First tome there and we enjoyed it. Great food and service. Very nice experience. Small dining room but very comfortable

A very special moment in time. Marcello, Gus and the team made us feel like the only people in the room. Between the wine list and menu I cannot wait to see what they offer next. Thank you for the genuine hospitality. read more

Another terrific dinner with great staff service and excellent food! Ambience is perfect in a comfortable dining room with limited space- intimate yet entertaining. read more

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Wish I could give him infinite stars. Marcello is the best chef, and his dishes just blow you away. I have had the pleasure of dining here three times now, this time we brought another couple and they can't wait to return. The pasta and his sauces are the best you will find in Sarasota. The dining room is very intimate and the wait service is on point. You can not book a table on line, when you call the phone number, you will most likely get voicemail, just leave your name and information and with any luck, you'll get in. I'm telling you I've been to many fine dining Italian restaurants, this is the best. I had the Papadelle pasta with shrimp and lobster. My husband ordered the Veal Milanese, both dishes perfectly executed and piping hot. I hope you're lucky enough to dine here, it will be an experience that you will not forget. read more

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Marcello Restaurant - Sarasota Absolutely excellent! The food was incredible -- every dish was bursting with flavor and beautifully done. We sat in the wine room, surrounded by an amazing selection of bottles, including some really hard-to-find wines -- such a cool atmosphere! Our waitress Lilly was absolutely wonderful -- friendly, attentive, and made the whole experience even better. You can tell everyone here really cares about what they do. Easily one of the best dining experiences we've had in Sarasota. Can't wait to go back! read more

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I normally do not give bad reviews because anyone can have a bad night. But I feel compelled to share our negative experience. Service was terrible. Ordered a veal dish that was served raw. Marcello took offense that we sent it back. After that we were treated poorly while he catered to apparent regulars. Terrible experience. read more

The food is outstanding. However we were with a few couples and they would not provide separate checks. We all left grumpy after all the computations. Some people did not drink etc etc. when we told the owner of our dissatisfaction, he just smirked read more

This is my favorite Italian restaurant in the state of Florida. I live in Ocala and we drove all the way to Sarasota to celebrate my birthday in this restaurant. We began our dinner with the sweet Italian sausage with broccoli, Robe and the octopus with shaved fennel salad. It was out of this world. Then our dinner entrées were the black grouper with sautéed artichokes and asparagus with a beautiful white wine sauce. My husband had the heritage pork chop With potatoes. Everything is always cooked to perfection. Our waiter Jeff was an excellent source of information. He recommended two great wines, one white and the other was red. I will definitely return to this restaurant. Thanks Marcellos for another great meal. read more

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Rare five star rating but definitely deserves it. Old school Italian food prepared like my Sicilian grandmother cooked. I had lobster fra diablo with homemade pasta. Incredible! Grilled octopus was amazing as appetizer The menu changes constantly based on what fresh ingredients the chef has . Small dining room but spacious as well. Services top notch and a fresh ceaser salad is prepared table side which is a great old style feature! read more

Best restaurant in Sarasota. Tremendous wine list exceptional food. Small restaurant with a great staff its honestly an amazing experience. read more

