Finally found good pizza in this town of "Northerner's" Thanks for doing it right. Finally!!!! Everything is great.
(5)
Svitlana M.
My boyfriend loves their thing crust Boston pizza, which has pepperoni, Italian sausage made in house from scratch, mushrooms and of course cheese on it. Baked in woodfired oven, it has specific flavor. You also can try made in house wines and bread. Not expensive, good for family pizza night. Give 4 stars because I like think crust pizzas and also wish they had more meals on menu. Still recommend it as a local hidden gem of tasty pizza and sandwiches.
(4)
Selmy B.
They make their own wines and a nice selection of fruit tastes. The Riesling with strawberries is sweet, and light. Almost a dessert wine. I truly enjoyed it. My husband enjoyed the Merlot and Chianti. Server did a great job explaining the options and services was attentive. The house salad was fresh, with roasted red peppers, and fresh mozzarella. Best part, you get to mix your own oils and blends from a nice house made selection bar. We chose the garlic oil with the mango balsamic. Perfect. This is where the fabulous dinner ended. The pasta on both our entrees was rubbery and tasteless. The sauce is not marinara, it looked more like chili. Not my choice. The eggplant was perfect. The chicken was tough and thick. The wood grilled pizza looked ok but no red sauce. Different then what you would expect Italian dining to be.
(2)
Brian M.
Fantastic yelp find! Highlight was food and wine but not to be over shadowed by the the owner coming out and visiting with us! Everything fresh made; pizza with homemade sauce and sausage, hand made pasta and mussels (yummm) a compiled by a nice Pinot Gregio and finished off with cannoli's. Milto Bene!
(5)
Jim M.
Don't let the looks of this place fool you. The food here is excellent! Went with my family and met some friends here. We were pleasantly surprised. Everyone in our party loves the pizza, pasta, wines, dressings, and desserts.
(5)
Christine B.
My husband loves the wood fired pizza and I'm crazy for veal parmigiana... Homemade noodles are wonderful. They also roast their own coffee and he roasts the perfect espresso blend.
(4)
Melissa S.
Food was really good. My husband had the chicken alfredo and raved about it for two days (and he comes from an Italian family so this is a big feat). Homemade Cesar dressing on the salad was a bit strong, but overall really good. Nice atmosphere, good service, excellent food. And not to overly priced! Would highly recommend.
(4)
Meg A.
Great pizza! Could have done without the curt staff who didn't allow us to sit at a table that our 3 yr old randomly chose, when the restaurant was completely empty! They also let our 3 yr old sample the gelato flavors but then served him a bowl without asking us - very strange! (And they charged us) We'll just get pizza to-go next time!
(3)
Christine K.
This was our 1st & last time. Ordered the chicken parm entree, eggplant rollatini, shorty rib appetizer, & Margherita pizza to go (and we live 1 traffic light away). The chicken parm texture tasted very microwaved- oddly tough & chewy. After 2 bites I couldn't finish the rest of the chicken breast. It was that bad. The house made penne doesn't stand up to take out b/c it is chewy & looks plain sad. Eggplant rollatini was the worst eggplant rollatini in my hubby's life. Description says filled with cheese & prosciutto but it was two wimpy pieces of rollatini with one piece of prosciutto & a little cheese in it. Not a dinner entree portion, more like an appetizer. Shorty ribs were ok and Margherita pizza was ok except not made with good fresh mozzarella since it wasn't white but yellow. See the pics of everything.
(1)
Steve C.
We were in town just for a couple of days and looking for some lunch. Saw the sign and pulled in. I hit a homerun with this place. I had the lunch portion of spaghetti and meatballs. Homemade noodles were the bomb. Sauce and meatball were top notch too. Wife had a grilled cheese on homemade bread that she said was probably the best she ever had. Now we are deciding if we want to come back in a few hours for dinner. I think there's a good chance.
(5)
C K.
Had no idea they existed, but got a gift certificate, so I went for lunch. Wasn't crowded, but it should have been. Staff was friendly and the pizza was very nice, but the headline is some of the BEST CANOLI ever (not just in Florida). The salad comes naked and you can dress it from the flavored oils and vinegars station - also doubles as entertainment.
(4)
Mike R.
Excellent! Just had the large Consigliere with added onions. Pizza came out piping hot in 10 minutes. Was very thin crust with a wonderful assortment of sausage, pepperoni, garlic and onion. The cheese wasn't runny or bland and everything was done to perfection. Highly recommended! Two thumbs up! Excellent service as well, great hospitality!
(5)
Paulo P.
The worse pizza I ever had, tomato sauce was testing bad, too oily, bacon was testing bad I never going back for sure
(1)
Will S.
Good meatball parmigiana and cheese ravioli. Neat olive oil and vinegar bar where you can sample infused oils and balsamics to add to their deliciously fresh and I mean FRESH antipasto. Next trip is to try the pizza that looked amazing. I guess they won a completion for the Boston - looks like a meat lovers and worth a try!
