I first found Stef's empanadas at the weekly farmers market where there was/is always a long line…read more I then found her establishment on South Tamiami trail while getting my car washed. Whenever I am in the area I stop to buy both fresh pasta, sauces and empanadas. Service is always outstanding as are the empanadas. In an outdoor mini mall with plenty of parking.

These empanadas are very tasty, and they even have vegetarian and vegan options. You can either get…read morethem to go, or enjoy them at one of their small tables. I have been here once a week for the past six months, and I will continue to support this business. I encourage you all to give it a try! We also buy the pasta from time to time, and it never disappoints.

Our family may be obsessed with Tortellino Bistrot. In a one week trip, we ended up eating there 3…read moretimes! The food is so fresh. You cannot usually get anything like it outside of Italy. Fresh made pasta is out of this world. House made desserts that are so light you wouldn't believe they are real. And the service is top notch. So friendly and attentive, even with our 3 year old! We will absolutely be back again and again.

I cannot say enough amazing things about Totellino Bistrot!! The owners are SO welcoming and…read morepassionate about food, wine and experience! I had the most delicious glass of Chianti & started with a Cesar salad. For dinner I had the bolognese and OMG! The pasta is made in house! It was by far the most delicious bolognese I've ever had! My sons had Chicken Alfredo and Chicken Parm and they were in Heaven! Don't forget the unforgettable cannoli's!

May 3rd, 2026 update: Bootsy's is BACK! We picked up chicken pot pie and beef burgundy pie -- both…read morewere DELICIOUS. You can taste the quality and freshness of these pies. Tender meat, crispy peas and veggies, they reheat beautifully and they are worth every penny!! Pickup is located inside the Two Chefs Market & Bistro, the dining room and market areas were tastefully decorated & full of awesome finds! Great prices on grocery items, sauces, etc etc. The folks who own & work at this establishment are so kind and helpful, as well. Highly recommend giving the best pot pies in the area a try now that they are back and available to pickup! Also give their dining room a try for brunch.

The place is closed up and they haven't removed their information online. I will say the gentleman…read moredid get back to me to let me know. I do think they are in the process of opening up again

We had a great dinner last night at La Dolce Vita. It is a small place, I didn't think to count…read morethe tables inside but there is maybe a dozen, and a few more outside. Small and busy, I would recommend getting a reservation. I checked out their menu earlier in the day and was very much looking forward to trying their Pappardelle, Funghi e Salsiccia, a sausage and mushroom pasta dish with a creamy panna sauce. I was not disappointed. In fact, I found my food absolutely delicious. I loved the mushrooms, the sausage, and the sauce really tied it all together. Service was fine, maybe just a little slow at the end getting the bill, but we were in no hurry. Very helpful, one person in our group had some dietary restrictions which were accommodated.

Food was terrible, owner was more interested in being a singer than actually cooking…read more I don't know what part of Italy she is from, but it's not like any Italian food I've ever experienced in my lifetime The chicken was mushy and they use way too much salt

Stopped by with my family after having a family event down the street…read more The restaurant wasn't busy and they had the lunch menu at the time. Everything was fresh and tasted great. I ordered the lasagna and I'd go back just so I can have it again! It was delicious! The service was excellent. Friendly and attentive. Also loved the feel of the restaurant. Very homey and comfortable. If you're in the area, don't hesitate to check this place out!

This place is always so busy, so I would suggest asking a reso…read more The staff are friendly, kind and do a great job. I would highly recommend the antipesto board. The mains are okay but the apps are much better. They have some great bottles of wine!

Wonderful, friendly service. Nice decor, great welcoming atmosphere!…read more Excellent bread! Oil and Balsamic Vinegar were superb as well as the house made butter. Excellent tap water, no after taste! Very good wine list - we loved the Valpolicella Ripasso! The Burrata was wonderful and excellent Balsamic Glaze! The Gnocchi di Patate al Quatro Formaggi was superb! The Spaghetti Alla Puttanesca was also amazing!

Delicious food and excellent service Don't be fooled that it…read moreis in a strip mall - the food is wonderful I had red snapper piccata - tasty and we all shared prosciutto parma. It was enough for the four of us.

Walking into La Violetta from a small office parking lot feels like stepping into Rome. It's warm,…read moreintimate, and genuinely feels family-owned. The Italian staff (speaking Italian and carrying themselves in that effortless European way) make the experience feel authentic, not staged. The interconnected dining rooms are beautifully designed -- a refreshing change from the typical one-room Sarasota setup. The food was outstanding from start to finish. Complimentary frittata to begin, delicious bread with olive tapenade (would've loved it slightly more toasted, but minor detail). The carbonara on fried bread with guanciale was a WOW dish -- crispy, rich, unforgettable. The duck lasagna special was mind-blowing with clearly homemade pasta, and the short rib with polenta was fall-off-the-bone tender (a touch more sear would've made it perfect). Panna cotta to finish? Incredible. Old Fashioned was a bit sweet for me, but the martini and Sangiovese were spot on. We will absolutely be back. A true escape to Italy right here in Sarasota.

My girlfriend an I came in for dinner to celebrate her college graduation. The ambiance was very…read morecharming and everyone there seemed to be in high spirits and very helpful. Our waiter was Federico and he was great. We got the carpaccio and octopus appetizers. The carpaccio was really good, but had a very strong lemon taste in some areas. However, it was fresh and tasted amazing. The octopus was incredible. I wish I took a picture, but we devoured it. It was grilled to perfection and had some amazing garlic potatoes to go with it. I got the duck entree with orange risotto and it was incredible. My girlfriend got the chef special of fish with spaghetti and she loved it. We finished with an incredible tiramisu. It was 100% worth the price, as the food and service were amazing! Will definitely be coming back (When we are back in Sarasota)!! (Not the best lighting, I hate using the camera flash in restaurants) (sorry)

Excellent homemade Italian food with excellent service I…read morelove the seafood pasta and the Cacio e pepe pasta! The fish is delicious and the wine is tasty We are going back tonight! Five times in less than two months

The best quality ! Friendly welcoming customer service. Excellent Italian food . The best meatballs…read moreas an appetizer! Homemade ravioli and lasagne 10/10. Great wine suggestion .Can't wait to come back to get the desserts and eat here again.

First off we talked last minute for a party of 8 that turned into a 9. We were greeted warmly with…read moreenthusiasm! The food was amazing and for a party of 9 we were all served rather quickly.The appetizers were on point! Great wine list had bottles and by the glass. Chef Marco made many trips to the table himself to check on us and Olga our server was full of smiles and laughs! We had a amazing dinner and a totally great time! Can't wait to go back!

Delicious. Italian Lasagna was fantastic and highly recommended. The atmosphere was perfect for…read moresmall groups and the personal attention provided was fantastic.

Excellent restaurant! Our second visit even better than our first…read more Bruschetta was delicious and artistically displayed. Slight tendency for tomatoes to fall off but really good, Lasagna very tasty. The winner was the shellfish and pasta. We will all likely order that next time. Good house wines. Split tiramisu for dessert. Super light and flavorful. Alfredo took very good care of us. We will return!

Wonderful food and service. When you see other Italians eating at an Italian restaurant - you know…read moreyou are in the right place!