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Where do I even start?! Marcello's Ristorante is an absolute must when in Sarasota, and one of the most phenomenal meals and experiences I have had in a long time. This is a small restaurant that is beloved, so be sure to call ahead for a reservation as they get booked up weeks in advance. When your friend who is a restaurant owner herself says you HAVE TO dine at Marcello's - you do what you have to do to get a resi. I was happy to snag a cancellation on our first night of vacation. Let me set the scene. This is a lovely Italian restaurant, the old school, white tablecloth kind. There are no physical menus, as they have chalk board menus that change every day. Your server will explain the offerings and then you put in your complete order. Why? Because chef/owner Marchello is behind the counter - which you can see from your seats - cooking every single dish for every single guest. IT IS WILD!!! They do have a physical wine list - which is extensive and filled with options at every price point. In addition to meal specials, they have wine bottle specials. They do not have wine by the glass, only the bottle. But who ever had a problem ordering a bottle of wine to share amongst family? Surely not I. Anyways let's move on to the food. We opted to start with the caesar salad. Do this. They prepare it tableside. I made a joke about one time doing this in Tijuana and our server Luis (I believe was his name) had me make it alongside with him. No easy feat, but this salad was damn good. They make the anchovy paste right there as they prep your order. Have you ever tried to make anchovy paste from scratch mashing anchovies together with garlic while an entire restaurant is watching you? It is no easy task. And as an anchovy girlie this made for the perfect dressing IMO. We also ordered octopus and truffle burrata to share. We were there with my 1.5 year old niece and the server offered to make her a kids pasta, a really sweet gesture that we gladly accepted. Now on to the mains. It was SO HARD to choose. You have a selection of pasta dishes - all made with homemade pappardelle pasta - as well as several entree dishes. My sister and I split the stuffed filet which was filled with some sort of garlic spinach situation and proscuitto wrapped inside of a perfectly cooked filet minion. We also got the short rib pappardelle which was phenomenal. My dad got the lobster, which was huge and outstanding. The portions are massive, yet we found ourselves eating almost everything. It was authentic, flavorful, and a meal I will not soon forget. Dishes range from the $30-40 range, and there are bottles of wine in the $60-80 range going up to $1k+. Again the portions are massive so you can most definitely share. My advice, make a reservation and come hungry so you can enjoy a phenomenal meal. Big thank you to the whole staff as everyone who passed by our table was absolutely delightful. And compliments to chef Marcello, who runs a tremendous dinner service out of this spot. Our server mentioned they had just hit 10 years - no easy feat for a restaurant. Take a visit to Marcello's and you will see why. read more

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Food 5/5 Service 5/5 Ambiance 5/5 Loved everything about this place. The menu options were great, and loved our choices. Perfect for an Italian three course meal. My wife and I had a wonderful date night and will absolutely be back read more

Very simply put, growing up just outside New York City I understand what very good Italian looks like. More than that the dishes are the brainchild of the owner Marcello, who is a one-man show that stands in front of the entire restaurant in the corner and turns out each dish by himself. Handcrafted, Incredibly delicious, and of the highest quality. Best wine list I've seen in Florida with the best prices as it seems as though he marked up each bottle only $20. The homemade parpadelle with truffle, lobster, fraDiavlo, broccoli rabe and sausage, Just can't be beat. read more

Definitely one of the best restaurants in Sarasota. Great ambiance and great food. We celebrated our 25th anniversary and it was a great choice. Absolutely great service also. read more

I was disappointed. I think we had the server that is referenced in the few negative reviews. He never told us his name. Very abrupt and made us feel rushed. No engagement other than describing the food and wine. This was a big miss for me for a $400 tab. My husband raved about his pork chop and our friends also loved their seafood and pasta. The wine menu is incredible and they loved their choices. I had the scallops and was very disappointed. 4 scallops on a small amount of polenta and a few stalks of asparagus. I am gluten free and when I mentioned that our server had no response. I saw what I thought was halibut and that looked amazing. I had regret over my $50 scallops choice. We have another reservation next week that I think we will cancel. read more

As NYC refugees we're always looking for great restaurants. We'd heard great things about Marcello's so we booked a reservation. The service was good, our waiter knowledgeable of menu choices although no one would accuse him of being convivial. We ordered the Tableside Caesar Salad to start & it was excellent. For entrees my husband ordered Shrimp & Lobster Pappardelle & I had Hudson Valley Duck Breast over Porcini Mushroom Ravioli. Disappointing would be the kindest thing I could say. Someone needs to tell the behind the curtain kitchen guys they need to salt the pasta water. The Pappardelle dish was bland & tasteless. The duck breast was rare & tasty but the ravioli was a bit overcooked & tasteless. We took half of each dish home so I could doctor them up. All in all very disappointing. We won't be going back. read more

I had the seafood risotto, side dish, and spinach. It was terrific. My dining partners had a beautiful salmon and a rib dish all done beautifully. Nice wine list all all a great dining experience, quiet, elegant experience. read more

