Diners' Choice: Italian restaurants in Sarasota / Bradenton

OpenTable

Updated 05 November 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Italian cuisine in Sarasota / Bradenton? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyses more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favourites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

La Dolce Vita Authentic Italian Cuisine

5.0

5 (344)

$31 to $50

Italian

Sarasota

About the restaurant

We welcome our guests to an authentic Italian restaurant: here we offer traditional cuisine, with a modern take on northern and southern Italian recipes. Mauro, the chef, and his wife Tina, have an huge amount of experience behind them.

Mauro is from Naples, Tina was born in a little sicilian town near by Enna.
He began to learn everything about the southern cuisine by his experience in Naples since he was a child, from “Polipetti alla Luciana” to “Paccheri ai frutti di mare”. Furthermore he moved in Milan and he had the chance to learn the northern cuisine, from “Risotto ai funghi porcini” to “Polenta grigliata”, one of his favourite specialties!
From an ancient sicilian tradition, Tina learnt everything about the desserts by her grandmother and her mother, from “Millefoglie” to “Cannoli cake”.

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

Top review

Arthur

Dined 5 days ago

Delightful and authentic Italian restaurant with outstanding food and once you walk through the front door you would think you were in Italy intimate dining area. You are greeted with friendly smiles and superb service. All four meals, appetizers and dessert was top notch.

Dolce Italia

4.8

4.8 (591)

$31 to $50

Italian

Sarasota

About the restaurant

Dolce Italia was established in 2010 by Tiziana Di Costanzo who came from Ischia, an island in the Gulf of Naples. Using a combination of classic Italian dishes, family recipes passed down for generations, and warm hospitality, Dolce Italia has built a reputation in Sarasota as a destination for anyone seeking great food and ambiance. In 2015 Matthew joined as manager of the front of house and is now a managing partner of Dolce Italia. The kitchen staff trained by Tiziana from the beginning are still with the restaurant with Maria being the capocuoco.
Some of the specialities Dolce Italia has become famous for are the Napoletan Eggplant- a tender sautee eggplant with fresh tomatoes crowned with ricotte, the Trenne Dolce Italia- the signature pasta dish with creamy tomato sauce, fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and mushroom.

Top review

Ikevip

Dined 5 days ago

Always very good. Nice owners and staff. Great neighborhood spot even though we moved from nearby.

Maestrale

4.7

4.7 (114)

$31 to $50

Italian

Gulf Gate Estates

About the restaurant

Our restaurant and pizzeria Maestrale it's the wind that brings good and bad weather in the Italian peninsula. Our small family owned place is open for dinner six days a week. Our dishes originally are from Puglia in south Italy: la puccia, focaccia, mozzarella, orecchiette, panzerotti and the sea food dishes, the famous Pugliese olive oil as well as the fine selection of wine are a must! The atmosphere is friendly, family style dining, and also for romantic and special occassions, inspired from the old style elegant Italian restaurants where you feel just like at home, alla salute!

Top review

clifordvip

Dined 5 days ago

Veal was good but not even warm. Wine list a little pricey.

Apulia Osteria Italiana

4.9

4.9 (330)

$31 to $50

Italian

Rotonda

About the restaurant

Apulia Osteria Italiana is located in Placida, Florida just a few miles away from the beautiful Island of Boca Grande and Manasota key just 20 minutes from Port Charlotte and Venice.
The warm hospitality and the professionalism you will receive at Apulia will make you feel welcome throuout your entire visit. Chef Dario Leo along with his staff will make sure you will be delighted with superb food and great service.
You will enjoy dishes from his native region " Apulia" also called "The hill of the boot", specialties such as Orecchiette with Rapini, Fritto misto di Paranza ( seafood) , Burrata, Baked Snapper, Beef Braciole, Pasticciotto Leccese and so many other dishes from all over Italy such as Ossobuco, Risotti, Gnocchi, Branzino, Ravioli, Tiramisu, Gelati and so much more......

