50 Best Italian Restaurants near Longboat Key

“The best meal I’ve had on Longboat Key in 6 years…we did the Savor Sarasota extended meal with wine - $60/person, and everything was well above expectations: great wines by the glass, the tris di bruschetta was the best I’ve ever had, as were the meatballs, and the pastas, branzino and tiramisu all are worthy of ordering again.“

“I had the cheesesteak sub a few days ago and it was killer!! Being from Jersey, it’s difficult to find a good one around here. It was a huge sandwich and prepared perfectly. I would have taken a picture but I wolfed it down before I thought of it. I’ll be back… next time I’m getting gelato!“

“Alright, here’s a polished version that you could post. Riva in Longboat Key was absolutely amazing from start to finish. We came in for lunch andwow! It reminded me how much great service can elevate a meal.

The whole team was warm, attentive, and knowledgeable without being overbearing. They gave us space but they were always exactly where we needed them. Everything was done thoughtfully, from the pacing of the courses to the vibe and the attention to detail. There was real care in the overall experience. Obviously, great food matters, but it’s that blend of quality, hospitality, and atmosphere that turns a meal into a memorable experience, and Riva has that completely nailed. We left so impressed and feeling like it was an incredible value for the level of service and care that we got. Easy 5 stars.“

“It has been a wonderful experience partnering with The Resort at Longboat Key Club. Their team is always welcoming, professional, and a pleasure to work with. We are incredibly grateful for their continued partnership with our Stroll neighborhood magazines and are proud to recommend them to our community.“

“Amazing staff and Excellent Dinner !“

“My sisters and I recently ate brunch at Classico. The food was delicious, the presentation was lovely, and most important to note, our server Brody was awesome! How refreshing it was to have such a genuinely polite and pleasant server. He really added to our dining experience. If you dine at Classico, be sure to ask for Brody!“

“So delicious, everything is home made. It is a small intimate restaurant and the owners/chefs are so welcoming. The pasta is so delicious and the focaccia bread to the mussels appetizer to the lamb sauce over fettuccine was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The homemade mixture they serve with the bread is unlike anything we have ever had and it was their grandma’s recipe that made it extra special. I would suggest a reservation for this hidden gem!“

“Mari was a delightful server. She made sure that our order was perfect, paying special attention to check that the steak was cooked to our liking. Her bright and friendly personality made us feel welcome and cared for. We appreciate the traditional table service.“

“In reference to our dinner last evening April 18, 2026. The seating for our table of 7, was very tight seating. The Mrs. and I had the Bolognese, hers was gluten free, both of us had a terrible night sleeping with many bathroom issues. Additionally, I was surprise to see on top of the $200. cash tip I provided, there was an additional tip of over $100.00 added to the check. The waitress that was extremely nice, did not make me aware that there was a tip already added to the check, resulting in a tip of over $300. which in my opinion is a little overboard.“

“Amazing atmosphere and food“

“Fabulous experience!! Great service and amazing food! Highly recommend!!!“

“Amazing wine, food and service!“

“I made reservations for my friend's birthday and 2 other guests were joining us. Unfortunately the reservation went to another Tiramisu in another city. Therefore, no reservations showed when our party arrived. The host was icey, lacked empathy or understanding. He was extremely demeaning and haughty. Finally sat us at a table next to the kitchen which was appreciated. Our waiter was stellar and made everything feel friendly again. The food was outstanding......every course. Im a local for 48 years but the host made me feel like an idiot. Never smiled (not to anyone else arriving later). Maybe not the best first impression to offer your patrons.“

“Just finished a lovely dinner with family at this special place. Everyone loved the food. Fresh and flavorful. The meatball appetitizer was delicious, from the salad to the dessert we enjoyed it all. The best Italian suisine has to offer. Highly recommend you take a trip to Palmetto, just over the bridge, to this lovely old home and enjoy what tastes like home cooking.“

“Amazing food in downtown Sarasota.“

“Delicious meal! Service was great! Matthew our waiter was super!“

“Been looking for a good pizza ? place and I found the best pizza ? place ever I give it 10 stars if you are looking for a great place for pizza please try this pizza“

“Came in for dinner a while back for their special Osso Bucco ,this was a limited special,but the special was already sold out. Ordered their chicken alfredo. My wife and I have been back several times. Best keep secret in town. You will be more than pleased.“

“Lived here for 12 years and just discovered this place. Definitely the BEST Italian restaurant around. Everything tasted like my mother and noni had prepared it. Caesar salad was the real thing. Gnocchi truly melted in my mouth. Sauce was exceptional.“

