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    Violas

    4.2 (549 reviews)
    ModerateSeafood, Italian
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

    Order Violas Takeout or Delivery

    Violas Photos

    VIOLAS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Violas

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    Side of spinach
    Rich G.

    Lunch at Violas. Friendly staff great food. Good size portions- yep we have leftovers. I had the chicken Marsala with angel hair pasta. The chicken was very tender and yummy. Wife had chicken Parmesan with pasta. We ordered their garlic bread excellent and a side of spinach. Both good For dessert their tiramisu really good definitely recommend this. Plenty of parking- yep a very popular place and worth visiting. So 5/5.

    Garlic knots
    David F.

    Earlier than normal, and quite honestly the perfect time for an early table. Calamari was good, the sliced fried peppers are an added treat that cut through the breading just right. The Redfish was perfectly cooked and my Piccata was absolute perfection. The angel hair pasta was cooked just right. Really, everything was very good. We were an early table and maybe between shifts, but we felt ignored. Easily added 30+ mins to our visit. Can't give top marks on this visit, our first. But not last. Next time we're in the area!

    Janice B.

    Delicious! Service was super friendly and very professional- almost formal. I do wish they cleared our table more often or quicker because our table wasn't large. The mussels were tiny but the flavors were good. Calamari was fried perfectly. The clam linguine was plentiful and delicious. The aperol spritz was not my favorite but the Pinot noir always works. Ambiance - it's dark and loud, lots of Italian decorations and very crowded.

    Lobster bisque
    Bill B.

    Absolutely phenomenal dinner at Viola's Italian Restaurant - 5 stars aren't enough! We've been coming to the St. Augustine area for years and somehow never made it to Viola's until Friday afternoon, huge mistake on our part, because this place is a gem. From the moment we walked in, the cozy, family-run vibe wrapped around us like a warm hug. Our server (shout-out to Maria!) was an absolute delight - knowledgeable, funny, and perfectly attentive without hovering. Now, the food. Holy wow. Started with the **Lobster Bisque** and I'm still dreaming about it. Rich, velvety, loaded with lobster meat, and that perfect sherry finish that makes you close your eyes on the first spoonful. Hands-down one of the best bisques I've ever had, and I've chased lobster soup from Maine to Key West. For my entrée I went with the **Mango Blackened Redfish** and... are you kidding me?! Perfectly blackened crust with that signature Cajun kick, gorgeous flaky redfish underneath, and then this bright, tropical mango salsa that somehow ties the whole plate together like magic. The sweetness of the mango cuts through the heat in the most brilliant way. Came with garlicky green beans and the creamiest risotto I've had outside of Italy. I cleaned the plate and seriously considered licking it (I showed restraint... barely). Everything feels fresh, made-from-scratch, and served with genuine pride. Portions are generous, prices are shockingly fair for the quality, and the wine list has some lovely Italian selections by the glass. Viola's isn't just a restaurant - it's the kind of place you leave already planning your next visit. If you're anywhere near St. Augustine, do yourself a favor and go. We'll be back sooner than later (probably next weekend, let's be honest). Thank you, Viola's, for an unforgettable meal!

    Attack a sub I added the mustard
    Isaac A.

    Italian subs are my favorite and this one is very nice. They used spring mixed greens and a rustic Italian roll generous enough portion. I did not eat inside the restaurant. It was takeout, but I would definitely go back the garlic knots and the antipasto salad were also fabulous.

    Eric R.

    Viola's was a hit. The food was great. The service was excellent, and the ambience was nice. This was our first trip to Matanza and my wife loved her pasta and meatballs. The garlic knots were great. I had the shrimp scampi and it was excellent. The best part was the dessert. I have inside information that the chef over at back 40 A1A supplies desserts to some of the finest restaurants in the neighborhood. We had the fried cheesecake. Was without question probably the best dessert I've had in five years or more. Highly recommend recommended.

    Steak with chimichurri & Greek salad with side of meatballs & bread.
    Amanda J.

    Always great food and service! Always make a reservation, as they are steadily busy. Their pizza, cannoli, and seafood are also great.

    Seafood with saffron risotto
    Mark M.

    Went to Violas on Sunday. Was able to make a last minute reservation. Stated with the bruschetta which was good and then ordered the special of seafood and saffron risotto. My wife ordered the cod in a Mediterranean sauce. They both were very good. Our server kept checking on us and did a great job.

    Marisa D.

    Initially told a 45 minute wait but she'd get us a drink if we wanted to wait. We agreed... she brought us a drink and within 5 minutes said, there's a seat at the bar if you want to sit there! We took her up on that - and ended up paying for our drinks ourselves since we didn't wait. But the bartender was pleasant, the food was plentiful, and very good. We'd return.

    Three top setting
    TC B.

    Lauren was excellent! Great customer service. Even better food. Four of us had different meals. All were delicious. Plenty of food. Garlic bread was tasty! Lots of seafood and Italian food options. We were not disappointed on our first visit. This would be a regular spot if we lived in the area. Highly recommended! Fun little place. Friendly staff.

