My husband and I decided to 'try somewhere different' for a rare lunch date. We googled…read more'restaurants near me' and found Cafe Cairano. Thinking it was a hidden gem because we had never heard of it, we gave it a try. Sadly, it wasn't all we expected it to be. Once we found it hidden in the back of a small shopping center in World Golf Village, we went inside to an empty restaurant at what should've been a bustling lunchtime crowd. The restaurant had all of two employees working. The cashier/waitress asked us to seat ourselves and she brought us the menus. 5, yes FIVE, different things that we attempted to order were out of stock! How do you run a restaurant when 5 staple items are out of stock.... Hamburger patties, bacon, onion rings, and all fountain drinks including coke & dr. Pepper???? It quickly became obvious why the entire restaurant was empty! After we made alternative choices from the menu and received our meals, the waitress spent the entire time we were in her presence talking in the phone and to someone who seemed to be a regular patron that had come in after us to pick up a to-go order. I heard her say that 'today is my last day because I'm moving.' After hearing that, it made sense as to why she never came back to our table to see if we needed anything. We even had to request she bring our check so that we could pay the bill and leave. She was 'too busy' to notice we were finished & waiting.... The food that we got wasn't horrible.... Too bad the service wasn't that great. We most certainly did NOT receive a good first impression and likely won't give it a second try!

This is a destination. Not only had I never heard of the restaurant before, but had no idea the…read moreshopping center was there - just after entering World Golf Village on the left. It was clean. Bathrooms were clean. The waitstaff was efficient and welcoming. Ordering was easy and delivered quickly. iPad menus are a step-above most with their technology and limits the use of readers. And the food was fresh, cooked exactly as requested and coffee was plentiful. Will definitely return to his hidden gem.

Great Food Good Service…read moreExpansive menu to choose from and Nathan's Coney Island Hot Dogs while you wait Highly recommend

Looking for a true Italian deli near our daughter's home off IGP to get some heroes etc…read more We were referred to this new location minutes from their house. They close at 3. It was packed and we waited over 1+ hour for 3 subs(all cooked to order) ... next time we'll order ahead. True NY style deli and food!!! Highly recommend!!

You want good true Chicago style pizza. Which isn't deep dish. You want true tavern style Chicago…read morepizza this is your place. Thin, cheesy, great toppings with plenty on it. And that nice melted blend of cheeses. It's so god. The service is awesome. Friendly easy to talk to and welcoming. Type of service you would want at all your restaurants or businesses. Manager was great to talk to and had a good passion for his place. You want pizza that isn't that greasy, floppy and doughy. You need to come here. You want regret it.

I went to Rosatti's and I was pleasantly surprised by the food, the hospitality of the young lady…read morewho greeted me and gave me my order. I did pickup of an XL double dough pepperoni and half sausage green pepper , as well as an Italian cheesy beef sandwich with hot and sweet peppers. They were both excellent, and the beef was very flavorful like the ones you would find in little Italy in Chicago, at Portillo's, or Buona Beef. I thoroughly enjoyed every bite. The pizza was really good too. The place has a couple of booths and a little counter. It is not a traditional sit down restaurant, and I would suggest you get takeout anyway, but it's there if you want to try dining in. I'll certainly be back.

Everything was on point! The food was excellent! Danny was our server and he was outstanding. He…read moreexplained the menu, wine, dessert, and was a delight to converse with. It was my birthday dinner and he made sure I was taken care of. We had the arancini with lobster and caviar, osso buco, filet with lobster ravioli, and pear crostata. It was a very pleasurable dining experience. Highly recommend!

Saint is a must go if you are in St Augustine. On top of the endless delicious dishes they have…read morethere the service and hospitality of the workers there makes you feel very good. I would recommend going there if you are in St Augustine for sure.

