Bella Vita Italian Kitchen

Dined here numerous times, made sure we had reservations for both nights in town for the holiday…read moreweekend. Each night overdelivered with attentive, friendly service, superb meals for our entire party, and bread we couldn't wait to sink our teeth into (multiple baskets consumed quickly, perfect for dipping in our vodka and marina sauces). The chicken parm was its usual tasty dish and I thoroughly enjoyed the rigatoni a la vodka. Side salads were a perfect compliment and who can't resist cannolis for dessert?!?? Can't wait to return when we are back in town!

Sooo Caragiulo's Italian American was on my list for our Sarasota visit and I'm glad we went. I…read morelove some good Italian food, and they did not disappoint. The restaurant had that classic Italian vibe, but the real star was the food. Everything was flavorful without feeling too heavy, and we left happy and full. If you're in the area, definitely add this spot to your list. What was ordered: Lasagna Al Forno = light yet filling

WILD MUSHROOM & FONTINA pizza. Vegan. ROASTED CAULIFLOWER

See all

La Dolce Vita - Authentic Italian Cuisine

4.7(271 reviews)

5.0 mi

Some of the best Italian we have ever had outside of Italy. The calamari was cooked perfectly, with…read moreevery bite melting in our mouths. We shared the Pappardelle with mushrooms and sausage and the Bucatini Amatriciana. They were both delicious but the pappardelle stole the show. Finished with a beautiful Italian custard and fruit dessert, and a complimentary limoncello that was perfect. Service was lovely as well. Next time we are back in Siesta Key we will definitely return!

Food was terrible, owner was more interested in being a singer than actually cooking…read more I don't know what part of Italy she is from, but it's not like any Italian food I've ever experienced in my lifetime The chicken was mushy and they use way too much salt

Inside

Divine Nutella Cake

See all

Patio

Bevardi’s Salute

3.8(218 reviews)

2.6 mi

The location has plenty of seating options both indoor in the bar area, wine room or dining room…read moresurrounded by windows. Outdoor seating offers both al fresco à la humidity or under a lovely lanai with fans. The meals generally include mixed vegetables and roasted potatoes; however the menu doesn't say that nor did our server. Only the all pasta dishes come with pasta. There is no side of pasta offered either. This was disappointing because we were in the mood for pasta. After overcoming this, the dishes we chose were all delicious. Our guest said the sole of fish and sauce was great. The branzino at $49 we were told was boney but tasty. The lobster raviolis were cooked perfectly and topped with 2 pieces of grilled shrimp. The chicken scaloppini was tender and the white wine sauce was light and smooth. Overall the meal was good. Our server was distracted and sloppy. Considering it was not at all busy and there was sufficient staff, our server looked overwhelmed. Water glasses were left unfilled and drinks were spilled when served. We had to ask for extra napkins to clean the stem of our glasses. Glad we tried it, but with so many Italian options in this area, I think we will leave this spot for the visitors.

What a find! We decided to have dinner here & due to the wind, we sat at the bar to have dinner…read more Discovered that they have a fantastic HH every day! My house vodka martini was great & only $6! We shared ate almost entirely off the HH menu - bruschetta, caesar salad, bolognese, & the pasta with mushroom sauce. Pasta is homemade & you can get it off the HH menu! We even got a bread basket served to us! We indulged in profiteroles for dessert. The bartender was wonderful. The interior looks very nice. Outside they have plenty of tables. Would definitely go back to this place.

Insalata di Spinaci

See all

Cafe Gabbiano

4.2(767 reviews)

5.9 mi

Visited when we were at Siesta Key for a weekend. It's easy to miss between all the beach bars but…read moreI can't recommend Cafe Gabbiano enough. We were seated in a wine cellar area which was very cozy, and our waiter was very friendly. He gave really great recommendations on both apps and our mains. The bruschetta tasted very fresh with a bright flavor, and the mozarella and brie went even better with it. My sister and I got the two raviolis (lobster and ossobuco) to share and the portions were perfect and the flavor was amazing. I was especially worried lobster in ravioli woild be too heavy, but the raviolis weren't overfilled and the tomato sauce kept it bright. We'll definitely be coming back next time we're in the area.