(4)
Ann Y.
Great thin crust pizza. The California dream pizza with artichokes was unbelievable. The salads are great too. You put on your own oil and vinegar from about 15 different varieties. We topped off our meal with cannoli. We were told that the Boston pizza won the Sarasota award for best pizza. We will have to come back before we head north from spring training. Don't miss this place. Not fancy, but a great find.
(5)
Gail W.
Try the homemade sangria - I had the black cherry sangria. It was incredible. They make their own wine and roast their own coffee beans (you can view roasting machine in use while dining). Exterior is a little confusing, but go there. The pizza is the best I've had in Sarasota, FL and the chicken parm was great.
(5)
Lori G.
Excellent pizza! My husband and I love pizza, real pizza with fresh ingredients. This is a wonderful restaurant. Our waitress, Karen was knowledgeable and friendly. The wine was good too. Can't go wrong with this restaurant!
(5)
Trish C.
Thanks to the Yelp reviews, we stopped here for lunch on our way to Siesta Key and we were beyond satisfied. The other reviews are spot on. Fresh ingredients, thin crust, authentic and delicious. The Boston Special with pepperoni, sausage (delish), mushrooms and extra cheese was scrumptious. The canolli was homemade and a perfect ending to a wonderful meal. Linda, our server, is very friendly and provides excellent service equally among all patrons. Don't miss out on this place!!
(5)
Jessica S.
Goodfellas is amazing! When we walked in I was nervous because it was in an interesting location and had odd exterior. However this little gem did not disappoint! The pasta was fresh and homemade and the pizza was wood fired and delicious. The service was fast and every one was very friendly. You will be very glad you tried it.
(5)
Mike A.
I don't write reviews and i don't like to be negative so hopefully this helps the restaurant make some improvements. Pizza crust was like matzah bread and killed whatever nice toppings were on it. There were 5 of us and none of the entrees were very good. My mom's portobello raviolis did not have any mushrooms in them. My linguini and clams and my brother's muscles dish was served with a bolognese sauce. That is not Italian! In fact, my mom's ravioli dish and my brother in laws chicken dish all had the bolognese sauce. I guess that was the only sauce they had? I was hoping desert would leave us on a good note, but the carrot cake I ordered came before any of the dishes were cleared. Not a good experience after having high expectations.
(1)
Jim N.
They make their own wine, roast their own coffee beans (you can view roasting machine in use while dining). Food very good, fairly low prices. Our server Katie was very sweet and efficient. Will return. Worth giving it a try. Casual.
(5)
Angela R.
Family owned and fabulous! Amazing thin crust pizza made in a brick oven. A casual gem in Sarasota!
(5)
Debbie J.
Quaint restaurant. Good service. Sicilian style food. Great coffee. Wine was a little vinegary. Great place if you're not looking for a chain restaurant. Very friendly atmosphere. Owner came around to talk to us which was a plus!
(4)
T D.
Just a happenstance "let's pick a place from Yelp" visit. OMG! Fresh salads... With some of the tastiest toppings (try the blood orange infused balsamic vinegar!). Pizzas to kill for - all fresh ingredients and baked in a brick oven. This place charms by being classically casual, friendly and just plain fun. Wife and I will visit again!
(5)
Jim H.
Is it a wine making store or an Italian Restaurant? I just ate there and I'm not really clear and not sure if ownership knows the answer. I do know that there is a very friendly atmosphere, a willingness of ownership to be somewhat creative and experimental and develop an interesting menu. This is a work in progress and as of this writing has been open about six weeks. It's a tiny place on the north side of Clark Road with a sign that states WINEMAKING, located next to the motorcycle store. With time this place could become a jewel. We started with Antipasti for the table; Provolone cheese, Capicola, Prosciutto, olives, tomatoes, romaine and roasted peppers. The salad is brought to you, but you self serve your own dressing; they provide six types of balsamic vinegars and six types of extra virgin olive oil. It's kind of a fun and creative endeavor. The menu lists Antipasti for one as a "meal size portion" priced at a reasonable $6.00. The current scant menu includes both regular "thin crust" pizza and white pizza along with the usual toppings. 9" based priced at $6.00 and 16" at $13.00. Sandwiches are offered as Panini's or 12" subs; Meatball Parm, Tonno (tuna & cheese with herbs), Club, Caprese and Italiano. These choices at $6.00 each are a bargain. Two at our table had Panini's made on fresh Focaccia bread. They enjoyed them but there was just too much of that bread. They need to be baked smaller or scooped to equal out the filling to bread ratio. Pastas include a daily choice of Penne or linguine with meatballs. We selected the Pasta of the day; Linguine with White Clam sauce. This was very attractive with its generous chunks of clams and specks of red throughout the pasta. It turns out those specks are a very nice and clever use of sun dried tomato....just too much of it was used and became the overpowering flavor. A touch more olive oil, clam broth/fish stock, and garlic along with some fresh herbs would have made it tastier. Lightly toasted sliced bread was brought to the table on request. That "mix your own dressing" idea points to the other business going on here, and that is learning the art of winemaking. All types of equipment are available and it seems abundant advice too. A back area of the restaurant is stocked with novice winemaker's ongoing fermenting experiments. I think the owners true love is winemaking and then he realized what goes with great wine, good food! If you're looking for an evening of Italian fine dining, keep looking. At Goodfellows your wait staff is the owner along with his cook. Go for lunch or dinner and enjoy, realizing this is a relaxed and fun place. What it develops into remains to be seen, but for now us locals should support the continuing "work in progress".