There are certain moments during a meal when you taste something and immediately have to stop and…read moreask, "What did the chef do differently here?" That happened to us at Al Dente's in St. Johns when we tasted the sauce accompanying their short ribs. We have eaten at Al Dente's many times, so we weren't discovering the restaurant for the first time. It has already earned a place among our favorite local restaurants. But on this visit, we came in for a full Culinary Duo review, and the kitchen prepared a tasting that went well beyond what we expected. And somehow, a restaurant we already knew managed to surprise us all over again. We started with the calamari, which is noticeably different from the traditional calamari plate. Al Dente's uses the prime rings without the tentacles, then sautés them with sliced peppers. The result is tender, flavorful calamari with a cleaner and more consistent bite from beginning to end. We were told that when the calamari is featured during happy hour, it can sell out. After tasting it, we understand why. The quality of the calamari and the simplicity of the preparation allow the seafood to remain the focus of the dish. It impressed us enough to earn one of our Culinary Duo Best of the Best Dish Awards. The gnocchi is another longtime favorite and Best of the Best winner. Al Dente's sautés it and finishes it with a white wine bath, creating the texture that has kept us coming back for it over the years. It is a great example of how a little extra technique can make a familiar Italian dish memorable. Then came the dish that may have surprised us the most, the short ribs. We will admit that short ribs are not normally something we get particularly excited about. Too often, the meat is served with too little sauce, leaving you wishing there was something more to bring the entire plate together. Al Dente's completely changed that for us. The beef was exceptionally tender and practically fell apart. But it was the sauce that immediately caught our attention. It had a wonderful subtle sweetness that was different enough that we had to ask what the kitchen was doing. The answer was port. Using port gives the mushroom sauce a slightly sweeter, richer character that works beautifully with the beef. Add decadent mashed potatoes loaded with butter, garlic, and herbs, and you have the kind of comfort food that makes you want to slow down and enjoy every bite. Sautéed zucchini and yellow squash added freshness and helped balance the richness of the plate. The short ribs became our third Best of the Best selection from Al Dente's. Next came the salmon with lobster ravioli, and this was another example of the kitchen going beyond what was necessary. The salmon was a substantial, thick cut, beautifully cooked, moist, and wonderfully tender. It was paired with lobster ravioli and a wine sauce, which would have made a very good dish by itself. But they didn't stop there. They added actual chunks of lobster claw meat over the salmon and ravioli. We love that. If you are going to serve lobster ravioli, there is something special about seeing and tasting real pieces of lobster on the plate as well. It reinforces the featured ingredient and turns what could have been a familiar seafood pasta combination into something much more memorable. The beef tenderloin medallions followed, accompanied by seasonal vegetables and a white truffle mushroom risotto that deserves almost as much attention as the beef. The risotto combined mushrooms, cream, Parmesan, truffles, and white truffle oil, creating a rich, earthy flavor that complemented the tenderloin beautifully. Risotto can easily become an obligatory side dish, but this one was clearly treated as an important part of the plate. Creamy, savory, and full of truffle character, it was an excellent partner for the medallions. One thing we particularly enjoy about Al Dente's is that the tenderloin is offered as a nightly special and the preparation can change. Guests may encounter different interpretations, including Gorgonzola, Marsala, or au poivre. For regular diners like us, that flexibility makes returning a little more interesting because there can always be something different coming out of the kitchen. By this point, we thought the meal was finished. Then the chef surprised us with a Dubai chocolate pistachio tart. It arrived beautifully plated with chocolate drizzle and whipped cream. This is definitely a dessert for anyone who loves rich flavors. A few bites were enough for us because it was incredibly decadent, but the combination of pistachio and dark chocolate was fantastic. It was a fitting ending to an impressive tasting. What stayed with us most about this visit was not simply one great plate. It was the consistency across the entire meal. The calamari showed how ingredient selection can change a familiar appetizer. The gnocchi demonstrated technique. The short ribs showed how one thoughtful change to a sauce can comp

Calamari appetizer is crispy, pairs with 2 sauces, both are good!…read more The mussels appetizer is full of flavors, tangy, creamy, very generous portion for an appetizer. My next favorite is clams appetizer, also big plate and the clams are so fresh & juicy, cooked in white wine!! So so good! Definitely worth a try! Overall.. great ambiance; inviting & casual atmosphere!

We've been to both Poppy's locations and they are both excellent. This is now my wife's favorite…read moreItalian restaurant in the Jax metro area. Food and service are great at both, but I think the St Augustine location has slightly better service. Our latest trip my daughter and I shared a Pomodoro Caprese to start and it was excellent. I would certainly recommend it and will get it again. For dinner I got their wedge salad with blackened salmon. Their take on the wedge is one of the best I've had, and the salmon was cooked perfectly. My wife got her usual Chicken Parmigiana and she said it was perfect as previous trips. Place is nice enough for date night but also relaxed enough to come in with shorts and flip flops with the family.

Finally had the chance to try Poppys after hearing so many great things. They delivered from the…read morefriendly service to the food. The place was smaller than I imagined which I liked. They did have an outside patio but you don't really want to eat outside right now (August 2026). Since my wife ordered plain bread and I ordered garlic, we were each brought our own bread. My Caesar salad was just the right size - included with entree - and they added a couple of anchovies per my request. The linguine and clams were great and portions were huge. I'm fairly certain everyone dining that night left with a to go box since the meals could easily feed 2. Add a couple more fans to this restaurant. Just a note - they no longer serve pizza. I happened to notice after I gave my menu back that I didn't see pizza and confirmed with our waitress. Apparently they stopped a few years ago at the other location and never did at this location.

