Johnny Rocco's Italian Grill image

Johnny Rocco's Italian Grill

Restaurant Meal takeaway Italian restaurant Family restaurant Bar and grill Catering service

One of the Most Reviewed Meal takeaways in St. Catharines


Address

271 Merritt St, St. Catharines, ON L2T 1K1, Canada

Website

johnnyroccos.com

Contact

+1 905-680-9300

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.30 (2.3K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Thursday: 11 am to 12 pm
  • Friday: 11 am to 12 pm
  • Saturday: 11 am to 12 pm
  • Sunday: 11 am to 11 pm
  • Monday: 11 am to 11 pm
  • Tuesday: 11 am to 11 pm
  • Wednesday: 11 am to 11 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: good (32) restaurant (20) pizza (18) great (17) service (15) ordered (13) server (12) Johnny (11) pasta (11) dinner (10)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 1/5 Ms E. 2 years ago on Google
    the quality of food has gone down so much in the past year sadly. why are they putting so much olive oil on a already super thin pizza? they didn’t do this before and now it’s made their pizzas inedible. I dined in not too long ago and same thing the pizza was drenched in oil that all the cheese and sauce just falls right off.. Spent $20 on this and a cesar salad for lunch and im very disappointed. please please please go back to your old way of making pizzas those were the best!
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 T R. 2 years ago on Google
    I wish I could give a review with negative stars! We have been taking our kids to Jonny Roccos ever since they opened.  Today on my sons birthday they asked for Jonny Roccos. We ordered chicken penne and a pizza for them.  The food arrived and we received the pizza but along with it was an order of penne with meatballs and one meatball looked half eaten.  It looked like a take out container filled with someone's leftovers.  We called the restaurant only to be told by Sarah the manager that "we cannot do anything with the 3rd party, so you need to call skip the dishes".  We then asked if they would not take ownership of the food they cooked and they said "no you need to contact skip the dishes".  If this is your position when the community is trying to support you in a pandemic, then your restaurant does not deserve the support!
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ethan P. 1 year ago on Google
    Service and Food is amazing here. The portion sizes are out of this world, and full of flavours. This restaurant uses a wood fire oven for open flame pizza, adds an authentic touch and flavour to each pizza. Rice balls was my favourite dish, came with 4 huge Rice Balls, that could make an individual full. The staff is very friendly and service was amazing, I would recommend everyone to try! You don’t leave this place hungry!
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Jackie W. 7 months ago on Google • 221 reviews
    We were celebrating a birthday and the birthday girl chose Johnny Rocco's. We called ahead so had a last minute reservation, thank you for accommodating 5 of us. Dining areas were all quite busy and service levels were strained. Our server was polite but maybe due to it being rather busy, it took a while to place our order, get our drinks, get starter salads and then entrees. One server almost dropped a load of dishes by our table, but she had a great recovery. Food was all quite good, I had a burger and others had a panzerotti, pasta and tilapia. Presentation was good. I also had a mimosa, it was tasty but quite a small sized glass. Thanks again for accommodating us, we had a nice celebration.

