The service here is phenomenal--you feel like royalty the moment you reach for the door. I have never tipped the server on a take out order nor found Italian food worth dining out for until I met this place. I suspect I never will anywhere else.
(5)
Paul W.
Family feeling with excellent food, service and joy! Always a special place to impress my family and friends. They make us feel like VIP's with outstanding food and a full bar. Every experience has been first class.
(4)
Yo S.
After the long day and missing breakfast and lunch, I needed to eat now but when it comes to eating out, I don't feel like spending money on something I can cook way better with much less cost at nice clean house we live. I saw this place in yelp near where we were at the moment. Usually Italian in USA isn't my choice. I'm very spoiled with Italian food in japan which is very authentic and good. Anyway, as soon as we walked up to the door, we were greeted by a gentleman in Italian taste suit. The smell of restaurant was filled with good aroma. Mmm I don't want to bore you with my long review so I'll keep it short. Food was great, service was excellent. Ms. Linda was our server and she definitely add good element to our meals. She was very professional and friendly, attentive. Not just her but all the other people in restaurant were. Three people beside servers came to our table to greet, including Ms. Enza herself. Experience there was really good one. We will be going back not just for the food but the whole experience :)
(5)
Chelsey S.
I really, really wanted to love Enza's, but I'm not there yet. I'm not a big fan of the strip mall location, though popping over to Kirklands afterwards (with 15% off after showing my Enza's receipt) was nice. I wouldn't waste your time on the caesar salad, but the minestrone was delicious, as was the lasagna. And the tiramisu, yum! I will compliment the complimentary garlic bread, and the music scene on for a Saturday night date was great. Enza's seems to bring in a little bit of an older generation. Overall I'm not sure if I would go back. If you do, make sure to make reservations!
(3)
Steve G.
I am a HUGE fan of Enza's!!! This is one of my favorite restaurants in Jacksonville. The owner, Enza is a sweetheart and makes you feel so welcome. I feel like a guest in her home. Bobby the general manager is very hospitable. The food is phenominal! We have not had a bad meal here is our several visits. My favorite is the half pound meatball for an appetizer. I love the pasta carbonara, the veal masala, and the lobster ravioli. Friday and Saturday nights are bonus nights as the live music acts they have playing on the bar side of the restaurant are incredible! Listening to them just makes me happy, and the food taste so much better.
(5)
Jennifer S.
My fiancee and I came here to celebrate our recent engagement, I've been looking for a great Italian restaurant and I found one. Everything was delicious, the food is seasoned well, great ambiance, friendly staff. Recommend for a nice night out, I suggest going to the Comedy Zone after to end the night!
(4)
Brian S.
This place was pretty good--not great, but pretty good. My date and I ordered a bottle of wine and a caprese. For our meals we ordered a chicken marsala for me with the parmesan for her. Both were good--not great, but not bad, either. I think I need to give this place another chance before I pass judgment either way, but the meal that I had (again, while good) lacked passionate cooking. The desserts were the real star here. If you want diabetes, this is the place to start and you'll enjoy the journey while you do! :) The overall experience was good, because this place has the romantic dinner thing down to a science!
(3)
Morgan L.
This place is fantastic. I mean it. I crave their food sometimes, late at night, and wish that I lived closer. The food is fantastic every time I've been, I always have the chicken francese on angel hair noodles and it is spectacular. I love that it's a nice place but I don't feel like I have to dress up super nice (I've gone in jeans and a t-shirt to watch a football game and felt very comfortable). I love that the staff is so friendly. I just wish I could move it closer to my house.
(5)
Greg F.
The food was about average, the setting and service were a bit below average. The food was pleasant. My favorite dishes were ones others ordered, which I just sampled: the chicken marsala followed by the osso buco, a special. My next favorite was probably the Italian wedding soup, which incurred a $2 supplement fee. Those dishes were probably worth ordering again. The other dishes were pleasant but I wouldn't order them again. They were three shared appetizers, cheese ravioli, meat ravioli, and calamari; my entree linguini alla rosa; and creme brulee for dessert. I added a scallop to my linguine for $6 (at least it was a big scallop). The entrees include soup or salad. I'd say serving size is larger than average, e.g. the ravioli appetizers were more than most people would want to eat alone for an appetizer. The setting was decent but too noisy for me (79 db according to my smartphone). On this busy Saturday night there was live music, but it was too loud for me even when the music wasn't playing. We were in the west dining room/banquet room. The center dining room is where the bar and music is. The east dining room looked nice to me and was the quietest, at least when I visited it with the music playing. They seated our group of 7 (reserved for 8 but one didn't show) at two round tables, pushed together, which wasn't optimal. There were more children at this restaurant than most I visit: it seems a real family-oriented place. The performer sang happy birthday twice while we were there. The maitre d's bright blue suit and showy shoes made me smile. The service was decent but below average. When I got there I asked that the bottle of wine I brought be put on ice right away (corkage fee: $12). When it appeared on our table a while later (they wouldn't seat us until at least half our party was there) it wasn't on ice. A while later, after I asked about it, it was put in a wine chiller. Garlic bread was promised at the beginning of our meal but didn't appear until after our main courses, when someone may have asked for it to sop up their sauce. Our waiter was rude at one point after someone told him she thought we'd only ordered one creme brulee: he curtly corrected her, pointing out what desserts each person had ordered. They weren't able to split up dishes on different bills any way we wanted, as restaurants with the best equipment (e.g. Taverna) can. My water was never refilled. If I visited here again I'd try for a quieter time and place, and perhaps try one of the meat dishes my dining companions ordered that I liked (or the meatballs app, which an acquaintance says is her favorite dish at her favorite restauant).
(3)
Heather D.
Wonderful family owned and operated Italian restaurant. Pasta tasted like it was house made. Service was outstanding with friendly greetings from everyone. Nice bar area.
(5)
Brittany W.
I can't attest to the food, because the service was atrocious. My boyfriend and I had heard the food was good here and decided to try on a Saturday night. We called ahead to make sure it wasn't reservation only or call ahead seating, and the hostess told us to come on down - we would be seated immediately. We get there, and the hostess asks if we had a reservation; of course we said no. She then tells us to wait for her manager, who arrives and tells us they were completely full (there were empty tables in the restaurant!). He also said, "Well I have a table but a reservation is booked for 6:00; I don't want to give these people 40 minutes to eat (it was around 5:15 when we arrived)." He couldn't even talk directly TO us, more like AT us. Frustrated that we were told one thing on the phone, then basically turned away upon arrival. The hostess tried to tell us to take a high-top table in the bar area, but by then we already had a bad taste in our mouths about it, especially when the establishment is decorated like it's supposed to be high class.
(1)
Tashia H.
My favorite Italian restaurant in town!! It's a little hard to find if you haven't been there before but it's in the same shopping plaza as Whole Foods in Mandarin. Enza's Marsala dishes and Carbonara are phenomenal. They have great bartenders too! Secret tip: when you sit down ask for them to reserve you a slice of their homemade banana cream pie before they run out for the night. Reservations are a must or you won't be able to get in!
(5)
Waheed B.
When I'm not enjoying my Southern culinary roots, I like to let my Italian cuisine side show and I'm a big supporter of pasta and sauce joints. My latest kick is to order/eat handmade pasta if I am not the one preparing the food, and unfortunately this place does not make their own--sad face. Whatever you get it will taste good and the servers are good and everything seems pretty good, so I can't rave about it being the most amazing place you will eat. I think it's great for larger groups because they have a banquet room, and the live music on Friday night is a nice touch. However, the restaurant had a strange layout as if it was separate portions in the shopping center that were put together. This place is so popular that parking can mean a walk in unseasonably cold FL weather. But this is an independent, non-chain establishment and it's a favorite of locals so I anticipate I will be back. Recommendations include any of the ravioli (lobster is good but pricey) and the pasta fagioli soup when you are tired of salads.
(3)
Annie H.
I love Enzas! We go at least once to twice a month! Food is always fantastic & the waitstaff is wonderful.
(5)
Nora R.
Always great service and fabulous food. Eggplant parm is my favorite. This is our go to for Italian food. Delicious!! The gigantic meatball app is great for sharing. Calamari is good too!
(5)
Edith G.
The service here was excellent. Everyone from the greet desk to the server were attentive and helpful. Everyone was happy with their order but a few things I wanted to point out: - the water tasted funny. probably best to go with bottled option (which I never do) here - the bruschetta goat cheese appetizer was not bruschetta. It was more like a mini pizza. Which they should just call goat cheese pizza appetizer. - I ordered the Enza Grouper thinking it would be the healthiest dish besides a salad. The fish comes covered in a sauce with a few pieces of spinach in it. Not on the side like the description. The grouper tasted good but it definitely was not as healthy as the description made it out to be. The description makes it seem like it's fish with lemon and capers and spinach on the side. If I had been paying for dinner I probably would have sent this back but since I was with coworkers I let it go. - the pistachio gelato was amazing. I'm not even a big fan of gelato usually. The cheesecake and tiramisu were just okay. The show steeler was the cannoli and gelato. For a restaurant that totes authenticity I would have liked to see some in house made desserts. If you're traveling in this area for work this place is a good option for a large group. The good is good and the service is top notch.
(3)
Cristina A.
A very sorry excuse for Italian food. The red sauce taste like tin and whatever Mozzarella cheese they are using is the cheapest ever. To add insult to injury we were served mussels that were old and tasted and smelled as if they had been in the trash for 2 days and the only concerned person was a bus boy who only tried to convince me that seafood should be served as an appetizer??? Im not sure why he would try and explain serving spoiled shellfish but not one person apologized for what could have been a bad case of food poisoning. A place only senior Caucasian Americans would find enjoyable as they were the only ones in attendance this Friday night We were the only Hispanics in there and they wanted to seat us in the worst table in the house because of reservations??? Lol. (There were plenty of booths available)I'm not sure who would reserve a table here but they were very pretentious for a place that has such extremely mediocre food and the only good thing thing about Enza's is literally the bread and oil. And the olive oil garlic parsley dip I ordered only because I saw it on another table because the bread they were serve is literally a hero sandwich bread with a pre bought garlic spread and when I asked our waitress for some she has the audacity to tell us she didn't offer it because it was a dollar more. Wow.... This restaurant only had good lighting a delightful entertainer and an interesting doorman, we should have stuck to Carrabbas.
(2)
Phyllis G.
The worst experience at a restaurant I have ever had. Made reservations for 3-28-15 for my daughter's 30th birthday. We had a party of about 18. We arrived and were seated at around 6:45 pm and drink orders were taken and received as well as apps. The problem arose when we ordered entrees and did not receive them until 9:30. Two hours we waited for them. We ask twice about them and were told they were being plated. We ask at 8:00 and then again at 9:00. Once we received our food it was cold and over cooked. The owner of Enza's called me on Sunday and told me it was our fault that our food was so long getting to our table and for it being cold because we had wanted to sit together and we had some that were running behind due to work. I am disappointed in the way it was handled and will not be going back there again.
