Charming place with relaxed Mediterranean vibe! Love their upstairs dining area with vines on the ceiling and cozy corners for groups! We tried their pizza and pasta ... and we overate because they were so good! Service was impeccable! read more

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Okkkkay... five stars is simply NOT enough. The service? 10/10. The food quality? 10/10. The drinks? 10/10. The ambiance? 10/10. The overall experience? OBSESSED. We asked our server for recommendations, and every suggestion was spot-on. We loved our appetizer, and our main courses were incredible. I had the tagliatelle, my husband had the branzino, and WOW, both were absolutely delicious. Our server was so kind, attentive, and genuinely made the whole experience even better. My only feedback would be on adding some indoor shading because I felt very warm with the sun beating down through the window but whatever- it's Florida. Everything from the food to the drinks to the service was just chef's kiss. I left already thinking about when I could come back. read more

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Osteria 500 was a really nice lunch stop for us after a morning spent exploring Sarasota with the kids. We had gone to a nearby park, walked around the lake, and ended up here on a Thursday around 12:15pm. It was pretty quiet, and we were seated right away. The kids wanted to sit inside since they were hot from being outside, though I would've preferred the covered patio--it looked really inviting. Service was very good. Our waiter was kind and attentive, and especially patient with the kids, which stood out in a good way. He took their orders directly and handled everything with a lot of care and politeness. The only real hiccup was with the kids' pizza. I asked if it was shareable or more personal-sized and was told it was small, but we ended up with two full-sized pizzas. Not a big deal at home, but while traveling it was a bit much to deal with leftovers. That said, the food was excellent. The bread was some of the best I've had--fresh, warm, and really memorable--and the olive oil and balsamic were just as good. I had the spaghetti with burrata, which was outstanding and a very generous portion. I ended up taking enough home for lunch the next day. The kids loved their pizza, and overall everything felt authentic and well done. I'd definitely recommend it and would go back. read more

Osteria 500 - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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My husband and I go to Osteria500 often and have always loved the food and service. This visit started off a little rocky--we had a 6:30 reservation for indoor dining but were seated on the patio. My husband explained our reservation to the hostess, but even after she checked with others at the front, they wouldn't accommodate our indoor seating request. Thankfully, our waiter, Adrian, listened and worked with Adam to get us moved inside quickly. We were so grateful to both of them for taking care of us and turning the evening around! The food was delicious as always! Sharing a few pictures of what we ordered, although I forgot to take one of the affogato--it was delicious too. We'll definitely keep coming back to try more of the menu. Thank you again, Adrian and Adam! read more

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Had a great experience at Osteria 500. I got the tartufo pizza and my wife had to posters pasta. The food came out quickly and service was excellent. The vibe and ambiance was really really cool. We will be back! read more

Osteria 500 - Pizza PZ Tartufo - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Absolutely beautiful, delicious food, great and knowledgeable staff and great live entertainment! The location is great! The view is beautiful and we cannot wait to be back!! We visit often from DC and will make this our to go spot from now on! Can't wait to be back! read more

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Had Saltimbocca di Pollo and though it was excellent, chicken texture was a bit rubbery. I'm sure it was real chicken but it had appearance of fake chicken breast. Otherwise a very tasty meal! read more

The service was wonderful, and the décor is beautiful--lots of unique vintage pieces, including a car converted into an oven, which was really cool to see. Unfortunately, the food didn't quite live up to the price. While it wasn't bad, it felt overpriced for what was offered. The cured cheese and meat board was nearly $30 and seemed like something that could be purchased separately for less and with more variety. The focaccia mortadella pizza was very bread-heavy, with no sauce making quite dry. The Regina pizza was overly oily and watery to the point of dripping. While the Ortolana pizza was good it was much sweeter than expected. Overall, we did have a great time and enjoyed the atmosphere, but the food didn't justify the cost for us, so it's not a place I would return to. read more

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First, the ambiance was terrific. The decor and uniforms all went together in way that drew me into the restaurant. My bartender was great and offer great recommendations for food. I will definitely make it back here. read more

