We haven't been here in quite a while. We always like local restaurants. We went with the special dinner menu..Extravaganza which comes with soup or salad, a selection of meals, & a dessert for $11. The bread comes out with a yummy honey balsamic dipping sauce. The bread would be better if it was warm!! The salad was just iceberg lettuce...pretty generic. I got the linguine with shrimp, which was good, BUT only a few shrimp. I say add a few more & it would have been awesome. My friend got the shrimp & chicken pasta, potatoes with spinach. Way too many potatoes & not enough chicken or shrimp!!! The dessert was a generic strawberry iced white cake. Nothing fancy. Server was friendly!! The music playing in the background was so annoying & way too loud!! Italian opera...say no!! The specials are a plus & we had a coupon for $5.00 off. read more

We stumbled on to Pomodoro Cafe by accident but that's how most of my best foodie experiences have begun. It's not everyday that you try so many great foods. With every first bite of the different dishes I was wondering if I was experiencing these amazing foods for the first time! You may have had Italian food but unless you've eaten Pomodoro Cafe, leave your preconceptions behind. The open faced calzone was superb. The fettuccine Alfredo was THE BEST I've eaten. The garlic bread and dipping sauce that is served with it is unlike anything I've had previously. This is a must for any foodie and a great restaurant experience for any occasion. The owner, Carmine, showed us true Italian hospitality and greeted each table personally. The service we received is a lost art that the team at Pomodoro Cafe has mastered. I'd give this made from scratch Italian eatery 10 stars if I could! Give them a try... you can thank me later! read more

Excellent service and good food. Saved 17 dollars with their couples deal (2 entrees, appetizer, and desert). We started with the seafood choppino. I ordered the mixed grill and it was spectacular and my gfs chicken was also very tasty. Planning on coming back. read more

I came here with a very large party (over 20 people) and while there was only one server for our table she did a very good job. The food was pretty good (I had Eggplant Parmesan) but not spectacular. The salad and bread were decent, nothing special. Still I appreciated that our large party was handled so well. read more

Somebody else's recent review was spot on: the food isn't bad, but it isn't good. It's just blah. I could get a TV dinner for $2.50 and it tastes about the same way, actually Michaelangelo's eggplant is better. It's disappointing because the owner is Italian as am I, and I expect better. My grandmother should have been the cook here. read more

Waitress was excellent and food was even better. This was a great alternative to fast food when getting off the interstate. The older gentleman/host at the door was very abrasive towards us and other customers which almost put us off completely. We're still very happy we stayed. Also, the restaurant should have a baby changing station. read more

Out of town for a few days , local guy recommended pomodoro's . Great place really comfortable , reasonably priced , food was very good . highlight for me was the staff , very friendly and efficient from hostess to server to manager. read more

It's a place we often stop at for a great dinner on our way to the Gulf coast. Nathan was our server this time and was excellent. Very courteous and professional. We had a slight error on our order and they more than corrected with customer service in mind .. read more

I've eaten here a couple times and had a delicious meal, then one time I went and found a piece of metal in my food (maybe from a scouring pad in the kitchen?). The waiter was apologetic, but the manager was rude about it. He didn't comp me the dish, not that he had to, but he made me feel like an idiot for even saying anything. It was a little unnecessary. I also got take-out from them once, and despite the fact that I had ordered and paid, they decided they were closing the kitchen and basically threw together a completely random dish that wasn't even close to what I ordered. The same night, while I was waiting for my order, a soldier in uniform went in and tried to order and was denied food completely. It seems like they could make their service a lot better with just a little bit of effort. The food is certainly not good enough to make it worth the trip. read more

I tend to eat here often as it is convenient to work. The service tends to be slow during lunch. I try to ask for the check when the food is served and still can't seem to always get out of there in an hour. The food is tasty. I truly love the pizza and pick one up on my way home as a special treat every now and then. The steak salad is amazing. Some of the other dishes I have tried have been a bit too heavy on the garlic (and I really love garlic). The pasta is well made and fresh. read more

This is just awesome Italian food executed splendidly . There are Daily BOGO specials for calzones 2 for 10$ last I checked. They use fresh cheeses and meats home made pizzas and breads. And the owner is vibrant and full of life a true joy when he greets you in the front! read more

Not happy about having to wait 30 min with tables open. .. maybe we weren't dressed well enough... passing through. Food was good, service adequate, price reasonable. read more

A real Italian restaurant with subtle combination of ingredients that blend into a very satisfying dinning experience. This is by far the best place for a nice bowl of soup. Their soup of the day is different every time I go and they are so delicious that I keep coming back to try others. I've especially enjoyed the butternut squash, the mushroom, the Italian wedding, and chicken soups. I also really enjoy the shrimp and chicken carbonara. The sweet caramelized onions, and salty bacon bits give this Alfredo sauce the most delicious flavor. It is what I imagine real Italian food to be. And you can't beat the high class service, the soft romantic music and the picturesque murals. Their outdoor dining area is v read more