(3)
Bill F.
I just walked in there for the very first time to get a gift certificate for a friend who said they make a decent pizza. Being from the Boston area it's hard to find good Italian food in Sarasota. On my way out I saw cannolis in their deli case and ordered two to go. I was shocked when the bill was for a little over $14. That's outrageous. Even in Boston's North End, where you will get authentic Italian food, they don't try to rip you off so badly. I'll never set foot in there again. Oh, and by the way, they fill them there for you and when I ate one I wasn't surprised that the inside wasn't even filled all the way, nor was the filling very good as it was very runny. I get better cannolis at Publix at two for under $4.00.
(1)
Elena C.
The best pizza in Sarasota. No frills, just great pizza. Thin crust, perfect, fresh tomato sauce, crispy crust. Any type, I had the Margarita, the Napolitana they were perfect. Just go, if you know pizza you will agree. Nice, friendly service...
(5)
Alicia D.
This place is phenomenal. Everything is homemade. I had the mushroom, and sausage, pepperoni pizza and my hubby had the sausage parm sub. Delicious. Nice atmosphere and really knowledgable and friendly staff (Linda). Will definitely be back!!
(5)
Rachel C.
AMAZING FRESH FOOD!! Oh wow, we have not had fresh Italian food like this before!! We had the Boston pizza and the Bella Italiano panini! Linda our server was fabulous! The owner came out and talked to us and gave us a sample of the meatballs and sauce, which is seriously the best that I have ever eaten!! Please come check this place out!! The food is just too good to miss out on!!
(5)
Kim S.
Inedible. Ordered Chicken Parm for take out. It appeared days old. Tough, dry, old sauce. Inedible.
(1)
Michael H.
Cozy yes. Pizza is very good. If you are wine person, the homemade wine is not good. Stick to soda and bottled beer and you will have a very nice time. Also the cannoli are very good too ! Try it, you will like it.
(3)
James S.
I have to say this was the best pizza EVER! The restaurant had an informal atmosphere. The service was outstanding! The wine reminds me of the red wine made by the old timer Italians. Will definitely be back to try the home made pasta. The cappuccino coffee beans are roasted on site! Deserts were to die for!!!!!!
(5)
Eddie L.
I'm going to be shorter and sweeter than the last review. Bottom line, I took my parents here on a whim last week, both whom spent their careers as gourmet chefs from up north. The three of us agreed unanimously that after ten years of searching, we found the best pizza in Florida. Highly recommend the California Dream. Large pizza and a bottle of homemade wine for $22 ... get out of town! Great place for family or even a cozy date night. The owner is a very friendly man, and will make sure everything is up to par for you. Expect some light acoustic entertainment and save room for dessert!
(5)
Ashley H.
To keep this short and not so sweet, the service was terrible and the food as passable. When my family and I arrived at the restaurant our drink order was immediately taken which was nice but then the boy who took our order disappeared and we never saw from him again. About twenty minutes later a woman arrived and took our food and drink order. Another ten minutes later she came back saying that she had lost her ordering pad and had to retake the whole party's order again. This was the third time that we had to tell them what we wanted to drink. When our food finally arrived the pizza was alright but my pasta was overlooked and the red sauce was bland. We told the waitress but nothing was done about it. The only good thing about the restaurant was that the canolis were delicious. I will never come back here.
(1)
Christel K.
Amazing food!!! Everything was made from fresh items and it showed!! Pizza and chicken parm was absolutely WONDERFUL. I will definitely go back. Waitstaff was even amazing! Had a great overall experience. Waitress Sherry and waiter Donvi (spelling?) were great. Thank you for a great time Goodfellas!
(5)
Keith C.
I have passed this restaurant several times on my way to drop our cars off at our mechanics shop. Since our car was in for short service, I walked down and decided to give them a try. At first look outside it doesn't look like much. They do have outside seating, but you have to remember that they are right on the corner of a busy street, but seating is a benefit, which comes later. You walk in and the place is very cute inside and bares all of the items they make and offer. They also have a humidor stocked with cigars so you can enjoy their wine, a fine cigar, and of course, the outdoor seating. The owners are their and are very friendly, pleasant, and will do what ever it is to make your visit a good one. Love the idea of the homemade wine, which I will be back to learn how to make my own. I hade the Pinot Noir, which was good. You can definitely tell it was casked in an oak barrel. Combined with my meal, it was a great compliment. The food is fresh and very tasty. I had some of their homemade fresh sausage and look to the next time I return for more. While sitting their, I thought of what to have for dinner and ordered one of their pizza's to take home. It was delicious! Overall, a great place to experience. I will have to try their homemade olive oils, but will definitely have them teach me how to make wine.
