This was hands down the best chicken parm I've had in the area (and that's saying something because my friend's homemade is hard to beat). It was our first time here and they were absolutely slammed... for good reason. The food was fresh, hot, and packed with flavor. The sauce tasted homemade, the chicken was perfectly breaded and tender, and the portion size was generous. The garlic knots were incredible -- soft, buttery, and full of garlic. I didn't even get a picture because we dug in immediately. That should tell you everything. Even with how busy they were, the service was still great. Michelle was kind, attentive, and handled the rush with such a positive attitude. It's in a prime location near the hotels and right off 19, so I can see why they stay busy. Taking over the old Green Market spot was a smart move. The atmosphere felt welcoming and clean. 10/10 recommend. My husband and I will absolutely be back. If you're craving real-deal Italian comfort food, this is your spot. read more

Fresca Italian Kitchen - Chicken Parmesan - Italian Near Me - Clearwater, Florida

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So far so good! I just found out about this place so I gave it a try. So far, I only had the Italiano sandwich. It was very good but I was a little disappointed that it didn't come on an Italian sub bread, as pictured in the online menu. I'll have to ask if that is an available option next time. The owners are from Naples and the quality from what I saw was way higher than I expected for a restaurant situated right next to a hotel, but it is definitely worth giving it a try. I can't wait to try some of the entrees, the calzone, pizza and Stromboli. I will definitely be back! Quick update. I just called them and unfortunately, their sandwiches are only available on foccacia bread.....no Italian sub bread. read more

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Had the supreme pizza was really tasty but a little wet. (Crust not crispy) Pasta Fagoli soup was good and shareable. Also ordered a chicken parmigiana the meat was perfectly good. Staff is friendly and I loved the cheese grater light fixtures. read more

Fresca Italian Kitchen - Supreme pizza - Italian Near Me - Clearwater, Florida

We were visiting the area for a couple days! Not really a vacation! I was researching many Italian restaurants' menus! I was actually shocked at the prices! I honestly didn't want to spend $35 for pasta! I saw Fresca a couple days as we passed by! We decided to check it out! BOY AM I GLAD WE DID!!! These are two Italian brothers, as friendly and cute as can be, who are from Naples Italy! All of their recipes are their authentic momma's Anna they are staying true to her and their lineage! We had the spaghetti & meatballs and the lasagna! Let me say, my husband orders lasagna often just to try them ALL!! I asked him how it compared on a scale of 1-10! He absolutely gave it a 10! He said it is excellent one of the best he's ever had! We watched one of the brothers serving up some cannolis. Fresh-Creamy-Delicate PRIMO!!! So, so good!!! The inside is not very large. Does not have too many tables, but they do have an outside little garden gazebo, kind of area. I believe they serve beer and wine. All-in-all, I honestly give it a TEN. You won't be disappointed! read more

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First time here after seeing all the really great reviews. Had lunch with a friend to try it out. Very small venue. But the menu is pretty extensive. I had one of the best prosciutto , mozzarella, arugula sandwiches in a long time. Made on fresh Focaccia bread. You could tell it was all freshly made. Some of the best prosciutto I've had in the area. My friend had the Napoli sandwich which was loaded with Italian cold cuts. He said it was excellent. They do serve beer and wine if you are so inclined Definitely a return is needed Will be trying the pizza and the arancini next time. read more

Fresca Italian Kitchen - Prosciutto mozzarella and arugula - Italian Near Me - Clearwater, Florida

Italian music, a new favorite place, food made al dente, tea you drink straight or sweeten to your taste. Seating was available both inside and outside, but the pollen in early April ushered us in to the clean booths. The food, service, and environment were perfect especially since we had been driving for a half hour looking for a restaurant that we could enjoy on Good Friday. read more

Fresca Italian Kitchen - Dessert - Italian Near Me - Clearwater, Florida

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thatbihgah Food was really hot, tasted fresh, and pasta was perfectly cooked. Sandwich was good, could've used a bit more flavor. Recommend the pasta 10/10. read more

