Ravello By Toscano, Robbinsville, NJ: A Restaurant Review
1179 US Rt 130
Robbinsville, NJ 08691
(609) 259-4100
Website
Restaurant Highlights
Fare: Italian
Price: Moderate
Food Quality: 3 stars
Service: 2 1/2 stars
Decor: 2 1/2 stars
Overall Rating: 2 1/2 stars
Note: Four star Rating System from 1/2 Star = Poor to Four stars = Best in Class
Serves artfully prepared southern Italian tradtitional food using fresh ingredients
Value: Excellent
Noise Level: Moderate - high
Dress: Casual
Recommended For: Diners who enjoy creativly prepared, traditional Italian food in an attractive rustic setting
Not Recommended For: Diners who prefer a traditional red sauce Italian restaurant.
Recommended dishes: When available, The Tagliatelle Short Rib with homemade Tagliatelle, short rin ragu, toasted bread crumbs, amd Parmesan cheese, The Grouper Francaise; and for an appetizer, The Mussels Chorizo with Chrrizo sausage, exceptionnaly tasty and not easily found in other Italian restaurants.
Liquor: BYOB
Restaurant Review
Ravello By Toscano is an Italian restaurant in an attractive rustic setting --- popular with dinners who enjoy inspirational Italian food with a creative twist, not found in most traditional Italian, red sauce restaurants
This small restaurant has a cozy, rustic, feel to it. The open kitchen with a brick oven and two large brick framed borders greets you as you enter. It separates and takes almost as much room as the two dining areas. Walls are warmly decorated with wide plank wood, dark green and earth tones, and antiques scattered throughout. Tables are adequately apart and set with white linen.
Owner and operated by Chef Zack Melker (also the owner of Toscanos in Bordentown) and a graduate of the French Culinary Institute, believes in the philosophy of cooking, making almost everything from scratch, and following the seasons with the original flavors.
While Melker oversees the menu, he has teamed up with his cousin and co-chef Dominic Conti, former chef at Spigola in Hamilton.
Together they have created a well prepared, inspirational Italian menu with twists of originality The menu is prepared from scratch using fresh ingredients. Pastas are made on the premises.. The seasonal daily specials are outstanding and are to be taken seriously.
The meal starts off on a positive note with a complimentary serving of well prepared bread --- crust is crispy, but soft inside--- topped with oil & shavings of Parmesan cheese, along with a small bowl of olives and olive oil provided with italian spices for dipping .
Service is friendly and attentive.
Ravello By Toscano is open six days/week. Closed on Monday. Open for Dinner: Tuesday through Sunday 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m, and open for Lunch: Tuesday through Friday 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
(updated August, 2018)
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The methodology used is research, analysis driven --- as opposed to that of a single restaurant critic or a social media platform, viewer comment posting board.
