My wife took me to Bella Napoli this evening to celebrate Father's Day. We had 6:00 PM reservations for an inside table. We were seated in the back next to a serving/drinking station across from a group of 6 10 year old girls...whose parents were eating outside. The noise level was so unbearable that we asked to be moved outside, which they accommodated. But the noise level was strike number 1. After we were seated outside we waited. And waited. And waited more, roughly 20 minutes before we finally caught the attention of a waitress. Strike 2. My wife order the white bean soup for an appetizer and the Branzino. I ordered the special...Veal Osso Buco over risotto The white bean soup was delicious. 4 out of 5 stars. The Branzino was a little fishy tasting, which it should not. We order Branzino all the time and it's never tasted fishy. But the most disturbing part of the meal was the bait and switch using Pork in place of Veal for the Veal Osso Buco. Yes you read that right. It was Pork. Not Veal. The meat was gray, fatty and not very tender. Veal is tan or light brown, extremely tender and very lean. Charging $49.95 for Veal Osso Buco would have been reasonable. Trying to pass off Pork as Veal for that price is down-right criminal. Strike 3. AN ABSOLUTE HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE.! WE WILL NEVER GO BACK!!! Response to Ceasar D: the parent's of the 6 little girls (who you must admit were quite loud and unsupervised) were sitting inside. All of the children's parents and some other adults, about 14 adults in total, were seated outside. So please don't try and pass this off as if they were celebrating Father's Day. They weren't even sitting with their "Fathers". It simply demonstrates poor restaurant management. The wait for a server outside was so long, my wife had actually suggested we leave. I truly wish we had. Regarding the Branzino, if it HAD been fresh it would not have tasted fishy! As for the Osso Buco, I'm a culinary expert and know the difference between Veal and Pork. I knew it was pork as soon as I tasted it! The fat was a dead giveaway. Perhaps now that this has been posted, you'll start using veal or be truthful and simply let your patrons know you're serving Pork Osso Buco! I stand by my original post. read more

The ambiance is lovely, both indoors and outdoors, and our server was friendly and attentive. However, we were disappointed with the food. This is an honest review based on our experience. Given the many positive reviews and the fact that the restaurant is owned by Italians, we had high expectations. We ordered the lasagna, which lacked flavor and was served more cold than warm. We also tried the Neapolitan pizza, but the crust was not crispy, and there was very little cheese. Having enjoyed some of the best pizza in Naples, Italy, we were hoping to experience that same authentic flavor and texture again. Unfortunately, the food did not meet our expectations. While the atmosphere and service were enjoyable, the quality of the food was not what we anticipated. read more

Perfect dinner in every way. We arrived around 6:30pm on a Wednesday and were seated right away outside. Our server was friendly and helpful. We had the mozzarella appetizer and for entrees I had the ravioli special (filled with parm, ricotta and eggplant) and pepperoni pizza. Everything was phenomenal and very authentic tasting. We had a lovely time and were completely satisfied. read more

See all

Back to visit Trattoria Bella Napoli and it did not disappoint. Consistently delicious and homemade Italian food. This place is by far the best Italian restaurant on Main St. Thank you for another amazing meal! read more

See all

We loved this Italian spot in downtown sarasota. A woman greeted us at the door (who I can only assume was one of the owners) and she kindly greeted us and quickly got us seated. Our server came over to take our order and was quite funny that I believe he was working on his english pronunciation of some of the food items prior to talking to us. We had no issue with this and totally understandable, him being from Italy made us more confident in our choice of dining here. We were given bread with a toping made of eggplant, which we thoroughly enjoyed along with our Burrata Salad. I ended up ordering the Cacio E Pepe Ravioli and my wife ordered the Mortazza pizza for herself and I to share. The ravioli was packed with flavor and the pizza was amazing. I almost ended up finishing the whole pizza. We would definitely recommend this restaurant if you are looking for a great Italian dinner. read more

See all

Award winning pizza! Came here for the pizza after seeing all the hype and yeah it hit. Been lowkey obsessed with truffle oil lately so I got the tartufina, no regrets read more

Trattoria Bella Napoli - Wine Bars Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

I made a reservation for Trattoria Bella Napoli for the night of the Sarasota holiday boat parade. I was very pleasantly surprised that they still had an opening the day of around dinner time on a Saturday night. We ordered the Barada appetizer to start and shared the ravioli and mortadella pistachio pizza. All of our food was delicious, but the ravioli portion was definitely very small. My personal favorite was the pizza! It was fresh out of the oven and very fresh and flavorful! read more

See all

The place is run by Italians so you know they take the food seriously. The pizza is the best and done with extreme care. read more

Trattoria Bella Napoli - Wine Bars Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