  • 3/5 Travel J. 9 months ago on Google • 73 reviews
    I was there with friends recently at about 4:30 in the afternoon. It was warm and humid outside, but warmer and more humid inside the restaurant. When you see the servers perspiring, that should be your first hint it's pretty warm inside the establishment. Time to up the air conditioning. Nevertheless, we had very attentive servers who were polite and friendly: Always a good sign at any business. We ordered our food, which arrived promptly, and was very good. My only complaint was that the Margherita pizza had maybe one cut-up leaf of basil on it. I asked the server if there was a chance he could drop off a couple of leaves and, being the kind gent that he was, he came back with a small bowl of leaves. As for the Margherita pizza, which cost $19. just a dollar less than the others, which all have far more ingredients (meats, cheeses, vegetables...) it certainly wasn't worth $19. It was as large as the others, but come on, some sauce, a basil leaf, and some cheese. I won't order it again, despite it tasting okay. Far too much money for what you get. The other meals ordered by my friends looked good and also tasted very good. The restaurant quickly filled up and we were near the entrance so saw just about everyone who entered and exited. There were a few young people, but the age group seemed to be 40+. Near 5 pm the DJ started spinning records at the bar. He had headphones on and he started playing some great music. The only problem was that IT WAS LOUD!!! We eventually asked the server if she could ask him to turn it down a bit so we could hear each other talk at the table, but her response was that they'd already had a complaint and they weren't going to turn it down again. Alrighty then... Well, the couple beside us left after muttering about the loud volume, the lady leaving her wine glass ¼ full. Some others left too, who had been seated after us. We had no complaints about the choice of music, but when you have to shout over said music to have dinner conversation, it's probably a good indication it's too loud, and... we weren't the only people who complained. So, good food, some overpriced for what you get, dance music played as dinner music, manager's refusal to lower the volume a bit more... Won't be going back any time soon.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Lola R. 2 years ago on Google
    The food was good, the calzone was more than large enough for two people. Everything tasted good in the service was nice. I had actually thought there would be a bit more ambiance, dimly lit, as the building and Inn itself is so beautiful,and found it to be a bit like a "chain" restaurant. The music that was being played was terrible thankfully wasn't too loud but certainly didn't help. Overall it was okay.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Sanam S. 2 years ago on Google
    The ambience was really very unique and if you're visiting St.Catherine's it is a must location to visit. Staff was extremely friendly and hospitable, unfortunately the meals proved itself to be a tad bit mediocre. For instance, we ordered a fettuccine alfredo, but were served a penne without an justification and the consistency of the sauce was not thin enough but rather runny. We had been disappointed yet tired as we had driven over an hour to make our reservations! Nevertheless we hope to visit again, perhaps a second visit will be a bit more appetizing! It is a family friendly restaurant and very large one at that, you can definitely host large groups if you are looking for a place!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kristina B. 9 months ago on Google • 78 reviews
    I’m visiting and from out of town. I’ve already eaten her twice since being here for a few days. It will always be my go to Italian restaurant when I visit in the near future. Very welcoming and nice staff. I told the one worker “Josh” how much I love olive oil on my pasta and he offered to bring me some from the kitchen and even some fresh Parmesan. I found that to be very thoughtful and caring. Thank you! The first night they even allowed me to switch my pasta base for an olive oil based pasta. I highly recommend the Pasta Rustica with olive oil. EVERY Dish I tried was absolutely divine. I Highly recommend the pasta rustica, chicken parmigiana and the Italian wedding soup is deliciously made as well as the roasted red pepper soup. The only thing that was just a little too much on the sugary sweet side is the chocolate explosive cake. That’s just preference though, but if you love cake to be nice and sweet then this will definitely hit your sweet spot. I’ll definitely be back the next time I come for a visit. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!! Thank you! ;)
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 The R. 1 year ago on Google
    Very good dinner experince overall. The bread was very fresh and warm - the oil dip however was very very odd. Nothing beats olive oil salt and balasmic. The soup was good but salty. The meatballs were very moist but good overall. The calzone was HUGE! 2-3 people needed to finish 1. The pasta pretty standard - I enjoyed the parmesan that the waitress came to the table to shred overtop. The ambiance of the restraunt is pretty neat - it was really loud inside but the decor and stone work was super cool. I would go back :)
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ken S. 11 months ago on Google
