Taverna Toscana is a fantastic restaurant. I made a last minute reservation to celebrate my anniversary (yeah, I know- should have done it sooner) and all that was available was outdoor seating, but the patio is covered and there are fans, so we went ahead and endured the heat and boy, was it worth it! The hostesses sat us right away, being careful not to overwhelm one server, so they discussed where to seat us amongst themselves and agreed on a plan. I almost expected them to clap and yell "Break!", but they were doing their jobs the right way. Our server was attentive, she knew the menu very well, and she was a true pro. We started off with the Parker rolls, which is super delicious and there is enough for way more than two people, so we had to be careful not to eat all of them, as difficult as that was. I'm also a French Onion soup fan, so I tried that- and it was great, and served in a very cool looking crock. My wife sat there saying she didn't want any, but proceeded to pick off half the cheese. (not cool, honey!). I ordered the seafood cioppino with the bucatini (a must have), and my wife had the chicken parm. First, the Cioppino was outstanding- full of great seafood, and the sauce was amazing. The bucatini is possibly the best pasta I have ever had. There is nothing like homemade pasta, and this was incredible. I was so full, but I kept eating it anyway. I paid for that later. Next time I will skip the apps and go straight to the dish. My wife loved the chicken parm and the portion was big enough so that she took well more than half of it home and I enjoyed it a couple of days later. All of the food was outstanding! Finally, I'd like to salute the server who was dealing with the table next to ours. The table was 4 extremely arrogant women who kept complaining about the temperature (you chose to sit outside, ladies) and the flies (wow...flies outside, who could have guessed?). The server handled them and their arrogance way better than she should have. They told her they were ready to order, then proceeded to take 10 full minutes to place their order because they really weren't ready. I have to admit, when my seafood dish was placed in front of me and it drew a lot more flies near us, I was a little happy because those ladies kept giving me the side-eye while complaining about "more flies than ever". Hilarious! We will be back often to Taverna Toscana, that's for sure. They know how to run a restaurant and their food is delicious. Thanks! read more

Since this is a very upscale restaurant you have to dress into a more business attire, something not too casual. The lighting and space is well designed with being able to reserve upper floor, bottom floor and main floor that has a bar. Reserve a place you would want I recommend a a full week ahead. There is valley parking and across the street. The servers make check ups, they take food allergies seriously and make sure to make the food safe. I recommend this place for those that want an experience of a fancy romance. Or a friend evening. Prices can range $$-$$$$ They allow you to see your check from a quick scan on the table. Great experience!! read more

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Service was great overall! We got two appetizers -- you definitely have to try the parmesan bread, it was amazing. The meatballs were good too, although the crostini was a little burnt. The pastas were excellent and probably the highlight of the meal. The steak was just okay, nothing too special. We ordered the prime cut and paid the extra $5 for the sauce on the side, but honestly it still felt pretty mid and not really worth the $75. Overall though, the food and atmosphere were good and we had a great experience. read more

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I love this place! Location-wise it's a little strange that it's at the bottom of an office building & they have a parking lot that is across the street from the entrance. Lovely interior & a great place for a special occasion as it's a little pricey. They have a large outdoor area with a bar but I haven't sat out there yet as it's summer. The bartenders are fantastic at making suggestions. I've enjoyed the meatballs, shrimp app, mac & cheese, sliders, etc. I was there when Fabio made an appearance & he was so warm & friendly! I was excited to meet him as I've been a fan from when he was on Top Chef. Really a great place that I will continue to come back to. Check out the steaks in the case as you walk in! read more

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I tried Taverna Toscana and had a great experience. This is a great restaurant for date night, celebrations or a nicer dinner in Bradenton. They have a few mocktails to choose from, which is great because I don't drink alcohol. For an appetizer, I tried the beef carpaccio and caesar salad. For entrees, my table tried that ossobuco and the roasted filet tip risotto. For dessert, we tried the homemade tiramisu. My favorite was definitely the beef carpaccio. There is valet parking and a parking lot available. For dinner, reservations are recommended. They also have a weekday happy hour that you can check out. read more

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The food is fantastic as is the wine list Make sure u have the meat ball, wow it is great Jackie is a great waitress and really the management here is fantastic read more

