Dine-In/outside covered seating/early afternoon. Food: Classic Chicken Parm $26.00 Described as classic chicken parmesan, romano and parmesan crusted chicken, spaghetti marinara, arugula salad. Cooked to perfection, served hot, good portion size. Service: Seated immediately, Drink order in less than 2 mins, Order taken at 7ish mins. Food served within 15 mins w/customary check-ins every 5 mins - thanks Kate! Ambiance: chill vibe w/volume low enough to easily hear everyone at your table. Nice midday place for work lunches and dog friendly. read more

Bar Italia - Chicken Parm - Italian Near Me - Lakewood Ranch, Florida

We visited this restaurant for the second time because the space is really nice, but unfortunately the food didn't impress us. We started with the bread and ricotta, which was fine--pretty hard to go wrong there. For our main dishes, we ordered the chicken parmesan with pasta and an arugula salad. We specifically asked for no arugula salad, but it still came with it and looked quite unappetizing, almost wilted. The chicken itself was dry and had very little cheese, and the pasta with marinara sauce was underwhelming. We also ordered a side of spaghetti with Alfredo sauce, which unfortunately came out dry as well. Overall, the atmosphere is lovely, but the food didn't match the setting. Not sure if we would return. read more

Bar Italia - Dead Arugula salad - Italian Near Me - Lakewood Ranch, Florida

Wow! Another amazing meal here. The snapper special was so delish. No one left a crumb on the plate. Just order it. It won't disappoint. I hope they make this a regular item. Our waiter was patience with us. Parents night out and we wanted to enjoy the night as long as possible. He let us take our time by staggering ordering. The restaurant is classy. White linen table cloths. Lively bar. Amazing food. I recommend business casual for your attire. read more

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We visited this restaurant with our friends and arrived at 5:30. We were immediately seated at a nice table closeby and with a white table cloth. The waitress was very sweet and immediately attentive. However, when we said we would like to order a happy hour drink, they said we would have to move tables in order to enjoy the happy hour prices. They re-seated us to a much smaller table, no tablecloth and a different waiter! It made NO sense to us at all! My friend is in a wheelchair and we were all quite cramped, but we made the best of it. We enjoyed our meal and our time together, but we all felt the treatment we received for happy hour was certainly not necessary! It'll be a while before we consider this restaurant again. read more

First time and was truly impressed. The appetizer are creative and generous for sharing. I had the veal and it was perfectly cooked with a delicious flavorful Marsala sauce. Small arugula salad and cheesy pasta. My husband had a short rib pasta dish that he loved and brought a third home for another meal. The wine selection is ok with a decent pour and excellent prices. Bread is considered an appetizer and cost $6. They call it rustic, heavily buttered, six slices, grilled and served with a side of oil. Not impressed and I found the dough was dripping in butter. Not appealing at all. Why not unbuttered crusty bread with oil on side? Why pay for this? Do not recommend. Service is attentive and relaxed. The main dining area has open and loud seating along side the bar area. I preferred the back rectangular dining area. Lends for a more intimate seating space. Overall, a good experience and will return. read more

Bar Italia - interior kitchen - Italian Near Me - Lakewood Ranch, Florida

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We were seated promptly. The place is big and had the doors open. Unfortunately bugs were getting in and buzzing around us. We had good service. Our appetizer was the fried calamari shrimp mix. It tasted delicious. It was too short on calamari and shrimp. The rustic bread was fresh. The beef short ribs pasta tasted good. There were shredded pieces of short ribs instead of chunks. I would have preferred chunks. The portobello mushrooms gave the dish some of the body it needed. The spaghetti and giant meatball were swimming in marinara sauce. It was too much. The chicken chiabata sandwich was delicious but the bread would have been better toasted. It was so thick. Also, the chips were very greasy. read more

