Have dined here many times. Their cooking is consistently good, and for a white tablecloth place their pizza is a surprise. I think it is better than Al's Pizza, which most folks think is the closest to NY pizza you will get around here. They don't advertise it, but you can order take-out pizza. The rest of the menu is what you would expect from a good italian restaurant, and their home made pasta is outstanding. We recently had their lobster ravioli in alfredo sauce, which was excellent. Veal, eggplant, meatballs, chicken, seafood - all very good. We've been away from this restaurant for a while, and returning after something like a year we find it still consistently good, high quality, and reasonably priced. And yes, the tira misu is excellent - although we rarely have room for dessert when we eat here and typically end up taking leftovers home with us.
(4)
Renda H.
Ok so I have been going to this location on and off for a very long time! Always happy with the great atmosphere,food and service...the other day I saw they now have lunch buffet for $6.99 good deal! So I went and it was very tasty, I had pizza,some lasgna and chicken and dumplings- all good...well it was close to lunch ending so the garlic bread was not 100% fresh but thats ok but i will say the peach cobbler was awful: not enough peaches and way too gummy-LOL... but when do you eat cobbler in an Italian restaurant?!
(4)
Jeremy F.
Went in with wife and child hostess was rude the place was very busy. We were seated and we were not even acknowleded after 15 minutes we left and told the hostess why we were leaving. Might be good if someone serves you. We will never know
(1)
francisco c.
went there for my birthday in January, their buffett its great, their lasagna fantastic, along with the meat balls and raviollis......
(5)
Hope J.
Just had dinner! Fantastic from start to finish. Great ambiance with piano player, that sounded great. To Start a hot basket of fresh garlic bread. Next, was the calamari appetizer I liked it, the coating was light and flakey,the calamari was very tender. Perfectly cooked. The entree Linguine an clams in white sauce. Perfectly flavored sauce balanced taste of garlic to acidic. Fresh clams in their shells served around the border.Absolutely delicious! Of course, I had to take a cannoli for home, late night treat. I totally recommend everyone to give this place a try for great italian food.
(5)
Jason K.
Vine list is sad, the staff if great but as a cook myself I know food speaks for itself and the food I ate last night was very below par. The meal I had made olive garden look like the best restaurant in the world. The clientele all looked above 60 yo. It was just bland boring American style Italian food ment for people who think sushi is a fad and longhorns is the best steak in town.
(2)
J N.
This by far is the Best Italian restaurant on the First Coast. Everything we had was fresh and above reproach. Would give it 6 stars if possible!!
(5)
Liz C.
LOVE. The veal Marsala here is the best I've ever had! It's better than five star restaurants I've tried it at. Not kidding! After Santioni's I'm disappointed in other Italian food all the time. It's unbeatable! The clams are my other favorite. The service is always professional and courteous. The atmosphere is relaxed. It's not a place to rush in and rush out of. Five stars! :-)
(5)
Danette L.
Italian at it's finest. Live piano & violin music on the weekends. Beautiful atmosphere, friendly staff.
(5)
John H.
The best little family owned Italian in Jacksonville. Great staff and food. And we enjoy the live piano. Don't let the location in the strip mall next to a laundromat turn you away. You will love this place!
(5)
Paul R.
We were the only diners on a late weekday evening. Everything was good...they really made 2 tired travelers welcome with good food & service.
(4)
Fearless F.
Decided to go to Picasso's last night for pizza but the wait was 45 minutes, so decided to make an audible as they do not offer much of a waiting area. Ok ok calm down, it's Santioni's time... We still wanted Italian so I yelped and up cam several, so we rolled the dice and chose Santioni's. The place was crowded but we were sat right down. They had a small but nice wine list that included a nice red from Cakebread. We did not order as we went by the glass but still liked the option. Bottom line was the service was really good, both Italian dishes were excellent, in fact my wife loved her pasta and meatballs and commented on its freshness. Was also happy as the meal was not just loaded with garlic, so there were plenty of flavors to enjoy. As a side note, the table bread was so good I broke my vow of bread reduction and ate 3/4 of the basket. As another side note, the place did remind me of and old Italian gangster movie so don't expect a young hip crowd, but you will find it filled with the 40 and up crowd and that's not always a bad thing. Nice job Santioni!
