We have been here on 2 occasions. The first time the service was very slow. The oysters we ordered sat at the bar for 10 minutes before we had to ask for them. We didn't get offered bread when other tables has them. We decided to give them another try. The service and food were both wonderful. It seemed the manager was actually on duty this night.
(4)
Abi Y.
I've gone 3 times . This was the worst. Ossco bocco was expensive and very blan.
(1)
Emily M.
Love it! I have dined at Ruffino's three times and left with a smile every time. I love the crabmeat cheesecake app and filet mignon, in particular. Everyone at the table always seems to love their entrees, and the service remains superb--even particularly patient with my small children after the babysitter fell through once. Any place that sends complimentary cotton candy at the end of a meal scores big points in my book. We will definitely return and look forward to more special experiences at Ruffino's. I also love that they often offer "special" menus or holiday items. They make a point to remain true to their signature dishes and switch it up from time-to-time to stay relevant and inventive. I'm a fan.
(4)
Jannean D.
Exceptional service. We had three wait staff to assist our table, each of whom were very attentive. The bartenders make a fabulous French martini. You must try the Taste of Ruffinos! Amazing!! Braised pork cheeks were stunning. It was my first time eating this cut of meat and I was impressed. The entire meal was splendid. We will be returning!!
(5)
AshLee S.
Overall: Ruffinos is worth it if you have a gift card; however, I would not go without one. It felt like an upscale Sammy's, with Flemings prices. If you're looking for a nice upscale dinner, try Flemings or Texas de Brazil. Pros: -The service was great! - the crabmeat cheesecake was stellar (appetizer) Cons: - atmosphere; too loud - our entrees were on the bad side. My boyfriend's steak came out rare when he asked for medium well. My fish katie was okay. There was nothing to special about it and it was overpriced.
(3)
Jennie H.
Picked up take out today as we are new to the area and have a small child we did want to eat in with. The ambience was very pretty. They had a beautiful fireplace and nice lighting I noticed as I was waiting. Got our takeout home, we ordered Fish Katie, lasagna and spaghetti. The Fish Katie dish on the online menu stated it had a side- we did not receive it. The spaghetti noodles were VERY overdone. The lasagna was okay, and I believe it would have been much better if it just came out of the oven (if we ate in). I thought maybe we would of got some bread, a side salad or something..however none of the above. We order takeout frequently and usually do not write reviews, however I thought after hearing how great this establishment is and the unfortunate experience we had, I would on this one. We will possibly try them one more time dining in next time nonetheless.
(3)
Shannon H.
Our absolute favorite restaurant. We host our company Christmas parties here as well as most special occasions personally. The food is amazing!
(5)
Andy S.
The locals love this place, if that tells you something. Ruffino's is always hopping and the parking lot is always full. Well, maybe not always, but you get the point. The food is good, the atmosphere is nice, and the prices are not too outrageous for what you get. The place is not in the heart of Baton Rouge, so it will require a drive for tourists. My lone complaint is that they have to have flatscreen TVs on every wall. Can't people enjoy a nice Italian meal without having to watch TV? Can't people just sit, eat, and talk anymore? Ruffino's is not alone in this.
(4)
Don H.
Came for appetizers and drinks, had the Shrimp Corn Dogs (tasty), Seafood Aricini (very tasty), and BarBQue Shrimp (excellent). Great food and drinks!
(4)
Lizzie J.
This place is worth the price. I had the cedar plank redfish like other people suggested and it was DELISH!!! I have also had the ribeye before and it will melt in your mouth. I went with a group of girls tonight and we ordered one of each dessert and tasted each one. You can't go wrong on any of them.
(5)
Eric B.
What do you get when you combine the talents of a former LSU lineman and a New Orleans- born Italian chef? You get Baton Rouge's only Italian-Creole fusion restaurant! During my recent business trip, we managed to dine at some really nice places during our almost 2 week stay in the greater Baton Rouge area. Ruffino's was highly recommended by our Hosts, and as soon as we walked in, I knew that I had been here before. It's fancy, dark inside, and has the service and prices to match. However, when on expense account, a little more choice flexibility is possible. Our Party of 8 was well taken care of, including appetizers, a couple bottles of wine (picked by me as the token California guy), and an assortment of delicious entrees. I particularly enjoyed and highly recommend the Cedar Plank Baked Redfish. It was a very nice evening out, especially after a hard day at work.
(4)
Marie S.
Great consistent food and service. Great lunch menu. Fun to eat at the bar too! Let them know you're celebrating an event. They'll do a special dessert.
(4)
Anthony I.
Ruffino's thinks it's an upscale restaurant with fancy flairs. Really, it's loud, overpriced, and tacky with lots of cream, sugar, and butter in everything. If it cost half as much as it does, I might still eat there. To be sure, the crab cheesecake appetizer is massively delicious. Everything else was substandard but priced like you're eating high-end in a big city. When the waiter was setting tables near us with his fingers stuck inside the wine glasses, my wife swore never to return.
(2)
Jackie D.
Please note this review is for a private dining reservation. Oh my dear lord in heaven. I'm glad when I finally made it to Ruffino's, someone else was footing the bill because I got to try everything and it was all DELICIOUS. And worth every last calorie. We started with Dirty Ketel martinis. Several. Then came the passarounds. Redfish Beignets, which were reminiscent to crabcakes but had a little more breading and a slightly different flavor. Tasty, but I could only do one because it was pretty heavy. Next, was the Alligator Sausage with caramelized onions and a mustard dipping sauce. GLORIOUS with a ton of flavors that worked really well together. I could have eaten an entire tray of this, if I didn't have a 4 course dinner coming. Next, we were seated to a first course that could very well be described as the best thing I've eaten in Baton Rouge - the Crabmeat Cheesecake. Y'ALL. It's rich, it's crabby, it's creamy, and then it has this crust like sweet cheesecake would have that's crispy and awesome and you just can't help but eat the entire thing. It was die and go to heaven good. I would absolutely go back and get that with a salad and be super satisfied. Second course was a Caesar Salad served with their bread. The Caesar Salad was just a basic Caesar but the bread was like WHOA. They serve regular french bread with this Italian butter that can be best described as a combo of the deliciousness of the olive oil/cheese mixture served on top of bread at the Little Village combined with olive tapenade. YUM and again, could have eaten it ALL DAY LONG. Third course was the entree - we had a choice of Chicken Parm, Ribeye with Barbeque Shrimp, Filet Mignon, or Fish. I went with the Ribeye with Barbeque Shrimp and it was wonderful. I've never had Steak with NOLA style BBQ shrimp and now I feel like it's a combo that every restaurant should offer. The steak sucks up all of the tasty shrimp juice and it's just...legendary. The steak was served medium and cooked perfectly. Certainly impressive and indicative of a great restaurant that medium can be executed on EVERY steak that comes out in a PDR. By the fourth course, I was so full that I could barely move and more than a little inebriated on free booze, but dessert was bread pudding and how can you really turn that down? Well, I didn't. And it was so worth the pain. Custardy in the inside, crispy on the outside - pretty sure it was the Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding that quite a few restaurants in BR serve, but it was executed very well and left me satisfied. At the end of the meal, I was food drunk, booze drunk, and sublimely happy, and wouldn't have wanted it any other way. The service was outstanding - no drink was ever empty, plate timing was right on. The food was outstanding. The booze, specifically their house Pinot Noir, was outstanding. It's hard to imagine a better all-around experience at a restaurant in Baton Rouge, and I will definitely refer it to anyone who asks for a suggestion on dining for a SPECIAL night out.
(5)
Brad P.
We are always happy when leaving this place. Food is GREAT! People are GREAT! Excellent wine list. I really like to sit in the bar area even to eat. It has a good atmosphere with a large selection of drinks. Staff always ask if you need anything. I love it.
(4)
Racquel C.
I love Italian! I am Italian! So when my bf surprised me with a fancy date night to Ruffino's I was ecstatic. Or so I thought. Service is great, I will give them that. There's also a bartender who works Sunday evenings, forgot her name but she's very pretty(not the red head, she's very rude and inconsistent with her drinks) but anyways the bartender working Sunday evenings is on point with her cocktails and very friendly. Ok so moving on to dinner.. We ordered the taste of Ruffino's app would I great. It's all very rich but overall great and we basically licked the plated clean. Our main entrees on the other hand were very disappointing. My boyfriend ordered the lasagna which seemed like a go to being Italian cuisine, not so much. We were very confused after a few bites because there seemed to be no pasta in the dish?? When asking the waiter he explained the pasta is made in house and made so thin is basically disintegrates into the me when baked which is very odd to me. My family cooks authentic Italian lasagna on many occasions and I've never seen this to be a problem. Needless say my boyfriend was unhappy with his dish and actually sent it back to the kitchen. After waiting a good 30-40 minutes for our entrees and knowing the restaurant was closing soon we didn't ask to we didn't ask for the entree to be replaced but we sent the entire entree back with maybe 3 bites taken out. I order the Veal Michael and let me tell you I love veal! I was so excited for this dish and first bite in I was overwhelmed by the taste of freezer burntness or just over cooked and chewy. My boyfriend always complained his entree tasted like it was a frozen dish not fresh. I also let the waiter know how I felt about my dish and after only a few bites asked him to box it togo. We ordered two desserts togo since we were both still very hungry from our unsatisfying meals. And the waiter still charged us for the both plates?!? I was a bit annoyed. But we aren't ones to make a fuss. What was very odd to me was after we order two desserts the waiter came to us and said he slipped in an extra piece of choc cake. Well thanks but we already ordered and paid for 2 desserts? So instead of throwing another cheap piece of cake in the back why not accommodate the mistakes that were made during dinner?? So being that we thoroughly enjoyed our drinks from the cute Sunday night bartender that following Saturday after the tigers made that awesome win against Ole Miss we decided to catch a few drinks at the bar. To our dismay a different bartender was working she had reddish hair a bad attitude and consistent drinks. We also heard her make a remark to one of the male staff that my boyfriend was an asshole. Interesting customer service from this particular staff member.
(3)
Brian R.
Meh. I have been to Ruffino's before and enjoyed their ribeye, but the flounder special that is currently being offered was not good. It was overcooked and dry. Dining service was as great as it was previously, but the bar tends need to work on their customer service. Overall, I'd recommend for beef, but go across the street to Creole for seafood.
(3)
Ryan B.
Always good food and excellent service. A must stop for food while in Baton Rouge.
(5)
Ken R.
Thursday night four of us ate again at Ruffino's. It was hard for me to resist eating one of their delicious wood stove piazzas. I forced myself to pick something from the menu which has so much to choose from. I settled on one of the signature veal dishes which came with a great side dish of cheese pasta. The veal itself was good, just not great. I still prefer Ruffino's over many others because of their wide selection and because over many years I have never had anything bad. Service continues to be very good.
(4)
M M.
We have been here on 2 occasions. The first time the service was very slow. The oysters we ordered sat at the bar for 10 minutes before we had to ask for them. We didn't get offered bread when other tables has them. We decided to give them another try. The service and food were both wonderful. It seemed the manager was actually on duty this night.
(4)
Christine S.
We have been going to Ruffino's for years, (first date with the love of my life) and our most recent dinner there, renewed my reason for this truly being my all time favorite restaurant. The service is incredible, the daily menu items were awesome caprese salad, the Amberjack, both outstanding. The pomegranate martini always awesome, and the seafood Arancini appetizer always the best choice, my sons favorite!! A few years ago I was a little on the fence about whether Ruffinos would be able to stay consistent, it just seemed like they were slipping a little, not enough to make me write anything less than satisfactory, but curious. However they added pistachios to the sensation salad, so wonderful, and last night was truly just premium, from the food, to the ambience, fabulous!! We loved everything last night, wonderful meal, outstanding service! We love the cotton candy too!! Always a wonderful evening especially when celebrating a special occasion!! Thanks for the tweeks, we noticed!!
(5)
Steve S.
I am not Italian, not even 1/32nd, so if you think there is some genetic component giving people with distant Italian decent an edge with judging this place, please pass on my review. I always find these type of Italian places over priced, and this is no exception. The marinara sauce is fantastic, as is every thing they use it on, except the "pizza". I know this isn't a pizza joint, but what my daughter was served should be embarrassing. We go every year because it's a tradition for my daughters birthday. Her mom is not Italian either.
(3)
Cindi G.
Excellent foods where the locals come to eat. I met friends here on a Sunday afternoon when the place was packed. The service was a little slow due to the crowd but the entrees did not disappoint.
(5)
Jordan T.
Great food & atmosphere! You've gotta try the silver sea scallops, if you like scallops!
(5)
Kenneth M.
My wife and I celebrated something special at Ruffino's, our 43rd anniversary. We were a table of two. I had been to Rufffino's a couple of times before. It had been a few years since I had been there, but I expected them to have the Italian dishes, such as Cannelloni, on the menu. They were not. Only two or three Italian selections, all over $25. Pasta with gold flakes, perhaps? Our waiter was good and attentive, but not overbearing. The girl who took care of the table was friendly and efficient. The Italian bread with the olive oil and Parmesan was as good as ever. My wife had the fish special with crabmeat topping and I had the Veal (I don't remember what the name of the dish was). I don't take notes when I eat and I don't use my cell phone either. With the traditional Italian dishes off of the menu, eating for less than $25 for an entree' is not possible. Overall the food was good and the service friendly and efficient. It is a popular spot, but I agree with other reviewers in that the TVs bring the place down into the ordinary. The waiter did a cute job of putting a message on our dessert plate congratulating us on our 43rd anniversary. I do not think we will be back, though. There are much better places to eat without spending a C-note before tip without alcohol. Food: Good service: very good atmosphere: fair Prices: Through the stratosphere I have edited this review to add a star. I do not want to put into the same category as the dismal Le Creole. The service is what got it another star.
(3)
Jason D.
Overpriced mediocrity. Filet overcooked and dry, cedar redfish was a huge disappointment for $30. Last 3 trips have not lived up to expectations.
(2)
Shayne L.
Food and service both great. I had mussel appetizer wife had cab cakes both were delicious. Entree was sheepshead with lobster topping. Fish was ok. Lobster was great.
(4)
Mitchell G.
Ate lunch here after church. Once again Ruffino's does not disappoint. The fresh made crab dip was incredible and there was not one shell from the crab. Wonderful attention to detail even in those type details. My wife, who seldom eats red meat, ordered the prime rib and asked for well done. The meat arrived cooked as she requested and still moist and tender. My knuckle sandwich (lump lobster meat from the claws) was fantastic and would highly recommend both of the preceding. Ruffino's continues to maintain a high quality product and experience. You will not be disappointed here.
(5)
Reshawn L.
Delicious Friday lunch!! WOW! The Cedar Plank Baked Redfish is a must! In a word, INCREDIBLE!! The potatoes were the perfect compliment. In TX and LA everyone drinks iced tea. This place has some of the best lemonade I've ever had. Not too sweet and not too tart. It's hard to believe they are only open for lunch one day a week. I will definitely return when I have occasion to be in Baton Rouge and I may check out the Lafayette location.
(5)
Julie S.
My husband and I make Ruffino's our Friday night date night location. It's always consistent with service and food. We love the atmosphere and the great strawberry martinis.
(5)
J S.
I've been looking for good italian restaurant in town and this one is NOT it. Having lived in NY for a number of years and travelled to Italy, I would call this Cajun Italian...definitely not Italian. Actually I would give the food a 2 stars....the salad and appetizer were good, but the pasta dishes were total disappointment. The true test of Italian cooking is the spaghetti and meatballs. What I got was noodles drowning in tomato paste that had a hint of chilli seasoning. A little garlic, basil, and parsley would have gone a long ways in improving this dish. I think I could have gotten a better meal by opening a can of Ragu. Even my husband who will eat anything threw the thing out after choking down a few bites of the leftover the next day. My husband ordered some sort of pork tenderloin with with a side of creamy pasta. The meat was way over salted. I don't understand why everything needs to be deep fried. (It seems so uncreative.) The capellini pasta was overcooked to the point where it was mushy. The creamy sauce was so creamy and fatty that I can only eat two bites. Did not care the the dipping sauce for the bread. Good quality olive oil and herbs would have been fine. Why the heck did they feel they need to mix in the Parmesan cheese so it looks like brown goop? It's revolting. Service was good. However, we had to remind the wait staff to bring us the main course after we sat there for 30 minutes after the salad was served.
(2)
Cristy C.
I only update my reviews when I feel the need to share something significant. I came here about two nights ago. It was a Sunday I recall because they were closing at 9 and we walked in around 8:35. Our servers name was Shane. Very nice, cool and polite young man. I was with Jack and our friend Q. Yes, his name is Q. Anyways we ordered appetizers drinks and entrees. Long story short we waited over30 min and our appetizer never came. Our entrees arrived. I asked for my sauce on the side and so did Jack. They got my order right, but they messed up Jacks order. His iced tea never came either. Once our entrees got there and we were almost done I got up to tell a manager that he could cancel our appetizer order because we were almost done with our entrees. He looked at me and looked annoyed. Hey, I didn't do anything. He actually had the appetizer in his hand and was about to bring it over. He said, "I still want you to enjoy it. I'll take it off your tab." Well, that was kind. But it felt very forced. I'm good at reading people. We assumed our server forgot to put in the appetizer order, just how he forgot Jacks iced tea and didn't put his sauce on the side. It just wasn't as nice of an experience as it usually is. And we're regulars. As a matter of fact, according to my Yelp check-ins I am the duchess of Ruffinos which means I have the most check ins comped to any other Yelper. Anyways this was one bad experience out of 5 or 6. The odds of having a bad experience here is probably slim. However if Shane is your server either as for another one or just be prepared. Because I've warned you. Im not sure who's fault this was but I'm mor likely to blame it on the server than the chef. The food is always spectacular. I'll just keep in the back of my mind that there's going to be a slim chance of a mess up.
(2)
Becky L.
It's a little difficult to decide where to start. Why they get two stars and not one: The waitress was very sincere in her manner and cheerfulness. It was clean. The food was edible. Why they ONLY get two stars: Out front it is advertised an Itailan restaurant and has an electric scrolling marquee to go with their traditional sign. There is absolutely nothing about the front that says, "This is fine dining". That being said, we went in wearing jeans and t-shirts with windbreakers (which ended up being necessary because it was fairly chilly). The menu is ridiculously small. Four entrees does not make you an Italian restaurant, especially when two of them are spaghetti and meatballs and lasagna and the other two are ______________ Parmesan. Granted, the MENU describes Ruffino's as Italian, steak, and seafood, but you don't know that going in. Again, NOTHING about the outside suggests what to expect on the inside. The prices are STEEP, but I've had a better filet at other restaurants in Baton Rouge for a third of the price. Yes, a third. Salads are a la carte and also not worth what they cost, though the dressings were interesting and different. That doesn't mean you get to charge that much. The desserts were average in size and quality with above average pricing. The initial atmosphere is really nice, BUT about halfway through our meal, the easy listening was replaced with loud music from the bar area (on the opposite side of the restaurant) that was completely different in genre. It went from a quiet dinner to just shy of Applebees. There was also a big screen TV in the dinning room with a football game on. As soon as you add that to your dining room, you can no longer claim fine dining status and you certainly can't price as one. Seriously. Overall, as well traveled individuals who have lived in a variety of places, we know excellent food and what it should cost. What we experienced was decent food at "excellent" prices. If I am going to pay that much, which I am happy to do for a quality dining experience, my dinner had better be amazing. It should make me want to run home and write a great Yelp review, not spend 5 days trying to talk myself out of writing a negative one (note I lost that argument). In the way of constructive criticism, if the management/ownership does nothing else, change the outward appearance so that people driving by (tourists or new to town) know what to expect when visiting your restaurant. And if you want to pass yourself off as fine dining, lose the TV and the scrolling marquee.
(2)
Shannon D.
I absolutely loved this place. The food was so yummy & even though it was crazy busy for Valentine's Day the staff were friendly & cheerful.We did not feel rushed in the slightest. The food absolutely exceeded my expectations. I would highly recommend eating here to all of my friends!
(5)
Rachel M.
The food was great as always. The service and atmosphere of Ruffinos has gone greatly downhill. I have never felt more rushed through a meal. If you want to be hurried out of the restaurant in under an hour while paying premium price...ruffinos is the spot!
(3)
Roger B.
We had the Sunday Brunch at Ruffino's with family to celebrate our granddaughter's birthday. They had made the reservations and the table was ready when we arrived. I started off with a Bloody Mary while I looked over the lunch options. Several at the table had the bottomless Mimosas. We opted for the Lobster Mac and cheese as an appetizer. I ordered the crabmeat omelet while my wife ordered the grillades and grits. Fresh bread came out while we were waiting. The Sensation salad (a very different Caesar salad) apparently came with each order. Lite and tasty. Finally the main courses came out. The portions were generous. And the food was great. Since the waiter knew it was a birthday celebration, he brought her a complementary birthday tiramisu dessert. The final touch was when both children received cotton candy to eat on the way home. The wait staff is very attentive and service was great.
(4)
Hannah B.
Wait staff was exceptionally attentive. My friend and I met for dinner and were fully satisfied with the lobster plate. YUM! It was a pound and a half of buttery heaven. The ciabatta bread was disappointing. The olive oil dipping sauce was great but the bread was VERY hard. White chocolate brownie was fantastic! I'm not a huge brownie fan but I could have eaten it plus ten and licked the plate!
(5)
Albert P.
Heard a lot about Ruffino's...was really looking to a first class meal. Uh oh... Corn & crab chowder was delicious! The appetizer sampler was not good at all. It was cold and gummy...the flavors were all the same. BBQ shrimp was not good at all. The famous crawfish cheesecake was pasty and bland. The diver scallop was almost raw. My friend's entrees came out cold and also very underseasoned. The desserts...tiramisu was hard and dry and had no espresso flavor. The bread pudding was very good. Service was spotty...too few servers, although it was a busy Wednesday night. I'll try this place again, even though tonight was a big disappointment.
(2)
Christopher R.
This place is amazing! Couldn't decide between the prime rib and the 12oz filet mignon. I got the filet and couldn't have been happier. The cut and temp were perfection. Melted like butter with tenderness. Topped it with shrimp and had roasted potatoes on the side. I definitely recommend everyone tries it. The scenery was nice. Service was attentive and knowledgable of the menu and wine selections. Zero bad things to say and I look forward to becoming a regular!
(5)
Meghan K.
I used to not really enjoy going to Ruffinos. It was a long drive got an okay meal. My thoughts changed last night. I ordered off the nightly special and was thoroughly impressed. I'm wishing I would've got thee appetizer special. We got the seafood cocktail and it was okay. The shrimp were overlooked. I love the bread and dipping sauce they bring out. I ate waaayyyy too much of it. My mangrove snapper was topped with lobster and mango with some sort of buerre blancc sauce. It was perfectly cooked and was awesome. My sorbet special was good as well. It was a little tart tasting but still good. The service was on point!
(4)
Samera W.
Were celebrating my Birthday so my Husband made sure to make reservations. We had to wait a bit because we where 30 minutes early but we didnt mind. Once seated the lighting was nice and perfect. They serve you fresh baked bread with some Romano, Parmesan Cheese with Herbs and Olive Oil. I ordered the Ribeye because they were out of the Prime Rib (Disappointment #1). When I get the Steak my roasted potatoes where undercooked and honestly i had better ribeyes.(Dissapointment #2) At the end when the bill came we got complimentary cotton candy and a sweet dessert for my Birthday!
(4)
John C.
After seeing this restaurant (Rufinno's) sponsoring several local fishing programs, by-passed Ruth's Chris and I decided to take my fiancee (for belated birthday) and her daughter (also belated birthday-LSU student) to eat Italian food! Made reservations for Sunday (August 23rd). Upon entering and being shown to our table, we immediately noticed dust on the wine bottles while passing the front wine rack. The red carpet in the dining area was old and in need of cleaning maybe replacing. My fiancee went to the ladies' room and after returning, she related how deplorable the restroom was in (wet floors, vanity wet and wet conditions in the toilet area)! The entrees were less than mediocre: fiancee order pasta/linguine and Marinera gravy; daughter ordered pasta Alfredo and I ordered the veal "Palermo" which had a side metal dish of pasta (tasted like canned Chef Boy-ar-dee (sp)! The service was okay to say the least, one waitress overly-friendly and flowerly! The 'birthday desserts' were good. I paid with a personal credit card which clearly states on the rear...:SHOW PIC ID"---NO REQUEST FOR ID by either the waiter nor the waitress which equals 5% less gratituity. Fiancee boxed her left over meal. We left extremely disappointed. Later that evening, my fiancee rewarmed her left over linguine...she discovered a 1.5" very thin piece of copper-colored wire in the gravy/linguine! NEVER EVER AGAIN!!! John Castelluccio, Jr. Metairie, LA
(1)
David D.
Food was good. Not great but good. I really did not like the wait team approach. We had 3 different servers and due to that, things get mixed up or missed. When you have one waiter, they know what you want and confusion does not occur. I probably won't be going back until this is eliminated.
(3)
Emily M.
Love it! I have dined at Ruffino's three times and left with a smile every time. I love the crabmeat cheesecake app and filet mignon, in particular. Everyone at the table always seems to love their entrees, and the service remains superb--even particularly patient with my small children after the babysitter fell through once. Any place that sends complimentary cotton candy at the end of a meal scores big points in my book. We will definitely return and look forward to more special experiences at Ruffino's. I also love that they often offer "special" menus or holiday items. They make a point to remain true to their signature dishes and switch it up from time-to-time to stay relevant and inventive. I'm a fan.
(4)
Jannean D.
Exceptional service. We had three wait staff to assist our table, each of whom were very attentive. The bartenders make a fabulous French martini. You must try the Taste of Ruffinos! Amazing!! Braised pork cheeks were stunning. It was my first time eating this cut of meat and I was impressed. The entire meal was splendid. We will be returning!!
(5)
AshLee S.
Overall: Ruffinos is worth it if you have a gift card; however, I would not go without one. It felt like an upscale Sammy's, with Flemings prices. If you're looking for a nice upscale dinner, try Flemings or Texas de Brazil. Pros: -The service was great! - the crabmeat cheesecake was stellar (appetizer) Cons: - atmosphere; too loud - our entrees were on the bad side. My boyfriend's steak came out rare when he asked for medium well. My fish katie was okay. There was nothing to special about it and it was overpriced.
(3)
Jennie H.
Picked up take out today as we are new to the area and have a small child we did want to eat in with. The ambience was very pretty. They had a beautiful fireplace and nice lighting I noticed as I was waiting. Got our takeout home, we ordered Fish Katie, lasagna and spaghetti. The Fish Katie dish on the online menu stated it had a side- we did not receive it. The spaghetti noodles were VERY overdone. The lasagna was okay, and I believe it would have been much better if it just came out of the oven (if we ate in). I thought maybe we would of got some bread, a side salad or something..however none of the above. We order takeout frequently and usually do not write reviews, however I thought after hearing how great this establishment is and the unfortunate experience we had, I would on this one. We will possibly try them one more time dining in next time nonetheless.
(3)
Shannon H.
Our absolute favorite restaurant. We host our company Christmas parties here as well as most special occasions personally. The food is amazing!
(5)
Andy S.
The locals love this place, if that tells you something. Ruffino's is always hopping and the parking lot is always full. Well, maybe not always, but you get the point. The food is good, the atmosphere is nice, and the prices are not too outrageous for what you get. The place is not in the heart of Baton Rouge, so it will require a drive for tourists. My lone complaint is that they have to have flatscreen TVs on every wall. Can't people enjoy a nice Italian meal without having to watch TV? Can't people just sit, eat, and talk anymore? Ruffino's is not alone in this.
(4)
Don H.
Came for appetizers and drinks, had the Shrimp Corn Dogs (tasty), Seafood Aricini (very tasty), and BarBQue Shrimp (excellent). Great food and drinks!
(4)
Lizzie J.
This place is worth the price. I had the cedar plank redfish like other people suggested and it was DELISH!!! I have also had the ribeye before and it will melt in your mouth. I went with a group of girls tonight and we ordered one of each dessert and tasted each one. You can't go wrong on any of them.