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Perfect venue for an Italian-themed baby shower! Food, service, atmosphere could not have been better! read more

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A cool vibe with a beautiful view and the food was excellent. When the gnocchi arrived I thought the portion was small....but I couldn't even finish it! It was flavorful. The cocktails were fantastic! read more

Osteria 500 - Bar and DJ - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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We enjoyed lunch outside on the covered patio. We waited for 15 minutes to place a drink order & then that took a very long time. Not sure if it was the waiter or the bar but it was only a glass of wine & every time I ordered one, it took a long time & the place wasn't THAT busy but whatever. My husband had the special bean soup which was filling & good. He then got a chicken caesar salad & didn't care for the dressing which was not a normal caesar dressing. I got the Regina pizza which was great. Also, the focaccia bread with the tasting oil that they give you is real good. I'd go back definitely as the pasta's on the menu sound real good! read more

Osteria 500 - Regina pizza - light & tasty - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

We had a very disappointing experience. The pizza and bread arrived ice cold. The first pizza was so bad that we sent it back. The manager told us he would give us 50% off, which we appreciated, so we ordered a plain cheese pizza instead. When the check came, however, we were charged 50% off the original pizza that had been sent back and then full price for the replacement pizza. Maybe there was a misunderstanding, but it was confusing and not what we expected based on the conversation we had. What made the experience worse was the service. Throughout the meal, we felt like we were an inconvenience for bringing up legitimate concerns, even though we remained polite and respectful the entire time. Unfortunately, between the cold food, poor handling of the issue, and unfriendly service, we won't be returning. read more

Local resident. This has been my favorite restaurant the patio is beautiful and the food is great. I was so disappointed the last time I went. There were box fans on the patio, and I could not hear my friends talking over the noise. The service has also gotten increasingly worse. It took the bar probably 12-15 minutes to bring out glasses of wine. We waited about 40 minutes to pay our check. The waitress couldn't leave our wine or food menu on the table (we asked to keep one) because she said that they did not have enough??? She also seemed to be one of maybe 3 waiters working for prime dinner time (reservations were for 6:45). I really hope they fix the noise level and their service because I would love to recommend the food, but if you are at Waterside you can get way better service at any of these restaurants right next door. read more

I recently visited Osteria 500 through a friend recommendation. This restaurant is located in the Lakewood Ranch area. There are a lot of shops and restaurants to explore. It's the perfect location to stroll around on a beautiful day! Upon entering the restaurant, you immediately feel like you've been transported to Italy. From lemons hanging on the wall to the Vespa and gelato stand, this restaurant has a lot of Italian charm. There is a beautiful outdoor patio with the view of a lake. The first floor has a large open bar area with additional seating. The second floor also has a decent amount of seating. I would highly recommend arriving early, especially for a large group because this place gets hopping by 7pm! You can only make a reservation for 8 or more people. Some of our stand out appetizers include the fried zucchini flowers, fried gnocchi, and calamari. These dishes had big servings! All of the appetizers had fresh ingredients. Our table didn't leave any leftovers, so that says a lot. A decent amount of us ordered the chicken saltimbocca, veal scallopini, and pizza! We enjoyed our entrees very much. The entrees had potatoes and a vegetable on the side. Of course, you need to finish off a meal with dessert. We all shared the cheesecake and limoncello cake. Absolutely amazing! Some of our company ordered a cappuccino to pair with the dessert. I can definitely understand why my friends recommended Osteria. I will definitely be back when visiting the area! Thanks for the meal and service. read more

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Our food and drinks were delicious. Ravioli was so good. My drink was pretty and tasty. Our server was personable. We sat outside and had a lovely view. read more

