48 Best Italian Restaurants near Siesta Key

“The service and food was delicious! We came here for a bachelorette weekend, made an easy reservation on open table. We were seated immediately, ordered cocktails and calamari to start! The bread and oil that is complimentary is delicious. We ordered the salmon entrees, lobster linguini, and the clam linguini dish! They even threw in a special tiramisu for our bride and it was to die for!! The environment is cozy too! Our waiter was from Hungary and very attentive! One of the only restaurants on the island that takes reservations, something to think about if you have a big party!“

“I came here based on reading the reviews and it's in a good location in downtown Siesta Key. I ordered the full Greek Salad which is very reasonably priced at $9. They didn't know if the dressing was gluten free so I didn't have it but otherwise the salad was delicious. My grandparents loved their salads as well. The staff is friendly, service is fast, and there is seating inside and outside.“

“Quisiera expresar mi gratitud hacia nuestro mesero ANDREI por su excelente servicio durante nuestra visita. Su atención fue impecable, siempre atento a nuestras necesidades y brindando recomendaciones acertadas. Su amabilidad y profesionalismo hicieron que nuestra experiencia fuera aún más placentera. ¡Gracias por hacer de nuestra comida una experiencia memorable!"“

“This place was recommended so we thought we’d check it out with some friends. In summary, the food was OK. The noise level was a little high in the dining room. Wait staff very good. Ambiance fair.For appetizers, we ordered And shared the Rice ball, Bruschetta and the PEI muscles. The cheese ball was interesting but for the life of me I could not find any of the meat that said it had. The PEI mussels were undersized, and the white sauce had almost no flavor. Bruschetta pretty average.For main courses, we ordered the Amatriciana, the flounder, the Carbonara, and the grilled veal chop. Portions on all these were good and the presentation OK but not inspiring. The veal chop was a little raw around the bone. Flavors on all were OK.The tables in the main dining room are small and a little bit close as a result of noise level was a little high when the restaurant got crowded. There is a good wine selection, but no spirits.The highlight of the meal for me was the coconut cake for dessert. It was excellent with great flavor.Our server did a good job. She was cordial and attentive, but not overbearing. The food came out after a reasonable amount of time and was warm.With several glasses of wine our bill came out to $258 before tip which I felt was a bit on the pricey side.“

“Matthew was beyond welcoming calling us by name. Great way to start our evening. The Brussel sprout appetizer was uniquely spectacular. For entrees we all got the Trenne two of us with meatballs and two with sausage. Will definitely go back next year.“

“For an almost $30 lobster roll I expected a little more lobster or atleast a bigger roll, was just lobster between a piece of Texas toast but it was delicious. We loved the fresh bread and dipping it in the oil was a cool Italian/ seafood / beach vibes place. Reasonably priced kids meals!Kid-friendliness: Good kid menus“

“One of the most delicious and comforting meals I’ve ever had. Everything was made fresh, including the pasta, and the attention to detail, love and care put into the food showed through every bite. The owner was so accommodating even though we called for a last minute reservation and was so welcoming from the second we walked into the door. You can tell this is his life’s passion and he truly wants to share the food from his region of Italy with everyone who walks through the doors. It was a fantastic meal and experience, and we will be back. Without question, the best Italian spot in the area.“

“The food was very delicious except for the gnocchi didn't care for that much. I am in love with the little spread they bring with the bread, they bring 2 types of bread which both were great. So yummy. Thank you for the bit of heaven in my mouth. They seem to have a great relationship with their customers very personable and I love that. Definitely recommend this place. They gave us little pizza appetizer that was phenomenal complementary. very happy with this place.“

“First time diner here. Great food, great mix of flavors, and well prepared with large portions. Probably the best Trout Almandine I have ever had. It's may not be as well known as its next door neighbor, but the food and service to us are better at 481 Gourmet. Give it a try.“

“⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ The best food I’ve had in Florida is Cassariano’s! Tucked away from all the hustle and bustle, Cassariano’s is a treasure. Beautiful presentation of all of their food - appetizers, salads, main entrees and desserts - and it tastes as good as it looks. We had a wonderful and relaxing lunch. I highly recommend this family owned and operated restaurant. By far the best!“

