Restaurant Review: Ruffino’s

An upscale eatery called DiNardo’s Italian Restaurant opened in 1998 during the waning days of former LSU coach Gerry DiNardo’s “Bring Back the Magic” bid. A year later—when Nick Saban replaced DiNardo—the restaurant was rechristened Ruffino’s. For more than 12 years now, head chef Peter Sclafani and co-owner Ruffin Rodrigue have been creating some magic of their own by blending traditional Italian dishes with a bold Creole flair. With its white linens, dark woods and extensive wine selection, Ruffino’s country club-style atmosphere is a perfect fit for its location on the eastern end of Highland Road near the Country Club of Louisiana. Sclafani is a native New Orleanian and an award-winning, third-generation chef whose menu includes a variety of Louisiana-inspired seafood and steak dishes to complement Italian classics like pizzas, lasagna, veal piccata and chicken parmesan. See what our secret diners thought of Ruffino’s by clicking here.