(5)
Jackie D.
Please note this review is for a private dining reservation. Oh my dear lord in heaven. I'm glad when I finally made it to Ruffino's, someone else was footing the bill because I got to try everything and it was all DELICIOUS. And worth every last calorie. We started with Dirty Ketel martinis. Several. Then came the passarounds. Redfish Beignets, which were reminiscent to crabcakes but had a little more breading and a slightly different flavor. Tasty, but I could only do one because it was pretty heavy. Next, was the Alligator Sausage with caramelized onions and a mustard dipping sauce. GLORIOUS with a ton of flavors that worked really well together. I could have eaten an entire tray of this, if I didn't have a 4 course dinner coming. Next, we were seated to a first course that could very well be described as the best thing I've eaten in Baton Rouge - the Crabmeat Cheesecake. Y'ALL. It's rich, it's crabby, it's creamy, and then it has this crust like sweet cheesecake would have that's crispy and awesome and you just can't help but eat the entire thing. It was die and go to heaven good. I would absolutely go back and get that with a salad and be super satisfied. Second course was a Caesar Salad served with their bread. The Caesar Salad was just a basic Caesar but the bread was like WHOA. They serve regular french bread with this Italian butter that can be best described as a combo of the deliciousness of the olive oil/cheese mixture served on top of bread at the Little Village combined with olive tapenade. YUM and again, could have eaten it ALL DAY LONG. Third course was the entree - we had a choice of Chicken Parm, Ribeye with Barbeque Shrimp, Filet Mignon, or Fish. I went with the Ribeye with Barbeque Shrimp and it was wonderful. I've never had Steak with NOLA style BBQ shrimp and now I feel like it's a combo that every restaurant should offer. The steak sucks up all of the tasty shrimp juice and it's just...legendary. The steak was served medium and cooked perfectly. Certainly impressive and indicative of a great restaurant that medium can be executed on EVERY steak that comes out in a PDR. By the fourth course, I was so full that I could barely move and more than a little inebriated on free booze, but dessert was bread pudding and how can you really turn that down? Well, I didn't. And it was so worth the pain. Custardy in the inside, crispy on the outside - pretty sure it was the Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding that quite a few restaurants in BR serve, but it was executed very well and left me satisfied. At the end of the meal, I was food drunk, booze drunk, and sublimely happy, and wouldn't have wanted it any other way. The service was outstanding - no drink was ever empty, plate timing was right on. The food was outstanding. The booze, specifically their house Pinot Noir, was outstanding. It's hard to imagine a better all-around experience at a restaurant in Baton Rouge, and I will definitely refer it to anyone who asks for a suggestion on dining for a SPECIAL night out.
(5)
Brad P.
We are always happy when leaving this place. Food is GREAT! People are GREAT! Excellent wine list. I really like to sit in the bar area even to eat. It has a good atmosphere with a large selection of drinks. Staff always ask if you need anything. I love it.
(4)
Gene S.
Our family and a couple of friends went here to celebrate my daughter's birthday...her choice. The wait staff was friendly and professional for the most part, however the waiter forgot to place the order for one of our party. When the item arrived, it was not prepared to order and was waaaaay overcooked. Two dishes were well seasoned and prepared, two were merely acceptable, but another two dishes were barely edible...overcooked and served cold. This is $10 a plate food, not $25 as priced, and would not stand it's own against a real Italian restaurant.
(2)
John R.
This place is a bit of a local attraction and is always busy. They offer huge portions on all of their dishes. I have always found the food to be average, but on my last visit it crossed the line to bad. I had a house salad that was wilted and virtually smothered in cheese. The chicken parmesan was a huge slab of under cooked and unpounded breast. The acompaning pasta was covered with their too sweet marinara sauce. If you love Italian food, there are better places.
(2)
Meghan K.
I used to not really enjoy going to Ruffinos. It was a long drive got an okay meal. My thoughts changed last night. I ordered off the nightly special and was thoroughly impressed. I'm wishing I would've got thee appetizer special. We got the seafood cocktail and it was okay. The shrimp were overlooked. I love the bread and dipping sauce they bring out. I ate waaayyyy too much of it. My mangrove snapper was topped with lobster and mango with some sort of buerre blancc sauce. It was perfectly cooked and was awesome. My sorbet special was good as well. It was a little tart tasting but still good. The service was on point!
(4)
Samera W.
Were celebrating my Birthday so my Husband made sure to make reservations. We had to wait a bit because we where 30 minutes early but we didnt mind. Once seated the lighting was nice and perfect. They serve you fresh baked bread with some Romano, Parmesan Cheese with Herbs and Olive Oil. I ordered the Ribeye because they were out of the Prime Rib (Disappointment #1). When I get the Steak my roasted potatoes where undercooked and honestly i had better ribeyes.(Dissapointment #2) At the end when the bill came we got complimentary cotton candy and a sweet dessert for my Birthday!
(4)
John C.
After seeing this restaurant (Rufinno's) sponsoring several local fishing programs, by-passed Ruth's Chris and I decided to take my fiancee (for belated birthday) and her daughter (also belated birthday-LSU student) to eat Italian food! Made reservations for Sunday (August 23rd). Upon entering and being shown to our table, we immediately noticed dust on the wine bottles while passing the front wine rack. The red carpet in the dining area was old and in need of cleaning maybe replacing. My fiancee went to the ladies' room and after returning, she related how deplorable the restroom was in (wet floors, vanity wet and wet conditions in the toilet area)! The entrees were less than mediocre: fiancee order pasta/linguine and Marinera gravy; daughter ordered pasta Alfredo and I ordered the veal "Palermo" which had a side metal dish of pasta (tasted like canned Chef Boy-ar-dee (sp)! The service was okay to say the least, one waitress overly-friendly and flowerly! The 'birthday desserts' were good. I paid with a personal credit card which clearly states on the rear...:SHOW PIC ID"---NO REQUEST FOR ID by either the waiter nor the waitress which equals 5% less gratituity. Fiancee boxed her left over meal. We left extremely disappointed. Later that evening, my fiancee rewarmed her left over linguine...she discovered a 1.5" very thin piece of copper-colored wire in the gravy/linguine! NEVER EVER AGAIN!!! John Castelluccio, Jr. Metairie, LA
(1)
David D.
Food was good. Not great but good. I really did not like the wait team approach. We had 3 different servers and due to that, things get mixed up or missed. When you have one waiter, they know what you want and confusion does not occur. I probably won't be going back until this is eliminated.
(3)
Felicia G.
Went here for pizza lunch and was not disappointed. White pizza with Italian sausage and anchovies...a little heavy on the anchovies, but the thin crust and sauce totally made up for it. Definitely my favorite pizza in town since Fleur De Lis changed hands.
(5)
Carvey P.
Great food! Great ambiance! Great Service! Had a great time with a Client! Had the Red Fish and it was amazing!
(5)
David S.
Ruffino's was amazing from start to finish! I made a reservation open table for a special table since it was my girlfriend's birthday and they had a great table waiting for us. It also made a great impression on my girlfriend when the manager sat us and told her happy birthday. The service was spot on! They have two servers per table so this helps a lot whenever you need something. The food was excellent and the portions were very generous. We had the braised pork cheeks served with BACON JAM and a sweet potato puree. I am drooling just thinking about those. They just melted in your mouth with every little bite, and they were also not very fatty at all. We both had pasta dishes with either veal or shrimp and everything was cooked perfectly. We definitely had enough for lunch the next day. The desserts were also excellent. They had a special going with the berry tiramisu and it was super moist and delicious. Ruffino's is definitely the place to go for any special occasions!
(5)
Stacey M.
My husband and I went to Ruffino's for the first time this past weekend. We had a nice dinner. The food is really good, a great wine list, and a great atmosphere. I would certainly go back. We ate the Lasagna and it was as good or better than any I have had in Baton Rouge. The steaks looked really good. And most of all the service was perfect. Go and check it out.
(4)
Marcy S.
I know this is the place to be seen in Baton Rouge so many people will hate my review, but let's be honest....the food just isn't that good. Sure there are a few items that are very good (pork cheeks being one of them) but for the most part everything is fried or laying in a bed of heavy creamy buttery sauce. I could eat a shoe if you put enough butter on it. I guess if you want to feel like you're in the cool kid crowd, it's not a bad place. I would just recommend having a drink and maybe an app or two. For the price there are other places with much better food.
Ruffino's is a great restaurant. The atmosphere is excellent and the wait staff is very attentive as is expected from a restaurant of this caliber. Whenever my family is in town we all tend to meet here as it is close to the house and always a good experience. Dishes I really enjoy here are the veal parmesan, the veal michael, the steak, and the prime rib(when available). I really love the side pasta they give you with most of their italian dishes. It's light and delicious. I'm allergic to fish, so I've never had the Cedar Plank Redfish, but everyone that does tells me it's great. Another Fish dish I've never had that is also supposed to be excellent is the Fish Katie. The have a nice wine list and a well stocked bar that is quite large which sometimes draws a large crowd. If you are looking for a good time and a nice dinner in an upscale atmosphere, Ruffino's might be what you are looking for.
(4)
Ryan B.
Always good food and excellent service. A must stop for food while in Baton Rouge.
(5)
Matthew G.
I travel the entire US and NOTHING compares to Ruffino's. I lived in BR for 5 years and I long to find a restaurant as good as Ruffino's. Ruffin and the crew are the best. If you know of a better Italian restaurant, with this kind of pricing, atmosphere and friendly staff, then tell me and I'll go check it out.
(5)
Tawnya R.
Great food. Best steak in Baton Rouge. Great wait staff!!!
(4)
Robert W.
First course, pan seared scallop on polenta. Fantastic! Second course, gnocchi with duck. Very rich, great. Main course, Braised short ribs and green beans, good but a bit salty. Fourth course, 72 hour pork shoulder, too Smokey. Dessert course, gelato with raspberry and capachinno. Very good. Overall very good meal.
(5)
Maranda W.
Ruffinos used to be our "go to" restaurant for special occasions. Never again. We were immediately sat and a waiter immediately came to us with the drink menu. Before I had a chance to look, he boasted about his "favorite" wine from Napa valley that was the night special. I love red wine but I am not very particular so I told him to order me that. Then we were promptly met by another waiter who said he was the food waiter. In total, we had 3 different waiters. It seemed very hectic with waiters zig zagging all over the place. I was also disappointed to learn that the salad was no longer included with the entree and was. 6.95 just for the side. But we ordered it because we used to love it. Well that has changed too , and was just ok. But my major disappointment was when we got the bill. That little glass of wine was 25.00. I felt tricked and taken advantage of. It cost more than either of our entrees. My husband and I are both hard working people and dont indulge ourselves like that. I wanted to send comments to the manager but could find no place to do that. Overall we were very disappointed on the changes this restaurant has made. They will no longer have our business.
(2)
Michael P.
Really good food and atmosphere. A place where you can feel the 'good vibe'. If it were centrally located, it would likely be impossible to get into. The owners and management love offering food and fun to the diners, Lots of choices almost always superbly prepared. Not just an Italian place, at all although it typically pops up in that genre. My 4 stars downgrade is because I think they sometimes get a little ambitious with their fancier offerings, but stay with your menu favorites (or the staff's recommendations) and you can't go wrong. I think a key to the success here is that they haven't gotten into over expanding and make sure they get, and keep, it right in their original location.
(4)
R E.
First time here and have to say all the wait staff are excellent. Unfortunately, can't say the same for the Lobster filet mignon. The texture was the consistency of a pudding. Wait staff and management was very responsive and did not question my dislike of dish. For dessert I ordered the bread pudding which was more egg then bread. Reminded me of a dish that may have been prepared for larges masses in a hospital or convention center, kind of blah. Have eaten at LeCreole across street- much better choice.
(2)
Libby W.
Not what I was hoping for. The salads & wine selection were very good, but the veal was over seasoned & tough. Was hoping for a suburb meal. Not worth the price. Will not make this mistake again... too many really good dining choices in BR.
(2)
Christina V.
My husband and I tried this place for the first time for our Anniversary and we were not disappointed! The atmosphere was nice and the food was great! We ordered the Maine Lobster and Surf n Turf and both were outstanding! For dessert we ordered the white chocolate bread pudding with whiskey sauce and the only complaint there is that I wanted a bigger piece because it was so delicious! We were also bought a plate that had Happy Aniversary spelled out in different sauces which was cool looking. For everyone they bring you back to childhood and bring cotton candy to the table! Will definitely visit again!!!!
(4)
Jason J.
The food was pretty good but the service sucked. I told the waiter to give us a few minutes to order and he took about 20 minutes to come back to take our orders. It also seemed like he went on a smoke break. The wait time to get our lunch and the waiter check back on you time was terrible. It was only about 10 people on the dining side (opposite of the bar side). Nevertheless, I was confused with the entire theme. Is this an upscale restaurant or something else? It's like an LSU shrine in there. I get the love for the home team and he may have played for LSU but in my opinion they've downgrade the romantic/upscale venue. The staff members are dressed as if this is an upscale place but the LSU pictures are over kill. The building is old but I will give them another shot. I believe there's a different menu per day (I don't like that because it limits your options. The prices are too high to receive bad service. My final thought is that they need some real pictures on here to give a real representation of the meals.
(2)
Jennifer D.
We went to Ruffino's Saturday Night. They were very crowded but this is not unusual. I love the atmosphere here. The English waitress was okay and food average. The best part of the meal and service is the Bread and Italian Butter(garlic, parmesan cheese), I had a Caesar Salad the was very dark green and not very good. How can an Italian Restaurant not make a good Caesar Salad? I had an appetizer of Eggplant that was very good however my friend's each had the Seafood Arancine which was a fried cheese ball. It came 2 to an order and they couldn't even finish 1.
(3)
Lindsey B.
My husband and I have had many date nights at Ruffino's. It's our favorite destination. I haven't tried a thing from their menu yet that wasn't delicious. My go-to meal is generally the crab meat cheesecake and prime rib with lump crab meat on top. If you can't tell, I'm a fan of crab meat! The wine list is superb as well. If you aren't sure which to try, ask your server. I've followed more than one recommendation from them in the past, and I have yet to be disappointment. Bottom line: There will be many more Ruffino's date nights in our future!
(5)
Juli F.
The Veal and Steak is VERY good. The veal is melt in your mouth tender. I have not had better Veal in the Baton Rouge area. It's a nice old fashioned Italian feeling restaurant that has table clothes and a fire place. I've been going to group functions there for years. It's a pleasant evening "Grown up" dining experience. Unfortunately, They've started serving a Kid Menu. Sunday is apparently "family lunch day" very noisy and unpleasant. Go in the evening.
(4)
Charlotte E.
I do about 3 to 4 business dinners per week and Ruffinos was my place of choice as it is close to my office and my home. I was spending about $600 to 800 per week at Ruffinos. Not to mention my personal visits with my family. Ever time I went in there i was treated like it was my first time. Bad tables, bad servers, no relationship building etc. I am not that forgettable believe me. I finally quit going. I spend my money where I feel appreciated. I still go because the food and wine are acceptable but I don't spend my money. Your loss Ruffino's. no doubt you have a good restaurant. You can tell that by the parking lot I just was not feeling the love. I moved on....
(1)
Chris V.
This is one great Italian Restaurant. Although it is a little pricey, it is totally worth it. All of the fish entrees are great, and I highly recommend either the Cedar Plank Salmon or the Fish Katie. The Chicken Parmesan is good as well, if you're not into fish. The Crabmeat Cheesecake is astounding, although it sounds disgusting, and I think everyone should try it for their appetizer. I am also impressed by the service. I will return many times over!
(5)
tushima d.
nothing exciting, except good wine. foo dis ok, nice ambiance, but over rated. not much for vegetarians.
(2)
Patti d.
I also travel all over the US and last night's meal at Ruffino's was one of the best I have had. 72 hour short rib special was fall apart tender and flavorful. Sides were also excellent. And there is a delightful suprise at the end of the meal that I could not have seen coming but I don't want to give it away... Fantastic service too...just wish I could remember her name to give her kudos here!
(5)
Erin M.
We went here for the first time for our Anniversary. I placed a reservation online, and we were seated as soon as we came in. We received a complimentary appetizer, Shrimp toast, and it was amazing I wish it was an Entree b/c I loved it so much I could have made a meal of it. We also ordered the calamari and it was also good. Our meals were fabulous. I ordered the Fish Katie and my husband had the cedar plank redfish... DELISH! Our dessert was the cheesecake that they presented with champagne and decorated "Happy Anniversary" plate. It was a great experience for a special occasion. We will go back!
(5)
Brandon B.
This place is AWESOME! It's a must stop every time I'm in Baton Rouge. Forget all the chain and greasy Italian restaurants. This is the place to go for well made Italian food. Ruffino's has an excellent selection of all the Italian classics and great specials with a hint of Cajun influence. I've had prime rib, fish on a cedar plank, fish with lumped crab meat, and a couple others. Everything has always been delicious. I'd recommend the Tomato Vodka sauce on a side portion of pasta if it comes with your meal. The Mozzarella alla Caprese appetizer is excellent and the portion is enough for 3-4. The Berry Tiramisu (seasonal) is one of the best deserts I've ever had. I highly recommend Ruffino's for a nice dinner out or a special occasion. If going you can always grab a table with a reasonable wait, but I'd make reservations.
(5)
Gary C.
This is without a doubt one of the best BR Italian restaurants. Food and service are great with a selection that would please most. Ruffino's can be crowded at times so you might want to call to check wait times. Fresh fish is special.
(4)
Roy J.
Best in Baton Rouge! Try the crab cheesecake.
(5)
Jim N.
this place is great. if your in the mood for italian. Made reservations and was seated about 5 mins after we arrrived. Atmospshere is nice in my opionion Order a few vodka drinks and moved on to entrees. I had the Pork Tchoupitoulas which was awesome. didnt expect the cuts to be sooo huge..asparagus was cooked just right and the shrimp topped it off right..ate only one and had to bring the other home..taste was great!! would recommed it!..my girl had the Cedar Plank Baked Redfish which was pretty good but mines was better. overall great place and great service.
(4)
Hannah B.
Wait staff was exceptionally attentive. My friend and I met for dinner and were fully satisfied with the lobster plate. YUM! It was a pound and a half of buttery heaven. The ciabatta bread was disappointing. The olive oil dipping sauce was great but the bread was VERY hard. White chocolate brownie was fantastic! I'm not a huge brownie fan but I could have eaten it plus ten and licked the plate!
(5)
Albert P.
Heard a lot about Ruffino's...was really looking to a first class meal. Uh oh... Corn & crab chowder was delicious! The appetizer sampler was not good at all. It was cold and gummy...the flavors were all the same. BBQ shrimp was not good at all. The famous crawfish cheesecake was pasty and bland. The diver scallop was almost raw. My friend's entrees came out cold and also very underseasoned. The desserts...tiramisu was hard and dry and had no espresso flavor. The bread pudding was very good. Service was spotty...too few servers, although it was a busy Wednesday night. I'll try this place again, even though tonight was a big disappointment.
(2)
Christopher R.
This place is amazing! Couldn't decide between the prime rib and the 12oz filet mignon. I got the filet and couldn't have been happier. The cut and temp were perfection. Melted like butter with tenderness. Topped it with shrimp and had roasted potatoes on the side. I definitely recommend everyone tries it. The scenery was nice. Service was attentive and knowledgable of the menu and wine selections. Zero bad things to say and I look forward to becoming a regular!
(5)
Racquel C.
I love Italian! I am Italian! So when my bf surprised me with a fancy date night to Ruffino's I was ecstatic. Or so I thought. Service is great, I will give them that. There's also a bartender who works Sunday evenings, forgot her name but she's very pretty(not the red head, she's very rude and inconsistent with her drinks) but anyways the bartender working Sunday evenings is on point with her cocktails and very friendly. Ok so moving on to dinner.. We ordered the taste of Ruffino's app would I great. It's all very rich but overall great and we basically licked the plated clean. Our main entrees on the other hand were very disappointing. My boyfriend ordered the lasagna which seemed like a go to being Italian cuisine, not so much. We were very confused after a few bites because there seemed to be no pasta in the dish?? When asking the waiter he explained the pasta is made in house and made so thin is basically disintegrates into the me when baked which is very odd to me. My family cooks authentic Italian lasagna on many occasions and I've never seen this to be a problem. Needless say my boyfriend was unhappy with his dish and actually sent it back to the kitchen. After waiting a good 30-40 minutes for our entrees and knowing the restaurant was closing soon we didn't ask to we didn't ask for the entree to be replaced but we sent the entire entree back with maybe 3 bites taken out. I order the Veal Michael and let me tell you I love veal! I was so excited for this dish and first bite in I was overwhelmed by the taste of freezer burntness or just over cooked and chewy. My boyfriend always complained his entree tasted like it was a frozen dish not fresh. I also let the waiter know how I felt about my dish and after only a few bites asked him to box it togo. We ordered two desserts togo since we were both still very hungry from our unsatisfying meals. And the waiter still charged us for the both plates?!? I was a bit annoyed. But we aren't ones to make a fuss. What was very odd to me was after we order two desserts the waiter came to us and said he slipped in an extra piece of choc cake. Well thanks but we already ordered and paid for 2 desserts? So instead of throwing another cheap piece of cake in the back why not accommodate the mistakes that were made during dinner?? So being that we thoroughly enjoyed our drinks from the cute Sunday night bartender that following Saturday after the tigers made that awesome win against Ole Miss we decided to catch a few drinks at the bar. To our dismay a different bartender was working she had reddish hair a bad attitude and consistent drinks. We also heard her make a remark to one of the male staff that my boyfriend was an asshole. Interesting customer service from this particular staff member.
(3)
Eric B.
What do you get when you combine the talents of a former LSU lineman and a New Orleans- born Italian chef? You get Baton Rouge's only Italian-Creole fusion restaurant! During my recent business trip, we managed to dine at some really nice places during our almost 2 week stay in the greater Baton Rouge area. Ruffino's was highly recommended by our Hosts, and as soon as we walked in, I knew that I had been here before. It's fancy, dark inside, and has the service and prices to match. However, when on expense account, a little more choice flexibility is possible. Our Party of 8 was well taken care of, including appetizers, a couple bottles of wine (picked by me as the token California guy), and an assortment of delicious entrees. I particularly enjoyed and highly recommend the Cedar Plank Baked Redfish. It was a very nice evening out, especially after a hard day at work.
(4)
Marie S.
Great consistent food and service. Great lunch menu. Fun to eat at the bar too! Let them know you're celebrating an event. They'll do a special dessert.
(4)
Kenneth M.
My wife and I celebrated something special at Ruffino's, our 43rd anniversary. We were a table of two. I had been to Rufffino's a couple of times before. It had been a few years since I had been there, but I expected them to have the Italian dishes, such as Cannelloni, on the menu. They were not. Only two or three Italian selections, all over $25. Pasta with gold flakes, perhaps? Our waiter was good and attentive, but not overbearing. The girl who took care of the table was friendly and efficient. The Italian bread with the olive oil and Parmesan was as good as ever. My wife had the fish special with crabmeat topping and I had the Veal (I don't remember what the name of the dish was). I don't take notes when I eat and I don't use my cell phone either. With the traditional Italian dishes off of the menu, eating for less than $25 for an entree' is not possible. Overall the food was good and the service friendly and efficient. It is a popular spot, but I agree with other reviewers in that the TVs bring the place down into the ordinary. The waiter did a cute job of putting a message on our dessert plate congratulating us on our 43rd anniversary. I do not think we will be back, though. There are much better places to eat without spending a C-note before tip without alcohol. Food: Good service: very good atmosphere: fair Prices: Through the stratosphere I have edited this review to add a star. I do not want to put into the same category as the dismal Le Creole. The service is what got it another star.
(3)
Jason D.
Overpriced mediocrity. Filet overcooked and dry, cedar redfish was a huge disappointment for $30. Last 3 trips have not lived up to expectations.
(2)
Shayne L.
Food and service both great. I had mussel appetizer wife had cab cakes both were delicious. Entree was sheepshead with lobster topping. Fish was ok. Lobster was great.
(4)
Jordan T.
Great food & atmosphere! You've gotta try the silver sea scallops, if you like scallops!
(5)
Brian R.
Meh. I have been to Ruffino's before and enjoyed their ribeye, but the flounder special that is currently being offered was not good. It was overcooked and dry. Dining service was as great as it was previously, but the bar tends need to work on their customer service. Overall, I'd recommend for beef, but go across the street to Creole for seafood.
(3)
Ken R.
Thursday night four of us ate again at Ruffino's. It was hard for me to resist eating one of their delicious wood stove piazzas. I forced myself to pick something from the menu which has so much to choose from. I settled on one of the signature veal dishes which came with a great side dish of cheese pasta. The veal itself was good, just not great. I still prefer Ruffino's over many others because of their wide selection and because over many years I have never had anything bad. Service continues to be very good.
(4)
Christine S.
We have been going to Ruffino's for years, (first date with the love of my life) and our most recent dinner there, renewed my reason for this truly being my all time favorite restaurant. The service is incredible, the daily menu items were awesome caprese salad, the Amberjack, both outstanding. The pomegranate martini always awesome, and the seafood Arancini appetizer always the best choice, my sons favorite!! A few years ago I was a little on the fence about whether Ruffinos would be able to stay consistent, it just seemed like they were slipping a little, not enough to make me write anything less than satisfactory, but curious. However they added pistachios to the sensation salad, so wonderful, and last night was truly just premium, from the food, to the ambience, fabulous!! We loved everything last night, wonderful meal, outstanding service! We love the cotton candy too!! Always a wonderful evening especially when celebrating a special occasion!! Thanks for the tweeks, we noticed!!
(5)
Steve S.
I am not Italian, not even 1/32nd, so if you think there is some genetic component giving people with distant Italian decent an edge with judging this place, please pass on my review. I always find these type of Italian places over priced, and this is no exception. The marinara sauce is fantastic, as is every thing they use it on, except the "pizza". I know this isn't a pizza joint, but what my daughter was served should be embarrassing. We go every year because it's a tradition for my daughters birthday. Her mom is not Italian either.
(3)
Cindi G.
Excellent foods where the locals come to eat. I met friends here on a Sunday afternoon when the place was packed. The service was a little slow due to the crowd but the entrees did not disappoint.
(5)
Jim N.
this place is great. if your in the mood for italian. Made reservations and was seated about 5 mins after we arrrived. Atmospshere is nice in my opionion Order a few vodka drinks and moved on to entrees. I had the Pork Tchoupitoulas which was awesome. didnt expect the cuts to be sooo huge..asparagus was cooked just right and the shrimp topped it off right..ate only one and had to bring the other home..taste was great!! would recommed it!..my girl had the Cedar Plank Baked Redfish which was pretty good but mines was better. overall great place and great service.
(4)
Chris V.
This is one great Italian Restaurant. Although it is a little pricey, it is totally worth it. All of the fish entrees are great, and I highly recommend either the Cedar Plank Salmon or the Fish Katie. The Chicken Parmesan is good as well, if you're not into fish. The Crabmeat Cheesecake is astounding, although it sounds disgusting, and I think everyone should try it for their appetizer. I am also impressed by the service. I will return many times over!
(5)
tushima d.
nothing exciting, except good wine. foo dis ok, nice ambiance, but over rated. not much for vegetarians.
(2)
Gene S.
Our family and a couple of friends went here to celebrate my daughter's birthday...her choice. The wait staff was friendly and professional for the most part, however the waiter forgot to place the order for one of our party. When the item arrived, it was not prepared to order and was waaaaay overcooked. Two dishes were well seasoned and prepared, two were merely acceptable, but another two dishes were barely edible...overcooked and served cold. This is $10 a plate food, not $25 as priced, and would not stand it's own against a real Italian restaurant.
(2)
John R.
This place is a bit of a local attraction and is always busy. They offer huge portions on all of their dishes. I have always found the food to be average, but on my last visit it crossed the line to bad. I had a house salad that was wilted and virtually smothered in cheese. The chicken parmesan was a huge slab of under cooked and unpounded breast. The acompaning pasta was covered with their too sweet marinara sauce. If you love Italian food, there are better places.