“What a great experience! Wendy , Ivo and The man himself Pietro made our anniversary dinner amazing ! The Chicken Franchese was so tender and delicious. The veal chop with the Parmesan Risotto was even better. Highly recommend this place. What made the evening so great was the how well the staff worked together to make our visit perfect. Fantastic teamwork that made us feel like family! This is something you do not see often .. Cheers to you & your team Pete ! John & Heather“

“I've been here a couple of times and the food is delicious and authentic. You really do get an Italian feel from the restaurant. It's small, it's family run, and I felt like I was right back in Italy. It has been hard for us to find genuinely good food in the area, but this place is always delicious and always great. The service is great and the chef and his wife are awesome. Definitely stop by here!! You won't regret it :)“

“I don't know where to begin with this review. EVERYTHING is amazing at this restaurant. The food is outstanding and authentic Italian cooking. The owner is delightful. The staff is warm and inviting. I've been here twice in the last 2 weeks while vacationing here. The atmosphere is delightful.“

“Their Food and Wine are FANTASTIC!!! Service and Recommendations were Spot On. Highly Recommend this Restaurant. Family owned where the parents are the Chefs and their Sons are the Waiters, been serving Sarasota Successfully for over 10 years.“

“Went to Bavaro’s tonight for dinner and can’t say enough good things. The ambiance, the service was top notch, the chairs so comfortable and the food was absolutely delicious. Our server Steven (I hope that was his name) was beyond professional and I couldn’t ask for better. Prices are fair and the wine list is inviting. We started with the fire grilled broccolini which was cooked perfectly and absolutely delicious. Had a lovely super Tuscan with my penne with vodka sauce and shrimp. You could literally taste every delicious layer of flavor in this sauce. My boyfriend had the wild grilled salmon and we split the roasted broccolini for an appetizer. Completed with two home made delicious cannoli’s to go. The salmon but it was cooked perfectly and a huge piece of salmon (like 8oz) Will definitely be back and absolutely encourage anyone looking for real authentic Italian to check it out.“

“We received impeccable service from Miguel, our waiter, at Carrabba's. The culinary experience was exceptional; the penne pasta was simply divine, and our order was executed flawlessly. Without a doubt, we'll be returning and wholeheartedly recommending this restaurant to anyone in search of a delightful Italian dining experience. Our sincere gratitude to Carrabba's, and a special thank you to Miguel for his outstanding service.“

“Just had my first Italian Hero, well half of one anyhow….Deeee-licious!! So many perfectly blended flavors! So many other tempting choices on the menu and all super authentic. Piqued my interest w the rice balls (dipped in the house-made marinara) and wasn’t disappointed. Mouthwatering! Worth the stop a million times over!“

“This was our first experience at Amore and we truly enjoyed our evening--the food, the service, the atmosphere and the music by pianist Eddie Tobin. My husband and I shared and enjoyed our first Portuguese specialty (Cataplana Alantejana) which consisted of marinated pork tenderloin with clams, potato and red pepper broth. We also enjoyed a delicious dessert, a cake with lemoncello, and a bottle of Albarino wine. But though the restaurant was full and there was music, it was not noisy like so many restaurants and there was a charm that only happens in a family owned and operated restaurant. Kudos to the owners and staff who meet every request with a smile.Parking: It's a shopping center and at night there is plenty of parking.“

“My wife & I visited Joseph's for the first time this evening and it was a great way to kick off Super Bowl weekend! We each enjoyed Caesar salad, Chicken Parmesan entrees and red wine. The food, beverages and service by Cara were excellent! We also took home two cannolis for dessert and they were fabulous! We will return soon with friends and neighbors and look forward to trying many more items on their great menu! Please be sure to visit Joseph's when you are in the Venice & Nokomis area, and you will be glad that you did.“

“We used the family special coupon and got a delux, a pepperoni, a two liter and knots. We bought cheese bread on the side. Everything was beyond delicious and I would come here all the time if we lived here. They were very friendly as well and I loved the pizza.“