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Absolutely phenomenal! Service was amazing. Ambiance is amazing and the food was phenomenal. We ordered the rustic bread appetizer w/oil, a side salad and the Halibut & spinach. Als and a side of homemade spaghetti with garlic and oil. The desserts were fantastic as well! We got the Key lime pie and the Tiramisu. read more

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I was told that this place had exceptional Italian food and I was a little disappointed. The dish was very bland and the service was slow. The chicken came out room temperature when it did. The prices are reasonable but maybe this was an unusual experience. I will try again read more

Bar Italia - Chicken Parmesan - Italian Near Me - Lakewood Ranch, Florida

Bar Italia is definitely mediocre Italian food. But if you want something that is really special, get their whipped ricotta Tuscan bread. The topping should be bottled and sold. It was creamy and decadent. I could eat that with a spoon! But if you want stellar pasta and care less about the appetizers, I'd go somewhere else. They thrive on apps! The zucchini fritti is huge and perfectly crispy! The issue comes with the entrees.... When we ordered this, it took over an hour to receive our pasta dishes. Plus, they were cold. The waiter was very sweet and gave us free dessert (tiramisu with... heath bar pieces????) because of this. Thank you! My grandfather loves and stands by the chicken parm. His portion was huge whereas ours was a bit smaller, but still filling enough! The vibes here are also great, but only if it is quiet which I doubt it usually is. We had to shout over one another. Subpar food, good waiter, fantastic company. read more

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Love this place! Great ambiance & a fantastic Happy Hour that is very popular! The bartenders are attentive & seem to enjoy their job. We've had dinner at the bar twice so far & enjoyed it both times. You must order the bread app - it is SOOOO good! The bread is crusty with lots of holes in it & they serve it with a delish seasoned olive oil. You can add ricotta to it as well but it's perfectly fine with the olive oil - large serving! The stuffed pepper app comes with the most delish sauce & is very good. Pizza was great - came out well done like i asked. The carpaccio app is large and excellent. I've yet to try their pasta's - next time perhaps as they are advertised as home made! Definitely a popular place for sure & I can see why! read more

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1/2 We had a lovely experience at Bar Italia in Lakewood Ranch. I'll preface this by saying as an Italian, I'm a little hard to please when it comes to Italian food That said, the food here was very good, the portions were generous, and the service was excellent. While it doesn't quite reach the level of true blue, homemade, old-school Italian cooking I grew up with, it was still an enjoyable, well-prepared meal. We had no complaints at all and will definitely be back. read more

Bar Italia - Italian Near Me - Lakewood Ranch, Florida

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We arrived early for our reservation thinking we could have a drink at the bar first, but it was so packed we wandered around trying to figure out what to do. I was amazed how crowded the parking lot and the restaurant was, which was a good sign of things to come. I finally did get a drink at the bar which was a cosmopolitan. It wasn't my favorite cosmo. When we finally got seated, we were disappointed it wasn't in the dining area, but the bar area, which was extremely noisy. We have made the reservations a month ago, so that was a bit annoying. Our server was phenomenal. She gave us time to order and didn't rush us between appetizers and entrees. She checked back with us often enough, but not intrusive. She was server perfection!! My husband and I shared the stuffed pepper appetizer. Thr flavors were fantastic, but it was barely warm, which took away from the great flavor. We also ordered bread service which was good crunchy bread served with olive oil and butter. I settled on the chicken parmesan with a side of pasta. The portion was huge! The chicken was tender and tasty. The side of pasta was very good as well. I took almost half of it home. If it wasn't for the extremely noisy table and the barely warm appetizer, this would have been a 5 star review. read more

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Another amazing dining experience at Bar Italia. This time we decided to try for happy hour with guests from out of town and once again an awesome experience. One of our favorite restaurants in Sw Florida. read more

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Really good caesar salad! I had the crispy chicken limone as my entree - it was excellent! The portion size is pretty good, so I ended up taking half of my meal home. Another member of our party ordered the Garganelli Diavolo with Shrimp. Be warned - she likes spicy food but this was too much for her! She had to get some alfredo sauce to mix in to make it edible. read more