(2)
Becky L.
It's a little difficult to decide where to start. Why they get two stars and not one: The waitress was very sincere in her manner and cheerfulness. It was clean. The food was edible. Why they ONLY get two stars: Out front it is advertised an Itailan restaurant and has an electric scrolling marquee to go with their traditional sign. There is absolutely nothing about the front that says, "This is fine dining". That being said, we went in wearing jeans and t-shirts with windbreakers (which ended up being necessary because it was fairly chilly). The menu is ridiculously small. Four entrees does not make you an Italian restaurant, especially when two of them are spaghetti and meatballs and lasagna and the other two are ______________ Parmesan. Granted, the MENU describes Ruffino's as Italian, steak, and seafood, but you don't know that going in. Again, NOTHING about the outside suggests what to expect on the inside. The prices are STEEP, but I've had a better filet at other restaurants in Baton Rouge for a third of the price. Yes, a third. Salads are a la carte and also not worth what they cost, though the dressings were interesting and different. That doesn't mean you get to charge that much. The desserts were average in size and quality with above average pricing. The initial atmosphere is really nice, BUT about halfway through our meal, the easy listening was replaced with loud music from the bar area (on the opposite side of the restaurant) that was completely different in genre. It went from a quiet dinner to just shy of Applebees. There was also a big screen TV in the dinning room with a football game on. As soon as you add that to your dining room, you can no longer claim fine dining status and you certainly can't price as one. Seriously. Overall, as well traveled individuals who have lived in a variety of places, we know excellent food and what it should cost. What we experienced was decent food at "excellent" prices. If I am going to pay that much, which I am happy to do for a quality dining experience, my dinner had better be amazing. It should make me want to run home and write a great Yelp review, not spend 5 days trying to talk myself out of writing a negative one (note I lost that argument). In the way of constructive criticism, if the management/ownership does nothing else, change the outward appearance so that people driving by (tourists or new to town) know what to expect when visiting your restaurant. And if you want to pass yourself off as fine dining, lose the TV and the scrolling marquee.
(2)
Shannon D.
I absolutely loved this place. The food was so yummy & even though it was crazy busy for Valentine's Day the staff were friendly & cheerful.We did not feel rushed in the slightest. The food absolutely exceeded my expectations. I would highly recommend eating here to all of my friends!
(5)
Rachel M.
The food was great as always. The service and atmosphere of Ruffinos has gone greatly downhill. I have never felt more rushed through a meal. If you want to be hurried out of the restaurant in under an hour while paying premium price...ruffinos is the spot!
(3)
Roger B.
We had the Sunday Brunch at Ruffino's with family to celebrate our granddaughter's birthday. They had made the reservations and the table was ready when we arrived. I started off with a Bloody Mary while I looked over the lunch options. Several at the table had the bottomless Mimosas. We opted for the Lobster Mac and cheese as an appetizer. I ordered the crabmeat omelet while my wife ordered the grillades and grits. Fresh bread came out while we were waiting. The Sensation salad (a very different Caesar salad) apparently came with each order. Lite and tasty. Finally the main courses came out. The portions were generous. And the food was great. Since the waiter knew it was a birthday celebration, he brought her a complementary birthday tiramisu dessert. The final touch was when both children received cotton candy to eat on the way home. The wait staff is very attentive and service was great.
(4)
Felicia G.
Went here for pizza lunch and was not disappointed. White pizza with Italian sausage and anchovies...a little heavy on the anchovies, but the thin crust and sauce totally made up for it. Definitely my favorite pizza in town since Fleur De Lis changed hands.
(5)
Carvey P.
Great food! Great ambiance! Great Service! Had a great time with a Client! Had the Red Fish and it was amazing!
(5)
David S.
Ruffino's was amazing from start to finish! I made a reservation open table for a special table since it was my girlfriend's birthday and they had a great table waiting for us. It also made a great impression on my girlfriend when the manager sat us and told her happy birthday. The service was spot on! They have two servers per table so this helps a lot whenever you need something. The food was excellent and the portions were very generous. We had the braised pork cheeks served with BACON JAM and a sweet potato puree. I am drooling just thinking about those. They just melted in your mouth with every little bite, and they were also not very fatty at all. We both had pasta dishes with either veal or shrimp and everything was cooked perfectly. We definitely had enough for lunch the next day. The desserts were also excellent. They had a special going with the berry tiramisu and it was super moist and delicious. Ruffino's is definitely the place to go for any special occasions!
(5)
Stacey M.
My husband and I went to Ruffino's for the first time this past weekend. We had a nice dinner. The food is really good, a great wine list, and a great atmosphere. I would certainly go back. We ate the Lasagna and it was as good or better than any I have had in Baton Rouge. The steaks looked really good. And most of all the service was perfect. Go and check it out.
(4)
Marcy S.
I know this is the place to be seen in Baton Rouge so many people will hate my review, but let's be honest....the food just isn't that good. Sure there are a few items that are very good (pork cheeks being one of them) but for the most part everything is fried or laying in a bed of heavy creamy buttery sauce. I could eat a shoe if you put enough butter on it. I guess if you want to feel like you're in the cool kid crowd, it's not a bad place. I would just recommend having a drink and maybe an app or two. For the price there are other places with much better food.
Ruffino's is a great restaurant. The atmosphere is excellent and the wait staff is very attentive as is expected from a restaurant of this caliber. Whenever my family is in town we all tend to meet here as it is close to the house and always a good experience. Dishes I really enjoy here are the veal parmesan, the veal michael, the steak, and the prime rib(when available). I really love the side pasta they give you with most of their italian dishes. It's light and delicious. I'm allergic to fish, so I've never had the Cedar Plank Redfish, but everyone that does tells me it's great. Another Fish dish I've never had that is also supposed to be excellent is the Fish Katie. The have a nice wine list and a well stocked bar that is quite large which sometimes draws a large crowd. If you are looking for a good time and a nice dinner in an upscale atmosphere, Ruffino's might be what you are looking for.
(4)
Matthew G.
I travel the entire US and NOTHING compares to Ruffino's. I lived in BR for 5 years and I long to find a restaurant as good as Ruffino's. Ruffin and the crew are the best. If you know of a better Italian restaurant, with this kind of pricing, atmosphere and friendly staff, then tell me and I'll go check it out.
(5)
Tawnya R.
Great food. Best steak in Baton Rouge. Great wait staff!!!
(4)
Robert W.
First course, pan seared scallop on polenta. Fantastic! Second course, gnocchi with duck. Very rich, great. Main course, Braised short ribs and green beans, good but a bit salty. Fourth course, 72 hour pork shoulder, too Smokey. Dessert course, gelato with raspberry and capachinno. Very good. Overall very good meal.
(5)
Ryan B.
Always good food and excellent service. A must stop for food while in Baton Rouge.
(5)
Maranda W.
Ruffinos used to be our "go to" restaurant for special occasions. Never again. We were immediately sat and a waiter immediately came to us with the drink menu. Before I had a chance to look, he boasted about his "favorite" wine from Napa valley that was the night special. I love red wine but I am not very particular so I told him to order me that. Then we were promptly met by another waiter who said he was the food waiter. In total, we had 3 different waiters. It seemed very hectic with waiters zig zagging all over the place. I was also disappointed to learn that the salad was no longer included with the entree and was. 6.95 just for the side. But we ordered it because we used to love it. Well that has changed too , and was just ok. But my major disappointment was when we got the bill. That little glass of wine was 25.00. I felt tricked and taken advantage of. It cost more than either of our entrees. My husband and I are both hard working people and dont indulge ourselves like that. I wanted to send comments to the manager but could find no place to do that. Overall we were very disappointed on the changes this restaurant has made. They will no longer have our business.
(2)
Michael P.
Really good food and atmosphere. A place where you can feel the 'good vibe'. If it were centrally located, it would likely be impossible to get into. The owners and management love offering food and fun to the diners, Lots of choices almost always superbly prepared. Not just an Italian place, at all although it typically pops up in that genre. My 4 stars downgrade is because I think they sometimes get a little ambitious with their fancier offerings, but stay with your menu favorites (or the staff's recommendations) and you can't go wrong. I think a key to the success here is that they haven't gotten into over expanding and make sure they get, and keep, it right in their original location.
(4)
R E.
First time here and have to say all the wait staff are excellent. Unfortunately, can't say the same for the Lobster filet mignon. The texture was the consistency of a pudding. Wait staff and management was very responsive and did not question my dislike of dish. For dessert I ordered the bread pudding which was more egg then bread. Reminded me of a dish that may have been prepared for larges masses in a hospital or convention center, kind of blah. Have eaten at LeCreole across street- much better choice.
(2)
Libby W.
Not what I was hoping for. The salads & wine selection were very good, but the veal was over seasoned & tough. Was hoping for a suburb meal. Not worth the price. Will not make this mistake again... too many really good dining choices in BR.
(2)
Christina V.
My husband and I tried this place for the first time for our Anniversary and we were not disappointed! The atmosphere was nice and the food was great! We ordered the Maine Lobster and Surf n Turf and both were outstanding! For dessert we ordered the white chocolate bread pudding with whiskey sauce and the only complaint there is that I wanted a bigger piece because it was so delicious! We were also bought a plate that had Happy Aniversary spelled out in different sauces which was cool looking. For everyone they bring you back to childhood and bring cotton candy to the table! Will definitely visit again!!!!
(4)
Jason J.
The food was pretty good but the service sucked. I told the waiter to give us a few minutes to order and he took about 20 minutes to come back to take our orders. It also seemed like he went on a smoke break. The wait time to get our lunch and the waiter check back on you time was terrible. It was only about 10 people on the dining side (opposite of the bar side). Nevertheless, I was confused with the entire theme. Is this an upscale restaurant or something else? It's like an LSU shrine in there. I get the love for the home team and he may have played for LSU but in my opinion they've downgrade the romantic/upscale venue. The staff members are dressed as if this is an upscale place but the LSU pictures are over kill. The building is old but I will give them another shot. I believe there's a different menu per day (I don't like that because it limits your options. The prices are too high to receive bad service. My final thought is that they need some real pictures on here to give a real representation of the meals.
(2)
Jennifer D.
We went to Ruffino's Saturday Night. They were very crowded but this is not unusual. I love the atmosphere here. The English waitress was okay and food average. The best part of the meal and service is the Bread and Italian Butter(garlic, parmesan cheese), I had a Caesar Salad the was very dark green and not very good. How can an Italian Restaurant not make a good Caesar Salad? I had an appetizer of Eggplant that was very good however my friend's each had the Seafood Arancine which was a fried cheese ball. It came 2 to an order and they couldn't even finish 1.
(3)
Lindsey B.
My husband and I have had many date nights at Ruffino's. It's our favorite destination. I haven't tried a thing from their menu yet that wasn't delicious. My go-to meal is generally the crab meat cheesecake and prime rib with lump crab meat on top. If you can't tell, I'm a fan of crab meat! The wine list is superb as well. If you aren't sure which to try, ask your server. I've followed more than one recommendation from them in the past, and I have yet to be disappointment. Bottom line: There will be many more Ruffino's date nights in our future!
(5)
Juli F.
The Veal and Steak is VERY good. The veal is melt in your mouth tender. I have not had better Veal in the Baton Rouge area. It's a nice old fashioned Italian feeling restaurant that has table clothes and a fire place. I've been going to group functions there for years. It's a pleasant evening "Grown up" dining experience. Unfortunately, They've started serving a Kid Menu. Sunday is apparently "family lunch day" very noisy and unpleasant. Go in the evening.
(4)
Charlotte E.
I do about 3 to 4 business dinners per week and Ruffinos was my place of choice as it is close to my office and my home. I was spending about $600 to 800 per week at Ruffinos. Not to mention my personal visits with my family. Ever time I went in there i was treated like it was my first time. Bad tables, bad servers, no relationship building etc. I am not that forgettable believe me. I finally quit going. I spend my money where I feel appreciated. I still go because the food and wine are acceptable but I don't spend my money. Your loss Ruffino's. no doubt you have a good restaurant. You can tell that by the parking lot I just was not feeling the love. I moved on....
(1)
Patti d.
I also travel all over the US and last night's meal at Ruffino's was one of the best I have had. 72 hour short rib special was fall apart tender and flavorful. Sides were also excellent. And there is a delightful suprise at the end of the meal that I could not have seen coming but I don't want to give it away... Fantastic service too...just wish I could remember her name to give her kudos here!
(5)
Erin M.
We went here for the first time for our Anniversary. I placed a reservation online, and we were seated as soon as we came in. We received a complimentary appetizer, Shrimp toast, and it was amazing I wish it was an Entree b/c I loved it so much I could have made a meal of it. We also ordered the calamari and it was also good. Our meals were fabulous. I ordered the Fish Katie and my husband had the cedar plank redfish... DELISH! Our dessert was the cheesecake that they presented with champagne and decorated "Happy Anniversary" plate. It was a great experience for a special occasion. We will go back!
(5)
Brandon B.
This place is AWESOME! It's a must stop every time I'm in Baton Rouge. Forget all the chain and greasy Italian restaurants. This is the place to go for well made Italian food. Ruffino's has an excellent selection of all the Italian classics and great specials with a hint of Cajun influence. I've had prime rib, fish on a cedar plank, fish with lumped crab meat, and a couple others. Everything has always been delicious. I'd recommend the Tomato Vodka sauce on a side portion of pasta if it comes with your meal. The Mozzarella alla Caprese appetizer is excellent and the portion is enough for 3-4. The Berry Tiramisu (seasonal) is one of the best deserts I've ever had. I highly recommend Ruffino's for a nice dinner out or a special occasion. If going you can always grab a table with a reasonable wait, but I'd make reservations.
(5)
Gary C.
This is without a doubt one of the best BR Italian restaurants. Food and service are great with a selection that would please most. Ruffino's can be crowded at times so you might want to call to check wait times. Fresh fish is special.
(4)
Roy J.
Best in Baton Rouge! Try the crab cheesecake.
(5)
Mitchell G.
Ate lunch here after church. Once again Ruffino's does not disappoint. The fresh made crab dip was incredible and there was not one shell from the crab. Wonderful attention to detail even in those type details. My wife, who seldom eats red meat, ordered the prime rib and asked for well done. The meat arrived cooked as she requested and still moist and tender. My knuckle sandwich (lump lobster meat from the claws) was fantastic and would highly recommend both of the preceding. Ruffino's continues to maintain a high quality product and experience. You will not be disappointed here.
(5)
Reshawn L.
Delicious Friday lunch!! WOW! The Cedar Plank Baked Redfish is a must! In a word, INCREDIBLE!! The potatoes were the perfect compliment. In TX and LA everyone drinks iced tea. This place has some of the best lemonade I've ever had. Not too sweet and not too tart. It's hard to believe they are only open for lunch one day a week. I will definitely return when I have occasion to be in Baton Rouge and I may check out the Lafayette location.
(5)
Cristy C.
I only update my reviews when I feel the need to share something significant. I came here about two nights ago. It was a Sunday I recall because they were closing at 9 and we walked in around 8:35. Our servers name was Shane. Very nice, cool and polite young man. I was with Jack and our friend Q. Yes, his name is Q. Anyways we ordered appetizers drinks and entrees. Long story short we waited over30 min and our appetizer never came. Our entrees arrived. I asked for my sauce on the side and so did Jack. They got my order right, but they messed up Jacks order. His iced tea never came either. Once our entrees got there and we were almost done I got up to tell a manager that he could cancel our appetizer order because we were almost done with our entrees. He looked at me and looked annoyed. Hey, I didn't do anything. He actually had the appetizer in his hand and was about to bring it over. He said, "I still want you to enjoy it. I'll take it off your tab." Well, that was kind. But it felt very forced. I'm good at reading people. We assumed our server forgot to put in the appetizer order, just how he forgot Jacks iced tea and didn't put his sauce on the side. It just wasn't as nice of an experience as it usually is. And we're regulars. As a matter of fact, according to my Yelp check-ins I am the duchess of Ruffinos which means I have the most check ins comped to any other Yelper. Anyways this was one bad experience out of 5 or 6. The odds of having a bad experience here is probably slim. However if Shane is your server either as for another one or just be prepared. Because I've warned you. Im not sure who's fault this was but I'm mor likely to blame it on the server than the chef. The food is always spectacular. I'll just keep in the back of my mind that there's going to be a slim chance of a mess up.
(2)
Julie S.
My husband and I make Ruffino's our Friday night date night location. It's always consistent with service and food. We love the atmosphere and the great strawberry martinis.
(5)
J S.
I've been looking for good italian restaurant in town and this one is NOT it. Having lived in NY for a number of years and travelled to Italy, I would call this Cajun Italian...definitely not Italian. Actually I would give the food a 2 stars....the salad and appetizer were good, but the pasta dishes were total disappointment. The true test of Italian cooking is the spaghetti and meatballs. What I got was noodles drowning in tomato paste that had a hint of chilli seasoning. A little garlic, basil, and parsley would have gone a long ways in improving this dish. I think I could have gotten a better meal by opening a can of Ragu. Even my husband who will eat anything threw the thing out after choking down a few bites of the leftover the next day. My husband ordered some sort of pork tenderloin with with a side of creamy pasta. The meat was way over salted. I don't understand why everything needs to be deep fried. (It seems so uncreative.) The capellini pasta was overcooked to the point where it was mushy. The creamy sauce was so creamy and fatty that I can only eat two bites. Did not care the the dipping sauce for the bread. Good quality olive oil and herbs would have been fine. Why the heck did they feel they need to mix in the Parmesan cheese so it looks like brown goop? It's revolting. Service was good. However, we had to remind the wait staff to bring us the main course after we sat there for 30 minutes after the salad was served.
(2)
M M.
We have been here on 2 occasions. The first time the service was very slow. The oysters we ordered sat at the bar for 10 minutes before we had to ask for them. We didn't get offered bread when other tables has them. We decided to give them another try. The service and food were both wonderful. It seemed the manager was actually on duty this night.
(4)
Anthony I.
Ruffino's thinks it's an upscale restaurant with fancy flairs. Really, it's loud, overpriced, and tacky with lots of cream, sugar, and butter in everything. If it cost half as much as it does, I might still eat there. To be sure, the crab cheesecake appetizer is massively delicious. Everything else was substandard but priced like you're eating high-end in a big city. When the waiter was setting tables near us with his fingers stuck inside the wine glasses, my wife swore never to return.
(2)
Abi Y.
I've gone 3 times . This was the worst. Ossco bocco was expensive and very blan.
(1)
Hannah B.
Wait staff was exceptionally attentive. My friend and I met for dinner and were fully satisfied with the lobster plate. YUM! It was a pound and a half of buttery heaven. The ciabatta bread was disappointing. The olive oil dipping sauce was great but the bread was VERY hard. White chocolate brownie was fantastic! I'm not a huge brownie fan but I could have eaten it plus ten and licked the plate!
(5)
Albert P.
Heard a lot about Ruffino's...was really looking to a first class meal. Uh oh... Corn & crab chowder was delicious! The appetizer sampler was not good at all. It was cold and gummy...the flavors were all the same. BBQ shrimp was not good at all. The famous crawfish cheesecake was pasty and bland. The diver scallop was almost raw. My friend's entrees came out cold and also very underseasoned. The desserts...tiramisu was hard and dry and had no espresso flavor. The bread pudding was very good. Service was spotty...too few servers, although it was a busy Wednesday night. I'll try this place again, even though tonight was a big disappointment.
(2)
Christopher R.
This place is amazing! Couldn't decide between the prime rib and the 12oz filet mignon. I got the filet and couldn't have been happier. The cut and temp were perfection. Melted like butter with tenderness. Topped it with shrimp and had roasted potatoes on the side. I definitely recommend everyone tries it. The scenery was nice. Service was attentive and knowledgable of the menu and wine selections. Zero bad things to say and I look forward to becoming a regular!
(5)
Meghan K.
I used to not really enjoy going to Ruffinos. It was a long drive got an okay meal. My thoughts changed last night. I ordered off the nightly special and was thoroughly impressed. I'm wishing I would've got thee appetizer special. We got the seafood cocktail and it was okay. The shrimp were overlooked. I love the bread and dipping sauce they bring out. I ate waaayyyy too much of it. My mangrove snapper was topped with lobster and mango with some sort of buerre blancc sauce. It was perfectly cooked and was awesome. My sorbet special was good as well. It was a little tart tasting but still good. The service was on point!
(4)
Samera W.
Were celebrating my Birthday so my Husband made sure to make reservations. We had to wait a bit because we where 30 minutes early but we didnt mind. Once seated the lighting was nice and perfect. They serve you fresh baked bread with some Romano, Parmesan Cheese with Herbs and Olive Oil. I ordered the Ribeye because they were out of the Prime Rib (Disappointment #1). When I get the Steak my roasted potatoes where undercooked and honestly i had better ribeyes.(Dissapointment #2) At the end when the bill came we got complimentary cotton candy and a sweet dessert for my Birthday!
(4)
John C.
After seeing this restaurant (Rufinno's) sponsoring several local fishing programs, by-passed Ruth's Chris and I decided to take my fiancee (for belated birthday) and her daughter (also belated birthday-LSU student) to eat Italian food! Made reservations for Sunday (August 23rd). Upon entering and being shown to our table, we immediately noticed dust on the wine bottles while passing the front wine rack. The red carpet in the dining area was old and in need of cleaning maybe replacing. My fiancee went to the ladies' room and after returning, she related how deplorable the restroom was in (wet floors, vanity wet and wet conditions in the toilet area)! The entrees were less than mediocre: fiancee order pasta/linguine and Marinera gravy; daughter ordered pasta Alfredo and I ordered the veal "Palermo" which had a side metal dish of pasta (tasted like canned Chef Boy-ar-dee (sp)! The service was okay to say the least, one waitress overly-friendly and flowerly! The 'birthday desserts' were good. I paid with a personal credit card which clearly states on the rear...:SHOW PIC ID"---NO REQUEST FOR ID by either the waiter nor the waitress which equals 5% less gratituity. Fiancee boxed her left over meal. We left extremely disappointed. Later that evening, my fiancee rewarmed her left over linguine...she discovered a 1.5" very thin piece of copper-colored wire in the gravy/linguine! NEVER EVER AGAIN!!! John Castelluccio, Jr. Metairie, LA
(1)
David D.
Food was good. Not great but good. I really did not like the wait team approach. We had 3 different servers and due to that, things get mixed up or missed. When you have one waiter, they know what you want and confusion does not occur. I probably won't be going back until this is eliminated.
(3)
Emily M.
Love it! I have dined at Ruffino's three times and left with a smile every time. I love the crabmeat cheesecake app and filet mignon, in particular. Everyone at the table always seems to love their entrees, and the service remains superb--even particularly patient with my small children after the babysitter fell through once. Any place that sends complimentary cotton candy at the end of a meal scores big points in my book. We will definitely return and look forward to more special experiences at Ruffino's. I also love that they often offer "special" menus or holiday items. They make a point to remain true to their signature dishes and switch it up from time-to-time to stay relevant and inventive. I'm a fan.
(4)
Jannean D.
Exceptional service. We had three wait staff to assist our table, each of whom were very attentive. The bartenders make a fabulous French martini. You must try the Taste of Ruffinos! Amazing!! Braised pork cheeks were stunning. It was my first time eating this cut of meat and I was impressed. The entire meal was splendid. We will be returning!!
(5)
AshLee S.
Overall: Ruffinos is worth it if you have a gift card; however, I would not go without one. It felt like an upscale Sammy's, with Flemings prices. If you're looking for a nice upscale dinner, try Flemings or Texas de Brazil. Pros: -The service was great! - the crabmeat cheesecake was stellar (appetizer) Cons: - atmosphere; too loud - our entrees were on the bad side. My boyfriend's steak came out rare when he asked for medium well. My fish katie was okay. There was nothing to special about it and it was overpriced.
(3)
Jennie H.
Picked up take out today as we are new to the area and have a small child we did want to eat in with. The ambience was very pretty. They had a beautiful fireplace and nice lighting I noticed as I was waiting. Got our takeout home, we ordered Fish Katie, lasagna and spaghetti. The Fish Katie dish on the online menu stated it had a side- we did not receive it. The spaghetti noodles were VERY overdone. The lasagna was okay, and I believe it would have been much better if it just came out of the oven (if we ate in). I thought maybe we would of got some bread, a side salad or something..however none of the above. We order takeout frequently and usually do not write reviews, however I thought after hearing how great this establishment is and the unfortunate experience we had, I would on this one. We will possibly try them one more time dining in next time nonetheless.
(3)
Shannon H.
Our absolute favorite restaurant. We host our company Christmas parties here as well as most special occasions personally. The food is amazing!
(5)
Andy S.
The locals love this place, if that tells you something. Ruffino's is always hopping and the parking lot is always full. Well, maybe not always, but you get the point. The food is good, the atmosphere is nice, and the prices are not too outrageous for what you get. The place is not in the heart of Baton Rouge, so it will require a drive for tourists. My lone complaint is that they have to have flatscreen TVs on every wall. Can't people enjoy a nice Italian meal without having to watch TV? Can't people just sit, eat, and talk anymore? Ruffino's is not alone in this.
(4)
Don H.
Came for appetizers and drinks, had the Shrimp Corn Dogs (tasty), Seafood Aricini (very tasty), and BarBQue Shrimp (excellent). Great food and drinks!
(4)
Lizzie J.
This place is worth the price. I had the cedar plank redfish like other people suggested and it was DELISH!!! I have also had the ribeye before and it will melt in your mouth. I went with a group of girls tonight and we ordered one of each dessert and tasted each one. You can't go wrong on any of them.
(5)
Jackie D.
Please note this review is for a private dining reservation. Oh my dear lord in heaven. I'm glad when I finally made it to Ruffino's, someone else was footing the bill because I got to try everything and it was all DELICIOUS. And worth every last calorie. We started with Dirty Ketel martinis. Several. Then came the passarounds. Redfish Beignets, which were reminiscent to crabcakes but had a little more breading and a slightly different flavor. Tasty, but I could only do one because it was pretty heavy. Next, was the Alligator Sausage with caramelized onions and a mustard dipping sauce. GLORIOUS with a ton of flavors that worked really well together. I could have eaten an entire tray of this, if I didn't have a 4 course dinner coming. Next, we were seated to a first course that could very well be described as the best thing I've eaten in Baton Rouge - the Crabmeat Cheesecake. Y'ALL. It's rich, it's crabby, it's creamy, and then it has this crust like sweet cheesecake would have that's crispy and awesome and you just can't help but eat the entire thing. It was die and go to heaven good. I would absolutely go back and get that with a salad and be super satisfied. Second course was a Caesar Salad served with their bread. The Caesar Salad was just a basic Caesar but the bread was like WHOA. They serve regular french bread with this Italian butter that can be best described as a combo of the deliciousness of the olive oil/cheese mixture served on top of bread at the Little Village combined with olive tapenade. YUM and again, could have eaten it ALL DAY LONG. Third course was the entree - we had a choice of Chicken Parm, Ribeye with Barbeque Shrimp, Filet Mignon, or Fish. I went with the Ribeye with Barbeque Shrimp and it was wonderful. I've never had Steak with NOLA style BBQ shrimp and now I feel like it's a combo that every restaurant should offer. The steak sucks up all of the tasty shrimp juice and it's just...legendary. The steak was served medium and cooked perfectly. Certainly impressive and indicative of a great restaurant that medium can be executed on EVERY steak that comes out in a PDR. By the fourth course, I was so full that I could barely move and more than a little inebriated on free booze, but dessert was bread pudding and how can you really turn that down? Well, I didn't. And it was so worth the pain. Custardy in the inside, crispy on the outside - pretty sure it was the Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding that quite a few restaurants in BR serve, but it was executed very well and left me satisfied. At the end of the meal, I was food drunk, booze drunk, and sublimely happy, and wouldn't have wanted it any other way. The service was outstanding - no drink was ever empty, plate timing was right on. The food was outstanding. The booze, specifically their house Pinot Noir, was outstanding. It's hard to imagine a better all-around experience at a restaurant in Baton Rouge, and I will definitely refer it to anyone who asks for a suggestion on dining for a SPECIAL night out.
