly brewed. This is old-school style Italian, done right. I'm excited about finally finding a top-notch Italian restaurant in Boca Raton and I'm looking forward to exploring the rest of their menu. UPDATE: We had my wife's birthday party for 21 in the back room of Pellegrino's, and it was a night to remember. Bobby, the owner, oversaw everything. The food included antipasto, clams oreganata, fried calamari, two types of penne, veal marsala, fish Livornese, chicken Scarpariello and eggplant parm. There wasn't any food left on anyone's plate and everyone loved their dinner. The service was top notch, efficient and courteous. I would advise anyone looking for a medium size venue for a special dinner gathering to consider Pellegrino's. My thanks to Bobby for a very special and memorable evening!
(5)
Vibe Manager O.
The mean owner yells at guests in a thick New York accent like an old school gangster wannabe. He sits at the bar, sipping some clear beverage on the rocks and occasionally jumps up to either yell at a guest for asking a simple question or at an employee to do something. The place seems stuck in 1983 in decor and service mentality. Looking around the room, clientele was mostly 60+ who probably feel comfortable in the stale environment. I cannot imagine this restaurant being in business much longer with so many competitors who understand the restaurant business is about making customers happy. Yelp wasn't around in 1983 so I guess it makes sense. We had pasta and meatballs which I would describe as "acceptable food items". The best part of the night were the glasses of their house Chardonnay which helped us tolerate the blustering buffoon.
(1)
Joey S.
This establishment is NOT CLOSED. I had dinner there last night with a party of 6, for my wife's birthday. Food and service was great. I always say...see for yourself...don't go by others negative reviews. Enjoy! P.S. The Eggplant Parm we had was the best!...
(5)
Martha monica R.
I could eat here every day! Bobby is such a gracious host and everyone make you feel so special, the food is amazing! Italian fare at its best, I love the fish, they have many different sauces :-D
(5)
F.B. H.
I've eaten here 3 times, every time the White Wine is warm and they have a different excuse every time. Last night was the very last time.We ordered Shrimp Parmigiana and Veal Franciese. Note: Shrimp Parmigiaa is American invention and the Shrimp are breaded....not here. I receive 4 medium shrimp broiled with some mozzarella cheese - the best part is that they wanted to charge $30! The Veal Francess didn't even qualify as mediocre. Joey, the son of the owner wouldn't come out and defend or explain himself, much less address the bill. We're from NYC, we know Italian food, this place simply sucks. UPDATE: I went to Ron L's party for his wife - I've known her for over 30 years and went as a gesture of respect despite never wanting to return to this dump. If they had done the classy thing I might have reconsidered and deleted my review. I'd still have never gone back there, but I'd have respected the effort and let the rest of the world decide without my 2 cents. Instead that little lowlife Joey actually threatened me in front of a witness. Judge for yourself what kind of people behave that way and whether you want to do business with them.
(1)
David G.
We live in BOCA and this is by far the best Italian restaurant. This is a family owned business. They are relatives of RAO'S in East Harlem NY. Same style cooking...even better in my opinion. Check em out.
(5)
Lorena P.
My family came in from NYC for the week, I told them about PELLEGRINO'S. They could not believe how great the food was. Real Southern style Italian cuisine. They are hard to please when it comes to any restaurant, but let me say they were more than pleased. They would not stop raving about there meals. We will return!!!
(5)
Kerry G.
The food here is not bad but rather expensive and EVERYTHING is ala carte if you order a dinner you do not get anything but your entre No soup, no salad, no pasta that said not bad but we will never come here again Service was terrible! We had to ask for bread after sitting and waiting half an hour. All portions were small - appetizers were ridiculously small. Had to go look for a manager as couldnt get a refill of the small basket of bread -- no manager around on acSaturday night but an admission by one helper that waitor was very busy. No kidding - and he had an additude too. All in all, way over priced for what you get, small portions and ridiculous service DONT' BOTHER!!!!!
(1)
Roger M.
