food was excellent definitely worth a return visit. service was very good and the ambiance was very pleasant!!!

This was our first time going to Postano's and left a really bad taste in our mouth and pocketbook! Highly disappointed. Really poor super slow service. They ran out of bread? Our Total bill was $64 for 2 dirty martini, 1 glass of wine and an appetizer for $9. Unknowingly we stupidly paid $18 for 1 dirty martini! Of course that wasn't priced on the menu. I guess Florida is the new California! We waited over an hour for the our fish entree which we were splitting which never arrived. We were told twice it will be another 20 minutes!!! As always the excuse is the kitchen is slow. Mmmm, doubt it. Every one around us, who came in after us, were served! Honestly, don't bother going. Honestly zero ratings. Check please! read more

Interesting how all of the honest reviews from Valentine's Day evening have mysteriously disappeared....it was an unorganized, horribly managed shitshow but food was fine. read more

Had a great dinner experience . Great food and service and live dinner music but not loud where one cant have. a conversation and we sat right next to the duo playing . The food was delicious and the owner came around to check on how our dining experience was . . Will be going back on a Weds night as my favorite local Sinatra singer plays there on Wed nights read more

We ordered carry out for dinner from Positano's two nights ago. The salads were delicious! The bread was sooooo good! The three entrees were all amazing. So pleased with the new owners. Not only was the food great, but the new owners are very nice. Looking forward to dining there or ordering take out again. Highly recommend! read more

The Great Hostage Crisis at Positano's: A Culinary Misadventure If you're a thrill-seeker who loves culinary gambles, Positano's might just be your next stop. But for those who prefer a predictable dining experience, be warned: this establishment offers a masterclass in disappointment. Our evening began innocently enough with an attempt to enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail at the bar, an ambition thwarted by their exclusive offering of house wine and recieving a suspiciously diluted old fashioned. Tip for the house: if you're going to cut your liquor, perhaps don't do it with the audacity of a bank robber! The true ordeal began with our 7:30pm reservation, which transformed into a 10pm meal delivery. One might ponder whether the kitchen staff had embarked on a quest to find inspiration, only to return empty-handed. I suppose Positano's subscribes to the belief that anticipation is the purest form of pleasure. Our server, Kayla, deserves a medal for her honesty and empathy through the ordeal--clearly, she's mastered the art of crisis management. Meanwhile, the owner, a man who could star in his own tragic comedy episode of "Kitchen Nightmares," seemed to mistake our hunger for entertainment. His offer of a free drink after a 2.5-hour wait was as timely as a lifeboat after the Titanic sank. His proud proclamation of being a seasoned chef only added insult to injury, especially after a parade of culinary disasters: a pork chop as dry as the Sahara, a Chicken Marsala that evoked memories of the least favorite wedding buffet you've ever attended, and a piccata that dared to feature dollar store spaghetti. The coup de grâce came when we voiced concerns over the evening's many disappointments. The owner, embodying the role of a truculent tyrant, dismissed our grievances with a hostile invitation to "just leave." We accepted with a sense of relief, finally free from the hostage situation that Positano's had become. Positano's: come for the food, stay because you're literally still waiting for it. Would I recommend it? Only if you enjoy being both a patron and a hostage. read more

Just to Positano's restaurant (Easter) as they are under new ownership. Soft opening for almost 2 weeks (Grand Opening this Tuesday) Nothing has changed inside (Decor) Food was excellent as was the service. Everyone was friendly and attentive. Owner says they will have 3 choices of soups. The Lobster Bisque was really good. We had a party of 5 and everyone was very happy(Baked Ziti, Penne ala Vodka, Stuffed Pork chop, Pers. Pizza & Salmon) Highly recommend read more

I recently went to Positano's to experience how it was with the new ownership. It's basically the same menu with increased prices and different recipes. The old Positano's was so much better. Plus the customer service and management isn't what it use to be. The manager/owner sat at the bar and never came around to his customers. I honeslty think he could care use about his diners experience. The food was eidible but nothing special. I've heard from friends that they all had the same experience and won't be back. read more