(5)
Jeremy Z.
The pizza was good, the service was great but the wine that they make right here was amazing.
(5)
Cc C.
I am sitting here finishing my linguini with clams and some great wine. Service has been amazing and the assortment of olive oils and balsamic vinegars is a great touch. Do yourself a favor and try it when in the area.
(5)
leann m.
Short and Sweet, owner asked server why she took lasagna off our bill, in front of us. Heard owner yelling at cooks when in bathroom . Server was great, pizza was not as good as the first time. Lasagna had no noodles and not good . It was like meatloaf with ricotta, NOT GOOD !! I felt like I was on a episode of Kitchen Nightmares.... Never again !! And since my friend and I are both hairdressers I will be spreading NO GOOD WORDS ABOUT THIS PLACE!!!
(1)
Tom L.
Fabulous food, try the mussels and the wood fire pizzas are wonderful...you will not be disappointed with anything!
(5)
Emma G.
Hands down the best thin crust, NY style pizza in town! I have issues with digestion and there pizza's are the only one's I can eat! Everything is FRESH and made on site, which is why I think my stomach can tolerate the crust (I usually feel VERY bloated after eat pizza and do not with their's)! The salad's are authentic Italian and the cheese is amazing! Not to mention, the pricing is extremely reasonable for the quality and quantity of the food. As I read some of these reviews, it really upsets me that anyone would say something negative about this place. It's a quaint, amazingly friendly environment. Yes, they make wine and infuse oils. Well, thank the LORD! The owner comes out to your table to chat and the staff have always been very nice. I even ordered the wrong kind of pizza one day and they took it back and made me the one I wanted. Fo no charge and with a smile. Seriously? Find that in Sarasota or anywhere for that matter. Granted, this is not a white table cloth establishment, but I feel our "fancy pants" food bloggers and restauranteurs should learn a thing or two on proper authentic Italian-American food before writing a review, which I felt was simply insulting to their standards and not at all helpful to a great new local business. "A work in progress? Yea. We all are. Sometimes the lack of support in this town is baffling.
(5)
Jamie S.
After moving down from Boston, Ma, I've looked EVERYWHERE for a good pizza. And let's face it... pizza down here SUCKS. THEN I found Goodfellas! If you want a seriously amazing pizza... go here! The owner is from Boston, Ma and knows how to cook a pizza. It's ridiculous how amazing the pizza is. If you ask why it's so good it's because they pay the extra for the better quality ingredients and they don't just melt the cheese, they cook it. Hands down best pizza in all of Florida. Not to mention the winery and deli attached to the restaurant has amazing stuff. The Boston pizza is FANTASTIC. If you are sick of the pizza that tastes like cardboard from the chains and all the fake italians cooking what they call pizza then head over to Goodfellas. You are sure to have a good time! The pizza shop is still relatively new but is amaaaaazing. GOODFELLAS!
(5)
Melissa k.
Great food, fresh pasta made daily, & Italian family recipes passed down. This place is quaint & it's like you are in grandmas kitchen. We will be back! Bringing my mother from Brooklyn when she visits.
(5)
Whitney S.
AUTHENTIC AMAZING ITALIAN FOOD! This hidden little gem of a restaurant is located on Clark Road just past McIntosh on the left. It is right around the corner from our office, so we decided to check it out for lunch. So happy we did. Inside they have an awesome bread, oil, and balsamic vinegar bar that you can help yourself to while you wait for your food. Their menu offers an assortment of Panini's, Pizzas, Pastas, and baked Italian dishes. The owner is extremely friendly and visited our table several times to chat and just thank us for coming in. I had the chicken parm, which was to die for.... homemade pasta and a good size portion of lightly breaded chicken smothered in cheese and a hearty tasty tomato sauce (the owner told us they cook most of their dishes in their open flame pizza oven - which gives is a delicious flavor). My parents both had Panini's which they can't seem to stray from. My mom has ordered the same thing everytime she's been because she just loves it that much. Definitely recommend Goodfellas if you're looking for a cute authentic casual Italian lunch or dinner!
(5)
Byron S.
Best pizza in Sarasota!!!!!! A large pizza and a bottle of wine for $19! We had a pepperonni and red pepper pizza and a bottle of Roso Seco wine made right there at the store. The pizza was wood fired to perfection, the ingredients were fresh and of high quality. This is a casual place with great conversation from the owner, staff and other patrons. We finished our meal with a cup of expresso and a cone of gelato. All in all, a very reasonable night out and our new favorite place!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Dinner Parking : Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes By Appointment Only : No
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Joe H.