Our waitress was wonderful, friendly and kind, a breath of fresh air. Jen was very attentive to our table. She gave us a background explaining what Chef Fabio was known for, beating Bobby Flay. I had no idea so that was nice. Very pretty inside nice lighting. Bread service--my favorite from this night, a must get. Vodka Rose, Wagyu Short Rib Bolognese, Chicken Parmesan, Grilled Octopus was what my table shared. The only dish that I would note with a critique was the vodka because the pasta was a bit undercooked. But that wouldn't make me give the place less than 5 stars. The sauce and burratta was great. The Wagyu one was a favorite too. I would love to return here and try other items. read more

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Do not let this interesting location, fool you. This is the perfect spot if you are looking for a great lunch spot for a casual lunch or a business gathering located in downtown Bradenton. We had lunch there and saw some really good food passing by the waiter pointed out that it was there homemade Parker house rolls. They were amazing.. all of their food was excellent and the portion sizes were enough to take home for dinner. read more

Taverna Toscana - Rolls! - Italian Near Me - Bradenton, Florida

Came here to celebrate my dad's 85th birthday. The appetizers were cooked perfectly. We had the octopus, Cristini, and Meatball. I've never had Crustini like this before. It was a meal in itself and delicious. The cocktails were mixed perfectly. We had quite a few. Try the Hidden Palms. Our entrees are what really stood out. The Ossobuco was the best I've ever tasted. It was cooked to perfection. The potato's and gravy were over the top. We also had the bolognese and Rigatoni Tartufo which will forever be memorable. I will definitely come back again. Our server was a really nice guy. He knew the menu and made solid recommendations. The next time we will sit inside. The ambiance seemed more up our alley. Thank you for making my dad's 84th bday special. He loved the gelato and tiramisu. read more

Excellent experience!! Booked reservations on line and they had limited availability, especially for midweek. Nice ambiance. We sat at a table near the bar, but the other dining room looked beautiful. We had the lovely Abby ( Abigail) as our server, who explained the history and operations of the restaurant as it was our first time, and went with her recommendation. I ordered Fabio's wagyu meatball--- soooo good, couldn't finish it and it filled me up that I could only have a small bite from my main entree. Hubby ordered the chargrilled octopus appetizer, which he thoroughly enjoyed. The pecorino Parker rolls were delicious, but a bit on the sweet side for me. My husband's miso glazed mahi mahi was excellent--I sneaked a bite. It was tender, light and well flavored, served with baby bok choy and mushrooms. I ordered the roasted sea bass, beautifully prepared and served over Mediterranean couscous, but I was too full... until dessert ... So I ordered the peach cobbler with the accompanying vanilla and caramel to go. They were packaged in 2 separate containers and although I was full, I just had to taste the very fresh and yummy cobbler, full of peaches and a yummy topping...but the gelato was going to melt..and it was light and yummy and...it never made it out of the restaurant !!! Seriously, a great dinner with excellent service. Will definitely return. read more

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Has an absolutely great time at Taverna Toscana. We sat by the bar and the bartenders were instantly attentive to recommend drinks and ask for our orders. We got the Lavender Bee's Knees and a Sparkling Moscato. The Lavender Bee's Knees was on point and surpassed our expectations. For our entree's we got the Salmon and the Chicken Marsala. We also got the Garlic Mashed Potatoes to share. Everything was delectable. The salmon was cooked to perfection with an amazing paired sauce and sautéed spinach. The chicken marsala was juicy and the only thing would be more mushrooms (but my husband is just a mushroom guy). The chicken marsala came with roasted potatoes that were divine, great flavor and perfect crisp. The garlic mashed potatoes were creamy, buttery, and melted in your mouth. They had an insane flavor to them that just made it feel extra fresh. Overall we would come here again in a heartbeat. Also the ambiance was perfect for a date night or a girls night. read more