We are here visiting in the area and wanted to enjoy an upscale Italian restaurant and we chose…read moreCafé Gabino for dinner. First thing to know is that the parking lot in front of the restaurant is metered and we paid $18 to park before we even entered the restaurant. I've never seen that before particularly at that level of expense so beware you're gonna pay for parking unless you walk over or take your bicycle. we got into the restaurant which is quite nice lovely atmosphere and the service was excellent. We were greeted and brought water immediately. Hot bread to follow with a wonderful olive oil cheese combination for dipping I ordered the seafood, with pasta in a light tomato sauce. The seafood was ample fresh and the dish was good but they don't serve it any other way I asked if we could leave out the marinara sauce and they said no, which was OK. it was delicious my sweetheart ordered meatballs and pasta and she loved it. She thought the meatball was wonderful and again the food arrived hot and beautifully presented. If we are in the area again, we're likely to go back but not parking in their parking lot. Other than that it was a very nice evening.

Award winning wine list

Fresh local grouper special

See all

Squid ink shrimp fra diavolo

Clasico Italian Chophouse

4.1(521 reviews)

2.8 mi

My son wanted pasta on his birthday. The pasta was good. The vibes were good. Unfortunately all of…read moreour seafood (shrimp and lobster) tasted straight out of the sea, with no flavor.

Absolutely Delicious. We will be back thats forsure…read more Great portions Great flavor Great taste

Tomato Bruschetta

See all

Chicken Parmesan and Clasico Bolognese

Bruschetta Fine Italian Cuisine

4.8(56 reviews)

5.5 mi

We had a wonderful dinner here with my two daughters a couple of days ago. The atmosphere is…read morewonderful and the food is delicious. I had the veal Parmesan and the girls had the fettucine alfredo. We started with the shrimp Gorgonzola appetizer. We ended up mopping up the sauce with the bread. Really outstanding. The girls shared two desserts--the tiramisu and 3 layer chocolate cake. Both a rave. The complimentary bruschetta amuse bouche is a star. So good. Service was stellar--the chef came by more than once to check on us and his wife is wonderful as a waitress. We will be back.

Stopped in after their re-opening on Gateway in the spring of '26. Come to see Marco and Olga - you…read morewill not be disappointed! Lamb chops were exquisite, and the Gorgonzola dumplings along with the vodka dumplings were amazing. We will be back!!!

Dining room

Fresh Burrata cheese mozzarella, Prosciutto di Parma ,Arugula and homemade Balsamic vinaigrette reduction .

See all

Mamma Trio (Eggplant Parmesan, Lasagna, meatballs)‍

Pazzo On Orange

4.2(74 reviews)

2.5 mi

We took take out on their Wednesday special of a sandwich with a garden salad for $16 and the Disco…read moreFries for $6.00. Packaging was excellent. There were about 4 tables so plenty of room for more guests and the bar was empty. The sausage and peppers sandwich was flavorful per my husband. The sausages are not sliced but cut making the sandwich a complete mess. The bread is not made to hold the sausage. I had the chicken Marsala sandwich. Again had a huge issue with the bread being useless. The mozzarella was on the bread but none on the chicken. The Marsala sauce was bland and minimal. Would not get this again. The disco fries were not making me happy. Basically thin fries smothered in gravy. Where was the cheese? The gravy was also bland and we ended up tossing most of them out. The restaurant itself is nice with darker colors and clean. Prices on the regular menu are pricey and after trying their sauce I can see why it was empty. Personal peeve, Italian dish that doesn't include pasta as a side option when clearly they have pasta in the menu is wrong.

