From the moment we walked in, this place made our anniversary feel truly special. The staff didn't just acknowledge it--they celebrated it. From thoughtful touches to genuine kindness, every detail showed that they actually cared about the experience we were having, not just the meal. The service was warm, attentive, and never overbearing. We felt welcomed, appreciated, and honestly spoiled in the best way. It's rare to find a restaurant that goes out of its way to create a moment, but this team absolutely did. The food was fantastic, the atmosphere was perfect for a special occasion, and the extra effort they made turned a nice dinner into a memory we'll always remember. If you're celebrating something important--or just want to feel taken care of--this is the place. We'll definitely be back. Thank you for making our anniversary unforgettable. read more

Mesa de Notte - When we arrived, a Happy Anniversary card was on the table. At the end of the meal, they brought out 2 little cheesecake desserts. - Italian Near Me - Ocala, Florida

Perfect service. Great food. Classy but not pretentious. Reserved early for peak times. read more

Anticipating a busy Valentine's Day dinner on Saturday, my wife and I decided to "observe" Valentine's the day prior with an early dinner at Mesa de Notte. We made a reservation for 3 PM but when we arrived, it didn't look like a reservation was needed since there were a few empty tables. Our server presented us their menu, with a Valentine's Day special menu insert. We already checked out their menu online so we pretty much knew what we wanted to order. We started with the Calamari Fritto ($17). Reading how their Maiale Osso Buco ($32) is their standout menu item, that's what I ordered. My wife was going to order off the regular menu but pivoted to the Ravioli di Aragosta ($35) upon seeing the special menu. We were served freshly baked rolls topped with toasted garlic and accompanied by an olive oil dipping sauce. That was yummy. The calamari was well prepared, flavorful, tender and not rubbery. My wife liked her ravioli, commenting how the pasta was perfectly cooked. It was accompanied by 5 pieces of large shrimp. My dish lived up to the billing as their best dish! One of the wait staff even commented how it's the best dish on the menu. Tender and juicy meat accompanied by creamy, well seasoned risotto. The portions were also quite generous that I had to take some leftovers home. Oh yeah, like any good restaurant, the wait staff puts your leftovers in a container instead of diners having to do so themselves. Always appreciated! Service was on point and the ambience was equally nice...although located along Silver Springs Blvd/Hwy 40, traffic noise can be heard inside. Dinner for 2 came out to just under $120 with tip. We'll be back. read more

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I think this might be the best Italian restaurant I've ever had the pleasure of visiting. We had reservations for 5:45 and when we arrived, waters and menus were set up on the table. James was our waiter with lots of helpful suggestions. I got the Italian martini and my husband got the Godfather. We liked each other's drinks so much, we ended up ordering another round and switching drinks. The bread was hot and delicious. There were people walking around and filling waters. We ordered the tuna appetizer with mango salsa and it was fresh and delectable. The eggplant and fettuccine Alfredo were incredible. My husband loved his cannoli dish he ordered. I got a peanut butter martini for dessert. Truly a memorable night! read more

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They have fine dining and very relaxing atmosphere. The staff are very attentive to your needs. Excellent food always.

We had an all round delightful experience. The food, server and atmosphere were amazing

Kudos to the chef and his staff on Italian food done right. Kudos to our server Joshua who exceeded our every need from a wonderful greeting to a sincere completion and everything in between. We were so impressed that we had to share our complete experience with owner Julian. We can wait for our next evening & adventure to Mesa de Notte. Ohyeah! dsatchmo.com read more

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A significant level above the usual pizza and Italian places - much needed in Ocala. Nice atmosphere, attentive service and tasty food. The burata appetizer was good. My wife had chicken scarpariello - a dish that you don't often find. I had the veal special which was very good. The gelato bombe was an excellent way to finish the meal. read more

Kristy, she was the best server at a great restaurant. 12 golf buddies and all the loudness, but she got everything right , remembered every drink and had a ear to ear smile the whole time. Thank you for a great evening. read more

Best food here in the Villages, price is a little high, but worth every penny. This is my favorite restaurant in the Villages

We had such a good experience in January so we went back in February. Parking was pretty easy. You can park in the front or back of the restaurant. Food was good overall. Service was good I thought until I learned that they charged us $7 extra for splitting a dish. That was a disappointing to find out after we got home. First, I only asked for an extra dish to share and the waiter never told about the extra charge in advance. Eating $19 dish and to pay $7 to split is nonsense. We were served by a guy who has been there for seven years, that was a dick move. Also seafood pasta I had today, linguine was overcooked. read more

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Fantastic service and delish food. Food came out fast and correct. Special app was really yummy. Deserts were great too! read more

Party of 12. Went off without a hitch. Great food & great service as always. Heading there again for date night with the Mrs.

