Pizzas, Baked Ziti, Gelato, and Tiramisu at Rocco’s of Roc Beach. A new favorite of mine to visit this summer, blocks away from the beach. Never ceases to disappoint, if it wasn’t so distant, I’d come more often. Counting the days until I visit again!
by EagleFly_5
3 Comments
**Who** went: Just myself, as always.
**What** is it: Photos include their Margherita pizza, their White Pie pizza, Baked Ziti, Tiramisu, Lemon Gelato warm chocolate chip cookie, as well as a Rainbow Cookie vanilla flavored gelato on a warm pound cake. Pizzas are 12” (I “could” order bigger/18”, not needed lol), and made on their coal powered oven. The Margherita pizza & lemon gelato on cookie were from my first visit (had tiramisu too, photos were shoddy, so ordered this on 2nd visit w/ better photos), free bread + white pie + baked ziti + rainbow cookie vanilla gelato on pound cake was on second visit. For cost: Margherita pizza was ~18$, tiramisu was 10$, white pie was 21$, baked ziti was 19$, and the gelatos on warm cookie/pound cake (or a donut) was 15$. My drink of choice was lemonade & still water, but the restaurant did offer me a few times comped drinks like limoncello (as a sample, and then a full drink), but I don’t drink alcohol so I’ve took those photos only for them to use if they’d want.
**When** was this: Four days ago (Friday, 21 July ‘23) on the evening (5:20PM – 7:20PM) for dinner. It’s my second visit, before that I’ve went in late June (Friday 16 June, 3PM-4:00PM). I’m a fan of visiting beach towns anytime of the year, and unlike in New Jersey, it’s free to do so in New York City, especially w/o a beach pass, and not cost prohibitive, such as 5,50$ for round trip subway (fares will rise next month to 2,90$ / 5,80$ round trip) or a 8$ round trip ferry ticket & 60-80min from downtown Manhattan. Whereas to somewhere like Asbury Park, NJ for example, it’s a 2 & a half hour train ride from NY Penn Station (32,50$ round trip) for those w/o a car, and a 6$ (9$ on weekends/holidays) cost for beach access. When I’ve arrived the first time in late June, it was one of those typically stormy Friday summer afternoons, and only stuck around both to bide time to go to the beach, and was super hungry. Dinner here was during a calm Friday evening, and although I don’t like sticking around for dinner in the city as much (late hours), it’s worth it if you’re running on empty as I was.
**Where** is this: Rocco’s of Roc Beach, in Rockaway Beach, Queens. Around the corner from the Rockaway Park-Beach 116th St subway station & a few doors down from that, you can even see the restaurant’s name/logo at the subway station’s platform. One of a notable few coal oven pizzerias I’ve been to across the 5 boroughs, and the only one to my memory in the area to have that. Also touted as one of best pizzerias in Queens. Their bread (for dinner & lunchtime sandwiches), their gelato, their pastries/desserts, their pastas are all made in-house. It does have that Italian charm you’d expect from restaurants in the area, and given it has 3 areas to dine-in (inside & bar, outside street side, and their patio). **See more at: [Their Info](https://www.roccoscoalovenpizza.com/about), their [Menu](https://www.roccoscoalovenpizza.com/menu)** (might be glitchy as of today/Tuesday 24 July), **[Rocco’s of Roc Beach’s Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/roccosofrocbeach) and [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@roccosofrocbeach).**
**Why** did you go here & snap photos this occasion: Went the first time since I was super hungry, fasted for 2 days and had a blast. When I came in on an otherwise stormy Friday in June (also fasted for 2 days), I was for the most part the only customer inside, so the staff were hyper focused on me, food came promptly, and I felt delighted at the quality of food, even though I didn’t do a good job with photos. My check was ~50$ at the moment, but I’ve gave x4 that for a tip to help them out & was amazed at service, to which my waitress & everyone else were very happy. Second visit a few days ago, I originally wanted to come during the afternoon, but due to a schedule hiccup w/ my barber in the West Village and coming promptly from Coney Island just for that, I’ve went from the WV to Rockaway Beach on subway (got lost on the way lol), 90 mins later I’ve arrived around 5:10PM walking in. Owner greeted me & was happy to see me, also was surprised to see my first waitress greet & help me w/ my service (even though 3 others assisted too), dinner was packed. Spent 5 minutes prepping my camera gear, already wrote down my order hours ago on a notepad so I’ve already knew in essence what I’ve wanted, presented that to my waitress so the staff got started. Simply offered to take photos of limoncello (don’t drink), after some waiting, my white pie came, then the baked ziti, then the gelato, and finally the tiramisu. 2 whole hours came and went, presented with the check, was equally as happy as the first visit, and fortunately my photos (imo) were excellent. Gave my waitress x2 my check as cash tip (I don’t do this often btw), and another 30$ as CC tip, my servers & the others joked if I’ve wanted any more food (even comped), I’ve said I’d wish I would but maybe next time (I did write down on my notepad in the morning wanting a Nutella Pizza or even a Marinara Pie, maybe next time), chatted with my waitress & was glad she had a birthday a few days around mine in late October, and she gave me a Scorpio necklace in return. Maybe a new place to celebrate a birthday? Left, went to the beach close by to watch the ocean, and the sunset peeking over bay, then spent 2 hours going back home. Thinking about what to get next time.
**Gear** used: Sony A7R IV camera, 90mm f/2,8 G macro lens, x2 Lume Cube 2,0 lights (w/ modifiers) w/ 2 SmallRig mini tripods as makeshift light stands.
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Also, **[bonus photos & videos](https://imgur.com/a/vRfh4EL)** on Imgur since I can’t include them on posts w/ multiple photos here (Reddit kept breaking).
PS: Sorry for the delay that I didn’t share this in a prompt fashion.
Oh man, this all looks really good. I usually go towards the 60s in the Rockaways (I live off the A, so it’s a straight shot without having to transfer), but I may need to do differently next time.
I’m with you on beach towns. I loved Asbury Park, but it took me 3 HOURS to get from my apartment to the beach there, plus around $35 total between NJ Transit and the beach pass.
Everything looks good!