I can't believe I have lived in Sarasota as long as I have and only now found this gem of a…read morerestaurant. My wife and I had the most enchanting evening and simply can't wait to return. First impression, plenty of street parking directly in front and as we entered we noticed a truly beautiful outdoor patio, nicely landscaped, centered around a beautiful outdoor stone fireplace. When the weather cools we will look forward to enjoying that. As it was a bit warm outside we chose an indoor table. The interior is beautifully done with elaborately detailed tray ceilings, soft colors, soft lighting, a really lovely bar, and a quiet luxury throughout. We were greeted by the host Bob, who we later learned is a partner/owner, and we were seated immediately. Our waitress Holly was fun, engaging, attentive and eager to please without ever being overly present throughout the night. She set the tone by announcing that all wine was $10 off per bottle and all signature cocktails were $10 each. We were informed these values are expected to be offered at all times during low season (not just a happy hour). We found the wine and cocktail pricing to be extremely reasonable even without this extra offer. Holly also volunteered that the kitchen would happily split any appetizer onto two plates and we were also welcome to order just a half salad or half Caesar salad if only one of us wanted one. For the waitperson to offer this without even being asked, we felt the spirit of hospitality was off to a great start as it was obvious the restaurant is prioritizing customer happiness above all else. The menu, which you can review on their website, was full of enticements that had us vowing to return so that we could sample more and more offerings. We settled on a half house salad (excellent), a pasta fagioli (unforgettably good) one of their signature dishes, "Chicken Our Way", and Rigatoni Bolgnaise. The chicken dish was simply out of this world, very lightly breaded and beautifully glazed with a wonderful sauce. The table next to us, having driven up all the way from Northport, politely demanded to know what the dish was as the aroma graced their table. The Rigatoni Bolognaise was as fantastic as any dish we had while travelling through Italy; the bolognaise sauce was unquestionably made from scratch in-house and was as delicious and as authentic as it comes. As we were dining, a woman entered who had the essence of an owner; she went from staff member to staff member, and from table to table, checking on every employee and every customer to ask how things were going. When she stopped at our table, she introduced herself as Beverly, the host's partner. She stayed with us for quite some time showing a genuine and personal interest in us. We were not just a customer to her; we were clearly a new and valued acquaintance. This level of Mom-and-Pop personal service is very hard to find today in Sarasota--and it makes all the difference in the world. We can't wait to go back to see Bob, Beverly and Holly again as they truly made us feel like family. And we can't wait to try more of their enticing dishes. You simply MUST sample this restaurant and see for yourself. I fear though that if too many people discover it, the restaurant may grow and change. I hope that doesn't happen, because it is perfect right now, in this moment, exactly the way it is.

Full bar

See all

Outside patio

Maestrale Restaurant and Pizzeria

4.3(73 reviews)

6.4 mi

Absolutely fabulous home cooked meal. Located in an unassuming strip mall. We were greeted by…read moreAllesandro, he's the son of the owner chefs. He could not have been any nicer. The food was absolutely spectacular! Probably the best eggplant Parmesan I've ever tasted! The tiramisu was equally special. Fantastic meal and dining experience.

Excellent restaurant! Our second visit even better than our first…read more Bruschetta was delicious and artistically displayed. Slight tendency for tomatoes to fall off but really good, Lasagna very tasty. The winner was the shellfish and pasta. We will all likely order that next time. Good house wines. Split tiramisu for dessert. Super light and flavorful. Alfredo took very good care of us. We will return!

Burrata

See all

Wine

Marcello's Ristorante

4.5(253 reviews)

3.7 mi

Marcello never disappoints... .. there were 8 of us &…read moreeveryone very satisfied! Gus was our server & was great! Like the quaintness of the resturant!

Menu always the same The owner feels he is doing you a favor…read moreif he gives you a reservation There is much better and more enjoyable in Sarasota

Short Rib Paparedelle

See all

Our group wine lineup

Mediterraneo

3.9(353 reviews)

2.1 mi

we came with dear dear friends when we were visiting them. This was a fun festive place to come…read more Bread selection was great!!!! Greek salad, and the fried pecorino was delicious!!! Wide noodles with Bolognese was spot on!!! Service was wonderful! It can get pretty loud in there, they do have outdoor options when it's not too humid, etc. Well done!

Service was amazing. Waiter on top of things and food came quickly and was hot! My only gripe…read moreis it's a bit noisy but that seems to be everywhere lately Would definitely return

Great selection of liquors.

Soup de jour fresh pinto bean soup

See all

Dining room

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

4 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Ariel P.

9 months ago

We recently dined at Bella Vida Italian Kitchen and Pizzeria and had an exceptional experience. We ordered the vodka chicken parm and the lasagna, and both dishes were absolutely delicious. The serving sizes were huge--definitely worth every penny--and the quality of the food was outstanding. What made our visit truly special was the customer service. The staff was attentive and welcoming, and the owner, Rocco, went above and beyond. He was incredibly kind and friendly, taking the time to check on us and make sure we were enjoying our meal. It's rare to find that level of personal attention and genuine hospitality. If you're looking for authentic Italian food with generous portions and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, Bella Vida is the place to go. We'll definitely be back! read more

Nathalia C.