(1)
Mark R.
The food is good, but far from great. And the garlic bread is some sort of magical pan, as it looks and smells great, but has no flavor to speak of. Worst of all, it's totally overpriced. I feel sorry for everyone in Jax that thinks this is great Italian food. It is one of the best in town (for the best, go to Piccasso's), but - sadly - that's not saying much.
(2)
Erin K.
This is the best Italian food I have had in Jacksonville and possibly anywhere, just like grandma's kichen. It is a white table cloth resturaunt, prices around the same as Carrabba's, phenomenal service (with a very dapper doorman), and fresh food. There were gentleman that came around refilling water glasses constantly and removing empty plates. The dinner was served with a perfect garlic bread with herbs & oil for dipping. My party of started with fried calamari, our entree's were: chicken marsala, seafood lasagna with a white cream sauce, sausage & meatball pasta, and a spicy veal cacciatore type dish. For dessert we ordered cheesecake, banana cream pie (that is only made once a week), and tiramisu. The chicken marsala and the tiramisu were my favorites. Tiramisu was nice and light and packed of flavor. The veal was very tender and had an option of being spicy that he chose, and was a little too spicy for my liking, but next time I will order a veal dish.
(5)
Chandra D.
Just another Olive Garden serving generic frozen Italian, calling it cuisine. When you first open the menu and read "Enza's story" you'll expect fresh Italian food filled with rich flavors that excite your taste buds. However what I received was food that was clearly frozen at one time or the other. I ordered the ravioli fritti as a starter and the manicotti, both were mediocre. My partner ordered the linguine alla rosa which tasted like it was made in house. It was good. The service was also mediocre. This is definitely a place I would go when looking for another boring meal.
(3)
Clare D.
The food here was wonderful! I had the best eggplant Parmesan! It was served with a side of pasta and soup or salad. Also wonderful garlic bread! We ate in the bar area. They had a fabulous guitar player for entertainment.
(5)
Scarlet D.
If only 0 starts were an option. There is no justification for this restaurant's high rating, unless the water in Jacksonville kills people's tastebuds. At an Italian restaurant, at the very least, they should know how to cook pasta. If you're going to call yourself an upscale joint and use dried, boxed pasta, AT LEAST don't cook it until it falls apart. They use frozen vegetables, shaker parmesan and service is terrible. Essentially a glorified Fazoli's.
(1)
Joe G.
We ate here after a kayaking trip. The atmosphere inside is quiet dark and romantic and the food was very good. Service was good but slowed by the fact that she knew al of the customers and they all wanted to talk as she walked by. Same was true for the chef, Enza.
(4)
Bill H.
Had a nice Father's Day Dinner. Got seated promptly at 5pm which was our reservation time. Antoinette, our waitress, was extremely attentive the entire meal. Loved the meatball appetizer. Scallops special was just amazing! Others enjoyed their dinners quite a bit (lobster ravioli and chicken parm). I had the lasagna which was good but not quite to the awesomeness of the other dishes (I debated ordering Chicken Parm instead.). Overall, still a very pleasant and enjoyable experience.
(4)
Peter M.
Excellent food, great atmosphere. Loved the live music!!!! Make sure you make a reservation to get a good table.
(5)
Jerry W.
Enza's is very likely the best Italian food in Jax. I'm not a huge Italian lover because so many Italian restaurants crank out the same thing as every other Italian restaurant. Enza's is a step above the rest in Jax. The food is fantastic. The atmosphere is very classy almost like 60's glam without feeling dated. It's a great place to take your Mom to celebrate a special occasion. My favorite part though is the 70-something door man who's straight out of a mafia movie with his alligator shoes and purple suit. Last time I was there I just about asked to take a picture with him. You want great Italian go to Enza's!
(5)
Lizzy C.
Made reservations for 5 for a birthday celebration here this week. Our table was ready when we arrived and service was prompt. Happy hour is 5-7 M-F with half off house wines & liquor drinks...great deal! The garlic bread arrived quickly and was warm & buttery with an olive oil dipping sauce...mmmm. Most entrees are served with a simple house salad (mainly iceberg) that was fresh but nothing to write home about. I ordered Pennette Ryan as an entree which consisted of penne, spinach pine nuts, garlic, sun dried tomatoes. It came out piping hot & was very good with a sprinkle of parmesan on top. I appreciated that I was able to order it with a whole wheat pasta substitution. My husband had the tortellini carbonara that was rich & decadent. We will definitely be back to Enzas as there are so many other menu items we cant wait to try.
(5)
Tom D.
I was in Jacksonville on business and selected the first restaurant from my Open Table application. It was Enza's Italian Restaurant. Wow, what a pleasant surprise. Real Italian food in Jacksonville Florida. Since I live in Washington DC I have to drive to Baltimore's Little Italy to get good Italian food. I was amazed at how good the food at Enza's was. I was expecting a glorified Olive Garden but got a Sabatino's of Baltimore instead. To go along with good food there was great service, friendly staff and a neat neighborhood bar. Believe me it is worth a visit!
(5)
Keith D.
This was the absolute best ITALIAN dinner experience. The owners are great people and rolled out the red carpet so to speak. Do go here and will not be disappointed.
(5)
Patty E.
In town for a couple of days, we checked Yelp to find a restaurant for dinner. Reviews were good so thought we'd give Enza's a try. Little bit hard to find in a strip mall. We went in without reservations but were seated quickly. Food and service were outstanding. My husband loves Italian and he left saying that this was the best, by far, that he has ever had!
(5)
Melissa V.
You wouldn't know how nice this place is from the outside. The staff was friendly, including the manager who checked on each table personally. They even have live piano music during dinner hours. This is a nice alternative to chain Italian restaurants.
(4)
Stephen W.
Is there a word better than excellent? Oh yeah it's Enza's. This place will floor you from when you walk in the door. You will be greeted by a very welcoming staff. Great background music for an Italian restaurant. The food, oh the food not a single item you can go wrong with. They even make gluten free dishes if that is your thing. Everyone please go!
(5)
Tiffany E.
This is absolutely the best Italian food Ive had! Everything is fresh. The service is phenomenal family owned and operated and you can tell with the warm feeling you receive when you walk in. I have not had anything what was not great. Tonight we say in the bar area which was great hearing the piano being played. Great food great experience!
Went with a few friends last Friday. The meal started off with their garlic bread which was very tasty. We then had the calinari which I enjoyed immensely. With my meal, i had a choice od soup r salad. I chose to have the Pasta Fazul. The soup was harty and delicious. I chose to have one of the specials as my main meal which was scallops, spinach and artichoke hearts. The main meal was ok, but not good enough to order again. Overall, it was a good experience.
(3)
Franklin B.
Had dinner last night and slightly disappointed. We have heard great things about enza but found the food a 6 out of a possible ten. The hostess and our waiter seemed aloof and service was very slow at times. Didn't get a warm and fuzzy feeling that I was expecting from a locally run family business. I know a number of people who recommend enza so maybe we had an off night with a slightly disinterested waiter. There are other Italian restaurants that I would rate higher. My grouper francese was a mix, the grouper was cooked perfectly, the sauce had little flavor. My wife's linguine was undercooked.
(3)
Jerry D.
I ordered the sausage and meatball dinner. If anything an Italian restaurant should be able to cook sausage and meatballs to perfection....they were over cooked. My wife had the veal scaloppini, she felt the butter sauce was excellent but the veal was over tenderized...overall if you are looking for an old school Italian restaurant like your parents use to take you to this is the place for you.
(3)
Jonathan K.
Best Italian food I've ever had! The service was incredible, the waitress was very friendly with our girls. Great atmosphere and amazing Italian.
(5)
Anixa C.
My husband and I have been looking for a genuine Italian restaurant for a long time. We are so happy to have found Enza's!! The food, the ambiance and the service were fabulous. We will be coming back.
(5)
Amy A.
Attended a banquet there recently. I had never even heard of it prior to the banquet. We started with bruschetta which was amazing! The house salad was good, not great. The garlic bread was out of this world! I ordered chicken Parmesan. It was lightly breaded and crispy. Very generous portion and nice presentation. The side of spaghetti that came with it was highly disappointing though. The sauce was not anything great. I did try the tortellini that a friend ordered and it was AMAZING! I definitely would love to order that next time! It was a lovely restaurant. Very attentive and courteous staff. House wine was reasonably priced during happy hour and tastes pretty good. I will definitely return with my husband.
(4)
Nay G.
Came here for dinner at 8pm. We were seated right away. It was a little packed but just right. Our garlic bread was nice and hot and loves the oil concoction. I ordered the shrimp s campi and my husband had the eggplant parmesan. Both were absolutely delicious. Service was great! This will be our go to for Italian.
(5)
Chris F.
The restaurant was very busy, which is generally a good sign. Clearly the locals eat here. While busy, the wait wasn't more than 10-15 minutes compared with an hour wait at some other places. The menu was reasonably priced. I had lasagna, which was delicious. The portion size is large, so you won't walk away hungry. The service was top notch and the food was fresh and you can tell home made.
(5)
Terry G.
When me and my friends first walked in,the ambiance was spectacular. Our escargot was the only redeeming factor of our food. My soup tasted like chef-Boyar-de with different pasta. Our entrees took an hour to arrive. I wish I didn't give them any money. That said the service was nice. I would not recommend this place to anyone. It might have been an off day for them but we should not have paid for a stressful dinner.
(1)
C M.
Tried this for the first time in Feb 2014. The commercials were always intriguing and friends had great things to say about it. We started out with the (free) garlic bread, delish. I had meat ravioli and my husband had a meat ball dish. We both loved our dishes. Service was fast. We were in and out within 30 min! It was a Thursday night. We were in a rush and didn't have a chance to get appetizers or desserts, but I will be going back!
(5)
Tonya C.
Always fantastic both in quality of food and service. They're very good about adapting to my special dietary needs (gluten free). A little pricey but worth it, we always take out of town guests here.
(5)
Caron S.
We went to Valentine's Day dinner at Enza's and became instant fans. Despite its strip mall facade, Enza's is immaculately clean inside and spacious. A live trio played soft music. Our waitress was very attentive. Oh, and the food - it was fantastic! We started with the goat cheese bruschetta (after wolfing down a basket of crisp garlic bread with a plate of garlicky oil and spices) and then we each had the Enza salad (the roasted red peppers are a nice touch) and I had the spinach canneloni with mozzarella and ricotta - two long, thin pasta tubes with a nice, fresh-tasting red sauce, and he had the grouper which he said was "fishy" and a side of pasta. The prices are right, portions are more than ample, and the menu had a great range of delicious sounding choices. We'll be back!
(4)
Ashley M.