I would give this Boca Raton restaurant a zero if I could. Arrived at 6:30 Friday nite with no reservation since I did not plan to be in the area. I heard about the restaurant from radio ads. Why bother if you are not interested in accommodating new diners. The place was 90% empty and the smoke smelling owner said he only has space for us outside. After we objected, he offered us the worst table he could find in the empty eatery. We left. The open-table reviews also agree with this review.
(1)
Nancy H.
We were invited by our friends to join them on New Years Eve and two other couples for dinner! The reservation was for 8 at 6:30. Sophia our lovely waitress came to the table and took our initial drink orders, as we sat enjoying our delicious cocktails, the antipasto trays (3) came to the table, in addition to the signature hot peppers and fresh bread surrounded the table, and we had not even ordered our main course! My husband ordered the veal Milanese, and it was fantastic! I ordered the linguine bolognese! Absolutely delicious! Everyone had a delicious meal amongst fantastic atmosphere. The entertainment, a lovely talented female singer was on the patio beginning the New Years celebration, it was after 9 or so, and veal chop guy from the previous review was there too! The good food, the great atmosphere and the 'soda water' was all fantastic' go for dinner to celebrate, go for dinner just because, but please go for dinner!
(5)
Jason S.
I ate there Friday- NEVER AGAIN!! The owner is obnoxious and ridiculous. We were with a group of 6 and it took 21/2 hours to get my food. My dinner was never served with the rest of the table, eventually they brought something that I didn't order and then after the table was cleared of everything including the silverware a dish was brought to me. When I refused it the owner began berating and yelling at me. He was ridiculous . The other diners could not believe his behavior . He actually blamed me , the customer for not having the meal after 21/2 hours. In addition the food the others had was only fair.
(1)
Brom T.
My wife made New Years Eve reservations for later in the evening, before 9. We arrived and we're seated right away. They has a nice singer there for entertainment. We ordered the provelone and anchovies appetizer. The cheese was VERY strong. Being an authentic Italian restaurant I thought they would have fresh anchovies. They were canned. We both ordered the Veal chop stuffed with Prosciutto and mozzarella medium rare.. So excited for that. They brought out 1 with the prosciutto and the other a grilled veal chop. We told them that we both ordered the same thing. The waitress hesitated and I think she was trying to get me to just take the grilled chop. I told her I wanted what I ordered. Thry came back a few minutes later with..... THE SAME GRILLED CHOP.... just stuffed. I cut it open and it was well done. I told them I ordered it medium rare and I wanted what I ordered. They took it away. The waitress came back again and told me it would be 45 minutes to get a new chop. I told her I WILL WAIT!!!!! They didn't seem too happy that they had to make me a new chop. I also had to order my second club soda three times before it actually came. The medium rare stuffed veal chop arrived 15 mins later and it was AMAZING!!!! JUICY, TENDER, AND PERFECTLY DONE. They aolpologized up and down and then offered us complimentary coffees and a dessert. Overall, a big hassle with the meal but it tasted great! !!!!!!
(2)
Laura P.
None of these people know what they're talking about. The food is great, the service is even better. They make you feel like you're part of their family. The waiters are funny and attentive and the owner is a sweetheart. If you don't like Pellegrino's you don't know what's good.
(5)
Laura T.
It is amazing how one horrible waiter could ruin your whole evening! My husband & I come down to Boca once a month. We savor our precious time here and greatly enjoy dining out. Tonight, with dear friends we were looking forward to trying a new restaurant. It is with great disappointment that I created a login on Yelp just to let everyone know that our experience was ruined by our horrific waiter. He never stayed longer than one second at our table. He was so disinterested in helping us, that we half finished a sentence, and he left. This was repeated over, and over again with each and every course. When we left, we spoke to the owner, who really didn't seem to care. It was quite disappointing, as the food was not that bad. If it wasn't for the waiter and the attitude there, we might have given it another chance!
(1)
K M.
Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the joint The diners were reaching their breaking point. They sat down at the table at 7:45, But it was 10:15 when their entrees arrived. It had taken an hour for salads to appear, And our requests for "no anchovies" fell on deaf ears. The antipasto was a miniscule dish, Far too small for a table of six. The soundtrack: a seasonal DVD Of opera singers Il Volo, three Italian youths with wild hair, Which played four times over while we sat there. Sometime around the two-hour mark When I began to consider eating my fork We detected the smell of a cigarette smoking Surely, we thought, someone must be joking! Who was the culprit? We could not tell From whence came the offending smell Until someone reported what they had seen--oh! It was none other than Bobby Pellegrino! As we drank and drank to pass the time It was not long before we began to find That our drinks stopped coming, and no one cared And still, that god damn Il Volo blared. The food, when it finally came our way Was totally, incredibly, completely...okay. Although, chicken scarpariello was quite fine, If you like that sort of thing, and have the time. And as for the owner and employees, All they offered were apologies. No free dessert, nor a discount; Yes, after all that, we paid the full amount. Too long, didn't read? This place stinks. Although compliments to whoever makes the drinks. Don't go, my friends; it's not worth the fight. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
(2)
Jorge S.
I write a lot of reviews here as I eat out all the time. I don't write good things unless the places are good and the service is great. I have a lot of followers here so I would like to tell you about my experience at Pellerinos. First it is located in a strip mall in Boca Raton. The outside of the place was all lit up with mini lights and looked very classy and dressed up. they have a beautiful outdoor patio to enjoy meals on those great days when it isn't too hot. Bobby , the owner met us at the door. a very pleasant man, he is a New Yorker with many years in the restaurant business as he owned a very successful restaurant in Harlem, N.Y. The decor is very subdued. Nice pictures on the walls and nice lighting. We sat by the bar where the bartender Eric took care of us as though we were his family. Very pleasant, nicely dressed, a little different from most south Florida restaurants. The drinks were perfect. Not too strong but just right. We decided to eat right at the bar and he set us up very nicely. Out came the warm bread and olive oil. we started with the prosciutto and mozzarella and it was delicious! Awesome! I ordered the clams oreganate and they came out quickly and perfect. Not too chewy but just enough. For the main, I had the veal parmigiana and it was perfect. I'm sort of afraid to order vela at most places as it is usually too stringy for me. It was perfect. I didn't have room for dessert but they have a great selection. If you are looking for a nice Italian dinner this is the place. mind you it isn't cheap but it is perfect in every way. Worth every penny. Thank you to the staff especially the bartender Eric for your great service!! Will be back soon!!
(5)
Tiffany K.
WORST establishment ever! My friends and I spent hundreds of dollars on a pathetic excuse of a meal that the waiter messed up on, manager claimed he would discount bill for mistakes but did not, and my husband got verbally assaulted by the owner. This place was a NIGHTMARE. McDonalds has better service/employees than this ridiculously overprice shit hole excuse of a restaurant. Also make sure you check your bank statement afterwards if you plan on eating here- because they like to have the BUSBOY run your credit card (which he clearly has not been trained to do) and charge you DOUBLE the amount of bill. Total waste of time, energy, money, and to top it off not so great food. Then again how could anyone possible enjoy a meal that takes over an hour to recieve and then is verbally abused by management because god forbid you complain about your food. This was a terrible experience that my friends, husband and I will NEVER repeat.
(1)
Larry M.
Went back two more times still the best around u can keep the expensive places this is the real deal. Let.joey take care of u and make sure u have the spendini and clams oreganato Friendly,professional and consistent oh check out the photos near the restrooms the are the bomb
(5)
Steven W.
Bobby the owner is a arrogant jerk. Treats customers like he is doing u a favor. Never got my meal and when I complained he said what do u want me to do. He was a jerk at his other location but thought maybe he got some class after going broke. Nope.
(1)
Patricia M.