Always a positive experience. Delicious authentic Italian food, professional empathetic staff. Stylist comfortable setting. read more

LOOOOVE Bar Italia! Being second generation Italian and having lived in Italy and traveled through Italy extensively, I always appreciate great Italian food. The pasta is fresh and amazing. Love a good veal Marsala but wouldn't order it here again. Everything else is always amazing though. They are often super busy so make reservations well in advance or be prepared to wait. I often can get a seat at the bar when dining alone. There's indoor and outdoor seating. Always at the top of my list when I want great Italian food. read more

Recently stopped in for weekend lunch with my family, and I was impressed by the beautiful, classy, modern decor as well as the delicious food! The menu had a great lunch selection from mini Italian favorites (like pizza and lasagna) paired with a salad for lighter fare. Our service by Lisa was excellent, she took great care of our party to make sure we had everything we needed. All the food was delicious but I personally enjoyed the chicken parm the most of all the dishes I tried! The country bread with ricotta is an absolute MUST! read more

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First time at Bar Italia, and we couldn't have picked a better spot for a quick bite and drink before heading to our cornhole league. The happy hour vibes at the bar were just right! I went with the pepperoni pizza, which had just the right amount of heat and an amazing depth of flavor. My wife opted for the margherita pizza, and it was everything you'd hope for--cheesy, fresh, and absolutely delicious. To drink, I had a Manhattan that hit all the right notes--smooth, balanced, and the perfect pairing for the pizza. Huge shoutout to Tallon, our bartender, who was not only friendly and attentive but also nailed the drink and delivered top-notch service. Bar Italia is a gem, and we'll definitely be back for more great food, drinks, and hospitality. Highly recommend checking it out--especially during happy hour! read more

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I loved everything about this place.. the ambiance, decor, service, food, it was all top notch. They had a wide variety of drinks to choose from, and the food menu is not too overwhelming. You must try the country bread with ricotta as it is seriously divine. Our whole table agreed that we could have just ordered a few more of those to share and have been entirely satisfied. For the main dish I had the lasagna and while I am usually not one to order lasagna, it exceeded my expectations. For dessert it is also a must to have the affogato, I also heard the tiramisu is exceptional. Overall, a great place for some Italian food and drinks and we will certainly be returning, specifically for the bread and fresh ricotta! read more

Out and about on a Saturday night and in the mood for some Italian food, we found Bar Italia. Let's start with this is not your typical ambiance or food. The restaurant chain touts their "made from scratch" dishes and sauces. The feel inside is a mix of sophisticated elegance and modern chic. You can bring a date here, your family, or show-off to a business colleague. Recommending a casual attire but would stay away from flip flops if you get my drift. There is a bar in the center that is a full bar where you can sit and enjoy a meal. Around are dining booths and tables all strategically situated inside - there is also outdoor seating in a covered patio area as well and in the winter months I'm sure those of us that want to take full advantage of the beautiful weather here will opt to eat outside. Our server Juan was very cordial and informative about the menu and extensive wine list and let my better half sample 2 Pinot Grigio's before making a decision. (Nice touch). The menu has some traditional classics such as Spaghetti with a giant meatball and Lasagna - but they also have some unique dishes that you won't find in many other restaurants. I tried the Bucatini pasta with their "Sunday" sauce made with Braised Short Rib and Sausage which was rich and thick and delicious. They serve bread but it is on the menu as a priced item which sort of goes against all traditions where in most Italian restaurants bread is served as part of your meal - but they made up with one of the best dipping Olive oils I've tasted. Overall the dining experience was wonderful and laidback. The price point is a bit higher than your typical Italian restaurant but well worth the different food selections you won't find everywhere. Next time you want to impress a friend or family that is visiting this should be one of your go to places - after all who doesn't love a good Italian meal served in a warm yet cozy chic atmosphere. You won't be disappointed. read more