I have always felt that Italian is one of those cuisenes it is hard to screw up. Some red sauce, some noodles and add a little meat, there you go. But Enza reminded me there is a lot more to Italian than I remember. They had a special with stuffed peppers the night I went. I thought it would be a few little peppers with a little cheese and breading. Nope. I got a huge whole bell pepper stuffed with 3 kinds of meat and 2 cheeses. So tasty and almost didn't leave room for my main course. I am a low carb dieter. I try to eat low carb whenever I can. And I was pleasantly surprised to find that Enza had some options on their menu for people like me. So I got the meat platter. It isn't what it sounds like. It is actually sausage and beef mixed with red sauce and peppers and onions as well. It was perfect since I love meat and peppers and onions. But I couldn't finish the huge portion myself. I ended up taking it home and letting my hugely Italian loving boyfriend taste it. He loved it himself and is dying for me to take him soon.
(5)
Food M.
Went there for our anniversary and the food and service was fantastic as usual. Even though the restaurant was packed on a Saturday night, we felt like our server Amanda treated us like family. We sat in the banquet room for the first time since it was opened. It is a nice change of pace from the hustle and bustle of the main dining room. They even pipe in the live music from the musicians playing next to the bar area. A nice touch. To our surprise, Amanda brought out a bottle of champagne and said it was from Chef Mike and Enza for our anniversary. Now don't expect this all the time. We have been regulars since they opened at the old Sebastian's on the other side of the shopping center. You can't get any better than Enza's for authentic Italian cuisine. It's just that good...
(5)
Ruby A.
Nice restaurant in Mandarin. I had the special, which was lobster ravioli -- yum!!! They also have a pretty nice wine menu that we happily ordered from :D
(4)
Donald M.
Great dinner. Food was expertly prepared. Service (Amanda) was excellent. Only drawback was that the restaurant was extremely busy and we had to wait for 15 minutes beyond our reservation for a table.
(4)
C B.
We really enjoyed our visit to Enzas. The food was absolutely delicious. We were however disappointed in our seating. We had made reservations using open table in which we requested a booth. When we arrived we were told that they didn't have a booth and it would be a thirty minute wait for a booth. The hostess was a little rude about it. We decided to sit at a table and noticed an empty booth - the hostess told us it was for another reservation. We just found this rude as we had a reservation in which a booth was requested.... That said - We will return as the food was great and our waitress was good. Just hope the hostess will be having a better day on our next visit.
(4)
Sonia R.
Congrats Enza on getting 5 stars from me. That takes a lot I'm proud of myself for finding this place. My friends and I were wanting a good Italian place in Jax. I found quite a few places that were mostly pizza places. Or places that looked more of a lunch place. Other places that looked more for dinner were chain restaurants like Maggiano's. Even though this place was out of the way from where we were at I'm glad I found it and went. True authentic Italian food and great ambiance. The sauce truly is great. You can tell it's home cooked. Everything is home cooked and fresh. The fact that it is family owned contributes to this and their success. I thought their portion size was appropriate. No giant plates of pasta but instead traditional and moderate amounts. Enza herself who is the chef and makes everything even comes out to greet guests.
(5)
Jenn B.
I've been here on several different occasions and they consistently offer the best Italian food in the city and unbelievably friendly service. Everything I've tried has made a wonderful meal. Fan for life.
(5)
Sara R.
Good new find when in Jax. We had reservations for Sat night. Immediately seated upon arrival. (nice piano player/music in bar). Food was yummy, service was good. I started with the mama salad. I can't remember it now but I do remember liking it. I had heard about the grouper Parmesan so I tried it. I thought it was an odd combo but much to my surprise, it was delicious. Not so drowned in cheese or sauce; you could taste the fish. Normally I pass on the side of spaghetti but after one taste of the sauce, I ate the entire thing. The garlic bread was weak. Cold and little flavor. We shared cheesecake. Italian style, fluffy not dense and not my fav. Others at my table got lasagna. I tasted but fish was much better. Also goat cheese bruschetta was so heavy in sauce that the bread was soggy. Will def return here.
(4)
Dena G.
We took my lifemate's youngest here to celebrate her 18th birthday a week ago. We were impressed. This is a small, intimate, yet casual restaurant on San Jose in the Mandarin area. Family owned, the prices are moderate and the service is excellent. Our server (I believe it was Peggy) was wonderful. I had stuffed shells, the boy had italian sausage and peppers on pasta, and the birthday girl had PEI mussels on linguini. We also ordered calamari as an appetizer. Enza's also has specials, which sounded delish, but I wanted those shells. The calamari was wonderful. Fresh and crisp, tender and flavorful, a large platter that was more than enough for three people. I think we got the whole squid. It came with fresh, crusty garlic bread and a dish of olive oil and garlic to dip it in. Yummy!. My shells were just right. Four shells with a perfect topping of mozzarella, baked until bubbly with marinara sauce. The boy's sausage and peppers were done so well we heard nothing but munching for the next ten to twenty minutes. Our birthday girl had mussels that were fat and juicy and on a perfectly sized bed of pasta, not too much, not too little. They came in a lovely spicy scampi sauce that she adored. Birthday dessert, on the house, was the home made tiramisu. We all sampled it and it was absolutely delicious. Light and fluffy, a perfect concoction of coffee soaked cake with chocolate cream. Wow. What a wonderful meal! We are definitely making this a favorite dining spot.
(5)
Jitan K.
Great AUTHENTIC Italian food. Not over seasoned like the franchise chain restaurants. Locally owed and operated - Stay Local
(4)
Cathy O.
I would highly recommend Enza's for good Italian food in Florida. The food was excellent. The service was excellent. The waitress made good suggestions for dinner. The prices were reasonable. I would recommend making a reservation on Yelp for this restaurant, especially on the weekends.
(4)
Dave L.
Had no idea Enza's would be that busy! certainly able to serve our group of 6! Very fresh everything,...amazing staff,..at first i thought over staffed but once I saw the crowd and the attentive service I knew why! veryone loved their choices, no two alike at our table!!! Drinks are strong and food is tasty!!! Great little stop, you wouldnt expect! Bathroom poster of Godfather Movie with a handwritten note "check behind toilet" AWESOME,...favorite movie! great food, good drinks, priced right,..who could ask for more!
(4)
Leslie D.
Just tried out Enza's because we were both craving some good Italian food. Enza's did not disappoint! We started with their homemade mozzarella balls that were fried and served with a marinara sauce. We both had Enza's salad that had plenty of feta cheese, but not overpowering. I had the chicken alla rosa and the guy had the veal saltimboca. Both the chicken and veal were so tender and the sauces that accompanied them were delicious. We decided to get both the tiramisu and the spumoni. They were the perfect end to a perfect meal. We will be going back!
(5)
William K.
This is quite simply the best Italian restaurant in the Jax area, in my humble opinion. So many times you visit this type of place, and everything is in order, except - they cannot do red sauce. No red sauce, no Italian restaurant. It's that simple. Enza's red sauce is divine. We order the sauce out occasionally and use it for dinner parties at the house - and are happy to admit to guests that it is Enza's recipe. It's that good. And when the red sauce is that good, and when the owner has the heart for customers as does Enza, and when you've got people in the kitchen who SERIOUSLY know what they are doing, then 1 plus 1 plus 1 equals a wonderful dining experience. The star attraction is the fresh fish board, which they will make anyway you like, with any of their toppings, sauces, and sides. The Grouper Aglio Olio will change your life. The Enza's Salad is, well, just perfect. Top notch in every respect. They just acquired the space next door and increased their staff, which helps with the wait on busy weekend nights. Lovely live piano music on weekends. Great for parties of 6 to 20, too. As good as it gets for Italian in Jacksonville!!!
(5)
Rita M.
This place is fantastic! We have been going here for a long time and everything is amazing. My favorite dish is the Veal Parm. So tender and a HUGE portion, you will want to take the rest home. Monja!
(5)
Ryan H.
I had high hopes for this place and it was only sub-par for me. Called in to ask the hostess if we could get reservations she said we weren't allowed to make reservations, even though we had a party of 4. I went online to open table and was able to make reservations. FYI you better make reservations they are always booked an hour out from fr-sun. Received our menus which were all loose and out of place. The paper and paper protecting the covers for the menus had all fallen out of the leather bound books they reside in. Granted it was an easy fix, but come on ... for the price per plate this place charges they should have better menus! The menus are incredibly heavy and feel like a thick novel. The chairs are incredibly uncomfortable (low backs and hard wood seats), and the tables made me feel as if I was 5 years old again. They have paper sheets covering the tables as if they have no confidence in their patrons to control their food. I ordered the Chicken Parmesan, which was somewhere near 20 bucks I think maybe 16-17 was what the menu said. It certainly didn't taste like a 17 dollar dish to me. The worst part was our waiter. He didn't seem to pay much attention to our table. Took him forever to get us our check and refill our drinks when needed. We waited about an hour for our food and in my opinion wasn't that impressed for an hour worth of wait and a 120 dollar bill for 4 people.
(2)
Lynn E.
I'm Italian and I'm from New York. So, if I'm giving a 5-star rating to an Italian restaurant, you know this is the place to be! We had heard great things about Enza's and have been meaning to try it out for months. We finally got around to it a couple of weeks ago and are still kicking ourselves for waiting so long! Enza and her husband are from Italy and have been in the restaurant business their entire lives. They are hands-on both in the kitchen and in the dining room, greeting customers and making sure their dining experience is as good as it can possibly be. Their daughters cheerfully work as servers and make recommendations on the wine and food. One review we read warned that it can sometimes be difficult to get seated quickly without a reservation and we now see why! There is nothing on the menu that is not absolutely outstanding. You seriously cannot go wrong here! We ordered 2 appetizers, the carpaccio and the fried ravioli. Both were superb. In fact, my husband has often been frustrated with how carpaccio is served in other restaurants, but was super excited about how Enza's got it so right. The ravioli portion was huge for an appetizer, so I was lucky enough to bring half of it home for the next day's lunch! For the entree, I ordered a grouper almondine special served over sauteed spinach and asked for a side of fettucini alfredo. The flavors perfectly complimented each other, the fish was absolutely perfectly cooked, and the alfredo sauce was, quite literally, the best I have ever tasted. My husband ordered the rigatoni bolognese, where he was given a choice between the two bolognese sauces on the menu. There's the "ordinary" sauce, and then there's the special sauce made with beef, veal, and lamb and simmered for 5 hours: the house special. His report was that it was exceptional in meatiness and complex flavor. We will probably make Enza's a monthly tradition and hope to try everything on the menu! Since so many of us transplanted Yankees complain that the South doesn't seem to get Italian right, I'm going to call this a "must-do" restaurant. They're closed Mondays and don't open until 4:00 p.m. other days. Reservations can be made by leaving a voice mail or on their website.