Had a lot of high hopes from the print ad's about Pellegrinos, but was completley dissapointed. Made a reservation, but didn't seem to need one because it was pretty much empty except for some elderly couples. Ordered the Spedini Alla Romano, and stuffed artichoke appetizer. Spedini was good, the artichoke was way over cooked mushy and tasteless. Sent it back didn't want another but the owner insisted, guess what still mushy and overcooked and no taste. Dinner we had the eggplant parm, and chicken Scaparillo. Eggplant looked ok but came with no pasta or salad or anything seemed expensive for just run of the mill egglplant. Chicken Scapriello was decent but again no side pasta or anything else, so asked for side of pasta which never came out. Cannoli for dessert bland boring and unapealing flavor. We also ordered a bottle of wine that was on sale, and when i got the check it was still full price, I had to ask to get it discounted....annyoing and never again what a waste of money. The wierd thing about this place was that they had an old man with a white apron on from the kitchen bringing out all the food to the tables not the servers. I felt bad he worked much harder than everyone else in there seemed un fair and very uncomfortable to whatch and be a part of.
(1)
frank w.
The Deerfield Beach location is closed and they have reopened next to Gary Woo's in Boca. Same completely outstanding food in a better location. Don't miss the hot shrimp appitizer.
(5)
Janis G.
After having read reviews on Pellegrino's Restorante I was reluctant to give it a try. I am glad I did not allow the negative reviews to discourage my visit. The location is excellent. They have created a lovely, private outdoor dining space that is set way back from the street and the parking lot. There are lots of twinkling lights and on Saturday night there was live music..not loud, just right. We ate inside and the surroundings and decor were pleasant. They pride themselves as a New York style Italian restaurant and they did a good job looking the part. There is a side room that can be closed off with doors for private parties. The wait staff were helpful and pleasant. The food was very good. We did not have appetizers or salads, only main course but all four of us enjoyed our meals. I had shrimp...the shrimp were huge and perfectly cooked. The price was within reason. I will definitely return to this restaurant. Don't believe the nay sayers. They are not justified.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes 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 : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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.
Ron L.
We recently visited Pellegrinos Ristorante for the first time on a strong recommendation by a friend who knew we had been disappointed in other Italian restaurants we've tried in South Florida. We weren't disappointed this time. We found both the food and service to be top notch. I had the Chicken Scarpariello, also on a recommendation, and it was delicious. The chicken was fall-off-the-bone tender and the sausage and hot cherry peppers made this dish scrumptious. We started with clams on the half shell, and they were fresh and perfectly shucked, with a unique hot sauce that was made in-house. My wife ordered the Eggplant Parmesan, made with thin slices of eggplant smothered in red sauce and Parmesan cheese. It, too, was excellent. Another one of our party had spaghetti and meatballs. The gravy and meatball were delicious and the pasta perfectly cooked with a nice bite to it. We were too full to have dessert, but treated ourselves to an espresso and a decaf cappuccino, both perfectly brewed. This is old-school style Italian, done right. I'm excited about finally finding a top-notch Italian restaurant in Boca Raton and I'm looking forward to exploring the rest of their menu. UPDATE: We had my wife's birthday party for 21 in the back room of Pellegrino's, and it was a night to remember. Bobby, the owner, oversaw everything. The food included antipasto, clams oreganata, fried calamari, two types of penne, veal marsala, fish Livornese, chicken Scarpariello and eggplant parm. There wasn't any food left on anyone's plate and everyone loved their dinner. The service was top notch, efficient and courteous. I would advise anyone looking for a medium size venue for a special dinner gathering to consider Pellegrino's. My thanks to Bobby for a very special and memorable evening!
(5)Vibe Manager O.
The mean owner yells at guests in a thick New York accent like an old school gangster wannabe. He sits at the bar, sipping some clear beverage on the rocks and occasionally jumps up to either yell at a guest for asking a simple question or at an employee to do something. The place seems stuck in 1983 in decor and service mentality. Looking around the room, clientele was mostly 60+ who probably feel comfortable in the stale environment. I cannot imagine this restaurant being in business much longer with so many competitors who understand the restaurant business is about making customers happy. Yelp wasn't around in 1983 so I guess it makes sense. We had pasta and meatballs which I would describe as "acceptable food items". The best part of the night were the glasses of their house Chardonnay which helped us tolerate the blustering buffoon.
(1)Joey S.
This establishment is NOT CLOSED. I had dinner there last night with a party of 6, for my wife's birthday. Food and service was great. I always say...see for yourself...don't go by others negative reviews. Enjoy! P.S. The Eggplant Parm we had was the best!...
