Very classy, but casual, white tablecloth/napkin spot. Welcoming staff. We were a party of 6 with varied tastes, but we each had great options. Welcoming staff, delicious food options, with extensive Wine List. Reasonably priced with plenty of options. Fantastic, huge desserts!!! Our server was wonderful!! (Sorry I forgot her name). She recognized my sister from a previous restaurant she worked at. Easy to see why this place is so successful.....we'll be back, for sure!!! read more

Fantastic place. Make a reservation. Definitely fresh pasta. Hard to choose between the Bucatini Bolognese, Spag Meatballs, and Short Rib Garganelli! Service impeccable Will be back. read more

For my first experience I came here under my dining partner's urging for dinner and we found our experience to be kind of mediocre. I'm not sure what happened or if we were there on an off night the ambiance is nice/upscale so that was enjoyable. Firstly, we opted for the bread service and the whipped ricotta. The bread was a bit heavy and very oily, albeit was tasty. If that's not your preferred bread style please take note. The whipped ricotta was quite nice, and it was fun to try. I had the branzino fish entree which was okay. My partner's meal was a chicken parmigiana which, I hate to report, was largely unimpressive. We ate our entrees but agreed we weren't thrilled. My second visit was redemptive. On this visit I ate with a friend in the bar area. The bartender was awesome and was very attentive and personable. We enjoyed our drinks and I enjoyed the salad I added fish to. I enjoyed the atmosphere and it was fun to sit in the bar area. All in all, this isn't bad for a chain Italian restaurant. I hear lunch at Bar Italia is good. There is plenty of parking near this standalone restaurant with lots of other businesses adjacent to explore as wells check it out if you're in the area. read more

First time at Bar Italia for dinner and we went for my husband's birthday. A bit of a slow start as we waited 10 min to be greeted by anyone but it ended up being the start of a shift change so the server was a bit late. No worries, the meal made up for that! We made it in time for happy hour so we got two appetizers from the HH menu. Frittata misto and the stuffed peppers. Both were delicious. I probably wouldn't get the peppers again as they were very flat and not very stuffed but they did taste good. The limone chicken stole the show for the entree course! It was so flavorful!! And the creamy noodle side dish was the perfect addition. My husband had the lasagna which was jam packed with meat and sauce. Needed a bit more cheese but it was still hot and flavorful! Dessert was a huge slice of tiramisu which they gave us complimentary for his birthday. It had heath bits on top which was a fun addition. Will definitely be back for that limon chicken and HH is great deal! read more

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If I could rate this higher, I would. HIGHLY recommend this restaurant! Food and service are outstanding. Food: artichokes are a complete must. They come with herbs and pesto that are just fantastic. The eggplant parm is also great and a good size. The bread was really just okay, and it was too large for just 2 people. Tip: if you want to sit at the bar, go early. We went about 6pm and it was completely packed with people stalking for bar seats. read more

Bar Italia - Bread - Italian Near Me - Lakewood Ranch, Florida

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Bumping this up to 5 stars after dining here tonight. Sat just about where we were last time, big crowd but noise level was comfortable. Had the same server we had last time (Peyton) and extremely helpful and enjoyable to chat with (thanks for the update on what "Via Carota" means). Drinks were great, tried the Ciao Bella, totally delicious. We had the meatball appetizer and glad they changed from the baseball size one, to three reasonable sized ones. Bread is amazing. Wife had the Branzino "Via Carota" style, was excellent! I once again ordered the Short Rib Garganelli, I think I'm hooked, and a side of Parmesan Crusted Zucchini. Way too much food for the two of us but surprisingly, no leftovers. Glad we went out in the rain as it was totally worth the trip. read more

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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

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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My wife took me to Bar Italia for my birthday and wow was I impressed! The HH menu has so many great food options. We tried the stuffed peppers and the calamari. Both were great!! I had the lasagna and my wife had the lemon chicken. I really enjoyed her chicken and would definitely get that next time. The lasagna was still excellent but the chicken had out of this world flavor! They treated us to a tiramisu for dessert. Great restaurant can't wait to come back! 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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Dear Bar Italia Team, As always, Bar Italia is our top choice for dining and drinks. Jason and the rest of the staff are always courteous, respectful, and consistently make our weekly visit the very best. As a 68-year-old entrepreneur with a wife who has owned a catering company for 48 years, we truly appreciate the exceptional service. We are treated wonderfully every single time we visit. There is simply no place better from the moment you enter the front door until you pay your check. Thank you for everything! read more

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

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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Excellent food; I had chicken Parm. Great service and ultra clean ladies room! It was not my first visit there, but extremely enjoyable!

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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Food was very good. My husband and I split a Lasagna and Cesar salad and it was plenty and delicious. Service was excellent. We sat in the bar area and it was pretty loud. I think the restaurant side might have been a little better for conversation. read more

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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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

I went there about a month ago or so, and before that, maybe a year or so. I didn't take notes in my phone, and I felt like having Italian food, so I went. Everything was exceedingly BLAND. I brought home most of it, and then threw it in the trash, as I knew I was never going to eat that bland food. That was over $60 worth of TRASH. Right now, I just opened up a pouch of DEHYDRATED lasagna, designed for camping. All it needed was a cup and a half of boiling water, and 9 minutes of steeping. IT TASTED WAY BETTER THAN THIS RESTAURANT'S FOOD, at a FRACTION of the price. I'm not saying that pouch was fine dining. And if I made a tray of homemade lasagna, it would be better than both restaurant and camp dehydrated food, but, I'm single and am not going to make a tray of anything. My point is, HOW can Italian food be so pricey and so bland that dehydrated camp food tastes better? read more

Used to love this place. But I went after again maybe after 6 months of not going since I now live out of state. The food was awful this time. My soup was Italian wedding it had shredded romaine lettuce in it... the bread which is my favorite was extremely stale and hard and was very difficult to eat. Super disappointing experience want to give this place another shot but our groups bill was super high and about none of us ate our food. read more

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

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

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

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

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

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

If I could give this place 0 stars, I would. We had been coming here ever since this restaurant opened. It was good at first. Probably for the first year or so. One of the first bad experiences I had was when I came in with a group of girlfriends for a nightcap. The bartender was a younger male, tall, with black thick rimmed glasses. I cannot remember his name but I had seen him there before. Everyone ordered their drinks and when it was my turn I ordered a decaf espresso martini. He tried to embarrass me for ordering me for ordering a decaf. The audacity. I am a paying patron with my friends. Who exactly does he think he is. So incredibly rude. I remained calm but truly should have left. I drank the drink, paid for it, and did not tip. Another occasion, I came in on a reservation for 2. When we were seated, the table was set but dirty. We asked for it to be wiped down. The server was nice but sweaty and the dripping sweat from his forehead onto your table type. The floor underneath our table looked like it hadn't been cleaned all day. It was around 6 on a Thursday. We ordered our drinks - 2 espresso martinis, not decaf. They arrived and they tasted like old burnt coffee. We threw $50 on the table and left. We told management as we were leaving what had just happened and they didn't even seem to care. Good luck to this place. 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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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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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