We absolutely love this place. The food is authentic delicious Italian. The portions are huge. The price is right. The service is first class and the family owned feel is warm & welcoming. Welcome to Vilano. We are excited to have you & will be regulars. Cheers. read more

Love this place...went before everything shut down and it was great. Got takeout last night and it was almost as good (takeout in general isn't as good). Great sauce, great bread...and only a little more than a mile from my house. read more

We went for lunch a couple of days ago. Had the clams casino, excellent. The pasta e fagioli soup was the best I've ever had. We had penne a la vodka and spaghetti with meat sauce. The portions are generous and the food was outstanding. We were full but had to try the canollis which didn't disappoint. What a great meal. The service was outstanding as well. I definitely recommend it and would definitely go back. read more

We own rental property on Vilano and visit often . We were very excited to see a new place opened up because there aren't many places on the beach to eat at . We ate here for dinner . I immediately told our server I hate a gluten and soy ALLERGY. No problem she assured me so we ordered our drinks . My daughter is type 1 diabetic and was in the process of checking her blood sugar and getting her insulin ready when the waitress returned with our drinks . She stopped short when she saw my daughter testing her blood sugar and walked away . She returned with 2 other people who all 3 stood there staring at my daughter discreetly giving herself a shot . She uses an insulin pen which looks like any other ink pen and has a needle about 1/3 of an inch long . When we are out she doses in her tummy so she had pulled she sweater up about an inch to expose skin . All of this is done under table level . Thankfully my daughter didn't realize that the staff was gawking at her or she would have been mortified . In 10 years we have never had an issue like this . When I brought this up to the owner she actually suggested my daughter go to the restroom to take insulin . How degrading and unsanitary . I am truly shocked at the lack of compassion and maturity aimed at a little girl dealing with an awful disease . We were brought salad and bread and ordered . I passed on both but my daughter ate them and said they were both ok . Fast forward an hour later and my daughters insulin has kicked in and her blood sugar has dropped so she had to drink a juice from my purse . Thirty minutes later our meals arrived . Daughter got chicken parm and said it was ok . She barely are any of it and didn't want to take it with us . I got an eggplant dish with cheese and sauce . It was ok as well but at some point I got contaminated with gluten . I have since found out the kitchen uses the same pots and utensils for gluten free dishes and everything else . Gluten can stick to a pot or spoon even after washing and most places have a set just for gluten free . Remember I stated it was an allergy . The owners response to me getting I'll was that they thought it was just a lifestyle choice ( does it matter ???) despite me clearly saying allergy and that my immediate illness ( severe tummy cramps ) was a virus .. Which it was not . As a nurse who has celiac I am aware of what gluten poisoning feels like . The cherry on top of the evening was several visits by what we found out was the owner who was soliciting reviews for another review site . He was smoking an e cigarette ( yes as he came to our table ) and had his shirt unbuttoned down about 5 buttons . He never introduced himself and had little to say other than to ask about the reviews . I feel bad that this local place is struggling so bad . As a property owner on Vilano I always enjoy local places . Sadly I cannot recommend Casa to my local friends or renters ( I have 4 units) . To have a bad meal is one thing but to be attacked and told we were wrong via a review response just shows how unprofessional a business is . My review was honest and accurate and I tried to give them the benefit of the doubt but the refuse to take constructive criticism ( get a set of gluten free cookware! ) . I know they will leave a similar nasty response here and that is fine because their responses show exactly what kind of people they are . Also I found out from " the other big review " site that their reviews are under investigation since they had so many complaints that the positive reviews were left by friends/ staff or were bought . read more

This place is simply adorable and the food is delicious. It's a cute and hidden restaurant. They have antiques throughout the restaurant and play Frank Sinatra in the back ground. Very good place for a date. read more

Tried to sample the food here at cafe Benedetto's on the same road of the Hampton Inn where we stayed. The restaurant is a house that is quite small yet romantic. Arrived at 6:30 Friday night and was seated right away. Placed our order fast as we needed to leave within a hour to go to the Holly Jolly of lights in town. Waitress knew we had to leave as fast as possible. Ordered the chicken Parm and my other half ordered chicken as well. Took 30 minutes to get our salad and bread. Waitress was barely there in more than 1 way. We waited till 7:54 and called the owner over saying we were there for over a hour and needed to be somewhere so we couldn't stay. He told us no charge and sorry. I was disappointed to say the least, food did not come out of the kitchen much and I watched another table switch to another waitress as well. The wife of the owner was sitting at a table in front of us chit chatting with a couple the whole time we were there. Such a shame there is no management to care about their customers enough to make sure tables get their food on time. Will not go back there ever. read more

