Marina Ristorante

Delicious food, we had the lasagna, the pizza, soup and penne meatballs and it was simply amazing. Please come a support local business, it is worth it and delicious

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I visited Marina and everything I tried was absolutely delicious. The pasta fagioli was comforting and full of flavor, just like a homemade dish. The meatballs were outstanding—juicy, well-seasoned, and perfectly paired with a rich sauce. Definitely a place I’ll be coming back to. Highly recommended!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Fantastic sandwich. Met Gino the owner and he was very courteous and attentive. Cooks food fresh everyday and they are open later for after-work drinks. Bar-style seating only it seems, but the seats were comfortable.

10/10 recommend especially for a quick lunch with attentive service.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

The place isn't why you go...
IT'S FOR THE FOOD 🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great food and friendly atmosphere. Wonderful place to escape the crowds.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 4

Don't let the outside appearance fool you. Step inside this quaint restaurant and it feels like you're stepping into a restaurant in Italy. Intimate atmosphere with amazing food and friendly service. Highly recommend!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

If you think this is authentic and formal Italian dining, you clearly have not eaten authentic Italian cuisine. I have lived in Europe and been to NY Italian Family Ristorantes that put this place to shame. Overpriced and unimpressive.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 2

Service: 2

Great local restaurant owner operator in the kitchen every day. The bruschetta was delicious. The chicken Parm was huge . The pasta. Carbonara was authentic.. when in Cocoa Beach eat at Marina restaurant . Pizza looks to be awesome. was picked up by a dozen diners as we were in the restaurant came in to pick it up

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Bruschetta

Intimate restaurant that offers Authentic Italian food vs American Italian fare. I had the special dinner of crab and shrimp ravioli and it was exquisite. Will definitely come back and recommend without hesitation.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Bruschetta, Italian, Gnocchi Alla Bolognese

Quaint little place. Food is excellent. Fresh prepared and good portions.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Caesar Salad, Italian

Quaint, authentic, charming Italian restaurant. The food is delicious! ? ?

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Gnocchi Alla Bolognese

Some of the most authentic italian food that i've had since living in the cape canaveral, cocoa beach area... Everything is made to order and a lot of homemade deserts. Don't miss out on this little gem. It's kind of easy to miss since it sits back off A1A in a small plaza. It's very small and quaint with twenty eight seats. I haven't had italian food like this since NY.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Italian

Marina Ristorante 6550 North Atlantic Ave. Cape Canaveral, FL 32931

4 Stars

Egads! I looked again. Nope. Still there. Not to cause a pother here or to slam my fellow residents of the Space Coast, but according to my random name generator, I was off to tourist trap haven, better known as Cape Canaveral, for another what I could only surmise would be an Italian nick joint. At least I didn't have to go OTB today; that by itself was a good thing.

Upon entering Marina Ristorante, I found myself in a small but quaint and effective place. Gino is the owner, service pro, and saucier. I asked Gino for an order of his Lasagna Bolognese along with a Ribeye Au Poivre in Cognac Sauce. Sauce. Sauce. Sauce. A brilliant sauce can solve many a food-related problem. At Marina Ristorante, I came to find that sauce is king.

Lasagna is never a go-to dish for me because it has to be made in advance. Many times it sits in the walk-in cooler for days and then warmed up as needed. While this may be the case here, what separates this from the others is the sauce and cheese. The sauce is made fresh to order and the cheese is baked on (not melted in the microwave). This was an extremely tasty dish.

As I've said ad nauseam it's all about execution. A cook who knows what they are doing in the kitchen and takes a modicum of pride in their work can make a plate of fried worms taste akin to the most succulent dish you've ever had. Not that the Ribeye Au Poivre in Cognac Sauce was similar in any way, shape, or form to a plate of fried worms. However, it was not USDA Grade A Prime meat either. I would say it was a mid-range steak. Regardless of the grade, it was cooked spot on and the sauce was made so flawlessly that it truly allowed you to enjoy the food. A sauce should never overpower or drown your food. Its purpose is to enhance flavor, not mask.

If this had been a better-quality slab of charred cow flesh, this would have been a 5-star review. Great job, Gino!

The Big Boy says, “Finally! The Big Boy has found a good Italian restaurant in a tourist area. If you smellllllllllllllllll. What. Gino. Is. Cooking.”

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Intimate atmosphere, excellent and authentic Italian food, nice people. best Italian in the Cocoa Beach/Port Canaveral area.

Some of the most authentic italian food that i've had since living in the cape canaveral, cocoa beach area... Everything is made to order and a lot of homemade deserts. Don't miss out on this little gem. It's kind of easy to miss since it sits back off A1A in a small plaza. It's very small and quaint with twenty eight seats. I haven't had italian food like this since NY.