-
Custom Order Now
- Shop Now
There’s something about a nice Italian restaurant that feels special even before you eat a bite of food. Rochester, Minnesota, has a number of Italian eateries, and we’ve chosen three to recommend that have delicious food as well as a rich, rustic ambiance.
Terza Ristorante
Terza Ristorante is a local favorite that’s known for its ambiance and decor, as well as a superb wine list, handcrafted pasta, delicious tiramisu, and the rooftop bar.
Popular entrees include the grilled salmon, chicken piccata, and handmade gnocchi. Polenta, sweet corn risotto, and roasted fingerling potatoes are among the tempting sides. The poached pear salad features blue cheese made in Faribault, Minnesota. If you go for a pizza, try something unusual like the prosciutto and fig, featuring 600-day cured ham and dried mission figs, or go for an authentic Margherita pizza.
Terza is at 30 Third St. SE. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Friday and 3-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Victoria’s Ristorante and Wine Bar
Victoria’s Ristorante and Wine Bar is another popular restaurant in Rochester, featuring a wide variety of Italian pasta dishes and dinner salads. The outdoor seating is a plus among guests who like to enjoy the view while sipping wine, beer, and specialty drinks.
Victoria’s has a huge menu with a range of price points. The seafood menu has more expensive dishes, including grilled Norwegian salmon and shrimp Italiana. Rich entrees such as chicken roasted butternut squash ravioli and chicken or pork tenderloin Tetrazzini are made with ingredients that show care for the dishes. The spaghetti carbonara is such a simple dish, yet it somehow warms the soul. The pasta menu also includes housemade pesto sauce you can order with your choice of pasta.
Victoria’s Ristorante and Wine Bar is at 7 First Ave. SW. Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Pasquale’s Neighborhood Pizzeria
Pasquale’s Neighborhood Pizzeria serves authentic New York-style pizza and traditional Italian dishes. You can buy pizza by the slice or by the pie. Choose a traditional cheese pizza or opt for the La Fresca, an open-face square pizza with zucchini, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, and mozzarella. The restaurant also offers two hand-tossed Sicilian pizzas, one with fresh basil and the other with basil pesto, and four stuffed Sicilian pizzas. Authentic Italian pizzaiolo selections include hand-stretched pies, including bruschetta, which features fresh herbs, olive oil, diced tomatoes, and Parmigiano and mozzarella cheeses.
Our attention was drawn to an Italian specialty calzone made with a rich mixture of prosciutto, Calabrese, salami, ricotta cheese, ham, and mozzarella. Calzone and stromboli can be custom-filled with the same ingredients used as pizza toppings. Also on the menu are sandwiches, soups, and appetizers, including bruschetta zeppole, topped with tomato, Parmigiano cheese, balsamic, and fresh basil. To go with the meal, Pasquale’s serves simple, affordable wines that a family might serve at the dinner table in Italy. Beer is also on the menu.
Pasquale’s is at 130 Fifth St. SW. It’s open Tuesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m.
These three Italian restaurants in Rochester, Minnesota, are enough to get anyone hungry for Italian food. We wish you a delicious meal.
Image by Prayitno / Thank you for (12 millions +) view is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0
Connect with us