Beware-Terrible Italian food! The greasiest excuse for a veal piccata dish we've ever had. If an Italian kitchen can't even make a minestrone that tastes better than canned,foodies know better than to order a $20+ entrée and expect it to be satisfying. Because we're locals, we tried to give them a shot, but we will not be back. Oh, and the owner is so pompous he acts like he's doing you a favor just letting you dine at his establishment... What a disappointment! read more

What a wonderful place! Very comfortable, friendly staff and the food is AMAZING! Shrimp parm was awesome, fresh hot bread on the side with pasta and a fresh salad. Topped it off with a cappuccino and tiramisu that was the best I have ever had. 5 stars for sure! read more

Gordon Ramsey would have a fit at this place and the owner. My father and myself are both chefs that craft a wide variety of meals. He has nearly 50 years experience and I have near half that time in the kitchen. I ordered the Flounder Florentine and dad ordered the Chicken Marsala. The meats WERE FROZEN before being cooked. Both meals were tasteless and bland the chicken was extremely tough. The owner sent us away with a duplicate of the chicken to take back to the hotel. Unacceptable!!! Pasta on the side was also tasteless. A can of tomato sauce with no seasoning is what it tasted like. Ragu would have been better. The Eggplant Camponata was overcooked but was the most flavor filled thing there. Food and wine were both overpriced for what the quality was. The waitress was part of the family and was very nice. She looked down to her feet in disappointment when I asked if the special was frozen(LOBSTER RAVIOLI). You have lied many times in commentary of these reviews. You attack people that have bad experiences instead of correcting the problem. And the problem is everything, starting with the chef. I read all your reviews here and your comments back to customers. The arrogance and denial is appalling. Ramsey has episodes that reflect places just like this one. Any chef worth his/her salt NEVER freezes anything. Now that I have spoke about the meal without going into too much detail, I will move now to the interior decor. It is cluttered with many out of place objects, like Pee Wee Herman doll among many others that were hovering above the head. I felt that they were cramming a few peoples childhood into the place. A museum might be a better place for the clutter. It was crammed with tables and chairs that made it feel very cramped and not so inviting. There was also another aspect of the experience I need to hit upon before I finish this review. And that is the overbearing hovering they do in this place. It can make some people feel very uncomfortable. I would NOT recommend anyone visit this place if they expect fresh authentic Italian Cuisine. The food is frozen, tasteless garbage and way overpriced for what you get. Cramped dining and cluttered areas makes for a very awkward and uncomfortable experience. As I stated, the owner is in total denial over the problems here. The owner is also lying about the foods being made fresh and no food is frozen. Lies, all lies. People comment about bad food and experience, because they think you need improvement. Take our advice, fix what is broken. I saw you defending yourself and coming off looking like a paranoid delusional hack. You stated that the bad review was probably from local competition, what a joke!!! The bad reviews here reflect the problems, the chef and owner! And if I were Gordon Ramsey, I would surely say the same or similar. read more

Absolutely superior NY quality food. The server was nice but warned us the kitchen was backed up. 90 minutes to get our food. Brutally slow but worth it. Next time I'll go earlier. The food is first rate and even with a 30 minute wait for a table and 90 minutes for food, I'd go back in a second read more