Let me start by saying i visited this restaurant days ago and have been contemplating writing a review. But thinking how the manager handled my call it is important for me to do so. I've been here many times and it always is a great meal. Just to give you an idea of how much we like this place ... we have eaten there 3 times this month alone. So we came with my family for dinner. The bill over $300. I ordered Frutti De Mare which i do usually. The only difference i had it in the white sauce rather than red. 3 hours later i felt sick and spent most of the night hugging the toilet watching all the frutti re -enter the Mare. I called the restaurant and i began by saying I'm not looking for anything but wanted them to know. The woman on the phone advised me that they sell that dish all the time with no complaints. I told her that it is a great dish but something went wrong with mine. She proceeded to tell she hopes that I am not coming down with a cold and to take care of myself. This is what made my blood boil. Really? I am not sick with a cold rather got food poisoning from poorly cooked seafood. I asked to speak to the manager she said she was the manager and her name was Sanza (what it sounded like). I told her that we will not becoming back no matter how much we enjoyed the restaurant. I will not be humiliated for calling and giving them some feedback. read more

Reboot not as good as the "old" Positano's. Service slow as well as the kitchen. Same dark rooms - flashlight needed to read the menu. Trying to get our check and pack our leftovers for 20 minutes. Definitely off our list of regular places to dine. read more

I was happy to see this restaurant back in business after being closed for about 6 months. It has always been my favorite Italian restaurant. It now is under new ownership. I was there the second week it had reopened. My veal francese was tough--either over cooked or not fresh veal. We were there on Sunday April 7 at 4:30pm to celebrate my friends birthday. Decided to take advantage of early bird dinner prices and happy hour drink prices. Was told neither applied on weekends. The online menu made no mention of these restrictions. Waitress could have cared less that this was an issue. ( every table that was within earshot of us mentioned the same complaint!!). Good luck keeping us old tried and true customers. read more

The red sauce was tasteless, more like Ravi than a real Italian sauce. The salads came out before the appetizers which seemed weird. The dinners did come out at the same time and the entertainment was comical, but I don't think it was supposed to be. We won't go back. read more

We went for the first time last week under the new ownership. Whenever I go to an Italian restaurant for the first time I order chicken parmigiana. I really liked it. The limoncello cheesecake was outstanding. Our server, Christian, was excellent. The food was delivered in a timely manner without feeling rushed. We enjoyed the friendly atmosphere. The music was enjoyable. Loud enough to hear but not so loud that you couldn't talk. A few people got up to dance including us with our 3 year old granddaughter. Which kept her occupied between courses. She loved her pasta which was tossed with butter and cheese. read more

We were back again after the soft opening. The food and service were even better. The wine list is like being in Italy. So happy to have another high end Italian restaurant here in the north Pinellas county. read more

I've been looking for an authentic Southern Italian restaurant in this area and last night I found it. Positano's is in a shopping plaza off Tampa road and from the outside is unassuming. The interior is a bit dated but from the moment our party arrived we were impressed. The hostess was very friendly and found our reservation right away. This was a Saturday night and based on the number of people waiting when we left I would definitely recommend making reservations. We were seated immediately and our server came right away. She was friendly, helpful and attentive. We had a few drinks, had an appetizer and placed our order and did not feel rushed. The quality and presentation of our meals was excellent and everyone thought the food was delicious. I would say that this has to be the best Southern Italian Restaurant we have found in the area. I would highly recommend Positano's and we will definitely be back. read more

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I enjoy all our meals there. Last week we met the owner he was very nice and down to earth. He asked about our experiences, we shared we love this place. read more

I've been twice in the last 6 months. Good service! 2 for 1 happy Hour drinks up until 7pm. The House Sangria is solid. This visit we had the antipasto platter which was plentiful & a value for $13. My husband had the spaghetti bolognese with meatballs and was very happy (I thought the meatballs were a tad over cooked but still tasty). I had the short rib ravioli on special with truffle mushroom sauce. Very good! I would have liked the shallots on top to be a bit crispier for texture but they got the short ribs nice & tender. So for a Monday night date night very pleased:) read more

