Renzo's Café - From Boca Magazine

There's something about Lorenzo Sciortino's classy little Italian café that tells you you're going to get a very good meal before you take your first bite. Maybe it's the rustic-elegant décor - dappled yellow walls the color of the evening sun, the mural of a Tuscan village that dominates the small dining room, the quality of its materials and accoutrements.

Or maybe it's just the savory aromas of pizzas baking in the large gas-fired oven or how how good all the plates look as you watch servers ferrying them from kitchen to table or how Sciortino's customers dig into their food with undisguised pleasure.

Renzo's turns out some of the finest pizza's in town, thin yet crispy crusts, properly blistered around the edges, garnished judiciously in the Italian manner. The pesto pizza is irresistible, releasing a wickedly garlicky cloud as it's pulled out of the oven. What may be even better is the lusty mozzarella, ricotta, spinach and sausage calzone, which comes with a splash of sweet-tasting tomato sauce and will easily satiate two.

And we haven't even talked about the pastas and house-made lasagna, the hot and cold paninis and New Orleans-style muffelettas, or the desserts much better than those at your average pizzeria. But, then, it's not polite to talk with your mouth full.

From Zagats Americas Top Italian Restaurants

“Owner Renzo Sciortino makes you feel like you are dining in his home at this traditional Italian in Boca Raton that beats the competition thanks to flavorful Sicilian fare; an expansion to two rooms  means getting in is easier.”

From Zagat Survey 2006

“Renzo is always around and his daughters serve bread and wine making this authentic Boca Southern Italian the epitome of a family run place; it’s delicious, authentic dishes are voted worth the price with the majority insisting you won’t be disappointed.”

- Rated Excellent for food and service

From Zagat 2003

“Fans feel like family feasting in Renzo’s living room on obscene portions of tasty fresh pasta and other Italian classics.”

“It’s crowded even out of season thanks to its popularity with the locals.”

“The stomachs of Boca have spoken!”

REVIEW FROM "JEFF EATS"

Renzo's Café & Pizzeria - September 19, 2006

Renzo’s Cafe & Pizzeria “combines” the best of both worlds. Imagine a Southern Italian Restaurant, that some-how manages to combine the terrific pizzas, strombolis, calzones and hot/cold subs that your favorite “linoleum” neighborhood pizza joint makes, with your favorite “upscale” joint’s delicious soups, salads, pastas, veal, chicken and fish dishes and you “got” Renzo’s.

Just so we understand each other, this is not a “fancy joint.” Tee-shirts/shorts are just fine. Renzo’s is housed in a free-standing building located on Federal Highway. If you are “not looking” for this joint, you will probably drive right by it. Renzo’s has an indoor dining room which seats 54. The decor is “one step” above, the usual “pizza & pasta” joints that dot the South Florida landscape. One of Renzo’s gimmicks is that you don’t “dine” on formica, instead you “dine”on formica which is covered with a sheet of white butcher paper. In addition to the indoor dining, Renzo’s has a front and a rear patio. Combined, these patios seat over 100 people. Renzo’s decor, although nothing “extra-ordinary,” has a subtle charm, which I think you will be “charmed by.”

Over the past two years, I have eaten at Renzo’s at least 5 times. This joint will literally make you any type of pizza that your heart desires. You want thick crust, you got thick crust. You want extra thin crust, you got extra thin crust. Hopefully, you get the picture. Renzo’s menu “features” 21 different “gourmet” pizzas and like I said, Renzo’s will make you what you want. The pizza is excellent.

I have tried Renzo’s veal parmigiana, chicken parmigiana, veal milanese, stuffed shells and sausage/peppers/onions and these dishes “don’t” taste like a pizza joint’s stuff. These entrees were as good as the stuff, that I have eaten at many “white table cloth” joints.

The most expensive item on Renzo’s menu is the Renzo’s Deluxe Pizza which goes for $22. You absolutely-positively can “get out” of this joint for (dinner for 2) under $30 (tax and tip included).

Renzo’s is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner. Give this joint a try and let me know what you think.

 

Toll Free: 1-866-994-3495

Copyright © 2006 Renzo's of Boca. All rights reserved.