Il Tesoro-SanibelBest Meal on VacationWe were on Sanibel for 4 nights and we had 2 dinners at Il Tesoro. The service was phenomenal and the mussels were diving. I will be back to Sanibel Island just to have another meal there. Worth every penny!! Thank you!6/10/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of southwest FL bestWe have been through many restaurants in Sanibel but this is near the best, if not the best so far. Appetizers were interesting, we had the filet on arugula which was nicely balanced with tasty capers. With our waiter's advice, I had the Papperdelle Bolognese, which was wonderful.
Wines by the glass severely limited, plan on a bottle.
The best part was how friendly and helpful the entire staff was. They all worked as a team taking care of everyone when it got busy, and never stopped smiling. We weren't rushed, and felt no pressure for table turnover. That said, get reservations.
Only problem was how cramped the tables were...some "generous" folks had trouble getting by. Thankfully we are little!
Kids do well here, bring them.6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMBest in Sanibel!This restaurant is very quaint and unusually friendly for a resort tiown. Most of the other restaurants we visited in Saibel and Captiva were just OK and the service was cool and not really friendly.
Tesoro is a real gem! Food was phenominal as was the friendly and warm service. This is authentic upscale Italian / Continental Cuisine. Fresh ingredients expertly and simply prepared. Found my favorite Amarone on the wine list at a fair price. All in all, our best experience while on a long weekend in Sanibel. I would make this a regular on my list of restaurants if we lived in the area. When you visit Sanibel don't pass up this opportunity for a really great dining experience.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing Restaurant. LobsterAmazing Restaurant. Lobster Ravioli to die for!!!! Can't wait to go back!!!5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMOverall, we had a great experience.Overall, we had a great experience. The food was good and the service was attentive. The bread that was served as an appetizer was a little dry. We like those fresh, hot, steaming bread rolls. The steak and lamb chops were delicious. After a little while, the place filled up and was a little noisy. Overall a good experience5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMA Real Keeper!From the moment we walked in the door, and smelled the wonderful, enticing food aromas, we knew we had found a wonderful restaurant! The service was extrodinary: friendly, welcoming, attentive and informative. We tried the polenta bolognase (to die for... The sauce was fantastic), the calamari was fresh and crisp, salads were good, and we loved our entrees: the lobster ravioli, and the filet. Cooked to perfection! We will definitely return when in the area, and we would recommend Il Tesero to other first timers visiting the Sanibel area! Worth the price!5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMGood foodWe enjoyed the food we had the night we were there. Veal marsala, lamb chops and linguine with sausage and peppers were excellent. You feel very welcomed and at home from arrival to the time you leave. They do not rush you, just very relaxing5/23/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful dining experience!The food was exceptional and generous in proportion. The filet was perfectly cooked, accompanied by delicious vegetables. Service was attentive and knowledgeable. And the lemoncello parfait dessert is not to be missed! Loved it!5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect PlaceWe dined at Il Tesoro at the end of our vacation, as a last stop before leaving the island, and we're so glad we did. The food was fantastic, the ambiance was perfect, and the staff was excellent and friendly! It was a special end to our 30th anniversary trip. Highly recommended.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent experienceWe always try to eat here twice during our visits. The food is fantastic, delicious italian food, we had osso bucco and short ribs with gnocci. The dessert was excellent, good strong coffee. And topping the meal off with wine, what could be better!5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMa hidden gemWe'd been to Sanibel several times in the last few years, but never even noticed this great little Italian gem, tucked away behind an art gallery near the start of the San-Cap Road. The food is authentic (by way of the owners' New York roots) and delicious. The quirky decor sets a nice ambiance. The staff is attentive and helpful. We'll definitely be back on future trips, and we'll be sure to try their sister establishment on the upper East Side next time we're in NYC!5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMMom's vacation highlightEating here was one of the highlights of my mom only vacation! Loved loved loved it!!!!5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMfor a special occassionwonderful evening with great food. Lots to chose from so I hope to come back for another special time to have something different. My husband had the sea bass and said it was one of the best he had--even better then the fish at a well known chef in New York. This was off season so it was quiet but I could not have asked for a better evening5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMNice Little FindA very nice meal with great ambience in a little space with a lot of character. It offered all the frills of a fine dining restaurant with the charm and island flare that is Sanibel. They have a great balance of menu offerings and their lamb with a reduced balsamic was absolutely delicious!4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMWe went here for our lastWe went here for our last night in Sanibel and had a very good meal. My husband thought the sea bass was outstanding and we both really enjoyed the anti-pasti. The staff and service was very friendly and attentive. They were even able to accommodate our 6 year old. If your looking for a special or splurge meal that is different from the standard fare in the area, go here.