I can't believe I have lived in Sarasota as long as I have and only now found this gem of a…read morerestaurant. My wife and I had the most enchanting evening and simply can't wait to return. First impression, plenty of street parking directly in front and as we entered we noticed a truly beautiful outdoor patio, nicely landscaped, centered around a beautiful outdoor stone fireplace. When the weather cools we will look forward to enjoying that. As it was a bit warm outside we chose an indoor table. The interior is beautifully done with elaborately detailed tray ceilings, soft colors, soft lighting, a really lovely bar, and a quiet luxury throughout. We were greeted by the host Bob, who we later learned is a partner/owner, and we were seated immediately. Our waitress Holly was fun, engaging, attentive and eager to please without ever being overly present throughout the night. She set the tone by announcing that all wine was $10 off per bottle and all signature cocktails were $10 each. We were informed these values are expected to be offered at all times during low season (not just a happy hour). We found the wine and cocktail pricing to be extremely reasonable even without this extra offer. Holly also volunteered that the kitchen would happily split any appetizer onto two plates and we were also welcome to order just a half salad or half Caesar salad if only one of us wanted one. For the waitperson to offer this without even being asked, we felt the spirit of hospitality was off to a great start as it was obvious the restaurant is prioritizing customer happiness above all else. The menu, which you can review on their website, was full of enticements that had us vowing to return so that we could sample more and more offerings. We settled on a half house salad (excellent), a pasta fagioli (unforgettably good) one of their signature dishes, "Chicken Our Way", and Rigatoni Bolgnaise. The chicken dish was simply out of this world, very lightly breaded and beautifully glazed with a wonderful sauce. The table next to us, having driven up all the way from Northport, politely demanded to know what the dish was as the aroma graced their table. The Rigatoni Bolognaise was as fantastic as any dish we had while travelling through Italy; the bolognaise sauce was unquestionably made from scratch in-house and was as delicious and as authentic as it comes. As we were dining, a woman entered who had the essence of an owner; she went from staff member to staff member, and from table to table, checking on every employee and every customer to ask how things were going. When she stopped at our table, she introduced herself as Beverly, the host's partner. She stayed with us for quite some time showing a genuine and personal interest in us. We were not just a customer to her; we were clearly a new and valued acquaintance. This level of Mom-and-Pop personal service is very hard to find today in Sarasota--and it makes all the difference in the world. We can't wait to go back to see Bob, Beverly and Holly again as they truly made us feel like family. And we can't wait to try more of their enticing dishes. You simply MUST sample this restaurant and see for yourself. I fear though that if too many people discover it, the restaurant may grow and change. I hope that doesn't happen, because it is perfect right now, in this moment, exactly the way it is.

We took take out on their Wednesday special of a sandwich with a garden salad for $16 and the Disco…read moreFries for $6.00. Packaging was excellent. There were about 4 tables so plenty of room for more guests and the bar was empty. The sausage and peppers sandwich was flavorful per my husband. The sausages are not sliced but cut making the sandwich a complete mess. The bread is not made to hold the sausage. I had the chicken Marsala sandwich. Again had a huge issue with the bread being useless. The mozzarella was on the bread but none on the chicken. The Marsala sauce was bland and minimal. Would not get this again. The disco fries were not making me happy. Basically thin fries smothered in gravy. Where was the cheese? The gravy was also bland and we ended up tossing most of them out. The restaurant itself is nice with darker colors and clean. Prices on the regular menu are pricey and after trying their sauce I can see why it was empty. Personal peeve, Italian dish that doesn't include pasta as a side option when clearly they have pasta in the menu is wrong.

Inside a 19th-century Victorian house on the banks of the Manatee River, in Palmetto, Florida, two…read morebrothers from Rome are cooking the kind of Italian food that makes you want to cancel your other plans. https://lisaefreedman.com/ragu-cucina-italiana-a-hidden-gem-in-palmetto-florida-worth-the-trip/

Cute little place in Palmetto! The owners are from Rome and the food is authentic. Focaccia bread…read morewith mortadella and Barata and pistachio pesto was amazing! My wife had the homemade fettuccine with shrimp and pistachio pesto (yes) and I had the lasagna Bolognese. The shrimp dish was amazing and quite different than the same old same old... The lasagna was good, but not over the top. I found it a little bit too "soft." and I prefer a hardier Bolognese made with pancetta, pork and beef. This was just straight beef. The homemade desserts of tiramisu and cannoli (pistachio... yes, again) were excellent. After moving here from Rhode Island, where there's an Italian restaurant in every corner and everything down here seems to be fairly mediocre...We are super happy to find this place and we'll definitely be back!