(5)
Jeff P.
The chicken parm and the Spaghetti and meatballs are really good. our friend got the lasagna and was not happy with it.
(4)
Ted A.
The bar has been set. Make sure if available you get Phil, he is terrific. I thought he was the owner - this guy really cares, everyone there really cares. Phil is from Boston and he is ready to give advice on food or drinks and he finds out what you want and then he gets you in the zone. Your not ordering from the menu, you're meal is being tailored to your interests, that's the Enza difference. Then comes the food, the stuffed peppers were incredible. Enza was back there working the meal and we showed up 3 minutes before closing, and Enza herself took care of cooking our meal. Enza your amazing. Grouper Parmesan was fantastic and the fish was cooked perfect. You see with all my traveling a kitchen is at its weakest just before closing or just after opening, when the staffs guard is down, however here we were at closing and these guys nailed it! We were there on a Tuesday night and they had a 1/2 off wine deal. We weren't in the mood for drinking, but we got one anyway - it was like 15$ - who could resist a little splash.
(5)
Andrew K.
Food, service, and atmosphere were all on point. Calamari, tortellini carbonara, chicken parmesan, tiramisu, and ice cream. Perfect for a date night!
(5)
Crystal W.
Enza's is our ONLY place for Italian food! If you've ever been there, you'll know why! We have been dining here for a few years now, and I cannot express how fantastic this place is! My husband and I have tried at least half the items on their menu and I must say that everything I've ever tried is top-notch, authentic Italian food. My favorite is the chicken alla rosa and my husband is a huge fan of their chicken parmesan and veal chop. This place has an excellent staff and Enza herself knows how to keep her customers happy. She is extremely personable and always makes her way around the dining room to greet her guests and make sure everything is satisfactory with their experience. Although their entire staff is fantastic, my husband and I always ask for the same server, Amanda. She is professional, courteous and ALWAYS delivers great service!! If you've never tried this place, I HIGHLY recommend that you do...you won't be disappointed!!!
(5)
Linda O.
Another great meal and a wonderful evening. The risotto is really delicious. The service was outstanding.
(5)
Ed J.
Great food and service. Brittany waited on us and was great. Visited on a Friday night had reservations arrived early and was seated immediately. I had the chic parm, wife had the veal parm both great dishes with enough to take some home. The only negative was my wife's Ceasar salad was warm not cold. This was our first visit, but will not be our last!
(4)
Deb S.
Don't let the strip retail shopping center location fool you. Charming on the inside, great feel, live piano music in the background, very good food and service. We had a large group (16-18) and the server didn't miss a beat. We were well taken care of and I believe everyone was satisfied with their meal. The Chicken Stefanie was wonderful! Highly recommend.
(4)
R L.
Worst Italian restaurant I have ever been to. For the prices that you pay and the no tastes in their food, its very sad. You can still do healthy dishes and have them taste amazing. I've had italian food in NYC, BOSTON, SF, MIAMI, LA and others in JAX, what a let down. Also looked like place was understaffed despite being very busy. I would not go back to this place.
(1)
Jason C.
Great place to eat! Some of the best italian food that I have eaten in Florida. I have been going here for years and it just gets better and better. I had the Veal Parmesan and it was fantastic. My wife had the fetticuine alfredo and it was great as well. The garlic bread is wonderful along with their new garlic/olive oil dipping sauce. Their sauce is great as well. I can't say enough good things about this place.
(5)
Peter S.
Seriously, the food is ok, but is overpriced.
(3)
Trish D.
So we had to come up with a place to have my 76-year-old mother's birthday party and she loves Italian. Not wanting to do this at Olive Garden (her usual favorite place), we started searching on yelp for a little more upscale restaurant. Enza's came through with flying colors last night - Stephanie's awesome!! They had the table for 12 all set up when we got there, allowed us to have 3 separate checks, served the cake and sang to my mother. So the service is flawless! The food was absolutely out of this world! We started with the fried calamari (best I've ever had), fried ravioli (yum), the special stuffed red pepper (double yum) and the antipasti. All delicious with no complaints. The bread came out warm and perfect. All of our entrees were done excellently without exception - the Chicken Parmesan, Chicken Stephanie, Penne Ryan, Veal Marsala, Baked Manicotti, Spaghetti Carbonara, Grouper, Veal Parmesan, etc. All wonderful! The house wines were very good - we tried the pinot grigio and pinot noir along with the New Zealand savignon blanc. All very good and the pinot grigio was so good we ordered a carafe. My sisters, brother and I cannot thank the staff, especially Stephanie, enough for your attention, service, and hospitality and it made our mother's birthday perfect! OUSTANDING!!
(5)
Paul C.
Both dinners ordered were good, although mine (Veal Milanese was too salty). Bar is just OK, nice live piano player, comfortable seating, plenty of parking, very clean too (same strip mall as Whole foods). Prices are reasonable. My biggest complaint was we it was obvious were being rushed out by waitress to leave for another seating.
(3)
Walt B.
Authentic, homemade Sicilian style food. Absolutely delicious. Ensa personally checks in on you. Very accommodating. My absolute favorite in Jacksonville.
(5)
rebeca a.
Reservations or having your name on the preferred list, does NOT help at this restaurant. I went there last night and when I arrived, I was told I need to wait about 20 min. About 40 min., later I went to talk to the hostess. Right when I was about to get to the front of the line, another woman cut me off and told the hostess that she was going to the bar and to please push her name to the top of the list. The hostess said: "no problem". The person was also on the preferred list, but listed much below me as she arrived 20 min after I did. So, they do not respect the waiting list. They manage it for whomever they want to. Then why have a list??? When I asked the hostess how much longer it was going to be, she said it could be between 20-50 more min. Mind you, that I had already waited 40 min and I was originally told it was going to be only 20 min. They give preferrential treatment to people, do not respect the order in which the guests arrive and cannot manage the timing of their tables. So not guest worth the wait. Respect other people's time and do not be so corrupt with the guest list! Never going back.
(1)
Eric C.
Every time we have gone to Enza's the food has never dissapointed us. The owners are super friendly and last time gave us a complementary dessert. This is excellent authentic italian food.
(5)
Ryan O.
Travelling on business can be a real drag, especially if you get stuck in the fast food/mega chain rut. I always try to find local spots to avoid this and to help out the local economy. Last night, I was feeling lonely and really needing some comfort food for dinner. Thank Yelp I found Enza's! The food and atmosphere were OUTSTANDING. For an appetizer, I chose the clams with spicy marinara. The clams were straight out of the ocean fresh and the marinara was dead on. For dinner, I had the Veal Saltimbocca with a side of penne with bolognese sauce. I can aptly describe this meal with one word: FUHGEDDABOUDIT! The veal was perfect, not salty at all, very surpising as most restaurants kill this dish with salt, forgetting that the cured pork provides all the salt necessary. The bolognese was obviously prepared with a great deal of love and TIME, another factor usually missed by restaurants. I loved Enza's and I will be returning every time I am in Jacksonville.
(5)
Rebecca O.
The veal was excellent!
(5)
Deb D.
Ugh! Worst service and some raw fish and cold osso bucco at Enza's Italian Resturant tonight. Could not even get pasta w sauce for my 2 yr old to us n a timely manner. Not the service we are used to and manager/owner offered nothing in consideration. I feel bad for the 77th birthday party boy! Not a fan tonight.
(1)
Dennis N.
Really liked it. Italian food like I remember it. East coast. Guy playing the 88's.real Italian people running it. Gotta get back.
(4)
Vrushali K.
I don't understand why the reviews are so high for this restaurant. We went for drinks and appetizers - the food was mediocre to good, and the house wine ranged from poor to good. The bruchetta and mozerella capese napoleon were liked the best among the group. I liked the jumbo shrimp, but we thought the fried meat ravioli was bland. Maybe cheese was the way to go? Overall it was pricey and does NOT compare to Italian restaurants in New York or Chicago.
(3)
R M.
VERY GOOD, I saw the ranking on yelp and went for dinner. I LOVED the ENZA Salad it would get 6 stars, I had the lassania it was good but not the best I ever had this was the only reason it did not get 5 stars.
(4)
Michael B.
For those Phil fans we learned last evening he no longer works there but we found Enza and her staff to be as friendly and helpful as ever. The Enza salad was great. The entrees were plentiful and tasty. The calamari was heavy on the coating and a little too crispy for our taste, couldn't hardly taste the calamari.
(4)
Matt B.
We went back on 5/14/2010 and had another great experience. We had veal piccata and osso bucco and both were outstanding. The wine also was a good deal (1/2 litre of La Terre merlot for I think $12 or something like that, which is good for about 2.5-3 glasses). We didn't have a reservation but they were able to accomodate us anyhow. Service was timely. I also saw Enza herself again on the floor helping out and taking an interest in what was going on. I also noticed that the number of servers and bussers relative to the number of tables seemed unusually high, so it seems they put a strong emphasis on making sure that there are enough servers to go around. I'm glad this place seems to be upholding its previous impressions.
(5)
caro p.
I'm what you call a local guest in jacksonville. I visit my friends often & have my must do stops & eat at when i'm in town & 1 of which is Santioni's. So needless to say that when my friends said they found a new place they wanted me to try i was a bit hesitant but OH MY! This is place has got to be 1 of my favorite italian restaurants and the best part - the price is actually pretty decent. To start off: no wait & full bar w/ a nice wine selection. I ordered a glass of the house cabarnet which was great & not too dry. My friends ordered a captain and coke & another glass of wine. For appetizers: we tried the fried ravioli. Since we weren't sure which 1 to have: meat or cheese, the waitress (whom i might add was extremely polite & helpful as she was always making suggestions - on point as well) suggested we ordered mix. Good idea, b/c they were both delightful. Next: Soup of the day - lentil soup. Now I'm a soup w#o*e & I don't think i've ever experienced such culinary perfection. Perfect mix of broth, lentil & a little bit of some type of meat. Entree - Seafood Cannelloni. To die for. Just the right amount of seafood and white cream sauce baked to 100% delicious. I do recall that 1 of my friends had the shrimp francese which was also great. There was absolutely no room for dessert but wow i couldn't complain, the meal was just amazing & the price was great. I think the bill was about $100 with tip and we each had several drinks - so pretty cheap i think. The next time i'm in jax, i'll be back there. Goodbye santioni's hello Enza's.
(5)
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Address :10601 San Jose Blvd,Ste 109
Jacksonville, FL, 32257
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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.
Gabie R.
The service here is phenomenal--you feel like royalty the moment you reach for the door. I have never tipped the server on a take out order nor found Italian food worth dining out for until I met this place. I suspect I never will anywhere else.
(5)Paul W.
Family feeling with excellent food, service and joy! Always a special place to impress my family and friends. They make us feel like VIP's with outstanding food and a full bar. Every experience has been first class.
