Diners' Choice: Italian restaurants in Sarasota / Bradenton

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

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!

La Dolce Vita Authentic Italian Cuisine

4.9

4.9 (345)

$31 to $50

Italian

Sarasota

About the restaurant

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. but it would be great if you would have the chance to taste our fantastic dishes! It will be an amazing experience with no

Top review

Richard

Dined 5 days ago

We have long enjoyed the food & service! However, there was confusion re our appetizer order & dessert order, both times a language barrier perhaps! Our waitress seemed rushed & the noise also confused our order. I mentioned bruschetta but did not order in the end! When she served it I said I had not ordered it. She was not pleasant! Then my husband ordered panna cotta & was served what appeared to be cheesecake & ice cream! Again, when he wanted to return it he was met with/it being his fault! She said “You said ricotta”! Certainly will always return & be much more clear confirming our orders!

Bruschetta Fine Italian Cuisine

4.9

4.9 (40)

$31 to $50

Italian

Gulf Gate Estates

About the restaurant

At Bruschetta Fine Italian Cuisine , our history is rooted in family and tradition. Our recipes have been passed down for generations, and we take great pride in using authentic ingredients and techniques to create the flavors of Italy. From our humble beginnings in a small kitchen in Rome to our bustling restaurant today, we've always stayed true to our roots.

Top review

Ken

Dined on Nov 22, 2024

Our second trip to Bruschetta. We tried new things, and we were not disappointed! This small restaurant is a gem from front to back! Highly recommended.

La Violetta Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (1022)

$30 and under

Italian

Sarasota

About the restaurant

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

Top review

Laurie

Dined 1 day ago

Our absolutely favorite restaurant in Sarasota. Food is always delicious. The staff is always smiling and amazing. Gregory was our server and he always makes our experience wonderful

Mediterraneo Ristorante Italiano

4.8

4.8 (3516)

$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

Catherine

Dined 3 days ago

Amazing experience then and now. I had not been to Mediterranneo in many years and I was very happy with my experience. The food was great, the ambiance was excellent, but the best part was the fantastic service from the staff. They were professional, knowledgeable, friendly, and had impeccable timing. For a business lunch, we were able to comfortably cover everything without intrusive check-ins from the staff. They knew just what to say, how much to say, and when to interrupt without actually interrupting. Amazing!

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Popular dish

Spaghetti alla Carbonara

Experience

NYE À la carte Dinner Menu

Pietro's Italian Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (635)

$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

Kelli

Dined 2 days ago

We had a great experience at Pietro’s. It was our anniversary, and they decorated our table and all of the staff came and spoke with us. The atmosphere was quiet and cozy; and the food was excellent! They also had our favorite wine. The bronzino was excellent and our server deboned it table-side, which was a fun experience. The chicken parm, octopus and limoncello cake were all amazing.

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Popular dish

Lasagna Marinara

Cafe Amici

4.8

4.8 (979)

$31 to $50

Italian

Sarasota

About the restaurant

Cafe Amici is a traditional Italian cuisine in Sarasota Fl, since 1996 we offer extensive menu you will enjoy dish from Puglia, Veneto, Tuscany and the Mediterranean shores. There is an eight seat bar with 20 wines by the glass, 300 bottle of wines from all over the world, wine vintage from 1964 thru 2022.

Top review

Christine

Dined on Nov 27, 2024

The food and service are always outstanding! The owners and servers welcome guests as family.True Italian ambience.

Apulia Osteria Italiana

4.9

4.9 (332)

$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

dinavip

Dined 7 days ago

Wonderful experience once again,delicious food,Ann our server was very attentive,this is a neighborhood gem a must try!

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Popular dish

Tagliatelle alla Bolognese

Cafe Gabbiano

4.8

4.8 (3747)

$30 and under

Italian

Siesta Key

About the restaurant

Cafe Gabbiano is a casual fine dining restaurant in Sarasota Fl (Siesta Key). We source local ingredients and have a great blend of classic and modern Italian dishes. At Cafe Gabbiano everything is made to order as we want each dish to be fresh. All of our sauces and pastas are homemade.

Cafe Gabbiano is a 4,000 sqft facility that offers intimate dining as well as larger rooms to host special occasions such as beach weddings and rehearsal dinners. We have an extensive wine list, signature crafted cocktails and a great beer list. We are open daily from 5 PM to 10 PM with Happy Hour 5 PM to 6:30 PM at the bar.

Top review

Jenvip

Dined 5 days ago

It was our first time at Cafe Gabbianos and we absolutely loved it !!! The entire staff was very friendly throughout the restaurant. Our waiter was wonderful - went over the menu have us great suggestions !! Everything we ordered was 5 star - from appetizers to dessert !!! We will definitely go back !!

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Popular dish

Gnocchi

Popular dish

Tortellini alla Paolo

Popular dish

Ossobuco Ravioli

Andrea's Sarasota

4.8

4.8 (173)

$30 and under

Italian

Sarasota

About the restaurant

Welcome to Andrea's Sarasota!

Top review

Brianvip

Dined on Nov 23, 2024

This was such a remarkable dining experience. We were the first ones there when the restaurant opened and we could chat with the chef and the staff. The food was all excellent, the prices reasonable, the energy great, the wine (by the glass) was really superb... a wonderful evening. We plan to return.

Cassariano Italian Eatery

4.8

4.8 (3752)

$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

larryvip

Dined 3 days ago

2nd time this week. the place to take friends and guests. great food, friendly service