Excellent service, with attention to detail, and impeccable attentiveness. The food was delicious and the wine selection impressive. The location is near the center of town and there is adequate parking nearby. There is the personal touch that is rare anymore. Definitely recommend for any occasion and for a delicious meal.
(5)
B H.
Consistently wonderful food and service. A great greeting from the owners. Numerous dinners and lunches here really deserves 4.5 stars. Confirm it for yourself.
Great Italian food! Came with a large group of 10 girls and each one of us left happy. I personally had ordered the salmon scaloppine dish and felt it was the perfect size for my appetite, but may not have been enough for man. I must say it was delicious, seasoned and cooked to perfection, while still reasonably priced. The olive bread and flavored olive oil (maybe red pepper infused) were also extraordinary and well received.
(5)
Bruce n.
Pretty decent food. I liked my appetizer better than the main course. I wish you could give half stars I'd give 3 1/2. Great deal on wine, they had a small wine menu aside from their full wine selection that were truly deals, so I got a great Primitivo from Pugiia for just 22 bucks. The appetizer was burrata with some slices of tomato and salami and basil. The minty fresh basil was a great compliment to the dish, and slicing open the burrata was that great freshness of creamy curd. The dissapointment was the veal saltimboca. The veal was pounded so thin it was dry, and somewhat hard. The yummy marsala sauce couldn't save it. The service was top notch, thanks to Nick. I would give it a second go for sure.
(3)
Thomas G.
Black linguini with shrimp is great. Reminds me of the great NYC restaurants of years gone bye. Always consistent with its professional service. A definite fueling stop before or after seeing the movies. Go there and you will not regret it.
(4)
Bob B.
Excellent dining experience in downtown Sarasota across from the movie theater. We always sit at the bar, right in front of Bruno's wood-burning oven. He is a master. The place is always hopping with Eddie at the bar. Personal attention, great service, magnificent menu....all top shelf. And they have Armagnac!
(5)
Amy P.
This review is based only on price and pizza: in short, not impressed. Pizza that we got (pancetta e ciprille) was completely underdone. Good news is that they have a good wine list and do get a lot of large groups so it's better to make a reservation in the high season. Personally won't be back.
(2)
M R.
Had the pizza and LOVED it!!! Good service and great atmosphere... Eat here before heading to the movies across the street!
(4)
Gabriel M.
The best pizza in Sarasota... Love to go to the bar before a movie across the street!
(4)
Megan B.
While visiting Sarasota area had dinner here my last night in town. The table started with the calamari, sauteed with some tomatoes and herbs. It was really fresh and cooked perfectly! I had the Greek saland an a friend had the spinach salad. They weren't anything special...the spinach salad had pears but were raw, which is not quite as good as a poached pear for my palate. I had the linguini fruitti di mare which was to die for. My pasta was cooked perfectly and the flavor of the sauce/seafood was great! One of my friends had the salmon piccata and the other the rigatoni with sausage and brocollini. They both really enjoyed their meals. Dinner was followed by some biscotti cookies and aperatives. The ambiance was very nice...right in front of the open window and a nice breeze in a dimly lit bar area.
(4)
Har D.
Review from DEC 2011 I would rate this as one of my top 20 Italian rest. The porcini pasta was beautifully al dente and had the aroma of wild mushrooms. My family were there with me and enjoyed the gnocchi and black seafood paste. One of the best desserts we had. Oops sorry the appetizers of crapese salad, roasted peppers and eggplant stag with goat cheese was yummy My mom in law have the lentil soup a 10/10. She knows her lentils and loved it.
(5)
Heather M.
I am definitely partial to Italian cooking and this place is one of the top places to get it. The atmosphere is nice and the people there are very friendly. I know that people tend to say their portions look small but when I went there I had plenty of food left over, and trust me, I went in there hungry. Most importantly, there food was incredible, I got the chicken alfredo. It had peas, mushrooms, and all other kinds of good veggies in it. I can't wait to go back here.
(4)
Rob B.
I'm generally not a huge fan of American style Italian food. Unfortunately, these type of restaurants dominate SRQ. Mediterraneo is the exception. Having spent time in Northern Italy I learned a new appreciation for authentic Italian cuisine. Rather than heavy on the cheese, overcooked pasta and greasy food. Mediterraneo offers fresh, authentic Italian cuisine. Had the Seafood Linguini infused with squid ink. Absolutely outstanding. It was packed full of seafood and Linguini infused with squid ink is somewhat difficult to find in SRQ. Also, the Caesar salad was excellent. Two other things I liked about this restaurant: the prices are very reasonable and the overall cleanliness of Mediterraneo was excellent. Regarding the issue of service, This restaurant is for foodie types and for people who know food, wine and want a taste of European style dining. Leave the Cracker Barrel style attitude expectations at home...when you step into Mediterraneo, your in Italia. That being said, I found the service here was excellent. I found the staff was very knowledgeable and took pride in the food they serve. Also, I like to add, when you see the staff eating the same food at the restaurant your dining at...AND REALLY ENJOYING IT...that tells you a lot about that restaurant. That's what's missing in the SRQ dining scene. It's really simple: Taking pride in the food you prepare and paying attention to the details=repeat customers If your a Foodie...chances are Mediterraneo is already on your list......
(5)
Robert H.
So far, everything we've had has been excellent: Pizza Napoletana, Gamberetti saltati con salciccia spagnola e cannellini, Cesare & Cappellini Primavera all'aglio e olio.
(5)
Lisa M.
Loved it, awsome everything you could want from a dinning experince.Will return when in Sarasota.
(5)
J H.
Went in with a party of 7 on a Wednesday. Everyone was friendly and the restaurant was packed. All the food came out hot. We got the calamari, bruschetta, and speck wrapped mozzarella as apps which were exceptionally delicious. With the table bread they served a tapenade which was great and a great chance from butter yet they also served butter. Entres were lamb shank osso buco with Parmesan risotto best I've had. Others at my table got the shrimp, casaer salad, short rib special, salmon piccata. They even cooked my ma veal piccata though I was not on the menu. Desserts we got creme brulee, eclairs, and apple tart all exquisite. Exceptional service from Nick. Well done. A restaurant I will revisit when I am back in town and take any foodie friends of mine for an excellent meal and great time.
(5)
Lori t.
We decided to visit Mediterraneo with some friends because the menu sounded really good. The food was excellent. Everyone enjoyed their dinner without a negative comment from anyone. The prices were very reasonable. I gave Mediterraneo four stars instead of five due to the noise level and atmosphere. We will definitely revisit Mediterraneo.
(4)
Ron N.
Always reliable for a delicious authentic Italian meal with all special extra touches and very helpful service. You would have trouble matching this in Rome. Tables, with white table cloths, are pleasantly spaced so you can even enjoy conversation with your companion(s) while savoring the complex flavors of your special meal.
(5)
Robert B.
Disappointing. While the server arranged for a variation of a meal item to suit me, the meat was of poorer quality and was tough. Also, we only received a bruschetta appetizer and bread while the entree was being served and only AFTER our requesting it- no way to run a finer restaurant. There are many other restaurants serving better food and with professional-not amateur-service.
(3)
Michelle S.
Horrible service from a waiter that forgot to continue serving our table. They even forgot to bring water. Portions were the size of a McDonalds happy meal minus the toy. I left and went straight to Publix to get more food. So dissatisfied :/
Mediterraneo is my all time favorite restaurant for one reason, and one reason only. The delicious food? No, although it is quite tasty. The delightful ambiance? Nope, guess again! Give up? Ok, I'll tell you: Mediterraneo is my favorite restaurant because I'm a total masochist. See, other restaurants have this annoying habit of treating their customers with respect, which really irks me. I mean, why would I pay good money for an entree if the waiter isn't even going to insult me after he screws up my order? Thankfully, this isn't a problem at Mediterraneo. If the waiter makes a mistake (and by God, he will!) you can rest assured that he'll take the time to properly insult your intelligence and verbally affront everybody at your table. It's just like that Thanksgiving where you're Uncle Bob got drunk and told your cousin she was a no-good whore, only way more expensive! Now, most fine dining establishments would probably end the abuse right then and there, but Mediterraneo is special. They really go that extra mile to make sure that your entire party has been sufficiently demoralized and threatened with physical violence before escorting you off the premises. I don't know if they put their staffers through some sort of douchebag training before releasing them on the general public, or if they just hire directly from the local prisons, but either way, I guarantee that you won't find a more mentally unhinged bunch employees at any other restaurant in Florida. My one and only complaint about this place is that nobody actually broke any of my bones or killed my pet dog. LOL, just kidding! I don't have a pet dog! P.S. Try the Tiramisu!
(1)
Suzie S.
Excellent food. Hosts and waiters took good care of our table. Our pizza, salad, carpaccio, and sole portions were plentiful and delicious. It is one of a limited number of restaurants in Sarasota to take reservations (which are needed since they fill to capacity even on weekdays). Conveniently located right across the across from the movie theater.
(5)
Tom O.
Horrible! Made a reservation. They didn't ask my name. I gave it; then I called to confirm. No answer. We arrived and Alberto didn't ask the name of the reservation but just if we had one. He said we were next. After seating 8 other parties and 30 minutes and after saying we were next 6 times, I complained. Al said he had to seat reservations 1st! Bad memory? No system at all? Lying? Catering to his regulars? Don't expect reservations to be honored. Horrible service. Dishonorable man!
(1)
The C.
We had a good experience at Mediterraneo; we came in for pizza after an all-day event and were not "dressed," but they seated us anyway and our waiter was very attentive and friendly. We had the caprese salad and the red peppers stuffed with mozzarella and basil, the pepperoni pizza (LOVE the wood-burning oven and hammered copper in the decor), and desserts: panna cotta (very good -- unusual and delightful sauces used for garnish), apple strudel (more like a pie, but hearty and satisfying), and tiramisu (lighter in texture than many, more on the "whipped" side than the mascarpone side, no cocoa powdering the top, and the alcoholic content was not obvious). What we loved even more than the thin-crust handmade pizza and house-made mozzarella was the decor, which was tasteful and indeed made one think of a Tuscan villa in summer. This is a place which has been popular for a long time, and which fortunately has valet parking, as parking in that neighborhood is a sport akin to roller derby -- too many popular restaurants and nightspots! The nearby Eat Here had a line out the door, which didn't help the parking situation :-) I'm sort of intrigued by the Belgian place across the fountain from Mediterraneo -- Brasserie Belge. Will probably try that next, even with the combat skills needed for autonomous local parking...
(4)
Bob N.
This was my first time at Mediterraneo and we were told they just reopened after a major remodeling. The place was really nice and bright, maybe too bright, but I did notice that during the dinner they lowered the lights. The food and service was outstanding. I'm not one to order pizza at a nice Italian place but my wife wanted pizza so guess what we had? Pizza, and it was really good. Also ordered the Caprese salad with eggplant (we had them add the eggplant) and it was one of the best I've ever had, and I've had a lot.
(5)
Andrew H.
Very good service, and the food is good. The pizza is made in a wood oven and there are a plethora of choices -- toppings include fresh mozzarella, bufala, prosciutto, arugula, anchovies, artichokes, etc. The style is authentic Italian pizza. The pastas are also good, some are homemade but not all. Generous portions, though some of the sauces are a bit salty for my liking. A solid option for Italian though nothing over-the-top special.
(3)
Adriana B.
Delicious! I had roasted mushroom and sweet Italian stuffed ravioli - made in house. Practically melted in my mouth! Generous portions Service was very good: food arrived hot and without a long wait. Beverages were filled quickly as well. Definitely recommend eating here; I fear other italian restaurants will be measured against this one from now on... I definitely recommend making a reservation. Gave 4 of 5 stars because of the "welcome" we received. It was a busy night, but the look the host gave us when we arrived without reservation was not what I would call welcoming. They seated us - but I didn't appreciate the look. We just happened to be in town, had no idea of how busy they would be. A simple, genuine "I will see if we can accommodate you" would have sufficed. The wait staff took great care of us, but wow did they look stressed out. The food was amazing, but I didn't get the impression you could linger over your food or a glass of wine...
(4)
Matt O.
Mediterraneo is the upscale version of Epicure. The dishes are similar and the pizza is the same. I love sitting outside next to the fountain and pretending I'm in Italy. The food is 100% authentic and the service is spot on. The pizza is perfect. The pasta is handmade. The Italian accents are to die for. Enjoy.