11 months ago

I had such an amazing experience at Bella Vita in Sarasota. I ordered the pasta carbonara and honestly it's the best one I've ever had. My uncle is Italian and this pasta reminded me of his authentic homemade pasta, that's how good it was. The service was incredible, probably the best service I've ever received. The owner was so nice and welcoming, it really made me feel like I was in Italy eating with family. I also had a cannoli and it was the best cannoli I've ever tried. If you're looking for real Italian food and amazing service, I definitely recommend Bella Vita. read more

Esteban B.

2 months ago

I had the best shrimp scampi I ever had. The place is great. Great ambience and friendly atmosphere. I would highly recommend this place and by the way the cannolis are delicious. Thank you for such great food read more

Roger F.

7 months ago

The food was delicious and the portions were huge! Very friendly atmosphere. Highly recommend!!

Bella Vita Italian Kitchen - italian - Updated October 2026

People who viewed Bella Vita Italian Kitchen also viewed

Francesco's NY Pizzeria & Ristorante

3.7

(162 reviews)

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! Their pizza is just so good and don't even get me started on their desserts!…read moreThe service there is impeccable with kind waiters and the owner is so sweet! It is a lovely restaurant with an authentic Italian vibe and beautiful paintings. 10/10 WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND!

Food is always delicious and the osso bucco is a specialty treat…read more The pizza, with a crispy crust and authentic Italian flavor, is superb.

Andrea's Restaurant

4.3

(86 reviews)

Scrumptious delicious Birthday week at our home and we…read morestarted with Escargot, calamari & mondeghini. Everything perfectly cooked, the calamari tender, not chewy and the pomodoro perfection. Main courses: braised short ribs with roasted potatoes, Paparadelle 2085, and My Way. Again, everything perfection. Seasoned perfectly, not overly. This is a restaurant for your palate, your pleasure.

There's a reason Andrea's has thrived for more than a decade: quality in cuisine, wines, ambiance,…read moreservice. We greatly enjoyed the calm atmosphere that encouraged conversation over a dinner that met or exceeded everyone's expectations. The first impression sets the tone: intimate setting , quiet yet not stuffy atmosphere. Attentive service. Impressive wine list. And regional specialties prepared and plated to please. We (party of 4) found full enjoyment in the eggplant parm, the mondeghini, the arancini, the flounder, the gnocchi and... and ... all the way to exceptionally light canoli. Unhesitatingly flawless dinner with food with just the right amount of saucing and seasoning (Nothing dripping mozzarella or drowning in red sauce) and unobtrusive yet on-it service. In sum: Andrea's goes on our short list of fine Italian dining in Sarasota.

La Mucca Ballerina

4.5

(539 reviews)

Soooooo good! Everything from start to finish was perfection! Drinks and focaccia... perfect start!…read moreThe calamari was cooked perfectly, pizza was delicious, pasta, dessert and all ...100% OUTSTANDING!!!!

Eh this was a miss for me…read more When arriving the man working pretty much the entire restaurant asked if we had reservations. We stated no so he stated we had to sit outside. However a few moments later there was another couple sitting outside and he offered them to sit inside but they declined, with that I thought he'd asked us but he walked passed us. There was a lot of files and bugs flying by the wine in the window I thought it was gross. The bread that was brought out to the table was extremely cold and somewhat hard, the service was lacking as well. It was a weekday so it wasn't too busy. On to the food, I got the Cacio e Pepe. My noodles was good but the sauce wasn't as flavorful, pretty watered down. I ate this super quick because I was burning sitting outside and was ready to go. I wouldn't return

Fav's Italian Cucina

4.1

(165 reviews)

I don't leave any reviews ever, but this had to be the best talent I ever had in my life and I felt…read morelike I was a little Italian boy eating my grandmother's cooking. And I'm Mexican. This food was so good. The service was so good that people were so lovely. I would highly recommend to anybody.

