50 Best Italian Restaurants near Osprey

“We've been looking for our favorite pizza spot, and we finally found it! We got fettuccine alfreados that had the best sauce! It was so cheesy & creamy, thick but not chunky, flavorful, without being heavy on the garlic. They came with huge chunks of garlic bread that were so crisp on the outside, fresh, fluffy & buttery. We got ceasar & house salads, that were especially good for some reason. The pizza was especially good also. Great sauce, cheese, toppings, crust. The atmosphere was so very homey, and family like, and reminded us of growing up. The place, and restrooms were very clean. The staff was great! Both girls working, were so kind, and giving, with our 4 children. We also met a driver, who was so kind, that talked to us & our kids, and offered to take a family photo for us. They went out of their way to give us an exceptional dinner experience & be different. We truly will be back over, and over, and are so glad we found this place on Facebook. -The Mocaby's“

“We had our first dinner at Bella Vino tonight. Eggplant Rollatini with spaghetti, salad and homemade bread. Excellent. We will be back.“

“Great food and great service. Chef Joseph came out to greet us and talked to us about his special risotto preparation. It was nothing short of fantastic!“

“We had a family gathering catered by Dolce Italia and everything was absolutely amazing! We had trays of the Trenne Dolce Italia with sausage, an eggplant dish and homemade pasta with meatballs, which was absolutely delicious. The Mista salad was beautiful, fresh and the perfect compliment to the meal. The process was easy thanks to Matthew’s suggestions and the food was hot, packaged well and ready to be served.“

“Absolutely delicious!, Small, intimate, great service, and oh so delicious“

“I have been going to La Dolce Vita since they opened. It is my “go to” Italian restaurant whenever I want to take guests out to a special meal. The food is the best in Sarasota, the service is impeccable and it’s like going to your Nona’s for Sunday dinner. Tina makes you feel like you’re part of their family and Mauro’s cooking is award wining. Everything’s is freshly prepared including the pasta, deserts, bread and Tina’s own Limoncello. Go, you won’t regret it. Michael Knupp Sarasota“

“Excellent!!! the hostess was so friendly. the waitress very attentive . I highly recommend it !! I just moved from Texas . I'm so happy !!“

“Simply said, PHENOMENAL! Emelio, Rosie and staff are fantastic! The food is sensational! I certainly think it’s one the best restaurants in Sarasota! Bravo!! Can’t wait to go back!“

“Food is fresh and delicious. Very friendly atmosphere. Wine selection is wonderful and menu options are great. And you have to try their homemade desserts! Amazing! Congratulations Chef Leo!!!!“

“Fantastic all around. Food is fresh and delightful. The staff are so kind and helpful. The cocktails are bright and refreshing. Highly recommend this to anyone, regardless of whether you’re local or visiting. Classico always comes through for us, and we’re sure they’ll come through for you.“

“Excellent Italian cuisine. Service and food were outstanding. Highly recommended!!“

“Hidden Gem. The owners were very welcoming and the food was fantastic.“

“Food was fantastic. We had a variety of dishes from Tomahawk veal to Scallops to Duck Breast to Veal Ravioli. All delicious and flavorful. Cooked to perfection. Service great. Quite noisy in the restaurant. You MUST have reservations during peak season. Went recently Nov 2024, tables available. Live Jazz on Sunday evenings.“

“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.“

“? this place.. great service from Joseph our bartender.. absolutely yummy HH ? and appetizers were awesome ? will be definitely be visiting again soon ! ?‍♀️?“

“We have been to Fiorella's 4 times since the first of the year. I believe they opened in August of 2022. We chose to try it in the first place because it was open on Sundays and the menu looked very appealing. The chef and servers are great. The pasta (house made) dishes are especially good. There is typically a starter, pasta and entrée special each night. The bruschetta starter is unique, not your typical style, and awesome we get it every time we go. The chef is willing to accommodate a diners personal wants and needs. The portions are a perfect size, not too big and not too small. We haven't tried every dish on the menu yet but those that we've had were excellent. It's a small intimate type of restaurant. Make your reservations early for the weekends because they fill up fast. We took friends with us the last 3 times we went there and they all thoroughly enjoyed it. This is fast becoming our new favorite Italian restaurant!“

““Fantastic”food served by a great ,friendly staff.“

“Simply great! Small, quaint, friendly staff, clearly a family endeavor! Good wine list, but the food was amazing. Beautiful presentation, fresh and delicious ingredients from start to finish!! We can’t wait to go back!“

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

“This place was highly recommended by a friend. My expectations were completely exceeded. Small quaint place that feels like you rolled into a bistro right from a cobblestone path in Tuscany. One chef, one prep line, small kitchen that creates big bold flavors. Food reminded me of Nanas cooking from childhood. We never went without anything as the service matched the food. Hands down one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time. Thank you chef and wonderful staff for an amazing birthday meal.“

“Last minute reservations for 6, fit us in it was our first visit but def not the last! Great service, the food was fantastic, I really would give them ten stars if I could! Highly recommend my new fav Italian spot!!“