(4)Yo S.
After the long day and missing breakfast and lunch, I needed to eat now but when it comes to eating out, I don't feel like spending money on something I can cook way better with much less cost at nice clean house we live. I saw this place in yelp near where we were at the moment. Usually Italian in USA isn't my choice. I'm very spoiled with Italian food in japan which is very authentic and good. Anyway, as soon as we walked up to the door, we were greeted by a gentleman in Italian taste suit. The smell of restaurant was filled with good aroma. Mmm I don't want to bore you with my long review so I'll keep it short. Food was great, service was excellent. Ms. Linda was our server and she definitely add good element to our meals. She was very professional and friendly, attentive. Not just her but all the other people in restaurant were. Three people beside servers came to our table to greet, including Ms. Enza herself. Experience there was really good one. We will be going back not just for the food but the whole experience :)
(5)Chelsey S.
I really, really wanted to love Enza's, but I'm not there yet. I'm not a big fan of the strip mall location, though popping over to Kirklands afterwards (with 15% off after showing my Enza's receipt) was nice. I wouldn't waste your time on the caesar salad, but the minestrone was delicious, as was the lasagna. And the tiramisu, yum! I will compliment the complimentary garlic bread, and the music scene on for a Saturday night date was great. Enza's seems to bring in a little bit of an older generation. Overall I'm not sure if I would go back. If you do, make sure to make reservations!
(3)Steve G.
I am a HUGE fan of Enza's!!! This is one of my favorite restaurants in Jacksonville. The owner, Enza is a sweetheart and makes you feel so welcome. I feel like a guest in her home. Bobby the general manager is very hospitable. The food is phenominal! We have not had a bad meal here is our several visits. My favorite is the half pound meatball for an appetizer. I love the pasta carbonara, the veal masala, and the lobster ravioli. Friday and Saturday nights are bonus nights as the live music acts they have playing on the bar side of the restaurant are incredible! Listening to them just makes me happy, and the food taste so much better.
(5)Jennifer S.
My fiancee and I came here to celebrate our recent engagement, I've been looking for a great Italian restaurant and I found one. Everything was delicious, the food is seasoned well, great ambiance, friendly staff. Recommend for a nice night out, I suggest going to the Comedy Zone after to end the night!
(4)Brian S.
This place was pretty good--not great, but pretty good. My date and I ordered a bottle of wine and a caprese. For our meals we ordered a chicken marsala for me with the parmesan for her. Both were good--not great, but not bad, either. I think I need to give this place another chance before I pass judgment either way, but the meal that I had (again, while good) lacked passionate cooking. The desserts were the real star here. If you want diabetes, this is the place to start and you'll enjoy the journey while you do! :) The overall experience was good, because this place has the romantic dinner thing down to a science!
(3)Morgan L.
This place is fantastic. I mean it. I crave their food sometimes, late at night, and wish that I lived closer. The food is fantastic every time I've been, I always have the chicken francese on angel hair noodles and it is spectacular. I love that it's a nice place but I don't feel like I have to dress up super nice (I've gone in jeans and a t-shirt to watch a football game and felt very comfortable). I love that the staff is so friendly. I just wish I could move it closer to my house.
(5)Greg F.
The food was about average, the setting and service were a bit below average. The food was pleasant. My favorite dishes were ones others ordered, which I just sampled: the chicken marsala followed by the osso buco, a special. My next favorite was probably the Italian wedding soup, which incurred a $2 supplement fee. Those dishes were probably worth ordering again. The other dishes were pleasant but I wouldn't order them again. They were three shared appetizers, cheese ravioli, meat ravioli, and calamari; my entree linguini alla rosa; and creme brulee for dessert. I added a scallop to my linguine for $6 (at least it was a big scallop). The entrees include soup or salad. I'd say serving size is larger than average, e.g. the ravioli appetizers were more than most people would want to eat alone for an appetizer. The setting was decent but too noisy for me (79 db according to my smartphone). On this busy Saturday night there was live music, but it was too loud for me even when the music wasn't playing. We were in the west dining room/banquet room. The center dining room is where the bar and music is. The east dining room looked nice to me and was the quietest, at least when I visited it with the music playing. They seated our group of 7 (reserved for 8 but one didn't show) at two round tables, pushed together, which wasn't optimal. There were more children at this restaurant than most I visit: it seems a real family-oriented place. The performer sang happy birthday twice while we were there. The maitre d's bright blue suit and showy shoes made me smile. The service was decent but below average. When I got there I asked that the bottle of wine I brought be put on ice right away (corkage fee: $12). When it appeared on our table a while later (they wouldn't seat us until at least half our party was there) it wasn't on ice. A while later, after I asked about it, it was put in a wine chiller. Garlic bread was promised at the beginning of our meal but didn't appear until after our main courses, when someone may have asked for it to sop up their sauce. Our waiter was rude at one point after someone told him she thought we'd only ordered one creme brulee: he curtly corrected her, pointing out what desserts each person had ordered. They weren't able to split up dishes on different bills any way we wanted, as restaurants with the best equipment (e.g. Taverna) can. My water was never refilled. If I visited here again I'd try for a quieter time and place, and perhaps try one of the meat dishes my dining companions ordered that I liked (or the meatballs app, which an acquaintance says is her favorite dish at her favorite restauant).
(3)Heather D.
Wonderful family owned and operated Italian restaurant. Pasta tasted like it was house made. Service was outstanding with friendly greetings from everyone. Nice bar area.
(5)Brittany W.
I can't attest to the food, because the service was atrocious. My boyfriend and I had heard the food was good here and decided to try on a Saturday night. We called ahead to make sure it wasn't reservation only or call ahead seating, and the hostess told us to come on down - we would be seated immediately. We get there, and the hostess asks if we had a reservation; of course we said no. She then tells us to wait for her manager, who arrives and tells us they were completely full (there were empty tables in the restaurant!). He also said, "Well I have a table but a reservation is booked for 6:00; I don't want to give these people 40 minutes to eat (it was around 5:15 when we arrived)." He couldn't even talk directly TO us, more like AT us. Frustrated that we were told one thing on the phone, then basically turned away upon arrival. The hostess tried to tell us to take a high-top table in the bar area, but by then we already had a bad taste in our mouths about it, especially when the establishment is decorated like it's supposed to be high class.
(1)Tashia H.
My favorite Italian restaurant in town!! It's a little hard to find if you haven't been there before but it's in the same shopping plaza as Whole Foods in Mandarin. Enza's Marsala dishes and Carbonara are phenomenal. They have great bartenders too! Secret tip: when you sit down ask for them to reserve you a slice of their homemade banana cream pie before they run out for the night. Reservations are a must or you won't be able to get in!
(5)Waheed B.
When I'm not enjoying my Southern culinary roots, I like to let my Italian cuisine side show and I'm a big supporter of pasta and sauce joints. My latest kick is to order/eat handmade pasta if I am not the one preparing the food, and unfortunately this place does not make their own--sad face. Whatever you get it will taste good and the servers are good and everything seems pretty good, so I can't rave about it being the most amazing place you will eat. I think it's great for larger groups because they have a banquet room, and the live music on Friday night is a nice touch. However, the restaurant had a strange layout as if it was separate portions in the shopping center that were put together. This place is so popular that parking can mean a walk in unseasonably cold FL weather. But this is an independent, non-chain establishment and it's a favorite of locals so I anticipate I will be back. Recommendations include any of the ravioli (lobster is good but pricey) and the pasta fagioli soup when you are tired of salads.
(3)Annie H.
I love Enzas! We go at least once to twice a month! Food is always fantastic & the waitstaff is wonderful.
(5)Nora R.
Always great service and fabulous food. Eggplant parm is my favorite. This is our go to for Italian food. Delicious!! The gigantic meatball app is great for sharing. Calamari is good too!
(5)Edith G.
The service here was excellent. Everyone from the greet desk to the server were attentive and helpful. Everyone was happy with their order but a few things I wanted to point out: - the water tasted funny. probably best to go with bottled option (which I never do) here - the bruschetta goat cheese appetizer was not bruschetta. It was more like a mini pizza. Which they should just call goat cheese pizza appetizer. - I ordered the Enza Grouper thinking it would be the healthiest dish besides a salad. The fish comes covered in a sauce with a few pieces of spinach in it. Not on the side like the description. The grouper tasted good but it definitely was not as healthy as the description made it out to be. The description makes it seem like it's fish with lemon and capers and spinach on the side. If I had been paying for dinner I probably would have sent this back but since I was with coworkers I let it go. - the pistachio gelato was amazing. I'm not even a big fan of gelato usually. The cheesecake and tiramisu were just okay. The show steeler was the cannoli and gelato. For a restaurant that totes authenticity I would have liked to see some in house made desserts. If you're traveling in this area for work this place is a good option for a large group. The good is good and the service is top notch.
(3)Cristina A.
A very sorry excuse for Italian food. The red sauce taste like tin and whatever Mozzarella cheese they are using is the cheapest ever. To add insult to injury we were served mussels that were old and tasted and smelled as if they had been in the trash for 2 days and the only concerned person was a bus boy who only tried to convince me that seafood should be served as an appetizer??? Im not sure why he would try and explain serving spoiled shellfish but not one person apologized for what could have been a bad case of food poisoning. A place only senior Caucasian Americans would find enjoyable as they were the only ones in attendance this Friday night We were the only Hispanics in there and they wanted to seat us in the worst table in the house because of reservations??? Lol. (There were plenty of booths available)I'm not sure who would reserve a table here but they were very pretentious for a place that has such extremely mediocre food and the only good thing thing about Enza's is literally the bread and oil. And the olive oil garlic parsley dip I ordered only because I saw it on another table because the bread they were serve is literally a hero sandwich bread with a pre bought garlic spread and when I asked our waitress for some she has the audacity to tell us she didn't offer it because it was a dollar more. Wow.... This restaurant only had good lighting a delightful entertainer and an interesting doorman, we should have stuck to Carrabbas.
(2)Phyllis G.
The worst experience at a restaurant I have ever had. Made reservations for 3-28-15 for my daughter's 30th birthday. We had a party of about 18. We arrived and were seated at around 6:45 pm and drink orders were taken and received as well as apps. The problem arose when we ordered entrees and did not receive them until 9:30. Two hours we waited for them. We ask twice about them and were told they were being plated. We ask at 8:00 and then again at 9:00. Once we received our food it was cold and over cooked. The owner of Enza's called me on Sunday and told me it was our fault that our food was so long getting to our table and for it being cold because we had wanted to sit together and we had some that were running behind due to work. I am disappointed in the way it was handled and will not be going back there again.
(1)Mark R.
The food is good, but far from great. And the garlic bread is some sort of magical pan, as it looks and smells great, but has no flavor to speak of. Worst of all, it's totally overpriced. I feel sorry for everyone in Jax that thinks this is great Italian food. It is one of the best in town (for the best, go to Piccasso's), but - sadly - that's not saying much.