They had really good lunch specials. We had soup, salad, pizza and an open faced calzone, all of which were delicious! Will definitely be coming back to try more. read more

We had a nice experience here at dinner last night with extended family. Service was very good, with our server checking in often and quick & pleasant. Food was very good. Bread was average-done nicely with garlic but bread itself not very fresh/flavorful. Small thing though. We'd go back anytime. read more

Nice decor and pleasant, prompt service. The pollo agridolce was a very tasty and healthy option for lunch. Will come back next time I'm in town for sure. Only reason for not 5-star is the chicken breast, while tasty, was a bit thin and probably contributed to slightly over-cooking. The grilled watermelon salsa made up for it though. read more

I had a previously bad experience with pomodoro cafe, on a delivery order and wanted to check them out in person. The issue was definitely with delivery because I went here for a bite and really enjoyed the food and atmosphere. My waitress Paige did a great job and was very attentive. The kitchen was clean and it was cool to watch the food being prepared. The FOH manager checked in to ask how I was doing and knew many customers by name. Enjoyed everything read more

It's been a while since we have been here but wow what a change. I'm in love wit Pomadors again. Service Food Happy Hour . You have to have the bread and sauce my new/old favorite place again read more

My favorite pizza in Gainesville and great lunch and dinner deals! You can't beat their 2-4-1 carryout deals on pizza and calzones and I love the foldable, brick oven style pizza. We also go here for lunch pretty often and enjoy the good selection. Their food has always been good and I've never had an issue. One of my favorite places in town! read more

I have driven by Pomodoro's for many years. It was just far enough off the road to keep me from turning in. Last week however myself and the kids decided to give it a try as we were headed out of Gainesville on 39th. So glad that I did. The pastas and sauces are excellent, especially the Bolognese.! Because we always go for the Big Order, we ordered the buy one get one pizza to take home. I got the Margharetta and the kids got a traditional pepperoni. They were fantastic! We came back again tonight as I had an appointment over this way. Once again great food and great service. We have had the same waiter both times, did not catch his name but he was very polite and speedy. Ordered two more pizzas to go and they smell terrific! This time went with the Greek pizza and veggie pizza. I figured that this restaurant would be good to have held on as long as it had. I was not disappointed. Highly recommend! read more

Hey management, what have you done with my Pomodoro? Was our go to place for good, reasonably priced Italian with a beer. Last time we were there we were served a local craft beer FOR $5.95 FOR A 10 oz MUG!! Not cool!! Another of our favorite places down the road (Northwest Grille) serves same beer for $4/pint! Really enjoy this place but something is wrong, seriously wrong, with their beverage pricing. Strange for a place that is so price reasonable on their food. read more

Great, authentic local place. Good Food. No wait and the pizza is awesome. The decorations are fun with hand painted murals. Good ambiance. read more

Pomodoro Cafe - Italian Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

We've been going to Pomodoro for years and considered it a fairly good Italian restaurant. But we may stay away for some time after yesterday's lunch experience. My husband was eating his salad when suddenly he bit down on what turned out to be a steel bolt. When brought to the waiter's and manager's (owner?) attention, the manager basically tried to pawn the presence of this item off on the supplier of their lettuce and thus not his problem. In a case like this, most restaurants would offer to make some adjustment to the bill. Not this manager. The waiter said the cost of the salad was removed from the bill--except the salad was included in the lunch order, so....no adjustment. On top of that, my otherwise tasty order was still cold in places. Bye-bye Pomodoro for now. read more

One of my favorite places to eat. Who ever they have on specialty pizzas, keep them! Lot's of toppings! Tastes great!

I have gone to this restaurant frequently and I was actually delighted that it was on gatorfood.com and I can order online and have it sent to my home. As a chef, I am a very picky eater. First off the Marsala sauces are not made how they are really supposed to, usually it's oily or they add a bit of marinara sauce to it when its supposed to be a simple butter sauce. They cook a bit bland so expect to have to add salt to your meal. One of the things that I was disappointed was on their Cesar dressing, it is pretty much inedible one night, so lately my husband and I have been steering clear from it. Their soups are not really good, and whatever soup of the day we once got tasted like old shoe and cabbage. So today, while ordering online I put in a note and asked if possible sub the soup or salad for a bit of steamed broccoli, as a chef I try to accommodate customers, so I didn't think it be a problem. Apparently it was, and the manager was not very nice about it either. Regardless, I enjoy their pasta bolognese when I need some comfort italian food and I am tired from cooking for others, my husband has the ribeye frequently. Their food is hit or miss, especially when ordering online. read more

This Italian restaurant has a beautiful-interior room and nice out door seating. It is a fun place to go and have a good dinner for reasonable prices. The entire crew are courteous and great. I would recommend it to anyone who loves good Italian food. read more

A great example of how a local restaurant can be successful even in the midst of cookie cutter chains! Never had a poor experience here in the 5 years my wife and I have been dining there. Owner is usually there - be sure to say hi - the pizza is wonderful and authentic. Daily specials are also not to be missed. read more

