Chef Fabio Trabocchi
Chef/Restaurateur
“Happiness is a bowl of pasta made with love.” That whimsical quote comes from Chef Fabio Trabocchi, who owns Fiolina Restaurant in Boca Raton. “If you don’t have love, it’s not as good as it could be.” The 7,000-square-foot ristorante has been open since November and is located in the new Restaurant Row near Boca Town Center.
The menu showcases a straightforward approach to Italian cuisine, serving traditional Italian cooking that’s elevated for modern taste. And since Trabocchi has been in America for more than 25 years, you’ll find a touch of Italian American dishes. Pasta is made fresh in the dedicated pasta room, produce is sourced locally and local fishermen catch the seafood. “Choosing the best ingredients is in the DNA of Italian cooking.”
Signature dishes include Beef Short Rib Agnolotti and Grilled Branzino Puttanesca. Trabocchi describes the linguini with clams as “simple but precise. It requires a certain level of skill to get it right.” Pappardelle is served with a ragu Bolognese sauce that takes three days to make.
Trabocchi says they aren’t a pasta shop; they’re a complete restaurant. You’ll also find meats, poultry, salads, crudites and a mozzarella bar. Homemade desserts include their personal take on tiramisu, a cannoli-inspired cake and a lemon tart. Fiolina also offers daily specials that include Barolo Braised Wagyu Short Rib with Florida Corn, Asparagus and Charred Red Pepper and The Signature Spritz Tower on Thursday’s Ladies Night.
The new space can seat 138 inside and 62 outside on their patio. The restaurant has a “fresh Italian look and feel,” Trabocchi says. “The space emulates a playfulness and vibrancy while also being comfortable and energetic.” He credits that vibe to bright colors, floral accents and rich red ruby and white chairs.
Care was put into the spot’s name. “I was looking for an Italian word that hasn’t been used.” Fiola is an old word from the dialect of Le Marche, Italy, where Trabocchi was born and raised.
The term is an affectionate way for a parent to talk about their daughter, translated as “my sweetheart.” That became the name for his Washington, D.C. eateries. Because the Boca Raton venue is upscale casual, it’s called Fiolina, which means “my little sweetheart.” “The word is easy to pronounce and remember, and it’s meaningful and truthful to the soul of my heritage.”
Fiolina Restaurant, 5377 Town Center Road, Ste. 300, Boca Raton, 561-473-9400, fiolinapasta.com
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