Dario’s Restaurant

Went with the family. The waiter advised us that the appetizer items that we wanted, bruschetta and mussels, did not go well together. Ok. Then the staff stared at us during the whole meal. Most strange experience.

Positively the best Northern Italian restaurant in Rockville Centre. My family and I have been coming to Dario’s for over 20 years and the consistency of the food and service is exceptional. This is a family-​owned business that always makes you feel at home. Paul (the owner) and his brother Dario Jr. (the Chef) are in a class by themselves. Personal favorites are the veal dishes, grilled salmon and the broccoli rabe. Enjoy!

Hello Dario’s, I hope that you will awknowledge this review, I made a reservation for dinner on ⁵⁄₁₆ our first wedding anniversary. A special occasion deserves a special restaurant. We were seated promptly, and then waited 30! Minutes for a menu… and then had to flag someone down to place my order.
I think we were just forgotten/​overlooked, the waitstaff is usually top notch. The manager wasn’t around, I respect him and have enjoyed the way he runs the restaurant. As always the food was delicious but the service was, frankly, pitiful, and I was embarrassed that I insisted upon Dario’s. So very sad.

This place was really great all around. I came here with my boyfriend last weekend for «date night» and we were both really impressed. Food was delicious, they have a smaller set menu and it seems that the many specials they have change from time to time. We had veal meatballs as an appetizer and they were so tasty. For my entrée I had shrimp and lobster ravioli that were probably the best I’ve had. The service in this place was impeccable… Very old school authentic Italian feel. We never felt rushed and the gentleman who I assumed to be the owner and/​or manager even made a point to come over to our table to check on our meal… He shook our hands and thanked us on our way out. Really nice touch. Will definitely be coming back to Dario’s!

The food here is amazing! A real old school Italian gem. Pinot Grigio is great. The seafood dishes are excellent. I highly recommend the portobello mushroom appetizer. The gnocchi bolognese is decadent.

Really, really good italian food. Traditional preparation and upscale atmosphere. Do not need to be super dressed up to go, jeans and button down/​sweater acceptable. Make sure to make a reservation, we tried to get in here last week and they had no availability, so we made sure to call in advance and make a reservation this time. Tiny little restaurant, hole in the wall. Veal Chop Dario was phenomenal, get it if you like veal. Others had pasta, which was really good. Tiny, tiny bar, only a few seats. If you get here to far in advance of your meal, you likely won’t be getting a seat at the bar and will be left standing. Price was very reasonable for as much as we got and as many people as we had. Will definitely be back, best italian food in RVC (better than Dodici, Tony Colombo’s, Dino’s).

So I went here yesterday for lunch and have nothing but positive review. The food is absolutely amazing! Th seafood is to die for and the drinks are strong!
They are doing something right! Definitely will be going back!

I use to order lunch from here when I worked in Rockville Centre. The food was great. I would order different kinds of pastas. The service was great and efficient.

It was raining cats and dogs when I stopped in here for lunch. Thank you Unilocalers for guiding me here. As soon as I walk in, I immediately feel vastly under dressed though they acted like I belonged there. Super friendly. Didn’t even order off a menu. The waiter simply said «what do you feel like today?» And they NAILED IT! Man, like my Italian uncle asking me what I wanted. The veal was amazing. The sauce made me want to lick the plate. Even simple things like the Iced Tea being strong and flavorful and the cinnamon on the cappuccino so effervescent.
Service — amazing
Ambiance– perfect
Food — gimme more

Dario’s could possibly be the best Italian Restaurant on LI. The food is excellent, Veal Dario is phenomenal, veal meatball appetizer is excellent and so is the fish. You can’t go wrong with anything here. The staff is super friendly and attentive. I can’t wait til my next meal there.

One of my (if not my favorite) restaurants in the area.
The food is great. Service is great. Has an old school feel. Owner cares about the restaurant and the people that come in.
Recommendations:
Burrata with Artichoke and Roasted Red Peppers (MUST)
Caesar Salad (highly recommend if you like Caesar salad — they can do single order)
Meatballs (without Truffle Oil) (over any pasta you like)
Eggplant Parmesan
Veal Dario (MUST)
Heavy pours drinks wise which is always a plus.
Go, you will not be disappointed. In fact you’ll be begging to go back.
They have valet service (complimentary, just tip) on weekend nights.

The reason why these people are getting a 1 star is simply this… Never tell your high paying constant customers they have to give up the table in (1 and a half hour) for the next customer. Like you feel uncomfortable that they are doing you a favor by seating you! VERY COCKY! Will never go back there ever again and neither will any of my family or my friends for the same reason. very poor business skills! HORRID!!!

Amazing old classic Northern Italian food. Paul is the best, you will not be disappointed.

Exceptional food. Fun place. Been here several times. Very welcoming, like you are one of their long lost friends. Waiters are all wearing tuxedos. The burrata salad is amazing. Portabello mushroom appetizer is the best I’ve ever had. Veal chop Dario is exceptional. And nobody prepares a piece of fish like these guys!