(4)
Laura J.
This place is waaay overcrowded! They need to take out a table or two in each room. I couldn't even pull my chair out enough to sit down comfortably. The servers were all very nice, and trying to be professional, but the food was just meh. They didn't drain the pasta enough and I had a pool of water at the bottom of my plate. Not good. And when I asked for some of their "famous" bread, they didn't have any ready and I waited 10 minutes for them to bake more. Ordered cappuccino after dinner, and it took forever to come, and was barely hot when it finally did. Wasn't a fan of the piano player playing a Disney montage, either.
(2)
Richard H.
I've driven by this place so many times and I keep wanting to stop in, but they don't open until 5pm and I'm usually starting to get busy with work around this time. Well I decided to take it upon myself to set time aside to go in yesterday and I am so glad that I did! I started off with the meatballs for an appetizer, because that it one thing I love from Italian food. They were juicy, well seasoned and the sauce with just the perfect blend of texture and taste. Oh and lets not forget the fresh delicious bread they bring to your table that I gladly used to sop up the sauce with. I decided on another favorite of mine and that's lasagna with came with choice of salad or soup. I went for the minestrone which only needed a little salt to taste. My Lasagna came out nice and hot with lots of melted mozzarella. What it lacked in presentation, it made up for with great flavor! While sitting awaiting my meal I spoke with a gentleman about his steak and cheese calzone which was huge and looked and smelled delicious that I will be trying next time!
(4)
Lea B.
Our first visit to Santioni's was at 9:30 on Christmas Eve. We called to ask if they were still serving, and were told "Sure, come on." We were one of the last tables in the restaurant, of course, but our server was fantastic, and the owner came by to say hello before he left for church. As for the food, it is delicious. Their bread is phenomenal. Everything is cooked perfectly. The marinara is amazing. Everything I have tried at Santioni's has been wonderful. Note: they don't seem to try to hurry you out, so if you're in a rush, don't go, because you will not be pleased with the service. Save this place for a night when you're ready for a good meal, in a nice atmosphere, when you can take your time to enjoy your meal.
(5)
noname n.
The bread is to die for and every entree I've tried, been there 3 times, has been perfect.
(5)
Debbie B.
Awesome place to eat...It was my first time there and it will not be the last...Food, Staff, Atmosphere. All top-notch. I highly recommend this place to anyone that appreciates great food, superb dining. Don't forget to try their Tiramisu.
(4)
Aaron H.
I went here on a wednesday and it was semi full but by time we left, we were the only people left, the food was okay, nothing spectacular, the pacing of the meal especially considering how dead the restaurant was, was extremely slow, our waiter was friendly, just not too attentive to our needs, but he did mention to us how he couldnt get his sportscenter app to load in the back, we had a stuffed mushroom appetizer which my uncle thought had crabmeat in it, the waiter said it didnt however the menu descripton said it did, i almost tried one (glad i didnt becase i have a severe seafood allergy). After dinner all five of us ordered some type of a coffee beverage, all of which came out lukewarm to cold. Overall it was a decent meal, but I dont think ill be in a hurry to return anytime soon,
(3)
Franklin B.
One of the best Italian restaurants in Jacksonville. Ask for Tommy. Be careful he's a rabid fsu fan. Their marinara sauce is one of the best. Have been eating at Santioni's for over 25 years.
(5)
Christine M.
We are in town and looking for a Italian restaurant for dinner and decided to dine in for the evening. Upon calling to see if they would deliver the young lady on the other end of the phone kept complaining she couldn't hear me. Then to top it off she called me a SIR numerous times before telling me they don't deliver. Rude customer relations! Very disappointed.
(1)
Doug R.
Had lunch here the week of 5/6/13. They have a lunch buffet, and while not huge, is pretty good. The service is always good and you can even eat a lot of meatballs and other proteins if you're watching your carbs. I am always amazed that it isn't busier at lunch. It's a great value for the price.