They have not failed yet. Another great meal with fabulous service! Definitely worth the trip!

Another great private family event at Mesa de Notte! From the warm rolls with pesto to the desserts, everything was perfect. The ambiance and the private room are great as well. The server, James, didn't miss a beat for our entire party of 15 people. He not only had a great attitude but was so wonderful in every way! Thank you Julian for everything!! P.S. You know we will be back soon! Grade A+++ read more

Third time here and the place continues to shine. We've tried several Italian restaurants in town and this place is the best. Pricing is excellent for the quality you get. If you haven't tried this place, you should read more

Had another wonderful dinner with my wife last night at this impeccable restaurant. The chef's skills are incredible leaving a taste in my mouth that I want to experience over and over again! read more

Mesa de Notte - Italian Near Me - Ocala, Florida

Came here with my beautiful Wife and beloved Daughter and we absolutely loved this place and their delicious food. The Piccata Chicken was incredible and the calamari was to die for. Very good food and just amazing experience overall. We'll definitely be coming back soon in the near future. read more

Food and service was incredible! Literally a perfect dinner. Service was great. Always there for refills. Deserts were to die for!!! read more

Mesa de Notte - Italian Near Me - Ocala, Florida

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Best Italian food I've ever had!! Exceptional service as well. The servers are all impeccably dressed. Very professional restaurant. We live in Maine but make it a point to have dinner there every time we go to Ocala. read more

My wife and I are visiting from out of town, and our friends wanted to take us to their favorite Italian restaurant in Ocala: Mesa de Notte. Now, I know why it is their favorite. The atmosphere is elegant, the wait staff is friendly and attentive, and the food is absolutely delicious. I ordered the Scarpariello (a tasty plate of chicken with Italian sausage, mushrooms, pepperoncini, onions and olives over capellini), and my wife ordered the Saltimbocca (veal with prosciutto in a white wine sauce). For dessert, we enjoyed an Affogato. We can't fault a thing. A wonderful dinner experience. read more

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Went out with friends and had a fantastic time. For a large room the noise level was reasonable. The service was great considering how busy it was. The food was delicious and cooked to perfection! Looking forward to our next visit. read more

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Food and service were wonderful. We sat in front of the front door on a cold windy night. It was uncomfortable every time people left or came in. read more

The best Italian food and prices in Ocala ! We go almost every Friday night. The staff is always so nice and always stop by our table to say hello read more

Table was waiting, server was very friendly and efficient. It wasn't too noisy and our family was able to talk to each other. Nice atmosphere. The food was wonderful and reasonably priced. Highly recommend Mesa de Notte. read more

We chose this restaurant to celebrate a very special moment in our lives and picked it because we thought it was upscale. It wants to be upscale and tries with dark furniture and nicely uniformed servers, but it's just average inside. Water is pre-poured and sitting in glasses on empty tables just ready for the next customer. Patrons come in wearing shorts and flip flops and wearing ball caps. Servers stand by the kitchen door and talk about EVERYTHING within earshot of their customers. The host barely smiled and spent most of his time watching a soccer game at the bar. Crumbs are not wiped off the tables between courses, which leads me to the only picture I took - the bruschetta appetizer. The bread was so hard that, when cut, a piece of it flew across the table. Lots of crumbs that stayed with us throughout our meal. There are no tablecloths, so the varnished tabletop would have been simple to clean off. Still, the bruschetta was good - not the very best we've had, but good. The Parmesan risotto was delicious, although very salty. The salad was huge for $6 and the Caesar dressing didn't taste too "fishy" and had just the right amount of spice. The chicken Parmesan was nondescript, it was good but there were no components that set it apart from any other. I guess breaded and fried chicken with red sauce and what looked like a slice of cheese on top is pretty much the same everywhere. It was a huge portion for $24. Overall, we had a good meal; however, it's not a fancy restaurant at all. read more