(5)
Brad P.
We are always happy when leaving this place. Food is GREAT! People are GREAT! Excellent wine list. I really like to sit in the bar area even to eat. It has a good atmosphere with a large selection of drinks. Staff always ask if you need anything. I love it.
(4)
Eric B.
What do you get when you combine the talents of a former LSU lineman and a New Orleans- born Italian chef? You get Baton Rouge's only Italian-Creole fusion restaurant! During my recent business trip, we managed to dine at some really nice places during our almost 2 week stay in the greater Baton Rouge area. Ruffino's was highly recommended by our Hosts, and as soon as we walked in, I knew that I had been here before. It's fancy, dark inside, and has the service and prices to match. However, when on expense account, a little more choice flexibility is possible. Our Party of 8 was well taken care of, including appetizers, a couple bottles of wine (picked by me as the token California guy), and an assortment of delicious entrees. I particularly enjoyed and highly recommend the Cedar Plank Baked Redfish. It was a very nice evening out, especially after a hard day at work.
(4)
Marie S.
Great consistent food and service. Great lunch menu. Fun to eat at the bar too! Let them know you're celebrating an event. They'll do a special dessert.
(4)
Kenneth M.
My wife and I celebrated something special at Ruffino's, our 43rd anniversary. We were a table of two. I had been to Rufffino's a couple of times before. It had been a few years since I had been there, but I expected them to have the Italian dishes, such as Cannelloni, on the menu. They were not. Only two or three Italian selections, all over $25. Pasta with gold flakes, perhaps? Our waiter was good and attentive, but not overbearing. The girl who took care of the table was friendly and efficient. The Italian bread with the olive oil and Parmesan was as good as ever. My wife had the fish special with crabmeat topping and I had the Veal (I don't remember what the name of the dish was). I don't take notes when I eat and I don't use my cell phone either. With the traditional Italian dishes off of the menu, eating for less than $25 for an entree' is not possible. Overall the food was good and the service friendly and efficient. It is a popular spot, but I agree with other reviewers in that the TVs bring the place down into the ordinary. The waiter did a cute job of putting a message on our dessert plate congratulating us on our 43rd anniversary. I do not think we will be back, though. There are much better places to eat without spending a C-note before tip without alcohol. Food: Good service: very good atmosphere: fair Prices: Through the stratosphere I have edited this review to add a star. I do not want to put into the same category as the dismal Le Creole. The service is what got it another star.
(3)
Jason D.
Overpriced mediocrity. Filet overcooked and dry, cedar redfish was a huge disappointment for $30. Last 3 trips have not lived up to expectations.
(2)
Shayne L.
Food and service both great. I had mussel appetizer wife had cab cakes both were delicious. Entree was sheepshead with lobster topping. Fish was ok. Lobster was great.
(4)
Jordan T.
Great food & atmosphere! You've gotta try the silver sea scallops, if you like scallops!
(5)
Racquel C.
I love Italian! I am Italian! So when my bf surprised me with a fancy date night to Ruffino's I was ecstatic. Or so I thought. Service is great, I will give them that. There's also a bartender who works Sunday evenings, forgot her name but she's very pretty(not the red head, she's very rude and inconsistent with her drinks) but anyways the bartender working Sunday evenings is on point with her cocktails and very friendly. Ok so moving on to dinner.. We ordered the taste of Ruffino's app would I great. It's all very rich but overall great and we basically licked the plated clean. Our main entrees on the other hand were very disappointing. My boyfriend ordered the lasagna which seemed like a go to being Italian cuisine, not so much. We were very confused after a few bites because there seemed to be no pasta in the dish?? When asking the waiter he explained the pasta is made in house and made so thin is basically disintegrates into the me when baked which is very odd to me. My family cooks authentic Italian lasagna on many occasions and I've never seen this to be a problem. Needless say my boyfriend was unhappy with his dish and actually sent it back to the kitchen. After waiting a good 30-40 minutes for our entrees and knowing the restaurant was closing soon we didn't ask to we didn't ask for the entree to be replaced but we sent the entire entree back with maybe 3 bites taken out. I order the Veal Michael and let me tell you I love veal! I was so excited for this dish and first bite in I was overwhelmed by the taste of freezer burntness or just over cooked and chewy. My boyfriend always complained his entree tasted like it was a frozen dish not fresh. I also let the waiter know how I felt about my dish and after only a few bites asked him to box it togo. We ordered two desserts togo since we were both still very hungry from our unsatisfying meals. And the waiter still charged us for the both plates?!? I was a bit annoyed. But we aren't ones to make a fuss. What was very odd to me was after we order two desserts the waiter came to us and said he slipped in an extra piece of choc cake. Well thanks but we already ordered and paid for 2 desserts? So instead of throwing another cheap piece of cake in the back why not accommodate the mistakes that were made during dinner?? So being that we thoroughly enjoyed our drinks from the cute Sunday night bartender that following Saturday after the tigers made that awesome win against Ole Miss we decided to catch a few drinks at the bar. To our dismay a different bartender was working she had reddish hair a bad attitude and consistent drinks. We also heard her make a remark to one of the male staff that my boyfriend was an asshole. Interesting customer service from this particular staff member.
(3)
Brian R.
Meh. I have been to Ruffino's before and enjoyed their ribeye, but the flounder special that is currently being offered was not good. It was overcooked and dry. Dining service was as great as it was previously, but the bar tends need to work on their customer service. Overall, I'd recommend for beef, but go across the street to Creole for seafood.
(3)
Ken R.
Thursday night four of us ate again at Ruffino's. It was hard for me to resist eating one of their delicious wood stove piazzas. I forced myself to pick something from the menu which has so much to choose from. I settled on one of the signature veal dishes which came with a great side dish of cheese pasta. The veal itself was good, just not great. I still prefer Ruffino's over many others because of their wide selection and because over many years I have never had anything bad. Service continues to be very good.
(4)
Christine S.
We have been going to Ruffino's for years, (first date with the love of my life) and our most recent dinner there, renewed my reason for this truly being my all time favorite restaurant. The service is incredible, the daily menu items were awesome caprese salad, the Amberjack, both outstanding. The pomegranate martini always awesome, and the seafood Arancini appetizer always the best choice, my sons favorite!! A few years ago I was a little on the fence about whether Ruffinos would be able to stay consistent, it just seemed like they were slipping a little, not enough to make me write anything less than satisfactory, but curious. However they added pistachios to the sensation salad, so wonderful, and last night was truly just premium, from the food, to the ambience, fabulous!! We loved everything last night, wonderful meal, outstanding service! We love the cotton candy too!! Always a wonderful evening especially when celebrating a special occasion!! Thanks for the tweeks, we noticed!!
(5)
Steve S.
I am not Italian, not even 1/32nd, so if you think there is some genetic component giving people with distant Italian decent an edge with judging this place, please pass on my review. I always find these type of Italian places over priced, and this is no exception. The marinara sauce is fantastic, as is every thing they use it on, except the "pizza". I know this isn't a pizza joint, but what my daughter was served should be embarrassing. We go every year because it's a tradition for my daughters birthday. Her mom is not Italian either.
(3)
Cindi G.
Excellent foods where the locals come to eat. I met friends here on a Sunday afternoon when the place was packed. The service was a little slow due to the crowd but the entrees did not disappoint.
(5)
Mitchell G.
Ate lunch here after church. Once again Ruffino's does not disappoint. The fresh made crab dip was incredible and there was not one shell from the crab. Wonderful attention to detail even in those type details. My wife, who seldom eats red meat, ordered the prime rib and asked for well done. The meat arrived cooked as she requested and still moist and tender. My knuckle sandwich (lump lobster meat from the claws) was fantastic and would highly recommend both of the preceding. Ruffino's continues to maintain a high quality product and experience. You will not be disappointed here.
(5)
Reshawn L.
Delicious Friday lunch!! WOW! The Cedar Plank Baked Redfish is a must! In a word, INCREDIBLE!! The potatoes were the perfect compliment. In TX and LA everyone drinks iced tea. This place has some of the best lemonade I've ever had. Not too sweet and not too tart. It's hard to believe they are only open for lunch one day a week. I will definitely return when I have occasion to be in Baton Rouge and I may check out the Lafayette location.
(5)
Cristy C.
I only update my reviews when I feel the need to share something significant. I came here about two nights ago. It was a Sunday I recall because they were closing at 9 and we walked in around 8:35. Our servers name was Shane. Very nice, cool and polite young man. I was with Jack and our friend Q. Yes, his name is Q. Anyways we ordered appetizers drinks and entrees. Long story short we waited over30 min and our appetizer never came. Our entrees arrived. I asked for my sauce on the side and so did Jack. They got my order right, but they messed up Jacks order. His iced tea never came either. Once our entrees got there and we were almost done I got up to tell a manager that he could cancel our appetizer order because we were almost done with our entrees. He looked at me and looked annoyed. Hey, I didn't do anything. He actually had the appetizer in his hand and was about to bring it over. He said, "I still want you to enjoy it. I'll take it off your tab." Well, that was kind. But it felt very forced. I'm good at reading people. We assumed our server forgot to put in the appetizer order, just how he forgot Jacks iced tea and didn't put his sauce on the side. It just wasn't as nice of an experience as it usually is. And we're regulars. As a matter of fact, according to my Yelp check-ins I am the duchess of Ruffinos which means I have the most check ins comped to any other Yelper. Anyways this was one bad experience out of 5 or 6. The odds of having a bad experience here is probably slim. However if Shane is your server either as for another one or just be prepared. Because I've warned you. Im not sure who's fault this was but I'm mor likely to blame it on the server than the chef. The food is always spectacular. I'll just keep in the back of my mind that there's going to be a slim chance of a mess up.
(2)
Julie S.
My husband and I make Ruffino's our Friday night date night location. It's always consistent with service and food. We love the atmosphere and the great strawberry martinis.
(5)
J S.
I've been looking for good italian restaurant in town and this one is NOT it. Having lived in NY for a number of years and travelled to Italy, I would call this Cajun Italian...definitely not Italian. Actually I would give the food a 2 stars....the salad and appetizer were good, but the pasta dishes were total disappointment. The true test of Italian cooking is the spaghetti and meatballs. What I got was noodles drowning in tomato paste that had a hint of chilli seasoning. A little garlic, basil, and parsley would have gone a long ways in improving this dish. I think I could have gotten a better meal by opening a can of Ragu. Even my husband who will eat anything threw the thing out after choking down a few bites of the leftover the next day. My husband ordered some sort of pork tenderloin with with a side of creamy pasta. The meat was way over salted. I don't understand why everything needs to be deep fried. (It seems so uncreative.) The capellini pasta was overcooked to the point where it was mushy. The creamy sauce was so creamy and fatty that I can only eat two bites. Did not care the the dipping sauce for the bread. Good quality olive oil and herbs would have been fine. Why the heck did they feel they need to mix in the Parmesan cheese so it looks like brown goop? It's revolting. Service was good. However, we had to remind the wait staff to bring us the main course after we sat there for 30 minutes after the salad was served.
(2)
Anthony I.
Ruffino's thinks it's an upscale restaurant with fancy flairs. Really, it's loud, overpriced, and tacky with lots of cream, sugar, and butter in everything. If it cost half as much as it does, I might still eat there. To be sure, the crab cheesecake appetizer is massively delicious. Everything else was substandard but priced like you're eating high-end in a big city. When the waiter was setting tables near us with his fingers stuck inside the wine glasses, my wife swore never to return.
(2)
Becky L.
It's a little difficult to decide where to start. Why they get two stars and not one: The waitress was very sincere in her manner and cheerfulness. It was clean. The food was edible. Why they ONLY get two stars: Out front it is advertised an Itailan restaurant and has an electric scrolling marquee to go with their traditional sign. There is absolutely nothing about the front that says, "This is fine dining". That being said, we went in wearing jeans and t-shirts with windbreakers (which ended up being necessary because it was fairly chilly). The menu is ridiculously small. Four entrees does not make you an Italian restaurant, especially when two of them are spaghetti and meatballs and lasagna and the other two are ______________ Parmesan. Granted, the MENU describes Ruffino's as Italian, steak, and seafood, but you don't know that going in. Again, NOTHING about the outside suggests what to expect on the inside. The prices are STEEP, but I've had a better filet at other restaurants in Baton Rouge for a third of the price. Yes, a third. Salads are a la carte and also not worth what they cost, though the dressings were interesting and different. That doesn't mean you get to charge that much. The desserts were average in size and quality with above average pricing. The initial atmosphere is really nice, BUT about halfway through our meal, the easy listening was replaced with loud music from the bar area (on the opposite side of the restaurant) that was completely different in genre. It went from a quiet dinner to just shy of Applebees. There was also a big screen TV in the dinning room with a football game on. As soon as you add that to your dining room, you can no longer claim fine dining status and you certainly can't price as one. Seriously. Overall, as well traveled individuals who have lived in a variety of places, we know excellent food and what it should cost. What we experienced was decent food at "excellent" prices. If I am going to pay that much, which I am happy to do for a quality dining experience, my dinner had better be amazing. It should make me want to run home and write a great Yelp review, not spend 5 days trying to talk myself out of writing a negative one (note I lost that argument). In the way of constructive criticism, if the management/ownership does nothing else, change the outward appearance so that people driving by (tourists or new to town) know what to expect when visiting your restaurant. And if you want to pass yourself off as fine dining, lose the TV and the scrolling marquee.
(2)
Shannon D.
I absolutely loved this place. The food was so yummy & even though it was crazy busy for Valentine's Day the staff were friendly & cheerful.We did not feel rushed in the slightest. The food absolutely exceeded my expectations. I would highly recommend eating here to all of my friends!
(5)
Rachel M.
The food was great as always. The service and atmosphere of Ruffinos has gone greatly downhill. I have never felt more rushed through a meal. If you want to be hurried out of the restaurant in under an hour while paying premium price...ruffinos is the spot!
(3)
Roger B.
We had the Sunday Brunch at Ruffino's with family to celebrate our granddaughter's birthday. They had made the reservations and the table was ready when we arrived. I started off with a Bloody Mary while I looked over the lunch options. Several at the table had the bottomless Mimosas. We opted for the Lobster Mac and cheese as an appetizer. I ordered the crabmeat omelet while my wife ordered the grillades and grits. Fresh bread came out while we were waiting. The Sensation salad (a very different Caesar salad) apparently came with each order. Lite and tasty. Finally the main courses came out. The portions were generous. And the food was great. Since the waiter knew it was a birthday celebration, he brought her a complementary birthday tiramisu dessert. The final touch was when both children received cotton candy to eat on the way home. The wait staff is very attentive and service was great.
(4)
Felicia G.
Went here for pizza lunch and was not disappointed. White pizza with Italian sausage and anchovies...a little heavy on the anchovies, but the thin crust and sauce totally made up for it. Definitely my favorite pizza in town since Fleur De Lis changed hands.
(5)
Carvey P.
Great food! Great ambiance! Great Service! Had a great time with a Client! Had the Red Fish and it was amazing!
(5)
David S.
Ruffino's was amazing from start to finish! I made a reservation open table for a special table since it was my girlfriend's birthday and they had a great table waiting for us. It also made a great impression on my girlfriend when the manager sat us and told her happy birthday. The service was spot on! They have two servers per table so this helps a lot whenever you need something. The food was excellent and the portions were very generous. We had the braised pork cheeks served with BACON JAM and a sweet potato puree. I am drooling just thinking about those. They just melted in your mouth with every little bite, and they were also not very fatty at all. We both had pasta dishes with either veal or shrimp and everything was cooked perfectly. We definitely had enough for lunch the next day. The desserts were also excellent. They had a special going with the berry tiramisu and it was super moist and delicious. Ruffino's is definitely the place to go for any special occasions!
(5)
Stacey M.
My husband and I went to Ruffino's for the first time this past weekend. We had a nice dinner. The food is really good, a great wine list, and a great atmosphere. I would certainly go back. We ate the Lasagna and it was as good or better than any I have had in Baton Rouge. The steaks looked really good. And most of all the service was perfect. Go and check it out.
(4)
Marcy S.
I know this is the place to be seen in Baton Rouge so many people will hate my review, but let's be honest....the food just isn't that good. Sure there are a few items that are very good (pork cheeks being one of them) but for the most part everything is fried or laying in a bed of heavy creamy buttery sauce. I could eat a shoe if you put enough butter on it. I guess if you want to feel like you're in the cool kid crowd, it's not a bad place. I would just recommend having a drink and maybe an app or two. For the price there are other places with much better food.
Ruffino's is a great restaurant. The atmosphere is excellent and the wait staff is very attentive as is expected from a restaurant of this caliber. Whenever my family is in town we all tend to meet here as it is close to the house and always a good experience. Dishes I really enjoy here are the veal parmesan, the veal michael, the steak, and the prime rib(when available). I really love the side pasta they give you with most of their italian dishes. It's light and delicious. I'm allergic to fish, so I've never had the Cedar Plank Redfish, but everyone that does tells me it's great. Another Fish dish I've never had that is also supposed to be excellent is the Fish Katie. The have a nice wine list and a well stocked bar that is quite large which sometimes draws a large crowd. If you are looking for a good time and a nice dinner in an upscale atmosphere, Ruffino's might be what you are looking for.
(4)
Matthew G.
I travel the entire US and NOTHING compares to Ruffino's. I lived in BR for 5 years and I long to find a restaurant as good as Ruffino's. Ruffin and the crew are the best. If you know of a better Italian restaurant, with this kind of pricing, atmosphere and friendly staff, then tell me and I'll go check it out.
(5)
Tawnya R.
Great food. Best steak in Baton Rouge. Great wait staff!!!
(4)
Robert W.
First course, pan seared scallop on polenta. Fantastic! Second course, gnocchi with duck. Very rich, great. Main course, Braised short ribs and green beans, good but a bit salty. Fourth course, 72 hour pork shoulder, too Smokey. Dessert course, gelato with raspberry and capachinno. Very good. Overall very good meal.
(5)
Maranda W.
Ruffinos used to be our "go to" restaurant for special occasions. Never again. We were immediately sat and a waiter immediately came to us with the drink menu. Before I had a chance to look, he boasted about his "favorite" wine from Napa valley that was the night special. I love red wine but I am not very particular so I told him to order me that. Then we were promptly met by another waiter who said he was the food waiter. In total, we had 3 different waiters. It seemed very hectic with waiters zig zagging all over the place. I was also disappointed to learn that the salad was no longer included with the entree and was. 6.95 just for the side. But we ordered it because we used to love it. Well that has changed too , and was just ok. But my major disappointment was when we got the bill. That little glass of wine was 25.00. I felt tricked and taken advantage of. It cost more than either of our entrees. My husband and I are both hard working people and dont indulge ourselves like that. I wanted to send comments to the manager but could find no place to do that. Overall we were very disappointed on the changes this restaurant has made. They will no longer have our business.
(2)
Michael P.
Really good food and atmosphere. A place where you can feel the 'good vibe'. If it were centrally located, it would likely be impossible to get into. The owners and management love offering food and fun to the diners, Lots of choices almost always superbly prepared. Not just an Italian place, at all although it typically pops up in that genre. My 4 stars downgrade is because I think they sometimes get a little ambitious with their fancier offerings, but stay with your menu favorites (or the staff's recommendations) and you can't go wrong. I think a key to the success here is that they haven't gotten into over expanding and make sure they get, and keep, it right in their original location.
(4)
R E.
First time here and have to say all the wait staff are excellent. Unfortunately, can't say the same for the Lobster filet mignon. The texture was the consistency of a pudding. Wait staff and management was very responsive and did not question my dislike of dish. For dessert I ordered the bread pudding which was more egg then bread. Reminded me of a dish that may have been prepared for larges masses in a hospital or convention center, kind of blah. Have eaten at LeCreole across street- much better choice.
(2)
Libby W.
Not what I was hoping for. The salads & wine selection were very good, but the veal was over seasoned & tough. Was hoping for a suburb meal. Not worth the price. Will not make this mistake again... too many really good dining choices in BR.
(2)
Christina V.
My husband and I tried this place for the first time for our Anniversary and we were not disappointed! The atmosphere was nice and the food was great! We ordered the Maine Lobster and Surf n Turf and both were outstanding! For dessert we ordered the white chocolate bread pudding with whiskey sauce and the only complaint there is that I wanted a bigger piece because it was so delicious! We were also bought a plate that had Happy Aniversary spelled out in different sauces which was cool looking. For everyone they bring you back to childhood and bring cotton candy to the table! Will definitely visit again!!!!
(4)
Jason J.
The food was pretty good but the service sucked. I told the waiter to give us a few minutes to order and he took about 20 minutes to come back to take our orders. It also seemed like he went on a smoke break. The wait time to get our lunch and the waiter check back on you time was terrible. It was only about 10 people on the dining side (opposite of the bar side). Nevertheless, I was confused with the entire theme. Is this an upscale restaurant or something else? It's like an LSU shrine in there. I get the love for the home team and he may have played for LSU but in my opinion they've downgrade the romantic/upscale venue. The staff members are dressed as if this is an upscale place but the LSU pictures are over kill. The building is old but I will give them another shot. I believe there's a different menu per day (I don't like that because it limits your options. The prices are too high to receive bad service. My final thought is that they need some real pictures on here to give a real representation of the meals.
(2)
Jennifer D.
We went to Ruffino's Saturday Night. They were very crowded but this is not unusual. I love the atmosphere here. The English waitress was okay and food average. The best part of the meal and service is the Bread and Italian Butter(garlic, parmesan cheese), I had a Caesar Salad the was very dark green and not very good. How can an Italian Restaurant not make a good Caesar Salad? I had an appetizer of Eggplant that was very good however my friend's each had the Seafood Arancine which was a fried cheese ball. It came 2 to an order and they couldn't even finish 1.
(3)
Lindsey B.
My husband and I have had many date nights at Ruffino's. It's our favorite destination. I haven't tried a thing from their menu yet that wasn't delicious. My go-to meal is generally the crab meat cheesecake and prime rib with lump crab meat on top. If you can't tell, I'm a fan of crab meat! The wine list is superb as well. If you aren't sure which to try, ask your server. I've followed more than one recommendation from them in the past, and I have yet to be disappointment. Bottom line: There will be many more Ruffino's date nights in our future!
(5)
Juli F.
The Veal and Steak is VERY good. The veal is melt in your mouth tender. I have not had better Veal in the Baton Rouge area. It's a nice old fashioned Italian feeling restaurant that has table clothes and a fire place. I've been going to group functions there for years. It's a pleasant evening "Grown up" dining experience. Unfortunately, They've started serving a Kid Menu. Sunday is apparently "family lunch day" very noisy and unpleasant. Go in the evening.
(4)
Charlotte E.
I do about 3 to 4 business dinners per week and Ruffinos was my place of choice as it is close to my office and my home. I was spending about $600 to 800 per week at Ruffinos. Not to mention my personal visits with my family. Ever time I went in there i was treated like it was my first time. Bad tables, bad servers, no relationship building etc. I am not that forgettable believe me. I finally quit going. I spend my money where I feel appreciated. I still go because the food and wine are acceptable but I don't spend my money. Your loss Ruffino's. no doubt you have a good restaurant. You can tell that by the parking lot I just was not feeling the love. I moved on....
(1)
Gene S.
Our family and a couple of friends went here to celebrate my daughter's birthday...her choice. The wait staff was friendly and professional for the most part, however the waiter forgot to place the order for one of our party. When the item arrived, it was not prepared to order and was waaaaay overcooked. Two dishes were well seasoned and prepared, two were merely acceptable, but another two dishes were barely edible...overcooked and served cold. This is $10 a plate food, not $25 as priced, and would not stand it's own against a real Italian restaurant.
(2)
John R.
This place is a bit of a local attraction and is always busy. They offer huge portions on all of their dishes. I have always found the food to be average, but on my last visit it crossed the line to bad. I had a house salad that was wilted and virtually smothered in cheese. The chicken parmesan was a huge slab of under cooked and unpounded breast. The acompaning pasta was covered with their too sweet marinara sauce. If you love Italian food, there are better places.
(2)
Patti d.
I also travel all over the US and last night's meal at Ruffino's was one of the best I have had. 72 hour short rib special was fall apart tender and flavorful. Sides were also excellent. And there is a delightful suprise at the end of the meal that I could not have seen coming but I don't want to give it away... Fantastic service too...just wish I could remember her name to give her kudos here!
(5)
Erin M.
We went here for the first time for our Anniversary. I placed a reservation online, and we were seated as soon as we came in. We received a complimentary appetizer, Shrimp toast, and it was amazing I wish it was an Entree b/c I loved it so much I could have made a meal of it. We also ordered the calamari and it was also good. Our meals were fabulous. I ordered the Fish Katie and my husband had the cedar plank redfish... DELISH! Our dessert was the cheesecake that they presented with champagne and decorated "Happy Anniversary" plate. It was a great experience for a special occasion. We will go back!
(5)
Brandon B.
This place is AWESOME! It's a must stop every time I'm in Baton Rouge. Forget all the chain and greasy Italian restaurants. This is the place to go for well made Italian food. Ruffino's has an excellent selection of all the Italian classics and great specials with a hint of Cajun influence. I've had prime rib, fish on a cedar plank, fish with lumped crab meat, and a couple others. Everything has always been delicious. I'd recommend the Tomato Vodka sauce on a side portion of pasta if it comes with your meal. The Mozzarella alla Caprese appetizer is excellent and the portion is enough for 3-4. The Berry Tiramisu (seasonal) is one of the best deserts I've ever had. I highly recommend Ruffino's for a nice dinner out or a special occasion. If going you can always grab a table with a reasonable wait, but I'd make reservations.
(5)
Gary C.
This is without a doubt one of the best BR Italian restaurants. Food and service are great with a selection that would please most. Ruffino's can be crowded at times so you might want to call to check wait times. Fresh fish is special.
(4)
Roy J.
Best in Baton Rouge! Try the crab cheesecake.
(5)
Jim N.
this place is great. if your in the mood for italian. Made reservations and was seated about 5 mins after we arrrived. Atmospshere is nice in my opionion Order a few vodka drinks and moved on to entrees. I had the Pork Tchoupitoulas which was awesome. didnt expect the cuts to be sooo huge..asparagus was cooked just right and the shrimp topped it off right..ate only one and had to bring the other home..taste was great!! would recommed it!..my girl had the Cedar Plank Baked Redfish which was pretty good but mines was better. overall great place and great service.
(4)
Chris V.
This is one great Italian Restaurant. Although it is a little pricey, it is totally worth it. All of the fish entrees are great, and I highly recommend either the Cedar Plank Salmon or the Fish Katie. The Chicken Parmesan is good as well, if you're not into fish. The Crabmeat Cheesecake is astounding, although it sounds disgusting, and I think everyone should try it for their appetizer. I am also impressed by the service. I will return many times over!
(5)
tushima d.
nothing exciting, except good wine. foo dis ok, nice ambiance, but over rated. not much for vegetarians.
(2)
Abi Y.
I've gone 3 times . This was the worst. Ossco bocco was expensive and very blan.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : 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.
M M.
We have been here on 2 occasions. The first time the service was very slow. The oysters we ordered sat at the bar for 10 minutes before we had to ask for them. We didn't get offered bread when other tables has them. We decided to give them another try. The service and food were both wonderful. It seemed the manager was actually on duty this night.
(4)Abi Y.
I've gone 3 times . This was the worst. Ossco bocco was expensive and very blan.
(1)Emily M.
Love it! I have dined at Ruffino's three times and left with a smile every time. I love the crabmeat cheesecake app and filet mignon, in particular. Everyone at the table always seems to love their entrees, and the service remains superb--even particularly patient with my small children after the babysitter fell through once. Any place that sends complimentary cotton candy at the end of a meal scores big points in my book. We will definitely return and look forward to more special experiences at Ruffino's. I also love that they often offer "special" menus or holiday items. They make a point to remain true to their signature dishes and switch it up from time-to-time to stay relevant and inventive. I'm a fan.
(4)Jannean D.