(5)Martha monica R.
I could eat here every day! Bobby is such a gracious host and everyone make you feel so special, the food is amazing! Italian fare at its best, I love the fish, they have many different sauces :-D
(5)F.B. H.
I've eaten here 3 times, every time the White Wine is warm and they have a different excuse every time. Last night was the very last time.We ordered Shrimp Parmigiana and Veal Franciese. Note: Shrimp Parmigiaa is American invention and the Shrimp are breaded....not here. I receive 4 medium shrimp broiled with some mozzarella cheese - the best part is that they wanted to charge $30! The Veal Francess didn't even qualify as mediocre. Joey, the son of the owner wouldn't come out and defend or explain himself, much less address the bill. We're from NYC, we know Italian food, this place simply sucks. UPDATE: I went to Ron L's party for his wife - I've known her for over 30 years and went as a gesture of respect despite never wanting to return to this dump. If they had done the classy thing I might have reconsidered and deleted my review. I'd still have never gone back there, but I'd have respected the effort and let the rest of the world decide without my 2 cents. Instead that little lowlife Joey actually threatened me in front of a witness. Judge for yourself what kind of people behave that way and whether you want to do business with them.
(1)David G.
We live in BOCA and this is by far the best Italian restaurant. This is a family owned business. They are relatives of RAO'S in East Harlem NY. Same style cooking...even better in my opinion. Check em out.
(5)Lorena P.
My family came in from NYC for the week, I told them about PELLEGRINO'S. They could not believe how great the food was. Real Southern style Italian cuisine. They are hard to please when it comes to any restaurant, but let me say they were more than pleased. They would not stop raving about there meals. We will return!!!
(5)Kerry G.
The food here is not bad but rather expensive and EVERYTHING is ala carte if you order a dinner you do not get anything but your entre No soup, no salad, no pasta that said not bad but we will never come here again Service was terrible! We had to ask for bread after sitting and waiting half an hour. All portions were small - appetizers were ridiculously small. Had to go look for a manager as couldnt get a refill of the small basket of bread -- no manager around on acSaturday night but an admission by one helper that waitor was very busy. No kidding - and he had an additude too. All in all, way over priced for what you get, small portions and ridiculous service DONT' BOTHER!!!!!
(1)Roger M.
I would give this Boca Raton restaurant a zero if I could. Arrived at 6:30 Friday nite with no reservation since I did not plan to be in the area. I heard about the restaurant from radio ads. Why bother if you are not interested in accommodating new diners. The place was 90% empty and the smoke smelling owner said he only has space for us outside. After we objected, he offered us the worst table he could find in the empty eatery. We left. The open-table reviews also agree with this review.
(1)Nancy H.
We were invited by our friends to join them on New Years Eve and two other couples for dinner! The reservation was for 8 at 6:30. Sophia our lovely waitress came to the table and took our initial drink orders, as we sat enjoying our delicious cocktails, the antipasto trays (3) came to the table, in addition to the signature hot peppers and fresh bread surrounded the table, and we had not even ordered our main course! My husband ordered the veal Milanese, and it was fantastic! I ordered the linguine bolognese! Absolutely delicious! Everyone had a delicious meal amongst fantastic atmosphere. The entertainment, a lovely talented female singer was on the patio beginning the New Years celebration, it was after 9 or so, and veal chop guy from the previous review was there too! The good food, the great atmosphere and the 'soda water' was all fantastic' go for dinner to celebrate, go for dinner just because, but please go for dinner!
(5)Jason S.
I ate there Friday- NEVER AGAIN!! The owner is obnoxious and ridiculous. We were with a group of 6 and it took 21/2 hours to get my food. My dinner was never served with the rest of the table, eventually they brought something that I didn't order and then after the table was cleared of everything including the silverware a dish was brought to me. When I refused it the owner began berating and yelling at me. He was ridiculous . The other diners could not believe his behavior . He actually blamed me , the customer for not having the meal after 21/2 hours. In addition the food the others had was only fair.
