49 Best Italian Restaurants near Sanford

“We have been customers of Carrabba’s for over 25 years, but unfortunately, the lasagna at the Sanford location has changed. Our recent order arrived with almost no pasta, mostly cheese and sauce. The manager kindly replaced it and offered a discount, which we appreciated, but the second lasagna still only had one layer of pasta. This is not about compensation — it’s about consistency and quality. We hope Carrabba’s brings back the lasagna quality we have enjoyed for many years.“

“I used to go to the Olive Garden on Colonial, but this location is now my absolute favorite. The difference is night and day! The food tastes so much fresher, the atmosphere looks spectacular, and the service is on a whole different level. Everything was perfect from start to finish. I will definitely be coming back! Thank you Hailey great service.“

“Hands down the best New York style hand tossed pie around! My buddy and I just got a large cheese and killed it in like 20 minutes.😁 Oh and definitely ask for a side of garlic oil, trust me!“

“I do recommend hungry Howie’s and their pizzas and subs are great but you gotta check your order really well before you leave because they forget stuff“

“Absolutely phenomenal! This has got to be the BEST pizza I’ve had in ages. We stumbled upon this gem and completely fell in love. The menu may be short, but they excel in every single thing they serve—and I’d argue they do it better than anyone else out there. We kicked things off with the Burrata with white truffle oil and Prosciutto, and it was beyond delicious—a perfect start. Then came the pizzas: the Meat Lovers and Star Luca. Unreal! Every bite was bursting with flavor, and it’s hard to believe that each pizza could be as exceptional as the last. And just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, we ended the meal with the Nutella Pizza with Bananas. How is it even possible for every single item to be this amazing? But it’s not just the food; the atmosphere and staff elevate the experience to a whole new level. Katherine, our server, was outstanding. She made us feel completely at home and had spot-on recommendations for everything. We even got to meet Marco, who may be the owner or GM, and either way, he’s clearly got a gift for running an extraordinary establishment. This place has officially won us over—we’re not just fans; we’re now loyal customers for life!“

“In town for a business event and happened to find this gem of a restaurant. I was lucky to be seated quickly because 85% of the tables were reserved. The staff was the most friendly and eager to please. Alexa in particular was dealing with some rather demanding customers, and she did it with a smile and grace. The six formaggi pizza was one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had- the crust was stuffed with ricotta and I was in heaven. The Gorgonzola was a very forward flavor, so if bleu cheeses aren’t your favorite I’d make the pizza a five formaggi instead. The chocolate mousse was also light and delicate. I will go out of my way to return on future trips to the area.“

“Delicious and fresh classic Italian paired with amazing service is a win win!! We are always are greeted with a smile and welcoming vibe. Love this place so much!“

“love the food and the staff I recommend highly to everyone ❤️ always a great meal and love the owners truly the best !“

“Excellent food and drinks! Amazing pasta and traditional Italian dishes. Great wine and liquor... Brandon was an excellent server and manager, very professional & knowledgeable....“

“This is our favorite pizza! My son won’t eat pizza from anywhere else unless he has no choice. The staff is wonderful and manages to give it a small- business feel without compromising quality. We tell everyone about it to make sure they are supported.“

“Get to Cafe Paisano immediately! My wife, daughter, and I found Cafe Paisano while we were staying in Longwood on vacation. I had already eaten, they got some takeout, and when I tasted the food, I knew we would be headed back before we left. Cafe Paisano is a smaller, cute place with indoor and outdoor seating. We brought 12 people and they were happy to accommodate us in no time. Our group ordered a variety of entrees and EVERYONE loved their meal. Pizza, lasagna, pasta, everyone was happy and the portions were large. Our server was a young lady, but she was amazing! She handled our large, rowdy group very well with the skill of someone who had been serving for decades. She is probably the best server I have ever had. Upon arriving and before leaving I spoke briefly with the owner and he makes you feel right at home. Living close to New Orleans, it's hard to find a restaurant that will beat our favorite places in the city, but this little spot right here is an absolute hidden gem. Whenever I am in Orlando I will be stopping in to dine with these great people. Longwood is lucky to have them.“

“I am a regular now, coming here at least once a week. Why? Quality ingredients, well prepared and smooth service. I like to eat low carb normally, but eat here to “carb up” for my long Saturday group bicycle ride. Mama mia! What a treasure has here in Salvatore’s depth of knowledge of cuisine.“