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We ordered a pepperoni pizza with mushrooms to go on 6/27/26 inside the restaurant. The food workers weren't paying attention to their duties, they were chatting among themselves instead of paying attention to the food they were preparing. The taste of the pizza dough was awful, tasted like a piece of cardboard and the mushrooms were fresh they were from a can. Overall, it was a low food quality pizza product. Buy pizza from another place or Dominos pizza is much better than this. read more

As a guest of the adjacent hotel, I couldn't resist but walk over and check out Fresca Italian Grill. The curb appeal alone is enough to entice the eyes, but as you walk up and catch a whiff from their ovens, your nose and brain go into overdrive. The menu is simple and straight-forward, a significant upgrade from your typical pizza joint, with some delectable italian sandwiches and traditional entrees. In addition to what's on the fixed menu, Fresca offers several fresh dishes and specials that are off-menu as well; a delightful array of authentic Italian appetizers, sides, and mains. For my first visit (note that implies that I will definitely be back), I settled with an order of eye-watering garlic knots (order of 6, plenty to share), chicken parmigiana sandwich, and a cannoli and Nutella tiramisu to go. Even though some items like the garlic knots, calzones, and pizza slices are premade, they serve them up to you piping hot and refreshed from the oven. I had to wait a few minutes for them to cool enough to eat. The portions are gracious, that I ended up taking 4 garlic knots, half of my sandwich and desserts back to my hotel room to enjoy the next day. OK, I'm not going to lie, the desserts didn't make the night. The cannoli was so smooth and savory, but the tiramisu... oh my! I have never had such flavorful and creamy tiramisu in my life, and I grew up around plenty of mom and pop Italian restaurants. Nutella to boot! The vibe of the place is very casual, but warm and inviting; the kind of place for a quick bite, or for you and your family/friends to hang out a while. The outdoor seating was particularly inviting on a cool winter evening. Clean, crisp, tasteful decor. The service was prompt, friendly, and made feel like part of the family. read more

Don't let the location near the holiday inn fool you! This is a quaint, family-run classic Italian eatery with calzones, sandwiches, pizza and pasta! While it is the order-at-the-counter type, the staff is very attentive! They have cheap beer & wine as well. We had the rigatoni all a vodka and the chicken Marsala but I'm excited to return to try the Italian sandwich and a calzone! The fried ravioli is some of the best we have had. read more

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Fresca is a place with high potential. We wheeled in there for lunch. It's a small, easy-to-miss, stand alone place in the shadow of a large hotel. Inside we were greeted by 2 workers with awesome Italian accents. That is always a good sign. I ordered an eggplant parmigiana sandwich. It was $14 so my expectations were high. Shortly later, the food was ushered to our table. The sandwich looked amazing. It was composed of 2 slices of focaccia bread, thick slabs of breaded eggplant, cheese, & marinara sauce. I can tell you the bread was homemade & wonderful. All the ingredients seemed very, very fresh. It had all the looks & feel of an amazing sandwich. My only disappointment is that somehow there was no flavor. Everything was bland. It probably came down to the marinara which looked great & fresh, but unfortunately was tasteless. The breading on the eggplant looked amazing as well, but it had no flavor. The people joining me at lunch had ordered other sandwiches, & we all agreed they looked & felt amazing. But there was a notable lack of flavor. This is why I say the place has high potential. They have everything else going for it. read more

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Tried the pizza there last night. I was unfortunately somewhat disappointed. The crust sadly was unremarkable for a NY style pie. It was missing any developed dough flavor from yeasty flavor goodness and fermentation that is subtle to recognize but makes the difference between a good pizza and a great pizza. This is was in the good category. Far better than any chain but several in the area are at that subtle next level. Few and far between down here. Basic on the inside. Some decent outdoor seating but its pretty much counter service. Friendly staff. read more