“My husband found this place for us while we were vacationing in Sarasota. The food was incredible. My in laws got the lasagne, my husband got the Ragu, and I got the risotto special that had prosciutto and burrata. This was easily the best meal we had while in Sarasota. The service was great, and we really enjoyed the atmosphere. We were so full we couldn’t finish our meal, and we sadly did not have a microwave at our hotel! Thank you for a great experience and even better food!“

“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.“

“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.“

“The best place in town for lunch and for meeting with friends and acquaintances. The food is good, so is the ambience in a patio surrounded by bougainvillea and nice music. The service is great and nothing beats Giselle’s welcoming smile.“

“Amazing wine, food and service!“

“This restaurant is a five-star dining experience! This is one of our favorite restaurants and we absolutely love this place! Amanda is truly wonderful and always gives us exceptional service! She is top notch and is very attentive, fun and amazing! The interactions we have with other staff on a regular basis including Kathy (Bar) and Victoria S. (Server) are always friendly and make us feel very welcome. Marcell (Proprietor) is also fantastic and always makes us feel like valued customers! If you are a local, snowbird or visitor - visit this restaurant - it will not disappoint!“

“Today, we're exploring the culinary delights of Trattoria Damino! This hidden gem might not need any promotion, but we couldn't resist sharing the incredible experience. We have friends visiting all the way from Barcelona, Spain, and what better way to impress them than with a visit to this amazing restaurant? The atmosphere is warm and inviting, perfect for a memorable evening. My husband and I are savoring a delicious tomato and cheese pizza, specially made without black pepper to accommodate my allergy. The staff here are incredibly attentive and accommodating. The kids are excitedly sharing a mouthwatering pepperoni pizza, while our friends are diving into delectable dishes: penne alla vodka and a hearty meatball pasta. Every bite is an absolute delight. If you're looking for a place that combines fantastic food with a welcoming atmosphere, Trattoria Damino is a must-visit!“

“This place is incredible! I felt like I was in Italy as far as food and atmosphere goes. Hands down best pizza I’ve ever had and all the pasta is homemade. The place was full of Italians, true Italians which is always a good sign. Highly recommend!“

“The Italian Grill was recommended so we gave it a try tonight. Let me say it did NOT disappoint everything was super fresh and had a great taste. Needless to say we have now found our favorite Italian place in Sarasota….“

“The staff is amazing. We loved the atmosphere and the food was delicious!!“

“Wonderful atmosphere and wonderful service“

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

“Delicious food. Pizza 🍕 is so good. Friendly service.“

“Our server Sam was the best! Great personality as with all your staff. The Bianca pizza is sooo delicious! We are Italian and from NJ. You are doing it right! Your entrees are also delicious! We will see you next Winter when we return. Linda & Tom Sellitto“

“Dinner was OK nothing to brag about .. we were asked to move leave after paying the bill.. I've worked in alot of restaurants and never did this to a party...“

“very tasty! it's like we visited Italy again! Thanks!“

“Unique service. You enter and place your order at counter. Pay first. We ate in the Pizzeria. We ordered a large meatball and cheese large pizza and two ice teas. We had to help ourselves to plates, napkins and silverware on our own. The pizza was delivered to the table by a server. We had to ask for our beverages to be brought to us. I don’t know why I tipped on the bill if most of the service we did ourselves.“

“Fantastic Italian food! Absolutely a must try!!!“

“Delicious meal, great atmosphere with live music, and very friendly knowledgeable staff.“

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

“The staff here is INCREDIBLE. I came here after searching and failing in finding a place to eat that can accommodate my allergies. The staff not only welcomed my party but made my order special just to assure me that I would be safe. The food here is delicious and the staff is fantastic. Such a great experience! Thank you ☺️“

“very tasty! it's like we visited Italy again! Thanks!“

“Great food, service, and atmosphere!“

“Pizza pizza pickup.
On one of our summer trips up to Nokomis beach this year we opted for a late evening pizza fix. Unfortunately, we had to pickup the order vs. delivery. Mama Leone’s had just changed names but not location so it was a bit confusing when we were looking for the pickup location. The food was fine and definitely satisfying but I cant really give it high marks. I can’t say much else about atmosphere etc. The service was good. They have a large pickup window as you approach the entrance. The staff was courteous and quick. We got what we wanted when we needed it.
In summary I give a ⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating (average for what it’s supposed to be).“

“Fantastic food and service!“

“We were seated and our server came over and asked us what we wanted. No explanation to assist us with the menu as we had never been before, food arrived and he only checked on us once for the bill, no offers of drink refills, unlimited pasta etc. Would not go back again.“

“The food is incredible. The service is excellent. My husband and I really enjoy the bruschetta and/or the onion rings for appetizers. For an entree I usually get the cheese manicotti,spaghetti or the margherita pizza. It's all so good!!! You can't go wrong here. My husband ordered the daily special(surf and turf)and we'd have to say,it was the best steak and lobster we've ever ordered from anywhere!!! The steak was so delicious and tender, we could cut it with a fork. Cafe Amalfi is the best kept secret in Sarasota.“