I first came to Mucca three years ago for a regatta and it has become my favorite stop in Sarasota each year, sometimes 3x or more in seven days. This is NOT a place to eat. It IS a place to dine. That means definitely eat inside as the aromas are part of the experience. Take your time. Order courses that come separately so they can be savored. Talk to the staff. And enjoy the food, the company, and the rarity of a true Italian restaurant. I am grateful to see it thrive and thank them for treating me like family. read more

Stopped by with my family after having a family event down the street. The restaurant wasn't busy and they had the lunch menu at the time. Everything was fresh and tasted great. I ordered the lasagna and I'd go back just so I can have it again! It was delicious! The service was excellent. Friendly and attentive. Also loved the feel of the restaurant. Very homey and comfortable. If you're in the area, don't hesitate to check this place out! read more

La Mucca Ballerina - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

This place is always so busy, so I would suggest asking a reso. The staff are friendly, kind and do a great job. I would highly recommend the antipesto board. The mains are okay but the apps are much better. They have some great bottles of wine! read more

La Mucca Ballerina - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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First time visit after several attempts and much hype. Positives: quaint, old school Italian setting. Homemade bread is delicious! Homemade pastas provide a great , authentic twist to the pasta dishes . Negatives: Service is awful . Slow and seemed as if they were doing us a favor reluctantly . Took 50 min to get food after seating and nobody would come by to fill water I ordered pasta with clams . It was good but the clams were fresh but sandy which is pretty unsavory when eating clams Would return but to try pizzas which looked great . read more

Non assuming little place with an amazing kitchen that cranks out so traditional and less traditional authentic Italian dishes. Service was also good but this place is about the food !! Waitress knew her food very well and explained it like she cooked it. Worth a try. read more

La Mucca Ballerina - Kasa - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

What a gem! We called ahead as there were no reservations available on their site. We were told to come in at 8:30 and our table was ready. Staff was outstanding. Truly attentive and invested in diners comfort and happiness. Pasta was clearly fresh made and portions were massive. Papperdale was really good. The chicken parm was specially made and could have used more seasonings as it was fairly bland. Sangria was overly cinnamon-y but good. Wide selection of wines. No bar. Limoncello cake was excellent. Will return. read more

La Mucca Ballerina - Limoncello cake. - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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Loved our dinner here. The sauce was fantastic! Our server was delightful, and the interior is small and full of energy, even on a Monday evening. read more

La Mucca Ballerina - Parmigiana Di Melanzane - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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We have been here twice. Once for lunch and once for dinner. Amazing!! Definitely try this place. But make reservations for dinner

La Mucca Ballerina is a hidden gem in Sarasota. We had the lobster ravioli, which was rich, flavorful, and beautifully made, and the kids' spaghetti, which was simple, fresh, and a hit with our little one. The atmosphere feels like a true Roman trattoria and the service was warm and welcoming. Great wine list too. We'll definitely be back. read more

First time there. Has only beer and wine. Food was really good. Waitress was pretty good. Small place but Id recommend it.

It's a casual cafe where you feel like you're in Italy on vacation. I only ate pizza and beer during this visit. Appreciated Peroni beer on tap. Look forward to an authentic entre next. My 2018 review was for the preceding restaurant. read more

Outstanding food and excellent service! The Sunday Gravy special was out of this world- would love to see it on the menu permanently. We had a pizza as an appetizer and it was probably the best I have had in Sarasota. The arancini was so good (even the rice in the arancini is delicious.) Lasagna was tasty. The marinara sauce is unbelievable. They loved the lobster ravioli and calamari. They were busy and we still had excellent service. Fave Italian restaurant in Sarasota! read more

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Holy shiitake !!! That was my attempt to avoid using expletives but la mucca when I use these terminologies just know I really enjoy the food. Everything is very fresh and made from scratch!!! Tell me it's made from scratch and I will buy it . Everything was excellent however I was blown away by the focaccia.... It's fluffy , flavorful and hints of rosemary just make you feel less guilty about eating 1 million carbs. Then don't do anything bad here as every dish receives a ton of attention to detail before being bought out. I tried anchovy pizza for the first time and I wasn't the biggest fan it's very salty but otherwise the cheese, sauce and crust was exquisite. The meatballs are insanely good and the tomato sauce they come in? Ooff sell me a gallon please. This review was brought to you by your hungry asian friend thank you for reading read more

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Came by for lunch on a random Monday and was very pleased. I got the lasagna! Super fresh n cheesy. They'll be seeing me again. They serve more dishes on their dinner menu so yeah read more

La Mucca Ballerina - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Pizza was soggy. Dripping wet dough. Gnocchi were overcooked. We left most of the food and left. Service slow. What a shame. I hope they get their act together. read more