“DINNER REVIEW: LIL VINNY’S PIZZA 2200 Winter Springs Blvd Oviedo, FL 32765 I moved away from Oviedo for a few years, and during my somewhat lonely time living at the beach I decided to write restaurant reviews for every beachside restaurant in Flagler County. Now that I’m back home, I decided to continue writing reviews of the places I eat in Central Florida. For the first time in my life, I have a job where I can walk to nearby restaurants on my lunch break—and Lil Vinny’s Pizza and Pasta is just around the corner. I know real locals hate when Northern transplants talk about missing the pizza we grew up with—but the good news is, the pizza at Lil Vinny’s does remind me of New York pizza—it’s absolutely delicious. Also, I’ve lived in the South since the nineties so I’ll say whatever i want. I didn’t want to write a review that just says “the pizza is good,” so I expanded my menu exploration and tried their cold Italian sub. I’m even pickier about subs than I am about pizza, but this one passed the test. It contained ham, salami, prosciutto, and provolone cheese topped with lettuce, tomato, and onions. I cheated a little bit because I took it home and added the cherry pepper relish I pretend to import from Philly but actually buy in the condiment section of Publix. Anyway, the sandwich is just about perfect and the best part about it is how fresh their rolls taste. Anyone can throw a salad on some deli meat and call it an Italian sub—but it takes attention to detail to get the bread right, and Vinny nails it. Sunday night I went wild and treated myself to a meat lover’s Stromboli—and maybe I said “with extra cheese” when i placed my order—and it was by far the best decision of my three day weekend. Their Stromboli is probably not meant for a single guy to eat alone, and so let’s pretend I cut it into three parts and savored it for several different meals. It was FANTASTIC. I went to the gym afterward maybe. Lil Vinny’s is the perfect hometown pizza place, where the servers know many of the customers by name, where teenagers want to go after the game, and where families push three tables together and order a ton of food to share. I ordered a stack of pizzas to treat my students during a long rehearsal at OHS, and the boss delivered them himself and refused a tip. “It’s for the kids,” he said. Lil Vinny’s knows how to make you feel welcome in your own hometown.“

“Food was excellent tonight!! We did take-out“

“The food was amazing and Alberto was the person who help me navigate a the info there and was really useful.“

“This is my absolute new favorite if you are anywhere near Lake Mary or the Orlando area. We ordered three appetizers. Had wine and cocktails and everything was delectable. The service was beyond amazing and the staff made us feel like family. I am usually extremely picky and always find at least one fault….i could not find one and this place. It makes me want to move to Florida. I can’t wait to go back!“

“I have tried this place a few times. The pizza is ok. There are a few specialty pizzas that are absolutely delicious. Everyone is very nice. But I just have a very hard time understanding how they can change so much money for pizza.
Pizza is better and. Cheaper in NY. Fix your prices and maybe you may get some more customers.

We had 4 people and they brought out 1 persons food 15 min before our pizza was ready. All food should come out the same time hot and fresh.“

“Good food, value and service!“

“I had an outstanding experience at the Olive Garden in Altamonte Springs. From the moment we arrived, the service, food, and atmosphere were excellent. A special thank you to Jose Gutierrez, whose leadership clearly shows throughout the restaurant. He was professional, attentive, and made sure every guest felt welcomed and valued.
The staff was friendly, the food was fresh and delicious, and everything was handled with care and efficiency. It's refreshing to see a manager so committed to providing a great dining experience. We will definitely be returning and highly recommend this location to anyone looking for exceptional service and a wonderful meal.
Thank you, Jose, and the entire team, for a fantastic experience! 🍝🥗😊“

“Awesome food !“

“The best Italian food I have had in a very long time! Every bite was amazing!“

“The food is always prepared perfectly. Chefs Tony and Ryan do an awesome job making sure everything is cooked to your liking. Annmarie and Amy make sure the customers are taken care of as far as drinks and service are concerned. Always friendly and accommodating. A very friendly atmosphere, great for a night out with friends or a date night.“

“The best pizza and wings in town! Ask for the extra hot garlic wings, a m a z i n g!!! Deliveries are always fast and the drivers are always friendly!“

“Wonderful food, owners and staff! Calzones and the anti pasta are my favorites! keep up the great work!“

“Absolutely amazing. The customer service at the Lake Mary location was so great. Last week we wanted pizza and someone recommended Filomena’s to me so I ordered online. When I ordered it told me it would be delivered within an hour which was perfect. A few moments later I got a text message saying it was going to be 2 hours. Because of this I called to cancel and spoke with Justine. She was great and canceled the order for me. About 20 minutes later she called back to let me know that they deliver in house vs using DoorDash when using the website and that next time we should call to order to skip the third party. The fact that she called me back to tell me this is such great customer service. She needs to be given all the praise or a raise 👀🤣. Fast forward to tonight when I called to place a deliver order, she remembered me and was so great again. Even called the manager to see if they would deliver a little farther out of their radius. I seriously could not recommend you guys enough.“

“Great dinner tonight. First time customer but it won’t be the last time. Great service and food.“

“Had a to-go order of chicken alfredo without the chicken and it was amazing! The employee who took the order over the phone named Carter was amazing helping me through the menu and was super kind. Definitely will be coming in to dine and hopefully ill see Carter there, maybe he can even be my server his kindness is empowering.“