We were waiting to try this spot since they opened, but paused because when it comes to Italian food we want to be cautious. The inside looked nice, clean, and welcoming. The hosts and wait staff were welcoming and there when I needed them. We ordered salad and a pasta & beans for the appetizer and the pasta and beans were very nice with no complaints. We ordered a lasagna and mortadella and cheese sandwich, the lasagna on an authentic Italy style (not American Italian) scale was an 8 out of 10, the panini was very good and what one would expect for a more traditional Italian treat. To finish we had the espresso, affogato, and cannoli, the espresso was nice and smooth, affogato no complaints, but the cannoli wow! great tasting end to athe meal. Overall, yes we will be back for a second run to confirm the consistency. Food 8.75 Atmosphere 9.0 Service 9.0 read more

See all

Authentic Neapolitan Pizza at its finest!! Sarasota is very very lucky to have this place. read more

Trattoria Bella Napoli - Wine Bars Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Dine-In Appetizer: Complimentary bread w/olive medley Taste: Good Temperature: Hot & fresh | Portion: Good Crust crisp, good as far as bread goes w/green pepper/olive dipping sauce Entrée: LINGUINE ALLE VONGOLE $27.99 described as "linguine pasta with clams and light cherry tomatoes" Taste/Flavor: bland/disappointing Temperature: Warm Portion: Good Clams: Fresh Pasta: Perfectly al dente *Please keep in mind: ^Many downtown restaurants cater to a much older/homogeneous demographic, w/a milder palate. ^^This is TRADITIONAL ITALIAN (no amazingness/wow factor that many chain "italian" places peddle. ^^^ In my opinion, the dish was noticeably under-seasoned, even salt and pepper couldn't help. Restaurant - please consider: - Adding clam juice and/or small amount of anchovy paste - Adding fresh garlic (or more) - Adding a small amount of lemon juice - Adding white wine Service: a. Seated immediately b. Drink order taken (ideal 2mins) within 1 min c. Drinks delivered/meal order taken (ideal 5mins) within 5 mins d. Food delivered (ideal less 15mins) e. Customary check-in (ideal 2-5mins) Ambiance: a. Decor/Lighting/Music: - Cozy and welcoming - Modern and vibrant - Elegant and upscale b. Noise/Crowd Level: - Quiet and relaxed c. Cleanliness/Comfort: - Spotless and comfortable Overall: Place has a lot of potential! read more

By far the best pizza in Sarasota. I'm from the northeast where I believe the best pizzas are made in the country.

This is the place to get authentic and delicious Italian cuisine. They import everything, from the sauces to caputo flour, to wine and cheeses. Owners and staff are incredibly friendly. It was an incredibly rich experience from the moment we walked in. read more

Fantastic authentic Neapolitan pizzas and a surprisingly good pistachio pasta dish that you just don't find anywhere outside of southern Italy. read more

Pizza is best! Young couple from Ischia, IT own it. Small, but feel roomier Park on street-don't use parking lots-rip-off. read more

Great location downtown especially for outdoor dining. I ordered a margarita pizza to go. Trattoria lived up to the hype. The pizza was very good and the crust was soft with a little bit of chew. Lots of Neapolitan Pizza places in town and this one doesn't disappoint either. Buon Appetit! read more

Troppo salato (sp) Red sauce, meatballs. Too salty. Pizza crust now a bit gummy. Still tasty, but definitely lost a step. New chef? read more

We've been here just about every week now. Although we've tried even more; reservations are sometimes scarce. I guess I've just been too blissed out to write a review the previous times. But, here it is... This place is AMAZING!!!! Probably the best pizza in Sarasota. The bolognese is one of the best we've ever eaten, and let me tell you, this family has eaten some bolognese. The ravioli, don't even get me started. And the cherry on top, OMFG, the COFFEE! This coffee is to die for! This is a small family owned restaurant in the heart of downtown Sarasota. The proprietor is from Naples. Please patronize this establishment for a true taste of Italy. Ask me how I know. read more

See all

Bad pizza, atrocious tiramisu, high prices. Bad pizza, atrocious tiramisu, high prices.

We had an excellent meal here last night. A fresh salad with squash and crispy ham on top. Followed by a delicious fig and prosciutto pizza. The crust was excellent. Service was very good, and while the atmosphere is a little understated, you won't miss it because of the fresh and delicious food. Service was attentive and not overbearing, you see the chef come out of the kitchen several times, and it adds to the authenticity. Real Italians, making real Italian food! read more

The food was absolutely delicious! The restaurant itself is small, but it added to the charm. We stopped in for a late lunch before heading to the airport, and everything came out quickly. The dishes were fresh, beautifully presented, and truly authentic Italian. A great find! read more

Food, wine, atmosphere was all amazing. Francesco was a top class server that will have us coming back. Highly recommend if you're local or here on vacation. read more

Calzone 80% chewy dough 10% gummy mozzarella 5%salami 5%ricotta Nice pear blue cheese salad Average fagioli Linguine -- dry flavorless meatballs ( needed pork + veal ) sauce bland Ambiance - DO NOT SIT OUTSIDE traffic noise ( and this was a Tuesday! n.b. excellent bread Service - efficient cheerful paisan Not inexpensive given the quality read more

The pizza has dripping wet dough. Unfortunate for the place that advertises pizza. Too bad.