Finally found good pizza in this town of "Northerner's" Thanks for doing it right. Finally!!!! Everything is great.
(5)Svitlana M.
My boyfriend loves their thing crust Boston pizza, which has pepperoni, Italian sausage made in house from scratch, mushrooms and of course cheese on it. Baked in woodfired oven, it has specific flavor. You also can try made in house wines and bread. Not expensive, good for family pizza night. Give 4 stars because I like think crust pizzas and also wish they had more meals on menu. Still recommend it as a local hidden gem of tasty pizza and sandwiches.
(4)Selmy B.
They make their own wines and a nice selection of fruit tastes. The Riesling with strawberries is sweet, and light. Almost a dessert wine. I truly enjoyed it. My husband enjoyed the Merlot and Chianti. Server did a great job explaining the options and services was attentive. The house salad was fresh, with roasted red peppers, and fresh mozzarella. Best part, you get to mix your own oils and blends from a nice house made selection bar. We chose the garlic oil with the mango balsamic. Perfect. This is where the fabulous dinner ended. The pasta on both our entrees was rubbery and tasteless. The sauce is not marinara, it looked more like chili. Not my choice. The eggplant was perfect. The chicken was tough and thick. The wood grilled pizza looked ok but no red sauce. Different then what you would expect Italian dining to be.
(2)Brian M.
Fantastic yelp find! Highlight was food and wine but not to be over shadowed by the the owner coming out and visiting with us! Everything fresh made; pizza with homemade sauce and sausage, hand made pasta and mussels (yummm) a compiled by a nice Pinot Gregio and finished off with cannoli's. Milto Bene!
(5)Jim M.
Don't let the looks of this place fool you. The food here is excellent! Went with my family and met some friends here. We were pleasantly surprised. Everyone in our party loves the pizza, pasta, wines, dressings, and desserts.
(5)Christine B.
My husband loves the wood fired pizza and I'm crazy for veal parmigiana... Homemade noodles are wonderful. They also roast their own coffee and he roasts the perfect espresso blend.
(4)Melissa S.
Food was really good. My husband had the chicken alfredo and raved about it for two days (and he comes from an Italian family so this is a big feat). Homemade Cesar dressing on the salad was a bit strong, but overall really good. Nice atmosphere, good service, excellent food. And not to overly priced! Would highly recommend.
(4)Meg A.
Great pizza! Could have done without the curt staff who didn't allow us to sit at a table that our 3 yr old randomly chose, when the restaurant was completely empty! They also let our 3 yr old sample the gelato flavors but then served him a bowl without asking us - very strange! (And they charged us) We'll just get pizza to-go next time!
(3)Christine K.
This was our 1st & last time. Ordered the chicken parm entree, eggplant rollatini, shorty rib appetizer, & Margherita pizza to go (and we live 1 traffic light away). The chicken parm texture tasted very microwaved- oddly tough & chewy. After 2 bites I couldn't finish the rest of the chicken breast. It was that bad. The house made penne doesn't stand up to take out b/c it is chewy & looks plain sad. Eggplant rollatini was the worst eggplant rollatini in my hubby's life. Description says filled with cheese & prosciutto but it was two wimpy pieces of rollatini with one piece of prosciutto & a little cheese in it. Not a dinner entree portion, more like an appetizer. Shorty ribs were ok and Margherita pizza was ok except not made with good fresh mozzarella since it wasn't white but yellow. See the pics of everything.
(1)Steve C.
We were in town just for a couple of days and looking for some lunch. Saw the sign and pulled in. I hit a homerun with this place. I had the lunch portion of spaghetti and meatballs. Homemade noodles were the bomb. Sauce and meatball were top notch too. Wife had a grilled cheese on homemade bread that she said was probably the best she ever had. Now we are deciding if we want to come back in a few hours for dinner. I think there's a good chance.
(5)C K.
Had no idea they existed, but got a gift certificate, so I went for lunch. Wasn't crowded, but it should have been. Staff was friendly and the pizza was very nice, but the headline is some of the BEST CANOLI ever (not just in Florida). The salad comes naked and you can dress it from the flavored oils and vinegars station - also doubles as entertainment.
(4)Mike R.
Excellent! Just had the large Consigliere with added onions. Pizza came out piping hot in 10 minutes. Was very thin crust with a wonderful assortment of sausage, pepperoni, garlic and onion. The cheese wasn't runny or bland and everything was done to perfection. Highly recommended! Two thumbs up! Excellent service as well, great hospitality!
(5)Paulo P.
The worse pizza I ever had, tomato sauce was testing bad, too oily, bacon was testing bad I never going back for sure
(1)Will S.
Good meatball parmigiana and cheese ravioli. Neat olive oil and vinegar bar where you can sample infused oils and balsamics to add to their deliciously fresh and I mean FRESH antipasto. Next trip is to try the pizza that looked amazing. I guess they won a completion for the Boston - looks like a meat lovers and worth a try!