Born and raised in St. Augustine and this was my first encounter with Casa Benedetto. I was looking forward to the meal with my girlfriend as we were celebrating an anniversary and both love Italian! We were seated and after some confusion among the staff were waited on 10 minutes later. We almost left before the waitress arrived but we stuck it out. Our waitress brought us water and bread and we ordered right away. We ordered Rice Balls and a cup of Pasta Fagioli to share to start. I ordered Angel hair Sicilian Meat Sauce pasta and she ordered Chicken Piccata for the main. Our side salads arrived first, a house and a Caesar, both were tasty. The rice balls arrived next and looked good and we dug in. The meat was still frozen in the middle but we were so hungry we scraped it out and just ate breaded rice dipped in sauce. Before I started this review I read some negative reviews to see if my experience was a "one off", fully prepared to cut them some slack if they were having a bad night. I read a review about a similar frozen food experience and a response from the owner claiming to never use frozen ingredients. Well, with god as my witness those rice balls were frozen and thrown into a fryer. Anyways... my soup never came but I wasn't concerned because I was incredibly thirsty. My tap water sat empty for most of the night. Our waitress was a ghost. I had to ask another server for a glass of water which was promptly delivered (thank you other waitress!). Later, our waitress showed up with the mains and wreaked of cigarettes. It was off putting but at least the mystery of where she had been was solved. The main course was just average. At this point most would have checked out but since we were celebrating 8 years we tried the Tiramisu for dessert, we loved it. Bill was $60 and yes, I made sure the soup wasn't on it. I had fond memories of this location. There used to be a really good Italian place there called Barrancotta's in the 90's. At Benedetto's, our experience was very poor and I was really hoping to enjoy it. Want good Italian in STA? Try Violas or Terra & Acqua and let Benedetto's die the natural death it is intended. read more

Just like being at pops house! Relaxing, great food and the inside is homey. Best Italian restaurant in the area. I ate the rice balls, bread and garlic dip, eggplant parm, Caesar salad and cannolis. Others at the table included chicken Marsala, tiramisu and manicotti. All amazing!! It was like a Sunday spaghetti dinner. So glad my Italian family found this spot. Will definitely be back and taking more people. They do only take cash or credit so be aware. For five people we spent $165 but we ordered two orders of rice balls, oil dip and two orders of cannolis as well as entrees. Each entree was enough for two dinners. I'd much rather give my money to a small Italian restaurant than a place with cheap food quality like carrabas. read more

If I could give them no stars I would Food is beyond over priced and not very good. Service was super slow my water was empty and they never even filled it up. Crab cakes and shrimp were tiny portions for 26 dollars and I got the chicken with lemon butter sauce and capers. It was supposed to be breaded but it was like they dipped it in flower and never fried it. Did not like it at all. Don't waste your time or money. My chicken dinner was 22 dollars. We ordered a coke and it came in a plastic bottle with a cup of ice. It was not good food and so over priced it's sad. read more

Disappointed to say the least. Italian sauce tasted like tomato paste out of a can. Sausage and peppers over pasta was oily and it left a terrible taste in my mouth. I took a dog bag and promptly dropped in the trash when I walked. It was a Monday and not too many people were there I am thinking the sauce was from last week. Used to go over to Villanova Beach and it was good...not so much anymore. Too bad it is right down the street. read more

Run run run with cash or debit cards (that's only what they take) to Casa Benedetto's!! We happened along this local Italian restaurant while riding bicycles and it happened to be lunch. Good wine selection, homemade desserts and authentic Italian fare. Yummy tampenada served with the bread. The eggplant rolatini was light and cheesy and then sausage and peppers with pasta was great - my spouse said it was the best she ever had and I had to quickly correct and say that it was ALMOST as good as mine! LOL! The service was excellent and owners present and interactive with all customers. If we had found this place sooner in our vacation we would have eaten there every night! read more

Great find in vilano beach, I was afraid it was going to be a tourist trap due to its location but happy to report I was wrong! Amazing food, good wine selection and even a few Italian craft beers which were not bad at all. The baked clams appetizer is amazing, the pastas were all very good and the desserts were good, we particularly enjoyed the cheesecake. The waiter was very helpful and knew very well the menu. On the down side, they don't accept credit cards, and the espressos we ordered before leaving were anything but espressos. read more

Spare your wallet and your tummy! Our waitress was extremely nice, however, the food was totally lacking. The shrimp scampi had no flavor and made my husband physically ill, and the Chicken Marsala was simply not good. Both dishes were extremely overpriced for the quality. The portions were large, but unfortunately that was a waste as we could not even finish our meals. Quality over quantity is definitely not in mind at this restaurant. The owner was hovering around the tables (not in a good way) which made the dining experience somewhat awkward. The food was served with a side of soup or salad and bread. The soup was about 6 steps below Progresso. The reviews led us to believe we would be getting AUTHENTIC Italian food, and unfortunately that was not the case. read more

This was a terrible experience. Antipasto severely overpriced for what was in it. A glass of water was accidentally spilled and ignored by the waitress. When told, she took glass that contained debris and refilled same glass. Service was non existent and we left without ordering a full dinner which we had intended to do. Don't understand why this restaurant is getting good ratings. I doubt it's cleanliness. read more

Really lovely home style meal! Attentive servers, lovely location. Zuppa de Pesce is supreme.