Osteria 500 - Ravioli Burrata Pistacchio, - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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Very disappointed after wanting to try this place for so long. Had the Gnocco Fritto as an appetizer and it was the most flavorless thing I've ever ordered. Wife had eggplant Parmesan with a side of spaghetti which she also said was pretty bland. I ordered the 22-24oz ribeye ordered at medium. At first glance great presentation but entirely too small of a platter to eat it off of. The first bite I had was absolutely delicious. It had a great crust to it and extremely flavorful. However diving into the steak the thing was still mooing. Very much prepared rare and still don't understand how a place charging $70 plus for a steak doesn't have chefs that know how to cook a steak to temperature. I let it go and had a few more bites but just couldn't stomach it anymore. Decided to not complain and instead take it home and throw it on my grill the next day for lunch and for it to a proper internal temperature. The waiter was super nice and brought us our drinks pretty rapidly but also seemed a bit confused on where to put anything on the small two top table. My wife asked for her eggplant Parmesan and side of spaghetti to be boxed up so she could also have it the next day and the waiter did not return with the eggplant. She was surprised to only see her spaghetti in the to go container the next day. A one and done experience at a semi pricey place and a huge disappointment to the Waterside restaurant scene read more

Osteria 500 - Great presentation of the steak meal but entirely too small to work with - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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Great spot! Fun atmosphere with excellent food! The gnoccho fritto starter was very unique and I really enjoyed the avocado Caesar salad! They had a pesto risotto special the night I was there and it was delicious! Carmine, our server, was an absolute delight! read more

Excellent service, unique ambiance. This is a great location for a date night. The staff are friendly and the pizza is amazing. read more

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We've eaten here a few times now and every time the service has been phenomenal, and the food tastes great. I absolutely love the rustic interior and beautiful outdoor deck! Strongly recommend trying their brunch! read more

Finally went here today. I want to start with the positive. Service was fantastic. We went there for lunch. The restaurant itself is beautiful.! My food was not so great. I got the Scaloppine Al Limone, it was so overcooked that I was sawing through it with my knife and shaking the whole table. Very disappointed . read more

Myself and my family (party of 5) visited osteria 500 on a Thursday evening. The ambiance of the outdoor seating was 10/10, live saxophone player and plenty of people around creating a lively atmosphere. Our service was mid-tier, he honestly seemed bothered to be there and didn't know the specials which was kind of annoying. The food was also lacklustre, I enjoyed my pistachio styled pasta but my family members who ordered a mixture of pasta and pizza dishes were not impressed, one person ordered the seafood pasta and it was marked on the menu as spicy and it was anything but. Similarly I ordered a spicy margarita and it was more bitter than spicy. Overall we had a lovely evening but the restaurant wasn't anything to write home about. read more

Osteria 500 - Calamarata con crema di burrata al pistachio & salciccia - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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We're local, year-round residents and have dined at Osteria 500 about twice a month, which makes this experience especially telling. Our meal had just begun and was already disjointed (dishes arriving far apart and one missing shaved Parmesan). Then a glass fell and shattered from a table behind and across from us, sending shards directly onto our table and into our food and drinks. At that point, between the service issues and literal glass in the meal, we no longer felt comfortable eating there. Accidents happen, what followed shouldn't. The glass wasn't fully cleaned up from the floor or our table, and nearby tables (including families with children seated next to and behind us) were never warned their food could also be contaminated. We were told our bill would be discounted "according to what was eaten," despite us stopping the meal once the contamination occurred. What makes this harder to understand: for the earlier service issue (timing and missing Parmesan), comp desserts were offered. Not something we asked for. But food and drinks with glass in them were not fully removed from the bill. That contrast pretty much says everything. This situation should have ended with us paying only for uncontaminated items like our drinks and appetizers from the beginning of the meal. Instead, only a token amount was taken off. Between the incident and how it was handled, we won't be returning. Accidents happen; the response is what defines the experience and this was not a good experience. read more

Little Italy comes to Lakewood Ranch. I frequent Florida several times a year to see family. Growing up in New York and being Italian, I am always looking for a legitimate Italian restaurant. Few and far between in the south that's for sure. Although there are a few in the Sarasota area, I was very pleased to find this establishment. Service overall was outstanding. I could give it a negative shot because it was a little bit slow in the beginning. However, that's the price you pay when you go to a very good restaurant. Waiter with helpful and accommodating to our needs. The food was simply put, amazing. The pizza was good. The Bolognese was incredible in the ambience was wonderful. This is a must go to place if you're in the area. It's worth the wait and the hassle to find parking. read more