(4)Ann Y.
Great thin crust pizza. The California dream pizza with artichokes was unbelievable. The salads are great too. You put on your own oil and vinegar from about 15 different varieties. We topped off our meal with cannoli. We were told that the Boston pizza won the Sarasota award for best pizza. We will have to come back before we head north from spring training. Don't miss this place. Not fancy, but a great find.
(5)Gail W.
Try the homemade sangria - I had the black cherry sangria. It was incredible. They make their own wine and roast their own coffee beans (you can view roasting machine in use while dining). Exterior is a little confusing, but go there. The pizza is the best I've had in Sarasota, FL and the chicken parm was great.
(5)Lori G.
Excellent pizza! My husband and I love pizza, real pizza with fresh ingredients. This is a wonderful restaurant. Our waitress, Karen was knowledgeable and friendly. The wine was good too. Can't go wrong with this restaurant!
(5)Trish C.
Thanks to the Yelp reviews, we stopped here for lunch on our way to Siesta Key and we were beyond satisfied. The other reviews are spot on. Fresh ingredients, thin crust, authentic and delicious. The Boston Special with pepperoni, sausage (delish), mushrooms and extra cheese was scrumptious. The canolli was homemade and a perfect ending to a wonderful meal. Linda, our server, is very friendly and provides excellent service equally among all patrons. Don't miss out on this place!!
(5)Jessica S.
Goodfellas is amazing! When we walked in I was nervous because it was in an interesting location and had odd exterior. However this little gem did not disappoint! The pasta was fresh and homemade and the pizza was wood fired and delicious. The service was fast and every one was very friendly. You will be very glad you tried it.
(5)Mike A.
I don't write reviews and i don't like to be negative so hopefully this helps the restaurant make some improvements. Pizza crust was like matzah bread and killed whatever nice toppings were on it. There were 5 of us and none of the entrees were very good. My mom's portobello raviolis did not have any mushrooms in them. My linguini and clams and my brother's muscles dish was served with a bolognese sauce. That is not Italian! In fact, my mom's ravioli dish and my brother in laws chicken dish all had the bolognese sauce. I guess that was the only sauce they had? I was hoping desert would leave us on a good note, but the carrot cake I ordered came before any of the dishes were cleared. Not a good experience after having high expectations.
(1)Jim N.
They make their own wine, roast their own coffee beans (you can view roasting machine in use while dining). Food very good, fairly low prices. Our server Katie was very sweet and efficient. Will return. Worth giving it a try. Casual.
(5)Angela R.
Family owned and fabulous! Amazing thin crust pizza made in a brick oven. A casual gem in Sarasota!
(5)Debbie J.
Quaint restaurant. Good service. Sicilian style food. Great coffee. Wine was a little vinegary. Great place if you're not looking for a chain restaurant. Very friendly atmosphere. Owner came around to talk to us which was a plus!
(4)T D.
Just a happenstance "let's pick a place from Yelp" visit. OMG! Fresh salads... With some of the tastiest toppings (try the blood orange infused balsamic vinegar!). Pizzas to kill for - all fresh ingredients and baked in a brick oven. This place charms by being classically casual, friendly and just plain fun. Wife and I will visit again!
(5)Jim H.
Is it a wine making store or an Italian Restaurant? I just ate there and I'm not really clear and not sure if ownership knows the answer. I do know that there is a very friendly atmosphere, a willingness of ownership to be somewhat creative and experimental and develop an interesting menu. This is a work in progress and as of this writing has been open about six weeks. It's a tiny place on the north side of Clark Road with a sign that states WINEMAKING, located next to the motorcycle store. With time this place could become a jewel. We started with Antipasti for the table; Provolone cheese, Capicola, Prosciutto, olives, tomatoes, romaine and roasted peppers. The salad is brought to you, but you self serve your own dressing; they provide six types of balsamic vinegars and six types of extra virgin olive oil. It's kind of a fun and creative endeavor. The menu lists Antipasti for one as a "meal size portion" priced at a reasonable $6.00. The current scant menu includes both regular "thin crust" pizza and white pizza along with the usual toppings. 9" based priced at $6.00 and 16" at $13.00. Sandwiches are offered as Panini's or 12" subs; Meatball Parm, Tonno (tuna & cheese with herbs), Club, Caprese and Italiano. These choices at $6.00 each are a bargain. Two at our table had Panini's made on fresh Focaccia bread. They enjoyed them but there was just too much of that bread. They need to be baked smaller or scooped to equal out the filling to bread ratio. Pastas include a daily choice of Penne or linguine with meatballs. We selected the Pasta of the day; Linguine with White Clam sauce. This was very attractive with its generous chunks of clams and specks of red throughout the pasta. It turns out those specks are a very nice and clever use of sun dried tomato....just too much of it was used and became the overpowering flavor. A touch more olive oil, clam broth/fish stock, and garlic along with some fresh herbs would have made it tastier. Lightly toasted sliced bread was brought to the table on request. That "mix your own dressing" idea points to the other business going on here, and that is learning the art of winemaking. All types of equipment are available and it seems abundant advice too. A back area of the restaurant is stocked with novice winemaker's ongoing fermenting experiments. I think the owners true love is winemaking and then he realized what goes with great wine, good food! If you're looking for an evening of Italian fine dining, keep looking. At Goodfellows your wait staff is the owner along with his cook. Go for lunch or dinner and enjoy, realizing this is a relaxed and fun place. What it develops into remains to be seen, but for now us locals should support the continuing "work in progress".
