Roko Italian Cuisine

I like to respect a Restaurant that deserves it - And I think I just found my fav Italian restaurant in Wilmington and we have lived here a year already! You would not think much of it driving by at Mayfaire but always thought - Need to try that place. It was our first time here tonight on a Wed night and they were busy for midweek. Food was SUPERB!! So many flavors!! We had Clams Oreganato and Escargot for Appetizers. I never get enough garlic but Escargot was perfect and bread to dip to finish it all off. I had one of the Specials tonight - Lobster Shrimp Linguini and my main squeeze had Veal Sorrento. Food came out HOT HOT - Important to us. And BIG portions which we really weren’t expecting. WOW. Nancy our Waitress was very warm and friendly and busy but EXCELLENT. Oh, and we took the Housemade Tiramisu to go. YUM!! This restaurant has character. Not very big and so need reservations. We should have called earlier and not the day of. Don’t let the white tablecloths and napkins scare you - People were still dressed casual. The staff is a Team - So Great Service and everyone helps each other out - From the Servers to the people that get your TO GO. Parking not a problem. It was a nice way to celebrate the end of my Birthday month - We LOVED IT!!

Great Italian food! It's a small space, so make a reservation. The mussels were massive, but not as flavorful as we hoped. The mushroom ravioli is incredible, go with the pasta!

Was driving by and decided to try. Unfortunately, didn’t have a reservation; fortunately, they had a table for two near the bar. Ordered soup, entree and dessert. Excellent service and the food was delicious. Got the frutti di mare; lots of seafood. Tiramisu was excellent.

The bartender was truly remarkable. She skillfully managed the bar during a time when everyone decided to indulge, and she effortlessly served drinks to the bar as well as the entire restaurant. If you choose to sit at the bar, you might catch glimpses of the kitchen discussing and fine-tuning your order, which actually adds to the overall experience in a positive way. Thank you. 10/10

Browned herb butter Butternut squash ravioli was delicious the al dente herb roasted ravioli was complimented well with feta and candied walnuts. The New Zeland Mussels with hearty with rich buttery garlic. The catch of the day was Grouper with a red pesto, made with sun dried tomato’s. The grouper was delicately cooked, could have used a little more salt. Salmon and scallop dishes were cooked and seasoned very nicely. A side of sister spinach had fantastic olive oil, garlic flavors. The Lemon chelo cake, was a white with lemonchelo liquor blended with buttercream was absolutely amazing and refreshing, vibrant flavors, light and moist. The Tarimassu and Cannoli was standard for an Italian dessert. The Hazelnut gelato carries intensely pleasant hazelnut taste, velvety texture, melts smoothly over the tongue. The service was timely, polite, and helpful. The owner made a couple visits and seemed genuinely interested in our experience. The seating was decent, on the small side for a party of three ordering a lot of food. I have some noise sensitivity, I could hear too many conversations from surrounding tables. I thought the catch of the day was over-priced. The price matches the clientele ability to pay.

Incredible place! The food was superb and our waiter was fantastic with excellent recommendations. The outdoor seating is small but still very nice and the food is simply amazing!

From the hostess that greeted us to our amazing waitress Ashlynn service was outstanding. The restaurant was quaint and had good ambience. The food was served piping hot and very good! For sure homemade. Ashlynn went out of her way to make sure we had everything we needed. Everything we read held true to our experience. If in the area again will definitely eat here again. Homemade desserts were also great.

We’ve come here several times and it’s always a treat. I feel like if an Italian restaurant has been solid for 20+ years in the same spot, it’s a must-have. The staff are the best - kind, knowledgeable and eager to please. The food is outstandingly delicious. Regular rotating specials add some nice variety to the menu. Table seating or bar seating is great either way. Jason and Nancy are pros! Can’t wait til our next dinner at Roko!

I had reservations for two bar seats this past Saturday, got there at appointed time, bar seats full....naturally concerned...went up to owner (who's very sweet) said "what's happened?"....she was super apologetic and said ...it's on me, books got messed up...I'll get it fixed" Thought...ok this will be long wait at bar (they're always full) she gave us a lovely table by the window right away!! Apologized profusely...I said No, No, you fixed it! So, it's a wonderful place...delicious meal and great service, even with a hitch on things... highly recommend!!