(2)Erin K.
This is the best Italian food I have had in Jacksonville and possibly anywhere, just like grandma's kichen. It is a white table cloth resturaunt, prices around the same as Carrabba's, phenomenal service (with a very dapper doorman), and fresh food. There were gentleman that came around refilling water glasses constantly and removing empty plates. The dinner was served with a perfect garlic bread with herbs & oil for dipping. My party of started with fried calamari, our entree's were: chicken marsala, seafood lasagna with a white cream sauce, sausage & meatball pasta, and a spicy veal cacciatore type dish. For dessert we ordered cheesecake, banana cream pie (that is only made once a week), and tiramisu. The chicken marsala and the tiramisu were my favorites. Tiramisu was nice and light and packed of flavor. The veal was very tender and had an option of being spicy that he chose, and was a little too spicy for my liking, but next time I will order a veal dish.
(5)Chandra D.
Just another Olive Garden serving generic frozen Italian, calling it cuisine. When you first open the menu and read "Enza's story" you'll expect fresh Italian food filled with rich flavors that excite your taste buds. However what I received was food that was clearly frozen at one time or the other. I ordered the ravioli fritti as a starter and the manicotti, both were mediocre. My partner ordered the linguine alla rosa which tasted like it was made in house. It was good. The service was also mediocre. This is definitely a place I would go when looking for another boring meal.
(3)Clare D.
The food here was wonderful! I had the best eggplant Parmesan! It was served with a side of pasta and soup or salad. Also wonderful garlic bread! We ate in the bar area. They had a fabulous guitar player for entertainment.
(5)Scarlet D.
If only 0 starts were an option. There is no justification for this restaurant's high rating, unless the water in Jacksonville kills people's tastebuds. At an Italian restaurant, at the very least, they should know how to cook pasta. If you're going to call yourself an upscale joint and use dried, boxed pasta, AT LEAST don't cook it until it falls apart. They use frozen vegetables, shaker parmesan and service is terrible. Essentially a glorified Fazoli's.
(1)Joe G.
We ate here after a kayaking trip. The atmosphere inside is quiet dark and romantic and the food was very good. Service was good but slowed by the fact that she knew al of the customers and they all wanted to talk as she walked by. Same was true for the chef, Enza.
(4)Bill H.
Had a nice Father's Day Dinner. Got seated promptly at 5pm which was our reservation time. Antoinette, our waitress, was extremely attentive the entire meal. Loved the meatball appetizer. Scallops special was just amazing! Others enjoyed their dinners quite a bit (lobster ravioli and chicken parm). I had the lasagna which was good but not quite to the awesomeness of the other dishes (I debated ordering Chicken Parm instead.). Overall, still a very pleasant and enjoyable experience.
(4)Peter M.
Excellent food, great atmosphere. Loved the live music!!!! Make sure you make a reservation to get a good table.
(5)Jerry W.
Enza's is very likely the best Italian food in Jax. I'm not a huge Italian lover because so many Italian restaurants crank out the same thing as every other Italian restaurant. Enza's is a step above the rest in Jax. The food is fantastic. The atmosphere is very classy almost like 60's glam without feeling dated. It's a great place to take your Mom to celebrate a special occasion. My favorite part though is the 70-something door man who's straight out of a mafia movie with his alligator shoes and purple suit. Last time I was there I just about asked to take a picture with him. You want great Italian go to Enza's!
(5)Lizzy C.
Made reservations for 5 for a birthday celebration here this week. Our table was ready when we arrived and service was prompt. Happy hour is 5-7 M-F with half off house wines & liquor drinks...great deal! The garlic bread arrived quickly and was warm & buttery with an olive oil dipping sauce...mmmm. Most entrees are served with a simple house salad (mainly iceberg) that was fresh but nothing to write home about. I ordered Pennette Ryan as an entree which consisted of penne, spinach pine nuts, garlic, sun dried tomatoes. It came out piping hot & was very good with a sprinkle of parmesan on top. I appreciated that I was able to order it with a whole wheat pasta substitution. My husband had the tortellini carbonara that was rich & decadent. We will definitely be back to Enzas as there are so many other menu items we cant wait to try.
(5)Tom D.
I was in Jacksonville on business and selected the first restaurant from my Open Table application. It was Enza's Italian Restaurant. Wow, what a pleasant surprise. Real Italian food in Jacksonville Florida. Since I live in Washington DC I have to drive to Baltimore's Little Italy to get good Italian food. I was amazed at how good the food at Enza's was. I was expecting a glorified Olive Garden but got a Sabatino's of Baltimore instead. To go along with good food there was great service, friendly staff and a neat neighborhood bar. Believe me it is worth a visit!
(5)Keith D.
This was the absolute best ITALIAN dinner experience. The owners are great people and rolled out the red carpet so to speak. Do go here and will not be disappointed.
(5)Patty E.
In town for a couple of days, we checked Yelp to find a restaurant for dinner. Reviews were good so thought we'd give Enza's a try. Little bit hard to find in a strip mall. We went in without reservations but were seated quickly. Food and service were outstanding. My husband loves Italian and he left saying that this was the best, by far, that he has ever had!
(5)Melissa V.
You wouldn't know how nice this place is from the outside. The staff was friendly, including the manager who checked on each table personally. They even have live piano music during dinner hours. This is a nice alternative to chain Italian restaurants.
(4)Stephen W.
Is there a word better than excellent? Oh yeah it's Enza's. This place will floor you from when you walk in the door. You will be greeted by a very welcoming staff. Great background music for an Italian restaurant. The food, oh the food not a single item you can go wrong with. They even make gluten free dishes if that is your thing. Everyone please go!
(5)Tiffany E.
This is absolutely the best Italian food Ive had! Everything is fresh. The service is phenomenal family owned and operated and you can tell with the warm feeling you receive when you walk in. I have not had anything what was not great. Tonight we say in the bar area which was great hearing the piano being played. Great food great experience!
(5)Erin D.
Just got done having date night at Enza's. Appetizers were antipasti and calamari. Home made mozzarella, prosciutto, and roasted red peppers the highlights of the antipasti. The calamari was crisp with a very good marinara sauce, but just good calamari overall, not great. My Caesar salad was light with a hint of lemon-above average. My husband's minestrone was mediocre due to lack of seasoning. His chix Parmesan dinner also lacked seasoning but texture and portions good. I had clams in a scampi sauce over linguine which was a home run-a ton of extra baby clam meat, nice scampi sauce, portion just right, the plump clams on the shell sweet. Dessert was delicious banana cream pie and slightly above average creme brûlée-the custard was a bit egg tasting and room temperature. The service was outstanding. From Stephanie, the owner's daughter who was helpful and timely and sweet to the rest of the staff who seamlessly refilled drinks and swept away plates very quickly and graciously. It was live music on a Friday night-that's amore was cute though I didn't see the need for the disco lights. All in all a great experience, satisfying meal and appealing ambiance unexpected in a shopping mall.
(4)Jennifer M.
Went with a few friends last Friday. The meal started off with their garlic bread which was very tasty. We then had the calinari which I enjoyed immensely. With my meal, i had a choice od soup r salad. I chose to have the Pasta Fazul. The soup was harty and delicious. I chose to have one of the specials as my main meal which was scallops, spinach and artichoke hearts. The main meal was ok, but not good enough to order again. Overall, it was a good experience.
(3)Franklin B.
Had dinner last night and slightly disappointed. We have heard great things about enza but found the food a 6 out of a possible ten. The hostess and our waiter seemed aloof and service was very slow at times. Didn't get a warm and fuzzy feeling that I was expecting from a locally run family business. I know a number of people who recommend enza so maybe we had an off night with a slightly disinterested waiter. There are other Italian restaurants that I would rate higher. My grouper francese was a mix, the grouper was cooked perfectly, the sauce had little flavor. My wife's linguine was undercooked.
(3)Jerry D.
I ordered the sausage and meatball dinner. If anything an Italian restaurant should be able to cook sausage and meatballs to perfection....they were over cooked. My wife had the veal scaloppini, she felt the butter sauce was excellent but the veal was over tenderized...overall if you are looking for an old school Italian restaurant like your parents use to take you to this is the place for you.
(3)Jonathan K.
Best Italian food I've ever had! The service was incredible, the waitress was very friendly with our girls. Great atmosphere and amazing Italian.
(5)Anixa C.
My husband and I have been looking for a genuine Italian restaurant for a long time. We are so happy to have found Enza's!! The food, the ambiance and the service were fabulous. We will be coming back.
(5)Amy A.
Attended a banquet there recently. I had never even heard of it prior to the banquet. We started with bruschetta which was amazing! The house salad was good, not great. The garlic bread was out of this world! I ordered chicken Parmesan. It was lightly breaded and crispy. Very generous portion and nice presentation. The side of spaghetti that came with it was highly disappointing though. The sauce was not anything great. I did try the tortellini that a friend ordered and it was AMAZING! I definitely would love to order that next time! It was a lovely restaurant. Very attentive and courteous staff. House wine was reasonably priced during happy hour and tastes pretty good. I will definitely return with my husband.
(4)Nay G.
Came here for dinner at 8pm. We were seated right away. It was a little packed but just right. Our garlic bread was nice and hot and loves the oil concoction. I ordered the shrimp s campi and my husband had the eggplant parmesan. Both were absolutely delicious. Service was great! This will be our go to for Italian.
(5)Chris F.
The restaurant was very busy, which is generally a good sign. Clearly the locals eat here. While busy, the wait wasn't more than 10-15 minutes compared with an hour wait at some other places. The menu was reasonably priced. I had lasagna, which was delicious. The portion size is large, so you won't walk away hungry. The service was top notch and the food was fresh and you can tell home made.
(5)Terry G.
When me and my friends first walked in,the ambiance was spectacular. Our escargot was the only redeeming factor of our food. My soup tasted like chef-Boyar-de with different pasta. Our entrees took an hour to arrive. I wish I didn't give them any money. That said the service was nice. I would not recommend this place to anyone. It might have been an off day for them but we should not have paid for a stressful dinner.
(1)C M.
Tried this for the first time in Feb 2014. The commercials were always intriguing and friends had great things to say about it. We started out with the (free) garlic bread, delish. I had meat ravioli and my husband had a meat ball dish. We both loved our dishes. Service was fast. We were in and out within 30 min! It was a Thursday night. We were in a rush and didn't have a chance to get appetizers or desserts, but I will be going back!
(5)Tonya C.
Always fantastic both in quality of food and service. They're very good about adapting to my special dietary needs (gluten free). A little pricey but worth it, we always take out of town guests here.
(5)Caron S.
