Love it. The caramelle is delicious. The foie gras is tasty, but it's a small portion so plan accordingly. The fried polenta app is really good, lots of truffle flavor and it's a good sized portion. The lamb ravioli was ok, I was expecting more pepper flavor in the sauce. It's more of a basic cream sauce than traditional cacio e Pepe. We'll go back over and over again.
Erin Vincent
Fresh, flavorful menu! Excellent service, beautiful ambiance. Little table lamps on the table are helpful for those with low vision to preview the menu. Excellent all around!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lisa Evans
Very busy bustling place! Great energetic vibe. This is gourmet Italian food, so unique and delicious! We had great cocktails, the wine list is extensive, and the staff is knowledgeable. Make reservations and bring an appetite, portions are generous.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Osso Buco
Joanne Eframian
Delicious food. Feels like you're back in Italy!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Ravioli 3ways
Ann Marie Barrett
Wonderful!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alexy Mikhailichenko
6 star
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
LDJ
Food terrific.Service very good. Popular and nice dining areas thru out. We were 4 people. All happy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Osso Buco
Martin L.
Food was great as well as the service ate at the bar was lucky to get a seat. I will return with a crew and have a formal dining experience
Steve M.
This is my favorite Italian restaurant. This may be our favorite restaurant in Sarasota - we had a vigorous debate on the way home. Emilio and Rosie (from Parma) add a very personal touch to this northern Italian restaurant. I'm not Italian, but it feels like coming home - sort of like showing up at your favorite aunt's place for what you know will be an impressive meal. When family and friends visit us in Sarasota, this is where we bring them. The food is outstanding. We fully intend to make our way through their entire menu. We've made a rule (more of a pact really) that we must try at least two new items every time we come. We're continually surprised and delighted as we explore their offerings. How do I describe their food... I'm not sure I have the diction to do their food justice. It's fresh - you can watch the pasta being made via the window into the kitchen from the bar. We enjoy the range and marvel at the wonderous flavors... caviar on quail's eggs, burrata caprese salad with prosciutto, whole sous vide snapper, cow's tongue carpaccio, beef tenderloin carpaccio, short rib ravioli, pappardelle with oxtail ragu, risotto Frutti di Mare, baked duck, veal ossobuco, seared octopus, ... We still have so much exploring to do (note that some of these were specials)! The ambiance is inviting and comfortable. The décor is slightly upscale - we're casual (I typically wear nice shorts and a golf shirt) so we tend to sit at the bar (hey, Caroline!). There's no requirement that you speak Italian, but if you do, you'll feel right at home. The location is convenient with plenty of off-street parking. We're pleased to let you know that they do take reservations - I strongly encourage you to make one.
Molly Chillinsky
We had high expectations for this place based on other reviews but we found it to be quite average, including the food which was somewhat tasteless.
This was our second visit to La Violetta and it did not disappoint. The mushroom soup was rich and tasty. My eggplant parmigiana was delicious. I order it often at different restaurants, and this one was excellent. The three other people with me were also very satisfied. Our server was very helpful and charming, and the dining area where we were seated was calming and lovely. We will return.
This instantly has become my favorite Italian restaurant in Sarasota. The food is absolutely spot on what we had Italy, having spent two weeks there recently. I love this restaurant, and will go back many times!
Chris Amstutz
This was our first time eating here and we made a reservation for a party of 3 @7:15 mid-week. The diverse and different northern Italian menu is what attracted us. It's not your usual Italian faire here.Parking was easy, the restaurant is located is what appeared to be a small office building with easy access off Swift Road. We were quickly greeted and seated upon arrival. The warm inviting dining area is spread out in several rooms and areas helping break up the space. There's a well stocked inviting bar that seats 6-8 that we'll need to try in the future. The table spacing was good and the noise level made it easy to have a conversation during dinner. Each table has a small LED light rather than a candle. Seating was comfortable and tableware and linens nice.We ordered a Manhattan UP and an Old Fashioned for drinks and the Schiacciatina Alla'Italiano flatbread to share as an appetizer. The flatbread had cherry tomatoes, parmigiana, burrata, black truffle and prosciutto and comes out on a impressive 3 foot long board. The designated Italian in our party thought it was the best prosciutto she had ever had had.For dinner I ordered the Branzino which comes with a side of olive oil and garlic spaghetti. The fish comes out looking like an entire fish but under the side it's been completely deboned and is cover with cherry tomatoes. The fish was delicious and my partner kept stealing the spaghetti!Both my partners ordered the Tagliatelle Alla Chiantigiana which is a bowl of butter sautéed tagliatelle over beef tenderloin sauce in chianti wine with shaved parmigiana cheese. Both raved about the flavor. All the pasta is made in house it’s probably why they are so good.No desert for us but they all looked good.Our server was Monica who did a great job and never rushed us. She answered all our questions on the menu and routinely checked on us.We all liked this restaurant and the diverse menu as we are always looking for new dining experiences and good food. There's a reason the reviews are good.
Fitz
We have been for dinner at least 6 times now. The food is always great and there is almost always a special that makes it to our table. As much as we love the food, the service is just as great. We have never been rushed through a meal and never seem to wait for anything. Carol has taken great care of us several times and we look forward to coming back again for more fantastic meals.
FeliceS
La Violetta is an exceptional restaurant. We love the creativity and quality of the food and it is consistently delicious. A special appetizer of tuna tartar with cheese was addictive. The service is friendly and efficient and the wine list includes many gems at reasonable prices.