(4)
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
Address :11531 San Jose Blvd,Ste 8
Jacksonville, FL, 32223
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No 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.
Craig E.
Have dined here many times. Their cooking is consistently good, and for a white tablecloth place their pizza is a surprise. I think it is better than Al's Pizza, which most folks think is the closest to NY pizza you will get around here. They don't advertise it, but you can order take-out pizza. The rest of the menu is what you would expect from a good italian restaurant, and their home made pasta is outstanding. We recently had their lobster ravioli in alfredo sauce, which was excellent. Veal, eggplant, meatballs, chicken, seafood - all very good. We've been away from this restaurant for a while, and returning after something like a year we find it still consistently good, high quality, and reasonably priced. And yes, the tira misu is excellent - although we rarely have room for dessert when we eat here and typically end up taking leftovers home with us.
(4)Renda H.
Ok so I have been going to this location on and off for a very long time! Always happy with the great atmosphere,food and service...the other day I saw they now have lunch buffet for $6.99 good deal! So I went and it was very tasty, I had pizza,some lasgna and chicken and dumplings- all good...well it was close to lunch ending so the garlic bread was not 100% fresh but thats ok but i will say the peach cobbler was awful: not enough peaches and way too gummy-LOL... but when do you eat cobbler in an Italian restaurant?!
(4)Jeremy F.
Went in with wife and child hostess was rude the place was very busy. We were seated and we were not even acknowleded after 15 minutes we left and told the hostess why we were leaving. Might be good if someone serves you. We will never know
(1)francisco c.
went there for my birthday in January, their buffett its great, their lasagna fantastic, along with the meat balls and raviollis......
(5)Hope J.
Just had dinner! Fantastic from start to finish. Great ambiance with piano player, that sounded great. To Start a hot basket of fresh garlic bread. Next, was the calamari appetizer I liked it, the coating was light and flakey,the calamari was very tender. Perfectly cooked. The entree Linguine an clams in white sauce. Perfectly flavored sauce balanced taste of garlic to acidic. Fresh clams in their shells served around the border.Absolutely delicious! Of course, I had to take a cannoli for home, late night treat. I totally recommend everyone to give this place a try for great italian food.
(5)Jason K.
Vine list is sad, the staff if great but as a cook myself I know food speaks for itself and the food I ate last night was very below par. The meal I had made olive garden look like the best restaurant in the world. The clientele all looked above 60 yo. It was just bland boring American style Italian food ment for people who think sushi is a fad and longhorns is the best steak in town.
(2)J N.
This by far is the Best Italian restaurant on the First Coast. Everything we had was fresh and above reproach. Would give it 6 stars if possible!!
(5)Liz C.
LOVE. The veal Marsala here is the best I've ever had! It's better than five star restaurants I've tried it at. Not kidding! After Santioni's I'm disappointed in other Italian food all the time. It's unbeatable! The clams are my other favorite. The service is always professional and courteous. The atmosphere is relaxed. It's not a place to rush in and rush out of. Five stars! :-)
(5)Danette L.
Italian at it's finest. Live piano & violin music on the weekends. Beautiful atmosphere, friendly staff.
(5)John H.
The best little family owned Italian in Jacksonville. Great staff and food. And we enjoy the live piano. Don't let the location in the strip mall next to a laundromat turn you away. You will love this place!
(5)Paul R.
We were the only diners on a late weekday evening. Everything was good...they really made 2 tired travelers welcome with good food & service.
(4)Fearless F.
Decided to go to Picasso's last night for pizza but the wait was 45 minutes, so decided to make an audible as they do not offer much of a waiting area. Ok ok calm down, it's Santioni's time... We still wanted Italian so I yelped and up cam several, so we rolled the dice and chose Santioni's. The place was crowded but we were sat right down. They had a small but nice wine list that included a nice red from Cakebread. We did not order as we went by the glass but still liked the option. Bottom line was the service was really good, both Italian dishes were excellent, in fact my wife loved her pasta and meatballs and commented on its freshness. Was also happy as the meal was not just loaded with garlic, so there were plenty of flavors to enjoy. As a side note, the table bread was so good I broke my vow of bread reduction and ate 3/4 of the basket. As another side note, the place did remind me of and old Italian gangster movie so don't expect a young hip crowd, but you will find it filled with the 40 and up crowd and that's not always a bad thing. Nice job Santioni!