(1)Brom T.
My wife made New Years Eve reservations for later in the evening, before 9. We arrived and we're seated right away. They has a nice singer there for entertainment. We ordered the provelone and anchovies appetizer. The cheese was VERY strong. Being an authentic Italian restaurant I thought they would have fresh anchovies. They were canned. We both ordered the Veal chop stuffed with Prosciutto and mozzarella medium rare.. So excited for that. They brought out 1 with the prosciutto and the other a grilled veal chop. We told them that we both ordered the same thing. The waitress hesitated and I think she was trying to get me to just take the grilled chop. I told her I wanted what I ordered. Thry came back a few minutes later with..... THE SAME GRILLED CHOP.... just stuffed. I cut it open and it was well done. I told them I ordered it medium rare and I wanted what I ordered. They took it away. The waitress came back again and told me it would be 45 minutes to get a new chop. I told her I WILL WAIT!!!!! They didn't seem too happy that they had to make me a new chop. I also had to order my second club soda three times before it actually came. The medium rare stuffed veal chop arrived 15 mins later and it was AMAZING!!!! JUICY, TENDER, AND PERFECTLY DONE. They aolpologized up and down and then offered us complimentary coffees and a dessert. Overall, a big hassle with the meal but it tasted great! !!!!!!
(2)Laura P.
None of these people know what they're talking about. The food is great, the service is even better. They make you feel like you're part of their family. The waiters are funny and attentive and the owner is a sweetheart. If you don't like Pellegrino's you don't know what's good.
(5)Laura T.
It is amazing how one horrible waiter could ruin your whole evening! My husband & I come down to Boca once a month. We savor our precious time here and greatly enjoy dining out. Tonight, with dear friends we were looking forward to trying a new restaurant. It is with great disappointment that I created a login on Yelp just to let everyone know that our experience was ruined by our horrific waiter. He never stayed longer than one second at our table. He was so disinterested in helping us, that we half finished a sentence, and he left. This was repeated over, and over again with each and every course. When we left, we spoke to the owner, who really didn't seem to care. It was quite disappointing, as the food was not that bad. If it wasn't for the waiter and the attitude there, we might have given it another chance!
(1)K M.
Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the joint The diners were reaching their breaking point. They sat down at the table at 7:45, But it was 10:15 when their entrees arrived. It had taken an hour for salads to appear, And our requests for "no anchovies" fell on deaf ears. The antipasto was a miniscule dish, Far too small for a table of six. The soundtrack: a seasonal DVD Of opera singers Il Volo, three Italian youths with wild hair, Which played four times over while we sat there. Sometime around the two-hour mark When I began to consider eating my fork We detected the smell of a cigarette smoking Surely, we thought, someone must be joking! Who was the culprit? We could not tell From whence came the offending smell Until someone reported what they had seen--oh! It was none other than Bobby Pellegrino! As we drank and drank to pass the time It was not long before we began to find That our drinks stopped coming, and no one cared And still, that god damn Il Volo blared. The food, when it finally came our way Was totally, incredibly, completely...okay. Although, chicken scarpariello was quite fine, If you like that sort of thing, and have the time. And as for the owner and employees, All they offered were apologies. No free dessert, nor a discount; Yes, after all that, we paid the full amount. Too long, didn't read? This place stinks. Although compliments to whoever makes the drinks. Don't go, my friends; it's not worth the fight. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
(2)Jorge S.