(5)
C K.
Good pizza, very good salad. Nice place, wish it was open later for after movie eating
(4)
Sally B.
How I dare tell you about this restaurant. Old New Yorker love love love Bruno fire oven pizza no better. Eddie the bartender will take care of you. The best Italian restaurant in all of Sarasota. Make a reservation and enjoy everything they have on the menu. Have been in the area for over 18 years and so has this restaurant. Best seat is at the bar to watch Bruno make the best pizzas. The rest of the menu is just as good. My favorite Italian restaurant in all of Sarasota.
(5)
Art N.
OK, 4 couples make a reservation for conversation and dinner. This is not a LOUD restaurant, but a quiet corner it ain't. My wife and I have eaten here several times and the place can't decide what it wants to be when it grows up. GREAT food, but service with the attitude of a pizza joint. Tonight was no different; Everyone had a drink and we all had either an appetizer or shared a pasta entree as an appetizers for two people; each of the eight of us added a complete entree and then four desserts and coffee. No complaints about the food - it was very good. My wife had really good salmon in a picatta sauce that was excellent, I had osso bucco made from a veal shank - also excellent. The pasta appetizers were excellent also. Only one down note; one of us had the lasagna and she complained that the pasta had been overcooked so the really good lasagna was ruined by mushy noodles. So why three stars? The service was surly at best - down right rude in some cases. Errors in the checks that required the manager to come over and take control because our server was complaining (loudly I might add) to the customers that the problem was with the computer system. We have eaten here before and had really good food and better service. Our server, Ernesto is at the bottom of my list.
(3)
Jim H.
For a quick early Sunday night dinner we recently went to Mediterraneo and everything about it was a 5 star experience. We started with a Caprese salad served with perfectly ripe red tomatoes, delicious fresh mozzarella and a few basil leaves. We love white pizza and theirs was just excellent with the right amounts of mozzarella, ricotta and spinach. Additionally we added anchovies which were firm and plump even after they were cooked in the wood burning oven. This pizza was really perfect in every way. They have a broad menu of classic Italian food and this review would be unfair if it leaves the impression that this is a pizza house. But boy that pizza was good. See their complete lunch and dinner menus at mediterraneorest.com/men… Everything about our brief Sunday night encounter said professionalism. A gracious greeting at the door, excellent pleasant and prompt service, and the fabulously prepared and presented food, it seems they know how to do it right.
(5)
Jay E.
Easily one of my top five favorite places to eat in Sarasota. I am a native and dine out twice a week. The front has outdoor seating or a casual bar enclave, the back dining rooms are classic uptown - white table clothes, waiters in ties, quiet and sharp looking. Dress can be casual to dressy. Here is the place you want to eat pasta. The food is delicious and the plates so hot your pasta stays warm and savory throughout your meal. The pizzas are varied, thin crust and very tasty also. The best is the prosciutto and melon appetizer. Seafood is fresh and not over done. Service is good, ambiance is great. I used to only go here when visiting the movie across the street. Now I go for the food.
(5)
Tim S.
Pizza was really well done. The prosciutto and melon was odd. It was three awkwardly cut up cantaloupe pieces with thin sliced prosciutto on the plate underneath the melon. I had to cut the melon n wrap ea one. Come for the pizza. Not confident that the culinary ART skills are well honed here. However, I've been known to call it incorrectly from time to time. You let me know.
(4)
Raymond S.
An awesome italian restaurant that did just about everything RIGHT. Reservations: Made a few hours before dinner and when we arrived to a crowded restaurant we were sat immediately. Service: One main waiter was perfect as were his team of helpers who made sure we had filled water and bread baskets Food: 5 of us dined and all 5 of us were happy with the tasty and good looking dishes. The pasta was fresh and the flavors were outstanding Overall: Loved it.
(4)
Ron L.
Don't look any further. This place is good. This place is a find. Once the servers figure out your level of interest in your meal and dining experience, they are certainly more and more engaging. Tried lots of small plates. everything was delicious. Just tell them to bring out what they want you to try. I had a sampling of most entree specials except the rabbit. (who the hell wants to eat rabbit.) I did and my bill was very reasonable considering I enjoyed many flavors of the day. Walked right in. Lots of people seated at the bar. They have their share of regulars that's for sure. Brushetta was excellent, Sliced Rib-Eye was too. Cant go wrong. Oh, pasta with bolognese and spinach. Was really excellent.
(4)
Sharon T.
The atmosphere and service as well as the food of course make this a great place to people watch or grab a late bite after the movies. Alberto,Daniele and Alessandro are always happy to see us and have established friendships over the 15 years that they have been in business here. We love to sit in the bar area,there is outside seating, and a small separate area in the back for groups under 40-50. Great place for business lunch or a romantic dinner.My husband loves the thin crust pizza cooked in the wood burning oven....he always orders the same thing...I like to order the pasta dishes or a fish special and always enjoy desert..:) Very popular with the locals
(5)
T. Isabella N.
Oh Bucatini Con Agnello, how I dream of you! Haha. What good here? Everything!! This is mine and my Husbands favorite restaurant in all of Sarasota. They make a dish called Bucatini Con Agnello with lamb and mushrooms and once you have it, your life will change forever. It's that good! Their pizza is also to die for with a thin soft yet crunchy crust. It's just perfection. I have also had their grilled rosemary ribeye which is sooo yummy and cooked to perfection, I tell ya. This place is definitely a must when you are in Sarasota.
(5)
Vanessa C.
Authentic Italian without the slew of Sarasota tourists. Although there are some good options there, I suggest skipping Armand's Circle in Sarasota and eat downtown instead. Main St. has some great options and Mediterraneo is one of them. They will substitute anything on their varied dishes to your taste happily. The flavors are rich and the service is great. A nice alternative to some of the tourist traps on the Circle.
(4)
Helen L.
This is my favorite Italian place in Sarasota downtown. The staff is great; you'll never have an empty glass of water. The food is amazing. I always get the carpaccio with parmesan. For a heavy pasta, I would recommend the Rigatoni con salciccia e broccolini and a for lighter one the Cappellini Primavera. Don't skip dessert! The tiramisu is the best I've had.
The absolute best Italian food outside of Italy! I would make the trip to Sarasota specifically to go to Mediteraneo. The service is impeccable, the dishes 100% authentic, the ingredients local, and the prices unbelievable. I've been coming here since 2001, and the food and service are always consistently amazing. Everyone living or visiting Sarasota must make it a point to eat here. You will NOT be disappointed - have yet to order something I didn't like, but the veal chop Milanese is my personal favorite...
(5)
George S.
Had dinner on Sunday night. The place was very crowded. Clean. With a modern flare. It's that time of the year here in Florida. Spring breakers! Very loud inside. Hard to carry a conversation. Service was very nice! My hubby and I are from Chicago. He had a steak which he raved about throughout the entire meal. My linguine with shrimp was just okay. Seemed like it Sat on counter too long before it came out. The calamari had a nice flavor. My friend would not recommend the noci. The desert was amazing. Make a reservation!!
(3)
Erin R.
Wow! This place had 5 star food and 5 star service! Started with wine and apps- Mussels and Caprese salad, both very fresh and delicious. Immediately after the last bite, our meals were being delivered to the table. I enjoyed the chicken scaloppine with roasted eggplant and fontina cheese. Delicious rosemary potatoes and broccoli came with the dish too- the potatoes were out of this world. Can't believe how quick this was and the quality of the food. Very impressed with this place on top of the atmosphere, cleanliness, and timeliness of the service. If we lived here we would definitely frequent this restaurant.
(5)
Kristy L.
Loved their food & had great service!! That was the best part!! The owner came & sat with us & made sure everything was great & it was perfect!! Then after eating, we went outside & sat in the comfy. couches. And had a few drinks & smokes. It's a fun place to go. Should give it a go. Great food!!!
(5)
Bill K.
Quick look: Authentic Italian dishes created with love. Expect traditional Italian ingredients with modern flair. Restaurant will be busy during dinner hours so go ahead and make a reservation. Solid all the way around, can be a top contender with a few minor tweaks. In depth review: Was visiting my NY transplant family that lives in the Sarasota area and they kept ranting and raving about Mediterraneo. We made a reservation for Monday, March 10th 2014 at 7pm. Surprised how busy the restaurant was for a Monday night. They must be attracting an upscale clientele as many of the cars parked outside were luxury, high end rides. The restaurant had a modern feel and is charming and quaint. We were greeted by the owner upon entering (nice feature). He even remembered my family and walked us to the table. Service was prompt, at first. We ordered the calamari appetizer (not breaded and fried) and the sauce that accompanied it was tasty. Also ordered the Caprese (Tomato and Mozzarella) appetizer and it was superb. We also enjoyed the fresh baked bread brought to the table. For my entree I ordered the "Costoletta di vitello alla Parmigiana" (Breaded and pounded bone - in Veal chop with tomato sauce and melted mozzarella cheese) - aka: Veal Parmesan. It was without a doubt one of the best Veal Parm dishes that I have had in a long time. Well done, I has in Heaven. I also over-indulged and ate the entire thing. I was beyond full as the portion was HUGE! Everyone at the table in our group of seven loved their entrees. The lady loved her lamb shank and said it was great. So the quality of the food is obviously top notch. I could feel the Italian love coming out of that kitchen! The only area of improvement that I can offer and why I removed a star from the rating is due to the inconsistent service we had during our meal. First of all it took way too long for drinks to appear at the table after placing the initial order. I even had to re-order a couple drinks after the drinks never made their way out to us. The server had no explanation, nor did he offer an apology. I also had to ask for more bread, water refills and requested that he remove a few dirty plates that had been sitting in front of us. With a few minor tweaks this restaurant will be unstoppable in Sarasota and South Florida. The food was top notch and reminded me of the Italian restaurants I grew up eating at in New York. We will be back and hopefully they will earn a five star rating from me. Owner also said goodbye to us as we left. Love the personal touch!
(4)
Carol B.
Upscale and comfort decor great place to bring guests. Authentic Italian great lasagna the service is attentive Not high servings but plenty
(5)
Julie K.
The black linguini with shrimp was delicious. The service was excellent! Complimentary bruschetta and bread with olive oil. I would definitely come here again when in town. Very quaint in one area and formal dining in the other, plus outside seating.
(5)
Tom L.
Our favorite restaurant in Sarasota. Authentic made fresh Italian food with great service.
(5)
Brady R.
Legit Italian - on a Sunday night the proprietor and his family are dining here themselves, speaking Italian. Great food and wine. Love this place!
(5)
Perry C.
This is one of Sarasota's oldest and best authentic Italian eateries. Great place for dinner before a movie. Across Main Street from Hollywood 20.
(5)
Scott C.
I know I gave a review a couple of years ago on Il Panificio's pizza and I called it the best in Sarasota. I can't believe I'm saying this but the pizza I had last night here might be one of the best pizzas I've ever had. My buddy and I sat at the bar in front of the wood burning oven and we watched chef Bruno create the most extraordinary food. I had the sausage and pepperoni pizza. The hand made dough was just beyond my comprehension good. I will absolutely go again.
(5)
Mark P.
Still the best Italian on Sarasota! Casa Autentica is good but very pricey. Here, you get your money's worth!
(5)
Art N.
Very good food, but $30 for a corkage fee is a ripoff!
(4)
Annie C.
We stopped at Mediterraneo after a long days' drive, to get take-out pizza. As we walked up to the restaurant, my husband got a little worried because the clientele were dressed more formal than we were (we were in shorts etc.). I walked in and the person greeting me could see that I was concerned, but welcomed us both in, asking us to sit down and enjoy our pizza; that we "didn't need to do take out but could make ourselves comfortable". We decided to sit at the bar and enjoy a cold beer, while waiting for our pizza to cook. All the staff we encountered were very hospitable, and the wood-oven pizza was delicious! Even the person cooking the pizza said, "I don't have to put it in a box...you can eat it here." We highly recommend them and plan to visit them the next time we're in Sarasota!
(5)
Rebecca C.