Top review

dinavip

Dined on 8 Nov 2024

Wonderful experience at apulia, as always great food,great atmosphere,great people,the osso bucco,is totally recommended,very delicious, comes with a saffron risotto, you will never have a bad meal here food is always great, Chef Dario always serves the best!

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Popular dish

Tagliatelle alla Bolognese

Bruschetta Fine Italian Cuisine

4.9

4.9 (40)

$31 to $50

Italian

Gulf Gate Estates

About the restaurant

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

Top review

Teresavip

Dined on 19 Nov 2024

The food was delicious. Pasta made fresh. Bruschetta tasty. Loved the limoncello.

Ragù cucina italiana

4.6

4.6 (86)

$31 to $50

Italian

Palmetto

About the restaurant

The White House, with the red roof.
Mom always says:”the key ingredient in doing anything is passion”.
Ragù is an authentic Italian restaurant in palmetto, our secret is to bring the passion and fresh products on the table everyday

Top review

Stanley

Dined on 20 Sept 2024

Being new to the area we search out new places to dine other than a chain restaurant. We had a reservation for 6:00pm, decent time for dinner. When we parked there were a couple of cars in the lot, didn't seem to busy so we thought "maybe this place isn't that great?" Walked inside this quaint old house that has been converted into a restaurant, greeted by a very friendly gentleman who showed us to our table. Everyone was very attentive, very timely with water, drinks, apps and our meals. The food was fantastic! Very pleased with our meals. As we sat and ate the dining area was now full, all within an hour or so. Now we know why! We had an excellent time, we can't wait to go back again and try everything on the menu!

Cafe Amici

4.8

4.8 (975)

$31 to $50

Italian

Sarasota

About the restaurant

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

Top review

Kathleen

Dined 5 days ago

Great service from our waiter. The ambiance had an authentic Italian feel. The salads and entrees were delicious.

Mediterraneo Ristorante Italiano

4.9

4.9 (3496)

$31 to $50

Italian

Sarasota

About the restaurant

With its modern but classic Italian cuisine and emphasis on artisanal and contemporary Northern Italian style, Mediterraneo is often credited with being the first restaurant to bring authentic contemporary Italian cuisine to Sarasota when it first opened in 1996. Still under the same ownership, Mediterraneo has consistently been rated one of the top restaurants in Zagat. The restaurant has received numerous accolades including the acclaimed Insegna Del Ristorante Italiano awarded by The Minister of Agriculture & Commerce in Rome. With its highest honor, inducting the restaurant into its Accademia Italiana della Cucina "Fine Dining Hall of Fame." Mediterraneo has been rated as Best of the Best in Sarasota Magazine since the first year of opening.

So whether you're celebrating a special occasion or grabbing a quick bite to eat, at Mediterraneo you are always assured the best quality food accompanied by excellent service. All of it thoroughly Italian.

Top review

Dougvip

Dined 1 day ago

The food was fantastic and delicious- we celebrated a birthday and very one like the dessert

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Popular dish

Spaghetti alla Carbonara

Cafe Gabbiano

4.7

4.7 (3740)

$30 and under

Italian

Siesta Key

About the restaurant

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

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

Top review

Eric

Dined 2 days ago

Fantastic meal and experience. Thank you! Will be back.

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Popular dish

Gnocchi

Popular dish

Tortellini alla Paolo

Popular dish

Ossobuco Ravioli

Tiramisu

4.8

4.8 (665)

$30 and under

Italian

South Bradenton

About the restaurant

Owners, Luca and Monica, invite their patrons into Tiramisu of Bradenton as if welcoming them into their own home to enjoy these delicious, family recipes.

Tiramisu’s atmosphere is intimate and casual but ensures that you will have friendly, professional service and well-seasoned, authentic Italian dishes served with love upon every visit.

Family owned fine Italian dining in the heart of Bradenton. Classic dishes, specialty homemade pasta, great wine and intimate atmosphere at affordable prices.

Top review

Garyvip

Dined 4 days ago

Bradenton’s top notch Italian with consistent excellence going on a decade now is definitely the locals favorite choice when wanting an authentic Italian meal !! A gem for the Bradenton restaurant scene

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