This is hands down the best Italian restaurant on the East Coast. IL Mulino doesn’t light a match to Dario’s ! The Portabello mushroom appetizer is off the charts, the Angel hair pasta w/​shrimp and mushroom in a wine broth sauce is life changing and the Veal Chop Dario is something that I just can not put in to words. There are great Italian restaurants on Long Island like Steve’s Piccalo Buscalo, Guilio Cesare, & Café Continental but Dario’s is just at a completely different level. The Veal Chop Dario is something that is so incredible that Words do not do it justice. The owner is incredibly accommodating and the waiters treat you like family. I’m a foodie, been everywhere, and this is my top 3 restaurants of all time !

Look… Dario’s serves great food and they give you great service. HOWEVER — the décor is old, the place is cramped and it’s pretty damn expensive. If you’re over the age of 40 and going on a date, this might be your place. If you’re 30 or under… you can find somewhere more «comfortable» to take your date — both in terms of price and atmosphere. Basically, it’s an old world Italian joint, run by old Italians, for old Italians.
The food is good and the waiters are EXTREMELY NICE, but going to Blue Moon in RVC would get you double the food, and it’s just as good, so for the value I can’t justify paying what Dario’s charges. If you want to spend $ 200 on a meal for two, there are better ways to do it.

This restaurant sets the standard for all other eateries and restaurants in rockville centre, and the establishments in the surrounding areas as well. And quite frankly, no one comes close. The service and food is unmatched. A small quiet northern Italian restaurant in the heart of rockville centre that is the perfect place for a date night, a family gathering, or even a meal at the bar by yourself with a bottle of wine.
My family and I have been coming here for years and I swear it gets better every time. The food selections and choices are vast and extensive and no matter your choice the food will satisfy your craving and hunger and leave you checking your phone for the next time you can plan on coming back.
I highly recommend reservations, especially for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and I recommend the later seating, between 8 and 9:30 on those nights to allow yourself the time to enjoy your company, and most importantly, your food and drinks.
Recommendations include the veal chop Dario, the stuffed veal chop, local sea bass, swordfish, and veal meatballs. But I recommend ordering from their specials, which range between 10 to 20 selections a night and include a variety of seafood and pasta choices. The desserts are all made on the premise and are all outstanding.
Pricing, is comparable to all other high end restaurants in the area, and quite frankly, considering the portions and the servings, along with it’s quality service, its a bargain when compared to the price points of George Martin, Chadwick’s, Columbos, and Dodici.
Go to Dario’s tonight trust me it will be the best food you’ve ever had

Went for my birthday. Must say for a first time experience I felt a little out of my element with probably being the youngest person by 20+ years in the restaurant.
Our waiter was funny older gentleman. The food was good but nothing crazy. I did enjoy the Veal Chop Dario. The rest of the appetizers we ordered and dessert were good. The restaurant could use a little face lift. A Little outdated with the tables/​chairs/​décor. Overall it was pretty decent. No complaints.

You want authentic Italian food with a cozy, yet elegant atmosphere? You can have it at Dario’s!
While I was expecting something a little more upscale, Dario’s did not disappoint. Both the service and the food were phenomenal.
The outside of the restaurant is very discreet. Blink and you’ll miss it. The inside is rather small, but large enough to hold a few large parties. We were promptly seated. After browsing the drink menus, I ordered a glass of wine and my boyfriend ordered a martini. We were served our drinks along with a delicious basket of warm garlic bread and complimentary bruschetta. Our waiter recited some specials in detail, while even displaying some of the ingredients (like fresh tomatoes, mushrooms, fish, etc.) He then offered us the full menu to review.
We shared:
Caesar Salad for 2 (perfect amount of dressing)
Fresh mozzarella with tomato and roasted red pepper –the roasted red pepper was a nice touch to the otherwise traditional Caprese salad
Veal a la Dario (basically veal parm without the tomato sauce)-This was so delicious. Served with a side of mashed potatoes with escarole.
Penna «a la vodka», or, how our waiter put it-«pink sauce with a touch of vodka”-I wish this was a little creamier
Chocolate Mousse Cake-​Way better than I expected, super moist and dense chocolate with whipped cream.
We enjoyed our whole meal in peace. No one rushed to give us our bill.
The only reason I am giving Dario’s 4 stars instead of 5 is because it was slightly expensive in comparison to similar restaurants. It was definitely great Italian food, just not the absolute best I’ve had.
Notes: They take reservations only 10 days in advance.

This is one of the best authentic Italian restaurant in NY, right here on Long Island. The food is the freshest and if you are a veal lover, there is not a restaurant that prepares better veal dishes that Dario’s!
The wait staff are the old school guys that can recite all the specials with a passion as though they are cooking them themselves. Homemade pasta’s (little purses with meat sauce and fresh spinach) to die for. If you like fish they bring out fresh fish on an ice platter for you to choose your special. This is old school Italian and was very impressed and I don’t impress easy. If you are a foodie and truly passionate about fresh quality individually prepared meals made custom tailored for you… Run! It’s a family run business that has it right, and knows how to entertain in their House!
Ciao!