Not as great as we had remembered. In the past I would have given 4 or 5 stars. My husband and I have visited this restaurant nearly every time we've been in Sarasota. While I'm pleased it is still there, it wasn't quite as good as it had been for our prior visits. We were there for an early dinner without the kids. Seating was plentiful (at 6pm) and we were the only folks seated under 60. The tables filled up by 7:15, and there were folks waiting for tables when we left at 7:30. The owner and host is very charismatic and friendly, though our waiter had very little personality in comparison. We asked for some recommendations, and his answers were not very descriptive. The table next to us was seated 15 minutes after us, and got their appetizers before us. The appetizers we ordered were delicious - shrimp and andouille sausage over white beans, and carpaccio with avocado and hearts of palm. The main dish was not very flavorful, unfortunately. The linguine with chicken, peas and mushrooms in a cream lacked in flavor, and the cubed chicken was chewy. Overall, our experience was "meh" though the appetizers were quite good.
(2)
Tamara S.
Delicious. Great service. Warm and inviting. Best to have a reservation as the word is out it is the best Italian restaurant in Sarasota.
(5)
Carlo K.
Cozy place, The best dish in this authentic Italian joint is, pizza! In my opinion. This is the menu, the appetizers are about 10 dollars. The salads are about 7 dollars, the pastas are 15 dollars, the main dishes are over 23 dollars. The best dishes are their pizza! This is a true authentic Italian joint.... All the owners are Italian and they keep up with the best product available to them here in Florida, It never amazes me to see how they are able to create such and authentic Food with Floridian and American product! i know for fact the pizza Cook has his own Italian Recipe for the flower he uses in the Pizza, so sort of mixture that is a secret.
(5)
Bryanne R.
Delicious. Friendly. I hear that Bruno makes the best pizzas.
(4)
SandJ K.
Some of the food was good but there were so many quirks and disappointments it doesn't make sense. Party of 10, 9 pieces of bruschetta. Once the wine list didn't go around the table only some people were asked if they wanted something else. Dinner served, no one asked if everything was okay, nor asked if anyone needed anything. The waiter was 10 feet away watching us...finished plates everywhere, just stood there looking at us for a long while, 8 or 9 people were finished before anyone came to clear. The place was LOUD and the service so bizarre it took away from good food overall. While convenient to McCurdy's I wasn't all that thrilled. So many other choices, we'll leave this to others who thought it was special...for me, meh.
We ate here twice while we were in Sarasota, it was that good. In fact this is one of the best Italian restaurants that I have ever dined in. The pasta that absolutely captured my attention was the Bucatini con agnello. The pasta was cooked to perfection and the sauce is the best ragu variation that I have ever tasted in a restaurant. (nothing is better than mama's!) The lamb was succulent and the chef integrated Shitaki mushrooms and it was perfect. The eggplant appetizer with goat cheese was so good! On our second night we had a mozzarella and speck appetizer: the speck is wrapped around the mozzarella and into the pizza oven. It comes out magically transformed into an amazing appetizer: delicious. memorable. decadent. We will be back.....so good that I want to move there!
(5)
John S.
The complimentary bruschetta was outstanding. We ordered a caprese appetizer. It had the option to upgrade to buffalo mozzarella - a rare option. It shows an attention to quality - a very good sign. Needless to say the caprese with buffalo mozzarella was outstanding. The best I've had outside of a NYC restaurant. The main course - the black linguine with shrimp in a spicy red sauce was superb. The portion was just right. The waitstaff was attentive and friendly. I will definitely return to try their pizza.
(4)
Carol L.
We were disappointed by this restaurant. It got good reviews, was convenient to the movie theater across the street, and our party was seated quickly without a reservation. Those were the highlights. The mussels were dull. The lasagna was tasty but mushy and sloppy- nothing to really write home about. The pasta special was overcooked, too sauced, and gloppy. The Caesar salad was overly dressed and boring. The food was less then ordinary. The dining room was extremely loud. The staff was efficient. We will not go again. (the pizza looked good but no one at our table had one)
(2)
Mike B.
By far the best meal of our week in Sarasota area. The Bacatini Lamb, Gamberi Saltati and Satrico wine were awesome. The server (Steven) was awesome. He was the stand-out server of the week. We look forward to returning.
(4)
Jennifer A.
Upon this year's visit to Sarasota we didn't want to leave without eating our favorite pasta dishes at Mediterraneo. We were very tired from the long week, so we ordered our meals to-go and had a nice picnic by the water at Marina Jack. The freshly made pasta and sauce was delicious as it was the first time we tried it 8 years ago! I always order the spaghetti carbonara (YUMMY!) and I believe my husband ordered the chicken fettucine...he switches every time we go. I love that they packed us an extra box with napkins, utensils, fresh bread and butter. We love the food and the service. We would give 5 stars if the portions were just a bit larger for the price. I am used to splitting my pasta dishes up into two meals and there just wasn't enough for that.
(4)
Serena T.
I was recovering from a massive hangover and this was the first time I could actually eat without feeling nauseous. I was a bit apprehensive to eat but once I got my pizza I knew that everything would be alright. It was fresh and the crust was thin which is how I like my pizzas. It was busy but the staff was extremely friendly. This is a place to check out if you are in the area.
(4)
Pamela M.
Delicious! This is without a doubt my favorite restaurant in Sarasota. I'm partial to Italian cooking and Mediterraneo does it authentic. Very authentic. I have tried many items on then menu and have never been disappointed. The Torretta di melanzane e pomodori arrosto con formaggio caprino (Eggplant Tower) is my favorite appetizer on the menu. As far as Pasta goes my most memorable was actually a special with home made pappardelle with wild boar ragu. Excellent! I have also enjoyed the black linguine and the ossobuco with parmesan risotto. The pizza is also a major winner. You can't go wrong here. Enjoy!
(5)
Lisa N.
Awesome brick oven pizza! Was in town for a race and needed a carb heavy dinner. Found Mediterraneo by searching Yelp. It is easy to find in Sarasota's cute downtown neighborhood. Seating available inside and out. We were seated in the more casual bar area, which was just fine with us. Our server was clearly Italian and spoke with a great accent. Luckily, one of the friends I was with was also a native Italian speaker. She didn't need to use it but it was nice to know we had her in our back pocket. The service was fabulous. Our server was assisted by several others who were constantly checking on us and refilling our water glasses (pre-race = no vino). My friends both ordered a side salad to start and it was huge. They were both very impressed with the healthy size and flavor. For dressing, the server brought over bottles of olive oil and vinegar. We also were served two different kinds of bread: a foccacia and a sliced white bread. The bread was served with a dipping sauce of olive oil, peppers, garlic, and spices. I asked for butter (yes, I am THAT person) and they obliged. Two of us ordered pizza. I had a traditional margherita pizza with fresh basil. It was amazing. The brick oven is located in the bar where we were sitting so we watched our pizzas being made. One of the best pizzas I've ever had. My friend special ordered a sausage pizza with mushrooms and ate every last bite. Our other friend ordered pasta with meat sauce and was thoroughly impressed with the flavor and quality. A win, win. Next time I am in Sarasota, I will be visiting Mediterranneo! Reservations suggested on weekends. You can dine inexpensively, but it can get pretty pricey.
(4)
Mary B.
Don't bother coming here in the summertime! We might as well have had a robot as our server! Food was mediocre, service was ok, but sheesh, have a little personality when explaining the specials! I think I finally managed to get 1/2 a smile from our waiter! Can't stand waiters that act like they are doing us a favor by waiting on us, when the restaurant is 1/2 empty! On to the food, had the Gorgonzola salad, not a pretty presentation, but edible....nothing to write home about unless you Really love red onion! Veal piccata for entree, came looking dry, but surprisingly enough, was tasty. I think the waiters can remove the corn cobbs from u know where, and at least pretend they like their jobs. If not for us, they wouldn't have one. Oh, 1 more thing, we ordered the tiramisu, never came, unless my hubby ate it all while I went to the restroom!
(2)
James D.
We sat at the bar and loved this place. The bartender was outstanding and knew the menu well and you could tell he was dedicated to providing good service. The pizza was excellent and so was the grilled calamari. The atmosphere is also very nice. I look forward to going back here again soon.
(5)
Jennifer K.
Authentic Mediterranean food. Everything was good here. the stuffed mushrooms were the best... wrapped in prosciutto.
(4)
Miri H.
In his evaluation of one of the competing restaurants in the most recent 'Restaurant Wars' on Top Chef, Tom Colicchio notes that you go to restaurants for food and you return for hospitality. Then he said "I don't know if I'd return to this restaurant." Sadly, this, in a nutshell, sums up our feelings about Mediterraneo. Don't get me wrong, this pains me to no end, as my dinner was absolutely delicious. I started with the Torretta di melanzane e pomodori arrosto con formaggio caprino (Tower of roasted eggplants with goat cheese in tomato sauce: A plateful of savory, melty deliciousness). My husband was less impressed by his appetizer of roasted red peppers stuffed with mozzarella cheese and basil, which seemed haphazardly assembled, with varying quantities of basil (some peppers were totally overloaded, others had barely a sliver). Then we waited for our main courses. And we waited Ok, so it was a busy Friday night. We worked our way through our bottle of wine. Still no food. When I politely commented to our waiter about how busy they seemed to be (waiters and the owners were hectically rushing back and forth so fast I almost got whiplash watching them) and whether he knew what was going on with our main courses. "Oh, this isn't busy! You should see what its like in high season!" (we visited end of November). Well alrighty then. Not busy. Still, no food. If this concerned our waiter, he hid it well. Indeed, he did a mighty fine job of hiding, avoiding any eye contact with us altogether. Well, once it showed up, I fully enjoyed the Bucatini con agnello, funghi shitake e pecorino sardo (Bucatini pasta with braised lamb, shitake mushroom and Sardinian pecorino cheese: A fantastic, flavorful dish, very generous portion, perfect bite to the pasta, great depth of flavor to the sauce). My husband was happy enough with his lamb shank ossobuco but honestly, we were both pretty much done with the restaurant by that point. We got up from our table feeling more than a tad frazzled and very underwhelmed by the service and the ambiance (or lack thereof) at Mediterraneo. "Come back and see us" said one of the owners as we left (the first he communicated with us all evening). Hmmm... Maybe for take-out. PS Perhaps a 2.0 rating is a bit harsh, but hey, I definitely didn't leave feeling this place was worthy of an A-OK. So blame the Yelp rating system... ;-)
(2)
Jane M.
I'm disappointed. I had heard so much about this restaurant, but I won't be going back in awhile.The food was good but there are a lot of restaurants with good food. Our waiter seemed unhappy and disguntled with his job. The noise level was terrible and there was a $30 corkage fee. Wine choices by the glass were mediocre.
(2)
George P.
Have enjoyed restaurants all over Sarasota but never visited this one. Yelp reviews seemed positive so we gave it a try. Was full even though it was located well up Main Street away from heart of city. That was a good sign. We were seated right away. Staff was very professional which lends to positive dining experience. Menu was diverse Italian with good wine list. Specials were creative. Food was prepared quickly and served hot. Brick oven pizza excellent. Prices were very reasonable for above average quality food. We will come again.
(4)
Gina W.
This is by far the best Italian meal in Sarasota. Consistently great food, the veal is fork tender and gorgeous with arugula on top. the spinach was perfectly cooked with a touch of olive oil and garlic. A thin crust app came to the table with rosemary and olive oil, a touch of sea salt-so hot, crispy and flavorful I could have eaten the whole thing-and this is on the house! my husband had the ziti with sausage- amazing, silky sauce with perfectly al dente pasta. i had the branzino, fresh, tender, moist and so well prepared! the cappucino was the perfect ending- they do have delicious deserts, we have tried creme brulee and it was great. Would give the restaurant five stars if it wasn't so small and crowded/loud.
(4)
Lawrence C.
The attitude of owners/waitstaff continues to amaze me with how disinterested and just average they are. Despite their longevity at this location. BUT, there aren't many established restaurants in town, with the terrible economy keeping diners away. Food is good though!
(2)
Melissa R.