Bar Italia - Daily Specials 12-6-2025 - Italian Near Me - Lakewood Ranch, Florida

The Santa Christina Pinot Grigio is decent. The chicken parm is fine but I'd try something different next time. My wife loved the spicy vodka pasta. My side dish of mafaldine pasta was great after I added some salt and parm. The interior is beautiful. SIt in the party room area to have a quieter experience. read more

We had a reservation on open table for first available time at 7:30. We wandered in around 7pm and they were able to seat us right away. Service was excellent. Food was very good! Portions are large and I wasn't able to finish mine ... and I only had appetizers! Arancini and meatballs. My husband had spaghetti and he couldn't finish his either. Pricing was reasonable as well. Great atmosphere and easy in and out parking. read more

First time here! The ambience was relaxing and spacious. It was a cool Sunday afternoon and the restaurant sliding doors allowed the Fall air through. Our server Carolina was a pro and so kind and attentive! I highly recommend her. The food was excellent. We enjoyed the short rib pasta, several salads and the country toast with fresh ricotta. It was all delicious! I highly recommend. read more

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We made a reservation for 4 couples for dinner. We played a prank on our husbands by dressing them all in The same shirts! They were great sports and we had other tables clapping and laughing and wanting to take our picture! They seated us on the bar side and it was way to loud. We were all yelling by the end of our dinner. I will always be sure to ask to be seated as far away as possible. They were standing 3 deep and it was a Saturday night. Our server was good and the food was excellent. The service was a little slow as our experience took almost 3 hours but we love being together. The pasta is made in house and the lasagna was a winner with all the guys. I really liked the zoodles and everyone raved about the bread! read more

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11/07/2024 Came here with brother and sister in law for dinner. We shared a 'fig & pig' pizza and the goat cheese/beet salad. I was reluctant to try the fig and pig pizza, and was surprised I liked it so much. I went with the Short ribs Garganelli, my wife with the Grilled Brazino "Via Carota". We loved both our dishes. As did BIL and SIL... He had the lasagna and she had the breaded veal with risotto. If I come back, I'm going for the breaded veal/risotto. Looked really good. Shared a nice bottle of Chianti and went for a walk. Lookin' forward to next time. read more

Bar Italia - Short Ribs Garganelli - Italian Near Me - Lakewood Ranch, Florida

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The chicken limone is SO GOOD. Perfectly balanced, Really good portion, love the seasoning with the chicken! The ricotta toast is unbelievable. Probably our favorite every time we go. Service each time we go is pretty good and they are attentive. The bar area can get loud but perfect lighting and atmosphere for dinner. read more

Great price for the size and quality of the plates. Our server was great, though I can't remember his name (the Tennessee guy) read more

Bar Italia - Italian Near Me - Lakewood Ranch, Florida

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Fantastic food, friendly staff -- lively weekend vibe My fiancé and I stopped by this popular Italian spot on a Friday night without a reservation (risky, I know!). It's clearly a favorite -- the place was packed. I'd definitely recommend making a reservation if you want to guarantee a table. Luckily, we found seats at the bar, which was lively and energetic -- a bit noisy, but that didn't bother us. If you're looking for a quiet, romantic bar setting, though, weekends might not be ideal. The staff was excellent -- super friendly and very knowledgeable about both the food and drink menus. They offered helpful suggestions and made us feel well taken care of. We started with the grilled rustic bread (highly recommend adding the whipped ricotta -- it was fantastic) and the Italian sausage stuffed peppers, which were flavorful and satisfying. For our entrées, my fiancé had the Veal Marsala -- tender, rich, and beautifully cooked -- and I had the Spicy Vodka Rigate, which had just the right amount of kick. Both dishes were excellent. All in all, a delicious and memorable night out. We'll definitely be back -- next time with a reservation! read more