Exceptional service. We had three wait staff to assist our table, each of whom were very attentive. The bartenders make a fabulous French martini. You must try the Taste of Ruffinos! Amazing!! Braised pork cheeks were stunning. It was my first time eating this cut of meat and I was impressed. The entire meal was splendid. We will be returning!!
(5)AshLee S.
Overall: Ruffinos is worth it if you have a gift card; however, I would not go without one. It felt like an upscale Sammy's, with Flemings prices. If you're looking for a nice upscale dinner, try Flemings or Texas de Brazil. Pros: -The service was great! - the crabmeat cheesecake was stellar (appetizer) Cons: - atmosphere; too loud - our entrees were on the bad side. My boyfriend's steak came out rare when he asked for medium well. My fish katie was okay. There was nothing to special about it and it was overpriced.
(3)Jennie H.
Picked up take out today as we are new to the area and have a small child we did want to eat in with. The ambience was very pretty. They had a beautiful fireplace and nice lighting I noticed as I was waiting. Got our takeout home, we ordered Fish Katie, lasagna and spaghetti. The Fish Katie dish on the online menu stated it had a side- we did not receive it. The spaghetti noodles were VERY overdone. The lasagna was okay, and I believe it would have been much better if it just came out of the oven (if we ate in). I thought maybe we would of got some bread, a side salad or something..however none of the above. We order takeout frequently and usually do not write reviews, however I thought after hearing how great this establishment is and the unfortunate experience we had, I would on this one. We will possibly try them one more time dining in next time nonetheless.
(3)Shannon H.
Our absolute favorite restaurant. We host our company Christmas parties here as well as most special occasions personally. The food is amazing!
(5)Andy S.
The locals love this place, if that tells you something. Ruffino's is always hopping and the parking lot is always full. Well, maybe not always, but you get the point. The food is good, the atmosphere is nice, and the prices are not too outrageous for what you get. The place is not in the heart of Baton Rouge, so it will require a drive for tourists. My lone complaint is that they have to have flatscreen TVs on every wall. Can't people enjoy a nice Italian meal without having to watch TV? Can't people just sit, eat, and talk anymore? Ruffino's is not alone in this.
(4)Don H.
Came for appetizers and drinks, had the Shrimp Corn Dogs (tasty), Seafood Aricini (very tasty), and BarBQue Shrimp (excellent). Great food and drinks!
(4)Lizzie J.
This place is worth the price. I had the cedar plank redfish like other people suggested and it was DELISH!!! I have also had the ribeye before and it will melt in your mouth. I went with a group of girls tonight and we ordered one of each dessert and tasted each one. You can't go wrong on any of them.
(5)Eric B.
What do you get when you combine the talents of a former LSU lineman and a New Orleans- born Italian chef? You get Baton Rouge's only Italian-Creole fusion restaurant! During my recent business trip, we managed to dine at some really nice places during our almost 2 week stay in the greater Baton Rouge area. Ruffino's was highly recommended by our Hosts, and as soon as we walked in, I knew that I had been here before. It's fancy, dark inside, and has the service and prices to match. However, when on expense account, a little more choice flexibility is possible. Our Party of 8 was well taken care of, including appetizers, a couple bottles of wine (picked by me as the token California guy), and an assortment of delicious entrees. I particularly enjoyed and highly recommend the Cedar Plank Baked Redfish. It was a very nice evening out, especially after a hard day at work.
(4)Marie S.
Great consistent food and service. Great lunch menu. Fun to eat at the bar too! Let them know you're celebrating an event. They'll do a special dessert.
(4)Anthony I.
Ruffino's thinks it's an upscale restaurant with fancy flairs. Really, it's loud, overpriced, and tacky with lots of cream, sugar, and butter in everything. If it cost half as much as it does, I might still eat there. To be sure, the crab cheesecake appetizer is massively delicious. Everything else was substandard but priced like you're eating high-end in a big city. When the waiter was setting tables near us with his fingers stuck inside the wine glasses, my wife swore never to return.
(2)Jackie D.
Please note this review is for a private dining reservation. Oh my dear lord in heaven. I'm glad when I finally made it to Ruffino's, someone else was footing the bill because I got to try everything and it was all DELICIOUS. And worth every last calorie. We started with Dirty Ketel martinis. Several. Then came the passarounds. Redfish Beignets, which were reminiscent to crabcakes but had a little more breading and a slightly different flavor. Tasty, but I could only do one because it was pretty heavy. Next, was the Alligator Sausage with caramelized onions and a mustard dipping sauce. GLORIOUS with a ton of flavors that worked really well together. I could have eaten an entire tray of this, if I didn't have a 4 course dinner coming. Next, we were seated to a first course that could very well be described as the best thing I've eaten in Baton Rouge - the Crabmeat Cheesecake. Y'ALL. It's rich, it's crabby, it's creamy, and then it has this crust like sweet cheesecake would have that's crispy and awesome and you just can't help but eat the entire thing. It was die and go to heaven good. I would absolutely go back and get that with a salad and be super satisfied. Second course was a Caesar Salad served with their bread. The Caesar Salad was just a basic Caesar but the bread was like WHOA. They serve regular french bread with this Italian butter that can be best described as a combo of the deliciousness of the olive oil/cheese mixture served on top of bread at the Little Village combined with olive tapenade. YUM and again, could have eaten it ALL DAY LONG. Third course was the entree - we had a choice of Chicken Parm, Ribeye with Barbeque Shrimp, Filet Mignon, or Fish. I went with the Ribeye with Barbeque Shrimp and it was wonderful. I've never had Steak with NOLA style BBQ shrimp and now I feel like it's a combo that every restaurant should offer. The steak sucks up all of the tasty shrimp juice and it's just...legendary. The steak was served medium and cooked perfectly. Certainly impressive and indicative of a great restaurant that medium can be executed on EVERY steak that comes out in a PDR. By the fourth course, I was so full that I could barely move and more than a little inebriated on free booze, but dessert was bread pudding and how can you really turn that down? Well, I didn't. And it was so worth the pain. Custardy in the inside, crispy on the outside - pretty sure it was the Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding that quite a few restaurants in BR serve, but it was executed very well and left me satisfied. At the end of the meal, I was food drunk, booze drunk, and sublimely happy, and wouldn't have wanted it any other way. The service was outstanding - no drink was ever empty, plate timing was right on. The food was outstanding. The booze, specifically their house Pinot Noir, was outstanding. It's hard to imagine a better all-around experience at a restaurant in Baton Rouge, and I will definitely refer it to anyone who asks for a suggestion on dining for a SPECIAL night out.
(5)Brad P.
We are always happy when leaving this place. Food is GREAT! People are GREAT! Excellent wine list. I really like to sit in the bar area even to eat. It has a good atmosphere with a large selection of drinks. Staff always ask if you need anything. I love it.
(4)Racquel C.
I love Italian! I am Italian! So when my bf surprised me with a fancy date night to Ruffino's I was ecstatic. Or so I thought. Service is great, I will give them that. There's also a bartender who works Sunday evenings, forgot her name but she's very pretty(not the red head, she's very rude and inconsistent with her drinks) but anyways the bartender working Sunday evenings is on point with her cocktails and very friendly. Ok so moving on to dinner.. We ordered the taste of Ruffino's app would I great. It's all very rich but overall great and we basically licked the plated clean. Our main entrees on the other hand were very disappointing. My boyfriend ordered the lasagna which seemed like a go to being Italian cuisine, not so much. We were very confused after a few bites because there seemed to be no pasta in the dish?? When asking the waiter he explained the pasta is made in house and made so thin is basically disintegrates into the me when baked which is very odd to me. My family cooks authentic Italian lasagna on many occasions and I've never seen this to be a problem. Needless say my boyfriend was unhappy with his dish and actually sent it back to the kitchen. After waiting a good 30-40 minutes for our entrees and knowing the restaurant was closing soon we didn't ask to we didn't ask for the entree to be replaced but we sent the entire entree back with maybe 3 bites taken out. I order the Veal Michael and let me tell you I love veal! I was so excited for this dish and first bite in I was overwhelmed by the taste of freezer burntness or just over cooked and chewy. My boyfriend always complained his entree tasted like it was a frozen dish not fresh. I also let the waiter know how I felt about my dish and after only a few bites asked him to box it togo. We ordered two desserts togo since we were both still very hungry from our unsatisfying meals. And the waiter still charged us for the both plates?!? I was a bit annoyed. But we aren't ones to make a fuss. What was very odd to me was after we order two desserts the waiter came to us and said he slipped in an extra piece of choc cake. Well thanks but we already ordered and paid for 2 desserts? So instead of throwing another cheap piece of cake in the back why not accommodate the mistakes that were made during dinner?? So being that we thoroughly enjoyed our drinks from the cute Sunday night bartender that following Saturday after the tigers made that awesome win against Ole Miss we decided to catch a few drinks at the bar. To our dismay a different bartender was working she had reddish hair a bad attitude and consistent drinks. We also heard her make a remark to one of the male staff that my boyfriend was an asshole. Interesting customer service from this particular staff member.
(3)Brian R.
Meh. I have been to Ruffino's before and enjoyed their ribeye, but the flounder special that is currently being offered was not good. It was overcooked and dry. Dining service was as great as it was previously, but the bar tends need to work on their customer service. Overall, I'd recommend for beef, but go across the street to Creole for seafood.
(3)Ryan B.
Always good food and excellent service. A must stop for food while in Baton Rouge.
(5)Ken R.
Thursday night four of us ate again at Ruffino's. It was hard for me to resist eating one of their delicious wood stove piazzas. I forced myself to pick something from the menu which has so much to choose from. I settled on one of the signature veal dishes which came with a great side dish of cheese pasta. The veal itself was good, just not great. I still prefer Ruffino's over many others because of their wide selection and because over many years I have never had anything bad. Service continues to be very good.
(4)M M.
We have been here on 2 occasions. The first time the service was very slow. The oysters we ordered sat at the bar for 10 minutes before we had to ask for them. We didn't get offered bread when other tables has them. We decided to give them another try. The service and food were both wonderful. It seemed the manager was actually on duty this night.
(4)Christine S.
We have been going to Ruffino's for years, (first date with the love of my life) and our most recent dinner there, renewed my reason for this truly being my all time favorite restaurant. The service is incredible, the daily menu items were awesome caprese salad, the Amberjack, both outstanding. The pomegranate martini always awesome, and the seafood Arancini appetizer always the best choice, my sons favorite!! A few years ago I was a little on the fence about whether Ruffinos would be able to stay consistent, it just seemed like they were slipping a little, not enough to make me write anything less than satisfactory, but curious. However they added pistachios to the sensation salad, so wonderful, and last night was truly just premium, from the food, to the ambience, fabulous!! We loved everything last night, wonderful meal, outstanding service! We love the cotton candy too!! Always a wonderful evening especially when celebrating a special occasion!! Thanks for the tweeks, we noticed!!
(5)Steve S.
I am not Italian, not even 1/32nd, so if you think there is some genetic component giving people with distant Italian decent an edge with judging this place, please pass on my review. I always find these type of Italian places over priced, and this is no exception. The marinara sauce is fantastic, as is every thing they use it on, except the "pizza". I know this isn't a pizza joint, but what my daughter was served should be embarrassing. We go every year because it's a tradition for my daughters birthday. Her mom is not Italian either.
(3)Cindi G.
Excellent foods where the locals come to eat. I met friends here on a Sunday afternoon when the place was packed. The service was a little slow due to the crowd but the entrees did not disappoint.
(5)Jordan T.
Great food & atmosphere! You've gotta try the silver sea scallops, if you like scallops!
(5)Kenneth M.
My wife and I celebrated something special at Ruffino's, our 43rd anniversary. We were a table of two. I had been to Rufffino's a couple of times before. It had been a few years since I had been there, but I expected them to have the Italian dishes, such as Cannelloni, on the menu. They were not. Only two or three Italian selections, all over $25. Pasta with gold flakes, perhaps? Our waiter was good and attentive, but not overbearing. The girl who took care of the table was friendly and efficient. The Italian bread with the olive oil and Parmesan was as good as ever. My wife had the fish special with crabmeat topping and I had the Veal (I don't remember what the name of the dish was). I don't take notes when I eat and I don't use my cell phone either. With the traditional Italian dishes off of the menu, eating for less than $25 for an entree' is not possible. Overall the food was good and the service friendly and efficient. It is a popular spot, but I agree with other reviewers in that the TVs bring the place down into the ordinary. The waiter did a cute job of putting a message on our dessert plate congratulating us on our 43rd anniversary. I do not think we will be back, though. There are much better places to eat without spending a C-note before tip without alcohol. Food: Good service: very good atmosphere: fair Prices: Through the stratosphere I have edited this review to add a star. I do not want to put into the same category as the dismal Le Creole. The service is what got it another star.
(3)Jason D.
Overpriced mediocrity. Filet overcooked and dry, cedar redfish was a huge disappointment for $30. Last 3 trips have not lived up to expectations.
(2)Shayne L.
Food and service both great. I had mussel appetizer wife had cab cakes both were delicious. Entree was sheepshead with lobster topping. Fish was ok. Lobster was great.
(4)Mitchell G.
Ate lunch here after church. Once again Ruffino's does not disappoint. The fresh made crab dip was incredible and there was not one shell from the crab. Wonderful attention to detail even in those type details. My wife, who seldom eats red meat, ordered the prime rib and asked for well done. The meat arrived cooked as she requested and still moist and tender. My knuckle sandwich (lump lobster meat from the claws) was fantastic and would highly recommend both of the preceding. Ruffino's continues to maintain a high quality product and experience. You will not be disappointed here.
(5)Reshawn L.
Delicious Friday lunch!! WOW! The Cedar Plank Baked Redfish is a must! In a word, INCREDIBLE!! The potatoes were the perfect compliment. In TX and LA everyone drinks iced tea. This place has some of the best lemonade I've ever had. Not too sweet and not too tart. It's hard to believe they are only open for lunch one day a week. I will definitely return when I have occasion to be in Baton Rouge and I may check out the Lafayette location.
(5)Julie S.
My husband and I make Ruffino's our Friday night date night location. It's always consistent with service and food. We love the atmosphere and the great strawberry martinis.
(5)J S.
I've been looking for good italian restaurant in town and this one is NOT it. Having lived in NY for a number of years and travelled to Italy, I would call this Cajun Italian...definitely not Italian. Actually I would give the food a 2 stars....the salad and appetizer were good, but the pasta dishes were total disappointment. The true test of Italian cooking is the spaghetti and meatballs. What I got was noodles drowning in tomato paste that had a hint of chilli seasoning. A little garlic, basil, and parsley would have gone a long ways in improving this dish. I think I could have gotten a better meal by opening a can of Ragu. Even my husband who will eat anything threw the thing out after choking down a few bites of the leftover the next day. My husband ordered some sort of pork tenderloin with with a side of creamy pasta. The meat was way over salted. I don't understand why everything needs to be deep fried. (It seems so uncreative.) The capellini pasta was overcooked to the point where it was mushy. The creamy sauce was so creamy and fatty that I can only eat two bites. Did not care the the dipping sauce for the bread. Good quality olive oil and herbs would have been fine. Why the heck did they feel they need to mix in the Parmesan cheese so it looks like brown goop? It's revolting. Service was good. However, we had to remind the wait staff to bring us the main course after we sat there for 30 minutes after the salad was served.
(2)Cristy C.
I only update my reviews when I feel the need to share something significant. I came here about two nights ago. It was a Sunday I recall because they were closing at 9 and we walked in around 8:35. Our servers name was Shane. Very nice, cool and polite young man. I was with Jack and our friend Q. Yes, his name is Q. Anyways we ordered appetizers drinks and entrees. Long story short we waited over30 min and our appetizer never came. Our entrees arrived. I asked for my sauce on the side and so did Jack. They got my order right, but they messed up Jacks order. His iced tea never came either. Once our entrees got there and we were almost done I got up to tell a manager that he could cancel our appetizer order because we were almost done with our entrees. He looked at me and looked annoyed. Hey, I didn't do anything. He actually had the appetizer in his hand and was about to bring it over. He said, "I still want you to enjoy it. I'll take it off your tab." Well, that was kind. But it felt very forced. I'm good at reading people. We assumed our server forgot to put in the appetizer order, just how he forgot Jacks iced tea and didn't put his sauce on the side. It just wasn't as nice of an experience as it usually is. And we're regulars. As a matter of fact, according to my Yelp check-ins I am the duchess of Ruffinos which means I have the most check ins comped to any other Yelper. Anyways this was one bad experience out of 5 or 6. The odds of having a bad experience here is probably slim. However if Shane is your server either as for another one or just be prepared. Because I've warned you. Im not sure who's fault this was but I'm mor likely to blame it on the server than the chef. The food is always spectacular. I'll just keep in the back of my mind that there's going to be a slim chance of a mess up.
(2)Becky L.
It's a little difficult to decide where to start. Why they get two stars and not one: The waitress was very sincere in her manner and cheerfulness. It was clean. The food was edible. Why they ONLY get two stars: Out front it is advertised an Itailan restaurant and has an electric scrolling marquee to go with their traditional sign. There is absolutely nothing about the front that says, "This is fine dining". That being said, we went in wearing jeans and t-shirts with windbreakers (which ended up being necessary because it was fairly chilly). The menu is ridiculously small. Four entrees does not make you an Italian restaurant, especially when two of them are spaghetti and meatballs and lasagna and the other two are ______________ Parmesan. Granted, the MENU describes Ruffino's as Italian, steak, and seafood, but you don't know that going in. Again, NOTHING about the outside suggests what to expect on the inside. The prices are STEEP, but I've had a better filet at other restaurants in Baton Rouge for a third of the price. Yes, a third. Salads are a la carte and also not worth what they cost, though the dressings were interesting and different. That doesn't mean you get to charge that much. The desserts were average in size and quality with above average pricing. The initial atmosphere is really nice, BUT about halfway through our meal, the easy listening was replaced with loud music from the bar area (on the opposite side of the restaurant) that was completely different in genre. It went from a quiet dinner to just shy of Applebees. There was also a big screen TV in the dinning room with a football game on. As soon as you add that to your dining room, you can no longer claim fine dining status and you certainly can't price as one. Seriously. Overall, as well traveled individuals who have lived in a variety of places, we know excellent food and what it should cost. What we experienced was decent food at "excellent" prices. If I am going to pay that much, which I am happy to do for a quality dining experience, my dinner had better be amazing. It should make me want to run home and write a great Yelp review, not spend 5 days trying to talk myself out of writing a negative one (note I lost that argument). In the way of constructive criticism, if the management/ownership does nothing else, change the outward appearance so that people driving by (tourists or new to town) know what to expect when visiting your restaurant. And if you want to pass yourself off as fine dining, lose the TV and the scrolling marquee.
(2)Shannon D.
I absolutely loved this place. The food was so yummy & even though it was crazy busy for Valentine's Day the staff were friendly & cheerful.We did not feel rushed in the slightest. The food absolutely exceeded my expectations. I would highly recommend eating here to all of my friends!
(5)Rachel M.
The food was great as always. The service and atmosphere of Ruffinos has gone greatly downhill. I have never felt more rushed through a meal. If you want to be hurried out of the restaurant in under an hour while paying premium price...ruffinos is the spot!
(3)Roger B.
We had the Sunday Brunch at Ruffino's with family to celebrate our granddaughter's birthday. They had made the reservations and the table was ready when we arrived. I started off with a Bloody Mary while I looked over the lunch options. Several at the table had the bottomless Mimosas. We opted for the Lobster Mac and cheese as an appetizer. I ordered the crabmeat omelet while my wife ordered the grillades and grits. Fresh bread came out while we were waiting. The Sensation salad (a very different Caesar salad) apparently came with each order. Lite and tasty. Finally the main courses came out. The portions were generous. And the food was great. Since the waiter knew it was a birthday celebration, he brought her a complementary birthday tiramisu dessert. The final touch was when both children received cotton candy to eat on the way home. The wait staff is very attentive and service was great.
(4)Hannah B.
Wait staff was exceptionally attentive. My friend and I met for dinner and were fully satisfied with the lobster plate. YUM! It was a pound and a half of buttery heaven. The ciabatta bread was disappointing. The olive oil dipping sauce was great but the bread was VERY hard. White chocolate brownie was fantastic! I'm not a huge brownie fan but I could have eaten it plus ten and licked the plate!
(5)Albert P.
Heard a lot about Ruffino's...was really looking to a first class meal. Uh oh... Corn & crab chowder was delicious! The appetizer sampler was not good at all. It was cold and gummy...the flavors were all the same. BBQ shrimp was not good at all. The famous crawfish cheesecake was pasty and bland. The diver scallop was almost raw. My friend's entrees came out cold and also very underseasoned. The desserts...tiramisu was hard and dry and had no espresso flavor. The bread pudding was very good. Service was spotty...too few servers, although it was a busy Wednesday night. I'll try this place again, even though tonight was a big disappointment.
(2)Christopher R.
This place is amazing! Couldn't decide between the prime rib and the 12oz filet mignon. I got the filet and couldn't have been happier. The cut and temp were perfection. Melted like butter with tenderness. Topped it with shrimp and had roasted potatoes on the side. I definitely recommend everyone tries it. The scenery was nice. Service was attentive and knowledgable of the menu and wine selections. Zero bad things to say and I look forward to becoming a regular!
(5)Meghan K.
I used to not really enjoy going to Ruffinos. It was a long drive got an okay meal. My thoughts changed last night. I ordered off the nightly special and was thoroughly impressed. I'm wishing I would've got thee appetizer special. We got the seafood cocktail and it was okay. The shrimp were overlooked. I love the bread and dipping sauce they bring out. I ate waaayyyy too much of it. My mangrove snapper was topped with lobster and mango with some sort of buerre blancc sauce. It was perfectly cooked and was awesome. My sorbet special was good as well. It was a little tart tasting but still good. The service was on point!
(4)Samera W.
Were celebrating my Birthday so my Husband made sure to make reservations. We had to wait a bit because we where 30 minutes early but we didnt mind. Once seated the lighting was nice and perfect. They serve you fresh baked bread with some Romano, Parmesan Cheese with Herbs and Olive Oil. I ordered the Ribeye because they were out of the Prime Rib (Disappointment #1). When I get the Steak my roasted potatoes where undercooked and honestly i had better ribeyes.(Dissapointment #2) At the end when the bill came we got complimentary cotton candy and a sweet dessert for my Birthday!
(4)John C.
After seeing this restaurant (Rufinno's) sponsoring several local fishing programs, by-passed Ruth's Chris and I decided to take my fiancee (for belated birthday) and her daughter (also belated birthday-LSU student) to eat Italian food! Made reservations for Sunday (August 23rd). Upon entering and being shown to our table, we immediately noticed dust on the wine bottles while passing the front wine rack. The red carpet in the dining area was old and in need of cleaning maybe replacing. My fiancee went to the ladies' room and after returning, she related how deplorable the restroom was in (wet floors, vanity wet and wet conditions in the toilet area)! The entrees were less than mediocre: fiancee order pasta/linguine and Marinera gravy; daughter ordered pasta Alfredo and I ordered the veal "Palermo" which had a side metal dish of pasta (tasted like canned Chef Boy-ar-dee (sp)! The service was okay to say the least, one waitress overly-friendly and flowerly! The 'birthday desserts' were good. I paid with a personal credit card which clearly states on the rear...:SHOW PIC ID"---NO REQUEST FOR ID by either the waiter nor the waitress which equals 5% less gratituity. Fiancee boxed her left over meal. We left extremely disappointed. Later that evening, my fiancee rewarmed her left over linguine...she discovered a 1.5" very thin piece of copper-colored wire in the gravy/linguine! NEVER EVER AGAIN!!! John Castelluccio, Jr. Metairie, LA
(1)David D.
Food was good. Not great but good. I really did not like the wait team approach. We had 3 different servers and due to that, things get mixed up or missed. When you have one waiter, they know what you want and confusion does not occur. I probably won't be going back until this is eliminated.
(3)Emily M.
Love it! I have dined at Ruffino's three times and left with a smile every time. I love the crabmeat cheesecake app and filet mignon, in particular. Everyone at the table always seems to love their entrees, and the service remains superb--even particularly patient with my small children after the babysitter fell through once. Any place that sends complimentary cotton candy at the end of a meal scores big points in my book. We will definitely return and look forward to more special experiences at Ruffino's. I also love that they often offer "special" menus or holiday items. They make a point to remain true to their signature dishes and switch it up from time-to-time to stay relevant and inventive. I'm a fan.
(4)Jannean D.
Exceptional service. We had three wait staff to assist our table, each of whom were very attentive. The bartenders make a fabulous French martini. You must try the Taste of Ruffinos! Amazing!! Braised pork cheeks were stunning. It was my first time eating this cut of meat and I was impressed. The entire meal was splendid. We will be returning!!
(5)AshLee S.
Overall: Ruffinos is worth it if you have a gift card; however, I would not go without one. It felt like an upscale Sammy's, with Flemings prices. If you're looking for a nice upscale dinner, try Flemings or Texas de Brazil. Pros: -The service was great! - the crabmeat cheesecake was stellar (appetizer) Cons: - atmosphere; too loud - our entrees were on the bad side. My boyfriend's steak came out rare when he asked for medium well. My fish katie was okay. There was nothing to special about it and it was overpriced.
(3)Jennie H.
Picked up take out today as we are new to the area and have a small child we did want to eat in with. The ambience was very pretty. They had a beautiful fireplace and nice lighting I noticed as I was waiting. Got our takeout home, we ordered Fish Katie, lasagna and spaghetti. The Fish Katie dish on the online menu stated it had a side- we did not receive it. The spaghetti noodles were VERY overdone. The lasagna was okay, and I believe it would have been much better if it just came out of the oven (if we ate in). I thought maybe we would of got some bread, a side salad or something..however none of the above. We order takeout frequently and usually do not write reviews, however I thought after hearing how great this establishment is and the unfortunate experience we had, I would on this one. We will possibly try them one more time dining in next time nonetheless.
(3)Shannon H.
Our absolute favorite restaurant. We host our company Christmas parties here as well as most special occasions personally. The food is amazing!
(5)Andy S.
The locals love this place, if that tells you something. Ruffino's is always hopping and the parking lot is always full. Well, maybe not always, but you get the point. The food is good, the atmosphere is nice, and the prices are not too outrageous for what you get. The place is not in the heart of Baton Rouge, so it will require a drive for tourists. My lone complaint is that they have to have flatscreen TVs on every wall. Can't people enjoy a nice Italian meal without having to watch TV? Can't people just sit, eat, and talk anymore? Ruffino's is not alone in this.
(4)Don H.
Came for appetizers and drinks, had the Shrimp Corn Dogs (tasty), Seafood Aricini (very tasty), and BarBQue Shrimp (excellent). Great food and drinks!
(4)Lizzie J.
This place is worth the price. I had the cedar plank redfish like other people suggested and it was DELISH!!! I have also had the ribeye before and it will melt in your mouth. I went with a group of girls tonight and we ordered one of each dessert and tasted each one. You can't go wrong on any of them.
(5)Jackie D.