    Chicken Piccata and Branzino fish special
    Katherine R.

    This restaurant is a hidden gem! We had a reservation and the hostess was quick to seat us. Our waitress was incredible and had a great attitude that immediately brought a smile to my face! Our food was amazing and very fresh, although a little lacking in seasoning for my taste but I just have different tasebuds. Nonetheless, the food was delicious and I was able to finish my chicken piccata in one sitting without feeling sick (as pasta usually makes me a bit tired). The fish was fresh and cooked to perfection however the vegetables were a bit plain tasting in comparison. The restaurant was small but had ample space with dim ambient lighting. The music was a tad louder than the average restaurant so I had to repeat myself a few times but it wasnt that much of an issue. If im ever in town, Id visit violas again :)

    Lobster Bisque

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    8 months ago

    Everything! Ambiance. Greeters. Staff. Food. This restaurant has fast become one of our favorites.

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    10 months ago

    Bathrooms disgusting! Urinals have brown stains from months ago! Come on guys...clean bathrooms is a priority!

    Business owner information

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    Tyler B.

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    1 year ago

    We LOVE this restaurant! It is a family owned business and they treat you like family every single time and the food is ALWAYS amazing!!

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    Page 2 of 14

    Ask the Community - Violas

    Didn't see it in the menu but so they have a cauliflower crust pizza?

    Hi, I'm wondering if you allow outside wine, and what your corkage fee would be?

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    Nonna's Trattoria

    Nonna's Trattoria

    3.9
    (427 reviews)
    8.3 mi
    $$

    Stopped in for some drinks and we were welcomed by very nice staff and amazing smells! I ordered a…read moreHugo spritz and Mike ordered a sangria. Drink prices were fair and the pours were a good size! The restaurant does not have many tables inside but that is part of its charm, it feels like eating a meal with family. We were supper full but the food all looked delicious and we will absolutely be back to try some food!

    If you love great Italian food, do yourself a favor and keep driving -- preferably fast…read more Nonna's appears to specialize in "Italian-inspired disappointment." The cooked penne was sitting on the counter uncovered, just vibing at room temperature like it had officially given up. The sauce? Scooped from a container and reheated with all the passion of a microwave at 2 a.m. The complimentary bread arrived looking hopeful... until we realized it was a square dinner roll slathered in what tasted like imitation garlic and oil -- less Italian trattoria and more middle school cafeteria meets olive oil cosplay. The Chicken Marsala arrived undefeated in battle against any form of tenderizing. This chicken was not pounded thin -- it clearly lifts weights. I needed a steak knife, determination, and possibly a waiver to cut through it. We shared one entrée and a bottle of wine that tasted like grapes filed a formal complaint, and somehow the bill still hit $65. I checked twice to make sure we hadn't accidentally invested in the business. And just when you think the experience is complete, surprise! There's a debit card fee. Don't worry though -- the owner's son (also waiter, host, busboy, and possibly assistant regional manager) will loudly explain it from across the restaurant so the entire dining room can stay informed.

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    Delicious Spaghetti Meatballs Chef Specialty
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    Gusto Bistro & Wine Bar

    Gusto Bistro & Wine Bar

    4.5
    (89 reviews)
    4.6 mi

    Had dinner with friends at Gusto on Sunday night. Food and service were both excellent!…read moreLooking forward to my next visit.

    I couldn't have been more disappointed. We carefully read the reviews on this place and they are…read moreall backwards! From the food to the service. We were really looking forward to eat here. I'll start with the food. We asked for our pastas to be al dente and we were willing to wait for a fresh batch. It came out so over cooked you couldn't even put a fork in it! The quality of the food was very low budget! Not even restaurant depot low budget but more along the Walmart or Aldi kind. The bread was great. We asked for a second round on it! When we got our check we were charged for bread! Never in my life have I been charged for complimentary bread! And to not even tell us, that's the crazy part! Let's move to the desserts. When offered we were told to look in the case next to our table that was the desserts. They were clearly old. The tiramisu and cakes were dry on the top and not even covered! We passed! Now onto the service. This place is so small I don't know how you can lose your server. But we did. When the food came out we wanted cheese she was gone for at least 10 minutes! So either no cheese or cold food. Not how you eat Italian food! Not to mention she had a serious attitude problem! Tried to simply chalk it up to she's having a bad day. She was rude! Needless to say we will not go back here to give it a second chance. There are much better places out there.

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    Hidden gem
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    Alfredo with shrimp
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    Casa Benedetto's Italian Caffe

    Casa Benedetto's Italian Caffe

    4.1
    (231 reviews)
    3.8 mi
    $$

    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.

    Photos
    Restaurant view
    Restaurant view
    Lunch portion Eggplant Parmesan with angel hair pasta
    Lunch portion Eggplant Parmesan with angel hair pasta
    Lunch portion chicken parmesan with penne pasta

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    Lunch portion chicken parmesan with penne pasta

    Violas - seafood - Updated August 2026

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