    Welcome to Johnny Rocco's Italian Grill - a timeless classic that truly captures the essence of Italian cuisine. As I walked into the restaurant, I was immediately struck by the centuries-old stone architecture that creates an atmosphere of rustic charm and romance. For my starter, I decided to try the Arancini, which were perfectly executed, with a crispy exterior and a warm, creamy interior. The flavors were bold and satisfying, setting the stage for the rest of the meal. Next up was the Margherita pizza, which was good but fell short of my expectations. While the crust was nicely charred and had a good texture, the marinara sauce didn't quite hit the mark. It lacked the depth and authenticity that I was hoping for, leaving the pizza feeling a little underwhelming. To finish off the meal, I indulged in the Tiramisu, which was expertly made with layers of espresso-soaked ladyfingers, creamy mascarpone, and a dusting of cocoa powder. The flavors were perfectly balanced, and the textures were spot-on. But what truly sets Johnny Rocco's Italian Grill apart is the atmosphere of the restaurant itself. The centuries-old stone architecture creates an ambiance that is unmatched, making you feel like you've stepped back in time to a different era. It's a truly unique experience that adds an extra layer of depth and romance to the meal. In conclusion, while the Margherita pizza was a bit underwhelming, the Arancini and Tiramisu were both perfectly executed and satisfying. And, the ambiance of the restaurant is truly unforgettable - making Johnny Rocco's Italian Grill a must-visit for anyone looking for an authentic Italian dining experience.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Alison J. 2 years ago on Google
    This was our first time going to Johnny Rocco’s for Tapas Thursday. It was so nice to have so many choices and everything that we ordered was delicious!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Kwazy C. 1 year ago on Google
    We went here based on recommendations for gluten free options. They do have options but the food is underwhelming and one of the worst side salads we’ve ever had. Service was lackluster as well. They’re many other really great restaurants in the area so we wouldn’t bother with this restaurant again.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Taylor G. 1 year ago on Google
    Used to love this local spot, but went for a quick lunch and was not impressed at all. Service was mediocre, and the food quality just wasn’t the same. Also witnessed a few waitresses not displaying proper food handling which was concerning. Gonna avoid this place For a while.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Mel C. 2 years ago on Google
    Very good lively atmosphere in a historic building. The drinks are great (try the Moscow Mule) and the food was also very good. I enjoyed the rice balls and the pizza (the Calabrese pizza was amazing-- best thing we had). Sadly the burger was meh & the parmesan chips that were the side were way too salty to enjoy. I did notify the server and I though I would be comped for them because we returned the full basket, but she only offered to tell the kitchen. Other than than that it was a great night with great atmosphere and top notch service from Katie-- she is a sweetheart.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Auranne P. 10 months ago on Google • 35 reviews
    Love this restaurant! One of my fave restaurants in the Niagara area. The food was delicious, the wine was superb, the dessert was lovely, the atmosphere was great and the server was really sweet. All in all a great experience. Decent food portions and lots of fun things to order.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kays 7. 3 months ago on Google • 24 reviews New
    The food there is absolutely delicious, with a wide variety of authentic Italian dishes that are bursting with flavours. 👌🏽
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tee S. 2 years ago on Google
    Went in without a reservation on a Friday night. We were seated right away. Our server was fantastic. The restaurant was very busy with large parties. However our server was very attentive to all her tables. We received our drinks quickly. She was very knowledgeable about gluten which made me feel safe. Our food came out in good time and it was amazing. Fantastic meal and experience!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Wanda A. 1 year ago on Google
    Met 2 friends I haven't seen in almost 3 yrs because of covid. Had a great dinner, staff was great. Omg!!! The music was so loud, we were screaming at each other. Not a good place if your looking to have a nice conversation. Was disappointed. Not sure if we'll return
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Mimi M. 1 year ago on Google
    We went to Johnny Rocco's for a late lunch/early dinner on a weekday. The hostess/waitress were very friendly and sweet. The atmosphere was very relaxed and enjoyable. My niece ordered an apple pecan salad with grilled chicken on top. She really enjoyed the salad. I ordered the calamari fritti al diavolo. The presentation was lovely. The calamari arrived steaming hot on a cast iron dish. I was so excited to eat them. I must admit, I was disappointed. The calamari tasted like they were covered in a commercial hot sauce and were very greasy. I will go back to this restaurant but will not order their calamari al diavolo next time.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Gord G. 2 years ago on Google
    Great food. Great service. We are frequent customers and they always deliver both great food and service. Friendliest bunch of people you could ever ask for. They offer great family style take out meals that are a fantastic deal. Also they have an awesome rewards program, what more could you ask for.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 David Y. 2 years ago on Google
    Fries salted to the Max, no ketchup or sauces included. Also no spoon for the soup after we asked. Burger dry, also no sauce or ketchup on it. Asked for forks twice still had to go back for it. Waste of 48 bucks. Bad food and service, not worth it imo.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Amin S. 2 years ago on Google
    Decent food. Portions kinda small so bigger guys like me feel we should eat two entrés. Menus was kind of confusing if some stuff would have spaghetti included or not and still have $$ beside the options so was kinda weird. Other wise good. Tasted good. The veal parmigiana was kinda average. Good. But nothing to write home about. Try more of the specialty pastas those are pretty good
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tricia D. 7 months ago on Google • 36 reviews
    Fantastic service from Peter C. Beautiful ambience and amazing food! My husband had the Johnny’s Calzone and loved the sauce it came with. I had the lobster ravioli.