Been passing by this place for years and finally stopped by. I expected the atmosphere to be a bit more high end with white tablecloth service but it was quite casual and cozy. They offer an extensive menu of Italian food and I ordered the veal marsala, served with a salad and asked for the angel hair pasta to be served Aglio E olio and they did not disappoint. The marsala was a nice portion and tasty, the salad was a nice presentation of mixed greens with tomatoes and vinaigrette. The only thing about this place is that I prefer a more diverse clientele. I'm not a spring chicken (I'm a senior) but I really thought that I was in a dining room at the assisted living senior home. Now seniors know where to get good food at a good value and the restaurant is lucky to have such a loyal senior following, but I do like to have a bit more diversity when I dine out. (And btw, I'd never choose to live in one of those 55+ communities.) read more

My friend and I took another friend for lunch today for her birthday at 11:45am. Very quiet only one other table occupied with a couple. Service was unbelievably slow. Waited 25 minutes before our drink order was delivered. The waiter was obviously new and kept having to go check responses to our questions which delayed the process even more. The couple at the other table had to refill their own water and offered to fill ours as well. It was an hour before the food was served. My friends requested a side of meatballs and a side of sausage with their meal. They were half way through their food before the sides arrived. Asked for one check and provided two credit cards. Received two checks with $20 on one and $80 on the other. Returned the two checks and again asked for one and for the total to be divided between the two credit cards. Received the same two back with the charges reversed on the two credit cards. If they're going to open for lunch then they need to get their act together. I will never be back there and will not recommend it. If you can't get it right with 5 diners how will you get it right with a full dining room. I was a frequent diner there for dinner when the prior owners had it and it was always good. read more

Mushroom appetizer was overdone only cheese discernible on one. Calamari was perfect. I was given the wrong order. I ordered Shrimp Oreganato. Received filet of Bass instead. My husband had to eat while I waited for my dish to be remade. When they finally brought it out it wasn't oreganato. There wasn't a bread crumb on it. It was shrimp scampi. By this time I was disgusted and asked for a drink. You'd think they would've comped it but they didn't. Paid $39.00 for a shrimp dish I didn't even order. Very disappointed. Always loved this place. Never again new owners should take heed. read more

One of my favorite local places. I always seem to forget about them, but am reminded quickly why I enjoy coming here. I started out with a house salad, which is always superb. Mixed greens, tomatoes, Spanish onions, cranberries, almonds with a citrus vinaigrette dressing. Also was given warm bread with olive oil dip. For the main course I had chicken abruzzi....layered chicken, eggplant. Price was approximately 20.00 per plate. Extremely reasonable and delicious. My wife had the chicken Positanos. Very nice atmosphere with soft music playing read more

Positano's - Chicken Positanos. - Italian Near Me - Palm Harbor, Florida

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Under new ownership and better than ever! Food was authentic Italian since new owner is from Connecticut, a hotbed of authentic Italian cuisine. We had baked ziti, the best I have ever had. Stuffed mushrooms with sausage was an excellent appetizer. Our entrees were Baked Ziti and Eggplant Parmesan both tasted wonderful. For our second visit we had individual pizzas. The toppings were excellent/plentiful. The dough had to be homemade, the best I have had i the Palm Harbor area. Service was a little slow since all the food is prepared fresh to order. The owner is very affable, and takes pride in the food he serves. You can tell he loves what he is doing. Very nice ambiance , a comfortable place to dine. We will be regulars going forward. Give it a try. read more

We just went there on Sunday, and we found everything about this restaurant terrific. The food, from the homemade bread to the salad to the pasta courses were generous in portion size and nuanced in flavors. I got the Shrimp Sophia and the shrimp were perfectly cooked. I loved the combination of ingredients, the thinly sliced garlic, dried tomatoes, feta and shrimp. My husband had amazing scallops, again perfectly cooked. The wait staff was attentive without being cloying. They were just warm, friendly and responsive. Happy that you were there. And, we went on a Sunday, and there was live music that was great. They played everything from Louis Armstrong to Bassanova to the Beatles. We heard from another guest that this restaurant changed hands six months ago. Definitely worth going. read more

