Diners' Choice: Italian restaurants in Sarasota / Bradenton

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Italian cuisine in Sarasota / Bradenton? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Pietro's Italian Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (751)

$31 to $50

Italian

Sarasota

About the restaurant

Italian Restaurant& wine bar in Sarasota. Where you are a stranger only once.
His philosophy served him well with his previous Sarasota businesses. Café Gabbiano located on Siesta Key was originated by the Migliaccio family in 2003 where is four sons grew in and out of the restaurant business.
A second venture in downtown Sarasota was opened and designed by Pietro in 2012 named Casantica, a small old house converted to a quaint homey restaurant. Both restaurants are now under new ownership.
Now, this small intimate place is where I can have fun serving and meeting new friends. Benvenuti.

Top review

Sandy

Dined 7 days ago

Outstanding, our favorite restaurant! We feel like we are in Italy.

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4.9

4.9 (677)

$31 to $50

Italian

Sarasota

About the restaurant

Dolce Italia was established in 2010 by Tiziana Di Costanzo who came from Ischia, an island in the Gulf of Naples. Using a combination of classic Italian dishes, family recipes passed down for generations, and warm hospitality, Dolce Italia has built a reputation in Sarasota as a destination for anyone seeking great food and ambiance. In 2015 Matthew joined as manager of the front of house and is now a managing partner of Dolce Italia. The kitchen staff trained by Tiziana from the beginning are still with the restaurant with Maria being the capocuoco.
Some of the specialities Dolce Italia has become famous for are the Napoletan Eggplant- a tender sautee eggplant with fresh tomatoes crowned with ricotte, the Trenne Dolce Italia- the signature pasta dish with creamy tomato sauce, fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and mushroom.

Top review

CarlottaVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Dolce Italia has become our favorites and never disappoints! We have many favorites we love and the lasagne and the chicken piccata at the top of the list, so far. But we just went for the Savour Sarasota and tried new dishes, all fabulous. The decor is charming, and the owner, Matthew, is delightful and makes us feel very welcome. Highly recommend!!!

Apulia Osteria Italiana

4.9

4.9 (422)

$31 to $50

Italian

Rotonda

About the restaurant

Apulia Osteria Italiana is located in Placida, Florida just a few miles away from the beautiful Island of Boca Grande and Manasota key just 20 minutes from Port Charlotte and Venice.
The warm hospitality and the professionalism you will receive at Apulia will make you feel welcome throuout your entire visit. Chef Dario Leo along with his staff will make sure you will be delighted with superb food and great service.
You will enjoy dishes from his native region " Apulia" also called "The hill of the boot", specialties such as Orecchiette with Rapini, Fritto misto di Paranza ( seafood) , Burrata, Baked Snapper, Beef Braciole, Pasticciotto Leccese and so many other dishes from all over Italy such as Ossobuco, Risotti, Gnocchi, Branzino, Ravioli, Tiramisu, Gelati and so much more......

Top review

Glenda

Dined 3 days ago

We loved everything about this restaurant and have already raved about it to friends and family. The tables were very close together so we could not help overhearing our neighbors conversation, and, it turned out that they overheard ours. No worries though, we had a nice chat and hope to see them back at Apulia soon. Highly recommend.

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Popular dish

Tagliatelle alla Bolognese

La Dolce Vita Authentic Italian Cuisine

4.8

4.8 (425)

$31 to $50

Italian

Sarasota

About the restaurant

For Valentine’s Day, we are offering a special prix-fixe menu at $95 per person. You can see the menu in the appropriate section.

We welcome our guests to an authentic Italian restaurant: here we offer traditional cuisine, with a modern take on northern and southern Italian recipes. Mauro, the chef, and his wife Tina, have an huge amount of experience behind them.
Mauro is from Naples, Tina was born in a little sicilian town near by Enna.
He began to learn everything about the southern cuisine by his experience in Naples since he was a child, from “Polipetti alla Luciana” to “Paccheri ai frutti di mare”. Furthermore he moved in Milan and he had the chance to learn the northern cuisine, from “Risotto ai funghi porcini” to “Polenta grigliata”, one of his favourite specialties!
From an ancient sicilian tradition, Tina learnt everything about the desserts by her grandmother and her mother, from “Millefoglie” to “Cannoli cake”.
We hope you enjoyed reading about us.

Top review

williamVIP

Dined on Jun 6, 2025

Heavenly. Went last Friday evening and service, food and staff were the best!!

Cassariano Italian Eatery

4.7

4.7 (4014)

$31 to $50

Italian

Venice

About the restaurant

Contemporary Italian Cuisine in downtown Venice with a casual-elegant atmosphere. INSIDE AND OUTSIDE DINING

Top review

Annie

Dined 4 days ago

We were a group of 10 ladies out for lunch. We were treated extremely well. Very attentive. Food always delicious.

