Cafe Barbosso is one of my go-to comfort food spots and has never let me down. The restaurant is spacious, has a great bar area, plenty of indoor seating, and also has a nice outdoor patio. One of the coolest things about the restaurant is that there's an artist painting canvases live while the restaurant is open. Between that and the walls covered in artwork from local artists, the whole place has a fun, creative vibe. The food is consistently excellent, but let's talk about the real MVP: the spaghetti and meatballs. I know, I know- it doesn't sound like the most exciting thing on the menu. Here's the kicker: I've literally never ordered spaghetti and meatballs anywhere else in my life. Ever. I don't even really like that dish very much- unless it's from Cafe Barbosso. The only reason I tried it there was because so many people raved about it, and now I'm the one doing the raving. I've ordered a handful of other dishes, but somehow I always come crawling back to the spaghetti. The pasta is cooked perfectly, but the sauce is the true showstopper. I'd happily eat it with a spoon if society allowed it. The portions are generous enough that dinner usually turns into tomorrow's lunch, which feels like a bonus meal. Every entree comes with fresh bread and mixed oil, and the staff are always friendly and attentive. I've never had a bad experience with the food, service, or atmosphere. Menu prices are pretty standard, but given the portion sizes, I'd say they're a pretty decent bargain. Reservations are a smart idea because this place gets busy. You might have a wait without one, but honestly, it's worth it. If you're looking for fantastic Italian food in a welcoming atmosphere, Cafe Barbosa absolutely deserves a spot on your list. read more

Cafe Barbosso - Spaghetti and meatballs. - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Avoid. Incredibly overpriced and disappointing. This was my second visit this month, and unfortunately, it was my last. I returned hoping for a better experience, but I was left completely disappointed. On my first visit, I tried the highly recommended meatballs and wasn't impressed. This time, the bartender, Kaiser, recommended the Eggplant Parmesan--but it tasted just like any other generic version. For $28, you get a small 3-to-4-inch square that felt pre-made days ago. It was tossed in the pizza oven, leaving the outside hot but the inside completely lukewarm. My total bill came to $75 including tip, for two $6 beers, a small $16 salad, and the eggplant-- extravagantly overpriced for the quality. I've heard Chef Joe is no longer there, which might explain the steep decline. I'm giving 2 stars only because the ambiance is nice and Kaiser provided great service. I won't be back. read more

Travelling North on Rt75 can be a lesson in patience. Leaving Marco Island heading to Palm Harbor I expected traffic. Lots of traffic. Saw up ahead a slow-down and took the nearest exit towards Sarasota town. Saw Applebee's and headed for their parking lot. Then saw the Cafe Barbossa sign. What a stroke of luck! Greeted by a smiling face opening the door to a new eclectic dining experience. Artsy Funky friendly unique comes immediately to mind. Seated near local artists actually painting canvasses while we ordered our selections from the varied menu choices. Our waiter Mark was very helpful and engaging. Drinks and bread came rapidly with olive oil/tomato/balsamic vinegar/cheese dip. The vibe at Cafe Barbosso is cool (in a good way) and friendly. My meatballs where tastier than my Grandma ever made and my wife got the Seafood Fra Diavolo. A spicy dish that she enjoyed immensely. You have tons of choices in Sarasota. We don't get there often. Just passing thru. But if you find yourself in Sarasota (or just need to get off of RT75) give Cafe Babossa a shot. It is a fun funky tasty friendly spot. Casually elegant or a quick meal. Manager Deborah runs a memorable eatery and we WILL be back! read more

Old tired restaurant, old scratched dishes. Terrible service. The lobster ravioli was heavy and bad flavor. Will not be back, very disappointing read more

Very disappointing experience. We visited on a Tuesday night when the restaurant was not busy, yet somehow waited over two hours and never received our food at the table. We eventually had to ask for our meal to be packaged to go because we couldn't continue waiting. What made the situation even worse was the lack of accountability. Our bill was nearly $300, and despite the excessive wait and inconvenience, there was no meaningful discount or attempt to make things right. Instead of enjoying a night out, we ended up taking our food home and eating it there. Unfortunately, this restaurant has noticeably gone downhill since Joe left. The level of service, attention to customers, and overall dining experience are not what they once were. Spending that kind of money should come with a certain level of professionalism and customer care, and this experience fell far short of expectations. I understand that mistakes happen, but waiting over two hours for food in a restaurant that wasn't even busy, combined with poor communication and no effort to compensate customers, is unacceptable. Sadly, this visit will most likely be the last. read more

