Editor’s Note (March 2014): Since the publishing of this article in 2011, Ruffini’s has become Pronto Bistro Italiano and is also under new management.
Tucked away behind a shopping center in Thorndale, Ruffini’s Restaurant has been owned by the Ruffini family since 1974. It’s a spot known to the locals for their generous servings of delicious Italian food, their lounge and banquet hall. On a recent humid night, we recently stopped in for dinner and to to chat with Rocky Ruffini.
Our waitress served warm fresh bread and homemade pesto as she took our drink orders. Carl Roccia, the manager, stopped by and discussed the night’s specials. He explained they were inspired to make the San Juan Shrimp and Scallops as a special after a recent visit to the Caribbean, noting it makes a light summertime dish. Carl also suggested we try their popular appetizer, Zucchini Stix, which are breaded, fried, and served with homemade tomato sauce.
As we enjoyed our appetizer, Rocky Ruffini stopped by to chat. He explained they recently starting serving personal pizzas and the response has been terrific. They’ve also introduced Bada-Bing Shrimp as an appetizer. Rocky invited us to look around after our meal and said not to forget to check out the “emitytrap,” which of course piqued our interest.
For an entree, I tried the Lobster Ravioli Della Nonna. The Scaramuzza raviolis were beautiful, each one striped with squid ink. The raviolis were filled with lobster and cheese and served in a delicate tomato and basil cream sauce.
My date tried the Gnocchi Abruzzi. A generous amount of Scaramuzza gnocchi was served with roasted peppers, italian sausage and plum tomatoes in a spicy Italian sauce. This was more than she could eat!
Carl had suggested the San Juan Shrimp and Scallops, so he brought out a sampling of this entree to try. The jumbo shrimp and scallops were sauteed with white wine and butter, fresh lime juice and cilantro. They were served with beautifully prepared roasted tomatoes and au gratin potatoes.
For dessert, we sampled Strawberry Cheesecake, which my dining partner commented as “lighter than most cheesecakes.” We also sampled a brand new menu item, Chocolate Mousse, which melted on our tongues.
After our meal, we ducked in and checked out their large banquet room. The banquet hall is open for events holding up to eighty-eight people. Over the years, they’ve hosted many diverse events in the space – from weddings to stand up comics.
As we explored, we noticed above the entrance to the lounge, in frosted glass, the words “emitytrap.” We walked through the door and discovered a heartening neighborhood crowd enjoying happy hour at the bar. Rocky pointed to the frosted glass sign overlooking the lounge entrance to reveal what emitetrap reveals when read backwards. He explained how the name originated from a hunting cabin his uncle owned in the Poconos and has become a catchphrase in the lounge.
So after 37 years, Ruffini’s continues to serve Thorndale generous portions of authentic Italian food in a family setting. And for those adults out for a night on the town, they can cross the frosted glass doors into the lounge for a nightcap and experience their own partytime!
Find Ruffini’s Restaurant at 43 North Bailey Road in Thorndale or online at ruffinis.com.