“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!“

“This restaurant is 'atmosphere personified '! It is so vibrant the walls are shaking!Outside on arrival, there was a multi instrument jazz orchestra playing great music with people in lawnchairs lapping up the entertainment. Inside the place was buzzing with many people arriving only to be disappointed because they hadn't booked. Fortunately, were aware of the restaurant's popularity. Service was friendly, but a little slow because the place was packed - forgiveness there then. The food was ample to quell our appetite and very tasty. Prices were a little higher than regular, but well worth it. I couldn't complete this review without mentioning the three artists working on their canvasses producing fine artwork for sale. The walls of the restaurant were lined with masses of canvasses in all shapes and sizes with some spectacular examples. It seemed that each time you looked at a wall a different piece would be observed.In the centre of the restaurant was a cocktail bar which appeared to be imbibing various samples of food. We need to explore this next time we visit. Is next week too soon?“

“Non-description, small but mighty! This place is a hidden gem!Pizza was amazing! Eggplant parm - outstanding! All staff were so friendly and attentive! Owner/chef was a star! Welcoming, attentive and so much fun to watch him in action. We were with friends so we sat at a table, but next time, I’ll aim for a seat at the bar for a better view and interaction!Shared some meatballs with us that were out of this world!! Sauce is fresh and delicious! It will be hard not to order the pizza but those entrees are calling loudly to be experienced! (Another table oreees the pizza Vesuvius - holy cow! The presentation itself was eye-popping!)“

“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!“

“Sardinia deserves a 4.75 and maybe higher. Food is delicious and service exceptional too. A bit loud due to the room size and table placements, but that's required to run a business in SRQ. The Sardinian Bread is exceptional. All pastas are homemade...and wonderful as well. We had a delicious dinner and look forward to returning.“

“I miss ordering lunch from this place. I used to love getting the fat Italian sub. But their hours changed and they don't do lunch anymore. Get yourself a business partner and have them run the day shift! Build up that lunch business again. Your food is more than good enough to do so.“

“Not that impressed with the food. Caesar salad was good. Happy hour drink specials are a great deal. Pork dish was good...mashed potatoes were great. Short rib risotto was not great. Risotto was watery and not very flavorful. Short rib was also not that good. And a little parsley goes a long way. My risotto was green...full of parsley. Service was outstanding and I really like the vibe there. Will give it another shot...maybe it was just an off night.“

“I made reservations at the much further away Flavio’s on Siesta Key for a table of 11, such a silly mistake, I suggest you don’t do that-it’s stressful! Anyway, the staff at Flavios on Main quickly set us up and welcomed us. The service and food was impeccable! I was so impressed with how well they took care of us all. A huge thank you to the staff at Flavios on Main for the quick pivot. Menu was great, everyone was more than satisfied. They’re the best! ❤️“

“Ciao! This restaurant has a good service. The staff were polite and helpful. Food was nice but missed nonna's flavors. Serving size was not on par for price (as a tourist). Pizza was okay but i did not enjoy the thinner texture with a smaller amount of cheese. After having, other, italian restaurants from California to Sicily, i am picky! Tables are nice, but conversation at adjacent tables are bothersome.“

“As a person with celiac disease I was excited to read that Andrea's offered numerous gluten-free options for dinner. Our server was able to recite all GF entrees and starters from memory, as there is not a separate menu or GF designation listed. The buffalo mozzarella and tomatoes with pesto was amazing, as was the short rib entree. Our server brought our a regular bread basket for the other folks in our party, and surprised me with my own basket of GF olive bread. I was so excited to be able to enjoy bread safely, and it really is THE BEST gluten free bread (and meal) in town.“

“D’Corato Ristorante is absolutely the best Italian place ever and is a hidden gem! From the warm atmosphere to the superior service, this place knocks it out of the park. Every meal I have had there has been amazing! The precious family who owns this restaurant goes above and beyond every time! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“An exquisite experience - top notch food, service and intimate atmosphere. Thank you to Joshua & Marcello for making a solo diner feel very welcome at the best seat in the house - getting to watch the chef work his magic! Can’t wait to come back.“

“Discovered this place randomly while walking by and decided to try it out and I am obsessed with the meat lover style pizza. It’s become my favorite. My mom got the cheese pizza and wasn’t a fan but the one I tried is the best I’ve had.“