We found this little treat by searching Yelp Reviews while venturing into the SRQ area. We did a drive by and the place was packed, meanwhile another Italian restaurant just a few doors down had no customers. It's always a good sign to see a busy restaurant. Anyway.... let's get down to business. If you're looking for happy-go-lucky, ear-to-ear smile service staff this isn't the place. Our server seemed to be as Italian as they get. He was efficient, polite and knowledgeable and I chalked the lack of smiles up to a cultural thing. ha ha We had the special appetizer of the day which was homemade burrata cheese with imported salami and cured beef. The beef was the hit for me. I could have eaten that alone for dinner. Imagine beef prosciutto and that was about the consistency and taste. It was quite delicious. For entrees I had the homemade tortellini stuffed with veal and my hubs had calamari risotto. The risotto had tons of flavor and was a big enough portion. The tortellini was served in a pretty simple, very light cheese sauce. The portion of the tortellini was quite big as well. Since we had an hour drive back home we had a few cappuccinos which they serve with homemade biscotti. That was probably the best biscotti I've ever had. All in all I would love to go back and sample their other dishes. Price wise, most of their pasta dishes were around $15-$17 and their meat dishes were in the range of $20-$30. I thought the food was great and not your typical American/Italian type of food. It seems like they try to bring "real" italian food here and I thought it was great.
(4)
Jack O.
My Family and I ate here 2 days ago and the food was great and had great interior But~ The reason for the 3 stars is that the waitress ( woman didin`t get her name ) was not that freindly . Infact my mother even commented on it.. I had the ceasar salad with chicken and it was great!!
(3)
Ariana F.
Food was great, but service was horrible. Staff was unbelievably rude and obnoxious; threatened physical violence to patrons in front of the entire restaurant this past Friday, April 15; if I remember correctly, the greeter said something along the lines of let's take this outside and that he'd basically beat up the patron in the alley... all because the patron's wife had received the wrong plate of food.
(1)
Joseph M.
Average Italian except for the price .... higher than it should have been and for what we ordered. Finally, we got there around 7:30 and felt that the staff was rushing us through the meal (bringing food, clearing plates, asking about desserts) so they could close and go home.
(2)
Haig P.
My wife and I went here for dinner last night. Despite a hard rain, the place was very busy. Decor was appealing. We both had the Salmon Picata. I liked it. My wife thought it was just OK. It was thinly sliced which she thought was strange. Service was quick and attentive. I would give them a B.
(4)
mercedes m.
Born and raised in Italy, if you would like a real taste and authenticity of Italian food, ristorante Mediterranean is the ONLY place to go! Love it!
(5)
Dick L.
We had pizza pasta; both very good. I'd eat here again.
(4)
Danny B.
First, let me say that this is a very good experience but make reservations. We were greeted by a quick frown after we said we did not have reservations; but I quickly brushed it off as my money is as good as everyone else's there. After several minutes waiting for our server to show, we quickly ordered our drinks and were told about their specials. Although their menu is varied with many tasty dishes, their specials were excellent choices that night. The pasta is the real deal. Fish and ravioli was to die for. My oldest son's penne pasta in marinara was delicious and my youngest ate a flat bread with tomato and parmesan on it; simple yet great. Their bread prior to serving you dinner is nothing special but their bruschetta was excellent. The server could have come to our table to get more refills on my soft drink but they quickly got us moving along as the place was kicking for a Thursday night. I'm sure they treat their regulars like family, but although I felt slightly unwelcome; their food is extremely well prepared and delicious.
(4)
Charlie B.
Very fine and creative food reminiscent of the best restaurants in Italy. Lots of options for vegetarians. Lovely surroundings. Before going, I was perplexed by other reviewers' reports about the staff and owner: some raving about them and others turned off. My observation is that both are correct. Patrons who are known to the owner are showered with attention, hugs and kisses, while newcomers who don't fit the euro-chic environment are sometimes treated with haughty indifference. The place would be better off, I think, if both extremes were dialed back a bit. That said, we will certainly go back, even if we can't aspire to "in" status.
(4)
Stephanie C.
Tis was our first visit to Mediterraneo. We took my Dad here to celebrate his 89th birthday, and had a great time. The manager, Alesandro, met us with a friendly smile and made us feel welcome. Our server, Amy, was phenomenal....knowledgeable and attentive, but not intrusive. Our food was excellent....... Osseo Bucco, duck breast, and the Bronzino fish special were all wonderful. I was somewhat concerned by previous reviews regarding the service, but we found it beyond reproach. The noise level is my only complaint.....they could find a way to soften more surfaces and dampen the level so conversation is easier, but we will definitely go back.
(4)
Derek D.
Great neighborhood Italian restaurant. Sarasota has a few Downtown, but this is definitely the one you should spend your time in. The owners are quite friendly, service exquisite, and the food is fantastic. Definitely my favorite is the pizza. Cooked in a wood over they come out how real pizza should be! Thin, crispy, and with a wonderful homemade sauce. And they are actually baked by Italians! Sit at the bar and order a Pizza Margarita and watch the man do his magic in the oven. While you wait order an excellent martini by Eddie; best bartender in town.
(4)
Jess C.
Absolutely delicious! Love the simple house salad, the Italian wines (can get by the carafe- a treat I love), the welcoming staff. The thin crust pizza from the wood burning oven is amaaaaazing- equally delicious is the penne with fresh mozz-- yum-o! Cute neighborhood spot with good food and reasonable prices.
(4)
Danny H.
My wife and I loved this restaurant very much...Visiting from the Seattle area and after experiencing other restaurants, I'm sorry we didn't try this restaurant sooner as both the staff and crowd were energized.....We were able to secure a reservation last minute and the restaurant didn't disappoint. The wine, pasta's and deserts were all wonderful...I wish I could tell you what we ordered but this review is over 2 months late since we were there the week before Christmas but if you want to experience that great, friendly, buzzing Italian restaurant, please visit Mediterraneo, you won't be sorry.
(5)
Janice C.
Very crowded, yet service was good. Previous reviews criticized service, but ours was attentive . Food was delicious, fresh pasta and ingredients. Not overly generous portions in terms of the number of shrimp in my black linguine and shrimp dish, however. All four of our entrees were good. Given the size of the crowd, it is a popular place.
(4)
Taz S.
Big attitudes. I avoid it ! Many other with better food and are happy that you are there.
(3)
Lee M.
This place has the best Italian food we've eaten since we were in Italy. The menu is extensive. Complimentary bruschetta served along with the bread. The salad was huge, could easily have served two. The entrees were terrific and everything was perfectly prepared. Our server was helpful and attentive but not overly so. We went on a Friday night at 7 with a reservation which was needed at that time. Will definitely return when we want Italian food in Sarasota.
(5)
TP F.
I've been to Mediterraneo several times, largely due to cousins who go there regularly and get the "red carpet" treatment because of all the money they spend. From my more humble perspective however, it's one of many merely ok Italian eateries here in Sarasota. The service sucks, too. See Rachel B.'s review. She's not too far off the mark.
(2)
Walter W.
I'm not sure why some people are complaining about either the service or the attitude here. When I went it was top notch service, and you can tell people love this place. It seemed like all regulars walking in the door, with big smiles on their face, waiting to greet the owners. In other words there are some well established relationships. That is hardly a sign of a place with either a bad attitude or poor service. And, the food is excellent.
(5)
Dave S.
Very wonderful Italian restaurant, awesome food and a price that didn't empty the wallet, even with the kids and wine the bill was very reasonable. This place really isn't for the whole family though, our kids are 9 & 11 and seemed a little restless but the waiter was very patient and helped out with their selections, excellent food!
(5)
Matt S.
Bruno is the King of Pizza.... He makes his dough, pesto, etc from scratch and cooks you pizza in the wood fired oven at the bar to perfection. He is there every night except for Monday and Wednesday. You won't be disappointed...check it out and tell him I sent you.
(4)
Dave R.
Alberto and Daniel have the best Italian restaurant in Sarasota. It's authentic and CONSISTENTLY GREAT. The linguini with meat ragu, the steak and gorgonzola, the veal osso buco, the scallops ... everything is really well prepared. They've taken care of our family for years and we've never ever had a bad experience. I would give six stars if I could. P.S. If you're reading this you MUST get the tiramisu. I hate tiramisu and I love theirs. Thank me later.
(5)
Christine T.
Food was fine, With the exception of one major flaw. A special was described as grouper, and came out as swordfish. When the waiter was questioned, he told us that the kitchen ran out of grouper. The kitchen did take back the dishes (two people at the table ordered it) and replaced them with other dishes from the menu. We were disappointed that there was no apology, and no adjustment to the bill was made. A top notch restaurant would have handled the situation better.
(3)
Jason R.
Great authentic Italian cuisine
(5)
Nikki K.
northern italian perfection
(5)
Therese M.
I'll admit, I had heard from several people that this is one of the best restaurants in town, so my expectations were pretty high. We walked in on a Friday evening without reservations and waited briefly at front door before being seated by manager. I ordered eggplant tower with torched goat cheese and tomato sauce, delicious! Entree was salmon picatta with sauteed spinach, pretty lousy. Salmon was a funny cut tasted a bit fish, even for salmon. Portion was also quite small for dinner entree. My husband had penne with red meat sauce which was very good except for aggressive anise flavor. Server was young and lacked much finesse for this price-point, but nice and efficient. Certainly no "wow" moments at dinner; the dining room is long and lacks much ambiance when you are seated in the middle of the room. Good wine list with nice representation of value-priced Italian wines but still spent $100 for one appetizer, two entrees and three alc. beverages. Also, their bus boys are so efficient and unobtrusive, very nice!
(3)
Lee P.
I read all the reviews here and am dumbfounded that some knock the service and the owner's of this ultra fine establishment. The Pizza's are the best as are the salads and pasta dishes. Veal is beyond compare. One of the owners kisses all of the women in the way of a greeting. Some even get two kisses. WOW. The kissing owner has gone back to Italy for the summer, will return in the fall.
(5)
Ashley H.
being from a hardcore east coast Italian family i can really say that i have had better. but for the average joe looking for some tasty Italian eats feel more than free to stop in. when i went in the staff was...meh ok at best. we waited a while for our food and they, for some reason, got lost when we were ordering and therefore messed up our order a little but oh well. it's got pretty good food and i would stop in there again.
(4)
Irene K.
My favorite Italian restaurant for the quick and excellent service (the wait staff is impeccably trained) and the delicious Northern Italian food(attractively presented). The food is always fresh, with nightly specials,. the portions are more than adequate, and the Veal Milanese is outstanding. So is the tiramisu! One of the principals, Daniele, Alessandro, or Alberto are always on hand to warmly greet the diners and make sure everything is run well. Always a treat!
(5)
Michael P.
I'm from San Mateo, California but I'm originally from NJ. My parents live here in the area now and I'm here visiting them. I wanted to find a good, new (for us) Italian restaurant to try. I spoke to someone on the plane and they were also from the NorthEast (Boston), which has great Italian food. The couple mentioned this place and said you will really enjoy it. Let me say that my parents have lived in this are since 1992 and I've always said the Italian food was fair. This place is very good. The potato gnocchi and sauce are very, very good. The salads and veal were great and the bread is good. The only thing that was fair was the bruschetta. The service was excellent, highest praise and they are very friendly. I give this place the highest rating. It's also clean and quaint. Good for a date or family.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Romantic, Classy, Upscale Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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.
Italian Cuisine
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.
Flor R.
Excellent service, with attention to detail, and impeccable attentiveness. The food was delicious and the wine selection impressive. The location is near the center of town and there is adequate parking nearby. There is the personal touch that is rare anymore. Definitely recommend for any occasion and for a delicious meal.
(5)B H.
Consistently wonderful food and service. A great greeting from the owners. Numerous dinners and lunches here really deserves 4.5 stars. Confirm it for yourself.
(4)Georgia B.
Authentic southern Italian food - if you get a chance to dine here - DO!!! I was very surprised to find such an authentic and fabulous Italian restaurant in Sarasota. Not surprisingly, it is owned by and the chefs are all Italians. We ate here twice in a week and everything we tried was really superb. For starters, we tried pizza, sautéed calamari and beef Carpaccio. They have a clay burning oven that makes true Napolitan pizza. Calamari was sautéed to perfection and was not over cooked. My parents liked Carpaccio. For the main course, I had skewered prawns over spinach and chick peas - delicious! My parents had spaghetti with spinach and meat sauce. They loved it. The second time, we took some friends and we tried lamb shank with risotto, black linguine (ink sauce) with shrimp arabiatta, sautéed salmon and veal scalapine. All were presented beautifully and were quite edible. They have a decent wine list and desserts including limoncello (yummy). I used to live in Italy and this is about as authentic as it gets and consistently high quality. Really warm staff and owners check in on each table.
(5)Megan G.
