11 Best Italian Restaurants in Port Charlotte

“Had an amazing dinner with my husband. Marianne took exceptional care care of us and everything was delicious. We highly recommend“

“First of all, Renee our server was excellent! There were eight of us from the Punta Gorda Sailing Club (Sea Gals) having lunch. Renee had everything prepared for us when we arrived: menus at each place setting along with napkins and silverware, as well as several bowls of herb olive oil to accompany the warm baked bread that was offered. She was very pleasant and took our orders promptly and efficiently. I have dietary issues and she was very helpful with making suggestions concerning my particular needs. The atmosphere in the restaurant was very welcoming and we all enjoyed conversing with each other during our meal. Food was very good, fresh and tasty. Renee was delightful! All in all, a perfect place to dine for lunch or dinner!“

“There are moments in a person’s life that divide everything into a Before and an After. The birth of a child. A wedding. Gazing upon the Grand Canyon. And, apparently, using the restroom at Olive Garden.

Until that fateful moment, my visit had been entirely pleasant. The food was good. The service was good. The breadsticks arrived in their customary abundance, bestowed upon humanity by whatever benevolent deity presides over garlic butter. All was well.

Perhaps I had grown complacent.

Eventually, as happens to all mortal beings cursed with functioning kidneys, nature summoned me away from the table. I entered the restroom expecting nothing more remarkable than the mundane necessities of human biology.

What I encountered instead will remain with me until death.

I approached the toilet and found myself staring into a bowl containing a liquid of such a profoundly disconcerting yellow hue that I stopped dead in my tracks. The porcelain bowl had been stained a shade comparable to the soft, supple skin of Homer Simpson, such that even crystal clear water appeared to be a mellowing yellow.

Perhaps the bowl had acquired this color through some obscure chemical process. Perhaps the plumbing had tapped into an underground reservoir of concentrated apple juice. Perhaps some previous traveler had committed an atrocity and fled without so much as a courtesy flush. There are questions science may someday answer. I sincerely hope this is not one of them.

I stood before it not as a customer, but as an archaeologist confronting the remnants of a vanished civilization. What happened here? Who had come before me? Why had no one intervened?

I persevered.

Afterward, I approached the sink with the desperate optimism of a shipwrecked sailor glimpsing land. Surely here I would find salvation. Cool, clean water. Soap. A chance to wash away not merely the physical consequences of my journey, but the memory of what I had witnessed.

Fool that I was.

The sink was filthy. Not mildly dirty. It had achieved the sort of grime suggesting it had ceased being a plumbing fixture and begun developing its own ecosystem. Every stain seemed ancient. Every discoloration had a history. Entire civilizations may have risen and fallen within that basin.

I washed my hands anyway, because apparently civilization is maintained by tiny acts of stubbornness.

When I emerged, my companions continued eating, blissfully unaware. Servers carried plates. Families laughed. Breadsticks circulated.

How could the world simply continue?

Remarkably, everything else about my visit was completely fine. The food was enjoyable. The staff did their jobs well. I harbor no grievance against the pasta, salad, or endless breadsticks.

Except for that restroom.

That restroom was a threshold. A warning. A glimpse behind the thin veil of order separating mankind from chaos.

I entered seeking relief and emerged with questions about sanitation, mortality, and whether a loving and benevolent force truly governs this universe.

Four stars.

Would have been five, but I have seen the yellow waters, and I cannot forget.“

“Went to see damon wyans 600 show. Really funny. Service not enough wait staff. By the time i got all my food at the same time it was cold. Waiter Alex didnt care. He was getting tip. When something isnt right you would think they try to right you. They dont!! Food very good!!“

“The bartender, she is amazing. Friendly and funny while working steady to take care of all her customers. We will be back.“

“Amazing food and service! The best pizza around this area. Not to mention their salads, subs, pastas and huge calzones 😋 They have yet to disappoint. Consistent deliciousness.“

“Small Italian deli/market inside a gas station here. The NY style pizza is good, and they have premade stromboli and calzones available, but they don't always stock the deli anymore. I used to buy this interesting coffee-flavored soda that they stock, but the last bottle I bought was actually spoiled, so no more of that.“

“Great experience, food is always fresh and delicious. Very friendly and professional staff.“

“First time there and met Sara our server immediately. We were early for lunch and the first customers of the day. We went with Sara’s suggestion having Gina’s personal pizza, which was plenty for 2. Also reasonably priced $16. We added Pasta Fagioli with 2 spoons so we could taste it. We were surprised by a generous bowl and so delicious. Sara also brought us focaccia bread and dipping oil mixed with spices. Bread was warm and the combination delicious! We took half the pizza home.
We will most definitely be back!!“

“Love the coal fire pizza 🍕“

“We’ve been there twice. Both time the food was outstanding and the service was excellent. I highly recommend trying them out. We love the Melissa Coleman band!“