We have gone numerous trips to our ITALIAN GO TO PLACE in the Sarasota area. Plan to have a wait, unless you made a reservation. FOOD is legit, with Pasta perfectly cooked, fresh ingredients and desserts that will remind you of Rome. The staff is consistently OUTSTANDING, well versed in the menu and many are from Italy or NY, so they know they are serving quality stuff. It does get a bit noisy, as all real italian places will, so if you are planning a business meeting, go elsewhere. Otherwise, BEST ITALIAN in the region!! read more

This was a very tough score for me to decide. As 9/10 of my experience earned them five stars and 1/10 of my experience earn them a one star rating. I'll start off by saying that the service was excellent! From the greeting we received when we first walked in to the server who took great care of us at our table. Because it was a beautiful day in Lakewood Ranch, we decided to sit outdoors and we're really glad we did. The seating was comfortable and the view was magnificent. Our server immediately greeted us ask us for our drink order and offered suggestions to our questions about the menu of food items. There were three of us for this meal, and we decided to share the Tortino de parmigiana as an appetizer. Basically it could be considered an eggplant lasagna. It was absolutely delicious. Served with a crust, and there was not a single piece of anything left in the plate when we were through. For entrées, we ordered the Spaghetti Osteria, Salsiccia In Padella and the Milanese de Pollo. OMG, every dish was spectacular and delicious. They were all served hot and seemed not to wait underneath a heat lamp after they were completed. It was my mother's birthday and they provided a complementary cannoli, which also didn't have a chance of escaping us. It too was absolutely delicious and we enjoyed it with 2 cups of coffee and a cappuccino. I have to admit that I usually have a little bit of milk in my coffee , but decided to try their coffee black in hopes that it would be a delicious cup of coffee. I was not disappointed, my coffee was absolutely one of the best cups of black coffee I have ever enjoyed. This was my first visit here, and I am truly glad that I finally had the opportunity for their outstanding experience. Now comes the part that they should be given only one star. As I mentioned earlier, we were sitting outside next to the bus stand. The bus person cleared the table of some other guests, not too far from us and brought their food to the bus stand And placed a napkin over two dishes that were obviously meant to be put in to go containers. It was a bit windy out there on that day and the napkin blew off. Now comes the disgusting part, the birds that were flying around all came in for their buffet. They feasted on the one dish with the gnocchi in it, as well as the other dish with the spaghetti in it. The gnocchi they would put it in their mouth and fly away, but the spaghetti they would perch on the side of the bowl and eat the spaghetti out of the bowl. If this food was in fact ready to be discarded, it would not have been so bad, but then a server came up to the bus stand and emptied the rest of the two plates into to go boxes, wrap them up and brought them out to the table that they came from. I tried to follow where they were going, but lost the server as it was kind of busy and I did not see where the food was placed. That was probably one of the most disgusting scenes I have ever witnessed. So my advice is yes yes yes you should go there to eat, but if you sit outside and want to take home leftover food, I ask the server to bring you a to go box and you box it up yourself. read more

Osteria 500 - Milanese Di Pollo - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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Food, service and walking through the door gives you an experience of being at a sea side Italian restaurant in Capri. Outdoor covered patio stunning. The Bronzino was amazingly fresh and flavorful., pasta is all homemade and the veal scallopini, tender and flavorful and avocado Caesar salad was uniquely delicious. Everything we've had there has always been top-notch great wines as well and cocktails. read more

Awesome restaurant, we made reservations and the sat us immediately. Once we sat down watching the sunset from inside this beautiful restaurant was amazing. The food was good but I have to tell you the pizza sucked, why would a place this awesome make such a horrible pizza. Zero flavor and very boring. The pasta was good, the salad we got was good and the focaccia bread was absolutely amazing. I still don't understand why a place this nice would make such a horrible pizza. I will say the crust was really good but the sauce and the cheese and even the pepperoni was just blah. If you're in the mood for pizza this is not the place for you. If you want a really nice restaurant that's absolutely beautiful inside and has an amazing view then you found the right place. read more