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I really want to like this restaurant because it's convenient, nicely decorated and has good food, but service has been bad both times we were here. We had reservations on a Friday night and were promptly seated. Waited 10 minutes before anyone came over with water or to take our drink order. She didn't take our drink order when she came but recommended we look over the menu. The 4 of us were ready, but another 10 minutes before she came back. My husband and I ordered a Caesar salad to share and I ordered the risotto. We also ordered a glass of wine each and an order of bread. Our friends ordered one appetizer. We waited 15 minutes before our wine showed up and they only came with one glass as they misheard our order. I was there 35 minutes before I got a glass of wine. Our salad and bread came right after the wine. The salad was decent and the bread is great. Our entrees came out after we had time to enjoy our salad. Mine was hot and the risotto was great. Only 3 small pieces of beef, which was a bit scant. In the end, we were there slightly over 2 hours. I watched other tables and they had the same issues with drinks and wine. Why it takes so long to get drinks to tables is beyond me. Hire more workers We would have had another drink but timing with everything didn't work. read more

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Had the octopus was excellent and also the chopino Also excellent The atmosphere was very nice, really enjoyed the evening. Very good service also. Will be going back. read more

We had a fantastic dinner and great service by Jacki. Dinner, drinks, and dessert were excellent. Definitely will be back!

This was truly a fine dining experience. I would have given it 5 stars except for the constant music being played that was more like electronic pulsing. It was very difficult to talk over it. We were a party of six therefore a larger table, which made conversation over the "music" a challenge. We asked our waitress if there was some way to turn it down but that didnt happen. Otherwise a great dining experience. Our waitress Tonya knew exactly how to pace our food arrivals. She kept our table cleared of empty plates, made recommendations, checked on us often but not obtrusively, and we felt well taken care of. The food was excellent. The Grilled Octopus was wonderful, as was the Wagyu Meatball and Pecorino Parker Rolls. We tried a variety of dinners including the huge Pork Chop, Ciopini Seafood, Lobster Tails etc. All well prepared and delicious. read more

Had a fantastic lunch at Taverna Toscana. There were three of us and we shared everything that gave us a chance to taste four different recommended dishes. We went with the wedge salad that was topped with house made pork belly bacon and a rich truffle Gorgonzola dressing, the pecorino Parker rolls a unique flavorful pull apart bread. A chicken sandwich, it was juicy and flavorful and one of the better chicken sandwiches I had in a long time. Last dish was. The Orecchiette Genovese pasta also packed with flavor. Service from Auria was outstanding, she gave excellent recommendations, and really made the experience awesome. As I walked in, I noticed the prime rib aging in a cooler. Was told that they have a special on Thursdays for their aged prime rib. Definitely will be back. read more

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This place is awesome! I would say this is probably on my top three list of restaurants to go to in the area. Everything was stellar. Every dish was fantastic, the staff were friendly and the ambience was great! Now that this place is on my radar I'll go back again many times! For more tips/picks, follow us at IG:Sarasota_foodie_couple read more

Atmosphere - Excellent! The restaurant has a clean, modern feel. The bar has about a dozen seats and there is an outdoor patio dining area that looks nice as well. The inside dining area is nice as well with tables spaced apart nicely. Service - Bar - Poor. Dining- Good. The bartender seemed to go out of his way to ignore us and was somewhat arrogant. When seated at our table, our server was very attentive and professional. However, we waited an extraordinary long time for our entree's. Food - Very Good. I had the French Onion soup as a starter. It had a nice flavor, but there was very little onions or cheese. I had the Wagyu Short Rib Bolognese and it was great! The sauce was very good and there ample short rib. Overall Value - Good. Had service (bar and kitchen) been better, this would have been a 4 star experience for me. The price was reasonable and the portion size ample. read more

Taverna Toscana - Short rib bolognese - Italian Near Me - Bradenton, Florida

YES 5 Stars! Food is amazing, service is great and the ambiance is phenomenal. We all loved it! We ordered a double cut pork chop w/ broccolini, 7oz filet -well done -w/ homemade bucatini pasta in oil & garlic and it was so tender I cut it with a fork. Hubby ordered the Vodka Rose Pasta dish. We also ordered chocolate martini's. Everything was fabulous! Highly recommend. read more

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The food and bread was absolutely on point and frankly sitting outside on the patio, even in the summer is still delightful at least for a local who may be used to a little heat. Service was prompt and friendly. Looking forward to going again! read more

Started with warm and fresh rolls and huge meatballs , very tender and sauced well , butter for rolls was amazing chicken Parmesan, shrimp fra daivlo was super, pasta was cooked perfectly Service by Angela was delightful with her wine knowledge, great and delicious dinner fabulous evening! read more