  • 5/5 max1234max1234 3 months ago on Google • 17 reviews New
    Just had my birthday here 2 days ago with 30 guests. They went over and beyond accommodating us and the service was excellent. Food was very good except for my gluten free pizza which I would highly not ever advise anyone to order. The crust is bad. Sauce is delicious and I did eat it but was tough to do so. Thanks to management , cooks and servers on making the night a huge success !

  • 5/5 Dea H. 1 year ago on Google
    We absolutely love Johnny Rocco’s! We come here for every special occasion. The Arancini Balls are the best! Our last visit a while ago we got a pasta, and the ravioli. We were extremely disappointed with the ravioli as it was very expensive, and we only got 9 pieces. We were shocked. We haven’t come back since because of this, but we hope to give it another chance soon.

  • 5/5 Larry “The Little Guy” C. 1 year ago on Google
    We came to the Stone Mill Inn in St Catharines to stay for our sons wedding. Johnny Rocco's accommodated us; 8 adults and 2 children. Rebecca set everything up for us. We started off in our own room for our meal. Peter and Lindsay took real good care of us all night. We had everything we needed and wanted. I recommend Johnny Rocco's for any size dinner; from 2 to 22 and above. The staff go the extra mile to make you feel a part of the family.

  • 5/5 Carlina M. 9 months ago on Google • 6 reviews
    Amazing food The atmosphere is wonderful, the live band was a plus. Our server Kelly made our dinner experience a hell of a good one! She was absolutely wonderful. We are from Toronto, first time here and we will definitely be back! Thank you, it was a pleasure dining at this restaurant, definitely recommend!

  • 5/5 Debbie W. 2 years ago on Google
    Love the pizza and pasta and the Lovely atmosphere. Friendly staff. Excellent customer service. Nice for family and friends meet up. Reasonable prices.

  • 5/5 Sandra S. 1 year ago on Google
    Hubby is very particular about his calamari. He wanted calamari with tentacles and they did not disappoint. Fresh and crispy. Not greasy at all. Dip was delicious and the bacon in the ceaser salad made this place my new favourite!!

  • 4/5 paul c. 10 months ago on Google
    Went there for dinner. Although the parking lot was almost full there was no wait time to get a seat....and we had no reservations. As it was summer you have a choice of the patio or inside. As it was muggy we chose inside. Decent selection of food, prices are average for this type of restaurant. The waiter we had was very good...attentive and knowledgeable about the food when we asked questions. Service was fairly quick and the quality of the food was good. I would go back there again.

  • 5/5 janet s. 2 years ago on Google
    Went for wedding dinner in private dining room- almost 30 of us. Food was delicious! All homemade! And soooo much. 1/2 our table could not finish our main course- we were so stuffed from appetizers. Service was astounding! Good astounding! The hotel and restaurant is big and beautiful inside. Prices VERY reasonable for what you get!