Invited my family of 6 to have dinner. We ordered different dishes with shrimp on them. The shrimp was way overcooked chewed like rubber, no waters on the table had to ask 3 times. Service was slow. Not as good as it was a year ago. Then the waiter lost my credit card. What a circus. I then asked to speak to the manager. He said sorry about the shrimp and loosing my credit card( we did find the card ). I told him this was a special dinner to remember my husband that passed in March. It was his birthday that day. Nothing....did not even offer to comp the desert . Also they charge a 4% credit card fee. Who doesn't use a credit card! Bad customer service. Never going back. Waste of $300.00 JR read more

The weekend entertainment is the only draw to this place. Packaged pasta from Sysco dont work for me read more

The food is always so delicious! Although everything is amazing, to name a couple specifics-my kids love the Chicken Parmesan and their homemade salad dressing is the absolute best! read more

We have eaten her many times and the food is always great. Great atmosphere as well. Service was slow once or twice but never an issue. Definitely worth the wait. read more

On April 30, my wife and I were treated to a 5-course Chef's meal at Cafe Barbosso, for our 55th wedding anniversary, thanks to one of our lovely daughters, Sherry! It was terrific, thanks to Chef Shawn, waitress Sophia and the owners, Tom & Shirley (?). Steak and all were delicious! We met some of their " in house, working artist/painters"- actually easel painting to add new art to the ever-changing art all over! Quite eclectic/ nostalgic and unique! This place is very unique and fun --try it! read more

I'm married to an Italian and this place is awful!!! The highly acidic sauce was barely eatable and the veal Parmesan was heavily breaded and dry!! We visit this area and was hoping to find a great restaurant to visit when we are here. This is NOT the place unfortunately ‍ read more

Cafe Barbosso - Veal Parmesan - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

We have had the takeout meals for 4 a few times. Have had the chicken parmigiana and the chicken Marsala dinners. Excellent flavor, amount is very generous and the pizza is great. The bread and salad eaten the first night. As a couple, we generally are able to get 3 meals out of the entree and pizza. read more

Amazing food! My go to Italian restaurant in Sarasota! My husband and I love the atmosphere, service, and the pizza is always incredible!

Great ambiance. Great drinks and bar tender. After that, our server was way too busy to handle all the tables she had. She was pleasant but just overwhelmed. Food was slow to arrive and was not good. I'll try one more time. Music was great. We sat outside as well which was great. read more

Everything is delicious here. Every time I go! I recommend going early at 4 or 5. They have happy hour from 4-6 with $5 wines! You can get in without a reservation and it's less busy and noisy. I have never had a bad meal here. Definitely want to come back to try the chefs table. read more

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Excellent! This Italian restaurant is one of the best in Sarasota. Food is always consistent and of very high quality. Staff and management are at the top of their game especially Debby the Mgr and Avery, Joseph and Avona among a few standouts. Very unique concept with live artists painting beautiful works of art all for sale. Try it you wont be disappointed!!! Vince Ingrando read more

Horrid lukewarm food , mediocre at best. Had to ask for bread beg for service . First time we "tried " last time . Manager was rude and did not want to hear of any problems . When explaining she said well everything else was okay ? NO nothing was okay . Too many really great places to go skip this one . Watch your bill overcharged for an entree, too . read more