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First time here was great! Enjoyed happy hour at 5:15, connecting with colleagues, and the amazing dinner inside. #HappyHour #Colleagues #Dinner read more

Taverna Toscana - Happy hour espresso , martini on the patio bar. - Italian Near Me - Bradenton, Florida

Two words. The Bread! It is soooooooo good. The best rolls ever. The other dishes had beautiful presentation but felt lacked salt and was bland. The arancini balls were bland. They were cooked well and cheesy but I couldn't tell you what they taste like. The Moroccan wings were also bland. We had the muscles which again to me just lacked flavor. The Italian grinder was very good, but if you do not like olives, it is olive heavy with some sort of olive pesto that They add to the sandwich. Overall, I could see myself coming back for maybe a nonalcoholic drink, and the bread. I will try their steak and dinner menu as we came in for lunch. The service was really good and the ambience is beautiful. The prices are very good as well. read more

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We came here for our 34th anniversary. The atmosphere was phenomenal. Our waitress was attentive and helpful. Our food was delicious. I had a pasta with creamy sauce with sausage and my husband had shrimp diavola. But honestly, the best part for me was the bread with honey butter we got for our appetizer. (Bread is always my favorite!) We did not order any, but their wine selection is off the chain. We were impressed with this Bradenton restaurant and will definitely be back! read more

Rich and delicious authentic Italian dishes with friendly waitstaff, craft cocktails and decent wine list. The Parker House rolls are a must while debating on your next courses. The allspice old fashioned was top notch! Other dishes around the table were vodka rose (topped with fresh burrata for a unique and extra creamy touch), shrimp fra diavolo and a tender dry-aged 10oz filet. Their famous tiramisu was too good to leave behind so we took it to go. Highly recommend this spot among many others in the historic downtown area! read more

Taverna Toscana - Allspice Old Fashioned featuring Whistle Pig 6 Year - Italian Near Me - Bradenton, Florida

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my husband and I celebrated our one month wedding anniversary here, and Taylor was amazing! She made us feel so at home as it was our first time here, and helped us really celebrate in every way. The restaurant itself is beautiful and the food was great. We got the octopus as our appetizer, the dry aged steak and the osso bucco for our mains, and the pistachio cake for dessert. It was all great but especially the osso bucco which was so tender and flavorful. We had a wonderful time! read more

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We had dinner here last night. We had a reservation for 7:30 and we were seated by 7:35, so good with that. Our waitress was very nice! but waiting times to order, and for the drinks to arrive were slightly lengthy, but when she was there she was as pleasant as any waitress could be. The decor was decent modern Italian. We ordered two glasses of Pinot, French onion soup, wedged salad, and pecorino bread rolls as our appetizers. Our two entrees were the wagu bolognese and the vodka rose. The wine was very good, the pecorino bread was delicious, the French onion was great and a must do again, and the wedged salad was as good as they get (the appetizers were a nine out of ten). The two pastas were good, but in the future for the entrees I might get more adventurous and try the non pasta dishes, for they all looked great. This place is a definite must try, I think they are on to something here. We will return. Entrees 8.5 Atmosphere 8.5 Service 8.0 Appetizer 9.0 read more

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We took two couples with us tonight. It was a great time. Our guests enjoyed the food and our recommendation. My hubs and I love this restaurant and fell in love with our waitress tonight, Stefania. She was great, and I really mean like I will ask for this specific staff member when we dine here again she was that good. The restaurant was buzzing tonight and the entire staff hummed along. I noticed a person speaking on a headset to someone and like an orchestra the table was completely transformed to accommodate. This is a special place, I highly recommend the food and the experience of having excellent wait staff and the chef who has impeccable creations and just a lovely menu. read more