Delicious!! Friendly and welcoming staff. Definitely coming back. Ambiance is nice and cozy. You feel the authentic Italian vibe from the door. read more

Trattoria Bella Napoli - Beef Carpaccio Pizza - Wine Bars Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

See all

Oh my goodness, the saltimbocca is AMAZING!! Blown away!! Beautiful experience. Thank you.

Ate there tonight and had the very worst tasting lasagna of my life. Served in a bowl, not on a plate and various sections were cold. Also was definitely not a good taste. Disappointing..... read more

If you understand how real pizza and authentic Italian cooking should look and taste; you'll love this place. The menu is simple and everything I've eaten there has been excellent. The food is high quality and the service is friendly and efficient. The espresso and deserts are also great. read more

Food omg #1 in Sarasota the bread all homemade and crazy delicious the meatball sandwich NOTHING like it I've ever had in USA , the Cappuccino Lord Jesus make sure Mario makes it, you'll never driving now a coffee again anywhere else. Found it while on vacation, they only been open 5 mos once it catches on you won't be able to sit anytime. read more

Trattoria Bella Napoli - Belle Napoli - Wine Bars Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

This place has the very best pizza! Service was great, prices are very fair, nothing not to like about the place. We want to go back for one of there dinners. read more

I discovered Bella Napoli in an article in the Herald Tribune about a contest for the "best pizza in Sarasota". We decided to try it last night, and it is amazing! If there is a better pizza in Sarasota, I haven't found it yet. The people who run Bella Napoli are legit Italians who speak the language, welcome you like family, and know what they're doing. We had the eggplant parmigiana pizza, and it was perfect--a beautiful slightly charred crust topped with delicious sauce, cheese & thinly sliced eggplant. We also shared an arugula, spinach, pear salad, asking that the blue cheese be replaced with mozz--no problem. We both enjoyed our wines--rose for me, Montepulciano for my BF. We will be back soon, and will bring friends along. Sorry, no photos. We ate every bit, including the delicious free homemade bread and eggplant dip served as an appetizer! read more

Pizza was amazing! I understand why this place was recently rated as the number 1 in Sarasota. read more

Trattoria Bella Napoli - Pizza ! Ricotta stuffed crust ! - Wine Bars Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

See all

Very busy, stylish, and authentic selection. Heard about the pizza skills at this shop. We ordered three different pies. Presentation was excellent, taste was fine, dough was a bit rubbery and a little bit charred. Not my favorite, but the rest of the table enjoyed themselves. Glad we tried this new spot. read more

We decided to eat here on a Friday night with friends and we were not disappointed. We are from NJ where Italian food is everywhere, and my husband's family is from Naples area, so we had high expectations. The food was excellent. There are tables outside and hearing Italian while sitting in an indoor/outdoor setting brought me back to a piazza in Italy. For appetizer, we had the best gluten free pizza and salad. For dinner, I enjoyed pasta with clams, my husband ate gnocchi, and our friends were pleased with their choices of lasagna and pizza. The portions were very European sized meaning not a giant dish (which I prefer). They were kind and helpful to us having brought a baby with us, which made it all the more wonderful. This celiac friendly restaurant is a gem in downtown Sarasota, and will let you experience a night in Italy. I highly recommend it! read more

This was hands down the BEST pizza I have ever had In my entire life. I have eaten pizza in Italy, and all of the highly rated Neapolitan pizza places in the states and this was the most delicious pizza I've ever had. I do not say that lightly. Do NOT skip this restaurant. The appetizers were also delicious but we ate them before I could take a photo. We had the CROCCHETTONE, the MOZZARELLA IN CARROZZA, the cacio e Pepe ravioli. All fantastic. My husband really enjoyed his pizza and calzone as well. read more

Trattoria Bella Napoli - Wine Bars Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Amazing Neapolitan pizza! Service was excellent! Lovely restaurant with both inside and outside seating!

Amazing food and friendly service. Family owned restaurant with an authentic Italian vibe.

Tratoria Bella Napoli is hands down one of the best pizza spots around! Exactly how true Neapolitan pizza should be. You can really tell they use high-quality ingredients and take pride in every pizza they make. The staff is friendly, the service is quick, and the restaurant has a welcoming atmosphere. Diana L. read more

The atmosphere was really nice. The food is delicious. The waiter was very knowledgeable and the prices were reasonable nice Italian atmosphere. read more

Congrats on your well-deserved recognition as Sarasota's best Pizza purveyor! The other dishes are just as good... I had the Chicken Cacciatore... it was spectacular. Be sure to make a reservation... this place is becoming one of the busiest restaurants in town. Located right next to my other favorite downtown restaurant... Cest' Le Vie. read more

Trattoria Bella Napoli - Wine Bars Near Me - Sarasota, Florida