Trattoria Romana: First-Rate Southern Italian for over 20 Years in Boca Raton, Florida

Trattoria Romana, owned by the Gismondi family of Arturo’s fame is one of the top Italian restaurants in Palm Beach County, and is a Fred Bollaci Enterprises Preferred Destination, featuring excellent cuisine, a dazzling array of nightly specials, and professional service.

Since opening in 1993, Trattoria Romana has established itself as some of the best in Italian dining in South Florida. Located in the downtown area of beautiful Boca Raton and within walking distance of the Boca Raton Resort, Mizner Park, and the beach, Trattoria Romana continues to impress and delight its discerning guests. A recent expansion and opening of Bar Sorana in the space that used to be a boutique next door, the restaurant is larger, and more comfortable, and with the same great food, classic cocktails, excellent wine list, antipasta table, and house made desserts.

Upon entering the restaurant, you immediately feel like you are in a beautifully-restored, elegant farmhouse in the countryside outside of Rome. From the hand-hewn oak planked floors to the vaulted brick archways coupled with the hand-waxed walls and the grapevine trellis ceiling, the owner has succeeded in recreating part of his own life experience in Rome to share with his Boca Raton clientele.

Once seated, the accommodating staff skillfully recites the evening’s innovative take on traditional fare, like lines in a Broadway play. The entire meal works like a well-oiled machine. Begin with bites from the diverse selection of cured meats, imported cheeses and fresh vegetables from our Antipasto Bar, and their amazingly fresh tomato bruschetta with house baked grissini (Italian breadsticks) to awaken your palate.

When in season, the Soft Shell Crab Oreganata at Trattoria Romana is outstanding! I’ve been known to change my dinner plans when driving by and seeing the sign indicating they have Soft Shell Crabs!

Pictured above: Eggplant Pie, The Polpettone (giant meatball stuffed with provolone and prosciutto), Rigatoni with tomato, sausage, and peas (a special), Arugula Salad with lemon and shaved Reggiano, and Baked Cod atop Broccoli Rabe (a special)

Enjoy signature dishes like the famous Eggplant Pie, thinly layered slices of eggplant, baked with zesty tomato sauce and topped with a thin layer of fresh mozzarella: like the perfect Eggplant Parmigiana meets the perfect Lasagna! Other favorites include the Jumbo Shrimp Saltimbocca (baked with lemon, pancetta, and sage, over a bed of spinach, they are more like baby lobster tails), pastas, including home-made gnocchi, tender veal chops and fresh yellowtail snapper will satisfy the heartiest of gourmet appetites. Locals look for the sign out front advertising “Soft Shell Crabs.” They are among the best I have ever had, locals know! I know many people who changed their dinner plans after driving by earlier in the day and seeing the sign!

The house-made desserts and Ciambellini cookies are worth an extra passeggiata afterwards: the Ricotta Cheesecake is like a symphony of flavor with citrus essence and the ricotta filling as light as air. Reservations are recommended, as Trattoria Romana is understandably very popular year-round, serving dinner 7 nights a week.

Jumbo Shrimp “Saltimbocca Style” with prosciutto, sage, mozzarella, over spinach in a white wine-lemon sauce.

Trattoria Romana features a dazzling array of antipasti. The Bruschetta with beautiful tomatoes is outstanding, and is complimentary, as are the housemate grissini or breadsticks.

Pictured above: Broccoli Rabe with Pinwheel Sausage, Famous “Torta Primavera,” layers of crepes with cold cuts, cheeses, and marinated vegetables, Mozzarella in Carrozza with Puttanesca Sauce, and their renowned Soft Shell Crab.

These Taralli Cookies are classic Roman and are made in-house and are the best- made with fennel seeds and wine, perfect to dunk with your espresso or digestivo, or a glass of wine with your card game in the afternoon. Yes, they are available to order to go!