I was really excited to try this place as it was recommended by another dining establishment nearby. When I walked in, I was greeted warmly at the front and I found a seat at the bar. The place is absolutely beautiful. There's paintings all over and the ambience is just gorgeous. The bar was nearly full, and it was pretty quickly apparent that the bartender the female was overwhelmed. When she greeted me, it was with a smile and she gave me a menu and got my beverage, but that was pretty much the highlight it was downhill from there. I ordered a salad that was recommended and when it came, I realized I had no silverware. I tried to get her attention and she finally came over and I started to say that I needed silverware and she brought me salt and pepper. So another five minutes goes by and I finally was able to tell her I would definitely need something to eat the salad with. She appeared flustered and seriously overwhelmed as she was waiting on the bar as well as the tables in the bar area. I don't understand why they did not have more help in a place this upscale. I noticed a couple of people a male and a female that appeared to be Management and they were doing absolutely nothing but talking to each other and walking around never once helped. The salad was amazing and I enjoyed it. She never checked back. It would've been nice to have some Parmesan and I have to tell you the bread and the dip that was brought by somebody else was amazing. So that's the reason for two stars because the salad was great. After she finally cleared my salad plate, she said are you ready for me to put your pizza in which I was kind of stunned cause now I'm gonna wait again and I'm a single person so she put it in the pizza arrived about 15 minutes later and it wasn't correct. I had ordered basil on it that didn't come, but they certainly charged me on my bill for an extra item the pizza was dropped by a runner and she never came back. I didn't have a plate I didn't have Parmesan. I didn't have pepper flakes nothing so the pizza looked good and it tasted average. There was nothing exceptional about it. The sausage was good on it and the mushrooms were fresh, but there was just something missing. Maybe there was no spice or anything on it, but it was a generous portion took a while after I finished to get it boxed up and to get paid, but overall the place is great ambience wise the service was severely lacking, and I probably will not go back. read more

Cafe Barbosso - Pizza with sausage and mushroom, but missing the basil that I requested the toppings were all mainly on the center - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Great service but terrible food. The 1st time there, about 2 years ago, two of us had a fine, enjoyable meal. So we invited 2 friends to join us. The server was great. But one of the appetizers, and all four of our main courses were not good at all. The Peasant Shrimp appetizer didn't seem to have any shrimp and we left more than half uneaten. The Filet of Sole Francese was soft and mushy. The Pasta Carbonara had a raw egg which was not mixed into the sauce as it should have been. The Stuffed Mushrooms had so much salt we asked them to take it back. The Truffle Sachetti had a sauce, which was supposed to be a "light cream sauce" but instead was incredibly thick. A few bites gave me indigestion. I have never been to a restaurant when all 4 meals were so poorly prepared. read more

We love the food here, the service, and the ambiance! We went for happy hour - the meatballs are delicious (no, they were not cold) and the brussel sprouts were great too. Drinks were reasonable and refreshing. The place is clean (I always check the condition of the bathrooms). I'm confused about some of the reviews, because our experience was so positive. read more

Honestly, I read some reviews here and decided to throw in my 2 cents...my parents are Italian immigrants from Calabria and Naples, so I've had amazing homemade Italian my entire life...I stopped in one evening to Barbossa last Spring of 2025...I tried the Bolognese and had to stop eating it...it had nutmeg in the sauce, otherwise it was a great portion, and the sauce was plenty but I couldn't get past the nutmeg...there is no time nutmeg belongs in a meatsauce...if you can get past that, you can give it 5 stars. read more

Love this place. Live artist's painting while you eat. The foods always perfect and delicious and huge servings. I come here often, and have never been disappointed! Love Barbossa! read more

Food!!!!! Service!!!!! Amazing since the chef Shawn has emerged!!! chef Shawn is cooking up some amazing new taste. A wonderful experience. read more

Overall in recent years service and food has been excellent. however we finally made a reservation for the Chefs Table and it was a disaster. Not only was food mediocre at best, the last serving was a filet completely raw for 7 of the 12 people sitting at the table. They were sent back to cook further which they put back on their grill (isn't that a health hazard?) and even when it came back mine was still completely raw. The chef came out and informed that is the way to eat this kind of steak. I said I prefer mine to be medium and he made it clear I was in the wrong with how to eat my steak. He was a complete assume. Not sure what happened at this restaurant (used to be one of my favorites) but I anomaly of 10 will never be back. At least never again at the Chefs Table. read more

Had a lovely dinner with my wife and mother at Cafe Barbosso. The food is outstanding and the portions are prodigious. The ambiance is fun and lively and the service is good and very friendly. The Cafe has outstanding food, but the vibe of a local joint. read more