Mesa de Notte - Bruschetta, $15 - Italian Near Me - Ocala, Florida

Excellent food and service at reasonable prices. This is our favorite restaurant in ocala. The food is consistently good no matter what we order. When we have company, they always love this place also. read more

Always a great experience. Easy to reserve a table. Julian and the staff are so very welcoming and polite. The food is never a disappointment! We always have a tough time choosing what to eat as we have never had a meal that was not great. Osso Bucco is delicious. Spaghetti and Lasagna are incredible. read more

Mesa de Notte - Brown sugar Salmon and delicious Risotto - Italian Near Me - Ocala, Florida

If you're looking for a restaurant that delivers great food, a welcoming vibe, and an experience that feels genuinely special, Mesa de Notte is absolutely worth your time. We'll be back--no question. read more

Really loved the service and ambiance here. The moment you walked in, the restaurant smelled amazing and you were warmly greeted. I'd give my dish a 9/10. I got the Spaghetti al Bosco. read more

Mesa de Notte - Spaghetti al Bosco - Italian Near Me - Ocala, Florida

Food was fresh and hot good taste service was excellent and friendly reservation s recommended

My father was Italian, I grew up eating homemade Italian dishes and I have never been disappointed at Mesa de Note. The staff make it a point to know you, to acknowledge you. It really feels like family... Every time! The only problem I ever have is deciding which delicious dish to try this time! read more

Moved to Citrus County over a year and a half ago. Was searching for a good Italian restaurant for over a year. Friends in Ocala invited us up for dinner at Mesa de Notte one evening. We've now been there two more times, and the food and service has always been excellent! We've finally discovered that great Italian restaurant that seemed elusive for over a year! Great find and highly recommended! read more

We finally stopped in here after running errands. We have been very frugal so we can piss our money on home repairs instead of delicious food lol. With so many restaurants closing lately, I said no we have to go in, even if just for a drink! After living in FL 10+ years, I still miss the amazing Italian food. We decided to sit at the bar. The bar is small and luckily, we were the only patrons sitting there. The restaurant was packed though. We were acknowledged quickly but the bartenders were crazy busy so it took a couple minutes to place our drink order. No biggie. I wanted a glass of wine and we didn't have menus when we placed the order so I went with Riesling because I saw that in the bar fridge. I actually went on Yelp to try to find a drink menu or wine list and saw they have my favorite red wine, Montepulciano! I chose that for my second glass of wine. We were not planning on eating but we gave in and opted for an appetizer. Our bartender was super friendly and attentive but I cannot recall her name unfortunately. Even the owner stopped by the bar and greeted us. I think he was busy cooking in the kitchen. We ordered the antipasto and it was massive! We expected maybe half the size! I usually stay away from peppers but I could not resist! Everything on that plate was so flavorful and we were actually very full. The bill was not too bad. 4 drinks and an appetizer was about $50. We definitely plan on returning and will try some pasta. read more

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Food was excellent. Well prepared and displayed. Service was prime and cordially professional. The space was very pleasant and comfortable.

This place is great! This was our 1st visit and the food and service was amazing! We will be back! The restaurant is very peaceful inside with loud music or noise. Just a peaceful dinner for two. Loved every minute of it. read more

This is probably the best Italian restaurant im Ocala. Food is always fantastic...service impeccable and atmosphere is calm and relaxing. It is good for singles,couples and groups. Highly recommended! read more

The food was a great experience , waitress, and setting. Art was also a selling point.

Food is absolutely delicious and prepared well. Service is wonderful! The ambiance is very pleasant.

I did get an answer from my review and I did appreciate the feedback and the comp on desserts. I will br back for another try. I was just so dissaointed in our meal and service. Just the way it all happened and my husband couldn't eat his dinner because I had no dinner. He did take his home and it was delicious. We will be back but again we will order our good in steps so it doesn't all come out at the same time. Sincerely Dorinda read more