Whether your idea of an Italian meal is opening a can of Chef Boyardee or a family dinner scene from ‘The Sopranos,” we all crave rich, authentic Italian food from time to time.
The cuisine is characterized by its simplicity (most dishes have only four to eight ingredients) and any true Italian chef (no, Chef Boyardee is not included) knows the secret to a delicious meal lies in the quality of those ingredients.
So, if you’re a linguine lover or penne princess, a red sauce fiend or an alfredo aficionado, GainesvilleScene has found the Italian restaurants that will unleash your inner amore (even if the moon doesn’t hit your eye).
Buon appetito!
Emma’s pick – Manuel’s Vintage Room
The night started with a stout, old Italian man that looked oddly similar to one of my Italian uncles up in New York, asking for our reservation name and telling me I looked beautiful. With my ego boosted, I teetered into Manuel’s Vintage Room (it was a date, I had to look presentable) ready for a quality Italian meal. It’s small, in a cozy and intimate way, but not stuffy. It’s not fancy to the point where you’re panicked about which order to use your forks or if you should stick your pinky out while sipping your cabernet; it’s simply a high-class, high-quality restaurant.
After drooling over the wine list and then proceeding to drool over the menu, we dove into a rustic salad that was home to everything from prosciutto to pine nuts to fresh tomatoes and Gorgonzola. We followed up with one of the special appetizers of the night: four hand crafted pasta purses filled with creamy, magical goodness and drizzled with a sweet and savory sauce. Hands down, it is the best appetizer I have had at an Italian restaurant and considering my heritage and propensity to try every restaurant in the cities I visit, that is saying something. For a main course, I ordered outrageously tender pork medallions, which were accompanied by portabella mushrooms and red onions and plated in a port wine reduction. The dish was heavy, but the flavor was deep and savory enough to make you slow down and appreciate each bite.
Via: manuelsvintageroom.com
When I finally pulled my attention from my empty plate and my eyes from my date’s handsome face, I noticed the restaurant had closed almost an hour ago and we were the only ones left. Nobody pressured us to rush our cheesecake and head out, but instead let us stay lost in the incredible meal and lost in our conversation. Manuel’s Vintage Room offers the perfect dining experience for lovers, families and foodies alike.
Sofia’s pick – Napolatono’s
Napolatono’s, or Nappy’s, is an elegant Italian option located off of Tower Road by Newberry. Walking in, I was greeted by a mouthwatering display of sinful desserts, including a cannoli the size of my forearm. We were seated in a dimly lit room with oil paintings of Italian countrysides and fountains. Just being in that room was enough to make me feel distinguished.
We were handed menus of biblical proportions. Nappy’s is an Italian restaurant, yes, but if you hate Italian, you can opt for chicken wings. I truly believe that this menu has something for everyone; there are vegetarian and gluten-free options and even a couple of things that could be considered paleo-friendly.
The entrees are around $15 to $20, and they are served with a massive bowl of salad and endless garlic bread. Ordering an entrée will get you enough food to feed a small country. If you need a wallet friendly option, you can order pizza by the slice.
I opted for the gluten-free veggie lasagna, and my boyfriend ordered the St. Jacob sauté, an orgasmic shrimp and scallop dish with sautéed veggies, feta and spinach fettuccini, all smothered in a buttery herb sauce. The lasagna was perfectly layered with ricotta, veggies, pasta and sauce. My boyfriend’s dish really surprised me, though, because I normally hate scallops. For lack of a better word, it was perfect.
Nappy’s is definitely a special occasion kind of place. I recommend taking your family there after graduation, or for date-night if you’re shooting to impress.The service is also excellent and the ambiance is right on. The best part is, after a meal there, you probably won’t need to eat for another three months. Go all in.
Gyt’s pick – The Fat Tuscan
This place had been referred to me as “the best date spot in Gainesville” by numerous people. While I was skeptical, considering I had been to Emiliano’s before (and for a much more formal evening, Manuel’s Vintage Room), I figured why not take it for a spin?
The restaurant is essentially a house transformed into a place of dining. It’s home to good vibes, nice staff and is a killer place to set the mood for the night. If I can make a recommendation (and having been to the restaurant, I can definitely make a recommendation), get some damn sangria. If you haven’t imbibed a nice concoction of wine, fruit and heaven in your life, it’s time to grow up. It is straight de-loy-cious and The Fat Tuscan takes a creative twist on the classic elixir. While you’re at it, pair your sangria with some of their finely crafted bruschetta.
When it came the main dish, the Italian angels played their horns. Spiced beef pasta with three cheeses (fromage-a-trois?) went hard for the win. The pasta noodles were stuffed with ricotta and mozzarella and baked with marinara sauce. The spiced beef was tender and flavorful, topped with more gooey cheese and generously sprinkled with crispy prosciutto.
Via: explore352.com
My date wasn’t as stoked about her baked eggplant dish, mainly because it was scolding hot for the majority of our meal, but I have a mouth of steel and thoroughly enjoyed the bites I stole.
Is it worth a try? Most definitely. Just make sure you get the pitcher of sangria in case you burn your tongue.