We have been coming here for years and this place now has lost my business. I came here with my Wife, sister-in-law with her husband, and our friend. We all got a nice meal and drank water because I have been drinking a bit too much and they also got water to support me. When we got our check, the whole thing was one check. Informed them how the meals were divided and they said "They don't do that" and was given some attitude with it as well. I also felt like they kept pushing the wine and since we did not order wine, we felt looked down on. A second waiter came over and divided up the check; so they could do that. Something also to note, the last time we came, the waiter was also rude then. I figured he was just having a bad day but unfortunately it looks like it is a new culture here that if you do not spend enough, you are not worth their time. As a side note, the food as a whole was under seasoned. Nothing salt did not fix but at 40$ to 50$ a plate... read more

One of the best dining experiences in Sarasota. Fabulous food, decadent wine list, scrumptious deserts and great service staff. Love the open kitchen so we can watch the magic happen. Magnificent from start to finish. read more

This place is an old school gem that should not be missed. The food and ambiance are terrific and the professional service makes it five star. We sampled the octopus and burrata appetizers and both delish. The tableside caesar pops and my pork chop was thick and perfectly cooked. One thing that sets Marcello's out from the crowd is their exceptional wine list. It is not just the quality of selections but the pricing--- FUGGEDABOUTIT!! This is the kind of place where there is a couple bottles ordered at every table because the wines are priced so generously. I'll be returning. Highly recommended! read more

Marcello's Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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Great experience at Marcello's. The chef and owner was entertaining to watch cook. The service was outstanding as the server was personable and suggestive of dishes based on our preferences. The food had a lot of flavor and pasta was freshly made and cooked to perfection. The ambiance is small and quaint but has personality. Overall, great experience. I'll go back - be sure to call well in advance for reservations. read more

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If you want to be transported to Italy with food, this is the place! I was blown away by the food. They do not have a set menu, so you can stop looking online for one. They create the menu based off of what they buy at the local meat market and fish market so you know the food is fresh. They also make all their pasta in house! They also do a table side Caesar salad. It's a must try. Best Caesar salad I've ever had!!!! I had the shrimp and lobster pasta and was licking the plate clean by the end of the night. The owner is very nice and easy to talk to and makes sure everyone is enjoying their meal. We had a large group and were taken care of perfectly! They kept the wine flowing and the appetizers coming. I can't wait to come back here for dinner again! read more

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An amazing atmosphere, cozy, and comfortable vibe at Marcello's. Make sure you book your reservation in advance, and come hungry! Marcello is easily visible throughout the Ristorante, manning the kitchen for all of the orders. The wait staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and you are sure to have a great time. The menu is rolled to your table on a chalkboard, with plenty of options including fresh fish, farm produce and meats for all of your Italian cuisine desires! Highly recommend Marcello's. read more

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Marcello and his staff are high-level experienced restaurateurs- not only in food quality, but service is nothing short of amazing. The wine cellar is incredible and his classic Italian culinary dishes are top level. read more

Wow! What a pleasant surprise. Daily menu, cool casual atmosphere, chef owner, reasonably priced. Sarasota has plenty of Italian options, Marcellos shouldn't be overlooked. The menu changes daily and you won't be disappointed. We started the night with the grilled octopus. Fantastic. If you check my reviews. I frequently order octopus. We also order the Caesar salad. One of the best I've had. But the star if the show was the lobster fra diavlo. Spicy and tender. Don't let the strip mall location fool you. Marcellos is well worth it Bahamian Lobster read more

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Great service, cute place, good food. They made me a special pasta dish I requested and it was delicious. read more

Marcello's Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Incredible food prepared by Marcello himself w/huge portions, great service & unique wines! What's not to love? Take your special someone there, but make reservations or you may not get in the door! read more

The food is excellent!! Everything is cooked to order by Marcello himself. Local seafood, fresh meats, duck, homemade pasta, top notch ingredients! It's small and intimate, only 8 tables with an "extensive" wine selection. The wait staff were amazing as well. We did not have a reservation, which is required, but were lucky enough to be seated at a bar watching Marcello cook all meals. You'll not be disappointed!! read more