I crave this meal and go at least once a month to have it. I usually sit at the bar and have a…read moreglass or two of their Sauvignon Blanc. You can't find this specific dish in most restaurants, and once you have it you will definitely want to have it again. Service is always very good here too

We had another great dining experience at Catullo's. I love how the manager comes by and checks on…read moreevery table. They have a large staff that helps each other out. I peaked in the kitchen and they were working it in there. Our sauces were so tasty that had to be a secret sauce recipe. I had the pasta del ponente sausage very good. My wife had the shrimp rosato that she loved! They kept bringing us this delicious bread! Both dishes we dipped the bread into the remaining sauce in our dishes. We ordered a very good bottle of wine. Our waitress was top notch with great named Danielle. The place is very romantic for a date night. It was freezing when we got in but we were fine after a few minutes.

Paige ( hope I spelled that right ) the young lady who was running take out and pick up orders last…read morenight once again is the definition of EXCELLENCE, asked her for a napkin to wipe off the rain on the bench outside Paige came out with a towel and wiped off both benches and then a few minutes later brought our food out to us There have been times in the past when it was so busy I waited out in my truck and it started to rain Paige brought the food to the truck in the rain Simply so we wouldn't have to walk in the rain back into the restaurant Bella Vista continues to show why they are the best in Florida Food and Service every time 5 stars

Well I was finally able to try this restaurant for the first time. The restaurant looks deceiving…read morefrom the outside, looks small but they have another joining room along with an outdoor patio. The parking is very small so you're limited. Extra parking in the back but it looked like it was for other businesses. It was a Saturday night so the other businesses were closed, so it didn't matter. Greeted promptly, was seated with a reservation for 5 at 6:45pm. Immediately asked what we wanted to drink and a warm bread basket was immediately brought out with oil and vinegar dipping. The bread is delicious! The service was prompt and always were there to serve us. We tried a smaller sample of the Cheese Pasta bowl to share with our table. It looked really rich to eat as an entree but it was a delicious side appetizer dish. Very fresh noodles in that melted creamy cheese. Delicious! And also 2 side dishes of the fried Potato Croquette's. Comes with marinara dipping sauce. Delicious! I tried the Ultimate Chicken Vodka Parm with spicy Penne noodles. The fried chicken was cooked perfectly but I wasn't a great fan of the Vodka sauce on the Parm, but I wanted to try something different. It was still good just not my favorite. We also got a picture of Red Sangria. I also wasn't a fan of Sangria a little less sweet than I'm used to. It was okay. Overall we had a great time and the food was very fresh and I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone to try. Just not in our neighborhood to come back on a regular basis since we live near the Jacksonville Airport.

This restaurant is one of our "go to" for a real authentic Italian meal…read more We brought some family that was visiting during the week and everyone was very satisfied with their meals. The only complaint was that the dishes with vodka sauce had way too much sauce on the plate. My sister-in-law can't eat gluten any more as of last year, so she had bolognese with gluten free pasta (she said it was good but not great) but she said that is because she misses her regular pasta, so no pasta will ever be great again for her. My Niece had pasta with vodka sauce, there was way too much sauce on the plate but it was very good. My Nephew had chicken parm with vodka sauce and he loved it, again a little too much sauce on the plate though. I always get the same thing, escarole and beans with grilled chicken over pasta. This time it was a bit spicy for some reason, so I didn't love it as much as usual, but it was still very good and something you just can't find in this area. Dessert was cannolis and home made cheese cake. The owner makes the cakes here and they are all very good. Service was very attentive and good. P.S. their bread with whipped butter is excellent!

This is a small family-owned cafe serving authentic Sicilian cuisine. We dropped in one afternoon…read morebetween the lunch and dinner rush and had a lovely meal. The restaurant is adorable, featuring memorabilia from the family's original restaurant and family photographs. Our server was excellent. I started by treating myself to a lovely bottle of wine. Sometimes dry rosé is a bit hard to find, but the Fuedo Disisa was excellent. While we waited for our meals to be prepared, we enjoyed a basket of soft, warm bread with herb garlic butter. It was like having dessert first! My husband ordered angel hair spaghetti with marinara sauce. He really enjoyed it. I ordered chicken Marsala. Both dishes were excellent. The Marsala sauce was so flavorful, plenty of mushrooms, and is served with your choice of pasta--I had penne. The entrees were both plentiful portions and we had enough to take home for another meal. We saved room for dessert. My husband had the chocolate cake and I had the Italian cheesecake which is made from ricotta cheese. It was creamy and delicious, and I enjoyed it with an excellent cup of coffee. Highly recommend this lovely family restaurant, a favorite of the locals in St. Augustine.

The gentleman in the food truck was so nice and answered any questions that we had!…read moreI enjoyed the fresh catch St Augustine Tacos; the fish was cooked perfectly, and the rosemary fries were incredible! We also had the Datil Philly which was the perfect amount of zest and flavor. We will absolutely be back!

The food was amazing!! I had the shrimp and my husband had tacos with jerk chicken. We both had the…read morerosemary garlic fries (which had whole cloves of garlic that had been fried with the fries! Amazing!). Everything was delicious. The fries were fresh cut. The food options were great! We will definitely be back when we are in the area.