A wonderful Italian restaurant in Wilmington. The food was very delicious. I was especially pleased with the Caesars Salad, made the way it was supposed to be with anchovies (and not a scrimpy amount). The marinara sauce was the highlight of my meal. The ambience is as a professional, upscale restaurant should be. The servers were professionally dressed, respectful of your time (not those types who ask you how is everything just as you take a full bight, only to run off while you are forced to mumble a response). You will pay more than you will at a national chain (Olive Garden) but the quality of the food puts those restaurants to shame and worth it. One minor quibble, and really no big deal. The Italian language does not use the letter K (my wife speaks Italian), so the name is a curiosity, but it works just fine for a American Italian restaurant.

Service was outstanding and the staff was friendly. It's small so plan to wait a bit. Food was well prepared but pricey.

Very delicious food! My partner and I made our own pasta dish with the pesto sauce and it was outstanding! Very flavorful and the chef definitely knows how to balance flavors beautifully.

Our server last night was wonderful! And our food was delicious! Highly recommend the chocolate mousse and cheesecake!

Came here. After traveling from out of state. The restaurant has been in Wilmington 7 plus years survived COVID and still has a four star rating. That says something. After being on the road all day walked from my hotel close by and I was seated timely and served promptly. Read, olive oil, a drink from the bar. Service was great even if it was the last hour they were open. I ordered the wild mushroom ravioli and risotto on the side. Both were good. However the mushroom ravioli had sun dried tomatoes in it. Sorry. Very 1994 and the wrong texture to go with this dish, it had a cream sauce which needed some citrus but the exact wrong way to go was sun dried tomatoes, a dated ingredient, didn't belong. I humbly suggest some lemon over top or capers. Take out the sun dried tired tomatoes. The risotto was ok - good. But less cheese and more bite aka Al dente to it Over all, sun dried tomatoes aside (and please stop offering the tired salad with pecans or walnuts apples etc, Chilis called and wants their recipe back from 1994) I didn't get the salad but it is a tired recipe. Overall, the service was great. The food was tasty and aside from the tomato raisins in it, the ravioli was fantastic. I'd recommend this place, especially in Wilmington. But update some recipes and it might be five star.

Absolutely amazing. One of the best spots in Wilmington. The service is awesome, food was terrific and the ambiance is great. Easy to have a conversation with your dinner guests.

As always everything at Roko was amazing! Food delightful, we had the delmonico special and shrimps camping appetizer. We sat at the bar and Lily was A JOY!

Great atmosphere and music that should be in a Italian restaurant. Staff was awesome, very professional and friendly. Wine was very good with some different selections as well as a full bar. We started off with the clams casino which was very good we are just spoiled with our homemade baked clams. There clams were a little bread-y. My dinner was the Penne Rustica which was outstanding. My wife got here favorite chicken sorrentino but was disappointed. The chicken was very thick and had no flavour. We were surprised... We will be going back soon to try more dishes. It was a nice night out.

My wife was very excited for us to go to Roko for date night. She was right to be. Not very dressed up but smart casual dining with an interesting wine selection. We sat at the bar as the restaurant was packed. The bartender and bar-back both friendly made sure we were served and hydrated. An enjoyable evening for sure

We love Roko! Make a reservation because this tiny spot fills up fast! Makes me think of being back in Italy, with a welcoming host (owner) checking in on the tables and making you fee like n old friend. Great food! Always a great meal

Food excellent, but muscles were dry in Fruit de Mare, sauce very thin, but good, does not overwhelm the seafood and the pasta was perfect. Service was excellent. Small, nicely decorated restaurant that was full on a winter Monday evening. Reservations recommended.

We went to Roko for a Birthday celebration last night! I ordered Veal piccata .. which is my go to in good Italian restaurants! But to my surprise.. it was served with potatoes and peas! What? Who serves veal piccata without pasta in an Italian restaurant? So beware!!!! Service was great! Wait staff excellent!

Food was outstanding and the waitress was exceptional. We had a very relaxing anniversary dinner.

Adorable decor, perfect mood lighting, this understated, intimate and cozy restaurant is an absolute gem. Carla's service was impeccable. The food was absolutely amazing. What a treat. We will be back for more.