Taverna Toscana - Nebbiolo from Piedmont - Italian Near Me - Bradenton, Florida

We enjoy Fabio's restaurants in Chicago so we were really looking forward to trying this restaurant. Unfortunately, we will not return to Taverna Toscana. The Ambiance: We ate on the patio and it was lovely. The Food: The Parker House rolls were delicious. The Roman pizza was mediocre -- basically focaccia with some toppings. My husband had the Osso Buco and said it was fine. However, I had the Roasted Half Chicken and it was terrible. It was not a roasted chicken; instead, it was a boneless breast and thigh that tasted like it had been sous vide and thrown under a broiler at the last minute. (See photo.) The sauce was so salty that it was inedible. The Service: Our waitress was truly horrible. While we saw wait staff around us hustling, our waitress did not approach us for nearly 15 minutes. She didn't offer drinks. She didn't discuss the menu. She didn't refill water. She never came back to take our order -- we had to ask someone to get her. And we suspect that she didn't put our order in in a timely manner because people who came in and ordered after us were served long before us. After we asked another waitperson to find her so she could take our order, she seemed to puposely neglect us even more. Overall, she made the evening stressful and unpleasant. Front of house staff: We also found the hostess to be quite rude. When we arrived (with a reservation), she said that our table was being set and asked us to wait in the lobby. We did not mind waiting since we know that table turnover is not an exact science. However, after nearly 15 minutes of watching other patrons who announced the same reservation time be seated, we returned to the hostess for our table status. She rolled her eyes at us (!!), told us "oh well, tables come and go" and then led us to the patio where there were at least five empty tables that she could have seated us at. We didn't mind the wait but her attitude was unnecessary. With so many other good restaurants in the area, we will not be returning to this one.* read more

Taverna Toscana - "Roasted" half chicken that was served to me. - Italian Near Me - Bradenton, Florida

At Taverna Toscana, they celebrate the shared essence of Tuscany and Florida: warm sun, wonderful people, and a passion for fresh, sublime food. Thier indoor/outdoor dining experience welcomes everyone--from families and foodies to CEOs and couples--with aged steaks, homemade pasta, and crafted drinks in an inviting atmosphere that draws inspiration from Italy itself. My wife and I came to visit them recently ( before Hurricane Milton) This is what we had: 1) Fabios Waygu MeatBall - Recommended 2 )Herb Roasted Fingerling Potatoes- mind-blowing 3) Lobster and Steak- On Point 4) Porterhouse Steak- Best Aged Steak We have ever had 5) Charred Brocolini - a good side for the steaks. 6) Skull Island and Strawberry Crush Cocktails- So Refreshing read more

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The pork chop is the best I have ever eaten, is it pork shoulder? I'm actually eating leftover tonight and it's still great. Our server was just the right amount of attentive, and our table was quite enough for our conversation. I had the bread pudding dessert, also outstanding read more

We were planning on meeting friends for dinner at Taverna Toscana, but there are no vegan options on the menu. I called to see if they could make something for people in our party who are vegan. They said, No. That's very disappointing. We'll be dining elsewhere. read more

Excellent experience at Taverna Toscana. High quality ingredients, great wait staff, I am looking forward to going back! I was with a group of 6 plus our infant. Everyone loved their meals & they were accommodating with a stroller and high chair. Plenty of parking, clean restrooms & great drinks...highly recommend! read more

Taverna Toscana - Dirty martini - Italian Near Me - Bradenton, Florida

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OUTSTANDING!!!! Everything from beginning to end. We sat at the outside bar and Carly was our bartender who was amazing. So informative and helpful and just all round a lovely person. We had the carne pizza, Caesar salad, Mahi Mahi and French onion soup. Delicious every single bite. Everything on the menu looked fantastic. Spoilt for choice. The outdoors is very vibey and the inside is beautifully decorated and just gorgeous. The ambience is incredible. This is a MUST if you are in the area. Also the cocktails were all outstanding. read more