“Loved this place! Thank you for taking care of us!“

“While I gave this restaurant 4 stars we had some issues while there. Our server, from the get go, was hurried! It felt like he just didn't have time for us. We were with two other couples there for an anniversary celebration. We wanted to get a bottle of Proseco to share for the table. The server joked with us and said go for the champagne since we were celebrating. We agreed. He pointed out some lovely bottles of champagne some to the tune of $1000 and Over! That's not what we had in mind but we did want something special. I pointed out a bottle on the menu that was $95 and that's what I agreed to. He brought it to the table and we all enjoyed it. Onto the dinner menu which comes on a chalk board. He flew through everything on the menu so fast that we were all dizzy when he was done and then he left. When he came back we asked the questions we had about the menu and that seemed to bother him! Everyone's meals were excellent! The food was delish! We did get desserts to share. Two got the ice cream which they said was good. We got the pistachio cheese cake. Sadly, it was very dry and did not taste like pistachio. Then the bill came!! The server gave us the separate bill for the champagne alone.... $575😵😲 Not at all what we were expecting! Thank goodness we declined the second bottle he tried to get us to have. We did not say anything at the time because for one we were shocked but also because we drank it. Since then, that has just not sat right with me. A good server should have double checked that was what we wanted and that the price was correct. Sadly, we were there for a celebration and this ended up ruining our celebration. I'd love to go back and try other menu items as everything sounded so good. However, I am hesitant after this unfortunate experience.“

“Thanks you . cibo davvero delizioso. il vitello è super tenero“

“Absolutely our favorite restaurant! The owners, staff all make you feel at home. The service, food, wine, music and atmosphere is perfect. Scarpino’s is definitely are GO To Spot, whether by ourselves or hosting company. Be sure to check it out! Ciao, Ciao!“

“What a wonderful restaurant! I’ve been coming here for years and have never once been disappointed. Every visit feels like walking into a friend’s home—warm, welcoming, and full of AMAZING FOOD. Everything is always fresh and absolutely DELICIOUS! 👏👏 The authentic Italian dishes are incredible, and I’m so thankful that they always accommodate my dietary restrictions. It truly makes me feel genuinely cared for—they already know my needs and always have a plan in place. It means SO MUCH to feel that kind of attention and thoughtfulness. Thank you for making every experience so special. I truly LOVE this place! 💜💜“

“Excellent place to relax! Great people, great food.“

“Was a great evening with the wine Pairing yesterday. The wines were great and Tatorial was informative. The 5 Dinner courses were exceptional, can't wait for the next ? one.“

“Great Italian restaurant!“

“We took grandma for her 97th birthday lunch. We could not have picked a better spot! From helping mom get inside with her walker to the outstanding service for a party of 9 to the fantastic food, we were so impressed. You can taste the love in every bite! They make their pasta and focaccia in-house and you can certainly taste the difference from dried bulk pasta. We tried a variety of options from soups, salads, pasta and stuffed focaccia sandwiches-all were so delicious. The restaurant is quaint and they made us feel like family that came in for a delicious home cooked meal. We will be back! This is my new favorite restaurant!“

“The food at Sardinia is exquisite. The atmosphere is elegant and the owner is very warm and friendly. I highly recommend this restaurant. One of the best in Sarasota! Will be returning there with friends and family many times.“

“Went there with my wife as a dinner date and the food was amazing. We both agreed that we will be going back there in the future“

“Wow - Ortygia has moved forward to a fun and interactive cooking classes, specialty parties, wine dinners and more . Without the restaurant anymore there is so much happening - for low this page and make a reservation- you won’t be sorry. I have been 3 times for series 1,2,and 3 cooking classes - enjoying wonderful filling vegetarian dinners that everyone will love - and you take the recipes home. Wine flows freely, delicious food and great conversation abounds and then you eat - enjoying the Italian scents and savoring the goodness of fresh ingredients. A definite go to on my list and looking forward to making many delicious meals.“

“The homemade sausage is excellent! The caponata was a little mushy. Overall, not a bad meal.“

“I was visiting my mother from NJ and she wanted to try this place because she heard the pizza was good. Their pizza is, by far, the best I've ever had in Florida. If they were back up in NJ, this would definitely be my go-to pie. If you want a great pizza and you’re in the area of Verona Pizza, don't bother looking anywhere else. They are the real deal.“

“First time visiting and we will be back again before we leave to go home. We have been visiting different beach towns in FL for last 10 years and every year we find a pizza place within that area to get BLT pizza. BLT pizza is a Midwest staple and we have really good pizza back home so when I tried Pizzano’s BLT I was genuinely shocked, it’s my new fav! So so good, do not miss out on this restaurant. 10/10!“

“We ordered Pizza and it was delicious!! The service was great!! Sophia made us feel welcome and was very pleasant. She must have visited our table 6 or 7 times making sure we were doing ok.“

“Everything was excellent. First time trying your place and we will be back.“

“Great atmosphere Amazing drinks! They’re open now! After hurricane Milton! The best Mule I’ve ever had“

“Great place for wine and live music lovers!“

“The food was exactly what keeps people coming back. Everything we ordered was fresh, flavorful, and generously portioned. It’s great comfort food at a fair price, and it’s hard to go wrong with the menu.