1st time we have been to Roko, been wanting to go there for a while. Great experience. My first visit to any Italian restaurant I order the eggplant parmigiana and it was awesome. Nice and crispy around the edges, not heavily breaded, only beef was the thin slice of mozzarella on top. Would have preferred fresh mozzarella. Wife ordered the chicken Marsala which she said was good but preferred my entree. I thought the chicken Marsala was very good. We loved the ambience, nice cozy old school feel with Frank Sinatra singing in the background. Our waitress was also friendly and attentive. Can't wait to go back for sure.

My man and I decided to go out for fancy Italian date night, and we decided Roko was the spot to try. What a great decision!! We had no wait for a table, and they were all properly distanced in the restaurant. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and friendly (young man, can't remember his name). The restaurant wasn't too loud. The other patrons included families, girls' night out, and couples so a wide variety of people. We had so much trouble choosing our food because everything looked and sounded incredible. We ended up deciding on the calamari and the stuffed calm appetizers, the fish special of the day, the chicken sorrentino, and the tiramisui. Every single bite of every single dish was fantastic!! We didn't feel rushed and enjoyed every single bite of our meals. It was such a fantastic night. We can't wait to go back!!

Wow! What a surprise we got this evening. We have been coming to Roko for years and frequently dine here several times a month. Tonight however, I feel as though that will likely change. $60 for the grouper special... grouper encrusted with crab (NOT lump or jumbo lump) topped with a lobster beurre blanc sauce (no lobster meat) served with peas and roasted potatoes. $60. Yes, I typed the prices again because it is absolutely ridiculous to charge that price for this entree. We have ordered the grouper special many times as it is a favorite and reasonably priced at $30-35 in the past, but this evening will be the last time we do. There are too many amazing restaurants in Wilmington where you can order two entrees that are top notch for the price of one here. In addition, the service has generally been very professional... this evening that was not the case. Truly unfortunate.

My wife and I waited quite a while, we finally scored a reservation this past Friday evening. We sat at a hi-top in the bar area, near the door. Our waiter was also the bartender, which was not an issue as he was very attentive and experienced with the menu - both for food and drink. Our pre-dinner cocktails were superb, and the wine selection for dinner was excellent. The bread had a crispy crust and soft interior and dipping sauce was simple yet very tasty. The Caesar's salad (which we shared) was good, as the dressing was good, but the romaine had the appearance of being a bit old. I forgot to ask for anchovies (which I normally do), and they weren't offered. My wife's main course was excellent, as the pasta and sauce was flavorful and the chicken was moist and tender. My dish had a bit of a snafu, as I ordered red sauce for my linguini with clams and white sauce was delivered. The kitchen staff took care of the situation and my dish was excellent. Our dining experience ended with the homemade tiramisu- probably the best we've ever had. We shall return.

Foods excellent but WAY over priced. Limited seating is probably the answer. Last there two years ago. $45 for a piece of fish the size of a cigarette box. Tasted good but disappointed.

Our first time at Roko's and it won't be our last. Great service and delicious food. Chicken Parmigiana, Veal Francaise, Shrimp Alfredo, Bruschetta, Escargot, cheesecake, crème brûlée, and tiramisu pictured.

Amazing food, incredible staff! Everyone was so friendly, the service was top notch, and we really like the ambiance. Our waitress checked in with us regularly as well as other staff members. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious. The menu has so many great options, it's hard to choose just one. We can't wait to go back!

Maybe I just didn't get the right thing. The bolognese was ok and the French onion soup tasted like vinegar. I had take out so there was no service, though everyone was in white collared shirts and ties. The inside of the restaurant was quite cozy.

Everything I've ever had here has been outstanding. Desserts made in house are to die for. Great staff. Well run.

The BEST Italian food in Wilmington! We went for a birthday dinner last night. It was my first time so we didn't expect there to be a huge crowd on a Thursday night, boy I was wrong. They seated us at the bar right away however. I noticed how personal able the staff is with the customers. It seems like most customers are regulars and the staff know them by name. The bartender, AJ, was amazing and so knowledgeable and helpful. We started with the stuffed portobello for an appetizer, then ordered veal sorrentino and chicken Florentine. The meat was melt in your mouth tender. The tomato sauce had so much flavor. I was amazed with both dishes at the amount of flavor each had. Truly spectacular. The chef brings every dish to each table and speaks with each guest. The atmosphere was amazing and I can not wait to become a Roko regular.