We've been to Osteria twice now and it was OK. They don't take reservations, but that's understandable. On our most recent visit, three of us arrived at 6PM on a Friday. We had a long wait for an inside table so opted for an outside table which was OK. They had fans blowing out there which helped, but the sun getting lower in the sky, was a problem. Overall it is a very nice place but would much rather have been inside. Service was decent but not exceptional. They pizza I had was good, not great. It was a pretty light crush, perhaps too light. My wife ordered a pasta dish with clams and mussels. Some of them were not cooked, but they quickly rectified that. There are some nice beers on tap and an exten$ive wine list. With all the great choices in the area, we won't be hurrying back. read more

Osteria 500 - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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I stopped by for my birthday last week and everything was great, the did let me sit next to the window after I said that I loved the views to the lake, food was delicious as always but the server this time was a little lost with the order, nothing big with my food or anyone's of my party, but our appetizers came out at the same time as our entrees read more

The ambiance has much to offer. The outside deck overlooks the water and there is a charming bar and music in the evenings. The inside is quaint and is visually appealing. There is usually a wait as they do not accept reservations. Pups are allowed outside which is nice. The service is good but very slow. I'm not sure if they are adequately staffed all around but expect to spend time on getting your orders placed and delivered. Our server was pleasant and had a nice demeanor although was busy all the time. The food was most excellent I have to say and authentically prepared. If the service had not been so lacking in timing and delivery I would have given all 5 stars. read more

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The sandwiches/paninis all have a severe shortage of meat. I would not get one again. The pistachio pasta is still delicious. Service is not what it used to be. Neither is the hibiscus margarita. The outdoor patio is still nice enough to lure me back on occasion. read more

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One of my absolute favorite places in Lakewood Ranch!!! All pastas are home made and al dente, some of the best I've ever had. Osteria transports you to the Italian countryside, complete with a Vespa gelato stand and old car pizza oven! My favorite dish is the Fusilloni con crema di burrata Al pistachio & Salsicca, which has such a unique blend of flavors. Our service is always impeccable, even on the terrace upstairs. read more

Osteria 500 - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

This upscale pizza pasta restaurant recently opened In the new Waterside Place in Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota. We came at 5 pm on a Thursday during the Winter. They don't take reservations. There was a wait at 6;30 when we left. There is a full bar menu. We had an Aperil Spritzer which was a nice size and delicious The menu included appetizers, pastas, pizzas, salads and panini sandwiches. For an appetizer we tried the fried calamari and a serving of focaccia bread. The calamari was good and it included some fried artichoke hearts as well. The focaccia bread was more like a naan bread, tasty but not focaccia. We both had the pasta with pistachio cream and sausage. This dish was different and good. But the pasta was too al dente. Needed to be cooked more. The prices are high as is everywhere in Lakewood Ranch. The food is filling so we did not have dessert. read more