We went to Valentine's Day dinner at Enza's and became instant fans. Despite its strip mall facade, Enza's is immaculately clean inside and spacious. A live trio played soft music. Our waitress was very attentive. Oh, and the food - it was fantastic! We started with the goat cheese bruschetta (after wolfing down a basket of crisp garlic bread with a plate of garlicky oil and spices) and then we each had the Enza salad (the roasted red peppers are a nice touch) and I had the spinach canneloni with mozzarella and ricotta - two long, thin pasta tubes with a nice, fresh-tasting red sauce, and he had the grouper which he said was "fishy" and a side of pasta. The prices are right, portions are more than ample, and the menu had a great range of delicious sounding choices. We'll be back!
(4)Ashley M.
I have always felt that Italian is one of those cuisenes it is hard to screw up. Some red sauce, some noodles and add a little meat, there you go. But Enza reminded me there is a lot more to Italian than I remember. They had a special with stuffed peppers the night I went. I thought it would be a few little peppers with a little cheese and breading. Nope. I got a huge whole bell pepper stuffed with 3 kinds of meat and 2 cheeses. So tasty and almost didn't leave room for my main course. I am a low carb dieter. I try to eat low carb whenever I can. And I was pleasantly surprised to find that Enza had some options on their menu for people like me. So I got the meat platter. It isn't what it sounds like. It is actually sausage and beef mixed with red sauce and peppers and onions as well. It was perfect since I love meat and peppers and onions. But I couldn't finish the huge portion myself. I ended up taking it home and letting my hugely Italian loving boyfriend taste it. He loved it himself and is dying for me to take him soon.
(5)Food M.
Went there for our anniversary and the food and service was fantastic as usual. Even though the restaurant was packed on a Saturday night, we felt like our server Amanda treated us like family. We sat in the banquet room for the first time since it was opened. It is a nice change of pace from the hustle and bustle of the main dining room. They even pipe in the live music from the musicians playing next to the bar area. A nice touch. To our surprise, Amanda brought out a bottle of champagne and said it was from Chef Mike and Enza for our anniversary. Now don't expect this all the time. We have been regulars since they opened at the old Sebastian's on the other side of the shopping center. You can't get any better than Enza's for authentic Italian cuisine. It's just that good...
(5)Ruby A.
Nice restaurant in Mandarin. I had the special, which was lobster ravioli -- yum!!! They also have a pretty nice wine menu that we happily ordered from :D
(4)Donald M.
Great dinner. Food was expertly prepared. Service (Amanda) was excellent. Only drawback was that the restaurant was extremely busy and we had to wait for 15 minutes beyond our reservation for a table.
(4)C B.
We really enjoyed our visit to Enzas. The food was absolutely delicious. We were however disappointed in our seating. We had made reservations using open table in which we requested a booth. When we arrived we were told that they didn't have a booth and it would be a thirty minute wait for a booth. The hostess was a little rude about it. We decided to sit at a table and noticed an empty booth - the hostess told us it was for another reservation. We just found this rude as we had a reservation in which a booth was requested.... That said - We will return as the food was great and our waitress was good. Just hope the hostess will be having a better day on our next visit.
(4)Sonia R.
Congrats Enza on getting 5 stars from me. That takes a lot I'm proud of myself for finding this place. My friends and I were wanting a good Italian place in Jax. I found quite a few places that were mostly pizza places. Or places that looked more of a lunch place. Other places that looked more for dinner were chain restaurants like Maggiano's. Even though this place was out of the way from where we were at I'm glad I found it and went. True authentic Italian food and great ambiance. The sauce truly is great. You can tell it's home cooked. Everything is home cooked and fresh. The fact that it is family owned contributes to this and their success. I thought their portion size was appropriate. No giant plates of pasta but instead traditional and moderate amounts. Enza herself who is the chef and makes everything even comes out to greet guests.
(5)Jenn B.
I've been here on several different occasions and they consistently offer the best Italian food in the city and unbelievably friendly service. Everything I've tried has made a wonderful meal. Fan for life.
(5)Sara R.
Good new find when in Jax. We had reservations for Sat night. Immediately seated upon arrival. (nice piano player/music in bar). Food was yummy, service was good. I started with the mama salad. I can't remember it now but I do remember liking it. I had heard about the grouper Parmesan so I tried it. I thought it was an odd combo but much to my surprise, it was delicious. Not so drowned in cheese or sauce; you could taste the fish. Normally I pass on the side of spaghetti but after one taste of the sauce, I ate the entire thing. The garlic bread was weak. Cold and little flavor. We shared cheesecake. Italian style, fluffy not dense and not my fav. Others at my table got lasagna. I tasted but fish was much better. Also goat cheese bruschetta was so heavy in sauce that the bread was soggy. Will def return here.
(4)Dena G.
We took my lifemate's youngest here to celebrate her 18th birthday a week ago. We were impressed. This is a small, intimate, yet casual restaurant on San Jose in the Mandarin area. Family owned, the prices are moderate and the service is excellent. Our server (I believe it was Peggy) was wonderful. I had stuffed shells, the boy had italian sausage and peppers on pasta, and the birthday girl had PEI mussels on linguini. We also ordered calamari as an appetizer. Enza's also has specials, which sounded delish, but I wanted those shells. The calamari was wonderful. Fresh and crisp, tender and flavorful, a large platter that was more than enough for three people. I think we got the whole squid. It came with fresh, crusty garlic bread and a dish of olive oil and garlic to dip it in. Yummy!. My shells were just right. Four shells with a perfect topping of mozzarella, baked until bubbly with marinara sauce. The boy's sausage and peppers were done so well we heard nothing but munching for the next ten to twenty minutes. Our birthday girl had mussels that were fat and juicy and on a perfectly sized bed of pasta, not too much, not too little. They came in a lovely spicy scampi sauce that she adored. Birthday dessert, on the house, was the home made tiramisu. We all sampled it and it was absolutely delicious. Light and fluffy, a perfect concoction of coffee soaked cake with chocolate cream. Wow. What a wonderful meal! We are definitely making this a favorite dining spot.
(5)Jitan K.
Great AUTHENTIC Italian food. Not over seasoned like the franchise chain restaurants. Locally owed and operated - Stay Local
(4)Cathy O.
I would highly recommend Enza's for good Italian food in Florida. The food was excellent. The service was excellent. The waitress made good suggestions for dinner. The prices were reasonable. I would recommend making a reservation on Yelp for this restaurant, especially on the weekends.
(4)Dave L.
Had no idea Enza's would be that busy! certainly able to serve our group of 6! Very fresh everything,...amazing staff,..at first i thought over staffed but once I saw the crowd and the attentive service I knew why! veryone loved their choices, no two alike at our table!!! Drinks are strong and food is tasty!!! Great little stop, you wouldnt expect! Bathroom poster of Godfather Movie with a handwritten note "check behind toilet" AWESOME,...favorite movie! great food, good drinks, priced right,..who could ask for more!
(4)Leslie D.
Just tried out Enza's because we were both craving some good Italian food. Enza's did not disappoint! We started with their homemade mozzarella balls that were fried and served with a marinara sauce. We both had Enza's salad that had plenty of feta cheese, but not overpowering. I had the chicken alla rosa and the guy had the veal saltimboca. Both the chicken and veal were so tender and the sauces that accompanied them were delicious. We decided to get both the tiramisu and the spumoni. They were the perfect end to a perfect meal. We will be going back!
(5)William K.
This is quite simply the best Italian restaurant in the Jax area, in my humble opinion. So many times you visit this type of place, and everything is in order, except - they cannot do red sauce. No red sauce, no Italian restaurant. It's that simple. Enza's red sauce is divine. We order the sauce out occasionally and use it for dinner parties at the house - and are happy to admit to guests that it is Enza's recipe. It's that good. And when the red sauce is that good, and when the owner has the heart for customers as does Enza, and when you've got people in the kitchen who SERIOUSLY know what they are doing, then 1 plus 1 plus 1 equals a wonderful dining experience. The star attraction is the fresh fish board, which they will make anyway you like, with any of their toppings, sauces, and sides. The Grouper Aglio Olio will change your life. The Enza's Salad is, well, just perfect. Top notch in every respect. They just acquired the space next door and increased their staff, which helps with the wait on busy weekend nights. Lovely live piano music on weekends. Great for parties of 6 to 20, too. As good as it gets for Italian in Jacksonville!!!
(5)Rita M.
This place is fantastic! We have been going here for a long time and everything is amazing. My favorite dish is the Veal Parm. So tender and a HUGE portion, you will want to take the rest home. Monja!
(5)Ryan H.
I had high hopes for this place and it was only sub-par for me. Called in to ask the hostess if we could get reservations she said we weren't allowed to make reservations, even though we had a party of 4. I went online to open table and was able to make reservations. FYI you better make reservations they are always booked an hour out from fr-sun. Received our menus which were all loose and out of place. The paper and paper protecting the covers for the menus had all fallen out of the leather bound books they reside in. Granted it was an easy fix, but come on ... for the price per plate this place charges they should have better menus! The menus are incredibly heavy and feel like a thick novel. The chairs are incredibly uncomfortable (low backs and hard wood seats), and the tables made me feel as if I was 5 years old again. They have paper sheets covering the tables as if they have no confidence in their patrons to control their food. I ordered the Chicken Parmesan, which was somewhere near 20 bucks I think maybe 16-17 was what the menu said. It certainly didn't taste like a 17 dollar dish to me. The worst part was our waiter. He didn't seem to pay much attention to our table. Took him forever to get us our check and refill our drinks when needed. We waited about an hour for our food and in my opinion wasn't that impressed for an hour worth of wait and a 120 dollar bill for 4 people.
(2)Lynn E.
I'm Italian and I'm from New York. So, if I'm giving a 5-star rating to an Italian restaurant, you know this is the place to be! We had heard great things about Enza's and have been meaning to try it out for months. We finally got around to it a couple of weeks ago and are still kicking ourselves for waiting so long! Enza and her husband are from Italy and have been in the restaurant business their entire lives. They are hands-on both in the kitchen and in the dining room, greeting customers and making sure their dining experience is as good as it can possibly be. Their daughters cheerfully work as servers and make recommendations on the wine and food. One review we read warned that it can sometimes be difficult to get seated quickly without a reservation and we now see why! There is nothing on the menu that is not absolutely outstanding. You seriously cannot go wrong here! We ordered 2 appetizers, the carpaccio and the fried ravioli. Both were superb. In fact, my husband has often been frustrated with how carpaccio is served in other restaurants, but was super excited about how Enza's got it so right. The ravioli portion was huge for an appetizer, so I was lucky enough to bring half of it home for the next day's lunch! For the entree, I ordered a grouper almondine special served over sauteed spinach and asked for a side of fettucini alfredo. The flavors perfectly complimented each other, the fish was absolutely perfectly cooked, and the alfredo sauce was, quite literally, the best I have ever tasted. My husband ordered the rigatoni bolognese, where he was given a choice between the two bolognese sauces on the menu. There's the "ordinary" sauce, and then there's the special sauce made with beef, veal, and lamb and simmered for 5 hours: the house special. His report was that it was exceptional in meatiness and complex flavor. We will probably make Enza's a monthly tradition and hope to try everything on the menu! Since so many of us transplanted Yankees complain that the South doesn't seem to get Italian right, I'm going to call this a "must-do" restaurant. They're closed Mondays and don't open until 4:00 p.m. other days. Reservations can be made by leaving a voice mail or on their website.