First time trying and I would go back. Lesson learned though. The pizzas are a bit small, and they only have one size, so keep that in mind. Quality of the food was excellent and curbside pickup was fast and friendly. If you are hungry, you may want to order more than one pizza for two people or more and a few appetizers and salads. read more

My husband and I had dinner Friday night. Our server Vera was attentive. I ordered an Espresso Martini, I was not impressed. We ordered the Fried Calimari it was delicious. My husband ordered Basa Filet with Shrimp. It was light and seasoned well. I ordered the Chicken Abruzzi. It was supposed to have eggplant and mozzarella. I mentioned to our server that my entree did not have any eggplant she said the kitchen said it is sliced so thin that it may have melted into the sauce. ?? Overall the dinner was mediocre. I was disappointed because we have eaten here many times over the years. read more

Thoroughly impressed! This place is a hidden little Italian gem located in a small strip plaza off Tampa Rd. We were invited to a birthday party here or else I'd honestly never have known it existed. Appetizers were passed around amongst us; of my favorites were: Stuffed mushrooms (I loved these sausage and cheesy perfections - each pretty hearty with at least 2-3 bites!) Calamari (I don't usually like calamari but I tried it and didn't not like it, if that makes sense. The chili sauce that accompanied it was very flavorful, and I went in for seconds so they're obviously doing something right!) Lastly, I don't remember what it was called but it was like a little filled ball of pasta drizzled with olive oil and spice (think ravioli meets Rangoon) - very tasty Warm bread on the table with oil that was PERFECTLY infused with garlic and other spices. At first glance I thought it was just straight olive oil and I'm glad I was mistaken because the taste was really delicious. I could've easily eaten the whole basket of bread had I not been anticipating my entree. Filet mignon - quite easily one of the best filets I've ever tasted. Beautifully served medium rare with excellent flavor. The dish included 3 thick potato discs that I did have to add salt to but clearly the meat was the star of the plate. You get your choice of sauce, Marsala, sherry, or something (forgot the 3rd - sorry) but I was happy to hear that it's served on the side. I used it for my potatoes because the steak needed NO extra flavor at all. I was genuinely impressed. Hubby got the Frutti di Mare (translates to Fruit of the Ocean) and while I don't particularly care for seafood, I did sample his angel hair pasta and red sauce and that was tasty all by itself. He thoroughly enjoyed the clams, mussels, calamari, octopus, shrimp and whatever else may have been included. The service was great, I'd love to go back to try their desserts too. The only reason for 4 stars instead of a solid 5 was based on beverages: 1) no draft beer, only bottles 2)the sangria lacked umph - I expected more. Go, if you like Italian food, you can't possibly be disappointed here. read more

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Food is fantastic. Menu has many delicious options to please everyone. Service is top notch, especially Leonarda. Seating is comfortable and ambiance is inviting. Do not miss the stuffed pork chop, it is out of this world!!! read more

This is a pretty nice place in a nice strip mall. The decor is kind of old school Italian it definitely needs an update. It was clean inside but very tight and all the rooms are kind of closed off. It's very odd for a restaurant. There was a live band on a Friday night that was nice (like I said it's very old school). So where they say us (we had a reservation) the light blew so we had a dark table..... they offered us flashlights? I mean what? I could kind of see but it was dark I was about to hold up a flashlight through the night. So we got the smallest amount of bread possible (that was dry) and I tried the oil it literally just tasted like plain rosemary oil. No balsamic no herbs or spices added in nada. We didn't touch it because it was pointless especially with the dry bread. We ordered the penne alla vodka with chicken and the shrimp scampi style with angel hair pasta. You can tell they used boxed pasta my penne was toothsome not cooked enough at all (still had some crunchy bits) but the sauce was tasty just acidic. The shrimp scampi just tasted like butter with a hint of wine and almost no garlic. This place seems to tend to the older crowd and their tastes because it was pretty bland all around, some more garlic, salt and pepper would really help these dishes. We loaded our dishes up with it and it kind of improved but garlic and herbs would make the dishes great. I do have to say the best thing of the meal was the fiocchi appetizer. Delicious slightly sweet cheese encased in a decent (but dry) pasta and drenched in butter. I loved the filling it was divine I wish the dish was thought out a bit better so it would let the filling shine. That was top notch something I've never tasted before and season well. So all in all 3* because this place seems to cater to older generation (no flavor) and just little details like the stale/dry bread and bland oil... why even serve that? Things like that brought down my review. Our server was superb though!! He made the night more enjoyable! read more