First time here and the food definitely has the feel of some one who knows authentic Italian cooking. I found out we are from the same home town in New York. We will surely come back. They could use updated utensils and plates though. read more

Fantastic authentic Italian cuisine. We just enjoyed year in a row of having our special family dinner at Casa B's during an annual trip to St. Augustine. The pasta dishes are incredible. The sauces are amazing. Every element of the meal was done right and we can't wait to visit again on our next visit to St. Augustine. If you like bland sauces or think that Olive Garden's "Taste of Italy" is actually authentic Italian cuisine, maybe you should stay home. read more

Went here based on reviews and it was one of the worst meals I have ever had. 4 meals out of 11 were taken off the check. The linguine with white clam sauce was full of rotten smelling clams. Scared to even taste it based on the foul smell. Two dishes were served with clams that never even opened. When we complained the owner came out and argued about when the clams were bought. When we said they were bad because they never opened, he said it's not that they were bad, it's because they weren't cooked! Either way..that is ridiculous! The Marsala and Chicken Francese were swimming in oil and had an awful flavor. The penne a la vodka tasted sour and the tiramisu was sitting in a puddle which made it so soggy. The first 2 orders of calamari were not cooked enough which made them soft and wet. They lacked flavor. They brought us 2 more orders that were cooked better but still lacked flavor. The antipasto was decent as was the chicken parm and eggplant rollatini. Our servers were great. However, there is a dog in the restaurant and the way management handled our rotten clams is unacceptable. You should NEVER serve unopened clams. And to say they weren't opened because they weren't cooked enough is unbelievable. We ordered 5 bottles of wine and had planned on having a fantastic birthday celebration. Such a disappointment. read more

Tried this place for lunch while visiting the St Augustine area. The outside doesn't look like much, but the interior decor will hold your interest, almost like visiting your grandparents house. Antiques and trinkets are everywhere, and it adds to the homey feel. The service was fine, complimentary bread was excellent. Tried the mozzarella caprese for an appetizer, it was beautiful and delicious. I had the chicken parmagania and it was as good as it gets. The sauce is the best, robust and full of fresh tomato flavor! The owner stopped to chat, a very kind older woman who reminded me of my own Italian grandma! I finished with tiramisu and a cup of coffee for dessert and both left a lot to be desired. The coffee was weak and bland, definitely not what I expect from an Italian place, the tiramisu was too wet and not flavored very well. I would go here again and again if I lived in the area! You'll be glad you tried it! read more

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Delicious food. If you are in the area this is where you should eat. I could tell you what my wife and I ate but I'm really quite sure all their menu will be good. read more

This place is a HOMERUN! What a treat! Don't think about it just get here and enjoy :-) Good service, excellent food (I had the chicken Marsala), and cozy beach town atmosphere. This is the definition of family owned and operated Italian restaurant. The owners seat you, family members are servers and wait staff, and it's the nephews that churn out the goods from the kitchen! Awesome! I'll be bringing my Italian family here often :-) read more

Amazing Christmas Eve dinner. Carrie did a great job taking care of us. Highly recommend. The salmon was incredible, and delicious wines. Can't wait for our next visit. read more

Great hidden gem. Fantastic from start to finish!! Carrie was a great server! From the bread and caponata to appetizers (baked clams, stuffed mushrooms, caprese) to entrees (ravioli, fettucini alfredo, chicken parm, carbonara, meatballs) everything was excellent! read more

This was like stepping into an Italian family home and having quality,delicious home cooking. Everything from the soup, the lasagna,the chicken , the pasta, it was all a treat to the eyes, and taste buds. Great bread. And our server JoJo was a doll, and very personable. This will be a definite stop on every visit. read more

Amazing food! Ate here a couple summers ago and never got around to writing a review. Had a scallop dish that was awesome. The food rivals that of the best Italian restaurants in Philly and other big cities. The workers are great and very friendly. I saw another customer write not to judge the restaurant by the exterior and that is the truth. HIDDEN GEM! read more

Friendly service. Quaint, authentic atmosphere. Delicious food. Especially enjoyed the rice ball, meatball and sausage side dishes. Fabulous dessert. Great prices Can't wait to return. Is open now despite the hurricane! read more