Insanely good place. People are super friendly and the food is out of this world. Truly authentic. Best gnocchi I've ever had, including multiple places in Florence and Rome. Incredible. read more

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Very good Italian food. Service was excellent. The ambience made me feel like I was in Italy. This is a must visit restarant while you are in Sarasota. read more

when I walk into the door, I felt like I was in grandma's house in Italy. The atmosphere is loud as most Italian dinners are. The food was spectacular fresh and delicious I highly recommend making a reservation read more

Well, another over priced restaurant that serves average food with fancy names just to charge ridiculous prices. Example, Nodino Di Melanzane, really is a "stuffed" pork chop. Stuffed with ONE small thin slice of deli style ham and a bit of cheese, $42, even though its advertised for $38. Also came with a salad. However I was charged for a side $14 salad "mista", which was supposed to come with the dinner. Also the tip suggested on your bill includes the percentage including tax. Unfortunately it came well done, which left the meat completely flavorless. Seating is so tight it's really a family style venue. Probably will not return, partly because of the trickery and what you don't see! read more

Omg best gnocchi I have ever had! Lamb fell off the shank. Tortelloni had perfect texture (pasta and carne) and amazing flavor! Wish we had been hungry enough to try more. Wonderful service! Actual Italians working and dining there and no wonder!!! Will be back on ALL future visits to the area. Recommend booking a reservation as even on a Monday night it was packed!!! read more

Wow!! I went to La Mucca Ballerina twice during my birthday week! What a gem! Small, family owned restaurant with great service and amazing food! Their bread, pastas and desserts are all made in house. For my first visit, we split the pizza frita starter and then I enjoyed their seafood special, a butterflied Bronzino puttanesca with pasta puttanesca on the side. Incredible! The Bronzino was fresh and perfectly cooked and the puttanesca was savory and oh so delicious! I pretty much licked the plate clean. My wife has the pizza with meatballs and ricotta that was amazing and my in laws had the spaghetti vongole that came loaded with clams and the pasta was divine!! For dessert, we had the lightest, most delicate ricotta and pistachio cake. During my second visit, I needed to try some pasta! We started with their fried calamari that was the best I've had in Sarasota and probably top 3 that I've ever had: light, crispy and so fresh! They also add in some fried pickles and fried Calabrian chiles which were great little surprise morsels! I had the carbonara which was rich and silky with perfectly crispy guanciale (cured in house), my mom had the spaghetti vongole which was incredible and my dad enjoyed the bucatini amatriciana which was so delicious. The family that owns the restaurant has a sister restaurant in Rome. Everything tasted incredible. If you've ever wanted to try authentic Roman pastas, you can find all 4 (alla Gricia, Carbonara, Casio e Pepe and Amatriciana) here executed perfectly! Bravo to the team at La Mucca Ballerina. I cannot wait to come back and enjoy more of your incredible menu!!! read more

Went here last night with a four top. Got sat about 15 mins after our reservation time, which is usually a good sing... not so much this time though. The beef tortellini were way over sized, like each one just a little smaller than a golf ball, more like a ravioli than a tortellini. The meat inside and in the sauce on top was way over braise, the whole dish was both visually unpleasant and did not taste great by any means. The veal saltimbocca was even worse, meat was tough and tased old. We could not eat this dish, and the staff did not ask us about it.. on the other hand the special breaded veal chop was delicious. As was the pasta fagioli. The lentil soup was also decent. The dinning room is really small, but they seem to be able to pack in a decent business. The cab BTG was tasty as well. Unfortunately the poor quality of the tortellini, and the fact that the veal saltambocca was not edible means we probably will not be back. Good veal chop tho.. read more

I enjoyed the pasta. It was a busy place so we sat outside. A little cold. The ambiance was ok. Small place good pasta.

We were in town for spring break and walked to La Mucca from our hotel. The food was fabulous!!! Our waitress, Silvia, was sweet and good at her job! You can tell this truly is a family owned and operated restaurant with real Italian cuisine! read more

Amazing food. Drop everything and make reservation for this authentic spot. SO Peru it. Paulo is fantastic. Order everything!! read more

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Great food and service. Can't say enough good things about eating there! It was crowded but all of our food came out in a timely ( not rushed) fashion. read more

I visited La Mucca Ballerina earlier this week for dinner. The restaurant was packed for a Thursday evening around 7pm. I was by myself but was lucky to be seated at one of the last available small tables. I did see a few people turned away since they were booked for the evening. Thus, I highly recommend a reservation if you are planning on visiting. My meal began with complimentary fresh Focaccia. This bread was heavenly: soft, airy and with light rosemary, garlic and olive oil. For my entrée I had the Saltimbocca Di Vitello as recommended by my server. The veal was tender in a light white wine sauce. The side of pasta was thick and al dente and served in the same sauce as the veal. Overall, the dinner was a nice experience. read more

La Mucca Ballerina - Focaccia - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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Not sure what happened the day we went to eat here at La Mucca Ballerina ,for some reason the waiter ignored what my daughter ordered and brought her a different dish and walked away, this was after the fact that the waiter told me the kitchen could not make the dish I ordered, the replacement dish he recommended honestly tasted as if it was washed in left over tomato water. We were looking forward to finding a great place for Italian food, but we're honestly disappointed and so many levels. read more

Superb food with an on-site owner, which makes all the difference. Great ambience. Fabulous service.

