Oro Valley dining options continue to expand with the December opening of Ragazzi Northern Italian Cuisine.
The 2,700-square-foot restaurant opens Friday, December 8 at 7850 N. Oracle Rd. in the Trader Joe’s shopping center. The space formerly housed a Dickey’s BBQ.
Northern Italian food doesn’t feature as much red sauce, said Ragazzi partner Hector Valles. While Ragazzi will still include marinara sauce, customers can look forward to sauces made out of white wine, mushrooms, cream, and more. Steaks and veal also comprise a significant portion of the menu.
“The restaurant’s specialty is seafood,” said Jorge Leon, who owns and manages all Ragazzi restaurants — the current two other locations include Ragazzi International Cuisine in Nogales and Trattoria Ragazzi in Green Valley. The first Ragazzi restaurant was open in Nogales from 1996 to 2001. Another Ragazzi restaurant opened in Tucson in 2002, then relocated to Green Valley in 2003.
Operating hours will be 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. – midnight Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Sunday. Happy hour is 3 – 6 p.m. daily with $2.50 domestic beers, $3.50 margaritas, $4 well drinks, $3.50 house wine, and 20 percent off appetizers.
Menu Highlights
- Calamari Piccanti – squid, spicy bechamel ($12.99)
- Ravioli di Aragosta con Gamberi – lobster-stuffed ravioli, shrimp, rosé sauce ($20.99)
- Rib Eye Steak or New York Strip – 12-ounce with balsamic rosemary jus ($24.99)
- Carne D’Agnello al Forno – roasted rack of spring lamb coated with herbs, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and breadcrumbs, served with roasted vegetables and asparagus ($28.99)
- Cioppino – mussels, shrimp, scallops, spicy white wine sauce, linguine, marinara ($25.99)
- Vitello Fior de Latte – veal, spinach, kasseri cheese, spicy cream sauce ($24.99)
Ragazzi Northern Italian Cuisine is located at 7850 N. Oracle Rd., Oro Valley, AZ 85704. For more information and to make reservations, call (520) 638-7221 or visit ragazzirestaurants.com.
Article written by:
Jackie Tran
More about JackieJackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.
An adventurous foodie, he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours. His favorite foods include aguachile, garlic noodles, and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light. His favorite drinks include morning micheladas, fireside imperial stouts, candle-lit negroni, and grassy mezcales.
Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments, karaoke, Tetris, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and petting Addie’s dog Spaghetti.
If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.