Please note this review is for a private dining reservation. Oh my dear lord in heaven. I'm glad when I finally made it to Ruffino's, someone else was footing the bill because I got to try everything and it was all DELICIOUS. And worth every last calorie. We started with Dirty Ketel martinis. Several. Then came the passarounds. Redfish Beignets, which were reminiscent to crabcakes but had a little more breading and a slightly different flavor. Tasty, but I could only do one because it was pretty heavy. Next, was the Alligator Sausage with caramelized onions and a mustard dipping sauce. GLORIOUS with a ton of flavors that worked really well together. I could have eaten an entire tray of this, if I didn't have a 4 course dinner coming. Next, we were seated to a first course that could very well be described as the best thing I've eaten in Baton Rouge - the Crabmeat Cheesecake. Y'ALL. It's rich, it's crabby, it's creamy, and then it has this crust like sweet cheesecake would have that's crispy and awesome and you just can't help but eat the entire thing. It was die and go to heaven good. I would absolutely go back and get that with a salad and be super satisfied. Second course was a Caesar Salad served with their bread. The Caesar Salad was just a basic Caesar but the bread was like WHOA. They serve regular french bread with this Italian butter that can be best described as a combo of the deliciousness of the olive oil/cheese mixture served on top of bread at the Little Village combined with olive tapenade. YUM and again, could have eaten it ALL DAY LONG. Third course was the entree - we had a choice of Chicken Parm, Ribeye with Barbeque Shrimp, Filet Mignon, or Fish. I went with the Ribeye with Barbeque Shrimp and it was wonderful. I've never had Steak with NOLA style BBQ shrimp and now I feel like it's a combo that every restaurant should offer. The steak sucks up all of the tasty shrimp juice and it's just...legendary. The steak was served medium and cooked perfectly. Certainly impressive and indicative of a great restaurant that medium can be executed on EVERY steak that comes out in a PDR. By the fourth course, I was so full that I could barely move and more than a little inebriated on free booze, but dessert was bread pudding and how can you really turn that down? Well, I didn't. And it was so worth the pain. Custardy in the inside, crispy on the outside - pretty sure it was the Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding that quite a few restaurants in BR serve, but it was executed very well and left me satisfied. At the end of the meal, I was food drunk, booze drunk, and sublimely happy, and wouldn't have wanted it any other way. The service was outstanding - no drink was ever empty, plate timing was right on. The food was outstanding. The booze, specifically their house Pinot Noir, was outstanding. It's hard to imagine a better all-around experience at a restaurant in Baton Rouge, and I will definitely refer it to anyone who asks for a suggestion on dining for a SPECIAL night out.
(5)Brad P.
We are always happy when leaving this place. Food is GREAT! People are GREAT! Excellent wine list. I really like to sit in the bar area even to eat. It has a good atmosphere with a large selection of drinks. Staff always ask if you need anything. I love it.
(4)Gene S.
Our family and a couple of friends went here to celebrate my daughter's birthday...her choice. The wait staff was friendly and professional for the most part, however the waiter forgot to place the order for one of our party. When the item arrived, it was not prepared to order and was waaaaay overcooked. Two dishes were well seasoned and prepared, two were merely acceptable, but another two dishes were barely edible...overcooked and served cold. This is $10 a plate food, not $25 as priced, and would not stand it's own against a real Italian restaurant.
(2)John R.
This place is a bit of a local attraction and is always busy. They offer huge portions on all of their dishes. I have always found the food to be average, but on my last visit it crossed the line to bad. I had a house salad that was wilted and virtually smothered in cheese. The chicken parmesan was a huge slab of under cooked and unpounded breast. The acompaning pasta was covered with their too sweet marinara sauce. If you love Italian food, there are better places.
(2)Meghan K.
I used to not really enjoy going to Ruffinos. It was a long drive got an okay meal. My thoughts changed last night. I ordered off the nightly special and was thoroughly impressed. I'm wishing I would've got thee appetizer special. We got the seafood cocktail and it was okay. The shrimp were overlooked. I love the bread and dipping sauce they bring out. I ate waaayyyy too much of it. My mangrove snapper was topped with lobster and mango with some sort of buerre blancc sauce. It was perfectly cooked and was awesome. My sorbet special was good as well. It was a little tart tasting but still good. The service was on point!
(4)Samera W.
Were celebrating my Birthday so my Husband made sure to make reservations. We had to wait a bit because we where 30 minutes early but we didnt mind. Once seated the lighting was nice and perfect. They serve you fresh baked bread with some Romano, Parmesan Cheese with Herbs and Olive Oil. I ordered the Ribeye because they were out of the Prime Rib (Disappointment #1). When I get the Steak my roasted potatoes where undercooked and honestly i had better ribeyes.(Dissapointment #2) At the end when the bill came we got complimentary cotton candy and a sweet dessert for my Birthday!
(4)John C.
After seeing this restaurant (Rufinno's) sponsoring several local fishing programs, by-passed Ruth's Chris and I decided to take my fiancee (for belated birthday) and her daughter (also belated birthday-LSU student) to eat Italian food! Made reservations for Sunday (August 23rd). Upon entering and being shown to our table, we immediately noticed dust on the wine bottles while passing the front wine rack. The red carpet in the dining area was old and in need of cleaning maybe replacing. My fiancee went to the ladies' room and after returning, she related how deplorable the restroom was in (wet floors, vanity wet and wet conditions in the toilet area)! The entrees were less than mediocre: fiancee order pasta/linguine and Marinera gravy; daughter ordered pasta Alfredo and I ordered the veal "Palermo" which had a side metal dish of pasta (tasted like canned Chef Boy-ar-dee (sp)! The service was okay to say the least, one waitress overly-friendly and flowerly! The 'birthday desserts' were good. I paid with a personal credit card which clearly states on the rear...:SHOW PIC ID"---NO REQUEST FOR ID by either the waiter nor the waitress which equals 5% less gratituity. Fiancee boxed her left over meal. We left extremely disappointed. Later that evening, my fiancee rewarmed her left over linguine...she discovered a 1.5" very thin piece of copper-colored wire in the gravy/linguine! NEVER EVER AGAIN!!! John Castelluccio, Jr. Metairie, LA
(1)David D.
Food was good. Not great but good. I really did not like the wait team approach. We had 3 different servers and due to that, things get mixed up or missed. When you have one waiter, they know what you want and confusion does not occur. I probably won't be going back until this is eliminated.
(3)Felicia G.
Went here for pizza lunch and was not disappointed. White pizza with Italian sausage and anchovies...a little heavy on the anchovies, but the thin crust and sauce totally made up for it. Definitely my favorite pizza in town since Fleur De Lis changed hands.
(5)Carvey P.
Great food! Great ambiance! Great Service! Had a great time with a Client! Had the Red Fish and it was amazing!
(5)David S.
Ruffino's was amazing from start to finish! I made a reservation open table for a special table since it was my girlfriend's birthday and they had a great table waiting for us. It also made a great impression on my girlfriend when the manager sat us and told her happy birthday. The service was spot on! They have two servers per table so this helps a lot whenever you need something. The food was excellent and the portions were very generous. We had the braised pork cheeks served with BACON JAM and a sweet potato puree. I am drooling just thinking about those. They just melted in your mouth with every little bite, and they were also not very fatty at all. We both had pasta dishes with either veal or shrimp and everything was cooked perfectly. We definitely had enough for lunch the next day. The desserts were also excellent. They had a special going with the berry tiramisu and it was super moist and delicious. Ruffino's is definitely the place to go for any special occasions!
(5)Stacey M.
My husband and I went to Ruffino's for the first time this past weekend. We had a nice dinner. The food is really good, a great wine list, and a great atmosphere. I would certainly go back. We ate the Lasagna and it was as good or better than any I have had in Baton Rouge. The steaks looked really good. And most of all the service was perfect. Go and check it out.
(4)Marcy S.
I know this is the place to be seen in Baton Rouge so many people will hate my review, but let's be honest....the food just isn't that good. Sure there are a few items that are very good (pork cheeks being one of them) but for the most part everything is fried or laying in a bed of heavy creamy buttery sauce. I could eat a shoe if you put enough butter on it. I guess if you want to feel like you're in the cool kid crowd, it's not a bad place. I would just recommend having a drink and maybe an app or two. For the price there are other places with much better food.
(2)Nikki D.
One of the best places I've ever been and trust me I'm picky and I eat all over! We live to eat and travel and travel to eat. This place is all around top notch and the place to be! Anything and everything that's going on is there! What high end 5 star Resturant have u heard of with top notch service but without stuffy atmosphere and tv's everywhere! Great to go as a couple, take family, go with friends and celebrate something! Ok the sensation salad is a Louisiana classic native to the area and a must try. It's a lite version kinda tangy version of a Ceasar. Addicting! Then the arincini ( think I butchered that) it's a fried rice ball with cheese and crab and craw fish with herbs all in this ball of goodness placed on a place of half creamy fettecine sauce and half this creamy vodka sauce. The filet with lump crab on top and herb and butter sautéed potato with hollandaise sauce dripping over everything is the way toooo go! Omg I'm making myself hungry, god bless the south!
(5)Naveed B.
Ruffino's is a great restaurant. The atmosphere is excellent and the wait staff is very attentive as is expected from a restaurant of this caliber. Whenever my family is in town we all tend to meet here as it is close to the house and always a good experience. Dishes I really enjoy here are the veal parmesan, the veal michael, the steak, and the prime rib(when available). I really love the side pasta they give you with most of their italian dishes. It's light and delicious. I'm allergic to fish, so I've never had the Cedar Plank Redfish, but everyone that does tells me it's great. Another Fish dish I've never had that is also supposed to be excellent is the Fish Katie. The have a nice wine list and a well stocked bar that is quite large which sometimes draws a large crowd. If you are looking for a good time and a nice dinner in an upscale atmosphere, Ruffino's might be what you are looking for.
(4)Ryan B.
Always good food and excellent service. A must stop for food while in Baton Rouge.
(5)Matthew G.
I travel the entire US and NOTHING compares to Ruffino's. I lived in BR for 5 years and I long to find a restaurant as good as Ruffino's. Ruffin and the crew are the best. If you know of a better Italian restaurant, with this kind of pricing, atmosphere and friendly staff, then tell me and I'll go check it out.
(5)Tawnya R.
Great food. Best steak in Baton Rouge. Great wait staff!!!
(4)Robert W.
First course, pan seared scallop on polenta. Fantastic! Second course, gnocchi with duck. Very rich, great. Main course, Braised short ribs and green beans, good but a bit salty. Fourth course, 72 hour pork shoulder, too Smokey. Dessert course, gelato with raspberry and capachinno. Very good. Overall very good meal.
(5)Maranda W.
Ruffinos used to be our "go to" restaurant for special occasions. Never again. We were immediately sat and a waiter immediately came to us with the drink menu. Before I had a chance to look, he boasted about his "favorite" wine from Napa valley that was the night special. I love red wine but I am not very particular so I told him to order me that. Then we were promptly met by another waiter who said he was the food waiter. In total, we had 3 different waiters. It seemed very hectic with waiters zig zagging all over the place. I was also disappointed to learn that the salad was no longer included with the entree and was. 6.95 just for the side. But we ordered it because we used to love it. Well that has changed too , and was just ok. But my major disappointment was when we got the bill. That little glass of wine was 25.00. I felt tricked and taken advantage of. It cost more than either of our entrees. My husband and I are both hard working people and dont indulge ourselves like that. I wanted to send comments to the manager but could find no place to do that. Overall we were very disappointed on the changes this restaurant has made. They will no longer have our business.
(2)Michael P.
Really good food and atmosphere. A place where you can feel the 'good vibe'. If it were centrally located, it would likely be impossible to get into. The owners and management love offering food and fun to the diners, Lots of choices almost always superbly prepared. Not just an Italian place, at all although it typically pops up in that genre. My 4 stars downgrade is because I think they sometimes get a little ambitious with their fancier offerings, but stay with your menu favorites (or the staff's recommendations) and you can't go wrong. I think a key to the success here is that they haven't gotten into over expanding and make sure they get, and keep, it right in their original location.
(4)R E.
First time here and have to say all the wait staff are excellent. Unfortunately, can't say the same for the Lobster filet mignon. The texture was the consistency of a pudding. Wait staff and management was very responsive and did not question my dislike of dish. For dessert I ordered the bread pudding which was more egg then bread. Reminded me of a dish that may have been prepared for larges masses in a hospital or convention center, kind of blah. Have eaten at LeCreole across street- much better choice.
(2)Libby W.
Not what I was hoping for. The salads & wine selection were very good, but the veal was over seasoned & tough. Was hoping for a suburb meal. Not worth the price. Will not make this mistake again... too many really good dining choices in BR.
(2)Christina V.
My husband and I tried this place for the first time for our Anniversary and we were not disappointed! The atmosphere was nice and the food was great! We ordered the Maine Lobster and Surf n Turf and both were outstanding! For dessert we ordered the white chocolate bread pudding with whiskey sauce and the only complaint there is that I wanted a bigger piece because it was so delicious! We were also bought a plate that had Happy Aniversary spelled out in different sauces which was cool looking. For everyone they bring you back to childhood and bring cotton candy to the table! Will definitely visit again!!!!
(4)Jason J.
The food was pretty good but the service sucked. I told the waiter to give us a few minutes to order and he took about 20 minutes to come back to take our orders. It also seemed like he went on a smoke break. The wait time to get our lunch and the waiter check back on you time was terrible. It was only about 10 people on the dining side (opposite of the bar side). Nevertheless, I was confused with the entire theme. Is this an upscale restaurant or something else? It's like an LSU shrine in there. I get the love for the home team and he may have played for LSU but in my opinion they've downgrade the romantic/upscale venue. The staff members are dressed as if this is an upscale place but the LSU pictures are over kill. The building is old but I will give them another shot. I believe there's a different menu per day (I don't like that because it limits your options. The prices are too high to receive bad service. My final thought is that they need some real pictures on here to give a real representation of the meals.
(2)Jennifer D.
We went to Ruffino's Saturday Night. They were very crowded but this is not unusual. I love the atmosphere here. The English waitress was okay and food average. The best part of the meal and service is the Bread and Italian Butter(garlic, parmesan cheese), I had a Caesar Salad the was very dark green and not very good. How can an Italian Restaurant not make a good Caesar Salad? I had an appetizer of Eggplant that was very good however my friend's each had the Seafood Arancine which was a fried cheese ball. It came 2 to an order and they couldn't even finish 1.
(3)Lindsey B.
My husband and I have had many date nights at Ruffino's. It's our favorite destination. I haven't tried a thing from their menu yet that wasn't delicious. My go-to meal is generally the crab meat cheesecake and prime rib with lump crab meat on top. If you can't tell, I'm a fan of crab meat! The wine list is superb as well. If you aren't sure which to try, ask your server. I've followed more than one recommendation from them in the past, and I have yet to be disappointment. Bottom line: There will be many more Ruffino's date nights in our future!
(5)Juli F.
The Veal and Steak is VERY good. The veal is melt in your mouth tender. I have not had better Veal in the Baton Rouge area. It's a nice old fashioned Italian feeling restaurant that has table clothes and a fire place. I've been going to group functions there for years. It's a pleasant evening "Grown up" dining experience. Unfortunately, They've started serving a Kid Menu. Sunday is apparently "family lunch day" very noisy and unpleasant. Go in the evening.
(4)Charlotte E.
I do about 3 to 4 business dinners per week and Ruffinos was my place of choice as it is close to my office and my home. I was spending about $600 to 800 per week at Ruffinos. Not to mention my personal visits with my family. Ever time I went in there i was treated like it was my first time. Bad tables, bad servers, no relationship building etc. I am not that forgettable believe me. I finally quit going. I spend my money where I feel appreciated. I still go because the food and wine are acceptable but I don't spend my money. Your loss Ruffino's. no doubt you have a good restaurant. You can tell that by the parking lot I just was not feeling the love. I moved on....
(1)Chris V.
This is one great Italian Restaurant. Although it is a little pricey, it is totally worth it. All of the fish entrees are great, and I highly recommend either the Cedar Plank Salmon or the Fish Katie. The Chicken Parmesan is good as well, if you're not into fish. The Crabmeat Cheesecake is astounding, although it sounds disgusting, and I think everyone should try it for their appetizer. I am also impressed by the service. I will return many times over!
(5)tushima d.
nothing exciting, except good wine. foo dis ok, nice ambiance, but over rated. not much for vegetarians.
(2)Patti d.
I also travel all over the US and last night's meal at Ruffino's was one of the best I have had. 72 hour short rib special was fall apart tender and flavorful. Sides were also excellent. And there is a delightful suprise at the end of the meal that I could not have seen coming but I don't want to give it away... Fantastic service too...just wish I could remember her name to give her kudos here!
(5)Erin M.
We went here for the first time for our Anniversary. I placed a reservation online, and we were seated as soon as we came in. We received a complimentary appetizer, Shrimp toast, and it was amazing I wish it was an Entree b/c I loved it so much I could have made a meal of it. We also ordered the calamari and it was also good. Our meals were fabulous. I ordered the Fish Katie and my husband had the cedar plank redfish... DELISH! Our dessert was the cheesecake that they presented with champagne and decorated "Happy Anniversary" plate. It was a great experience for a special occasion. We will go back!
(5)Brandon B.
This place is AWESOME! It's a must stop every time I'm in Baton Rouge. Forget all the chain and greasy Italian restaurants. This is the place to go for well made Italian food. Ruffino's has an excellent selection of all the Italian classics and great specials with a hint of Cajun influence. I've had prime rib, fish on a cedar plank, fish with lumped crab meat, and a couple others. Everything has always been delicious. I'd recommend the Tomato Vodka sauce on a side portion of pasta if it comes with your meal. The Mozzarella alla Caprese appetizer is excellent and the portion is enough for 3-4. The Berry Tiramisu (seasonal) is one of the best deserts I've ever had. I highly recommend Ruffino's for a nice dinner out or a special occasion. If going you can always grab a table with a reasonable wait, but I'd make reservations.
(5)Gary C.
This is without a doubt one of the best BR Italian restaurants. Food and service are great with a selection that would please most. Ruffino's can be crowded at times so you might want to call to check wait times. Fresh fish is special.
(4)Roy J.
Best in Baton Rouge! Try the crab cheesecake.
(5)Jim N.
this place is great. if your in the mood for italian. Made reservations and was seated about 5 mins after we arrrived. Atmospshere is nice in my opionion Order a few vodka drinks and moved on to entrees. I had the Pork Tchoupitoulas which was awesome. didnt expect the cuts to be sooo huge..asparagus was cooked just right and the shrimp topped it off right..ate only one and had to bring the other home..taste was great!! would recommed it!..my girl had the Cedar Plank Baked Redfish which was pretty good but mines was better. overall great place and great service.
(4)Hannah B.
Wait staff was exceptionally attentive. My friend and I met for dinner and were fully satisfied with the lobster plate. YUM! It was a pound and a half of buttery heaven. The ciabatta bread was disappointing. The olive oil dipping sauce was great but the bread was VERY hard. White chocolate brownie was fantastic! I'm not a huge brownie fan but I could have eaten it plus ten and licked the plate!
(5)Albert P.
Heard a lot about Ruffino's...was really looking to a first class meal. Uh oh... Corn & crab chowder was delicious! The appetizer sampler was not good at all. It was cold and gummy...the flavors were all the same. BBQ shrimp was not good at all. The famous crawfish cheesecake was pasty and bland. The diver scallop was almost raw. My friend's entrees came out cold and also very underseasoned. The desserts...tiramisu was hard and dry and had no espresso flavor. The bread pudding was very good. Service was spotty...too few servers, although it was a busy Wednesday night. I'll try this place again, even though tonight was a big disappointment.
(2)Christopher R.
This place is amazing! Couldn't decide between the prime rib and the 12oz filet mignon. I got the filet and couldn't have been happier. The cut and temp were perfection. Melted like butter with tenderness. Topped it with shrimp and had roasted potatoes on the side. I definitely recommend everyone tries it. The scenery was nice. Service was attentive and knowledgable of the menu and wine selections. Zero bad things to say and I look forward to becoming a regular!
(5)Racquel C.
I love Italian! I am Italian! So when my bf surprised me with a fancy date night to Ruffino's I was ecstatic. Or so I thought. Service is great, I will give them that. There's also a bartender who works Sunday evenings, forgot her name but she's very pretty(not the red head, she's very rude and inconsistent with her drinks) but anyways the bartender working Sunday evenings is on point with her cocktails and very friendly. Ok so moving on to dinner.. We ordered the taste of Ruffino's app would I great. It's all very rich but overall great and we basically licked the plated clean. Our main entrees on the other hand were very disappointing. My boyfriend ordered the lasagna which seemed like a go to being Italian cuisine, not so much. We were very confused after a few bites because there seemed to be no pasta in the dish?? When asking the waiter he explained the pasta is made in house and made so thin is basically disintegrates into the me when baked which is very odd to me. My family cooks authentic Italian lasagna on many occasions and I've never seen this to be a problem. Needless say my boyfriend was unhappy with his dish and actually sent it back to the kitchen. After waiting a good 30-40 minutes for our entrees and knowing the restaurant was closing soon we didn't ask to we didn't ask for the entree to be replaced but we sent the entire entree back with maybe 3 bites taken out. I order the Veal Michael and let me tell you I love veal! I was so excited for this dish and first bite in I was overwhelmed by the taste of freezer burntness or just over cooked and chewy. My boyfriend always complained his entree tasted like it was a frozen dish not fresh. I also let the waiter know how I felt about my dish and after only a few bites asked him to box it togo. We ordered two desserts togo since we were both still very hungry from our unsatisfying meals. And the waiter still charged us for the both plates?!? I was a bit annoyed. But we aren't ones to make a fuss. What was very odd to me was after we order two desserts the waiter came to us and said he slipped in an extra piece of choc cake. Well thanks but we already ordered and paid for 2 desserts? So instead of throwing another cheap piece of cake in the back why not accommodate the mistakes that were made during dinner?? So being that we thoroughly enjoyed our drinks from the cute Sunday night bartender that following Saturday after the tigers made that awesome win against Ole Miss we decided to catch a few drinks at the bar. To our dismay a different bartender was working she had reddish hair a bad attitude and consistent drinks. We also heard her make a remark to one of the male staff that my boyfriend was an asshole. Interesting customer service from this particular staff member.
(3)Eric B.
What do you get when you combine the talents of a former LSU lineman and a New Orleans- born Italian chef? You get Baton Rouge's only Italian-Creole fusion restaurant! During my recent business trip, we managed to dine at some really nice places during our almost 2 week stay in the greater Baton Rouge area. Ruffino's was highly recommended by our Hosts, and as soon as we walked in, I knew that I had been here before. It's fancy, dark inside, and has the service and prices to match. However, when on expense account, a little more choice flexibility is possible. Our Party of 8 was well taken care of, including appetizers, a couple bottles of wine (picked by me as the token California guy), and an assortment of delicious entrees. I particularly enjoyed and highly recommend the Cedar Plank Baked Redfish. It was a very nice evening out, especially after a hard day at work.
(4)Marie S.
Great consistent food and service. Great lunch menu. Fun to eat at the bar too! Let them know you're celebrating an event. They'll do a special dessert.
(4)Kenneth M.
My wife and I celebrated something special at Ruffino's, our 43rd anniversary. We were a table of two. I had been to Rufffino's a couple of times before. It had been a few years since I had been there, but I expected them to have the Italian dishes, such as Cannelloni, on the menu. They were not. Only two or three Italian selections, all over $25. Pasta with gold flakes, perhaps? Our waiter was good and attentive, but not overbearing. The girl who took care of the table was friendly and efficient. The Italian bread with the olive oil and Parmesan was as good as ever. My wife had the fish special with crabmeat topping and I had the Veal (I don't remember what the name of the dish was). I don't take notes when I eat and I don't use my cell phone either. With the traditional Italian dishes off of the menu, eating for less than $25 for an entree' is not possible. Overall the food was good and the service friendly and efficient. It is a popular spot, but I agree with other reviewers in that the TVs bring the place down into the ordinary. The waiter did a cute job of putting a message on our dessert plate congratulating us on our 43rd anniversary. I do not think we will be back, though. There are much better places to eat without spending a C-note before tip without alcohol. Food: Good service: very good atmosphere: fair Prices: Through the stratosphere I have edited this review to add a star. I do not want to put into the same category as the dismal Le Creole. The service is what got it another star.
(3)Jason D.
Overpriced mediocrity. Filet overcooked and dry, cedar redfish was a huge disappointment for $30. Last 3 trips have not lived up to expectations.
(2)Shayne L.
Food and service both great. I had mussel appetizer wife had cab cakes both were delicious. Entree was sheepshead with lobster topping. Fish was ok. Lobster was great.
(4)Jordan T.
Great food & atmosphere! You've gotta try the silver sea scallops, if you like scallops!
(5)Brian R.
Meh. I have been to Ruffino's before and enjoyed their ribeye, but the flounder special that is currently being offered was not good. It was overcooked and dry. Dining service was as great as it was previously, but the bar tends need to work on their customer service. Overall, I'd recommend for beef, but go across the street to Creole for seafood.
(3)Ken R.
Thursday night four of us ate again at Ruffino's. It was hard for me to resist eating one of their delicious wood stove piazzas. I forced myself to pick something from the menu which has so much to choose from. I settled on one of the signature veal dishes which came with a great side dish of cheese pasta. The veal itself was good, just not great. I still prefer Ruffino's over many others because of their wide selection and because over many years I have never had anything bad. Service continues to be very good.
(4)Christine S.
We have been going to Ruffino's for years, (first date with the love of my life) and our most recent dinner there, renewed my reason for this truly being my all time favorite restaurant. The service is incredible, the daily menu items were awesome caprese salad, the Amberjack, both outstanding. The pomegranate martini always awesome, and the seafood Arancini appetizer always the best choice, my sons favorite!! A few years ago I was a little on the fence about whether Ruffinos would be able to stay consistent, it just seemed like they were slipping a little, not enough to make me write anything less than satisfactory, but curious. However they added pistachios to the sensation salad, so wonderful, and last night was truly just premium, from the food, to the ambience, fabulous!! We loved everything last night, wonderful meal, outstanding service! We love the cotton candy too!! Always a wonderful evening especially when celebrating a special occasion!! Thanks for the tweeks, we noticed!!
(5)Steve S.
I am not Italian, not even 1/32nd, so if you think there is some genetic component giving people with distant Italian decent an edge with judging this place, please pass on my review. I always find these type of Italian places over priced, and this is no exception. The marinara sauce is fantastic, as is every thing they use it on, except the "pizza". I know this isn't a pizza joint, but what my daughter was served should be embarrassing. We go every year because it's a tradition for my daughters birthday. Her mom is not Italian either.
(3)Cindi G.
Excellent foods where the locals come to eat. I met friends here on a Sunday afternoon when the place was packed. The service was a little slow due to the crowd but the entrees did not disappoint.
(5)Jim N.
this place is great. if your in the mood for italian. Made reservations and was seated about 5 mins after we arrrived. Atmospshere is nice in my opionion Order a few vodka drinks and moved on to entrees. I had the Pork Tchoupitoulas which was awesome. didnt expect the cuts to be sooo huge..asparagus was cooked just right and the shrimp topped it off right..ate only one and had to bring the other home..taste was great!! would recommed it!..my girl had the Cedar Plank Baked Redfish which was pretty good but mines was better. overall great place and great service.
(4)Chris V.
This is one great Italian Restaurant. Although it is a little pricey, it is totally worth it. All of the fish entrees are great, and I highly recommend either the Cedar Plank Salmon or the Fish Katie. The Chicken Parmesan is good as well, if you're not into fish. The Crabmeat Cheesecake is astounding, although it sounds disgusting, and I think everyone should try it for their appetizer. I am also impressed by the service. I will return many times over!
(5)tushima d.
nothing exciting, except good wine. foo dis ok, nice ambiance, but over rated. not much for vegetarians.
(2)Gene S.
Our family and a couple of friends went here to celebrate my daughter's birthday...her choice. The wait staff was friendly and professional for the most part, however the waiter forgot to place the order for one of our party. When the item arrived, it was not prepared to order and was waaaaay overcooked. Two dishes were well seasoned and prepared, two were merely acceptable, but another two dishes were barely edible...overcooked and served cold. This is $10 a plate food, not $25 as priced, and would not stand it's own against a real Italian restaurant.
(2)John R.
This place is a bit of a local attraction and is always busy. They offer huge portions on all of their dishes. I have always found the food to be average, but on my last visit it crossed the line to bad. I had a house salad that was wilted and virtually smothered in cheese. The chicken parmesan was a huge slab of under cooked and unpounded breast. The acompaning pasta was covered with their too sweet marinara sauce. If you love Italian food, there are better places.
(2)Becky L.
