Mediterraneo: Authentic Italian Dining Experience in Sarasota

Came here with a party of 15 for wifey's birthday... fabulous! From the bruschetta they serve, to the drinks and lastly the food, delish! Great, attentive service and perfect crème brûlée to finish it off

July 26, 2025 - Two for dinner before a play @ Florida Studio Theatre. A little far from walkable to FST so an incredible and fantastic THANK YOU to the merchants in the building and Mediterraneo for the ample and free parking so we are not paying the thieves of the City or Sarasota for parking nonsense and another $350 predatory towing bill!!! This is a fantastic looking establishment!!! The layout is efficient but felt family friendly and the clientele was all smiles!! The main dining area was packed and was turning during our meal in the back dining area (we requested) how it too was packed when we were leaving at 7:30 pm! This felt special...... And it was!!! Service by Ralph was some of the best in my 45 years of business/global travel. Of note my dad (deceased for now 30 years) must have been smiling that night as one of my measures for a great restaurant HE told me about from his college days in the 1940s was from the Tally-Ho restaurant in Chicago. The wait staff was drilled on NEVER letting the water glass get below half filled for even 1 minute!!! THIS was the case here at Mediterraneo. Not just the water glass but the tables were cleared and bused swiftly and efficiently. AWESOME zone defense and service!!! We had a little bread and some chopped olives and olive oil. A little bruschetta made and appearance as well. The mixed drinks were very good according to the "boss" and I had a Stella N/A that was served properly in a chilled glass. Not crazy expensive. My wife ordered the Tropicale salad which was arugula w/heart of palms and avocado and some very nice large slices of parmesan. I had some after her gleeful report of freshness and nice palm pieces and the cheese was fantastic!! 10/10 I ordered the pinto bean soup de jour (cup) that was also excellent. Nice full bodied broth and beautifully flavored. A touch saltier than I like, but this was a winner. 9/10 Ralph highly recommended the Veal Chop and that was an absolutely fantastic suggestion. My wife enjoyed it whole-heartedly. I had a bite and it was truly awesome product and wonderfully prepared, seasoned, and cooked!!! She commented and I agreed also a bit heavy on the salt. 9/10 I went with the Capellini Primavera a angel-hair pasta with a variety of vegetables in an oil and garlic sauce. First of this was a perfectly made and spot on TEXTBOOK cooked al dente (first cooked firm to the tooth) pasta. This was GREAT!!! The zucchini and other vegetables were also firm and not mushy boiled wet filler!!! A great job!!! Only quip is the oil and garlic was very tasty but the dish was very oily and also a little heavy handed on the salt as well. 9/10 We know we are coming back here! As a matter of fact my wife is changing a birthday celebration "with the girls" from XXXXXXXX (smile) around the corner Italian spot to here at Mediterraneo !!! Always glad to have an experience like this......and also enjoy giving back to my dining-out warriors lookin' for good food and service. I FOUND ONE FOR YOU!!!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Mediterraneo Italian Restaurant is an absolute gem in Sarasota! From the moment you walk in, you’re welcomed with a warm, authentic Italian atmosphere that immediately makes you feel at home. The food is outstanding—fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with high-quality ingredients. Every dish we tried was perfectly prepared, from the pasta to the sauces and entrées. The service was just as impressive—attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable without ever feeling rushed. You can tell they truly care about the dining experience. This is the kind of place you come back to again and again, whether it’s a casual night out or a special occasion. Highly recommend Mediterraneo if you’re looking for excellent Italian food in Sarasota.

We had Amy and she was such a delight!!!! The wine was just the icing on the cake we needed to all our dishes. A definite second visit with her and the staff is in the near future. (Hour drive worth the trip & some) Dishes weren’t available to click as per dishes to recommend, I’d choose Chicken Parmigiana with a side pasta, the swordfish special, Parpadelle special and wine see image. ENJOY!

Upscale Italian dining. Wide variety of choices. Excellent service. Our waiter was attentive. Our drinks were brought out quickly. Very pleasant atmosphere. My husband's veal was huge and delicious. My branzino special was delicate and flavorful.

Mediterraneo is consistently excellent. Last night my wife had the Frutti de Mare which she usually orders and always loves, and I had the Veal Osso Buco special. The veal was fall off the bone tender and delicious. It’s served with a parmesan risotto which I loved. Service was good despite the fact that our waiter also had a party of 10 which was seated at the same time we were and demanded a lot of his attention. Several reviews mention that the restaurant is loud and I was thinking about that last night. It is a little loud but it’s loud because it’s crowded and it’s crowded because it’s good. The restaurant has a festive/party atmosphere which definitely adds to the experience. We had two drinks, which were generous, the sautéed calamari appetizer, the dinners, two cappuccinos, and a crème brûlée for $200 including the tip. In my opinion that’s an exceptional value considering the quality of the product.

Food was absolutely delicious! The atmosphere was fabulous. It was disturbed a bit by a guest who was being unkind to one of the servers, but that’s not the restaurant’s fault. My husband and I were enthusiastically discussing how this would be our new place because despite the amazing ambiance, the restaurant had decent prices. The lunch prices of our meals according to the menu were $16.50 and $18.50. Then we received the bill and were charged over $24 for each dish despite the lunch prices on the menu provided. It was about 1:30 in the afternoon, but it appears we were charged dinner prices. As we were rushing to catch a movie, we didn’t have time to get the bill corrected, but it has made us think twice about returning. Seemed a bit shady.

My new favorite restaurant in Sarasota, and that is only due to my recent visits to the area. They have been around for 30 years and it is easy to see why. From the kind staff to took great care of us (that ks Ray) to the care of each dish that came to our table. Loved the carpaccio and oven fire mozzarella with prosciutto as appetizers. Pizza and pasta was perfectly done and the dessert was right on spot. We enjoyed good wine and the Tardio wine for my sweet treat was impeccable. Thank you for helping us enjoy a wonderful family meal. Highly recommend