Debora’s pick – Amelia’s
As a fan of all things carb-heavy and saucy, to say I was looking forward to trying Amelia’s would be an understatement.
I started off with the cioppino appetizer special. Cioppino is an Italian-American stew dish with fish, mussels, squid and octopus in a marinara-esque broth. The seafood was cooked to perfection, but the broth was disappointing. The menu described it as spicy so I was a little let down when I realized any and all kick came from the cayenne pepper sprinkled crostini.
My entree of choice was the ravioli al forno, which, translated, is baked ravioli. I vow to never just boil ravioli again, because baking it is clearly the move. The sauce was rich and the ricotta stuffed into the ravioli melted in my mouth. However, I could tell my ravioli had been sitting around for a bit. The parts of the ravioli uncovered by sauce were visibly cold and dry.
The culmination of my meal was easily the best part: a giant slice of cheesecake with a graham cracker crust. I heard angels singing, and it made my whatever entree and lying appetizer feel like obstacles to mouthgasms.
The service at Amelia’s was top-notch and my server was more than happy to accommodate separate checks, making multiple trips to our table to get them just right.
Maybe my expectations were too high going into the meal, but I walked away feeling “…meh.”
So that’s my review: “Amelia’s: meh stars, but so many thumbs up for their cheesecake.”
Kathryn’s pick - Francesca’s Trattoria
I was excited to visit Francesca’s Trattoria, especially because of the authentic Italian name. The room was a warm brown, and the small size of the restaurant made it more inviting if not romantic (which can be awkward when you’re with your roommate…) as the lights gave a candlelit “Lady and the Tramp” vibe.
Our waiter was patient as we poured over the expansive menu. Prices averaging around $16 make Trattoria’s more of a special occasion restaurant, so this may not be the average college student go-to.
I chose the mussels as an appetizer and fan favorite Pasta Massimo for my entree while my roommate ordered the Baked Ziti Romano. Bread was delivered immediately, which truly put the garlic in garlic bread. We were only given three pieces, which struck an OCD nerve, but portion sizes were redeemed upon receiving our meals. The mussels came in a marinara wine sauce, which was unexpected, because I’ve only had them in a white wine oil sauce. But let me tell you, the unexpected can be delicious. The mussels were tender and the sauces complemented them perfectly. I suggest this an appetizer choice, because they aren’t extremely filling.
The Gorgonzola sauce on my Pasta Massimo was almost too rich, but the chicken had this mysterious smoky vibe that balanced the complex flavors. My roommate’s ziti did the classic dish justice, with the marinara sauce stealing the show.
Whether it’s date night or a special anniversary, Francesca’s Trattoria will not disappoint. Bellissimo!
Morgan’s pick - Pomodoro Café
This authentic Italian eatery truly is one of Gainesville’s hidden gems, considering I had to rev up the old GPS to pinpoint its BFE location. Located on NW 39th Ave., I wouldn’t really consider it a quick bite. When planning your date night or a sexy three-course event of carbicide, plan on carving out at least 30 minutes travel time and chew it over with a Twix en route to this utopia of marinara and garlic-plated gold.
To kick things off, I went with a classic: the bruschetta Toscana. The garlic-seasoned crostini was flaky and the diced tomato and ricotta topping, refreshing bliss. However, it was the thin spread of mild, green pesto silently separating these layers that did me right. In between shoveling fistfuls of bread and balsamic-based sauce into my mouth, I ordered the popular frutti di’ mare seafood combo.
The piping hot bed of marinara-soaked linguini was complemented by a bountiful harvest of succulent shrimp, scallops, calamari, clams and mussels. It was decently spicy though, so those of you who can’t handle the heat might request an Alfredo sauce in place of the marinara.
I found the portion size to be a little overwhelming for one, but perfectly sharable for parties of two to three. Feeling preggo in the worst sense, I decided to skip out on dessert, but was told that the chocolate chip and whipped cream covered cannolis are oh so holy if you’re left craving more.
Overall, my experience was molto buona. Yes I did just Google Translate that, and yes it does mean “very good.” If you’re looking to make an evening out of a meal and indulge in a true Italian decadence, Pomodoro Café will do you right.
Jake’s pick – Vine Bread & Pasta
Like many, I’ve never actually turned left on to Main Street before so naturally I was a bit leery. Vine is impossible to miss because it’s literally beautiful. No analogies, no metaphors, it’s the cutest place left of East University.
The staff greets me and graciously gives me a run down of what this place is all about. Fresh flour, the cleanest water, the finest salts work to create the best load of bread I’ve ever had. The glass counter in front of me is layered with fresh pastries ranging from gluten-free cakes to coconut donuts. In the back is a chef hand-rolling fresh ravioli and tortellini. I always hated how tortellinis were so small, why couldn’t they just be bigger? Tortelloni, Jake, shut your mouth. I grabbed a fat loaf of bread and 2 packages of spinach fontina raviolis and it came out to $20 flat. (Easily 2 meals.) Boiled the raviolis in some water and didn’t even need any sauce. Totally fresh bra. They crank out different pastries and breads each week so check their Facebook page for new yummies as well as happy hour specials and live bands. Tis also a great place for coffee!