I write a lot of reviews here as I eat out all the time. I don't write good things unless the places are good and the service is great. I have a lot of followers here so I would like to tell you about my experience at Pellerinos. First it is located in a strip mall in Boca Raton. The outside of the place was all lit up with mini lights and looked very classy and dressed up. they have a beautiful outdoor patio to enjoy meals on those great days when it isn't too hot. Bobby , the owner met us at the door. a very pleasant man, he is a New Yorker with many years in the restaurant business as he owned a very successful restaurant in Harlem, N.Y. The decor is very subdued. Nice pictures on the walls and nice lighting. We sat by the bar where the bartender Eric took care of us as though we were his family. Very pleasant, nicely dressed, a little different from most south Florida restaurants. The drinks were perfect. Not too strong but just right. We decided to eat right at the bar and he set us up very nicely. Out came the warm bread and olive oil. we started with the prosciutto and mozzarella and it was delicious! Awesome! I ordered the clams oreganate and they came out quickly and perfect. Not too chewy but just enough. For the main, I had the veal parmigiana and it was perfect. I'm sort of afraid to order vela at most places as it is usually too stringy for me. It was perfect. I didn't have room for dessert but they have a great selection. If you are looking for a nice Italian dinner this is the place. mind you it isn't cheap but it is perfect in every way. Worth every penny. Thank you to the staff especially the bartender Eric for your great service!! Will be back soon!!
(5)Tiffany K.
WORST establishment ever! My friends and I spent hundreds of dollars on a pathetic excuse of a meal that the waiter messed up on, manager claimed he would discount bill for mistakes but did not, and my husband got verbally assaulted by the owner. This place was a NIGHTMARE. McDonalds has better service/employees than this ridiculously overprice shit hole excuse of a restaurant. Also make sure you check your bank statement afterwards if you plan on eating here- because they like to have the BUSBOY run your credit card (which he clearly has not been trained to do) and charge you DOUBLE the amount of bill. Total waste of time, energy, money, and to top it off not so great food. Then again how could anyone possible enjoy a meal that takes over an hour to recieve and then is verbally abused by management because god forbid you complain about your food. This was a terrible experience that my friends, husband and I will NEVER repeat.
(1)Larry M.
Went back two more times still the best around u can keep the expensive places this is the real deal. Let.joey take care of u and make sure u have the spendini and clams oreganato Friendly,professional and consistent oh check out the photos near the restrooms the are the bomb
(5)Steven W.
Bobby the owner is a arrogant jerk. Treats customers like he is doing u a favor. Never got my meal and when I complained he said what do u want me to do. He was a jerk at his other location but thought maybe he got some class after going broke. Nope.
(1)Patricia M.
Had a lot of high hopes from the print ad's about Pellegrinos, but was completley dissapointed. Made a reservation, but didn't seem to need one because it was pretty much empty except for some elderly couples. Ordered the Spedini Alla Romano, and stuffed artichoke appetizer. Spedini was good, the artichoke was way over cooked mushy and tasteless. Sent it back didn't want another but the owner insisted, guess what still mushy and overcooked and no taste. Dinner we had the eggplant parm, and chicken Scaparillo. Eggplant looked ok but came with no pasta or salad or anything seemed expensive for just run of the mill egglplant. Chicken Scapriello was decent but again no side pasta or anything else, so asked for side of pasta which never came out. Cannoli for dessert bland boring and unapealing flavor. We also ordered a bottle of wine that was on sale, and when i got the check it was still full price, I had to ask to get it discounted....annyoing and never again what a waste of money. The wierd thing about this place was that they had an old man with a white apron on from the kitchen bringing out all the food to the tables not the servers. I felt bad he worked much harder than everyone else in there seemed un fair and very uncomfortable to whatch and be a part of.
(1)frank w.
The Deerfield Beach location is closed and they have reopened next to Gary Woo's in Boca. Same completely outstanding food in a better location. Don't miss the hot shrimp appitizer.
(5)Janis G.
After having read reviews on Pellegrino's Restorante I was reluctant to give it a try. I am glad I did not allow the negative reviews to discourage my visit. The location is excellent. They have created a lovely, private outdoor dining space that is set way back from the street and the parking lot. There are lots of twinkling lights and on Saturday night there was live music..not loud, just right. We ate inside and the surroundings and decor were pleasant. They pride themselves as a New York style Italian restaurant and they did a good job looking the part. There is a side room that can be closed off with doors for private parties. The wait staff were helpful and pleasant. The food was very good. We did not have appetizers or salads, only main course but all four of us enjoyed our meals. I had shrimp...the shrimp were huge and perfectly cooked. The price was within reason. I will definitely return to this restaurant. Don't believe the nay sayers. They are not justified.
(4)