It's a little difficult to decide where to start. Why they get two stars and not one: The waitress was very sincere in her manner and cheerfulness. It was clean. The food was edible. Why they ONLY get two stars: Out front it is advertised an Itailan restaurant and has an electric scrolling marquee to go with their traditional sign. There is absolutely nothing about the front that says, "This is fine dining". That being said, we went in wearing jeans and t-shirts with windbreakers (which ended up being necessary because it was fairly chilly). The menu is ridiculously small. Four entrees does not make you an Italian restaurant, especially when two of them are spaghetti and meatballs and lasagna and the other two are ______________ Parmesan. Granted, the MENU describes Ruffino's as Italian, steak, and seafood, but you don't know that going in. Again, NOTHING about the outside suggests what to expect on the inside. The prices are STEEP, but I've had a better filet at other restaurants in Baton Rouge for a third of the price. Yes, a third. Salads are a la carte and also not worth what they cost, though the dressings were interesting and different. That doesn't mean you get to charge that much. The desserts were average in size and quality with above average pricing. The initial atmosphere is really nice, BUT about halfway through our meal, the easy listening was replaced with loud music from the bar area (on the opposite side of the restaurant) that was completely different in genre. It went from a quiet dinner to just shy of Applebees. There was also a big screen TV in the dinning room with a football game on. As soon as you add that to your dining room, you can no longer claim fine dining status and you certainly can't price as one. Seriously. Overall, as well traveled individuals who have lived in a variety of places, we know excellent food and what it should cost. What we experienced was decent food at "excellent" prices. If I am going to pay that much, which I am happy to do for a quality dining experience, my dinner had better be amazing. It should make me want to run home and write a great Yelp review, not spend 5 days trying to talk myself out of writing a negative one (note I lost that argument). In the way of constructive criticism, if the management/ownership does nothing else, change the outward appearance so that people driving by (tourists or new to town) know what to expect when visiting your restaurant. And if you want to pass yourself off as fine dining, lose the TV and the scrolling marquee.
(2)Shannon D.
I absolutely loved this place. The food was so yummy & even though it was crazy busy for Valentine's Day the staff were friendly & cheerful.We did not feel rushed in the slightest. The food absolutely exceeded my expectations. I would highly recommend eating here to all of my friends!
(5)Rachel M.
The food was great as always. The service and atmosphere of Ruffinos has gone greatly downhill. I have never felt more rushed through a meal. If you want to be hurried out of the restaurant in under an hour while paying premium price...ruffinos is the spot!
(3)Roger B.
We had the Sunday Brunch at Ruffino's with family to celebrate our granddaughter's birthday. They had made the reservations and the table was ready when we arrived. I started off with a Bloody Mary while I looked over the lunch options. Several at the table had the bottomless Mimosas. We opted for the Lobster Mac and cheese as an appetizer. I ordered the crabmeat omelet while my wife ordered the grillades and grits. Fresh bread came out while we were waiting. The Sensation salad (a very different Caesar salad) apparently came with each order. Lite and tasty. Finally the main courses came out. The portions were generous. And the food was great. Since the waiter knew it was a birthday celebration, he brought her a complementary birthday tiramisu dessert. The final touch was when both children received cotton candy to eat on the way home. The wait staff is very attentive and service was great.
(4)Felicia G.
Went here for pizza lunch and was not disappointed. White pizza with Italian sausage and anchovies...a little heavy on the anchovies, but the thin crust and sauce totally made up for it. Definitely my favorite pizza in town since Fleur De Lis changed hands.
(5)Carvey P.
Great food! Great ambiance! Great Service! Had a great time with a Client! Had the Red Fish and it was amazing!
(5)David S.
Ruffino's was amazing from start to finish! I made a reservation open table for a special table since it was my girlfriend's birthday and they had a great table waiting for us. It also made a great impression on my girlfriend when the manager sat us and told her happy birthday. The service was spot on! They have two servers per table so this helps a lot whenever you need something. The food was excellent and the portions were very generous. We had the braised pork cheeks served with BACON JAM and a sweet potato puree. I am drooling just thinking about those. They just melted in your mouth with every little bite, and they were also not very fatty at all. We both had pasta dishes with either veal or shrimp and everything was cooked perfectly. We definitely had enough for lunch the next day. The desserts were also excellent. They had a special going with the berry tiramisu and it was super moist and delicious. Ruffino's is definitely the place to go for any special occasions!
(5)Stacey M.
My husband and I went to Ruffino's for the first time this past weekend. We had a nice dinner. The food is really good, a great wine list, and a great atmosphere. I would certainly go back. We ate the Lasagna and it was as good or better than any I have had in Baton Rouge. The steaks looked really good. And most of all the service was perfect. Go and check it out.
(4)Marcy S.
I know this is the place to be seen in Baton Rouge so many people will hate my review, but let's be honest....the food just isn't that good. Sure there are a few items that are very good (pork cheeks being one of them) but for the most part everything is fried or laying in a bed of heavy creamy buttery sauce. I could eat a shoe if you put enough butter on it. I guess if you want to feel like you're in the cool kid crowd, it's not a bad place. I would just recommend having a drink and maybe an app or two. For the price there are other places with much better food.
(2)Nikki D.
One of the best places I've ever been and trust me I'm picky and I eat all over! We live to eat and travel and travel to eat. This place is all around top notch and the place to be! Anything and everything that's going on is there! What high end 5 star Resturant have u heard of with top notch service but without stuffy atmosphere and tv's everywhere! Great to go as a couple, take family, go with friends and celebrate something! Ok the sensation salad is a Louisiana classic native to the area and a must try. It's a lite version kinda tangy version of a Ceasar. Addicting! Then the arincini ( think I butchered that) it's a fried rice ball with cheese and crab and craw fish with herbs all in this ball of goodness placed on a place of half creamy fettecine sauce and half this creamy vodka sauce. The filet with lump crab on top and herb and butter sautéed potato with hollandaise sauce dripping over everything is the way toooo go! Omg I'm making myself hungry, god bless the south!
(5)Naveed B.
Ruffino's is a great restaurant. The atmosphere is excellent and the wait staff is very attentive as is expected from a restaurant of this caliber. Whenever my family is in town we all tend to meet here as it is close to the house and always a good experience. Dishes I really enjoy here are the veal parmesan, the veal michael, the steak, and the prime rib(when available). I really love the side pasta they give you with most of their italian dishes. It's light and delicious. I'm allergic to fish, so I've never had the Cedar Plank Redfish, but everyone that does tells me it's great. Another Fish dish I've never had that is also supposed to be excellent is the Fish Katie. The have a nice wine list and a well stocked bar that is quite large which sometimes draws a large crowd. If you are looking for a good time and a nice dinner in an upscale atmosphere, Ruffino's might be what you are looking for.
(4)Matthew G.
I travel the entire US and NOTHING compares to Ruffino's. I lived in BR for 5 years and I long to find a restaurant as good as Ruffino's. Ruffin and the crew are the best. If you know of a better Italian restaurant, with this kind of pricing, atmosphere and friendly staff, then tell me and I'll go check it out.
(5)Tawnya R.
Great food. Best steak in Baton Rouge. Great wait staff!!!
(4)Robert W.
First course, pan seared scallop on polenta. Fantastic! Second course, gnocchi with duck. Very rich, great. Main course, Braised short ribs and green beans, good but a bit salty. Fourth course, 72 hour pork shoulder, too Smokey. Dessert course, gelato with raspberry and capachinno. Very good. Overall very good meal.
(5)Ryan B.
Always good food and excellent service. A must stop for food while in Baton Rouge.
(5)Maranda W.
Ruffinos used to be our "go to" restaurant for special occasions. Never again. We were immediately sat and a waiter immediately came to us with the drink menu. Before I had a chance to look, he boasted about his "favorite" wine from Napa valley that was the night special. I love red wine but I am not very particular so I told him to order me that. Then we were promptly met by another waiter who said he was the food waiter. In total, we had 3 different waiters. It seemed very hectic with waiters zig zagging all over the place. I was also disappointed to learn that the salad was no longer included with the entree and was. 6.95 just for the side. But we ordered it because we used to love it. Well that has changed too , and was just ok. But my major disappointment was when we got the bill. That little glass of wine was 25.00. I felt tricked and taken advantage of. It cost more than either of our entrees. My husband and I are both hard working people and dont indulge ourselves like that. I wanted to send comments to the manager but could find no place to do that. Overall we were very disappointed on the changes this restaurant has made. They will no longer have our business.
(2)Michael P.
Really good food and atmosphere. A place where you can feel the 'good vibe'. If it were centrally located, it would likely be impossible to get into. The owners and management love offering food and fun to the diners, Lots of choices almost always superbly prepared. Not just an Italian place, at all although it typically pops up in that genre. My 4 stars downgrade is because I think they sometimes get a little ambitious with their fancier offerings, but stay with your menu favorites (or the staff's recommendations) and you can't go wrong. I think a key to the success here is that they haven't gotten into over expanding and make sure they get, and keep, it right in their original location.
(4)R E.
First time here and have to say all the wait staff are excellent. Unfortunately, can't say the same for the Lobster filet mignon. The texture was the consistency of a pudding. Wait staff and management was very responsive and did not question my dislike of dish. For dessert I ordered the bread pudding which was more egg then bread. Reminded me of a dish that may have been prepared for larges masses in a hospital or convention center, kind of blah. Have eaten at LeCreole across street- much better choice.
(2)Libby W.
Not what I was hoping for. The salads & wine selection were very good, but the veal was over seasoned & tough. Was hoping for a suburb meal. Not worth the price. Will not make this mistake again... too many really good dining choices in BR.
(2)Christina V.
My husband and I tried this place for the first time for our Anniversary and we were not disappointed! The atmosphere was nice and the food was great! We ordered the Maine Lobster and Surf n Turf and both were outstanding! For dessert we ordered the white chocolate bread pudding with whiskey sauce and the only complaint there is that I wanted a bigger piece because it was so delicious! We were also bought a plate that had Happy Aniversary spelled out in different sauces which was cool looking. For everyone they bring you back to childhood and bring cotton candy to the table! Will definitely visit again!!!!
(4)Jason J.
The food was pretty good but the service sucked. I told the waiter to give us a few minutes to order and he took about 20 minutes to come back to take our orders. It also seemed like he went on a smoke break. The wait time to get our lunch and the waiter check back on you time was terrible. It was only about 10 people on the dining side (opposite of the bar side). Nevertheless, I was confused with the entire theme. Is this an upscale restaurant or something else? It's like an LSU shrine in there. I get the love for the home team and he may have played for LSU but in my opinion they've downgrade the romantic/upscale venue. The staff members are dressed as if this is an upscale place but the LSU pictures are over kill. The building is old but I will give them another shot. I believe there's a different menu per day (I don't like that because it limits your options. The prices are too high to receive bad service. My final thought is that they need some real pictures on here to give a real representation of the meals.
(2)Jennifer D.
We went to Ruffino's Saturday Night. They were very crowded but this is not unusual. I love the atmosphere here. The English waitress was okay and food average. The best part of the meal and service is the Bread and Italian Butter(garlic, parmesan cheese), I had a Caesar Salad the was very dark green and not very good. How can an Italian Restaurant not make a good Caesar Salad? I had an appetizer of Eggplant that was very good however my friend's each had the Seafood Arancine which was a fried cheese ball. It came 2 to an order and they couldn't even finish 1.
(3)Lindsey B.
My husband and I have had many date nights at Ruffino's. It's our favorite destination. I haven't tried a thing from their menu yet that wasn't delicious. My go-to meal is generally the crab meat cheesecake and prime rib with lump crab meat on top. If you can't tell, I'm a fan of crab meat! The wine list is superb as well. If you aren't sure which to try, ask your server. I've followed more than one recommendation from them in the past, and I have yet to be disappointment. Bottom line: There will be many more Ruffino's date nights in our future!
(5)Juli F.
The Veal and Steak is VERY good. The veal is melt in your mouth tender. I have not had better Veal in the Baton Rouge area. It's a nice old fashioned Italian feeling restaurant that has table clothes and a fire place. I've been going to group functions there for years. It's a pleasant evening "Grown up" dining experience. Unfortunately, They've started serving a Kid Menu. Sunday is apparently "family lunch day" very noisy and unpleasant. Go in the evening.
(4)Charlotte E.
I do about 3 to 4 business dinners per week and Ruffinos was my place of choice as it is close to my office and my home. I was spending about $600 to 800 per week at Ruffinos. Not to mention my personal visits with my family. Ever time I went in there i was treated like it was my first time. Bad tables, bad servers, no relationship building etc. I am not that forgettable believe me. I finally quit going. I spend my money where I feel appreciated. I still go because the food and wine are acceptable but I don't spend my money. Your loss Ruffino's. no doubt you have a good restaurant. You can tell that by the parking lot I just was not feeling the love. I moved on....
(1)Patti d.
I also travel all over the US and last night's meal at Ruffino's was one of the best I have had. 72 hour short rib special was fall apart tender and flavorful. Sides were also excellent. And there is a delightful suprise at the end of the meal that I could not have seen coming but I don't want to give it away... Fantastic service too...just wish I could remember her name to give her kudos here!
(5)Erin M.
We went here for the first time for our Anniversary. I placed a reservation online, and we were seated as soon as we came in. We received a complimentary appetizer, Shrimp toast, and it was amazing I wish it was an Entree b/c I loved it so much I could have made a meal of it. We also ordered the calamari and it was also good. Our meals were fabulous. I ordered the Fish Katie and my husband had the cedar plank redfish... DELISH! Our dessert was the cheesecake that they presented with champagne and decorated "Happy Anniversary" plate. It was a great experience for a special occasion. We will go back!
(5)Brandon B.
This place is AWESOME! It's a must stop every time I'm in Baton Rouge. Forget all the chain and greasy Italian restaurants. This is the place to go for well made Italian food. Ruffino's has an excellent selection of all the Italian classics and great specials with a hint of Cajun influence. I've had prime rib, fish on a cedar plank, fish with lumped crab meat, and a couple others. Everything has always been delicious. I'd recommend the Tomato Vodka sauce on a side portion of pasta if it comes with your meal. The Mozzarella alla Caprese appetizer is excellent and the portion is enough for 3-4. The Berry Tiramisu (seasonal) is one of the best deserts I've ever had. I highly recommend Ruffino's for a nice dinner out or a special occasion. If going you can always grab a table with a reasonable wait, but I'd make reservations.
(5)Gary C.
This is without a doubt one of the best BR Italian restaurants. Food and service are great with a selection that would please most. Ruffino's can be crowded at times so you might want to call to check wait times. Fresh fish is special.
(4)Roy J.
Best in Baton Rouge! Try the crab cheesecake.
(5)Mitchell G.
Ate lunch here after church. Once again Ruffino's does not disappoint. The fresh made crab dip was incredible and there was not one shell from the crab. Wonderful attention to detail even in those type details. My wife, who seldom eats red meat, ordered the prime rib and asked for well done. The meat arrived cooked as she requested and still moist and tender. My knuckle sandwich (lump lobster meat from the claws) was fantastic and would highly recommend both of the preceding. Ruffino's continues to maintain a high quality product and experience. You will not be disappointed here.
(5)Reshawn L.
Delicious Friday lunch!! WOW! The Cedar Plank Baked Redfish is a must! In a word, INCREDIBLE!! The potatoes were the perfect compliment. In TX and LA everyone drinks iced tea. This place has some of the best lemonade I've ever had. Not too sweet and not too tart. It's hard to believe they are only open for lunch one day a week. I will definitely return when I have occasion to be in Baton Rouge and I may check out the Lafayette location.
(5)Cristy C.
I only update my reviews when I feel the need to share something significant. I came here about two nights ago. It was a Sunday I recall because they were closing at 9 and we walked in around 8:35. Our servers name was Shane. Very nice, cool and polite young man. I was with Jack and our friend Q. Yes, his name is Q. Anyways we ordered appetizers drinks and entrees. Long story short we waited over30 min and our appetizer never came. Our entrees arrived. I asked for my sauce on the side and so did Jack. They got my order right, but they messed up Jacks order. His iced tea never came either. Once our entrees got there and we were almost done I got up to tell a manager that he could cancel our appetizer order because we were almost done with our entrees. He looked at me and looked annoyed. Hey, I didn't do anything. He actually had the appetizer in his hand and was about to bring it over. He said, "I still want you to enjoy it. I'll take it off your tab." Well, that was kind. But it felt very forced. I'm good at reading people. We assumed our server forgot to put in the appetizer order, just how he forgot Jacks iced tea and didn't put his sauce on the side. It just wasn't as nice of an experience as it usually is. And we're regulars. As a matter of fact, according to my Yelp check-ins I am the duchess of Ruffinos which means I have the most check ins comped to any other Yelper. Anyways this was one bad experience out of 5 or 6. The odds of having a bad experience here is probably slim. However if Shane is your server either as for another one or just be prepared. Because I've warned you. Im not sure who's fault this was but I'm mor likely to blame it on the server than the chef. The food is always spectacular. I'll just keep in the back of my mind that there's going to be a slim chance of a mess up.
(2)Julie S.
My husband and I make Ruffino's our Friday night date night location. It's always consistent with service and food. We love the atmosphere and the great strawberry martinis.
(5)J S.
I've been looking for good italian restaurant in town and this one is NOT it. Having lived in NY for a number of years and travelled to Italy, I would call this Cajun Italian...definitely not Italian. Actually I would give the food a 2 stars....the salad and appetizer were good, but the pasta dishes were total disappointment. The true test of Italian cooking is the spaghetti and meatballs. What I got was noodles drowning in tomato paste that had a hint of chilli seasoning. A little garlic, basil, and parsley would have gone a long ways in improving this dish. I think I could have gotten a better meal by opening a can of Ragu. Even my husband who will eat anything threw the thing out after choking down a few bites of the leftover the next day. My husband ordered some sort of pork tenderloin with with a side of creamy pasta. The meat was way over salted. I don't understand why everything needs to be deep fried. (It seems so uncreative.) The capellini pasta was overcooked to the point where it was mushy. The creamy sauce was so creamy and fatty that I can only eat two bites. Did not care the the dipping sauce for the bread. Good quality olive oil and herbs would have been fine. Why the heck did they feel they need to mix in the Parmesan cheese so it looks like brown goop? It's revolting. Service was good. However, we had to remind the wait staff to bring us the main course after we sat there for 30 minutes after the salad was served.
(2)M M.
We have been here on 2 occasions. The first time the service was very slow. The oysters we ordered sat at the bar for 10 minutes before we had to ask for them. We didn't get offered bread when other tables has them. We decided to give them another try. The service and food were both wonderful. It seemed the manager was actually on duty this night.
(4)Anthony I.
Ruffino's thinks it's an upscale restaurant with fancy flairs. Really, it's loud, overpriced, and tacky with lots of cream, sugar, and butter in everything. If it cost half as much as it does, I might still eat there. To be sure, the crab cheesecake appetizer is massively delicious. Everything else was substandard but priced like you're eating high-end in a big city. When the waiter was setting tables near us with his fingers stuck inside the wine glasses, my wife swore never to return.
(2)Abi Y.
I've gone 3 times . This was the worst. Ossco bocco was expensive and very blan.
(1)Hannah B.
Wait staff was exceptionally attentive. My friend and I met for dinner and were fully satisfied with the lobster plate. YUM! It was a pound and a half of buttery heaven. The ciabatta bread was disappointing. The olive oil dipping sauce was great but the bread was VERY hard. White chocolate brownie was fantastic! I'm not a huge brownie fan but I could have eaten it plus ten and licked the plate!
(5)Albert P.
Heard a lot about Ruffino's...was really looking to a first class meal. Uh oh... Corn & crab chowder was delicious! The appetizer sampler was not good at all. It was cold and gummy...the flavors were all the same. BBQ shrimp was not good at all. The famous crawfish cheesecake was pasty and bland. The diver scallop was almost raw. My friend's entrees came out cold and also very underseasoned. The desserts...tiramisu was hard and dry and had no espresso flavor. The bread pudding was very good. Service was spotty...too few servers, although it was a busy Wednesday night. I'll try this place again, even though tonight was a big disappointment.
(2)Christopher R.
This place is amazing! Couldn't decide between the prime rib and the 12oz filet mignon. I got the filet and couldn't have been happier. The cut and temp were perfection. Melted like butter with tenderness. Topped it with shrimp and had roasted potatoes on the side. I definitely recommend everyone tries it. The scenery was nice. Service was attentive and knowledgable of the menu and wine selections. Zero bad things to say and I look forward to becoming a regular!
(5)Meghan K.
I used to not really enjoy going to Ruffinos. It was a long drive got an okay meal. My thoughts changed last night. I ordered off the nightly special and was thoroughly impressed. I'm wishing I would've got thee appetizer special. We got the seafood cocktail and it was okay. The shrimp were overlooked. I love the bread and dipping sauce they bring out. I ate waaayyyy too much of it. My mangrove snapper was topped with lobster and mango with some sort of buerre blancc sauce. It was perfectly cooked and was awesome. My sorbet special was good as well. It was a little tart tasting but still good. The service was on point!
(4)Samera W.
Were celebrating my Birthday so my Husband made sure to make reservations. We had to wait a bit because we where 30 minutes early but we didnt mind. Once seated the lighting was nice and perfect. They serve you fresh baked bread with some Romano, Parmesan Cheese with Herbs and Olive Oil. I ordered the Ribeye because they were out of the Prime Rib (Disappointment #1). When I get the Steak my roasted potatoes where undercooked and honestly i had better ribeyes.(Dissapointment #2) At the end when the bill came we got complimentary cotton candy and a sweet dessert for my Birthday!
(4)John C.
After seeing this restaurant (Rufinno's) sponsoring several local fishing programs, by-passed Ruth's Chris and I decided to take my fiancee (for belated birthday) and her daughter (also belated birthday-LSU student) to eat Italian food! Made reservations for Sunday (August 23rd). Upon entering and being shown to our table, we immediately noticed dust on the wine bottles while passing the front wine rack. The red carpet in the dining area was old and in need of cleaning maybe replacing. My fiancee went to the ladies' room and after returning, she related how deplorable the restroom was in (wet floors, vanity wet and wet conditions in the toilet area)! The entrees were less than mediocre: fiancee order pasta/linguine and Marinera gravy; daughter ordered pasta Alfredo and I ordered the veal "Palermo" which had a side metal dish of pasta (tasted like canned Chef Boy-ar-dee (sp)! The service was okay to say the least, one waitress overly-friendly and flowerly! The 'birthday desserts' were good. I paid with a personal credit card which clearly states on the rear...:SHOW PIC ID"---NO REQUEST FOR ID by either the waiter nor the waitress which equals 5% less gratituity. Fiancee boxed her left over meal. We left extremely disappointed. Later that evening, my fiancee rewarmed her left over linguine...she discovered a 1.5" very thin piece of copper-colored wire in the gravy/linguine! NEVER EVER AGAIN!!! John Castelluccio, Jr. Metairie, LA
(1)David D.
Food was good. Not great but good. I really did not like the wait team approach. We had 3 different servers and due to that, things get mixed up or missed. When you have one waiter, they know what you want and confusion does not occur. I probably won't be going back until this is eliminated.
(3)Emily M.
Love it! I have dined at Ruffino's three times and left with a smile every time. I love the crabmeat cheesecake app and filet mignon, in particular. Everyone at the table always seems to love their entrees, and the service remains superb--even particularly patient with my small children after the babysitter fell through once. Any place that sends complimentary cotton candy at the end of a meal scores big points in my book. We will definitely return and look forward to more special experiences at Ruffino's. I also love that they often offer "special" menus or holiday items. They make a point to remain true to their signature dishes and switch it up from time-to-time to stay relevant and inventive. I'm a fan.
(4)Jannean D.
Exceptional service. We had three wait staff to assist our table, each of whom were very attentive. The bartenders make a fabulous French martini. You must try the Taste of Ruffinos! Amazing!! Braised pork cheeks were stunning. It was my first time eating this cut of meat and I was impressed. The entire meal was splendid. We will be returning!!
(5)AshLee S.
Overall: Ruffinos is worth it if you have a gift card; however, I would not go without one. It felt like an upscale Sammy's, with Flemings prices. If you're looking for a nice upscale dinner, try Flemings or Texas de Brazil. Pros: -The service was great! - the crabmeat cheesecake was stellar (appetizer) Cons: - atmosphere; too loud - our entrees were on the bad side. My boyfriend's steak came out rare when he asked for medium well. My fish katie was okay. There was nothing to special about it and it was overpriced.
(3)Jennie H.
Picked up take out today as we are new to the area and have a small child we did want to eat in with. The ambience was very pretty. They had a beautiful fireplace and nice lighting I noticed as I was waiting. Got our takeout home, we ordered Fish Katie, lasagna and spaghetti. The Fish Katie dish on the online menu stated it had a side- we did not receive it. The spaghetti noodles were VERY overdone. The lasagna was okay, and I believe it would have been much better if it just came out of the oven (if we ate in). I thought maybe we would of got some bread, a side salad or something..however none of the above. We order takeout frequently and usually do not write reviews, however I thought after hearing how great this establishment is and the unfortunate experience we had, I would on this one. We will possibly try them one more time dining in next time nonetheless.
(3)Shannon H.
Our absolute favorite restaurant. We host our company Christmas parties here as well as most special occasions personally. The food is amazing!
(5)Andy S.
The locals love this place, if that tells you something. Ruffino's is always hopping and the parking lot is always full. Well, maybe not always, but you get the point. The food is good, the atmosphere is nice, and the prices are not too outrageous for what you get. The place is not in the heart of Baton Rouge, so it will require a drive for tourists. My lone complaint is that they have to have flatscreen TVs on every wall. Can't people enjoy a nice Italian meal without having to watch TV? Can't people just sit, eat, and talk anymore? Ruffino's is not alone in this.
(4)Don H.
Came for appetizers and drinks, had the Shrimp Corn Dogs (tasty), Seafood Aricini (very tasty), and BarBQue Shrimp (excellent). Great food and drinks!
(4)Lizzie J.
This place is worth the price. I had the cedar plank redfish like other people suggested and it was DELISH!!! I have also had the ribeye before and it will melt in your mouth. I went with a group of girls tonight and we ordered one of each dessert and tasted each one. You can't go wrong on any of them.
(5)Jackie D.
Please note this review is for a private dining reservation. Oh my dear lord in heaven. I'm glad when I finally made it to Ruffino's, someone else was footing the bill because I got to try everything and it was all DELICIOUS. And worth every last calorie. We started with Dirty Ketel martinis. Several. Then came the passarounds. Redfish Beignets, which were reminiscent to crabcakes but had a little more breading and a slightly different flavor. Tasty, but I could only do one because it was pretty heavy. Next, was the Alligator Sausage with caramelized onions and a mustard dipping sauce. GLORIOUS with a ton of flavors that worked really well together. I could have eaten an entire tray of this, if I didn't have a 4 course dinner coming. Next, we were seated to a first course that could very well be described as the best thing I've eaten in Baton Rouge - the Crabmeat Cheesecake. Y'ALL. It's rich, it's crabby, it's creamy, and then it has this crust like sweet cheesecake would have that's crispy and awesome and you just can't help but eat the entire thing. It was die and go to heaven good. I would absolutely go back and get that with a salad and be super satisfied. Second course was a Caesar Salad served with their bread. The Caesar Salad was just a basic Caesar but the bread was like WHOA. They serve regular french bread with this Italian butter that can be best described as a combo of the deliciousness of the olive oil/cheese mixture served on top of bread at the Little Village combined with olive tapenade. YUM and again, could have eaten it ALL DAY LONG. Third course was the entree - we had a choice of Chicken Parm, Ribeye with Barbeque Shrimp, Filet Mignon, or Fish. I went with the Ribeye with Barbeque Shrimp and it was wonderful. I've never had Steak with NOLA style BBQ shrimp and now I feel like it's a combo that every restaurant should offer. The steak sucks up all of the tasty shrimp juice and it's just...legendary. The steak was served medium and cooked perfectly. Certainly impressive and indicative of a great restaurant that medium can be executed on EVERY steak that comes out in a PDR. By the fourth course, I was so full that I could barely move and more than a little inebriated on free booze, but dessert was bread pudding and how can you really turn that down? Well, I didn't. And it was so worth the pain. Custardy in the inside, crispy on the outside - pretty sure it was the Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding that quite a few restaurants in BR serve, but it was executed very well and left me satisfied. At the end of the meal, I was food drunk, booze drunk, and sublimely happy, and wouldn't have wanted it any other way. The service was outstanding - no drink was ever empty, plate timing was right on. The food was outstanding. The booze, specifically their house Pinot Noir, was outstanding. It's hard to imagine a better all-around experience at a restaurant in Baton Rouge, and I will definitely refer it to anyone who asks for a suggestion on dining for a SPECIAL night out.