(3)Bill F.
I just walked in there for the very first time to get a gift certificate for a friend who said they make a decent pizza. Being from the Boston area it's hard to find good Italian food in Sarasota. On my way out I saw cannolis in their deli case and ordered two to go. I was shocked when the bill was for a little over $14. That's outrageous. Even in Boston's North End, where you will get authentic Italian food, they don't try to rip you off so badly. I'll never set foot in there again. Oh, and by the way, they fill them there for you and when I ate one I wasn't surprised that the inside wasn't even filled all the way, nor was the filling very good as it was very runny. I get better cannolis at Publix at two for under $4.00.
(1)Elena C.
The best pizza in Sarasota. No frills, just great pizza. Thin crust, perfect, fresh tomato sauce, crispy crust. Any type, I had the Margarita, the Napolitana they were perfect. Just go, if you know pizza you will agree. Nice, friendly service...
(5)Alicia D.
This place is phenomenal. Everything is homemade. I had the mushroom, and sausage, pepperoni pizza and my hubby had the sausage parm sub. Delicious. Nice atmosphere and really knowledgable and friendly staff (Linda). Will definitely be back!!
(5)Rachel C.
AMAZING FRESH FOOD!! Oh wow, we have not had fresh Italian food like this before!! We had the Boston pizza and the Bella Italiano panini! Linda our server was fabulous! The owner came out and talked to us and gave us a sample of the meatballs and sauce, which is seriously the best that I have ever eaten!! Please come check this place out!! The food is just too good to miss out on!!
(5)Kim S.
Inedible. Ordered Chicken Parm for take out. It appeared days old. Tough, dry, old sauce. Inedible.
(1)Michael H.
Cozy yes. Pizza is very good. If you are wine person, the homemade wine is not good. Stick to soda and bottled beer and you will have a very nice time. Also the cannoli are very good too ! Try it, you will like it.
(3)James S.
I have to say this was the best pizza EVER! The restaurant had an informal atmosphere. The service was outstanding! The wine reminds me of the red wine made by the old timer Italians. Will definitely be back to try the home made pasta. The cappuccino coffee beans are roasted on site! Deserts were to die for!!!!!!
(5)Eddie L.
I'm going to be shorter and sweeter than the last review. Bottom line, I took my parents here on a whim last week, both whom spent their careers as gourmet chefs from up north. The three of us agreed unanimously that after ten years of searching, we found the best pizza in Florida. Highly recommend the California Dream. Large pizza and a bottle of homemade wine for $22 ... get out of town! Great place for family or even a cozy date night. The owner is a very friendly man, and will make sure everything is up to par for you. Expect some light acoustic entertainment and save room for dessert!
(5)Ashley H.
To keep this short and not so sweet, the service was terrible and the food as passable. When my family and I arrived at the restaurant our drink order was immediately taken which was nice but then the boy who took our order disappeared and we never saw from him again. About twenty minutes later a woman arrived and took our food and drink order. Another ten minutes later she came back saying that she had lost her ordering pad and had to retake the whole party's order again. This was the third time that we had to tell them what we wanted to drink. When our food finally arrived the pizza was alright but my pasta was overlooked and the red sauce was bland. We told the waitress but nothing was done about it. The only good thing about the restaurant was that the canolis were delicious. I will never come back here.
(1)Christel K.
Amazing food!!! Everything was made from fresh items and it showed!! Pizza and chicken parm was absolutely WONDERFUL. I will definitely go back. Waitstaff was even amazing! Had a great overall experience. Waitress Sherry and waiter Donvi (spelling?) were great. Thank you for a great time Goodfellas!
(5)Keith C.
I have passed this restaurant several times on my way to drop our cars off at our mechanics shop. Since our car was in for short service, I walked down and decided to give them a try. At first look outside it doesn't look like much. They do have outside seating, but you have to remember that they are right on the corner of a busy street, but seating is a benefit, which comes later. You walk in and the place is very cute inside and bares all of the items they make and offer. They also have a humidor stocked with cigars so you can enjoy their wine, a fine cigar, and of course, the outdoor seating. The owners are their and are very friendly, pleasant, and will do what ever it is to make your visit a good one. Love the idea of the homemade wine, which I will be back to learn how to make my own. I hade the Pinot Noir, which was good. You can definitely tell it was casked in an oak barrel. Combined with my meal, it was a great compliment. The food is fresh and very tasty. I had some of their homemade fresh sausage and look to the next time I return for more. While sitting their, I thought of what to have for dinner and ordered one of their pizza's to take home. It was delicious! Overall, a great place to experience. I will have to try their homemade olive oils, but will definitely have them teach me how to make wine.