(5)Jeff P.
The chicken parm and the Spaghetti and meatballs are really good. our friend got the lasagna and was not happy with it.
(4)Ted A.
The bar has been set. Make sure if available you get Phil, he is terrific. I thought he was the owner - this guy really cares, everyone there really cares. Phil is from Boston and he is ready to give advice on food or drinks and he finds out what you want and then he gets you in the zone. Your not ordering from the menu, you're meal is being tailored to your interests, that's the Enza difference. Then comes the food, the stuffed peppers were incredible. Enza was back there working the meal and we showed up 3 minutes before closing, and Enza herself took care of cooking our meal. Enza your amazing. Grouper Parmesan was fantastic and the fish was cooked perfect. You see with all my traveling a kitchen is at its weakest just before closing or just after opening, when the staffs guard is down, however here we were at closing and these guys nailed it! We were there on a Tuesday night and they had a 1/2 off wine deal. We weren't in the mood for drinking, but we got one anyway - it was like 15$ - who could resist a little splash.
(5)Andrew K.
Food, service, and atmosphere were all on point. Calamari, tortellini carbonara, chicken parmesan, tiramisu, and ice cream. Perfect for a date night!
(5)Crystal W.
Enza's is our ONLY place for Italian food! If you've ever been there, you'll know why! We have been dining here for a few years now, and I cannot express how fantastic this place is! My husband and I have tried at least half the items on their menu and I must say that everything I've ever tried is top-notch, authentic Italian food. My favorite is the chicken alla rosa and my husband is a huge fan of their chicken parmesan and veal chop. This place has an excellent staff and Enza herself knows how to keep her customers happy. She is extremely personable and always makes her way around the dining room to greet her guests and make sure everything is satisfactory with their experience. Although their entire staff is fantastic, my husband and I always ask for the same server, Amanda. She is professional, courteous and ALWAYS delivers great service!! If you've never tried this place, I HIGHLY recommend that you do...you won't be disappointed!!!
(5)Linda O.
Another great meal and a wonderful evening. The risotto is really delicious. The service was outstanding.
(5)Ed J.
Great food and service. Brittany waited on us and was great. Visited on a Friday night had reservations arrived early and was seated immediately. I had the chic parm, wife had the veal parm both great dishes with enough to take some home. The only negative was my wife's Ceasar salad was warm not cold. This was our first visit, but will not be our last!
(4)Deb S.
Don't let the strip retail shopping center location fool you. Charming on the inside, great feel, live piano music in the background, very good food and service. We had a large group (16-18) and the server didn't miss a beat. We were well taken care of and I believe everyone was satisfied with their meal. The Chicken Stefanie was wonderful! Highly recommend.
(4)R L.
Worst Italian restaurant I have ever been to. For the prices that you pay and the no tastes in their food, its very sad. You can still do healthy dishes and have them taste amazing. I've had italian food in NYC, BOSTON, SF, MIAMI, LA and others in JAX, what a let down. Also looked like place was understaffed despite being very busy. I would not go back to this place.
(1)Jason C.
Great place to eat! Some of the best italian food that I have eaten in Florida. I have been going here for years and it just gets better and better. I had the Veal Parmesan and it was fantastic. My wife had the fetticuine alfredo and it was great as well. The garlic bread is wonderful along with their new garlic/olive oil dipping sauce. Their sauce is great as well. I can't say enough good things about this place.
(5)Peter S.
Seriously, the food is ok, but is overpriced.
(3)Trish D.
So we had to come up with a place to have my 76-year-old mother's birthday party and she loves Italian. Not wanting to do this at Olive Garden (her usual favorite place), we started searching on yelp for a little more upscale restaurant. Enza's came through with flying colors last night - Stephanie's awesome!! They had the table for 12 all set up when we got there, allowed us to have 3 separate checks, served the cake and sang to my mother. So the service is flawless! The food was absolutely out of this world! We started with the fried calamari (best I've ever had), fried ravioli (yum), the special stuffed red pepper (double yum) and the antipasti. All delicious with no complaints. The bread came out warm and perfect. All of our entrees were done excellently without exception - the Chicken Parmesan, Chicken Stephanie, Penne Ryan, Veal Marsala, Baked Manicotti, Spaghetti Carbonara, Grouper, Veal Parmesan, etc. All wonderful! The house wines were very good - we tried the pinot grigio and pinot noir along with the New Zealand savignon blanc. All very good and the pinot grigio was so good we ordered a carafe. My sisters, brother and I cannot thank the staff, especially Stephanie, enough for your attention, service, and hospitality and it made our mother's birthday perfect! OUSTANDING!!
(5)Paul C.
Both dinners ordered were good, although mine (Veal Milanese was too salty). Bar is just OK, nice live piano player, comfortable seating, plenty of parking, very clean too (same strip mall as Whole foods). Prices are reasonable. My biggest complaint was we it was obvious were being rushed out by waitress to leave for another seating.
(3)Walt B.
Authentic, homemade Sicilian style food. Absolutely delicious. Ensa personally checks in on you. Very accommodating. My absolute favorite in Jacksonville.
(5)rebeca a.
Reservations or having your name on the preferred list, does NOT help at this restaurant. I went there last night and when I arrived, I was told I need to wait about 20 min. About 40 min., later I went to talk to the hostess. Right when I was about to get to the front of the line, another woman cut me off and told the hostess that she was going to the bar and to please push her name to the top of the list. The hostess said: "no problem". The person was also on the preferred list, but listed much below me as she arrived 20 min after I did. So, they do not respect the waiting list. They manage it for whomever they want to. Then why have a list??? When I asked the hostess how much longer it was going to be, she said it could be between 20-50 more min. Mind you, that I had already waited 40 min and I was originally told it was going to be only 20 min. They give preferrential treatment to people, do not respect the order in which the guests arrive and cannot manage the timing of their tables. So not guest worth the wait. Respect other people's time and do not be so corrupt with the guest list! Never going back.
(1)Eric C.
Every time we have gone to Enza's the food has never dissapointed us. The owners are super friendly and last time gave us a complementary dessert. This is excellent authentic italian food.
(5)Ryan O.
Travelling on business can be a real drag, especially if you get stuck in the fast food/mega chain rut. I always try to find local spots to avoid this and to help out the local economy. Last night, I was feeling lonely and really needing some comfort food for dinner. Thank Yelp I found Enza's! The food and atmosphere were OUTSTANDING. For an appetizer, I chose the clams with spicy marinara. The clams were straight out of the ocean fresh and the marinara was dead on. For dinner, I had the Veal Saltimbocca with a side of penne with bolognese sauce. I can aptly describe this meal with one word: FUHGEDDABOUDIT! The veal was perfect, not salty at all, very surpising as most restaurants kill this dish with salt, forgetting that the cured pork provides all the salt necessary. The bolognese was obviously prepared with a great deal of love and TIME, another factor usually missed by restaurants. I loved Enza's and I will be returning every time I am in Jacksonville.
(5)Rebecca O.
The veal was excellent!
(5)Deb D.
Ugh! Worst service and some raw fish and cold osso bucco at Enza's Italian Resturant tonight. Could not even get pasta w sauce for my 2 yr old to us n a timely manner. Not the service we are used to and manager/owner offered nothing in consideration. I feel bad for the 77th birthday party boy! Not a fan tonight.
(1)Dennis N.
Really liked it. Italian food like I remember it. East coast. Guy playing the 88's.real Italian people running it. Gotta get back.
(4)Vrushali K.
I don't understand why the reviews are so high for this restaurant. We went for drinks and appetizers - the food was mediocre to good, and the house wine ranged from poor to good. The bruchetta and mozerella capese napoleon were liked the best among the group. I liked the jumbo shrimp, but we thought the fried meat ravioli was bland. Maybe cheese was the way to go? Overall it was pricey and does NOT compare to Italian restaurants in New York or Chicago.
(3)R M.
VERY GOOD, I saw the ranking on yelp and went for dinner. I LOVED the ENZA Salad it would get 6 stars, I had the lassania it was good but not the best I ever had this was the only reason it did not get 5 stars.
(4)Michael B.
For those Phil fans we learned last evening he no longer works there but we found Enza and her staff to be as friendly and helpful as ever. The Enza salad was great. The entrees were plentiful and tasty. The calamari was heavy on the coating and a little too crispy for our taste, couldn't hardly taste the calamari.
(4)Matt B.
We went back on 5/14/2010 and had another great experience. We had veal piccata and osso bucco and both were outstanding. The wine also was a good deal (1/2 litre of La Terre merlot for I think $12 or something like that, which is good for about 2.5-3 glasses). We didn't have a reservation but they were able to accomodate us anyhow. Service was timely. I also saw Enza herself again on the floor helping out and taking an interest in what was going on. I also noticed that the number of servers and bussers relative to the number of tables seemed unusually high, so it seems they put a strong emphasis on making sure that there are enough servers to go around. I'm glad this place seems to be upholding its previous impressions.
(5)caro p.
I'm what you call a local guest in jacksonville. I visit my friends often & have my must do stops & eat at when i'm in town & 1 of which is Santioni's. So needless to say that when my friends said they found a new place they wanted me to try i was a bit hesitant but OH MY! This is place has got to be 1 of my favorite italian restaurants and the best part - the price is actually pretty decent. To start off: no wait & full bar w/ a nice wine selection. I ordered a glass of the house cabarnet which was great & not too dry. My friends ordered a captain and coke & another glass of wine. For appetizers: we tried the fried ravioli. Since we weren't sure which 1 to have: meat or cheese, the waitress (whom i might add was extremely polite & helpful as she was always making suggestions - on point as well) suggested we ordered mix. Good idea, b/c they were both delightful. Next: Soup of the day - lentil soup. Now I'm a soup w#o*e & I don't think i've ever experienced such culinary perfection. Perfect mix of broth, lentil & a little bit of some type of meat. Entree - Seafood Cannelloni. To die for. Just the right amount of seafood and white cream sauce baked to 100% delicious. I do recall that 1 of my friends had the shrimp francese which was also great. There was absolutely no room for dessert but wow i couldn't complain, the meal was just amazing & the price was great. I think the bill was about $100 with tip and we each had several drinks - so pretty cheap i think. The next time i'm in jax, i'll be back there. Goodbye santioni's hello Enza's.
(5)