(5)Brad P.
We are always happy when leaving this place. Food is GREAT! People are GREAT! Excellent wine list. I really like to sit in the bar area even to eat. It has a good atmosphere with a large selection of drinks. Staff always ask if you need anything. I love it.
(4)Eric B.
What do you get when you combine the talents of a former LSU lineman and a New Orleans- born Italian chef? You get Baton Rouge's only Italian-Creole fusion restaurant! During my recent business trip, we managed to dine at some really nice places during our almost 2 week stay in the greater Baton Rouge area. Ruffino's was highly recommended by our Hosts, and as soon as we walked in, I knew that I had been here before. It's fancy, dark inside, and has the service and prices to match. However, when on expense account, a little more choice flexibility is possible. Our Party of 8 was well taken care of, including appetizers, a couple bottles of wine (picked by me as the token California guy), and an assortment of delicious entrees. I particularly enjoyed and highly recommend the Cedar Plank Baked Redfish. It was a very nice evening out, especially after a hard day at work.
(4)Marie S.
Great consistent food and service. Great lunch menu. Fun to eat at the bar too! Let them know you're celebrating an event. They'll do a special dessert.
(4)Kenneth M.
My wife and I celebrated something special at Ruffino's, our 43rd anniversary. We were a table of two. I had been to Rufffino's a couple of times before. It had been a few years since I had been there, but I expected them to have the Italian dishes, such as Cannelloni, on the menu. They were not. Only two or three Italian selections, all over $25. Pasta with gold flakes, perhaps? Our waiter was good and attentive, but not overbearing. The girl who took care of the table was friendly and efficient. The Italian bread with the olive oil and Parmesan was as good as ever. My wife had the fish special with crabmeat topping and I had the Veal (I don't remember what the name of the dish was). I don't take notes when I eat and I don't use my cell phone either. With the traditional Italian dishes off of the menu, eating for less than $25 for an entree' is not possible. Overall the food was good and the service friendly and efficient. It is a popular spot, but I agree with other reviewers in that the TVs bring the place down into the ordinary. The waiter did a cute job of putting a message on our dessert plate congratulating us on our 43rd anniversary. I do not think we will be back, though. There are much better places to eat without spending a C-note before tip without alcohol. Food: Good service: very good atmosphere: fair Prices: Through the stratosphere I have edited this review to add a star. I do not want to put into the same category as the dismal Le Creole. The service is what got it another star.
(3)Jason D.
Overpriced mediocrity. Filet overcooked and dry, cedar redfish was a huge disappointment for $30. Last 3 trips have not lived up to expectations.
(2)Shayne L.
Food and service both great. I had mussel appetizer wife had cab cakes both were delicious. Entree was sheepshead with lobster topping. Fish was ok. Lobster was great.
(4)Jordan T.
Great food & atmosphere! You've gotta try the silver sea scallops, if you like scallops!
(5)Racquel C.
I love Italian! I am Italian! So when my bf surprised me with a fancy date night to Ruffino's I was ecstatic. Or so I thought. Service is great, I will give them that. There's also a bartender who works Sunday evenings, forgot her name but she's very pretty(not the red head, she's very rude and inconsistent with her drinks) but anyways the bartender working Sunday evenings is on point with her cocktails and very friendly. Ok so moving on to dinner.. We ordered the taste of Ruffino's app would I great. It's all very rich but overall great and we basically licked the plated clean. Our main entrees on the other hand were very disappointing. My boyfriend ordered the lasagna which seemed like a go to being Italian cuisine, not so much. We were very confused after a few bites because there seemed to be no pasta in the dish?? When asking the waiter he explained the pasta is made in house and made so thin is basically disintegrates into the me when baked which is very odd to me. My family cooks authentic Italian lasagna on many occasions and I've never seen this to be a problem. Needless say my boyfriend was unhappy with his dish and actually sent it back to the kitchen. After waiting a good 30-40 minutes for our entrees and knowing the restaurant was closing soon we didn't ask to we didn't ask for the entree to be replaced but we sent the entire entree back with maybe 3 bites taken out. I order the Veal Michael and let me tell you I love veal! I was so excited for this dish and first bite in I was overwhelmed by the taste of freezer burntness or just over cooked and chewy. My boyfriend always complained his entree tasted like it was a frozen dish not fresh. I also let the waiter know how I felt about my dish and after only a few bites asked him to box it togo. We ordered two desserts togo since we were both still very hungry from our unsatisfying meals. And the waiter still charged us for the both plates?!? I was a bit annoyed. But we aren't ones to make a fuss. What was very odd to me was after we order two desserts the waiter came to us and said he slipped in an extra piece of choc cake. Well thanks but we already ordered and paid for 2 desserts? So instead of throwing another cheap piece of cake in the back why not accommodate the mistakes that were made during dinner?? So being that we thoroughly enjoyed our drinks from the cute Sunday night bartender that following Saturday after the tigers made that awesome win against Ole Miss we decided to catch a few drinks at the bar. To our dismay a different bartender was working she had reddish hair a bad attitude and consistent drinks. We also heard her make a remark to one of the male staff that my boyfriend was an asshole. Interesting customer service from this particular staff member.
(3)Brian R.
Meh. I have been to Ruffino's before and enjoyed their ribeye, but the flounder special that is currently being offered was not good. It was overcooked and dry. Dining service was as great as it was previously, but the bar tends need to work on their customer service. Overall, I'd recommend for beef, but go across the street to Creole for seafood.
(3)Ken R.
Thursday night four of us ate again at Ruffino's. It was hard for me to resist eating one of their delicious wood stove piazzas. I forced myself to pick something from the menu which has so much to choose from. I settled on one of the signature veal dishes which came with a great side dish of cheese pasta. The veal itself was good, just not great. I still prefer Ruffino's over many others because of their wide selection and because over many years I have never had anything bad. Service continues to be very good.
(4)Christine S.
We have been going to Ruffino's for years, (first date with the love of my life) and our most recent dinner there, renewed my reason for this truly being my all time favorite restaurant. The service is incredible, the daily menu items were awesome caprese salad, the Amberjack, both outstanding. The pomegranate martini always awesome, and the seafood Arancini appetizer always the best choice, my sons favorite!! A few years ago I was a little on the fence about whether Ruffinos would be able to stay consistent, it just seemed like they were slipping a little, not enough to make me write anything less than satisfactory, but curious. However they added pistachios to the sensation salad, so wonderful, and last night was truly just premium, from the food, to the ambience, fabulous!! We loved everything last night, wonderful meal, outstanding service! We love the cotton candy too!! Always a wonderful evening especially when celebrating a special occasion!! Thanks for the tweeks, we noticed!!
(5)Steve S.
I am not Italian, not even 1/32nd, so if you think there is some genetic component giving people with distant Italian decent an edge with judging this place, please pass on my review. I always find these type of Italian places over priced, and this is no exception. The marinara sauce is fantastic, as is every thing they use it on, except the "pizza". I know this isn't a pizza joint, but what my daughter was served should be embarrassing. We go every year because it's a tradition for my daughters birthday. Her mom is not Italian either.
(3)Cindi G.
Excellent foods where the locals come to eat. I met friends here on a Sunday afternoon when the place was packed. The service was a little slow due to the crowd but the entrees did not disappoint.
(5)Mitchell G.
Ate lunch here after church. Once again Ruffino's does not disappoint. The fresh made crab dip was incredible and there was not one shell from the crab. Wonderful attention to detail even in those type details. My wife, who seldom eats red meat, ordered the prime rib and asked for well done. The meat arrived cooked as she requested and still moist and tender. My knuckle sandwich (lump lobster meat from the claws) was fantastic and would highly recommend both of the preceding. Ruffino's continues to maintain a high quality product and experience. You will not be disappointed here.
(5)Reshawn L.
Delicious Friday lunch!! WOW! The Cedar Plank Baked Redfish is a must! In a word, INCREDIBLE!! The potatoes were the perfect compliment. In TX and LA everyone drinks iced tea. This place has some of the best lemonade I've ever had. Not too sweet and not too tart. It's hard to believe they are only open for lunch one day a week. I will definitely return when I have occasion to be in Baton Rouge and I may check out the Lafayette location.
(5)Cristy C.
I only update my reviews when I feel the need to share something significant. I came here about two nights ago. It was a Sunday I recall because they were closing at 9 and we walked in around 8:35. Our servers name was Shane. Very nice, cool and polite young man. I was with Jack and our friend Q. Yes, his name is Q. Anyways we ordered appetizers drinks and entrees. Long story short we waited over30 min and our appetizer never came. Our entrees arrived. I asked for my sauce on the side and so did Jack. They got my order right, but they messed up Jacks order. His iced tea never came either. Once our entrees got there and we were almost done I got up to tell a manager that he could cancel our appetizer order because we were almost done with our entrees. He looked at me and looked annoyed. Hey, I didn't do anything. He actually had the appetizer in his hand and was about to bring it over. He said, "I still want you to enjoy it. I'll take it off your tab." Well, that was kind. But it felt very forced. I'm good at reading people. We assumed our server forgot to put in the appetizer order, just how he forgot Jacks iced tea and didn't put his sauce on the side. It just wasn't as nice of an experience as it usually is. And we're regulars. As a matter of fact, according to my Yelp check-ins I am the duchess of Ruffinos which means I have the most check ins comped to any other Yelper. Anyways this was one bad experience out of 5 or 6. The odds of having a bad experience here is probably slim. However if Shane is your server either as for another one or just be prepared. Because I've warned you. Im not sure who's fault this was but I'm mor likely to blame it on the server than the chef. The food is always spectacular. I'll just keep in the back of my mind that there's going to be a slim chance of a mess up.
(2)Julie S.
My husband and I make Ruffino's our Friday night date night location. It's always consistent with service and food. We love the atmosphere and the great strawberry martinis.
(5)J S.
I've been looking for good italian restaurant in town and this one is NOT it. Having lived in NY for a number of years and travelled to Italy, I would call this Cajun Italian...definitely not Italian. Actually I would give the food a 2 stars....the salad and appetizer were good, but the pasta dishes were total disappointment. The true test of Italian cooking is the spaghetti and meatballs. What I got was noodles drowning in tomato paste that had a hint of chilli seasoning. A little garlic, basil, and parsley would have gone a long ways in improving this dish. I think I could have gotten a better meal by opening a can of Ragu. Even my husband who will eat anything threw the thing out after choking down a few bites of the leftover the next day. My husband ordered some sort of pork tenderloin with with a side of creamy pasta. The meat was way over salted. I don't understand why everything needs to be deep fried. (It seems so uncreative.) The capellini pasta was overcooked to the point where it was mushy. The creamy sauce was so creamy and fatty that I can only eat two bites. Did not care the the dipping sauce for the bread. Good quality olive oil and herbs would have been fine. Why the heck did they feel they need to mix in the Parmesan cheese so it looks like brown goop? It's revolting. Service was good. However, we had to remind the wait staff to bring us the main course after we sat there for 30 minutes after the salad was served.
(2)Anthony I.
Ruffino's thinks it's an upscale restaurant with fancy flairs. Really, it's loud, overpriced, and tacky with lots of cream, sugar, and butter in everything. If it cost half as much as it does, I might still eat there. To be sure, the crab cheesecake appetizer is massively delicious. Everything else was substandard but priced like you're eating high-end in a big city. When the waiter was setting tables near us with his fingers stuck inside the wine glasses, my wife swore never to return.
(2)Becky L.
It's a little difficult to decide where to start. Why they get two stars and not one: The waitress was very sincere in her manner and cheerfulness. It was clean. The food was edible. Why they ONLY get two stars: Out front it is advertised an Itailan restaurant and has an electric scrolling marquee to go with their traditional sign. There is absolutely nothing about the front that says, "This is fine dining". That being said, we went in wearing jeans and t-shirts with windbreakers (which ended up being necessary because it was fairly chilly). The menu is ridiculously small. Four entrees does not make you an Italian restaurant, especially when two of them are spaghetti and meatballs and lasagna and the other two are ______________ Parmesan. Granted, the MENU describes Ruffino's as Italian, steak, and seafood, but you don't know that going in. Again, NOTHING about the outside suggests what to expect on the inside. The prices are STEEP, but I've had a better filet at other restaurants in Baton Rouge for a third of the price. Yes, a third. Salads are a la carte and also not worth what they cost, though the dressings were interesting and different. That doesn't mean you get to charge that much. The desserts were average in size and quality with above average pricing. The initial atmosphere is really nice, BUT about halfway through our meal, the easy listening was replaced with loud music from the bar area (on the opposite side of the restaurant) that was completely different in genre. It went from a quiet dinner to just shy of Applebees. There was also a big screen TV in the dinning room with a football game on. As soon as you add that to your dining room, you can no longer claim fine dining status and you certainly can't price as one. Seriously. Overall, as well traveled individuals who have lived in a variety of places, we know excellent food and what it should cost. What we experienced was decent food at "excellent" prices. If I am going to pay that much, which I am happy to do for a quality dining experience, my dinner had better be amazing. It should make me want to run home and write a great Yelp review, not spend 5 days trying to talk myself out of writing a negative one (note I lost that argument). In the way of constructive criticism, if the management/ownership does nothing else, change the outward appearance so that people driving by (tourists or new to town) know what to expect when visiting your restaurant. And if you want to pass yourself off as fine dining, lose the TV and the scrolling marquee.
(2)Shannon D.
I absolutely loved this place. The food was so yummy & even though it was crazy busy for Valentine's Day the staff were friendly & cheerful.We did not feel rushed in the slightest. The food absolutely exceeded my expectations. I would highly recommend eating here to all of my friends!
(5)Rachel M.
The food was great as always. The service and atmosphere of Ruffinos has gone greatly downhill. I have never felt more rushed through a meal. If you want to be hurried out of the restaurant in under an hour while paying premium price...ruffinos is the spot!
(3)Roger B.
We had the Sunday Brunch at Ruffino's with family to celebrate our granddaughter's birthday. They had made the reservations and the table was ready when we arrived. I started off with a Bloody Mary while I looked over the lunch options. Several at the table had the bottomless Mimosas. We opted for the Lobster Mac and cheese as an appetizer. I ordered the crabmeat omelet while my wife ordered the grillades and grits. Fresh bread came out while we were waiting. The Sensation salad (a very different Caesar salad) apparently came with each order. Lite and tasty. Finally the main courses came out. The portions were generous. And the food was great. Since the waiter knew it was a birthday celebration, he brought her a complementary birthday tiramisu dessert. The final touch was when both children received cotton candy to eat on the way home. The wait staff is very attentive and service was great.
(4)Felicia G.
Went here for pizza lunch and was not disappointed. White pizza with Italian sausage and anchovies...a little heavy on the anchovies, but the thin crust and sauce totally made up for it. Definitely my favorite pizza in town since Fleur De Lis changed hands.
(5)Carvey P.
Great food! Great ambiance! Great Service! Had a great time with a Client! Had the Red Fish and it was amazing!
(5)David S.
Ruffino's was amazing from start to finish! I made a reservation open table for a special table since it was my girlfriend's birthday and they had a great table waiting for us. It also made a great impression on my girlfriend when the manager sat us and told her happy birthday. The service was spot on! They have two servers per table so this helps a lot whenever you need something. The food was excellent and the portions were very generous. We had the braised pork cheeks served with BACON JAM and a sweet potato puree. I am drooling just thinking about those. They just melted in your mouth with every little bite, and they were also not very fatty at all. We both had pasta dishes with either veal or shrimp and everything was cooked perfectly. We definitely had enough for lunch the next day. The desserts were also excellent. They had a special going with the berry tiramisu and it was super moist and delicious. Ruffino's is definitely the place to go for any special occasions!
(5)Stacey M.
My husband and I went to Ruffino's for the first time this past weekend. We had a nice dinner. The food is really good, a great wine list, and a great atmosphere. I would certainly go back. We ate the Lasagna and it was as good or better than any I have had in Baton Rouge. The steaks looked really good. And most of all the service was perfect. Go and check it out.
(4)Marcy S.
I know this is the place to be seen in Baton Rouge so many people will hate my review, but let's be honest....the food just isn't that good. Sure there are a few items that are very good (pork cheeks being one of them) but for the most part everything is fried or laying in a bed of heavy creamy buttery sauce. I could eat a shoe if you put enough butter on it. I guess if you want to feel like you're in the cool kid crowd, it's not a bad place. I would just recommend having a drink and maybe an app or two. For the price there are other places with much better food.
(2)Nikki D.
One of the best places I've ever been and trust me I'm picky and I eat all over! We live to eat and travel and travel to eat. This place is all around top notch and the place to be! Anything and everything that's going on is there! What high end 5 star Resturant have u heard of with top notch service but without stuffy atmosphere and tv's everywhere! Great to go as a couple, take family, go with friends and celebrate something! Ok the sensation salad is a Louisiana classic native to the area and a must try. It's a lite version kinda tangy version of a Ceasar. Addicting! Then the arincini ( think I butchered that) it's a fried rice ball with cheese and crab and craw fish with herbs all in this ball of goodness placed on a place of half creamy fettecine sauce and half this creamy vodka sauce. The filet with lump crab on top and herb and butter sautéed potato with hollandaise sauce dripping over everything is the way toooo go! Omg I'm making myself hungry, god bless the south!
(5)Naveed B.
Ruffino's is a great restaurant. The atmosphere is excellent and the wait staff is very attentive as is expected from a restaurant of this caliber. Whenever my family is in town we all tend to meet here as it is close to the house and always a good experience. Dishes I really enjoy here are the veal parmesan, the veal michael, the steak, and the prime rib(when available). I really love the side pasta they give you with most of their italian dishes. It's light and delicious. I'm allergic to fish, so I've never had the Cedar Plank Redfish, but everyone that does tells me it's great. Another Fish dish I've never had that is also supposed to be excellent is the Fish Katie. The have a nice wine list and a well stocked bar that is quite large which sometimes draws a large crowd. If you are looking for a good time and a nice dinner in an upscale atmosphere, Ruffino's might be what you are looking for.
(4)Matthew G.
I travel the entire US and NOTHING compares to Ruffino's. I lived in BR for 5 years and I long to find a restaurant as good as Ruffino's. Ruffin and the crew are the best. If you know of a better Italian restaurant, with this kind of pricing, atmosphere and friendly staff, then tell me and I'll go check it out.
(5)Tawnya R.
Great food. Best steak in Baton Rouge. Great wait staff!!!
(4)Robert W.
First course, pan seared scallop on polenta. Fantastic! Second course, gnocchi with duck. Very rich, great. Main course, Braised short ribs and green beans, good but a bit salty. Fourth course, 72 hour pork shoulder, too Smokey. Dessert course, gelato with raspberry and capachinno. Very good. Overall very good meal.
(5)Maranda W.
Ruffinos used to be our "go to" restaurant for special occasions. Never again. We were immediately sat and a waiter immediately came to us with the drink menu. Before I had a chance to look, he boasted about his "favorite" wine from Napa valley that was the night special. I love red wine but I am not very particular so I told him to order me that. Then we were promptly met by another waiter who said he was the food waiter. In total, we had 3 different waiters. It seemed very hectic with waiters zig zagging all over the place. I was also disappointed to learn that the salad was no longer included with the entree and was. 6.95 just for the side. But we ordered it because we used to love it. Well that has changed too , and was just ok. But my major disappointment was when we got the bill. That little glass of wine was 25.00. I felt tricked and taken advantage of. It cost more than either of our entrees. My husband and I are both hard working people and dont indulge ourselves like that. I wanted to send comments to the manager but could find no place to do that. Overall we were very disappointed on the changes this restaurant has made. They will no longer have our business.
(2)Michael P.
Really good food and atmosphere. A place where you can feel the 'good vibe'. If it were centrally located, it would likely be impossible to get into. The owners and management love offering food and fun to the diners, Lots of choices almost always superbly prepared. Not just an Italian place, at all although it typically pops up in that genre. My 4 stars downgrade is because I think they sometimes get a little ambitious with their fancier offerings, but stay with your menu favorites (or the staff's recommendations) and you can't go wrong. I think a key to the success here is that they haven't gotten into over expanding and make sure they get, and keep, it right in their original location.
(4)R E.
First time here and have to say all the wait staff are excellent. Unfortunately, can't say the same for the Lobster filet mignon. The texture was the consistency of a pudding. Wait staff and management was very responsive and did not question my dislike of dish. For dessert I ordered the bread pudding which was more egg then bread. Reminded me of a dish that may have been prepared for larges masses in a hospital or convention center, kind of blah. Have eaten at LeCreole across street- much better choice.
(2)Libby W.
Not what I was hoping for. The salads & wine selection were very good, but the veal was over seasoned & tough. Was hoping for a suburb meal. Not worth the price. Will not make this mistake again... too many really good dining choices in BR.
(2)Christina V.
My husband and I tried this place for the first time for our Anniversary and we were not disappointed! The atmosphere was nice and the food was great! We ordered the Maine Lobster and Surf n Turf and both were outstanding! For dessert we ordered the white chocolate bread pudding with whiskey sauce and the only complaint there is that I wanted a bigger piece because it was so delicious! We were also bought a plate that had Happy Aniversary spelled out in different sauces which was cool looking. For everyone they bring you back to childhood and bring cotton candy to the table! Will definitely visit again!!!!
(4)Jason J.
The food was pretty good but the service sucked. I told the waiter to give us a few minutes to order and he took about 20 minutes to come back to take our orders. It also seemed like he went on a smoke break. The wait time to get our lunch and the waiter check back on you time was terrible. It was only about 10 people on the dining side (opposite of the bar side). Nevertheless, I was confused with the entire theme. Is this an upscale restaurant or something else? It's like an LSU shrine in there. I get the love for the home team and he may have played for LSU but in my opinion they've downgrade the romantic/upscale venue. The staff members are dressed as if this is an upscale place but the LSU pictures are over kill. The building is old but I will give them another shot. I believe there's a different menu per day (I don't like that because it limits your options. The prices are too high to receive bad service. My final thought is that they need some real pictures on here to give a real representation of the meals.
(2)Jennifer D.
We went to Ruffino's Saturday Night. They were very crowded but this is not unusual. I love the atmosphere here. The English waitress was okay and food average. The best part of the meal and service is the Bread and Italian Butter(garlic, parmesan cheese), I had a Caesar Salad the was very dark green and not very good. How can an Italian Restaurant not make a good Caesar Salad? I had an appetizer of Eggplant that was very good however my friend's each had the Seafood Arancine which was a fried cheese ball. It came 2 to an order and they couldn't even finish 1.
(3)Lindsey B.
My husband and I have had many date nights at Ruffino's. It's our favorite destination. I haven't tried a thing from their menu yet that wasn't delicious. My go-to meal is generally the crab meat cheesecake and prime rib with lump crab meat on top. If you can't tell, I'm a fan of crab meat! The wine list is superb as well. If you aren't sure which to try, ask your server. I've followed more than one recommendation from them in the past, and I have yet to be disappointment. Bottom line: There will be many more Ruffino's date nights in our future!
(5)Juli F.
The Veal and Steak is VERY good. The veal is melt in your mouth tender. I have not had better Veal in the Baton Rouge area. It's a nice old fashioned Italian feeling restaurant that has table clothes and a fire place. I've been going to group functions there for years. It's a pleasant evening "Grown up" dining experience. Unfortunately, They've started serving a Kid Menu. Sunday is apparently "family lunch day" very noisy and unpleasant. Go in the evening.
(4)Charlotte E.
I do about 3 to 4 business dinners per week and Ruffinos was my place of choice as it is close to my office and my home. I was spending about $600 to 800 per week at Ruffinos. Not to mention my personal visits with my family. Ever time I went in there i was treated like it was my first time. Bad tables, bad servers, no relationship building etc. I am not that forgettable believe me. I finally quit going. I spend my money where I feel appreciated. I still go because the food and wine are acceptable but I don't spend my money. Your loss Ruffino's. no doubt you have a good restaurant. You can tell that by the parking lot I just was not feeling the love. I moved on....
(1)Gene S.
Our family and a couple of friends went here to celebrate my daughter's birthday...her choice. The wait staff was friendly and professional for the most part, however the waiter forgot to place the order for one of our party. When the item arrived, it was not prepared to order and was waaaaay overcooked. Two dishes were well seasoned and prepared, two were merely acceptable, but another two dishes were barely edible...overcooked and served cold. This is $10 a plate food, not $25 as priced, and would not stand it's own against a real Italian restaurant.
(2)John R.
This place is a bit of a local attraction and is always busy. They offer huge portions on all of their dishes. I have always found the food to be average, but on my last visit it crossed the line to bad. I had a house salad that was wilted and virtually smothered in cheese. The chicken parmesan was a huge slab of under cooked and unpounded breast. The acompaning pasta was covered with their too sweet marinara sauce. If you love Italian food, there are better places.
(2)Patti d.
I also travel all over the US and last night's meal at Ruffino's was one of the best I have had. 72 hour short rib special was fall apart tender and flavorful. Sides were also excellent. And there is a delightful suprise at the end of the meal that I could not have seen coming but I don't want to give it away... Fantastic service too...just wish I could remember her name to give her kudos here!
(5)Erin M.
We went here for the first time for our Anniversary. I placed a reservation online, and we were seated as soon as we came in. We received a complimentary appetizer, Shrimp toast, and it was amazing I wish it was an Entree b/c I loved it so much I could have made a meal of it. We also ordered the calamari and it was also good. Our meals were fabulous. I ordered the Fish Katie and my husband had the cedar plank redfish... DELISH! Our dessert was the cheesecake that they presented with champagne and decorated "Happy Anniversary" plate. It was a great experience for a special occasion. We will go back!
(5)Brandon B.
This place is AWESOME! It's a must stop every time I'm in Baton Rouge. Forget all the chain and greasy Italian restaurants. This is the place to go for well made Italian food. Ruffino's has an excellent selection of all the Italian classics and great specials with a hint of Cajun influence. I've had prime rib, fish on a cedar plank, fish with lumped crab meat, and a couple others. Everything has always been delicious. I'd recommend the Tomato Vodka sauce on a side portion of pasta if it comes with your meal. The Mozzarella alla Caprese appetizer is excellent and the portion is enough for 3-4. The Berry Tiramisu (seasonal) is one of the best deserts I've ever had. I highly recommend Ruffino's for a nice dinner out or a special occasion. If going you can always grab a table with a reasonable wait, but I'd make reservations.
(5)Gary C.
This is without a doubt one of the best BR Italian restaurants. Food and service are great with a selection that would please most. Ruffino's can be crowded at times so you might want to call to check wait times. Fresh fish is special.
(4)Roy J.
Best in Baton Rouge! Try the crab cheesecake.
(5)Jim N.
this place is great. if your in the mood for italian. Made reservations and was seated about 5 mins after we arrrived. Atmospshere is nice in my opionion Order a few vodka drinks and moved on to entrees. I had the Pork Tchoupitoulas which was awesome. didnt expect the cuts to be sooo huge..asparagus was cooked just right and the shrimp topped it off right..ate only one and had to bring the other home..taste was great!! would recommed it!..my girl had the Cedar Plank Baked Redfish which was pretty good but mines was better. overall great place and great service.
(4)Chris V.
This is one great Italian Restaurant. Although it is a little pricey, it is totally worth it. All of the fish entrees are great, and I highly recommend either the Cedar Plank Salmon or the Fish Katie. The Chicken Parmesan is good as well, if you're not into fish. The Crabmeat Cheesecake is astounding, although it sounds disgusting, and I think everyone should try it for their appetizer. I am also impressed by the service. I will return many times over!
(5)tushima d.
nothing exciting, except good wine. foo dis ok, nice ambiance, but over rated. not much for vegetarians.
(2)Abi Y.
I've gone 3 times . This was the worst. Ossco bocco was expensive and very blan.
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