“Food is all homemade and delicious. Service is great!! Live music on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. What else can you ask for!!! ❤️“

“The best tasting Italian pizza in Florida. Have been searching for many’s years since moving from New York City and I found my pizza!! Great service. Family and friendly oriented. Just like home.“

“Tried out Stewie’s for the first time tonight! I was disappointed I hadn’t come here sooner! Great food, great experience. Ordered pizza and wings, some of the best I’ve had here in Deltona!! Everything tasted so fresh! Highly recommended! Also met Stewie, great guy! Will definitely be back!“

“Awesome service. Great food. Best prices.“

“this place is great! never had a bad meal, my favorites are steamed shrimp and the baked ravioli! never had a bad server, but, Katey is our favorite!“

“Food is fantastic. It’s a small place so you may have to wait for a little while, but I promise It’s worth the wait.“

“Great pizza for being in the south! Sauce cheese and dough✅💯“

“I've been in FL for several months and have been hungry for a Detroit style coney hot dog. I've had 5 Guys (yechh . . . and $7 for just a dog), Sam's Club (very good and a bargain) but they're not a Detroit coney. I found ref to B's (located at Lowes Orange City) and tried it today . . . EXCELLENT! I complemented the vendor while leaving a tip saying they were very close to Detroit's except lacked the snap in each bite. (Detroit's use casing weiners) He immediately whipped me up another dog using Sabrett brand Weiner with casing at no charge. It was spot on. I'll be back. Oh yeah, the prices are right too.“

“Growing up in Trenton NJ I had amazing pizza. Since I been down here in Florida haven’t found good pizza till tonight. I closed my eyes and felt like I was home. Highly recommend this place. This is now my go to pizza restaurant.“

“The pizza was delicious, super soft crust. We also enjoyed their deep fried pickles & calamari as appetizer. The pizza slices are massive. The music in the restaurant is classic throwbacks that you can’t help but sing along to.“

“Came in close to closing time and expected to be turned around. Not the case. My party of 5 was seated immediately, no questions asked. We ordered 2 pizzas and garlic knots with alfredo sauce. Food was excellent, service was impeccable! Cannot thank you guys enough! Definitely my family’s go to place.“

“The pizza is always cooked to perfection! The staff…I’m not sure if they’re all family but they make you feel like you just stepped into there home and you’re there as a guest not a customer. I went 4 stars on atmosphere only because the parking lot. It has nothing to do with SCORPIOS but there can be some unsavory characters hanging around.“

“I can't even explain how much miss tiphany made my entire day! I was having the worst day ever, my speaker wouldn't work, my car wouldn't start, etc. so I msg this angel on FB and explain the situation and asked if the delivery driver would be willing to please stop at the gas station for me and grab some things. THIS WOMAN DIDNT EVEN STUTTER. she was on top of it and absolutely made my day and made me cry but in a good way! that's customer service at the highest level!“

“I love the pizza and cheese bread here even though pizza hut is better I still go here because it is close to my house. It is very clean and they are always on time on the pickup orders and get it right. If you are dinning it food only takes about 10 minutes.“

“Love going to Knuckle Sandwich and appreciate all the catering they have done for our Realtor events. You guys are awesome and so is your food!! Love everything I have tried!“

“A friend introduced me to this place and everything was delicious . I would recommend you to give it a try you won’t be disappointed . I can’t wait to go back !“

“Amazing pizza with really high-quality ingredients. Consistently awesome!“

“Shop with local vendors first“

“had to leave a second review because i made one on my other account 😭
JULIE WAS AN ABSOLUTE ANGEL!!!! so helpful without me even asking, the brightest and most beautiful energy, she deserves the absolute best and whatever you’re paying her, she should get a raise! such a delight 💖“

“While the service is great and the drinks are really good, the pizzas are definitely the weakest item on their menu. The pizzas have almost zero sauce, I'm talking about entering cheesy-bread territory. Their garlic bread, spaghetti, and meatballs are great items though. I definitely think they should go back to the whiteboard on the pizza recipe-- especially when it's an item they showcase proudly. Eating it just makes me think about how much better other pizzas are.

Also, the prices of the pizzas (about $5 a slice) is just outrageous, especially given the pizza.

Solid everything except pizza and it's price.“

“OMG the Pizza was so great owner came out to talk to us think his name was Marsello and our waitress Allison went out of her way to help us decide on what to order checked on us several times make sure you ask for her. Great restaurant great people real old school Italian restaurant. Try it you won't b sorry we will be back real soon. You have made us a regular. Also forgot to mention the homemade soups forgot the pictures was eating so quick will post pictures in the future“

“This location is so consistently good. We ordered 8 Pizzas during the peak time this Friday. I showed up 25 minutes after ordering and they were obviously busy.... the pizzas were ready to go! The young dude in the back making the pizzas was chill, making it happen. We definitely recommend this location. Thank you!“