This is a very unassuming establishment- my hotel recommended this spot after I asked for great old school Italian food. WOW...seriously wow, the spaghetti bolognese takes you back to Roma Italia! Huge serving and I'll tell you what...I ate half and it barely made a dent. Should have taken a picture but I didn't think about it until I now. Owner says the recipes belong to his grandma. Awwww! read more

I recently just moved to area and my husband and I were looking for a new go-to pizza place. Unfortunately, this will not be it. The reviews were so good and I was really looking forward to trying them out. The pizza crust was burnt underneath while the top was soggy. I also had the meatballs which were quite literally flavorless. The saving grace was the garlic knots! Hopefully we just went on a bad day and next time we try them they'll be better. read more

We went here because I didn't want to cook lol we ordered spaghetti bolognese, a couple slices of pizza and garlic knots. Everything was really good! Pros: Clean Smells delicious walking in Service was friendly and fast Cons: Not necessarily easy to get into because of the light on 19 and Gulf to Bay, not their fault read more

Fresca Italian Kitchen - Pizza - Italian Near Me - Clearwater, Florida

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The food was excellent and so was the service! Had the special of the day, tortellini with vodka sauce and my wife had the spaghetti and meatballs! Both tasted great and were generous portions! read more

Fresca Italian Kitchen - Small italian restaurant Newsletter to Holiday Inn! - Italian Near Me - Clearwater, Florida

Absolute delight! Generous portions and wonderful service. We enjoyed the patio area which was quiet and calm. We will be back!

Their sauce is so good. Best I've had in a long time. The chicken parmigiana was great. The cutlet is spiced and cooked to perfection. Chicken piccata was delicious. The sauce is the best. Authentic all the way. read more

Fresca Italian Kitchen - Chicken Parmigiana - Italian Near Me - Clearwater, Florida

We saw this new place open up last week or so. It's in the HolidayInn plaza across from Sam's club. As an Elite yelper we read the reviews and what we read were good so we decided to try it out. The staff (possibly the owners) are very friendly. They have many items to select from. The smell of the garlic when you first walk in made my mouth water instantly so that was the first order we made. My wife has a slice of their white pizza, o ordered Spaghetti and meat balls (I know boring), o was craving it. We also ordered fried raviolis and it came with marinara and vodka sauce. All the food was delish and had extra to take home for lunch the next day. Definitely a place to stop by when you are in the area specifically the baseball fans that are down for spring training. read more

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Spare of the moment dinner, was very authentic, good and hot and Italian. I had the spaghetti bolognese awesome and plenty of it. My companion had the ziti carbonara also soo good. Let me say it's not a high end restaurant, prices are reasonable compared to other restaurants around the area. I mean really $14-16 . For a pasta dish pretty spot on. No real wait staff order at the counter and in a short time your hot meal is there. ( yes they do take it to your table when it's ready). It's a very small place across from Sam's club, it is locally owned and operated.. yaa. They have wine and bottled beer . They also have a " cute" patio " on the side. But these days Florida weather way too hot to sit outside... but it is cool looking . Probably in the fall . I highly recommend this restaurant. .. you won't be disappointed. On a side note they had a brisk take out service while we were there the pizza looked " fantastical. Support our locals. read more

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Excellent Italian n food at a reasonable price in a pleasant, casual setting. Good for lunch after shopping at Costco.