“Went to dinner with family at the Carrabba’s on University. Teddy was our server and we was phenomenal. Service was prompt, he was attentive without hovering, and when we had a little mishap by way of a spilled glass of Sangria he took care of us immediately. Alex was our bartender and he’s got mad skills with a dirty martini. If you’re at this restaurant ask for these young men… You will not be disappointed!“

“I took my husband here for his birthday dinner last night and we were absolutely thrilled with our experience. It was the first time either one of us had eaten there and we'll definitely be back. Our server was James and he delivered fantastic service. The staff was friendly and we were checked in on multiple times by their floor manager, which was a great touch. The atmosphere is beautiful! The food is fantastic!“

“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“

“Great little spot good service excellent pizza decent beer and wine selection would recommend for sure. I've probably been there 20 times over the years, dog friendly I will continue to frequent the fountain kitchen. I don't leave 5 star reviews unless they are deserved. I feel comfortable leaving 5 stars for this cozy spot.“

“Pizza was fantastic. We stopped in after a long day in the sun and too tired to wait for a sit down meal, but hungry enough that we needed to eat asap. We could order pizza by the slice & were able to customize each slice. The white pizza was outstanding. We also got slices of cheese & pepperoni pizza which were equally delicious. Service was fast and they were exceptionally friendly. It's a surprisingly delicious dinner! Bravo!“

“I was part of a larger group who had a private party on the top floor and ordered the garlic shrimp and bruschetta. Ingredients were fresh and both dishes were delicious. The bread was toasted just right so it’s crunchy but not burnt.Our server was Lisa who was outstanding. She also gave me a few places to check out in St Pete where I was staying.Amazing food and service, wish more places were like these. Keep it up!!“

“As a vegan of almost 10 years, going out to eat is an issue. Sometimes people have vegan cheese (1 in a 1,000), but mostly they have vegetarian dishes that include regular cheese. Usually, I settle for a Greek salad sans feta cheese. I’m not used to going to a restaurant that has the Impossible Burger and deli Panini and chicken Florentine and sloppy Joes and pizza and even Vegennaise! They have all kinds of wonderful meals and entrées that are vegan. And it’s not even a vegan restaurant! My husband said the (normal, not vegan) Gyro was the best he’s had, too. Small place, all made while you wait and dining in was cozy for lunch with a friend. Wow! I can’t say enough good things. The fries are fabulous, airfried - I’ll never eat them another way. Excellent, excellent, excellent!!! I didn’t have an option here for 5 stars, but it is!“

“The service was amazing and the food was even better! We had constant check ins from multiple staff members, one from the chef and one from whom I would assume to be the owner himself! The quality and authenticity of the food was unmatched and easily differentiated from the local Italian chain restaurants. My one year old agrees as she had about three plates of the fettuccine alfredo. We will 100% be going back!“

“Found this gem by accident on a little trip from St Petersburg to Fort Meyers. Wow! Yummy to the max! Great crust, very good sauce, excellent selection, friendly service. And don’t forget the desserts-wowza! Highly recommend! We will be back!“

“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“

“The Philly cheese steak was fantastic. A perfect blend of chopped beef, peppers,mushrooms,onions and cheese. The fries were your standard fried fare. The garlic knots were a little bland, but the waitress was very attentive and ioverall our meal was good hardy food.“

“I actually went there for the first time on my birthday! Delicious food humble little place. No wonder Jerry Springer used to travel all the way from Longboat Key to eat at your spot. I Absolutely loved the veal parmesan with vodka sauce I think you call it Aurora sauce or something. Yummy!!! ??. We'll be back!!!“

“Just had our anniversary dinner there and everything was fantastic! Glennie (probably spelled wrong) was a wonderful server for our group and all of our food was delicious! Our appetizers (calamari, artichoke and salad) were all tasty along with everyone’s dinner from veal to seafood to cannelloni. And dessert was great too…lemoncello cake and tiramisu! Thank you for a wonderful, fun celebration!!“

“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“

“Best Italian food I've ever had. Polpette Di Nonna and Guazzetto Napoletano were such good appetizers. I got the Calamarata Con Crema Di Burrata Al Pistacchio & Salsiccia and the sauce is to die for not to mention the pasta, yum!! Great staff, very attentive, and informative. And the decor was great. We sat upstairs, and it was fun to watch the video on the wall!“