Great Italian food! Came with a large group of 10 girls and each one of us left happy. I personally had ordered the salmon scaloppine dish and felt it was the perfect size for my appetite, but may not have been enough for man. I must say it was delicious, seasoned and cooked to perfection, while still reasonably priced. The olive bread and flavored olive oil (maybe red pepper infused) were also extraordinary and well received.
(5)Bruce n.
Pretty decent food. I liked my appetizer better than the main course. I wish you could give half stars I'd give 3 1/2. Great deal on wine, they had a small wine menu aside from their full wine selection that were truly deals, so I got a great Primitivo from Pugiia for just 22 bucks. The appetizer was burrata with some slices of tomato and salami and basil. The minty fresh basil was a great compliment to the dish, and slicing open the burrata was that great freshness of creamy curd. The dissapointment was the veal saltimboca. The veal was pounded so thin it was dry, and somewhat hard. The yummy marsala sauce couldn't save it. The service was top notch, thanks to Nick. I would give it a second go for sure.
(3)Thomas G.
Black linguini with shrimp is great. Reminds me of the great NYC restaurants of years gone bye. Always consistent with its professional service. A definite fueling stop before or after seeing the movies. Go there and you will not regret it.
(4)Bob B.
Excellent dining experience in downtown Sarasota across from the movie theater. We always sit at the bar, right in front of Bruno's wood-burning oven. He is a master. The place is always hopping with Eddie at the bar. Personal attention, great service, magnificent menu....all top shelf. And they have Armagnac!
(5)Amy P.
This review is based only on price and pizza: in short, not impressed. Pizza that we got (pancetta e ciprille) was completely underdone. Good news is that they have a good wine list and do get a lot of large groups so it's better to make a reservation in the high season. Personally won't be back.
(2)M R.
Had the pizza and LOVED it!!! Good service and great atmosphere... Eat here before heading to the movies across the street!
(4)Gabriel M.
The best pizza in Sarasota... Love to go to the bar before a movie across the street!
(4)Megan B.
While visiting Sarasota area had dinner here my last night in town. The table started with the calamari, sauteed with some tomatoes and herbs. It was really fresh and cooked perfectly! I had the Greek saland an a friend had the spinach salad. They weren't anything special...the spinach salad had pears but were raw, which is not quite as good as a poached pear for my palate. I had the linguini fruitti di mare which was to die for. My pasta was cooked perfectly and the flavor of the sauce/seafood was great! One of my friends had the salmon piccata and the other the rigatoni with sausage and brocollini. They both really enjoyed their meals. Dinner was followed by some biscotti cookies and aperatives. The ambiance was very nice...right in front of the open window and a nice breeze in a dimly lit bar area.
(4)Har D.
Review from DEC 2011 I would rate this as one of my top 20 Italian rest. The porcini pasta was beautifully al dente and had the aroma of wild mushrooms. My family were there with me and enjoyed the gnocchi and black seafood paste. One of the best desserts we had. Oops sorry the appetizers of crapese salad, roasted peppers and eggplant stag with goat cheese was yummy My mom in law have the lentil soup a 10/10. She knows her lentils and loved it.
(5)Heather M.
I am definitely partial to Italian cooking and this place is one of the top places to get it. The atmosphere is nice and the people there are very friendly. I know that people tend to say their portions look small but when I went there I had plenty of food left over, and trust me, I went in there hungry. Most importantly, there food was incredible, I got the chicken alfredo. It had peas, mushrooms, and all other kinds of good veggies in it. I can't wait to go back here.
(4)Rob B.
I'm generally not a huge fan of American style Italian food. Unfortunately, these type of restaurants dominate SRQ. Mediterraneo is the exception. Having spent time in Northern Italy I learned a new appreciation for authentic Italian cuisine. Rather than heavy on the cheese, overcooked pasta and greasy food. Mediterraneo offers fresh, authentic Italian cuisine. Had the Seafood Linguini infused with squid ink. Absolutely outstanding. It was packed full of seafood and Linguini infused with squid ink is somewhat difficult to find in SRQ. Also, the Caesar salad was excellent. Two other things I liked about this restaurant: the prices are very reasonable and the overall cleanliness of Mediterraneo was excellent. Regarding the issue of service, This restaurant is for foodie types and for people who know food, wine and want a taste of European style dining. Leave the Cracker Barrel style attitude expectations at home...when you step into Mediterraneo, your in Italia. That being said, I found the service here was excellent. I found the staff was very knowledgeable and took pride in the food they serve. Also, I like to add, when you see the staff eating the same food at the restaurant your dining at...AND REALLY ENJOYING IT...that tells you a lot about that restaurant. That's what's missing in the SRQ dining scene. It's really simple: Taking pride in the food you prepare and paying attention to the details=repeat customers If your a Foodie...chances are Mediterraneo is already on your list......
(5)Robert H.
So far, everything we've had has been excellent: Pizza Napoletana, Gamberetti saltati con salciccia spagnola e cannellini, Cesare & Cappellini Primavera all'aglio e olio.
(5)Lisa M.
Loved it, awsome everything you could want from a dinning experince.Will return when in Sarasota.
(5)J H.
Went in with a party of 7 on a Wednesday. Everyone was friendly and the restaurant was packed. All the food came out hot. We got the calamari, bruschetta, and speck wrapped mozzarella as apps which were exceptionally delicious. With the table bread they served a tapenade which was great and a great chance from butter yet they also served butter. Entres were lamb shank osso buco with Parmesan risotto best I've had. Others at my table got the shrimp, casaer salad, short rib special, salmon piccata. They even cooked my ma veal piccata though I was not on the menu. Desserts we got creme brulee, eclairs, and apple tart all exquisite. Exceptional service from Nick. Well done. A restaurant I will revisit when I am back in town and take any foodie friends of mine for an excellent meal and great time.
(5)Lori t.
We decided to visit Mediterraneo with some friends because the menu sounded really good. The food was excellent. Everyone enjoyed their dinner without a negative comment from anyone. The prices were very reasonable. I gave Mediterraneo four stars instead of five due to the noise level and atmosphere. We will definitely revisit Mediterraneo.
(4)Ron N.
Always reliable for a delicious authentic Italian meal with all special extra touches and very helpful service. You would have trouble matching this in Rome. Tables, with white table cloths, are pleasantly spaced so you can even enjoy conversation with your companion(s) while savoring the complex flavors of your special meal.
(5)Robert B.
Disappointing. While the server arranged for a variation of a meal item to suit me, the meat was of poorer quality and was tough. Also, we only received a bruschetta appetizer and bread while the entree was being served and only AFTER our requesting it- no way to run a finer restaurant. There are many other restaurants serving better food and with professional-not amateur-service.
(3)Michelle S.
Horrible service from a waiter that forgot to continue serving our table. They even forgot to bring water. Portions were the size of a McDonalds happy meal minus the toy. I left and went straight to Publix to get more food. So dissatisfied :/
(1)Lisa P.
We spend at least a week in Sarasota every year. Last night we wanted to try someplace different. What great place.Living in MA, my husband and I frequently visit Federal Hill in Providence as well as the North End of Boston so we know a thing or two about really great Italian food. Mediterraneo in Sarasota is as good as any of them! From the moment we walked in, Alberto greeted us warmly and led us to a very romantic corner table. Very nice considering it was our only night out without the kids. From there Nicola, our waiter, took over. He was terrific. Patient with us as we asked him questions about the menu and offered some excellent recommendations. We had two apps. A shrimp dish with andouille sausage over beans in a white wine sauce and the mozzarella wrapped in prosciutto. Both were beautifully presented and so delicious. We shared the Porcini Mushroom Risotto with ribeye. What a great combination. Finally we had creme brûlée, biscotti and cappuccino to end a magnificent evening. We then walked across the street and took in a movie on a whim. Fantastic night that will become a new tradition.
(5)Rachel B.
Mediterraneo is my all time favorite restaurant for one reason, and one reason only. The delicious food? No, although it is quite tasty. The delightful ambiance? Nope, guess again! Give up? Ok, I'll tell you: Mediterraneo is my favorite restaurant because I'm a total masochist. See, other restaurants have this annoying habit of treating their customers with respect, which really irks me. I mean, why would I pay good money for an entree if the waiter isn't even going to insult me after he screws up my order? Thankfully, this isn't a problem at Mediterraneo. If the waiter makes a mistake (and by God, he will!) you can rest assured that he'll take the time to properly insult your intelligence and verbally affront everybody at your table. It's just like that Thanksgiving where you're Uncle Bob got drunk and told your cousin she was a no-good whore, only way more expensive! Now, most fine dining establishments would probably end the abuse right then and there, but Mediterraneo is special. They really go that extra mile to make sure that your entire party has been sufficiently demoralized and threatened with physical violence before escorting you off the premises. I don't know if they put their staffers through some sort of douchebag training before releasing them on the general public, or if they just hire directly from the local prisons, but either way, I guarantee that you won't find a more mentally unhinged bunch employees at any other restaurant in Florida. My one and only complaint about this place is that nobody actually broke any of my bones or killed my pet dog. LOL, just kidding! I don't have a pet dog! P.S. Try the Tiramisu!
(1)Suzie S.
Excellent food. Hosts and waiters took good care of our table. Our pizza, salad, carpaccio, and sole portions were plentiful and delicious. It is one of a limited number of restaurants in Sarasota to take reservations (which are needed since they fill to capacity even on weekdays). Conveniently located right across the across from the movie theater.
(5)Tom O.
Horrible! Made a reservation. They didn't ask my name. I gave it; then I called to confirm. No answer. We arrived and Alberto didn't ask the name of the reservation but just if we had one. He said we were next. After seating 8 other parties and 30 minutes and after saying we were next 6 times, I complained. Al said he had to seat reservations 1st! Bad memory? No system at all? Lying? Catering to his regulars? Don't expect reservations to be honored. Horrible service. Dishonorable man!
(1)The C.
We had a good experience at Mediterraneo; we came in for pizza after an all-day event and were not "dressed," but they seated us anyway and our waiter was very attentive and friendly. We had the caprese salad and the red peppers stuffed with mozzarella and basil, the pepperoni pizza (LOVE the wood-burning oven and hammered copper in the decor), and desserts: panna cotta (very good -- unusual and delightful sauces used for garnish), apple strudel (more like a pie, but hearty and satisfying), and tiramisu (lighter in texture than many, more on the "whipped" side than the mascarpone side, no cocoa powdering the top, and the alcoholic content was not obvious). What we loved even more than the thin-crust handmade pizza and house-made mozzarella was the decor, which was tasteful and indeed made one think of a Tuscan villa in summer. This is a place which has been popular for a long time, and which fortunately has valet parking, as parking in that neighborhood is a sport akin to roller derby -- too many popular restaurants and nightspots! The nearby Eat Here had a line out the door, which didn't help the parking situation :-) I'm sort of intrigued by the Belgian place across the fountain from Mediterraneo -- Brasserie Belge. Will probably try that next, even with the combat skills needed for autonomous local parking...
(4)Bob N.
This was my first time at Mediterraneo and we were told they just reopened after a major remodeling. The place was really nice and bright, maybe too bright, but I did notice that during the dinner they lowered the lights. The food and service was outstanding. I'm not one to order pizza at a nice Italian place but my wife wanted pizza so guess what we had? Pizza, and it was really good. Also ordered the Caprese salad with eggplant (we had them add the eggplant) and it was one of the best I've ever had, and I've had a lot.
(5)Andrew H.
Very good service, and the food is good. The pizza is made in a wood oven and there are a plethora of choices -- toppings include fresh mozzarella, bufala, prosciutto, arugula, anchovies, artichokes, etc. The style is authentic Italian pizza. The pastas are also good, some are homemade but not all. Generous portions, though some of the sauces are a bit salty for my liking. A solid option for Italian though nothing over-the-top special.
(3)Adriana B.
Delicious! I had roasted mushroom and sweet Italian stuffed ravioli - made in house. Practically melted in my mouth! Generous portions Service was very good: food arrived hot and without a long wait. Beverages were filled quickly as well. Definitely recommend eating here; I fear other italian restaurants will be measured against this one from now on... I definitely recommend making a reservation. Gave 4 of 5 stars because of the "welcome" we received. It was a busy night, but the look the host gave us when we arrived without reservation was not what I would call welcoming. They seated us - but I didn't appreciate the look. We just happened to be in town, had no idea of how busy they would be. A simple, genuine "I will see if we can accommodate you" would have sufficed. The wait staff took great care of us, but wow did they look stressed out. The food was amazing, but I didn't get the impression you could linger over your food or a glass of wine...