Roko is my favorite Italian fine-dining restaurant in the Wilmington area. I can always expect wonderful service by their personable staff. The create your own pasta option is always a winner, and the Tagliatelle noodles are made in house! I can't wait to return again soon

My husband and I came here for Valentine's Day this year. They've been on "my list" for the past few years, but we never had the opportunity to go until now. They are super small, so reservations seem like a must, even when it's not a holiday. We ordered the calamari as an appetizer. They were perfect! Fried to perfection, so they were just the right amount of crisp on the outside, not too chewy on the inside, and not too greasy. I ended up getting the grouper special for my main, which came with mashed potatoes and peas. I opted for the version with marinara as opposed to the option with a lemon butter sauce because I wanted to "switch it up". It was good, but the marinara took over the grouper. The next time I go, I want to try the lamb or mushroom ravioli. My husband got the build your own pasta and he said his was great as well. We'll definitely be back. Not only was the food delicious, the staff was kind and attentive, and the prices weren't ridiculous. Pics to come on my next visit there!

I will admit that Rocco is my new favorite restaurant in Wilmington. I went there for my 50th birthday dinner with my Wife and Mother as well as my Mother and Father in Laws who are regulars. The food and service is amazing! One of the best waiters I have ever had in recent memory is Daniel. He was funny, made great suggestions and was prompt and courteous in his service. I ordered the Scallops Scampi which are Scallops with Asparagus risotto. The scallops were PERFECTLY cooked and seared which is no easy feat. The Risotto was creamy, rich and had the perfect consistency. The French onion soup was very flavorful and tasted like it was a rich homemade beef stock. It was a little on the salty side however, it was still amazing. My wife ordered Shrimp ala Roko, a dish that included shrimp covered with prosciutto and cheese. Everything was fresh and flavorful. For desert I ordered Crème Brulee. It was made perfectly as the top caramelized crust was paper thin and crisp. The custard was perfect in its consistency and was made with real vanilla beans. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Wouldn't go back. Poor service. Cold, bland food. Halibut special was bland served with cold peas and cold home fries. The waiter was a dolt. Very, very disappointing experience. Atmosphere is so so..

Would avoid getting the Flounder Franchaise. I found it to have no flavor, tasteless, and severely overcooked.

Came here because my FIL wanted to for his birthday. It was fine but I won't be rushing to come back anytime soon. Portion sizes are pretty small for the cost, entrees don't come with a salad. Eggplant parm is about the only veg friendly item on the menu for $14, when several of the apps are $12. Hubby said eggplant was fine but we've definitely gotten better at several pizza joints. I ended up ordering a salad an the stuffed artichokes app as my meal because other than ravioli, there weren't any other good veg options. The waitress was a hoot but kept getting stink eye from the woman owner/manager so I doubt that server will last long. We asked to split the check and it got all messed up, so we had to sort it out ourselves at the table. There didn't seem to be any bussers, which for a Friday night wasn't great. Water service was non existent for those of us who didn't have alcohol. The music was on a loop and for the two hours we were there we heard the same songs about 25 times and it was so loud we could barely have a conversation. We skipped dessert because it was so loud and we didn't want to be there anymore. Picked up cake from Fresh Market and went home!

Excellent food and service. Always yummy! Our favorite in Wilmington which is saying a lot since we have so many goood restaurants!

