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

My wife and I heard good things about this place. First off the hostess and waitress were great…read more Lots of great laughs. As for the food we started with the meatballs. They were good. Looked like cafeteria size so I was worried. Tasted great maybe a little Less breadcrumbs. 1-10 (7). My wife had the chicken parm and had the eggplant parm. My was ok. They didn't have enough layers of eggplant. It seemed like only 2. Wasn't impressed. My wife's Chicken parm was solid. Breadcrumbs had great flavor and the chicken was the perfect thickness. We both had a side of pasta and it wasn't anything fancy. The grated parm was in a shaker. Not a fan of the generic grated cheese. Overall it was cool little spot! Would I go again? Yes I would but I wouldn't be jumping through hoops. Overall rating in my opinion is 7 out of 10.

We had a large group going to dinner and this is was the restaurant of choice... as I waited for…read morethe group to get there I had a Stella draft at the bar and looked around the dining room. It's basically one big room with a porch out back, and I was surprised it wasn't louder in there. Ordered a cup of pasta e fagioli soup and the penne with portobello mushrooms and sausage for my main. Since there were ten of us it was interesting to hear some of the other choices... three people at the table ordered an appetizer for their meal - spinach, sausage and beans soup and when it arrived I could see why - it was huge! My soup was very good (sorry no picture) and the penne with sausage and portobello was good too, I think I'd have liked a little more sausage in the mix but the flavor was good and I couldn't finish so I had lunch for the next day. All in all a nice place - the waitress was especially nice and explained everything perfectly.

Been a while since our last visit and we had no idea it was Savor Sarasota week with 3 course…read moreoptions for $45. Service was good throughout and the decor is chic yet comfortable. Food was delicious and we brought an older Brunello, and corkage was $30. All in all a great evening

Delicious- I took my aunt and uncle here when they came to visit…read more It was a well loved place!! Thank you so much for the wonderful service.

Mona Lisa is the kind of place that makes you wonder how it stayed under your radar -- a cozy…read morelittle mom-and-pop Italian spot that's been doing its thing in Sarasota for over 40 years. I went for the mushroom ravioli in a creamy sauce with spinach and mushrooms, and it was exactly the comfort I wanted: generous portion, fresh-tasting, well-balanced, with bold flavors that felt homemade. The kind of plate that makes you slow down. The room is small, casual, and relaxed -- clean tables, comfortable seating, easy conversation. The owner is welcoming, the staff friendly and attentive, and my table was ready right on time. Parking was easy too, which in Sarasota is a small blessing. Fair prices for what you get, and I'd happily go back -- just bring a small group, since the dining room is on the cozy side.

Love Mona Lisa! Great food and service. I just wish it was a little bit larger because it's hard to…read moreget a reservation!

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

This was our first visit to Dough Forge Italian Restaurant. Our first impression walking in was…read morethat it felt very much like a small, mom-and-pop neighborhood restaurant, which is perfectly fine when the food and overall atmosphere make up for it. Unfortunately, the prices felt quite high for the experience. For example, the Bolognese was around $25, Chicken Parmigiana around $26, and the pizzas were about $28. Since we were already there, we decided to stay and give it a try. I will say that our waiter was nice, and the woman who seated us was also very pleasant. The tables had paper tablecloths, and after ordering a carbonara and Chicken Parmigiana, we waited about 30 minutes for our food. During that time, there was nothing to snack on. We expected some bread or something similar, as many Italian restaurants offer while you wait. When the food finally arrived, we were given a piece of focaccia. Unfortunately, it was very bland, and mine had a noticeable burnt taste. The actual meals were not bad, but they also weren't anything particularly special. The flavors were fine, but honestly, the dishes tasted like something I could make at home rather than something worth paying $25-$26 for at a restaurant. Both dishes also came with very thin spaghetti. Some people may prefer that, but I personally prefer a more traditional, thicker pasta. The atmosphere was another disappointment. There really wasn't much ambience, and at one point someone sat right next to our table while waiting for a pizza to-go, which added to the feeling that this was more of a casual takeout spot than an Italian dining experience. Overall, I don't think the food is bad, but the prices don't match the food, ingredients, presentation, or atmosphere in my opinion. At these prices, I would expect better-quality ingredients,

Very expensive for the quality of the food. The carbonara was creamy but didn't taste like…read morecarbonara and the chicken parm had a very sweet tomato sauce. The focaccia bread also didn't have any flavor. Unfortunately I wouldn't go back due to these things.

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!

A great experience. Service was attentive but not overwhelming. The garlic butter with the bread…read morewas outstanding. The food was delicious. We will be returning.

Fantastic! We had a party of 7 and everyone loved their food! So glad there's a delicious Italian…read morerestaurant in Bradenton. Service was great and very accommodating. Love the ambiance inside as well. We ordered Chicken Milanese, Bolognese, pizza slices, mozzarella sticks, and a Ham & Cheese sub. Highly recommend! Since it's right next to the movie theater, we will be back before the next movie we see again!