Positano's - Penne alla vodka with chicken - Italian Near Me - Palm Harbor, Florida

This is a very authentic Italian mom and pop restaurant. They have their edge for the business because they have chef skill that different than most typical chain store cuisine preparation. We have a group co-worker attending a early lunch there. Since get in before 12 pm, there was no people. Even when we left, they still don't have people visit. Price is in the medium high side for lunch. I have order the veal piccata with added some prosciutto ham. They have some up charge. The angel hair is nicely cook. The piccata sauce is good. I would rather them to add more material in the sauce such as fried garlic or artichoke or ham. The veal is right easy to cut and bite. Overall is very good. My friend enjoy their dish. Service is good. There is a sense of old Italian setting in the restaurant including the background music playing. read more

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If you're used to decent Italian food don't eat here. Bland, bland, bland. Zero seasoning, zero depth of flavor. We had calamari & a sm pizza for apps. Two veal dishes and a gnocchi dish. Could have had the same quality from frozen case in grocery store. Sad house wines. My mom's Assisted Living facility serves tastier food than Positano's. VERY dated decor/atmosphere. Hot as hell in the dining room (AC set at 78 degrees!) Service was ok, but she was a bit crass in dealing with other staff. There is no reason for us to go back ever. read more

Our dinner last night at Positano's was one of the worst and most disappointing restaurant experiences I've ever had, mainly due to the staff. Our male waiter must have been overwhelmed by the number of other guests he had, because the service he gave the two of us was abrupt, sporadic, and terrible. First of all, he did not introduce himself or ask us what we wanted to drink. And when we asked him if two items on your menu were good, his stock response was, "I've had no complaints." Then our food took way too long to be brought out to us - over 45 minutes! I started with the soup of the day (mushroom soup), which ended up being a disappointing broth with little bits of mushroom in a murky liquid. It honestly looked just like a 50 cent can of Publix chopped mushrooms had been tossed into some watered down soup. I thought there would be bigger, whole mushrooms in the soup. Then the soup was not hot, and when I asked our waiter if he could warm it up for me, you could tell he was annoyed. I ordered the salmon ($24), and when a lady brought it out, I asked her to wait until I tasted it to make sure it was hot (after my experience with the soup). Well - she just rudely walked away from us, without waiting for me to taste it! So I had to eat fish that was not as hot as I wanted it, and I did not enjoy it. The only nice staff were a young lady who brought us bread, and the lady who greeted us at the front door. Other than that, the rest of the staff was rude and inattentive. As you know, service is 50% of the restaurant experience, and when your waiter is abrupt and uncaring, the whole dining experience is ruined. We were both very upset and disappointed with the service and length of time it took to bring our food out to us (and then it was not even hot enough to enjoy.) I will not be returning to Positano's Ristorante again. read more

Excellent antipasto salad, bread, and Italian wedding soup. Very pleasant atmosphere and excellent service at reasonable prices. Loved it.

The bartender spent her whole night on her cell phone texting. Bar was packed . She was very rude and ignorant. She was saying she just got married and going on her honeymoon. Nothing else mattered. Pizza is awesome but owner knows she is horrible read more

I was happy to hear that Positano's in Palm Harbor had reopened. I was very pleased with the atmosphere, food and service. The management went beyond helpful making our party of 15 welcome. read more

Food is always excellent tasting. Service very good. Ambience is family style and cozy. read more