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Best restaurant in town! Food is exceptional from daily blackboard menu. Chef Marcello right out front cooking each meal to order. Fabulous wine selection at great prices. Very attentive service. Fun atmosphere; an experience! read more

Marcello's is a perfect spot to go for excellent food and romantic dinner vibes all of the food is top notch. Each time we do the food is great and consistent Doesn't disappoint. Reserve in advance My favorite in Sarasota read more

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Larry jaffe here, I'm new to the Sarasota area, but a foodie nevertheless!just had my 3rd visit to marchellos last evening! I'm pretty well traveled & a wino of 40 years! I was like a kid in a candy store, trying to digest the PHENOMENAL list of brunello! , a 2016 caught my eye!& I ordered what might have been the ABSOLUTE BEST veal Milanese, in my 50 plus years of great Italian dinners, the plate was barely big enough to contain the perfectly cooked (bone-in) chop,w baby arugula & great homemade pasta! I've heard a few stories that marchellos is a bit pricy! FOLKS! IT AINT TRUE!, chef marchellos is a "ONE MAN GANG" If, and I said IF , you can snag a reservation!, it s not just dinner, it's an EXPERIENCE, not to be missed! GO THERE! NUFF SAID! read more

Outstanding Italian restaurant. Small, cozy space so be sure to get reservations as it fills up fast. Great food, outstanding wine list, perfect food and solid and knowledgeable staff. read more

Chef-owned restaurant with truly professional wait staff. Fabulous menu, preparation and service. It is small and requires a reservation. Call two or three weeks ahead! The pounded veal chop with arugula is delicious and there is always a variety of seafood and meat entrees as well as pasta to die for. It is cozy but not quiet. The menu is new every day. One of the region's best restaurants. read more

Superb! It is a small place, owner-chef run. Service, food, wine, EVERYTHING was excellent. Called on a Tuesday and was lucky to get in same day due to a cancellation. My friends and I look forward to going back soon! read more

Love Marcello and his restaurant. He's the chef and runs the show - love it! We sat at the bar and it was the perfect place for us since we love to chat it up, see what Marcello is cooking, and have our eyes on the whole place. It's a small place so make sure you call in for reservations. Fantastic wine list and the food is out of this world. There is no shortage of Truffle here and worth every cent. The pasta is hand made and all cooked to perfection. The Burrata and Octopus dishes are a must have for appetizers and Osso Bucco and Ravioli was spectacular. Now we can't eat like this every night (even though we'd love to), but we'll be back soon enough and bring more friends. Excellent service and you will have a fantastic time. read more

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Such a great find! The chef owner Marcello was trained in Italy and his food is nothing short of amazing! The waiter explains each dish in detail and your head just spins. I wanted each and every appetizer! And the entrees...so delicious! They also have quite a wonderful wine selection. Over all- you won't be disappointed when you come here and it won't be the last time you go there either! A Sarasota gem! read more

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Small but mighty. The restaurant is owned by a chef who runs the kitchen almost single handed. Food was delicious if you're hoping for Italian bread with dinner they don't serve it. read more

EXCELLENT!! Warm greeting, friendly menu guidance, very prompt and timely service....perfect. Caesar salad, octopus, short ribs, sea bass, and tiramisu.. everything was just right and delicious. We loved it. Thank YOU! read more

Great professional service, really cool to see the chef cooking from your table. Food was amazing and you can taste the freshness and quality of the food. read more

We dined for the first time with friends. The short rib pasta was wonderful. Portions were large. The lobster was good, but a bit over spiced. I really like spice but not to the degree where it makes my nose run while I am eating or in lobster dish. The service was not what it should be. When we were ready to order, we were told we need to place our entire order at one time because there is only one chef. I understand, but it was the way it was instructed to us. Could have been mentioned ahead of time with no attitude. Steve appeared to be disinterested or to busy. Very abrupt. We tried to get his attention several times as he walked by but he didn't notice us. We had to ask for more water. When the bill came, he brought it without asking if we would be splitting the bill. The bottle of wine we were taking home needed a bag and we had to ask another server for a bag to put it in. The service made us all feel disregarded. This seems to be a theme as I read other reviews. With so many other choices, not sure I would go back again. read more