The service was also friendly and attentive throughout our visit.

The only downside is the atmosphere. The restaurant was quite loud and crowded, making it difficult to have a relaxed conversation. It lacks the cozy, authentic Italian ambiance you might expect and feels more like a busy chain restaurant than a place to enjoy a leisurely dinner.

If you’re looking for good food and great service, Olive Garden delivers. Just don’t come expecting a quiet or intimate dining experience.“

“The pizza was amazing. So much cheese!!“

“The food is great and you get a lot! Niki, Ashleigh, Linda, Debbie and Hakan are super servers. A very friendly place. Only one thing…bring back the ICEBERG lettuce for the salads!“

“Outstanding pizza every time!!! Love the addition of fresh basil included in the box!!“

“We hosted a 40-guest private event at Cafe Amici, and it was a fantastic experience from start to finish. The food was amazing, everything ran smoothly, and the staff was friendly, professional, and efficient throughout the night. I had to leave a bit early, and the staff was kind enough to neatly place my decorations together so I could easily pack them up the next day, which I truly appreciated. We couldn’t have asked for a better venue or team to host our event. Highly recommend Cafe Amici for any private party or special occasion“

“Pizza was fantastic! Serves was amazing and friendly! Highly recommend! We will be back!“

“I cannot wait to dine here again. Incredible menu, quality delicious food and ingredients. There were so many items I wanted to try, but everything we had was excellent. I had homemade ravioli stuffed with ricotta and spinach in a vodka sauce, my husband had sautéed parmigiana encrusted grouper. We also shared homemade stuffed mushrooms, stuffed with sausage and goat cheese. Great wines by the glass and great service. The hostesses were exceptional as well, they gave as a quick tour inside to see if we preferred indoor or outdoor seating. Definitely a new fave! This restaurant also has one of the most beautiful patios in all of Sarasota! Such a gem spot.“

“The overall service use to be amazing at this Olive Garden. We have come here several times over the years and this is the worst front staff I’ve ever experienced. I checked in and was told it would be a 15 minute wait and told them that I had people coming but instead of seating us after 25 minutes passed I came up to ask the pregnant hostess if they were waiting for my party or something because we’ve been waiting and she was like oh yeah yeah we are without so much as looking at me or apologizing for the wait. There were several of them up there that were just laughing and joking around unprofessionally and the pregnant hostess was eating up there talking with the other ladies at the podium while they ignored us. She disappeared completely for several minutes and after 30 minutes I asked a girl who showed up if we were going to be seated because my party was waiting. She said she would check because she just got there. She went to find the pregnant hostess and told her we were waiting 30 minutes and my daughter overheard her denying it. I’m just not used to that at any restaurant. If you tell me 15 minutes and it’s not busy in there then we have better be seated whether we are waiting for people to arrive or not. It put me in such a terrible mood that I wanted to leave but thankfully our waiter came right away and was amazing. He was very attentive and kind and I felt he deserved a good tip. What made me write this review was when we left there were a gaggle of women at the front with the pregnant hostess and we all noticed that they just stared at us and didn’t say the usual thank you have a good night. No one bothered to politely open the door like they have always done for us in the past. You just knew that they we’re talking bad about you. If this is what this Olive Garden restaurant is turning into then I have to stop coming. I don’t know what’s up with those women but this is their place of work not a place to gossip and bullshit about their life or talk shit about their paying customers who are there to be treated with some measure of respect and kindness when they are out with their family for dinner. I hope a manager sees this review and addresses this issue of plain rudeness. We are also not white and so obviously white people were being treated better and seated immediately. By the way, our pregnant hostess was black but for some reason thinks it’s ok to be rude to us. If this ever happens to us again, a complaint will definitely be filed to your corporate management or the BBB. I will not tolerate this behavior in front of my family.“

“Really nice restaurant with authentic Greek cuisine, portions were tasty and a good size, wonderful atmosphere and excellent service. We will definitely be back.“

“We did an order for pick up tonight and the tortellini Alfredo was absolutely delicious!“

“EVERYTHING! MY FAVORITE RESTAURANT!“