(4)Matt O.
Mediterraneo is the upscale version of Epicure. The dishes are similar and the pizza is the same. I love sitting outside next to the fountain and pretending I'm in Italy. The food is 100% authentic and the service is spot on. The pizza is perfect. The pasta is handmade. The Italian accents are to die for. Enjoy.
(5)C K.
Good pizza, very good salad. Nice place, wish it was open later for after movie eating
(4)Sally B.
How I dare tell you about this restaurant. Old New Yorker love love love Bruno fire oven pizza no better. Eddie the bartender will take care of you. The best Italian restaurant in all of Sarasota. Make a reservation and enjoy everything they have on the menu. Have been in the area for over 18 years and so has this restaurant. Best seat is at the bar to watch Bruno make the best pizzas. The rest of the menu is just as good. My favorite Italian restaurant in all of Sarasota.
(5)Art N.
OK, 4 couples make a reservation for conversation and dinner. This is not a LOUD restaurant, but a quiet corner it ain't. My wife and I have eaten here several times and the place can't decide what it wants to be when it grows up. GREAT food, but service with the attitude of a pizza joint. Tonight was no different; Everyone had a drink and we all had either an appetizer or shared a pasta entree as an appetizers for two people; each of the eight of us added a complete entree and then four desserts and coffee. No complaints about the food - it was very good. My wife had really good salmon in a picatta sauce that was excellent, I had osso bucco made from a veal shank - also excellent. The pasta appetizers were excellent also. Only one down note; one of us had the lasagna and she complained that the pasta had been overcooked so the really good lasagna was ruined by mushy noodles. So why three stars? The service was surly at best - down right rude in some cases. Errors in the checks that required the manager to come over and take control because our server was complaining (loudly I might add) to the customers that the problem was with the computer system. We have eaten here before and had really good food and better service. Our server, Ernesto is at the bottom of my list.
(3)Jim H.
For a quick early Sunday night dinner we recently went to Mediterraneo and everything about it was a 5 star experience. We started with a Caprese salad served with perfectly ripe red tomatoes, delicious fresh mozzarella and a few basil leaves. We love white pizza and theirs was just excellent with the right amounts of mozzarella, ricotta and spinach. Additionally we added anchovies which were firm and plump even after they were cooked in the wood burning oven. This pizza was really perfect in every way. They have a broad menu of classic Italian food and this review would be unfair if it leaves the impression that this is a pizza house. But boy that pizza was good. See their complete lunch and dinner menus at mediterraneorest.com/men… Everything about our brief Sunday night encounter said professionalism. A gracious greeting at the door, excellent pleasant and prompt service, and the fabulously prepared and presented food, it seems they know how to do it right.
(5)Jay E.
Easily one of my top five favorite places to eat in Sarasota. I am a native and dine out twice a week. The front has outdoor seating or a casual bar enclave, the back dining rooms are classic uptown - white table clothes, waiters in ties, quiet and sharp looking. Dress can be casual to dressy. Here is the place you want to eat pasta. The food is delicious and the plates so hot your pasta stays warm and savory throughout your meal. The pizzas are varied, thin crust and very tasty also. The best is the prosciutto and melon appetizer. Seafood is fresh and not over done. Service is good, ambiance is great. I used to only go here when visiting the movie across the street. Now I go for the food.
(5)Tim S.
Pizza was really well done. The prosciutto and melon was odd. It was three awkwardly cut up cantaloupe pieces with thin sliced prosciutto on the plate underneath the melon. I had to cut the melon n wrap ea one. Come for the pizza. Not confident that the culinary ART skills are well honed here. However, I've been known to call it incorrectly from time to time. You let me know.
(4)Raymond S.
An awesome italian restaurant that did just about everything RIGHT. Reservations: Made a few hours before dinner and when we arrived to a crowded restaurant we were sat immediately. Service: One main waiter was perfect as were his team of helpers who made sure we had filled water and bread baskets Food: 5 of us dined and all 5 of us were happy with the tasty and good looking dishes. The pasta was fresh and the flavors were outstanding Overall: Loved it.
(4)Ron L.
Don't look any further. This place is good. This place is a find. Once the servers figure out your level of interest in your meal and dining experience, they are certainly more and more engaging. Tried lots of small plates. everything was delicious. Just tell them to bring out what they want you to try. I had a sampling of most entree specials except the rabbit. (who the hell wants to eat rabbit.) I did and my bill was very reasonable considering I enjoyed many flavors of the day. Walked right in. Lots of people seated at the bar. They have their share of regulars that's for sure. Brushetta was excellent, Sliced Rib-Eye was too. Cant go wrong. Oh, pasta with bolognese and spinach. Was really excellent.
(4)Sharon T.
The atmosphere and service as well as the food of course make this a great place to people watch or grab a late bite after the movies. Alberto,Daniele and Alessandro are always happy to see us and have established friendships over the 15 years that they have been in business here. We love to sit in the bar area,there is outside seating, and a small separate area in the back for groups under 40-50. Great place for business lunch or a romantic dinner.My husband loves the thin crust pizza cooked in the wood burning oven....he always orders the same thing...I like to order the pasta dishes or a fish special and always enjoy desert..:) Very popular with the locals
(5)T. Isabella N.
Oh Bucatini Con Agnello, how I dream of you! Haha. What good here? Everything!! This is mine and my Husbands favorite restaurant in all of Sarasota. They make a dish called Bucatini Con Agnello with lamb and mushrooms and once you have it, your life will change forever. It's that good! Their pizza is also to die for with a thin soft yet crunchy crust. It's just perfection. I have also had their grilled rosemary ribeye which is sooo yummy and cooked to perfection, I tell ya. This place is definitely a must when you are in Sarasota.
(5)Vanessa C.
Authentic Italian without the slew of Sarasota tourists. Although there are some good options there, I suggest skipping Armand's Circle in Sarasota and eat downtown instead. Main St. has some great options and Mediterraneo is one of them. They will substitute anything on their varied dishes to your taste happily. The flavors are rich and the service is great. A nice alternative to some of the tourist traps on the Circle.
(4)Helen L.
This is my favorite Italian place in Sarasota downtown. The staff is great; you'll never have an empty glass of water. The food is amazing. I always get the carpaccio with parmesan. For a heavy pasta, I would recommend the Rigatoni con salciccia e broccolini and a for lighter one the Cappellini Primavera. Don't skip dessert! The tiramisu is the best I've had.
(5)Jim M.
Authentic Italian pizza, pasta, and other entrées with the kind of service that you'd expect in Italy. Of course, the martinis, beer and wine selection is at the same level. We've never been disappointed with a meal or the service. I personally prefer the pastas. Last evening I had the special, which was lobster and clams with broccolini over fettuccine. Try the calamari for an appetizer. In my opinion, one of the secrets to success is the constant presence of the owners, who can often be heard around the place - just listen for the gentlemen speaking Italian. If you don't have reservations, get here before 530 and avoid the rush. It's an excellent place to get a bite or have a drink prior to watching a film or a show at McCurdy's, which is now a two-minute walk away. (Thanks, Les!) Finally, the dining room has a pleasant ambiance and the bar is happening, but if the weather is pleasant, consider a table outside (as so often is done in Italy). You'll almost feel like you're in Milan.
(4)Dante F.
The absolute best Italian food outside of Italy! I would make the trip to Sarasota specifically to go to Mediteraneo. The service is impeccable, the dishes 100% authentic, the ingredients local, and the prices unbelievable. I've been coming here since 2001, and the food and service are always consistently amazing. Everyone living or visiting Sarasota must make it a point to eat here. You will NOT be disappointed - have yet to order something I didn't like, but the veal chop Milanese is my personal favorite...
(5)George S.
Had dinner on Sunday night. The place was very crowded. Clean. With a modern flare. It's that time of the year here in Florida. Spring breakers! Very loud inside. Hard to carry a conversation. Service was very nice! My hubby and I are from Chicago. He had a steak which he raved about throughout the entire meal. My linguine with shrimp was just okay. Seemed like it Sat on counter too long before it came out. The calamari had a nice flavor. My friend would not recommend the noci. The desert was amazing. Make a reservation!!
(3)Erin R.
Wow! This place had 5 star food and 5 star service! Started with wine and apps- Mussels and Caprese salad, both very fresh and delicious. Immediately after the last bite, our meals were being delivered to the table. I enjoyed the chicken scaloppine with roasted eggplant and fontina cheese. Delicious rosemary potatoes and broccoli came with the dish too- the potatoes were out of this world. Can't believe how quick this was and the quality of the food. Very impressed with this place on top of the atmosphere, cleanliness, and timeliness of the service. If we lived here we would definitely frequent this restaurant.
(5)Kristy L.
Loved their food & had great service!! That was the best part!! The owner came & sat with us & made sure everything was great & it was perfect!! Then after eating, we went outside & sat in the comfy. couches. And had a few drinks & smokes. It's a fun place to go. Should give it a go. Great food!!!
(5)Bill K.
Quick look: Authentic Italian dishes created with love. Expect traditional Italian ingredients with modern flair. Restaurant will be busy during dinner hours so go ahead and make a reservation. Solid all the way around, can be a top contender with a few minor tweaks. In depth review: Was visiting my NY transplant family that lives in the Sarasota area and they kept ranting and raving about Mediterraneo. We made a reservation for Monday, March 10th 2014 at 7pm. Surprised how busy the restaurant was for a Monday night. They must be attracting an upscale clientele as many of the cars parked outside were luxury, high end rides. The restaurant had a modern feel and is charming and quaint. We were greeted by the owner upon entering (nice feature). He even remembered my family and walked us to the table. Service was prompt, at first. We ordered the calamari appetizer (not breaded and fried) and the sauce that accompanied it was tasty. Also ordered the Caprese (Tomato and Mozzarella) appetizer and it was superb. We also enjoyed the fresh baked bread brought to the table. For my entree I ordered the "Costoletta di vitello alla Parmigiana" (Breaded and pounded bone - in Veal chop with tomato sauce and melted mozzarella cheese) - aka: Veal Parmesan. It was without a doubt one of the best Veal Parm dishes that I have had in a long time. Well done, I has in Heaven. I also over-indulged and ate the entire thing. I was beyond full as the portion was HUGE! Everyone at the table in our group of seven loved their entrees. The lady loved her lamb shank and said it was great. So the quality of the food is obviously top notch. I could feel the Italian love coming out of that kitchen! The only area of improvement that I can offer and why I removed a star from the rating is due to the inconsistent service we had during our meal. First of all it took way too long for drinks to appear at the table after placing the initial order. I even had to re-order a couple drinks after the drinks never made their way out to us. The server had no explanation, nor did he offer an apology. I also had to ask for more bread, water refills and requested that he remove a few dirty plates that had been sitting in front of us. With a few minor tweaks this restaurant will be unstoppable in Sarasota and South Florida. The food was top notch and reminded me of the Italian restaurants I grew up eating at in New York. We will be back and hopefully they will earn a five star rating from me. Owner also said goodbye to us as we left. Love the personal touch!
(4)Carol B.
Upscale and comfort decor great place to bring guests. Authentic Italian great lasagna the service is attentive Not high servings but plenty
(5)Julie K.
The black linguini with shrimp was delicious. The service was excellent! Complimentary bruschetta and bread with olive oil. I would definitely come here again when in town. Very quaint in one area and formal dining in the other, plus outside seating.
(5)Tom L.
Our favorite restaurant in Sarasota. Authentic made fresh Italian food with great service.
(5)Brady R.
Legit Italian - on a Sunday night the proprietor and his family are dining here themselves, speaking Italian. Great food and wine. Love this place!
(5)Perry C.
This is one of Sarasota's oldest and best authentic Italian eateries. Great place for dinner before a movie. Across Main Street from Hollywood 20.
(5)Scott C.
I know I gave a review a couple of years ago on Il Panificio's pizza and I called it the best in Sarasota. I can't believe I'm saying this but the pizza I had last night here might be one of the best pizzas I've ever had. My buddy and I sat at the bar in front of the wood burning oven and we watched chef Bruno create the most extraordinary food. I had the sausage and pepperoni pizza. The hand made dough was just beyond my comprehension good. I will absolutely go again.
(5)Mark P.
