Mangiare a di Ruffino's

So, I was house-sitting for a friend in a town called Port St. Lucie, FL.  A close friend and her husband who live there decided to catch up and grab some dinner.  She asked for a preference, which is kind of silly given that anything north of Micky D’s works for me.

So we decided on going for Italian.  My friend Loretta, (her real name BTW) being a bit more investigative than me when it comes to making such “earth shattering” decisions about where to eat suggested a little place called “Ruffino’s” on PSL Blvd. in Port St. Lucie.

Mind you, this is a little mom and pop place, (the best kind) located in a strip mall where families go on special nights; the kind that you might pass by a thousand times without noticing, and you’d be missing out.

Anyway, I walked in around 7:00 PM expecting a mediocre sampling of the bland yuck I’ve come to expect of Italian Food in So. Florida, so I was surprised to see the place packed so late into the dinner hour. 

I immediately recognized the familiar aroma of roasted garlic in the air; and the gals who worked there looked like the ladies I used to see in the North End of Boston where I’ve hung my hat more than a few times.

So, I decided that this place deserved a serious look.

On the way over, I developed a craving for some Chicken Piccata, a simple dish that some places just knock out of the park, where others have obviously not bothered to “swing at the ball.”

I looked at the menu just because, but I did in fact order the Chicken Piccata.  Mind you, by then there was already a basket of to die for fresh bread, heavily drizzled with EVOO and nicely diced Garlic with a generous sprinkle of freshly grated cheese.  The only problem with it was the basket was too small and we had to order another.  Back in the day, that kind of bread and a glass of wine would have kept me grinning in and of itself.

I have to admit, I don’t generally read the menus much past the name of the dish, so when our waitress, Daniella, asked me my choice of pasta and if I wanted a salad or a cuppa Pasta Fagioli, that was easy since it is one of my favorite comfort foods.  BTW, if I had known the Pasta Fagioli was going to taste that good, I would have just ordered a bucket of it.  Oh my goodness, even without the customary “sausich," this soup was just so delish…!

By the time it arrived, I realized that I ate too much bread and too much of the soup to leave room for the main course; however, there was no way it had a chance after the first bite.

The sauce was heavy on the lemon and capers which I really like; the only things I was surprised not to see was artichoke hearts and flour coating on the chicken.  It didn’t matter as the savory Piccata Sauce more than made up for it. 

I cannot wait to try their pizza and the “galamad” that was served at the next table and looked and smelled so good it is a MUST for my next visit.

For a relaxed dinner just about any time you don’t feel like heating up the kitchen and really want a tasty dinner served in a great atmosphere, this little slice of Italy in Port St. Lucie is well worth going a little out of your way for.

You’ll find them at the Rivergate Plaza located at 1145 SE Port St. Lucie Blvd. in Port St. Lucie, FL  34952.  Their phone number is 772-335-2988, and you can check out their menu by clicking here.