(5)Jeremy Z.
The pizza was good, the service was great but the wine that they make right here was amazing.
(5)Cc C.
I am sitting here finishing my linguini with clams and some great wine. Service has been amazing and the assortment of olive oils and balsamic vinegars is a great touch. Do yourself a favor and try it when in the area.
(5)leann m.
Short and Sweet, owner asked server why she took lasagna off our bill, in front of us. Heard owner yelling at cooks when in bathroom . Server was great, pizza was not as good as the first time. Lasagna had no noodles and not good . It was like meatloaf with ricotta, NOT GOOD !! I felt like I was on a episode of Kitchen Nightmares.... Never again !! And since my friend and I are both hairdressers I will be spreading NO GOOD WORDS ABOUT THIS PLACE!!!
(1)Tom L.
Fabulous food, try the mussels and the wood fire pizzas are wonderful...you will not be disappointed with anything!
(5)Emma G.
Hands down the best thin crust, NY style pizza in town! I have issues with digestion and there pizza's are the only one's I can eat! Everything is FRESH and made on site, which is why I think my stomach can tolerate the crust (I usually feel VERY bloated after eat pizza and do not with their's)! The salad's are authentic Italian and the cheese is amazing! Not to mention, the pricing is extremely reasonable for the quality and quantity of the food. As I read some of these reviews, it really upsets me that anyone would say something negative about this place. It's a quaint, amazingly friendly environment. Yes, they make wine and infuse oils. Well, thank the LORD! The owner comes out to your table to chat and the staff have always been very nice. I even ordered the wrong kind of pizza one day and they took it back and made me the one I wanted. Fo no charge and with a smile. Seriously? Find that in Sarasota or anywhere for that matter. Granted, this is not a white table cloth establishment, but I feel our "fancy pants" food bloggers and restauranteurs should learn a thing or two on proper authentic Italian-American food before writing a review, which I felt was simply insulting to their standards and not at all helpful to a great new local business. "A work in progress? Yea. We all are. Sometimes the lack of support in this town is baffling.
(5)Jamie S.
After moving down from Boston, Ma, I've looked EVERYWHERE for a good pizza. And let's face it... pizza down here SUCKS. THEN I found Goodfellas! If you want a seriously amazing pizza... go here! The owner is from Boston, Ma and knows how to cook a pizza. It's ridiculous how amazing the pizza is. If you ask why it's so good it's because they pay the extra for the better quality ingredients and they don't just melt the cheese, they cook it. Hands down best pizza in all of Florida. Not to mention the winery and deli attached to the restaurant has amazing stuff. The Boston pizza is FANTASTIC. If you are sick of the pizza that tastes like cardboard from the chains and all the fake italians cooking what they call pizza then head over to Goodfellas. You are sure to have a good time! The pizza shop is still relatively new but is amaaaaazing. GOODFELLAS!
(5)Melissa k.
Great food, fresh pasta made daily, & Italian family recipes passed down. This place is quaint & it's like you are in grandmas kitchen. We will be back! Bringing my mother from Brooklyn when she visits.
(5)Whitney S.
AUTHENTIC AMAZING ITALIAN FOOD! This hidden little gem of a restaurant is located on Clark Road just past McIntosh on the left. It is right around the corner from our office, so we decided to check it out for lunch. So happy we did. Inside they have an awesome bread, oil, and balsamic vinegar bar that you can help yourself to while you wait for your food. Their menu offers an assortment of Panini's, Pizzas, Pastas, and baked Italian dishes. The owner is extremely friendly and visited our table several times to chat and just thank us for coming in. I had the chicken parm, which was to die for.... homemade pasta and a good size portion of lightly breaded chicken smothered in cheese and a hearty tasty tomato sauce (the owner told us they cook most of their dishes in their open flame pizza oven - which gives is a delicious flavor). My parents both had Panini's which they can't seem to stray from. My mom has ordered the same thing everytime she's been because she just loves it that much. Definitely recommend Goodfellas if you're looking for a cute authentic casual Italian lunch or dinner!
(5)Byron S.
Best pizza in Sarasota!!!!!! A large pizza and a bottle of wine for $19! We had a pepperonni and red pepper pizza and a bottle of Roso Seco wine made right there at the store. The pizza was wood fired to perfection, the ingredients were fresh and of high quality. This is a casual place with great conversation from the owner, staff and other patrons. We finished our meal with a cup of expresso and a cone of gelato. All in all, a very reasonable night out and our new favorite place!
(5)