Still the best Italian on Sarasota! Casa Autentica is good but very pricey. Here, you get your money's worth!
(5)Art N.
Very good food, but $30 for a corkage fee is a ripoff!
(4)Annie C.
We stopped at Mediterraneo after a long days' drive, to get take-out pizza. As we walked up to the restaurant, my husband got a little worried because the clientele were dressed more formal than we were (we were in shorts etc.). I walked in and the person greeting me could see that I was concerned, but welcomed us both in, asking us to sit down and enjoy our pizza; that we "didn't need to do take out but could make ourselves comfortable". We decided to sit at the bar and enjoy a cold beer, while waiting for our pizza to cook. All the staff we encountered were very hospitable, and the wood-oven pizza was delicious! Even the person cooking the pizza said, "I don't have to put it in a box...you can eat it here." We highly recommend them and plan to visit them the next time we're in Sarasota!
(5)Rebecca C.
Not as great as we had remembered. In the past I would have given 4 or 5 stars. My husband and I have visited this restaurant nearly every time we've been in Sarasota. While I'm pleased it is still there, it wasn't quite as good as it had been for our prior visits. We were there for an early dinner without the kids. Seating was plentiful (at 6pm) and we were the only folks seated under 60. The tables filled up by 7:15, and there were folks waiting for tables when we left at 7:30. The owner and host is very charismatic and friendly, though our waiter had very little personality in comparison. We asked for some recommendations, and his answers were not very descriptive. The table next to us was seated 15 minutes after us, and got their appetizers before us. The appetizers we ordered were delicious - shrimp and andouille sausage over white beans, and carpaccio with avocado and hearts of palm. The main dish was not very flavorful, unfortunately. The linguine with chicken, peas and mushrooms in a cream lacked in flavor, and the cubed chicken was chewy. Overall, our experience was "meh" though the appetizers were quite good.
(2)Tamara S.
Delicious. Great service. Warm and inviting. Best to have a reservation as the word is out it is the best Italian restaurant in Sarasota.
(5)Carlo K.
Cozy place, The best dish in this authentic Italian joint is, pizza! In my opinion. This is the menu, the appetizers are about 10 dollars. The salads are about 7 dollars, the pastas are 15 dollars, the main dishes are over 23 dollars. The best dishes are their pizza! This is a true authentic Italian joint.... All the owners are Italian and they keep up with the best product available to them here in Florida, It never amazes me to see how they are able to create such and authentic Food with Floridian and American product! i know for fact the pizza Cook has his own Italian Recipe for the flower he uses in the Pizza, so sort of mixture that is a secret.
(5)Bryanne R.
Delicious. Friendly. I hear that Bruno makes the best pizzas.
(4)SandJ K.
Some of the food was good but there were so many quirks and disappointments it doesn't make sense. Party of 10, 9 pieces of bruschetta. Once the wine list didn't go around the table only some people were asked if they wanted something else. Dinner served, no one asked if everything was okay, nor asked if anyone needed anything. The waiter was 10 feet away watching us...finished plates everywhere, just stood there looking at us for a long while, 8 or 9 people were finished before anyone came to clear. The place was LOUD and the service so bizarre it took away from good food overall. While convenient to McCurdy's I wasn't all that thrilled. So many other choices, we'll leave this to others who thought it was special...for me, meh.
(2)Mj D.
Quick overview: Solid authentic Italian dishes with some modern twists. The quality was great: fresh ingredients, favorable sauces; though I didn't have the lasagna, I liked that they stated explicitly that the base was a Bolognese sauce (not bland American red) and used béchamel, rather than ricotta. The service was friendly, helpful, and willing to accommodate. The environment was clean and upbeat, with nicely appointed modern design. The only concern (or disappointment) was that they were out of nearly all of the bottles of reasonably priced red wine, so the choices were limited. All in all a very good experience.
(4)Robert N.
We ate here twice while we were in Sarasota, it was that good. In fact this is one of the best Italian restaurants that I have ever dined in. The pasta that absolutely captured my attention was the Bucatini con agnello. The pasta was cooked to perfection and the sauce is the best ragu variation that I have ever tasted in a restaurant. (nothing is better than mama's!) The lamb was succulent and the chef integrated Shitaki mushrooms and it was perfect. The eggplant appetizer with goat cheese was so good! On our second night we had a mozzarella and speck appetizer: the speck is wrapped around the mozzarella and into the pizza oven. It comes out magically transformed into an amazing appetizer: delicious. memorable. decadent. We will be back.....so good that I want to move there!
(5)John S.
The complimentary bruschetta was outstanding. We ordered a caprese appetizer. It had the option to upgrade to buffalo mozzarella - a rare option. It shows an attention to quality - a very good sign. Needless to say the caprese with buffalo mozzarella was outstanding. The best I've had outside of a NYC restaurant. The main course - the black linguine with shrimp in a spicy red sauce was superb. The portion was just right. The waitstaff was attentive and friendly. I will definitely return to try their pizza.
(4)Carol L.
We were disappointed by this restaurant. It got good reviews, was convenient to the movie theater across the street, and our party was seated quickly without a reservation. Those were the highlights. The mussels were dull. The lasagna was tasty but mushy and sloppy- nothing to really write home about. The pasta special was overcooked, too sauced, and gloppy. The Caesar salad was overly dressed and boring. The food was less then ordinary. The dining room was extremely loud. The staff was efficient. We will not go again. (the pizza looked good but no one at our table had one)
(2)Mike B.
By far the best meal of our week in Sarasota area. The Bacatini Lamb, Gamberi Saltati and Satrico wine were awesome. The server (Steven) was awesome. He was the stand-out server of the week. We look forward to returning.
(4)Jennifer A.
Upon this year's visit to Sarasota we didn't want to leave without eating our favorite pasta dishes at Mediterraneo. We were very tired from the long week, so we ordered our meals to-go and had a nice picnic by the water at Marina Jack. The freshly made pasta and sauce was delicious as it was the first time we tried it 8 years ago! I always order the spaghetti carbonara (YUMMY!) and I believe my husband ordered the chicken fettucine...he switches every time we go. I love that they packed us an extra box with napkins, utensils, fresh bread and butter. We love the food and the service. We would give 5 stars if the portions were just a bit larger for the price. I am used to splitting my pasta dishes up into two meals and there just wasn't enough for that.
(4)Serena T.
I was recovering from a massive hangover and this was the first time I could actually eat without feeling nauseous. I was a bit apprehensive to eat but once I got my pizza I knew that everything would be alright. It was fresh and the crust was thin which is how I like my pizzas. It was busy but the staff was extremely friendly. This is a place to check out if you are in the area.
(4)Pamela M.
Delicious! This is without a doubt my favorite restaurant in Sarasota. I'm partial to Italian cooking and Mediterraneo does it authentic. Very authentic. I have tried many items on then menu and have never been disappointed. The Torretta di melanzane e pomodori arrosto con formaggio caprino (Eggplant Tower) is my favorite appetizer on the menu. As far as Pasta goes my most memorable was actually a special with home made pappardelle with wild boar ragu. Excellent! I have also enjoyed the black linguine and the ossobuco with parmesan risotto. The pizza is also a major winner. You can't go wrong here. Enjoy!
(5)Lisa N.
Awesome brick oven pizza! Was in town for a race and needed a carb heavy dinner. Found Mediterraneo by searching Yelp. It is easy to find in Sarasota's cute downtown neighborhood. Seating available inside and out. We were seated in the more casual bar area, which was just fine with us. Our server was clearly Italian and spoke with a great accent. Luckily, one of the friends I was with was also a native Italian speaker. She didn't need to use it but it was nice to know we had her in our back pocket. The service was fabulous. Our server was assisted by several others who were constantly checking on us and refilling our water glasses (pre-race = no vino). My friends both ordered a side salad to start and it was huge. They were both very impressed with the healthy size and flavor. For dressing, the server brought over bottles of olive oil and vinegar. We also were served two different kinds of bread: a foccacia and a sliced white bread. The bread was served with a dipping sauce of olive oil, peppers, garlic, and spices. I asked for butter (yes, I am THAT person) and they obliged. Two of us ordered pizza. I had a traditional margherita pizza with fresh basil. It was amazing. The brick oven is located in the bar where we were sitting so we watched our pizzas being made. One of the best pizzas I've ever had. My friend special ordered a sausage pizza with mushrooms and ate every last bite. Our other friend ordered pasta with meat sauce and was thoroughly impressed with the flavor and quality. A win, win. Next time I am in Sarasota, I will be visiting Mediterranneo! Reservations suggested on weekends. You can dine inexpensively, but it can get pretty pricey.
(4)Mary B.
Don't bother coming here in the summertime! We might as well have had a robot as our server! Food was mediocre, service was ok, but sheesh, have a little personality when explaining the specials! I think I finally managed to get 1/2 a smile from our waiter! Can't stand waiters that act like they are doing us a favor by waiting on us, when the restaurant is 1/2 empty! On to the food, had the Gorgonzola salad, not a pretty presentation, but edible....nothing to write home about unless you Really love red onion! Veal piccata for entree, came looking dry, but surprisingly enough, was tasty. I think the waiters can remove the corn cobbs from u know where, and at least pretend they like their jobs. If not for us, they wouldn't have one. Oh, 1 more thing, we ordered the tiramisu, never came, unless my hubby ate it all while I went to the restroom!
(2)James D.
We sat at the bar and loved this place. The bartender was outstanding and knew the menu well and you could tell he was dedicated to providing good service. The pizza was excellent and so was the grilled calamari. The atmosphere is also very nice. I look forward to going back here again soon.
(5)Jennifer K.
Authentic Mediterranean food. Everything was good here. the stuffed mushrooms were the best... wrapped in prosciutto.
(4)Miri H.
In his evaluation of one of the competing restaurants in the most recent 'Restaurant Wars' on Top Chef, Tom Colicchio notes that you go to restaurants for food and you return for hospitality. Then he said "I don't know if I'd return to this restaurant." Sadly, this, in a nutshell, sums up our feelings about Mediterraneo. Don't get me wrong, this pains me to no end, as my dinner was absolutely delicious. I started with the Torretta di melanzane e pomodori arrosto con formaggio caprino (Tower of roasted eggplants with goat cheese in tomato sauce: A plateful of savory, melty deliciousness). My husband was less impressed by his appetizer of roasted red peppers stuffed with mozzarella cheese and basil, which seemed haphazardly assembled, with varying quantities of basil (some peppers were totally overloaded, others had barely a sliver). Then we waited for our main courses. And we waited Ok, so it was a busy Friday night. We worked our way through our bottle of wine. Still no food. When I politely commented to our waiter about how busy they seemed to be (waiters and the owners were hectically rushing back and forth so fast I almost got whiplash watching them) and whether he knew what was going on with our main courses. "Oh, this isn't busy! You should see what its like in high season!" (we visited end of November). Well alrighty then. Not busy. Still, no food. If this concerned our waiter, he hid it well. Indeed, he did a mighty fine job of hiding, avoiding any eye contact with us altogether. Well, once it showed up, I fully enjoyed the Bucatini con agnello, funghi shitake e pecorino sardo (Bucatini pasta with braised lamb, shitake mushroom and Sardinian pecorino cheese: A fantastic, flavorful dish, very generous portion, perfect bite to the pasta, great depth of flavor to the sauce). My husband was happy enough with his lamb shank ossobuco but honestly, we were both pretty much done with the restaurant by that point. We got up from our table feeling more than a tad frazzled and very underwhelmed by the service and the ambiance (or lack thereof) at Mediterraneo. "Come back and see us" said one of the owners as we left (the first he communicated with us all evening). Hmmm... Maybe for take-out. PS Perhaps a 2.0 rating is a bit harsh, but hey, I definitely didn't leave feeling this place was worthy of an A-OK. So blame the Yelp rating system... ;-)
(2)Jane M.
I'm disappointed. I had heard so much about this restaurant, but I won't be going back in awhile.The food was good but there are a lot of restaurants with good food. Our waiter seemed unhappy and disguntled with his job. The noise level was terrible and there was a $30 corkage fee. Wine choices by the glass were mediocre.
(2)George P.
Have enjoyed restaurants all over Sarasota but never visited this one. Yelp reviews seemed positive so we gave it a try. Was full even though it was located well up Main Street away from heart of city. That was a good sign. We were seated right away. Staff was very professional which lends to positive dining experience. Menu was diverse Italian with good wine list. Specials were creative. Food was prepared quickly and served hot. Brick oven pizza excellent. Prices were very reasonable for above average quality food. We will come again.