  • 5/5 B G. 2 years ago on Google
    We just had our wedding here over the weekend and it was amazing. Everyone was nice so and the food was really good. They were able to accommodate more people showing up and they were very friendly with all our dietary restrictions. It was way better than I thought it would be. Thanks again!

  • 4/5 Melisa T. 10 months ago on Google
    Delicious as always. We got the family parm deal. The mixed veggies is much much smaller then expected and as it used to be pre-covid unfortunately. The salad is amazing bit the rim of the container looked very dirty. The pasta and chicken is delicious as well but the chicken portions could be a little bigger. Sucks that the meal went up $10 but still worth it.

  • 2/5 Jay l. 10 months ago on Google
    My friend & I decided to come here for Pizza and it wasn’t what I expected for $20. I could just made this pizza at home. The tomato based was good but the pizza was underwhelming & basic. I love Italian food but this is not acceptable to be authentic or considered high end. Over all the service was slow, was expecting for a better experience. The artichoke goat cheese appetizer was good, luckily the pizza was not the only item we ordered.

  • 3/5 Ela .. 2 years ago on Google
    Actually it should be 2.5 stars. Food was good but my husband ordered pasta of his choice which should be linguine and sauce should include mushrooms. Instead he got spaghetti with no mushrooms :-(. My veal parmigiana was tasty. When it comes to drinks, we got different wines that we ordered. We would probably not notice but we went for another glass of the same wine and we got something that looked and tasted different. Question, which one was the one we ordered? The first we liked, the second not so much. Although, at least service was good.

  • 5/5 Frank C. 1 year ago on Google
    As locals we have been coming here for years. The kids love the food. Tonight we started with calamari and ordered 5 calzones. Our server Brandi was fast, polite and courteous. Great family restaurant!

  • 4/5 Julia P. 1 year ago on Google
    Food here is always incredible! The rice balls are my go to starter. The pasta is fresh and tasty, calzone was also delicious. They serve nice warm bread with oil and chilis. Staff are generally friendly, our serve the other night was just ok. Atmosphere is lovely.

  • 5/5 Terra-lee K. 1 year ago on Google
    We held a family anniversary lunch here in a private room. The service was great, food was delicious. The only flaw was that we had a room of 21 and only had one server for drink orders and delivering our food was a bit of a slower process. All in all was a very enjoyable experience.

  • 5/5 Crystal L. 1 year ago on Google
    I dined at Johnny Rocco's St.Catharines last Thursday and I would like to thank everyone who made our day delightful!! It was Tapas Thursday. We tried out many of them on the menu we had flavor heaven! Pizzas and pastas were tasty with Chianti we ordered with. Live music while dining was enjoyable. I did not realized there were so many people on Thursday evening and how big the restaurant is - very spacious. Our server Conner and the bartender Alexi were great! everyone was very attentive - consistently asked how we are and took picture of us 🙂

  • 5/5 Syl L. 2 years ago on Google
    My wife celebrated 35 years in Nursing here from her employer. We were seated quickly and service was amazing. The Restaurant was extremely busy but that did not affect our service at all. Food was amazing and plentiful. Very clean and great ambiance. Great atmosphere. Taylor and the Manager took great care of us during our short stay. Would return again.

  • 5/5 Francis M. 2 years ago on Google
    REALLY enjoyed our meals! Delicious! Service was great. Best steak dinner in a long time! My wife had mushroom ravioli and loved it. Definitely will return! Thanks! 😎🍁🇨🇦🏒


Call +1 905-680-9300 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Parking
    • ✓️ Free parking lot
    • ✓️ Plenty of parking
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Spirits
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Quick bite
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Healthy options
    • ✓️ Late-night food
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
    • ✓️ Private dining room
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible lift
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Brunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
    • ✓️ Catering
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Delivery
    • ✓️ Takeaway
    • ✓️ Kerbside pickup
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating
    • ✓️ No-contact delivery

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