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It's what Bradenton has needed! I often travel to St Pete and Tampa to get more of an upscale foodie vibe.....but found it locally here. At Taverna Toscana, the entire dining experience was on point. Skylar made sure of that from the moment we walked in. Her warm welcome set the tone for the evening, and her knowledge of the menu guided us through a delightful culinary journey. I heavily relied on her recommendation as far as my entree....a little more on that later. We started with extra dirty martinis with blue cheese olives and the Grilled Octopus appetizer. The stuffed olives were some of the best we've ever had. We later on found out they were stuffed with gorgonzola. And they were stuffed to the brim. Such a treat! The octopus was perfectly tender and infused with a perfect char that brought out its natural flavors. The subtle smokiness was balanced beautifully with a thick lemon butter sauce with potatoes making it a standout dish that was quite hearty. For the main course, this is where Skylar's expertise came in. I couldn't decide between the lobster pasta special or the Osso Bucco that everyone has raved about. Skylar explained that it was the last weekend for the lobster pasta and the Osso Bucco would remain on the menu. I figured it was the perfect excuse to return soon to try it. She also discussed the generous portion of lobster that came on top of the dish as well as integrated throughout. She wasn't kidding! Every bite was luxurious, with generous chunks of sweet, succulent lobster nestled in a rich, creamy sauce that had the ideal consistency and flavors. The fresh pasta was cooked to perfection (often it can be to mushy) soaking up all the decadent flavors. My husband ordered the 10 oz filet medium rare and it could not have been cooked any more perfect. Truly picturesque. We also added 2 vegetables side dishes (also under the guidance of Skylar) to break up the richness of the lobster and the meat. Broccolini and crispy brussels. Couldn't ask for better sides. The Crispy Brussels Sprouts were an unexpected star. Perfectly caramelized with a slight crunch infused with thick chunks of bacon, giving them a sweet-savory finish that was impossible to resist. We were stuffed but we could not help but finish the brussels. Skylar's attentive service made the meal even more enjoyable--her timing was impeccable. Taverna Toscana is not only a feast for the palate but also a masterclass in warm, inviting hospitality. Highly recommended! (Parking is also a breeze here. They have complimentary valet and it's so easy to pull off and pull right in. You enter on lowest level of the building and take the elevator up to the first floor) We can't wait to return! read more

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Fantastic... I save 5 stars for those truly exceptional places. Taverna Toscana earned it, the food was exceptional. We ordered the meatball which was to die for, along with the Grilled Octopus...Fantastic. I could have ordered that for my meal, but didn't stop there. We ordered the bolognese and pork chop and they didn't disappoint. Along with the fantastic food, our service was outstanding, thanks to Devin our waiter. Lastly the ambiance was perfect for a night out. Once the weather cools the patio will be another option to consider for dining. It was well worth the drive to dine at TT. I hope you consider opening another restaurant in Sarasota or St Armands Key, you'd kill it Bravo Fabio and team read more

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I wanted to give a five but I couldn't, The ambiance of Taverna is perfect. Comfortable, but elegant. The best part they make a great extra dirty Gin martini! The filet tartar, was ok, personally the smoke was overwhelming. French onion soup was a10! My husband had the Osso Buco, it was tender and tasty, but the mashed potatoes were to die for. I had the lobster tail and filet. The lobster was soft and buttery. The Filet was medium I ordered it rare, it was tough, I took it home for my doggies. Hence not a five. It was surprising that for a steak house, they couldn't cook a steak correctly. But the show stopper was the S'mores dessert, it's a special, I hope they add it to the regular dessert menu. We drove an hour to the restaurant, I would come back again just to prove the steak was a fluke. read more

Wowwwww!!!! Amazing!!!! I can't say enough about out this amazing restaurant! Our server D'Angelo made all the best recommendations!! We had appetizers of octopus, crostini, meatball and Parker rolls all AMAZING!! Dinner we had a filet, osso buco, shrimp fra diavolo, short rib bolognese and pork chop. Everything was sooooo good. Desserts were tiramisu, limoncello cake and affogatos. Cannot wait to come back again!!! read more

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We were in town for the weekend and were looking for an amazing local food experience. Taverna Toscana was recommended by several people at the hotel we were staying at. It was a wonderful experience!! The menu was outstanding that it took us awhile to determine what we wanted to try. We went w/ the Caesar salad, short rib bolognese and chicken parm. All was very delicious and portions sizes were really good. Our server, Tania, complimented the experience.. She did a very thorough explanation of the menu to help us make our selections and was very personable. I would highly recommend eating here! We hope to make it back to the area to visit Taverna Toscana in the future!! read more

Absolutely great. Loved the ambiance all around, beautiful decor and comfortable sitting. The food! We had the Ossobuco and it was delicious. The lasagna I will repeat next time it was that good. The Vodka Rosé pasta so tasty, perfect. Desserts were a real treat. ​And then there was Taylor....best server hands down! She knows every dish and can advise on sharing sizes, so knowledgeable about the desserts and wines as well as the cocktails and perfectly recommended us exactly what we were wanting. Divine is the best way I can describe our experience. We will ask for Taylor again and again. Thanks to the fabulous Chef !!! read more