Osteria500

"Very good experience. The menu might be a bit confusing if you aren't familiar with Italian food, as some of the descriptions use less common words, but the staff is very knowledgeable, friendly, and willing to help. The food was full of flavor. The outdoor atmosphere is very typical of waterside with a good view of the pond, and inside has a fairly warm feel with dark wood, stained concrete, and the smell of wood fired food. The drinks were great. The prices are a little bit higher than maybe expected at a casual restaurant, but not unreasonable."

"First time in Sarasota and was treated to dinner at this restaurant. The atmosphere was great! We sat outside by the water and the setup was comforting, the chairs felt like they were giving me a hug, and it was super busy. The servers along with the owner, visited us throughout the night to keep us informed about the progress of our orders, and also to ensure that we were having a good experience. The food was made with care and passion. It was fresh, authentic and tasty. I got the calamari as my shared appetizer, and it is now the best calamari I’ve ever had, beating out the 8 year standing of the Mosaic Hilton in Laval, Quebec. The cuts were thick, batter was light, perfectly salted, and it was not overkill in any way. I also had the four cheese pizza which was great but I was too full to finish it. My fiancé had the risotto, which she enjoyed but said that she would prefer it in a wine sauce. Her cousin who has the same thing really enjoyed it with no complaints. It was a little pricey but the experience honestly makes it easy to forget. I would definitely recommend and would absolutely go again if I am ever back in Sarasota."

"Best Italian Restaurant in Lakewood Ranch! From the house made pasta to the succulent meats selections. Anything you get will feel like a treat. Feels like you went to Italy"

"We were visiting Sarasota from the East coast and heard about this restaurant. What a gem. The restaurant is waterfront with indoor and outdoor dining. They import their flour and olive oil from Italy as well as have an Italian chef who hand makes all the pastas, breads and desserts. Everything we had was delicious and had the best Tiramisu I have yet to taste."

"Absolutely perfect! The ambiance doesn’t have a single detail that’s gone overlooked. The owners and the staff are warm, humble, and truly have hearts of service. I haven’t felt like an appreciated guest in a restaurant in a long time. They all know the value of the entire experience and I was grateful to be a part of the dance! The menu is outstanding and it was difficult to choose! The food was wonderful and our experience was delightful start to finish. This is a true Italian dining experience and true Italian food and so glad it’s our new neighborhood spot! I’ll be back to try the pizza and a salad for lunch!"