We went to La Mecca Ballerina on New Year's Eve which really isn't a fair judge of a restaurant. We had a good time, 6 of us. Food was delicious and service was good. Too expensive for me but otherwise a good time. read more

Great little lunchtime spot for us last week while shopping. My friends love a simple pizza. The tomato sauce tasted like real tomatoes--- not too sweet and not overly seasoned. Very clean and fresh tasting. Crust was wonderful, too. Pizza can be very personal (honestly!) People love NY style or Chicago style or lots of cheese or lots of toppings, etc... Our preference is a simple pizza with a thinner crust- like the pizza they are known for in Naples, Italy. This pizza was a Roman style and we really enjoyed it. The ambience was very relaxed and there was no rushed feeling. We ordered a chocolate dessert and it was rich and delicious. We were pleased to see it stayed busy even though it was mid week in low season and we were there mid afternoon. It was a great spot to lunch at while browsing downtown. read more

Last minute trip to Sarasota and this was our first stop after reading reviews on Yelp, and it was a fine choice we made. The place is small but does have outside seatings as well which is an added advantage. The road it is on has a bunch of restaurants, so it is a nice street to walk on and explore the area, as we did have a 30 minute wait. The place was pretty packed and what I noticed was that besides the staff which os very Italian even the customers there were mostly Italian and were speaking Italian, which gave an indication that this must be really authentic. The menu is decent and we decided to try the Spaghetti Vongole, which is spaghetti with clams and the Ravioli Della Casa, which was basically cheese and spinach filled Ravioli. It took them a while to prepare the dish as we enjoyed the beautiful spring weather in Sarasota. Once the food arrived we attacked it immediately, both were really well made and the pasta was very fresh and you could tell probably premise made. Of the two I preferred the Spaghetti Vongole as it had a much stronger flavor but at the end of the day, both were really good. Staff was awesome, very friendly and accommodating even though we made a last minute reservation. Give it a try if you are in the area. read more

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The service was great constantly coming around the table and giving us water. The food was so delicious. The place is small so make sure to make a reservation. I definitely will come back. read more

La Mucca Ballerina - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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It was a great atmosphere. The food was very delicious. The waitress was very knowledgeable and I was comfortable like home.

Fabulous food here all fresh and authentic ingredients lovely Intimate atmosphere, could be romantic I could be warm and fuzzy like dining with your family. Chef came out to the table a few times to make sure everything was going well even recommended a beautiful wine. Just overall great atmosphere fantastic service even when we showed up on Thanksgiving day. Absolutely I've been dreaming about when I'm coming back to try some more dishes. I had the shrimp and scallop special with red sauce read more

La Mucca Ballerina - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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Our first experience here as I've heard so many great things about this restaurant. Let's start with the good. The restaurant ambience and our server were very nice. My wife ordered the Pappardelle alla Bolognese and it looked amazing. That's what I would normally order but I haven't had lasagna for a long time and it looked amazing from the reviews and pictures so I was all in. And I was disappointed. Nothing like the pictures that people take from prior experiences. Not even close. They short cutted the dish and the portion was much smaller than what I would expect. Yet they charge $28 for that experience? It was not good. I'm sure it's been better but on a Wednesday night post season they didn't deliver. If you want to charge the peak season prices you need to deliver the best lasagna you can deliver no matter what. Never again for me. You had one chance to impress me and you failed badly. I'm relatively easy with Italian food and you didn't deliver anywhere close to an acceptable food experience. read more

Great little Italian spot. Get there early because it fills up fast. Service was great as we were the first diners in the restaurant. Food was prepared as expected. Noise level gets high as more diners arrive. Overall a good dining spot before a show or movie. read more

We love that the owners are from Rome. The food is always delicious and the wine selection is great! On our last visit, my husband had the Braciole and I had the gnocchi. We've been there several times and have enjoyed every meal. read more

Delicious! The special Grouper Piccata was so tasty. My husband loved the bolognaise. read more

La Mucca Ballerina - Grouper piccata - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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2 plates of pasta, split a salad with my wife, 1 small glass of wine each. Total was $150. Place is over rated, a tourist trap , no value!