We stopped in at 530PM for a drink and a bite of happy hour (4-6PM). The parking lot and the inside were pretty full. It looked like the restaurant side was near capacity and the same with the bar area. We were lucky enough to snag the last 2 seats near the bar. The acoustics were pretty bad. There were a lot of happy people, and with the high cieling and hard surfaces, the noise just echoed around. Service was very good, even with it being so crowded. There is no beer on tap, which, unfortunately, for me, is a big negative. Overall, it was a good experience, and I'd stop in again. read more

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Tried for the first time today. Very nice decor. Our wait staff was polite and pleasant. Took the hubs out for lunch and a cocktail. Tip for you is Thursday is half price wine and certain menu items. Great happy hour place if you're out shopping at the UTC. The Margarita pizza was on point and we tried the stuffed peppers. If they aren't on the menu ask....you won't be sorry. They aren't stuffed Melrose peppers, chef uses a banana pepper but the flavors are there. Sitting on a lucious marinara sauce. Mama Mia!! I hope you last in this location because we will see you again soon. read more

Bar Italia - Happy Hour menu - Italian Near Me - Lakewood Ranch, Florida

This is a hot new spot off University Parkway. We figured we would give it a try at lunch. The patio is beautiful but it's too hot on this summer day so everyone is inside. The parking lot is tight and close to full... Fortunately we made a reservation on Open Table as the restaurant was probably 85% full. It's a bright open space, with warm woods and bright paintings adorning the concrete walls. It's loud. They offer bar seating, lounge seating on couches and both private and semi-private spaces along the front side. Service was prompt and solid throughout. My wife's by buccatini was delicious and served with a perfect bread for mopping up every last drop. I opted for the "sandwich and salad" which includes the option for a personal pizza. My "Carbone" style Vodka, sausage and Cippolini onion pie was excellent. Overall food gets an A+ Here's where it gets odd: I spoke with the manager about doing a wine group dinner for 8 - with a target bill of $100/pp in one of the spaces, and was informed that they would be happy to, offer a $25 corkage fee. However all "group" events must be coordinated through their website/event coordinator. I inquired on line. Quite corporate...The formulaic email I received in reply to my descriptive request was entirely disappointing and contradictory. Minimum spends, extra space charge, and "no outside wine". Just a form email reply. Too bad...my hopes were up after a good meal. read more

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We were looking forward to going here with all of the praise. The cocktails were good, although the happy hour cocktail menu was poor. I had pasta with chicken and vegetables, it was like eating a frozen Healthy Choice Cafe Steamer. My husband had the pasta bolognese and it was bland as well. The service was very slow on the patio. Our friends had pizza, they said it was ok. I wouldn't go back. read more

If I could give 0 stars I would. VERY slow service. The famous lasagna was very DRY. The sautéed spinach came to table with raw spinach soaking in olive oil with chunks of garlic. Yuck. The Margarita pizza said it had fresh Roma tomato's and fresh burned basil on top with dollops of fresh mozzarella. Told manager and he said he has been trying to get company to change menu because of previous complaints. The pizza was actually Roma tomato sauce doused with shredded mozzarella and 4 small pieces of torn basil. So basically, a greasy cheese pizza. The prices were extraordinarily high. Lasagna was $25. Next they don't offer any options for a dairy allergy, other than spaghetti with marinara. Even all of the desserts were dairy laden. Not our favorite meal by far. Olive Garden food is much better than this. read more

Love the atmosphere very upbeat cool.. Food was great service not so much!!! waitress was too busy having fun with the bartenders left us sitting with dirty dishes never came over to see. How were we doing? Did we need anything else? You know all the normal things that "some" " waitresses do We will definitely be back. Hopefully the staff will be better trained on our next visit. read more