Came here with my mom and had a pretty good experience overall. The food came out in a reasonable…read moreamount of time, which I always appreciate. I ordered a pepperoni pizza and the fettuccine. The pizza was solid, definitely hit that classic pizza spot vibe, especially since I asked for a pizza stand for a little nostalgia and they came through with that. The fettuccine, though, was a bit lacking in flavor at first. Once I added some salt and pepper, it got the job done--nothing amazing, but still enjoyable. One thing to note: if you're sitting outside, you do have to go inside to place your order, so it was a bit of back and forth. Not a huge deal, just something to be aware of. Overall, this is a good spot. Being in downtown Bradenton and within walking distance for me, it's super convenient. I'd definitely come back, especially if I have friends or family visiting from out of town. It's an easy, reliable cure place to grab a meal when craving Italian food

Villa Sorrento Cafe

4.4

(60 reviews)

Really good from start to finish. Some of their dinners are not served at any other restaurants…read more Bring Your Own Bottle, with no extra charges. Great staff.

Amazing restaurant! The "best Italian restaurant reward" is well deserved. Make sure to save room…read morefor desert. All the food was amazing. Never had anything bad here. Service is amazing. Ambiance is casual and very nice. Everyone's meal was 5/5. Can't wait to come back! Gluten free pasta available.

Tiramisu Ristorante

4.4

(436 reviews)

Pasta wheel as a shared app, was good, very good!! OssoBuco…read morew/ risotto excellent! Lobster ravioli was good. Service was very good

Unfortunately, this is a one and done restaurant for me, and not one I would recommend. Sorry no…read morepictures! We were seated right away, and our server was attentive, almost a little too attentive at times that we felt rushed. The atmosphere was nice, but the restaurant is small, difficult to move around, and the lighting was darker than I prefer. We started with the fried calamari and meatballs. The calamari was good, but the meatballs were disappointing. They were about the size of golf balls which is ok but lacked flavor. For our entrees, we ordered the penne alla vodka, chicken parmesan, gnocchi, and I had the spaghetti special that was finished in a cheese wheel tableside. The presentation was fun, but the food itself just didn't live up to it. The marinara sauce across the dishes was bland, the gnocchi was forgettable, and my spaghetti portion was surprisingly small, more like an appetizer than an entrée. I almost always take leftovers home from Italian restaurants because the portions are generous and the food is rich. This time, there was nothing left because there wasn't much there to begin with. The biggest disappointment was the bread. When I go to an Italian restaurant, I expect warm, crusty Italian bread. Instead, it tasted like ordinary sliced sandwich bread. I actually like Publix bread, but that's not what I'm looking for with an Italian meal. Overall, nothing was terrible, but nothing stood out either. For the prices, I expected much more flavor, better portions, and a more authentic Italian experience.

D'Corato Ristorante

4.5

(90 reviews)

What an amazing Italian meal we had! From the start of adding a couple more people to our…read morereservation to walking out the door, the service was fantastic. The family owned/run business knows how to treat and take care of their customers. Our server Vinny took his time to go over the menu, offer suggestions, and the point that he helped his Mom the night before make the homemade meatballs- we knew we were in for a treat! Yes, the homemade meatballs and spaghetti were delicious; however the homemade Cherry tart was beyond words - Delicious! We cannot wait to go back, especially when Vinny mentioned him and his Dad make homemade lemoncello.

We came here for my birthday celebration and had a good time! The food was delicious! We got a…read morecomplimentary bread basket, and ordered the mozzarella appetizer, which was fresh and tasty. The veal was flavorful and lean, the Frutti Di Mari was very good. Our son enjoyed his chicken. The desserts were absolutely delicious! We got the tiramisu and the spumoni ice cream. Attentive service and small but inviting atmosphere. Definitely recommend!

Villa Sorrento

4.5

(13 reviews)

Meatballs just ok nothing special, stuffed shells and fettuccine with garlic and oil the same ,…read morebig portions but still nothing stood out as far as flavor was concerned service seemed a bit slow within a nice little 10 table restaurant casual ambiance

Been coming here for years. My parents, it's their favorite spot. They know my parents by name…read morewhich is a nice touch. Super friendly. Good always delicious. I would say the Alfredo is not my favorite but had so many dishes everything else is excellent. Get the shrimp app! So freaking good.

Speaks Clam Bar - Lakewood Ranch

4.1

(717 reviews)