Osteria 500 - Pistachio pasta - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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My in-laws who live in Lakewood Ranch invited us to join them for dinner at Osteria 500. This restaurant is located in Waterside in Lakewood Ranch. We arrived early, at 5pm on a Thursday, as per my in-laws request. They were concerned that the restaurant would be extremely crowded with a long wait if we went later in the evening. Actually, to their surprise, when we arrived the restaurant was empty. They have been here many times and say it gets extremely crowded. Unfortunately, this restaurant does not take reservations. We started with cocktails and I ordered the Aperol Spritz and it was $14 which is a bit pricey. But It was a decent size drink! For appetizers my husband and I ordered the Fried Calamari with crispy artichokes. Although it was a nice size order, I thought there were a lot of the tentacles in this dish and the tubes I ate I found to be chewy. (I completely forgot to take a picture). We also ordered the Focaccia. This is served like a pizza. I thought it was tasty and enjoyed it. For dinner I ordered : CALAMARATA CON CREMA DI BURRATA AL PISTACCHIO & SALSICIA... large pasta rings, with burrata cheese & pistachio cream and house-made sausage I thought it was delicious but I personally would've preferred the pasta to be cooked more. It is served undercooked (which I knew from reading reviews). I thought I'd like it but it tasted a bit raw to me. When this dish is served it's deceiving! It doesn't look like a large portion but the dish is deep! I actually couldn't finish it. My husband ordered the same dish as me and felt the same. My in-laws shared the following pasta and a pizza : PAPPARDELLE MAMMA MIA... pappardelle wide fettuccine with speck, porcini mushrooms and truffle cream I tried a bite of their Pappardelle Mamma Mia and it was delicious! I would definitely order it if I ever go back to this restaurant. The restaurant is decorated nicely as many others have stated. It has two floors, we sat upstairs which was fine. They also have outdoor Seating. One thing I will mention is that the server will want to take your entire order at once. My husband and I often like to order drinks and appetizers and then look over the menu for dinner. We don't like to rush and don't like our entrees to arrive while eating our appetizers! At this restaurant, the server will tell you they want to take your entire order at once. We did as asked and didn't feel rushed at all. Everything arrived to the table as it should and we all enjoyed our evening. As we were sitting eating, the restaurant became crowded as my in-laws said it would. There was plenty of parking available when we arrived at 5pm. read more

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We went on a busy Friday night but only had to wait 20 minutes (2 adults). Had a couple of drinks while we waited. Our server Luca had great recommendations and was really attentive. He even helped me cut the head off of my bass! Great food, atmosphere, and amazing service! read more

Osteria 500 - Sea bass - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

It is my favorite restaurant, but I was disappointed with my third visit there about 10 days ago. First there was a hair in the dipping oil just before I put my bread in. The waiter was very nice and he served us a new one, but it's a lousy way to start a meal. Quickly, I'll tell you that the calamari was very good. I love their batter. My husband had a muscle and clam Napolitano appetizer. The seafood was tender and cooked perfectly. The sauce was less savory than I've had in the past. Let's put it this way. You didn't really want to dip your bread into it. Once in a while, I get the desire for meatballs and they were good, but the sauce was not as good as I've had in the past. I can taste good tomatoes when they're in a sauce and in this case, the quality of the tomatoes used as a base in this sauce was subpar. To make matters worse, we were seated in the second table right across from the bar as you walk in And a man came in with three little dogs(not service dogs). He came in to chat at the bar to a friend I assume. I wouldn't mind for a few minutes, but it was at least 3540 minutes that he was there and as we were eating, I could smell the dogs because I had the outside seat and I said something to the waiter and he said he really couldn't do anything about it. The man finally left. But you don't put dogs inside the restaurant right next to where a customer is eating, it's absurd. We did not order dinner dishes. It was a night that we wanted to eat light. It's usually a wonderful place to eat, but not that night.... read more

Beautiful place. Bad food. The pizzas we got were flavorless and wet/soggy. They were really really bland. I wouldn't recommend the pizzas here. read more

Our visit to Osteria 500 was lovely. Love the vibe in there and the ambiance. The lemons on the ceiling are a fun touch. The cocktails were delicious and flavorful. The pizza was amazing! Definitely try it with the homemade hot oil. The pistachio pasta was also good just very small and needed salt and pepper. Finished with a tiramisu that tasted authentic! Overall I was pleased with the food just a bit over priced. $45 per person! Wow. read more

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Very disappointed in our experience tonight. When we got there, they told us to sit outside because we had strollers to order at the bar and let them know that we would be on the outside couches. We spent $75 on a pizza salad and one drink, including the tip. After over an hour of waiting, we let them know that we still hadn't gotten our food and they told us we were just waiting on the salad. Once they bought the food out, the pizza was cold so I let them know and the bartender very rudely asked me what I expected her to do about it. The hostess then let us know they probly forgot about us. They remade our pizza which took another 30 minutes so once we got it, the salad was then soggy. They told us next time that we should order online. We Probly just won't come back the food is good but the attitude wasn't Appropriate it appreciated. read more