Met with friends here and we loved the atmosphere, but it's as LOUD as Ed's (if you know what I mean). That was the only ding and kept them from that 5th star. Luckily we got seated in the front seating area which has a little separation from the main dining area, not quite as loud but at least we could carry on conversations. Drinks and wine were served quickly, but the Old Fashioned had an ice cube almost the size of the glass, so barely a few sips to down it. Wait staff was very friendly and helpful. Orders came out quickly and all were excellent! I had ordered the Short Rib Garganelli and I must admit, it was one of the best Italian dishes I have ever had. Meat was tender and moist, noodles and sauce were perfectly paired. Everyone enjoyed their meals and we'd probably go back more often if they could add some sound abatement to the dining area. LOUD DINING AREAS ARE A COMPLETE TURNOFF! Sorry for yelling but it was so loud here I had to in order to be heard. :0( read more

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one positive - burrata starter quite good. However, they didn't clear the starter plates until our main courses arrived - about 25 minutes. Pasta w/short ribs - meat tasty but only a very tiny amount. Sauce was the saltiest dish I've ever tasted. INEDIBLE. They saw I left 3/4 of the dish over & didn't offer a replacement or offer to remove it from the bill. Wine list pathetic - about 20 cabs listed - this is NOT a steak house. No bread served ( can be bought ). My wife's birthday - mentioned it twice & not even a tiny dessert. Very noisy, too. Definitely NEVER RETURNING. read more

LEGS Sarasota attended the grand opening of Bar Italia in Lakewood Ranch for dinner. Matt from New Jersey was an awesome server! Most of us ordered different glasses of wine. In addition to a charcuterie board as pictured. The food was pretty decent. The pizza's are a must try, we ordered got 2 - vodka & sausage and the fig & pig. Overall, great decor and scenery! Good for a group of friends or date night. Atmosphere was very loud. If you aren't sitting nearby to one another you'll miss the conversation. One of the members of LEGS was underwhelmed. Their review was about the chicken limone, "the chicken was overcooked and dry. They slathered it in a margarine and lemon sauce with no seasoning." Another LEGS member mentioned the old fashion that seemed light in overall body and flavor. As a tip to the bourbon lovers they do not smoke old fashions at this location. read more

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Oh I wanted to give this restaurant 5 stars, but to gain that status, it must be flawless. It wasn't, but it was pretty damn close. Friendly, efficient staff... nice, but somewhat noisy, bright, airy ambiance. Very interesting, but pretty limited menu. To the food: Since it was Sunday brunch, Zing Zang Bloody Mary's were ordered and a generous portion was delivered. Tasty!. Next came a wonderful Ceasar salad...you could actually taste the perfect amount of anchovies along with slices of parmesan cheese mixed in with the very fresh greens. I ordered a sausage and mussel ombination over pasta. It came with lots of sliced, roasted garlic in a light broth. Never had the dish before and it was terrific. Now the less than perect dishes.:My wife had chicken parmesan with a side of spaghetti. The piece of chicken was huge, but the downside was partially burned...not a good taste...3 stars at best. Worse the spaghetti had so much starch on it that it stuck together and left one with, you guessed it, a starchy taste. The side of bread looked wonderful, but the crust was so hard I was afraid I would crack a tooth. Prices were most reasonable, but somehow the meal for two was over $100 out the door. Note: many of the dishes come with bread so you probably needn't order any. There is a smaller area on the north side of the restaurant, which if open, is much quieter. The smaller salads can be easily shared by two. Overall, an experience one should consider. read more

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Endorsed by JohnnyTightWad! It's gotta be great! A great go to place with wonderful food great drinks, fabulous people, and fun times. What a value! read more

Bar Italia - See the LIGHT! - Italian Near Me - Lakewood Ranch, Florida

We have been many times & the food was great. Went there to celebrate my daughter's birthday earlier this month. The waitress acknowledged it was my daughter's birthday when we first sat down. The service was terrible. The waitress didn't come back to see how our food was. The waitress didn't ask if we would like dessert. I finally asked another waiter to ask a manager to come over. I spoke to the manager - he showed very little interest in my feed back. A very disappointing experience especially for a birthday celebration. read more