Food very good Service- outside gazebo quaint Spaghetti with meatballs excellent Caesar salad outstanding read more

Fresca Italian Kitchen - Spaghetti - Italian Near Me - Clearwater, Florida

Oh my goodness -- so good!! We ordered the night's special: stuffed gnocchi with quattro formaggi, and honey-gorganzola sauce topped with fried pancetta and candied pecans. The homemade gnocchi melted in our mouths! And the best homemade focaccia I've ever had. The Caesar salad dressing was nice and strong, also a house recipe. The service was so nice -- they are proud of their food! The restaurant is mom-and-pop owned, only this location. We sat outdoors on their charming patio, surrounded by greenery (blocking the busy Gulf To Bay Blvd). We're staying in the hotel next door and are so glad to find this gem on our travels! read more

Surprisingly authentic Italian in a very unassuming package. Great place to eat before a show at Baycare sound. It was a little warm in there because the ovens are constantly cranking out delicious pizza and pasta dishes. Plus, July in Florida. The service is counter order, then table delivered. Pro tip: bring your own wine and they may open it for you at a very nominal fee if any at all. read more

Food was so good. Small place but you can tell food made from the heart. Staff are all very friendly as well. read more

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Delicious fried ravioli with tomato sauce for dipping and small tossed salad with balsamic dressing. Ingredients were super fresh, crunchy and tasty. It was my first visit to this restaurant and I would definitely return. Behind the counter the chef was cutting mushrooms which looked lovely and large. Portions are generous. Bright atmosphere with lots of windows and the patio was nice too. Friendly staff. read more

The food. Fantastic. Portions were huge - I shared the Chicken Francese and still couldn't finish the portion. We also got the toasted ravioli and garlic knots which to be honest were not my favorite. But the entrees were perfect and service was fast and friendly. It's on my list to return the next time I am in the area. read more

The regular slice was very good the Sicilian i did not understand, crust should be crispier and needs sauce less cheese. I didn't care for that at all . read more

Fresca Italian Kitchen - Italian Near Me - Clearwater, Florida

Excellent Italian dishes. Cool atmosphere and friendly service. I recommend the Chicken Marsala with Rigatoni. Garlic knots are great - just the right amount of garlic and oil and the dough is soft and delicious. Highly recommend! read more

the food was amazing. I got the pizza and it was the best pizza i have ever had. i would totally recommend this place. Service was great. and the place looked like it was straight out of Italy. the portion are giant. read more

Fresca Italian Kitchen - the pizza - Italian Near Me - Clearwater, Florida

Great food Service was excellent Cute very clean place Would highly recommend Fresca Italian Kitchen. read more

Great Pizza! Best in the Clearwater area. The staff is friendly. Seating inside or outside for a good dining experience.

Great little place to enjoy Italian as it was meant to be! Easy to access and easy to exit on Gulf to Bay. read more

Small, pleasant place. The service was prompt and courteous. Although pizza seems to be the popular choice, we went with pasta. The sauce was light and tangy, not overly seasoned. The spaghetti was al dente, not mushy. The lasagna likewise was not overcooked and layered with bechamel. Definitely a solid choice for a good Italian dining experience. read more

Fresca Italian Kitchen - Spaghetti Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Clearwater, Florida

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Meatball and ricotta appetizer was excellent and served with generous pieces of focaccia bread. Chicken parm was delicious.

So fresh, so delicious. All the sandwiches are made on focaccia and totally dreamy. Cute little spot for dining in too. Service was efficient and kind. Casual, but with BOGOs on wine and beer from 4-6, I think it's a good vibe for a casual Friday night date. read more

This is an adorable cafe style restaurant where you order at the counter, and they bring it to your seat. It was amazing to see such fresh and authentic options on display. Everything was so flavorful and satisfying. read more

We have been eating here consistently for a few months now. It is by far the best quality Italian food around. There are actually real Italians making the food. And it really shows. We've eaten just about everything on the menu and everything is spot on delicious. I also am Italian so I know good Italian food. Truly authentic food and quality ingredients at a reasonable price . homemade, the sauce right down to the homemade chocolate chip cookies can't say enough about this place. read more

Tried the new place and was surprised the food was so good! Pricing was a little high, service could be better, beer was warm and the music was like Italian rap . But still would come back. Pizza good read more

Big portions, very authentic taste of Italian food! If you don't look close enough you might drive right by it so keep an eye out for it.