We LOVE Olympic Cafe and always feel like family every time we walk through the door. The…read moreatmosphere is incredible, the food is consistently amazing, and they make dining out with kids actually enjoyable. Our seven-year-old lives for coming here--he's greeted with coloring books and crayons every time, which instantly makes him feel special and welcome. The flaming cheese is out-of-this-world delicious (pure joy every single time), and my teen son is obsessed with the grape leaves. The kids' spaghetti and meatball with marinara is a huge hit--the meatball is literally bigger than his fist! I personally love the Olympia protein salad--I skip the chicken and get extra chickpeas and kidney beans, and it's perfect every time. My older boys can't get enough of the gyros and the chicken and rice. And the baklava? The absolute best way to end the meal. No exceptions. We make it a point to come at least once a week or once a month--it's that good and that comforting. Olympic Cafe has been serving the community for over 35 years, and with every visit, I pray they're here for 35 more. A true local gem that feeds both the belly and the soul.

Great little spot to go to off of Manatee avenue. It's been here forever and is a good reason why…read more They have terrific. French fries and their gyros are good too. The service was great and the joint was clean. No complaints at all. They even made a grilled cheese for our little guy.

Cafe Barbosso is one of my go-to comfort food spots and has never let me down. The restaurant is…read morespacious, 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.

Avoid. Incredibly overpriced and disappointing…read more 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.

Enjoyed an amazing dinner here recently with my father and brother. We arrived around 7 on a…read moreSaturday evening, it was pretty busy, but we only had to wait about 15 minutes to be seated. Once seated, the waiter was very attentive throughout the entire meal. To start our meal, we ordered a a plate of the calamari, which were ok, maybe a bit more rubbery than I like. Side salads were brought out after, which were ok, nothing great, very basic. They also brought some tasty, warm garlic rolls/knotts with the salads. For my entree, I had a tough time deciding, there were a lot of good options on the menu, but I was really interested by the Cacio E Pepe, but it is only available as a meal for (2) which seemed a bit excessive. My brother and I decided to get it together, along with a side of sausage to add some protein to the meal. I've seen videos of pasta made with in a cheese wheel online several times, and have wanted to try it, but this has been my first opportunity. They bring out the cooked pasta, and prepare it in the cheese wheel at the table, which was an added bit of fun for the dining experience. overall it was a fun and tasty meal. Got to try something I've been wanting to for a while. One warning, the restaurant is basically just one large room, so it can get a bit loud, depending on the crowd and how busy it is. But I'd go back, and would recommend this spot to other as well.

We went with 2 - 8" pizzas instead of pasta dishes and we were both pleased with what we ordered…read more The service was excellent and we would consider going back. It's pretty far from where we live and we had to pass a lot of red lights to get there, almost an hour drive. Aside from that, we considered the prices pretty high but you get what you pay for.

Service was amazing. Waiter on top of things and food came quickly and was hot! My only gripe…read moreis it's a bit noisy but that seems to be everywhere lately Would definitely return

How this place has stayed open for so many years beats me…read more There are SO MANY other Italian restaurants in the Sarasota area that don't charge $30 for a plate of pasta! On top of that the owner (or owners ) don't even greet you with a smile or even say "good evening". It's as if they were doing you a favor to spend $150. for dinner. The food: "non amoral, non sappora" Non me piache!​

Last night's dinner was another fantastic experience, with the wonderful personality and…read moreattentiveness of our server Jenna. Service here has always been fantastic, but she was really outstanding, and the table next to our felt the same way, as it was their first time eating here and asked us our recommendations, etc. Got the picture of the white sangria and it was delicious. Light and fruity. The garlic knots were polished off in minutes, and the pizza was incredible, although I let my husband enjoy the leftovers for breakfast this morning!! My chicken pesto with accompanying veggies was also tasty, and serve as today's lunch. Yum yum yum

Had a wonderful lunch today. Our server was Madison. She was friendly, competent and attentive…read more We ate outdoors and the weather was just right with a light breeze - a treat for late April. We started with mozzarella sticks and garlic knots. Be sure you like garlic if you get the knots. I had the meat lasagna and it was great - a large portion with lots of meat. My wife had a cheeseburger - cooked right - and fries and there was plenty to eat. Our friend had the 10 inch pizza with pepperoni and mushrooms. Very tasty and cooked just right on a thin crust. Only one complaint - no Diet Coke was served, so my wife tried the Pepsi Zero. She did not care for it.

Arte Caffe is "all that and a bag of chips". The food is amazing, expertly prepared, from quality…read moreingredients and is totally delicious. The service and atmosphere is sublime. They have an excellent small curated wine selection at a good price or a very reasonable corkage fee if you prefer to bring your own favorite selection. If you have a party of six or more go for the "family style"! It's an experience you will love and talk about for years! Arte Caffe has been our local "go to" restaurant for Italian done right, Remo's Genovese-Venetia roots come out beautfully in everything!

I've been coming to Arte Caffe for quite a few years and every time it is such a great experience…read more Everything is made with care, and all of the specials are truly amazing anytime I get them. Also pictured is my favorite tiramisu ever. Husband and wife Remo and Meredith are truly wonderful people and have created such a special dining experience in the village of the arts with the freshest & most delicious Italian food I've ever had. Love this place and couldn't say more positive things about it.