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Popular dish

Veal Chop alla Caprese

Popular dish

Spaghetti Carbonara

Popular dish

Pappardelle Bolognese

Cassariano Italian Eatery Lakewood Ranch

4.8

4.8 (2869)

$30 and under

Italian

Sarasota

About the restaurant

Cassariano – the perfect expression of passion and culinary art in the form of “Contemporary Italian Cuisine”.

The restaurant’s name is a combination of both partners last names; Luca Cassani and Antonio Pariano, both born and raised in Northern Italy. After years working together in the restaurant business both Luca & Antonio made the decision to venture out on their own and open Cassariano Italian Eatery.

Driven by their strong passion for food and a deep love for their profession, these partners prepare authentic contemporary Italian cuisine while cultivating a casual, relaxed atmosphere for their patrons.

Cassariano is the perfect blend of Bistro flavors and fine cuisine. We look forward to exceeding your expectations!

Top review

WilliamVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Wonderful pasta, and the sauce was delicious. Maximo was our excellent server. Try the lamb/beef meatballs and the arugula salad.

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Pappardelle Bolognese

La Violetta Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (1244)

$30 and under

Italian

Sarasota

About the restaurant

Intimate and designed to provide a rustic Italian experience. Buonissimo!

Top review

MaryVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Incredible experience! We have friends who live just a few miles from this place, and they’ve been here three times in the past two weeks. After hearing them rave about how authentic and amazing the food was, we finally decided to check it out for ourselves—and it did not disappoint! The four of us had dinner last night. We started with the tuna tartare as an appetizer, and it was absolutely delicious. For the main course, we shared the dry-aged Australian Wagyu Tomahawk, and it was beyond incredible! Every bite was rich, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. The bartender was so sweet and personable, making the experience even more enjoyable. The entire staff was exceptional, and it’s easy to see why they have so many five-star reviews. We’ll definitely be back soon to explore more of the menu!

Mediterraneo Ristorante Italiano

4.7

4.7 (3770)

$31 to $50

Italian

Sarasota

About the restaurant

With its modern but classic Italian cuisine and emphasis on artisanal and contemporary Northern Italian style, Mediterraneo is often credited with being the first restaurant to bring authentic contemporary Italian cuisine to Sarasota when it first opened in 1996. Still under the same ownership, Mediterraneo has consistently been rated one of the top restaurants in Zagat. The restaurant has received numerous accolades including the acclaimed Insegna Del Ristorante Italiano awarded by The Minister of Agriculture & Commerce in Rome. With its highest honor, inducting the restaurant into its Accademia Italiana della Cucina "Fine Dining Hall of Fame." Mediterraneo has been rated as Best of the Best in Sarasota Magazine since the first year of opening.

So whether you're celebrating a special occasion or grabbing a quick bite to eat, at Mediterraneo you are always assured the best quality food accompanied by excellent service. All of it thoroughly Italian.

Top review

RogerVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Everything was terrific, new and very enjoyable waitress…food was excellent as usual.

Taverna Toscana

4.7

4.7 (87)

$30 and under

Italian

Bradenton

About the restaurant

Taverna Toscana, located in the heart of downtown Bradenton, offers a refined Tuscan steakhouse experience led by celebrity Chef Fabio Viviani of Top Chef fame. Blending old-world Italian charm with modern sophistication, our menu features aged steaks, handmade pastas and thoughtfully crafted cocktails.

The warm, inviting ambiance, complete with handcrafted decor and indoor/outdoor seating, captures the spirit of Tuscany and the sunshine of Florida. A collaboration between Chef Viviani and local entrepreneur Steve Herrig, Taverna Toscana is a celebration of bold flavors, hospitality and the revitalization of Bradenton’s dining scene. Join us for an unforgettable taste of Italy in Florida’s friendliest city.

Top review

Girish

Dined 3 days ago

We had a group of 8. Good food, good service and good value.

Maestrale

4.5

4.5 (142)

$31 to $50

Italian

Gulf Gate Estates

About the restaurant

IMPORTANT NOITCE: Since we use both Opentable and the Touchbistro reservation system we will limit Opentable reservations during busy days, you can still reserve on google/touch-bistro, or you can always call us! This way we avoid overcrowding, thank you for your understanding!

Our restaurant and pizzeria Maestrale it's the wind that brings good and bad weather in the Italian peninsula. Our small family owned place is open for dinner six days a week. Our dishes originally are from Puglia in south Italy: la puccia, focaccia, mozzarella, orecchiette, panzerotti and the sea food dishes, the famous Pugliese olive oil as well as the fine selection of wine are a must! The atmosphere is friendly, family style dining, and also for romantic and special occassions, inspired from the old style elegant Italian restaurants where you feel just like at home, alla salute!

Top review

Paul

Dined 7 days ago

First time at this restaurant…we really enjoyed it and will be back.. Food was excellent and service was great as well.

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