My wife and I had dinner there last night and from the time we were seated it was absolutely terrible . We waited 10 minutes at our table and no one came by . We had to ask the host where is our server , she came by but seemed very rushed and not that interested in waiting on us . We ordered 2 glasses of wine and the stuffed mushrooms . It took 25 min until the appetizers were delivered . They were very small , the mushrooms were stuck to the bottom of the plate and very greasy . Nothing like what the former Positano's served . The server came back and took our main course orders , I ordered the chicken parmigiana and my wife ordered the sausage and peppers pasta dish . It took over an hour to finally receive our food , when I tried to cut the chicken Parmigiana, the chicken was dry , rubbery and tasteless . My wife's dish was tasteless but better than mine . I could not eat the chicken and finally called over the server told her what was wrong with the chicken , she told me all food is cooked to order and it could not be dry . I told her to take it back because I can't eat it, she grabbed the plate took it back and never asked me if I would like to order something else !!! Horrible service !!! I finished the side of angel hair pasta and at this point had enough !!! My wife's dish was average but she commented the sauce tasted like something out of a bottle just tasteless !!! At this point it's beenover 2 hours , the server came over asked if we wanted desert we said no , just bring the check . She came back and told me since I sent the main course back she was told to charge me $4 for the side salad . I told her I am not paying the $4 . We finally had a manager come over and discussed the meals , the terrible service , the $4 and the length of time we had been sitting there . She did take off the $4 but said they were short handed , like that's my fault !!! We have been going to Positano's for years with the previous ownership and had tremendous food and service . The servers cared about their tables and really knew how to create a fine dining experience!! Well that is all gone , the new owner kept the name , menu and all the same decor but has ruined everything else !!! Everyone around us were complaining about the same issues so it was not just us . Save your money and time and do not dine here , and don't be fooled that Positano's has reopened because it's nothing like the previous restaurant!!! We won't be back !!!! read more

Came to positano's for a birthday with a large group of 50 people reserved in advanced. The place has a nice atmosphere and the staff was amazing! Very attentive! We had a fixed menu with lots of choices. The bread/oil and salad were wonderful. Very tasty! I had the new your strip with vegetables. The vegetables were cooked perfectly. The quality of the steak was below expectations. I ordered it medium rare because I knew with this large of a party it would probably come out medium...which it did. That was ok but it lacked flavor and tenderness. My spouse had chicken in a lemony sauce that was just okay. It came with a side of angel hair pasta with red sauce which again lacked flavor. The food was not worth the price we paid. Hoping there will be improvement in the future because I would like to return and try their pizza. Keeping my fingers crossed! read more

Great Italian - we loved in-house atmosphere pre-covid, now we tried take-out. It is nice they still offer take-out service. Friend has asthma, so they don't want to risk it. So for that - thank you. Ordered veal Positano's, Baked Ziti and Margherita pizza. The veal was fabulous and everyone enjoyed their selections. Major issues calling in, put on hold for 12 minutes then they hung up. On third call, Success! read more

FIRST & LAST time dining at Positano's! Sat in the back room which had absolutely no atmosphere! Seriously needs the touch of an interior designer! It's a dull, dark, aging room with recessed canned lighting in a high ceiling and damaged furniture which should have been covered with table cloths. We ordered Eggplant Parmigiana. The eggplant was lightly breaded and soggy... warm but seems the chefs skipped a step in frying/baking the eggplant and the penne pasta was under cooked. WORSE eggplant dish ever! No, did not notify wait staff....... with so many restaurant choices, we experience and move on! We dine out every night frequenting certain restaurants based on ambiance and what they serve and Positano's missed the mark on both accounts, therefore, it'll be our last visit. You want a great Eggplant Parmigian, I'd say Al Frescoes in Dunedin has the best! Sorry Positano'! Thumbs down! read more

Today the choice was for our lunch group to try Positano's. The restaurant is upscale. The lunch crowd was mostly businessmen in ties. I ordered a spinach panini & have to say I was very disappointed in it. The panini was tiny & contained just a few token pieces of spinach, artichoke, & red pepper pieces. There was little taste, the cost was $9, & the plate was filled with mostly potato chips. All that being said, the other 5 people I was with all said their meals were absolutely excellent. One got chicken piccata & said it was the best he ever had. Others praised the lasagnas they ordered. So clearly I was in the minority with receiving a substandard meal. I have to admit I was envious of all their excellent meals. My advice is to go to Positano's & order away, but ignore the paninis. read more

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