This place has been on my list of places to try since before we even moved to Wilmington. My husband and I finally had a chance to go here and I have mixed feelings about it. The 4 stars come mainly from the staff, service and owner, which were all wonderful. Everyone was friendly and easy to talk to. We sat at the bar and AJ, the bartender, was attentive but not overbearing. The food came out in good time. We started with bruchetta which was good. Good enough to eat it all but not so good that I'd get it again. I'd rather try something else. My husband order the gnocchi with pesto for dinner. I ordered the salmon. It came with risotto and spinach. The gnocchi dish was SO SALTY. Like to the point that I asked my husband to say something about it. Enedible salty. It was the pesto. I found a few pieces of gnocchi that didn't have much pesto on it and they were good. My husband is like me and doesn't like to complain so he kept the gnocchi and ate it while also eating my dinner. The owner came and sat a few stools down from us. So my husband def wasn't going to say anything with the owner/head chef sitting next to us. The salmon was supposed to be medium. It was closer to well but it was still good. The risotto was the star of the meal. The spinach was good too. We took the gnocchi home and I made an Alfredo like sauce for it. I didn't add any salt or seasoning so really it was just heavy cream and cheese and I added some tomatoes. It helped taper down the saltiness so the leftovers were ok. We also order dessert. The chocolate mousse was my husband's favorite. I tried a bite and it was nice and light and flavorful. The cheesecake seemed to be a little salty too. Maybe the crust? I only took a few bites. My husband finished it because he cannot say no to any dessert. So although this place didn't meet my expectations it was still good. I would go back but I'd order all different things.

Chicken Francesa? So very good. Potato's and peas were an unexpected side but very good. Atmosphere was perfect. Staff was kind and attentive. I'll be back.

Ok, so this place isn't bad. They are a solid restaurant. But the hype they get is ridiculous for very average at best italian food. I've given them many chances and always left a little disappointed. Worst was their cheese gnocchi...nothing in the dish to cut the thickness of a dumpling made of cheese. Bolognese lacks flavor...bolognese is supposed to be cooked down to where it is far more meat then sauce...theirs is more of a meat sauce. Seafood is just, idk just nothing special. Again, not bad, but for the price...go elsewhere. Staff is generally cool. But, though I've been there many times, idt ill ever go back. And pasta with vodka sauce should be slightly orange colored, not bright orange. Idk, overrated.

I absolutely love the atmosphere and the food is amazing! I always order the mushroom ravioli which I highly recommend. But you can't go wrong with any order...and the grilled salad and cannolis complete a wonderful meal!

We've been in the area for four years and never quite made it to this place until a few weeks ago. I actually thought I'd left a review back then but it appears I didn't. Truth is, I would have given it four stars for my first visit but this time I'm struggling with what to do. Roko is a great little place with good service and a nicely rounded menu, but my Grouper special, at $44, was not worth it. For a higher than average price tag, I would expect a higher than average dish. It's a bit of a pet peeve of mine when restaurants jack up the price of an item simply because it's a 'special', then fail to tell their customers. Our friends, who ordered veal Marsala (good) and zuppa del mare (a bit bland) were not blown away by their entree and my husband's shrimp dish was sadly, also a bit bland. We ordered escargot for an appetizer which was lacking in flavor and desperately needed more garlic and a bit of salt., The limoncello dessert was good, but not even close to being the best I've had. So...would we go back? Yes. But this time it will be more than a few weeks between visits.

Well it ain't cheap that's for sure. The service is really good the food so so. My wife had Osso Bocco The veal was great but the risotto had an uncooked out tomato acid taste. I had fish that was just ok. Asked for more bread and they hit us with an additional $2.00 charge! Unbelievable for a dinner for two that was $170. Really petty.

I don't know if it's the desperate part of me that hasn't been out for a meal in 4 months. But, my tastebuds were craving some Italian seafood on my trip to Wilmington. Roko did not disappoint. The outside seating was comfortable, even on a hot day. Spacious enough that i was not concerned with social distancing and my dining neighbor. The food was quite tasty. I had the scallops and my dining friend had grouper. She was swooning over her meal and i finished every bit of mine. Even though i was completely stuffed by the end! Compliments on the size of the plate too, especially on the diver scallops! The server was professional and very respectful of my personal space as well. They were careful when placing my dinner wear (with gloves on), not touching the top of glasses, etc. To summarize, the dining experience outside felt clean and safe. I cannot speak to inside. Personally, I refuse to eat inside at any establishment during a pandemic. But that's my personal comfort level.