Some of the best Italian food in Gainesville plus owned by a real Italian (very friendly guy) so the food is very authentic. They have a nice outdoor area to enjoy drinks and a great ambiance as well. My first visit was a few weeks ago, I love the location just a few minutes from my house and great lunch specials. I ordered the lasagna and was blown away, fresh mozarella and ricotta cheeses and very rich flavors. Definitely order the lasagna if you go. read more

Met some friends from out of state here yesterday. The food was a delicious as ever and the service was top notch. My friends were also impressed. The dipping oil/dip for the bread is so addictive! I would not hesitate to recommend this restaurant to anyone. read more

Great pizza and consistent service. Everything you expect from a pizzeria and Italian restaurant the place has a nice feel to it also

The food is always delicious. Service is almost always super attentive. Prices are great and so are portion sizes. Happy hour is generous as well. read more

Also very good Italian food. Would wait to eat here even if Olive Garden could seat me now. Also very good wine list.

All I can say is OMG!!! FOOD WAS AMAZING. Was there during peak lunch time so it was a little noisy. And to top off the amazing and delicious food. I left so fast that I left a envelope on the table with my light bill and the money for it. It was handed in and not touched. Which is rare. With integrity like that, you can't go wrong with giving this place a try read more

Like another reviewer below, I do not understand the many negative reviews. My wife and I have been eating at Pomodoro Cafe since it opened, and over the years have dined there dozens of times. During that time, I have been disappointed with the food exactly once. I ordered Chicken Piccata, never having had the dish before, and did not enjoy it. Was that Pomodoro's fault? Not to my way of thinking. I will agree that sometimes the service is a bit spotty, which is the only reason I'm not giving 5 stars. As for the food: the pizza IS excellent, especially the meatball pizza. But pizza you can get anywhere and I rarely order it at Pomodoro. My current favorite is Ravioli Alla Vodka, consisting of three huge cheese-filled ravioli in a subtle pink sauce with tomato and bacon. I always order a side of Italian sausage which I think is the best I've ever had. One night a week is an all-you-can eat spaghetti night, with choice of pasta and sauce. We did that recently and had no room to order even seconds. I am not a salad guy, but Pomodoro's side salad is done right. It comes chilled and crisp and is as good as a side salad can get. I use the balsamic vinegar reduction served with the complementary bread as the salad dressing. I love that stuff so much that I have ordered a pint of it several times to take home. The Antipasta is excellent and includes roasted veggies, which really add another dimension to the salad. Be warned though, even the small antipasta is enough for two people that you'll be taking home part of the entre. Pomodoro may not be perfect, but it is a darn good neighborhood Italian restaurant. read more

It has been over a year and a half since I frequented this restaurant. We loved going there. But after a visit and a roach walked across the table between salad and mai course I was shocked. I asked to speak to the manager. He came over to our table and I showed him the dead roach in there napkin and his response was unbelievable. The response was - "it's only a bug" and he walked away. Make up your own mind if you thinks it's appropriate. I didn't want a comp'd meal as he walked away I said just wanted to bring to your attention so you could fix the problem. We will never go back. read more

I have only had good experiences at Pomodoro. The staff has always been friendly and the food has always been good. The environment inside is very warm and doesn't feel like a chain restaurant. We always choose Pomodoro when we want to order a take out pizza. Almost every time that we have eaten or taken out food the manager has thanked us for coming and has been friendly. read more

I visit the caf'e as often as possible. The service is generally great, The food is Delicioso! The pricing is very fair. My only negative is that I wish it were standard to have the vinegarette for the bread warmed, instead of nice warm bread and the cold vinegarette. The Pasta Fagiole soup is a must. read more

The service was fantastic no doubt. My waitress was Cassidy and she did her job and did it well. Unfortunately my lasagna tasted like Ragu. You do not want to go to an Italian restaurant and order lasagna and think Ragu. Highly disappointed. read more

Might as well have ordered cardboard. We tried the shrimp and chicken carbonara. The fettuccine was sticky and starchy and had no flavor, the alfredo sauce was runny, had no flavor, probably used cheap margarine instead of butter. My date had an extravaganza dish which is supposed to come with a dessert. But she had to ask, and then it came in a to go box without any of the drizzle mentioned in the menu. The waitress rushed us the entire stay, salads were barely served, before the entrée was brought out to crowd the table. My apple desert was supposed to be warmed, but it was room temp. causing the apple chunks to be rubbery. What can you say about an Italian place who serves undercooked noodles, and gets alfredo sauce wrong? I have given this place a dozen tries because it is close, but each time is worse than before. Such a shame, because these are the people who had Nero's and Vinice Café, which I loved dearly. Beware consumers, pricey food that is substandard, and crappy service. read more

Food is ok but not willing to offer any substitutions for potatoes with dinner without a ridiculous $2.50 up charge even to swap for vegetable medley or low cost items. Steak was over cooked and had an odd flavor. Service was good but that's the only good point I could offer. NOT PALEO FRIENDLY. Cannot recommend. read more