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMA step above restaurant inA step above restaurant in an resort town. Excellent, over the top great food, huge portions, fun waiter, attentive owner, only wish I had room for dessert! Great tables for four people, would have preferred a larger table for the five of us, I would not go with a huge group. Otherwise, I would recommend this to everyone!!!!4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is one of our favoriteThis is one of our favorite restaurants......anywhere. The daily specials are always superb.....and yet the regular menu has choices to which we can't seem to say "no". Taylor Trinkle, the chef, does a marvelous job with everything he creates. It's a "special" place and we recommend it to everyone who desires a great dining experience.4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic food in a comfortableFantastic food in a comfortable setting. You could be in a small village restaurant in Italy. We've been twice and have loved our food both times. Definitely a gem!4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMMagnific!As outstanding in atmosphere, service and cuisine as I remember from my trip to Sanibel last year. Bravo4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious food and an espressoDelicious food and an espresso the way it should be!4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMSmall but very special restaurant.Small but very special restaurant. Open kitchen so a little noisy. Wait staff are excellent, knowledgeable and attentive. Food was great.4/11/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is a wonderful, if unevenlyThis is a wonderful, if unevenly priced, well staffed, and thoughtfully considered gem.4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food and service wereThe food and service were terrific. The space is small so it's a bit croweded. We go every year we are in Sanibel and would highly recommend it. It's a bit pricy but well worth it.4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMA great change of paceThis is, without question, the best Italian food I've found on Sanibel Island!3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMA must for anyone lookingA must for anyone looking for a great meal while on Sanibel3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMNFood and service was outstanding!! Highly recommend for fine evening dinning.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food preparationExcellent food preparation and presentation in a quaint Italian "family-style" setting. Diners will enjoy the visit, food, and service. PS: if time permits, visit the art galary located in the building just in front of Il Tesoro.3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was fantastic...my wifeFood was fantastic...my wife and daughter were fighting over the last bites of Lobster Ravioli.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of the bestFantastic food! This was one of the top meals we had on Sanibel. I had the Duck confit gnocci and my husband had the seafood fettuccini (sp?). The service was attentive. We had a very minor problem with our appetizer (the antipasti) which they fixed immediately. They were too apologetic! Our server was professional, yet friendly. I highly recommend the restaurant.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMthe owner is so awesome- shethe owner is so awesome- she greeted us then showed us some dishes being made in the kitchen while we waited for our table. Delicious bread- the antipasti platter is the best. We got specials -- osso bucco, lobster pasta with spicy sauce, lamb with asparagus and cheese fried up in a little pouch. YUM. I went with my parents for dinner in March. Vibrant charming little gem. Its name I believe means the "treasure" in italian-- perfectly fitting name! Highly recommend. this is now one of our top choices for dinner in sanibel up there with sunset grill, thistle lodge & cips.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMThe place to go on the islandsAt last, a restaurant on Sanibel or Captiva that serves food worthy of the toll bridge. Wonderful starters, Esp. Antipasto. The Grouper and Sea Bass were well prepared and Not Mushy, Fishey, or deep fried. The chicken breast was flavorful and tender. However, the star in my opinion was the bolegnase over the tartadelle pasta. Rich, full flavored meat selections in a deep tomato base over aldente pasta was outstanding. Dessert sections also excellent and light. Only low point was the wine on one trip. The lower priced $35 red Italian blend was a relative bargain. Will come back here often.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a late reservationWe had a late reservation - 8:45 and had to wait for a few minutes before being seated. Obviously the other diners were enjoying their dinners and lingering longer than expected. The owner offered us a glass of wine while we waited and was very gracious. We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner (the bolognese polenta and sea bass were superb). We, too, lingered - all the way to closing!3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulous, but careful with the wineThe first really good place we dined in SW FL.
The Antipasta was a very nice collection of meats, cheese, grilled vegetables and seafood. One of the best we've ever had. The grouper was flavorful and fresh. The sea bass was nicely presented on top of a Parmesan risotto. However, the best, (everybody agreed) was the tagletalle bolegnase. Rich, flavorful combination that ranks up with Figs in Boston. Desserts were outstanding. The traditional and key lime tiramisu were light as air. The canolli was almost as good as Mikes in the north end. Service was attentive and professionally engaging. The only negative was the $50 bottle of chianti that was ordinary at best. Quadrupling the price still makes it a $13 wine.3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMOverall food was very good.Overall food was very good. Limited vegetarian options - would like to see more in an Italian restaruant. Expensive but not overpriced - $300 for family of four (including tip).3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMDelightful experience. FoodDelightful experience. Food was very good, and very attentive. Food was very good. Not inexpensive. A good dining experience.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMItalian Seafood gem!This is our third time in 3 years to Il Tesoro- we'd go more-but this is a favorite annual vacation spot for us. Food is absolutely suberb- best italian seafood outside of Italy for us. The service only enhances as well as the vibrant atmosphere of the restaurant. We're going back tonite-now twice in our week!3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMI'm Italian and also a cook,I'm Italian and also a cook, the food I had at Il Tesoro in Sanibel was fabulous. It reminded me of a New York city restaurant.
The antipasto as you walk in was to die for, right down to my homemade pasta. And did I mention the wine? It was wonderful.
Thank you for a great night
Marie A. Del Padre
Cranston, RI3/13/2013 12:00:00 AM