(4)Laura J.
This place is waaay overcrowded! They need to take out a table or two in each room. I couldn't even pull my chair out enough to sit down comfortably. The servers were all very nice, and trying to be professional, but the food was just meh. They didn't drain the pasta enough and I had a pool of water at the bottom of my plate. Not good. And when I asked for some of their "famous" bread, they didn't have any ready and I waited 10 minutes for them to bake more. Ordered cappuccino after dinner, and it took forever to come, and was barely hot when it finally did. Wasn't a fan of the piano player playing a Disney montage, either.
(2)Richard H.
I've driven by this place so many times and I keep wanting to stop in, but they don't open until 5pm and I'm usually starting to get busy with work around this time. Well I decided to take it upon myself to set time aside to go in yesterday and I am so glad that I did! I started off with the meatballs for an appetizer, because that it one thing I love from Italian food. They were juicy, well seasoned and the sauce with just the perfect blend of texture and taste. Oh and lets not forget the fresh delicious bread they bring to your table that I gladly used to sop up the sauce with. I decided on another favorite of mine and that's lasagna with came with choice of salad or soup. I went for the minestrone which only needed a little salt to taste. My Lasagna came out nice and hot with lots of melted mozzarella. What it lacked in presentation, it made up for with great flavor! While sitting awaiting my meal I spoke with a gentleman about his steak and cheese calzone which was huge and looked and smelled delicious that I will be trying next time!
(4)Lea B.
Our first visit to Santioni's was at 9:30 on Christmas Eve. We called to ask if they were still serving, and were told "Sure, come on." We were one of the last tables in the restaurant, of course, but our server was fantastic, and the owner came by to say hello before he left for church. As for the food, it is delicious. Their bread is phenomenal. Everything is cooked perfectly. The marinara is amazing. Everything I have tried at Santioni's has been wonderful. Note: they don't seem to try to hurry you out, so if you're in a rush, don't go, because you will not be pleased with the service. Save this place for a night when you're ready for a good meal, in a nice atmosphere, when you can take your time to enjoy your meal.
(5)noname n.
The bread is to die for and every entree I've tried, been there 3 times, has been perfect.
(5)Debbie B.
Awesome place to eat...It was my first time there and it will not be the last...Food, Staff, Atmosphere. All top-notch. I highly recommend this place to anyone that appreciates great food, superb dining. Don't forget to try their Tiramisu.
(4)Aaron H.
I went here on a wednesday and it was semi full but by time we left, we were the only people left, the food was okay, nothing spectacular, the pacing of the meal especially considering how dead the restaurant was, was extremely slow, our waiter was friendly, just not too attentive to our needs, but he did mention to us how he couldnt get his sportscenter app to load in the back, we had a stuffed mushroom appetizer which my uncle thought had crabmeat in it, the waiter said it didnt however the menu descripton said it did, i almost tried one (glad i didnt becase i have a severe seafood allergy). After dinner all five of us ordered some type of a coffee beverage, all of which came out lukewarm to cold. Overall it was a decent meal, but I dont think ill be in a hurry to return anytime soon,
(3)Franklin B.
One of the best Italian restaurants in Jacksonville. Ask for Tommy. Be careful he's a rabid fsu fan. Their marinara sauce is one of the best. Have been eating at Santioni's for over 25 years.
(5)Christine M.
We are in town and looking for a Italian restaurant for dinner and decided to dine in for the evening. Upon calling to see if they would deliver the young lady on the other end of the phone kept complaining she couldn't hear me. Then to top it off she called me a SIR numerous times before telling me they don't deliver. Rude customer relations! Very disappointed.
(1)Doug R.
Had lunch here the week of 5/6/13. They have a lunch buffet, and while not huge, is pretty good. The service is always good and you can even eat a lot of meatballs and other proteins if you're watching your carbs. I am always amazed that it isn't busier at lunch. It's a great value for the price.
(4)