BEWARE Minus zero in all 3 categories I'm from Irish / Italian descent heritage I've talked with other restaurants owners during my visit to Sarasota in which I have family The waiter rich would be fired in my restaurant Nothin I tasted was up to par for Italian restaurant It was the can food of Italian in my opinion I wouldn't recommend this for anyone Get a better waiter with people skills , cook the food correctly and serve it warm not cold noodles we're cold under cooked rubbery too much water too. Much garlic Meatballs on the sub cold in the middle of meat balls 2of my party left in which left 4 we were still charged 20 dollars tip for lousy service read more

Cafe Barbosso - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

We went in to get a gift card and stayed for supper! Our server, Reece, (sp) was excellent! We had the antipasto salad and the veal parmesan - both were outstanding. I expected the traditional salad but it was more like a plate of meat, cheeses, pickles veggies and olives on a bed of lettuce. I ate every bite! The veal consisted of two nice size patties with plenty of sauce and cheese. I was going to pass on the bread-until it was on the table and I could not resist that dipping sauce. We enjoyed our dining experience, with all of the art work in the room and a live artist painting. Go- you will not be sorry! read more

Cafe Barbosso - Antipasto salad, Bread and dipping sauce - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Right when you walk into cafe Barbosso you know something special is going on. The walls covered with paintings as artists are painting live all while you are enjoying a wonderful meal, and you can purchase the paintings. The food was very good. Atmosphere is perfect. All your sense are at a heighten level, your sense of smell, your taste buds, your visual sight and did I tell you outside on Fridays 6-8 a 20 peace or so band with trumpets, sax, trombone's, keyboard, drummer, lights and sound board exciting your hearing. It is a must do drop in. Do make reservations a week in advance. They also do have Thursday through Saturday a special 8 Corse menu with foods from around the world. Call for info on that. One of the partners Joe DiMaggio is a pleasure to chat with. Tell them Roryblane sent you. read more

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Sat at the bar for HH last night. Avery is a great bartender and makes a great old fashioned. The bolognese is fantastic and could easily serve 2 people. The swordfish special was excellent. We love the food and hospitality here. The entire staff is so friendly and makes you feel special. Love the baseball and art work on the walls. One of our favorite places in Sarasota. read more

Was not a fan of the pizza; wish it was red onion vs white. If the pizza was cooked in the brick oven then there is something off. Did not have that brick oven taste. Tip for take out/delivery orders try using eco friendly to go containers especially for fried foods. Plastic makes everything soggy and flavorless read more

A Very nice establishment headed up by Executive Chef Joe DiMaggio Jr. (yes!) who is a most gratious a Host as is possible in a bustling place with outdoor music and plenty on the menu and Art on the walls to keep you busy. Love it. It is finite, so drop in. Everything is great! read more

This review is solely based on the chef's table experience. it started off bad after finding out chef Joe is no longer involved with this establishment. Joe was a big personality and made the experience a real treat while he cooked in front of you and told stories etc. The new chef's table is run by chef Sean whose food which he prepares in the kitchen and brings it out to you while is very good however nothing he prepares is Italian. My wife is very picky and does not eat a lot of dishes especially seafood which 4 of the 5 courses were seafood and yes we ask what the menu was and was told it was a game time decision. Chef Sean should be a private chef and not deal with the chef's kitchen we were very disappointed. Yes we did place our displeasure with management and were brushed off all we were told was the chef Sean likes to go outside the menu when he cooks which is fine however when you go to an Italian restaurant you expect Italian food. read more

Outstanding Italian restaurant , we have been twice in two weeks and it's a 40 mil drive for us ... but it's that good . Service was outstanding.... fast , knowledgeable and friendly.. Sophia was great and made us feel right at home . The food is the best Italian food my wife and I have had in the 5 years we have lived in Florida ... on par with the best NYC Italian restaurants . The veal piccata was tender and delicious according to the wife and she is very picky, I had the chicken parm which was very tender ( cut with a fork) and came with a side of penne pasta - marinara sauce was excellent. The walls are covered with art which is for sale and they have an artist working on paintings while you dine , very eclectic but very comfortable . Also ordered a Carnivore pizza to go and once again the best pizza I have had in florida .. even heated up the next day. read more

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Joseph at the bar is an absolute gem! Helped us with wine and just so personable. He made our night! !