Love it. The caramelle is delicious. The foie gras is tasty, but it's a small portion so plan accordingly. The fried polenta app is really good, lots of truffle flavor and it's a good sized portion. The lamb ravioli was ok, I was expecting more pepper flavor in the sauce. It's more of a basic cream sauce than traditional cacio e Pepe. We'll go back over and over again.
Fresh, flavorful menu! Excellent service, beautiful ambiance. Little table lamps on the table are helpful for those with low vision to preview the menu. Excellent all around!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very busy bustling place! Great energetic vibe. This is gourmet Italian food, so unique and delicious! We had great cocktails, the wine list is extensive, and the staff is knowledgeable. Make reservations and bring an appetite, portions are generous.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Osso Buco
Delicious food. Feels like you're back in Italy!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Ravioli 3ways
Wonderful!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
6 star
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food terrific.Service very good. Popular and nice dining areas thru out. We were 4 people. All happy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Osso Buco
Food was great as well as the service ate at the bar was lucky to get a seat. I will return with a crew and have a formal dining experience
This is my favorite Italian restaurant. This may be our favorite restaurant in Sarasota - we had a vigorous debate on the way home. Emilio and Rosie (from Parma) add a very personal touch to this northern Italian restaurant. I'm not Italian, but it feels like coming home - sort of like showing up at your favorite aunt's place for what you know will be an impressive meal. When family and friends visit us in Sarasota, this is where we bring them. The food is outstanding. We fully intend to make our way through their entire menu. We've made a rule (more of a pact really) that we must try at least two new items every time we come. We're continually surprised and delighted as we explore their offerings. How do I describe their food... I'm not sure I have the diction to do their food justice. It's fresh - you can watch the pasta being made via the window into the kitchen from the bar. We enjoy the range and marvel at the wonderous flavors... caviar on quail's eggs, burrata caprese salad with prosciutto, whole sous vide snapper, cow's tongue carpaccio, beef tenderloin carpaccio, short rib ravioli, pappardelle with oxtail ragu, risotto Frutti di Mare, baked duck, veal ossobuco, seared octopus, ... We still have so much exploring to do (note that some of these were specials)! The ambiance is inviting and comfortable. The décor is slightly upscale - we're casual (I typically wear nice shorts and a golf shirt) so we tend to sit at the bar (hey, Caroline!). There's no requirement that you speak Italian, but if you do, you'll feel right at home. The location is convenient with plenty of off-street parking. We're pleased to let you know that they do take reservations - I strongly encourage you to make one.
We had high expectations for this place based on other reviews but we found it to be quite average, including the food which was somewhat tasteless.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Restaurantji Recommends
This was our second visit to La Violetta and it did not disappoint. The mushroom soup was rich and tasty. My eggplant parmigiana was delicious. I order it often at different restaurants, and this one was excellent. The three other people with me were also very satisfied. Our server was very helpful and charming, and the dining area where we were seated was calming and lovely. We will return.
This instantly has become my favorite Italian restaurant in Sarasota. The food is absolutely spot on what we had Italy, having spent two weeks there recently. I love this restaurant, and will go back many times!
This was our first time eating here and we made a reservation for a party of 3 @7:15 mid-week. The diverse and different northern Italian menu is what attracted us. It's not your usual Italian faire here.Parking was easy, the restaurant is located is what appeared to be a small office building with easy access off Swift Road. We were quickly greeted and seated upon arrival. The warm inviting dining area is spread out in several rooms and areas helping break up the space. There's a well stocked inviting bar that seats 6-8 that we'll need to try in the future. The table spacing was good and the noise level made it easy to have a conversation during dinner. Each table has a small LED light rather than a candle. Seating was comfortable and tableware and linens nice.We ordered a Manhattan UP and an Old Fashioned for drinks and the Schiacciatina Alla'Italiano flatbread to share as an appetizer. The flatbread had cherry tomatoes, parmigiana, burrata, black truffle and prosciutto and comes out on a impressive 3 foot long board. The designated Italian in our party thought it was the best prosciutto she had ever had had.For dinner I ordered the Branzino which comes with a side of olive oil and garlic spaghetti. The fish comes out looking like an entire fish but under the side it's been completely deboned and is cover with cherry tomatoes. The fish was delicious and my partner kept stealing the spaghetti!Both my partners ordered the Tagliatelle Alla Chiantigiana which is a bowl of butter sautéed tagliatelle over beef tenderloin sauce in chianti wine with shaved parmigiana cheese. Both raved about the flavor. All the pasta is made in house it’s probably why they are so good.No desert for us but they all looked good.Our server was Monica who did a great job and never rushed us. She answered all our questions on the menu and routinely checked on us.We all liked this restaurant and the diverse menu as we are always looking for new dining experiences and good food. There's a reason the reviews are good.
We have been for dinner at least 6 times now. The food is always great and there is almost always a special that makes it to our table. As much as we love the food, the service is just as great. We have never been rushed through a meal and never seem to wait for anything. Carol has taken great care of us several times and we look forward to coming back again for more fantastic meals.
La Violetta is an exceptional restaurant. We love the creativity and quality of the food and it is consistently delicious. A special appetizer of tuna tartar with cheese was addictive. The service is friendly and efficient and the wine list includes many gems at reasonable prices.