A wonderful restaurant for authentic Italian food. We had made reservations, a must for this intimate restaurant. We arrived and were seated promptly. Fresh warmed bread arrived at the table with a olive oil, roasted garlic and balsamic dipping sauce. They have wonderful specials, we both chose Hognose Snapper. There were two different preparations; Adriatic ; mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and asparagus, finished with a scampi sauce, the other preparation was piccata style; capers and lemon butter sauce and cherry tomatoes.. The special came with green beans and potatoes. We both opted for house made pasta; tagliatelle, a must when you order pasta here. The portion of fish was more ample, the pasta portion also ample. We both had the different preparations. The fish was perfectly cooked, well seasoned , the Adriatic dish was garlicky, it was finished with a scampi sauce. The piccata style fish was also perfectly seasoned, the piccata sauce had just enough lemon, not overpowering and enough capers. The pasta was fresh tasting and light and airy, what you expect from house made pasta. They do food well. The waitstaff is extremely attentive, the water glasses were never dry. They answered all questions and were knowledgeable about the dishes and preparations. My go to authentic Italian restaurant in Wilmington,NC.

Great little Italian hideaway. Food was very solid & the atmosphere is quaint & romantic. The owner/host seems to be a bit detached & cold. She is very friendly to the regulars but not so much for everyone else. Our server was great & the food was solid. We would definitely go back.

During our recent visit to Wilmington we found a culinary gem in Roko Italian Cuisine. Nice atmosphere with an excellent bartender/waiter named Taylor, who made us feel very welcomed and comfortable. The food was exceptional and the drinks were perfect. The veal Marsala and the chicken Alfredo were great, and the lemoncello dessert was the perfect ending to a wonderful meal! We will definitely be back and would recommend this restaurant to our friends!

Superb from start to finish. Two of us arrived for our first visit to Roko and it won't be our last. We didn't have a reservation but they tried to juggle things and fit us in. Unfortunately the only option was a table outside. We accepted with hesitation as it was much hot outside. Jason, the manager who had tried the juggling inside came out to let us know they did in fact work things out and even though we could sit inside we were already settled in and a cooling breeze was making it a nic moderately warm night. Hopefully some other couple w/out a reservation was happy to get an inside table. Our food was delicious and one thing I really appreciated was how Jason timed our courses so well. We started with calamari (B+) and moved on to pasta dishes. The scallops over capellini was amazing and the scallops perfectly cooked. Hats off to the Chef. My gnocchi bolognese was fantastic and it was easy to tell the gnocchi was made in house. Portions are generous, prices are in-line and the service was spotless. Thank you to Jason and Ashley, whom I believe was in training. Go to Roko and leave with a big smile. They are located right next to "Courses", that golf place up by Mayfaire.

The best Italian restaurant of all in Wilmington. Very intimate and personal touch place to eat. Great wine selection too! Roko is my number one and Quanto Basta and OC.

It is so good and kept up with social distancing rules etc. call and make a reservation ahead of time as it books up quick. This is a restaurant we visit frequently

Roko Italian Cuisine is in a class by itself in Wilmington, NC. Yesterday was my honey's birthday. We had heard good things about Roko. We decided to make it our destination for her birthday dinner. A memorable experience ensued. Roko is first class all the way. Our server Domino made great recommendations after listening to our food proclivities. Domino delivered first class service all evening. We started with the Escargot antipasti. Best escargot and garlic butter sauce anywhere. It was insanely good, as was the romantic Italian music playing in the background. For our pasta dish we had their Wild Mushroom Ravioli in a bourbon sauce. Our taste buds were now dancing for joy. Scallops scampi with risotto sealed the deal. Did anybody say perfection!!! Just an outstanding experience. Service, food and atmosphere. We could not have imagined a better evening. Roko is the real deal. This boy from Brooklyn, NY knows Italian!!!!!!!

SENSATIONAL food!!! Holy Lord!!! Mere words don't do it justice! You cannot go wrong with anything you order here - The kitchen crushed it! Their hustling staff ensures a relaxed experience for the guests! Exceptional service from Jason, Don & Lily! They were *genuinely* friendly and extremely efficient. They made such a good impression...we will make a special trip to town literally just to eat here again!!! Thank you folks! Cheers! -Gabbie & Patrick

First time here. Food was fresh and very good. Staff is very friendly, owners have a passion for what they do.

We get the mushroom ravioli every time. Does not disappoint. You will most likely need reservations especially during the summer.

One of our favorite restaurants in Wilmington. We have had dinner there multiple times and it never disappoints. Food, service, and ambiance are outstanding. Not a large restaurant, but very comfortable and the tables are properly spaced to afford privacy. I highly recommend the specials they have that are not on the menu. Highly recommended.