(4)Gina W.
This is by far the best Italian meal in Sarasota. Consistently great food, the veal is fork tender and gorgeous with arugula on top. the spinach was perfectly cooked with a touch of olive oil and garlic. A thin crust app came to the table with rosemary and olive oil, a touch of sea salt-so hot, crispy and flavorful I could have eaten the whole thing-and this is on the house! my husband had the ziti with sausage- amazing, silky sauce with perfectly al dente pasta. i had the branzino, fresh, tender, moist and so well prepared! the cappucino was the perfect ending- they do have delicious deserts, we have tried creme brulee and it was great. Would give the restaurant five stars if it wasn't so small and crowded/loud.
(4)Lawrence C.
The attitude of owners/waitstaff continues to amaze me with how disinterested and just average they are. Despite their longevity at this location. BUT, there aren't many established restaurants in town, with the terrible economy keeping diners away. Food is good though!
(2)Melissa R.
We found this little treat by searching Yelp Reviews while venturing into the SRQ area. We did a drive by and the place was packed, meanwhile another Italian restaurant just a few doors down had no customers. It's always a good sign to see a busy restaurant. Anyway.... let's get down to business. If you're looking for happy-go-lucky, ear-to-ear smile service staff this isn't the place. Our server seemed to be as Italian as they get. He was efficient, polite and knowledgeable and I chalked the lack of smiles up to a cultural thing. ha ha We had the special appetizer of the day which was homemade burrata cheese with imported salami and cured beef. The beef was the hit for me. I could have eaten that alone for dinner. Imagine beef prosciutto and that was about the consistency and taste. It was quite delicious. For entrees I had the homemade tortellini stuffed with veal and my hubs had calamari risotto. The risotto had tons of flavor and was a big enough portion. The tortellini was served in a pretty simple, very light cheese sauce. The portion of the tortellini was quite big as well. Since we had an hour drive back home we had a few cappuccinos which they serve with homemade biscotti. That was probably the best biscotti I've ever had. All in all I would love to go back and sample their other dishes. Price wise, most of their pasta dishes were around $15-$17 and their meat dishes were in the range of $20-$30. I thought the food was great and not your typical American/Italian type of food. It seems like they try to bring "real" italian food here and I thought it was great.
(4)Jack O.
My Family and I ate here 2 days ago and the food was great and had great interior But~ The reason for the 3 stars is that the waitress ( woman didin`t get her name ) was not that freindly . Infact my mother even commented on it.. I had the ceasar salad with chicken and it was great!!
(3)Ariana F.
Food was great, but service was horrible. Staff was unbelievably rude and obnoxious; threatened physical violence to patrons in front of the entire restaurant this past Friday, April 15; if I remember correctly, the greeter said something along the lines of let's take this outside and that he'd basically beat up the patron in the alley... all because the patron's wife had received the wrong plate of food.
(1)Joseph M.
Average Italian except for the price .... higher than it should have been and for what we ordered. Finally, we got there around 7:30 and felt that the staff was rushing us through the meal (bringing food, clearing plates, asking about desserts) so they could close and go home.
(2)Haig P.
My wife and I went here for dinner last night. Despite a hard rain, the place was very busy. Decor was appealing. We both had the Salmon Picata. I liked it. My wife thought it was just OK. It was thinly sliced which she thought was strange. Service was quick and attentive. I would give them a B.
(4)mercedes m.
Born and raised in Italy, if you would like a real taste and authenticity of Italian food, ristorante Mediterranean is the ONLY place to go! Love it!
(5)Dick L.
We had pizza pasta; both very good. I'd eat here again.
(4)Danny B.
First, let me say that this is a very good experience but make reservations. We were greeted by a quick frown after we said we did not have reservations; but I quickly brushed it off as my money is as good as everyone else's there. After several minutes waiting for our server to show, we quickly ordered our drinks and were told about their specials. Although their menu is varied with many tasty dishes, their specials were excellent choices that night. The pasta is the real deal. Fish and ravioli was to die for. My oldest son's penne pasta in marinara was delicious and my youngest ate a flat bread with tomato and parmesan on it; simple yet great. Their bread prior to serving you dinner is nothing special but their bruschetta was excellent. The server could have come to our table to get more refills on my soft drink but they quickly got us moving along as the place was kicking for a Thursday night. I'm sure they treat their regulars like family, but although I felt slightly unwelcome; their food is extremely well prepared and delicious.
(4)Charlie B.
Very fine and creative food reminiscent of the best restaurants in Italy. Lots of options for vegetarians. Lovely surroundings. Before going, I was perplexed by other reviewers' reports about the staff and owner: some raving about them and others turned off. My observation is that both are correct. Patrons who are known to the owner are showered with attention, hugs and kisses, while newcomers who don't fit the euro-chic environment are sometimes treated with haughty indifference. The place would be better off, I think, if both extremes were dialed back a bit. That said, we will certainly go back, even if we can't aspire to "in" status.
(4)Stephanie C.
Tis was our first visit to Mediterraneo. We took my Dad here to celebrate his 89th birthday, and had a great time. The manager, Alesandro, met us with a friendly smile and made us feel welcome. Our server, Amy, was phenomenal....knowledgeable and attentive, but not intrusive. Our food was excellent....... Osseo Bucco, duck breast, and the Bronzino fish special were all wonderful. I was somewhat concerned by previous reviews regarding the service, but we found it beyond reproach. The noise level is my only complaint.....they could find a way to soften more surfaces and dampen the level so conversation is easier, but we will definitely go back.
(4)Derek D.
Great neighborhood Italian restaurant. Sarasota has a few Downtown, but this is definitely the one you should spend your time in. The owners are quite friendly, service exquisite, and the food is fantastic. Definitely my favorite is the pizza. Cooked in a wood over they come out how real pizza should be! Thin, crispy, and with a wonderful homemade sauce. And they are actually baked by Italians! Sit at the bar and order a Pizza Margarita and watch the man do his magic in the oven. While you wait order an excellent martini by Eddie; best bartender in town.
(4)Jess C.
Absolutely delicious! Love the simple house salad, the Italian wines (can get by the carafe- a treat I love), the welcoming staff. The thin crust pizza from the wood burning oven is amaaaaazing- equally delicious is the penne with fresh mozz-- yum-o! Cute neighborhood spot with good food and reasonable prices.
(4)Danny H.
My wife and I loved this restaurant very much...Visiting from the Seattle area and after experiencing other restaurants, I'm sorry we didn't try this restaurant sooner as both the staff and crowd were energized.....We were able to secure a reservation last minute and the restaurant didn't disappoint. The wine, pasta's and deserts were all wonderful...I wish I could tell you what we ordered but this review is over 2 months late since we were there the week before Christmas but if you want to experience that great, friendly, buzzing Italian restaurant, please visit Mediterraneo, you won't be sorry.
(5)Janice C.
Very crowded, yet service was good. Previous reviews criticized service, but ours was attentive . Food was delicious, fresh pasta and ingredients. Not overly generous portions in terms of the number of shrimp in my black linguine and shrimp dish, however. All four of our entrees were good. Given the size of the crowd, it is a popular place.
(4)Taz S.
Big attitudes. I avoid it ! Many other with better food and are happy that you are there.
(3)Lee M.
This place has the best Italian food we've eaten since we were in Italy. The menu is extensive. Complimentary bruschetta served along with the bread. The salad was huge, could easily have served two. The entrees were terrific and everything was perfectly prepared. Our server was helpful and attentive but not overly so. We went on a Friday night at 7 with a reservation which was needed at that time. Will definitely return when we want Italian food in Sarasota.
(5)TP F.
I've been to Mediterraneo several times, largely due to cousins who go there regularly and get the "red carpet" treatment because of all the money they spend. From my more humble perspective however, it's one of many merely ok Italian eateries here in Sarasota. The service sucks, too. See Rachel B.'s review. She's not too far off the mark.
(2)Walter W.
I'm not sure why some people are complaining about either the service or the attitude here. When I went it was top notch service, and you can tell people love this place. It seemed like all regulars walking in the door, with big smiles on their face, waiting to greet the owners. In other words there are some well established relationships. That is hardly a sign of a place with either a bad attitude or poor service. And, the food is excellent.
(5)Dave S.
Very wonderful Italian restaurant, awesome food and a price that didn't empty the wallet, even with the kids and wine the bill was very reasonable. This place really isn't for the whole family though, our kids are 9 & 11 and seemed a little restless but the waiter was very patient and helped out with their selections, excellent food!
(5)Matt S.
Bruno is the King of Pizza.... He makes his dough, pesto, etc from scratch and cooks you pizza in the wood fired oven at the bar to perfection. He is there every night except for Monday and Wednesday. You won't be disappointed...check it out and tell him I sent you.
(4)Dave R.
Alberto and Daniel have the best Italian restaurant in Sarasota. It's authentic and CONSISTENTLY GREAT. The linguini with meat ragu, the steak and gorgonzola, the veal osso buco, the scallops ... everything is really well prepared. They've taken care of our family for years and we've never ever had a bad experience. I would give six stars if I could. P.S. If you're reading this you MUST get the tiramisu. I hate tiramisu and I love theirs. Thank me later.
(5)Christine T.
Food was fine, With the exception of one major flaw. A special was described as grouper, and came out as swordfish. When the waiter was questioned, he told us that the kitchen ran out of grouper. The kitchen did take back the dishes (two people at the table ordered it) and replaced them with other dishes from the menu. We were disappointed that there was no apology, and no adjustment to the bill was made. A top notch restaurant would have handled the situation better.
(3)Jason R.
Great authentic Italian cuisine
(5)Nikki K.
northern italian perfection
(5)Therese M.
I'll admit, I had heard from several people that this is one of the best restaurants in town, so my expectations were pretty high. We walked in on a Friday evening without reservations and waited briefly at front door before being seated by manager. I ordered eggplant tower with torched goat cheese and tomato sauce, delicious! Entree was salmon picatta with sauteed spinach, pretty lousy. Salmon was a funny cut tasted a bit fish, even for salmon. Portion was also quite small for dinner entree. My husband had penne with red meat sauce which was very good except for aggressive anise flavor. Server was young and lacked much finesse for this price-point, but nice and efficient. Certainly no "wow" moments at dinner; the dining room is long and lacks much ambiance when you are seated in the middle of the room. Good wine list with nice representation of value-priced Italian wines but still spent $100 for one appetizer, two entrees and three alc. beverages. Also, their bus boys are so efficient and unobtrusive, very nice!
(3)Lee P.
I read all the reviews here and am dumbfounded that some knock the service and the owner's of this ultra fine establishment. The Pizza's are the best as are the salads and pasta dishes. Veal is beyond compare. One of the owners kisses all of the women in the way of a greeting. Some even get two kisses. WOW. The kissing owner has gone back to Italy for the summer, will return in the fall.
(5)Ashley H.
being from a hardcore east coast Italian family i can really say that i have had better. but for the average joe looking for some tasty Italian eats feel more than free to stop in. when i went in the staff was...meh ok at best. we waited a while for our food and they, for some reason, got lost when we were ordering and therefore messed up our order a little but oh well. it's got pretty good food and i would stop in there again.
(4)Irene K.
My favorite Italian restaurant for the quick and excellent service (the wait staff is impeccably trained) and the delicious Northern Italian food(attractively presented). The food is always fresh, with nightly specials,. the portions are more than adequate, and the Veal Milanese is outstanding. So is the tiramisu! One of the principals, Daniele, Alessandro, or Alberto are always on hand to warmly greet the diners and make sure everything is run well. Always a treat!
(5)Michael P.
I'm from San Mateo, California but I'm originally from NJ. My parents live here in the area now and I'm here visiting them. I wanted to find a good, new (for us) Italian restaurant to try. I spoke to someone on the plane and they were also from the NorthEast (Boston), which has great Italian food. The couple mentioned this place and said you will really enjoy it. Let me say that my parents have lived in this are since 1992 and I've always said the Italian food was fair. This place is very good. The potato gnocchi and sauce are very, very good. The salads and veal were great and the bread is good. The only thing that was fair was the bruschetta. The service was excellent, highest praise and they are very friendly. I give this place the highest rating. It's also clean and quaint. Good for a date or family.
(5)