We are big fans of this restaurant . If we have a choice of where to eat , we choose Benedetto's. Most delicious chicken parm and eggplant parm in town . Ask for Jo to serve you -she's the best ! Owners are always fluttering about and are very nice as well . If you're in a rush , probably not the best place to go . Relax, enjoy a nice glass of wine and some delicious Italian food prepared with love ! read more

We love Casa Benedettos! The wine, rice balls, delicious crusty bread, friendly owners and staff make for a great dining experience! Jay and Robyn go out of their way to ensure your comfort and satisfaction every time! Last Tuesday I had dinner there with two of my friends. I was in the mood for Veal Saltimboca - something they don't have on their menu - and asked Robyn if their chef could whip that up. He prepared the dish beautifully. The veal was so tender, adorned with fresh spinach, Proscuitto and cheese, but the sauce - made with sage, picked right out of their herb garden - really put it over the top! My friends had Chicken Parmesan and Chicken Marsala and were equally delighted with their dishes. This is a warm and wonderful place. It always feels like we're visiting family there. Love it every time read more

I'll never come back. I failed to notice they required only cash or debit. I had cash but was shocked at their prices (way over priced for the quality)and had to use my debit card which I consider a security risk. There are other better places to eat in St Augustine or Vilano Beach. The service was also slow. read more

HIDDEN GEM!!! We have eaten here numerous times, and have waited to write a review until we had been a few times. It is great! Always friendly, mom and pop style atmosphere. Don't be in a hurry when you go, embrace the quirky atmosphere, and order anything on the menu. We will continue to visit when we are in town, it has quickly become one of our favorites! read more

This was my first time here. They were packed. I enjoyed sitting outside as it was a nice evening. The wait staff was quick and efficient. The white wine was amazing and reasonable. I ordered the special pasta/ Carciofi with chicken, artichokes, sun dried tomatoes and mushrooms . I don't use salt and I thought the seasoning was perfect. I loved that it is all fresh made. No sauce sitting in a pan all day. We shared a tiramisu that was home made and yummy. I was surprised they don't take credit cards but I understand it helps keep food cost reasonable. They swipe the card at your table so you don't have to worry about your debit card. I love the mom and pop beachy atmosphere. I am so over the chain Restaraunt experience. read more

Visiting St. Augustine, was hoping for a great meal and experience. So disappointed, waiter was terrible, had to return to our table several times because he forgot something. Order the special for the night, he returned 20 minutes later to tell us the did not have it. This was 5 pm. Food was bland, pasta over cooked, would not recommend and won't be back. read more

Charming small Italian restaurant just up the street from the beach. Inexpensive Italian wine list with moderately priced entrees but they give you a lot of food for the price you pay. You won't go away hungry. Bread service was delicious with the oil upcharge being very garlicky and salty, which was great. Mozzarella Caprice was a bit of a plain dud and the house salad and side of pasta that comes with your entree basic as well. But the entrees are ample in their portion sizes and deliver what is promised on the menu. Found the bread pudding to be small and basic for the price you pay. Service was friendly and functional. Only take cash or debit cards. read more

service was terrible!! unpleasant management! watery almost soup like based pasta. Owners dog inside the restaurant while food being served.

Casa Benedetto's was awesome. The owners were very pleasant and friendly. The wait staff made us feel at home. Our server Carrie was exceptional. My wife had Veal Picatta----melted like butter. I had lasagna---very very good. Appetizer we had the mussels---incredible. Tiramisu for dessert was awesome. Please come visit this family. read more

My significant other and I love eating Italian as much as we can. We also like trying new places. Today while visiting St Augustine we stopped by Casa Benedetto's Italian Cafe and were more than pleasantly surprised. We both ordered Eggplant Parmesan and had the best Italian meal in about 10 years. From the sauce to the tenderness of the eggplant to the perfect amount of cheese this was a 5 star meal. Our waiter Steve was a perfect waiter. He showed himself to be knowledgeable in answering all our questions and had an excellent disposition. We even had desert when the owner/cook came out to talk to us at our table and recommended her home made rum bread pudding with a scoop of gelato on top. This was top drawer all the way. If you ever find yourself in St Augustine or Jacksonville you owe it to yourself to dine at Casa Benedetto's. read more