Amazing artists and super food. Staff were very hospitable and knowledgeable of the menu!

What a fantastic restaurant. The food, the portions, the service are all outstanding. I came here with a buddy of mine to have dinner and watch the band. Unfortunately, the band was rained out but we ended up having a great time anyway. We showed up without having made reservations on a Saturday evening. Needless to say, the reservations list was full but we were able to get two seats at the bar. Our bartenders / servers (Ivana & Joe) were extremely helpful and a lot of fun. We chose to order off of the "Savor Sarasota" menu. If you don't know what this is, you should Google it. Great value options for a few weeks in the summer. Between the two of us, we had the meatball appetizer, Caesar salads, chicken picatta, shrimp Fra Diavlo, tiramisu & cannolis. Everything was wonderful. The thing that blew me away was the size of the portions. Even though we were ordering off the "value" menu, the portions were huge ! It's hard to tell from my pic but the plate is very large in size. They also offer a special "Chef's dinner" prepared at a special oval table that can accommodate at least 20. The chef makes an 8 course meal (as I am told) right in front of you. We watched him make one or two courses and it looked like a blast. He also has a BIG personality which makes it a fun show in addition to a great meal. I can't wait to come back ! read more

Cafe Barbosso - Chicken piccata with angel hair. The plate is Huge ! - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

I was brought here with friends in the wine industry who rave about the culinary experience saying its the best in Florida The key is to know how to order to experience these culinary treasures. A chef's table is my recommendation, make your reservation as soon as possible, it does book up quickly. Service is outstanding for have traditional NYC style servers who are real pros. If you are a pizza lover they do a culinary spin. Try the greek pizza with lamb & spinach... favors are a delight. Their traditional menu items are fabulous; however, the real treat is dishes off the menu. Such as the foie gras hot dog, divine. Wine list is very good, impressive finds. Family friendly, loud & festive. If your an art lover you will enjoy the decor and local artist painting in the middle of the restaurant. Make sure you have plenty of time to stay and enjoy the experience. read more

Cafe Barbosso - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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I came with my family and had a decent experience. My food was delicious, penne alla vodka with shrimp. We're from New York and since moving to Florida it has been hard to find a good Italian spot. Everyone else was generally pleased with their dishes, big portion sizes. We were served an undercooked sausage but after bringing it to a foodrunner's attention he took care of it right away. Our server, Sadie, wasn't all too attentive. Our cups were empty and we had to look around to wave her down for refills. However, the place is beautiful inside, paintings everywhere, very clean and welcoming. We will be back, great Italian spot. read more

What a treasure! Everything I've ever ordered from Cafe Barbosso has been delicious from the simple but perfect Margarita Pizza to the crispest salads to their full dinners (pasta, Marsala, picatta, oh my!). Everything is prepared and served with pride, like it was coming from a family kitchen with time-honored recipes. It's my favorite place to solo dine @ the bar (but it's popular-so go early or be patient for something to open up). It's also my favorite place to take out-of-town Italian food lovers because there's something for everyone and sharing is encouraged. Also offers inside and outside dining, some nights offering live music. The service, no matter where you choose to dine, is perfection. I'm amazed that with a team approach they've NEVER gotten an order wrong or made a mistake. Each and every server is personable no matter how busy they are-which is always! The ambiance is high energy-in the best way. I hope to make a reservation for the Chef's Table at some point, but reservations are required and planning ahead is not my strong suit, but I think when it comes to this experience, I need to make it a priority. Highly recommend! And no, I wasn't paid for this, nor am I a relative. Just a Sarasota local who is a huge fan and doesn't believe in gate-keeping. Enjoy! read more

What a great place to dine. Super busy place, terrific vibe and good service. I had the eggplant entree, it was phenomenal. We were a large party, and we're sat immediately of course with reservations. We really want to try the chef's table, but the wait list is 3 months long! Bottom line: you got to try out this place. It's terrific Italian food and good prices with good service to boot. read more

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