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Cafe Barbosso Sarasota Tripadvisor Reviews
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25 Reviews
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Highly recommend for pizza
W have been looking for a great pizza each winter when we stay for 2 months in Siesta Key. I heard from another guest at our condo place about Barbosso and we decided to give it a try. We went on a Wednesday at 4:15 without a reservation and were seated promptly inside as we requested. We shared a pizza and a hot meatball sandwich and loved both! The crust is not too thin or too thick and cooked perfectly in their wood fired oven. We now have a pizza place here that we love and although a bit of a drive definitely worth it!! Our server Reese was very kind and attentive; please give him a shout out from us.
Be the first to ReplyA terrific go-to Italian Restaurant!
Fun decor + band outside on Saturday night; service was fun and over the top attentive, even though the restaurant was packed. The filet of sole, chicken parm, and especially the pasta bolognese wer just fantastic. An extra fun part is the prix fixe "chef's table" - a show worth watching (in which we did not participate for $100/head). Only flaw was the pasta with white clam sauce - too saucy with several small shell pieces. A terrific go-to Italian Restaurant!
Be the first to ReplyCafe Barbosso! All you need for a great evening!
I can’t say enough about Cafe Barbosso. As soon as you walk in, you are welcomed by an amazing staff and sometimes by Joe DiMaggio, the owner. The place is crowded with folks anxious to eat family recipes of great Italian food. We shared a tomato pie as an appetizer. It was delicious. We all enjoyed different entrees and shared bites of all. Everything was so good! We happened to stop in on a night when Joe was doing an 8 course menu for the lucky folks at the oval bar set in the middle of the restaurant. We will try that next time. There is original art from floor to ceiling that is for sale.. and when we were there, there were two local artists working on their paintings. And, if that is not enough for an evening, there was a great band playing outside. Local folks pulled up in their cars and pickups, brought out lawn chairs and ordered pizza from the Cafe. Great experience for anyone visiting Sarasota. MAKE RESERVATIONS!
Be the first to ReplyNonni may never have to again prepare her tedious 6 hour famous eggplant parm!!
So happy we found Joe’s place. And Joe was there, ensuring everyone was satisfied with service and Italian food unsurpassed in Sarasota county. Although it was our first visit, by the end of our extended meal (and live music, and dessert, it was obvious to us that his dedication and passion were the reason!
Be the first to ReplyA Fun Restaurant
A very lively Italian restaurant. Food is not bad but it is the ambiance and activity that make the place special. We were seated by 3 artists who were working on actual paintings. Outside there was a very good band playing. The only negative for the evening was we were sitting under an air vent that was blowing cold air down on us for the better part of our time there.As the restaurant was full, we could not be moved to another table. We were supposed to dine at something called the Chef's Table featuring 9 different courses. Unfortunately Joe, the person who was to prepare and deliver these foods ended up in the hospital the night before so the special dinner was cancelled. Apparently the Chef's Table is a real fun culinary experience. Next time!
Be the first to ReplyGood food and entertainment
We were there on a Friday evening. There was a really excellent jazz band playing. Service was very good. Food was authentic Italian and high quality.
Be the first to ReplyGroup gabfest
Great food and took two couples there for their first time. Busy but Rich did his best. food was great and delivered hot. All 8 of us had different dishes and all were happy with this choices.
Be the first to ReplyAlla famiglia!
Been coming to Siesta Key for decades. How have we never been here?! Instantly a favorite place we’ll come back to forever. LOVE isn’t strong enough for how we felt about Barbosso. The food is incredibly good and servings ridiculously large. She had spaghetti with meatballs and their house made sausage (extra fennel which we LOVE) and my bride, who makes her own amazing sauce with Roma tomatoes from her garden, fell in love with theirs. I had chicken scapariello and it was wonderful. Check my pics! As amazing as the food was, the service really tops it all. The associate general manager, Joseph, took care of us from the moment we walked in, and he was just wonderful. Felt like an old friend right away and he’s clearly old friends with lots of the folks who were dining around us. I was stunned at the number of people taking care of customers all over this sizable restaurant. I counted 15 staff at a glance just right in front of me. While other restaurants are struggling to find employees, this place has obviously figured out a formula for an engaged staff, who loves their work and team. The 17 piece jazz band just outside after dinner was a lovely surprise!
Be the first to ReplyFabulous Food with an Attitude
To say Cafe Barbosso is just another Italian restaurant with good food, is like saying the Louvre is just another museum with good art. Like the Louvre, Barbosso showcases works of art on its walls, but its one-of-a-kind masterpieces can be found on the menu. Barbosso has good food, to be sure, but it offers so much more than a culinary experience. It offers a unique, sensory experience…with an attitude. As you walk in the door, the atmosphere illuminates all of your senses. The place is humming. Visually, the walls are adorned with eclectic, colorful works of art. You also see works of art in progress, as local artists busy themselves with their canvases. Masterpieces in the works. The aroma of garlic and spices permeate your nostrils. The big band that greeted you outside is muffled by cheerful conversation and laughter from the patrons inside. Tables full of multigenerational folks, eating family style, like in the old country. Barbosso is a collision of good food, art, and music. It has a vibe all its own, which heightens all of your senses. The place has an energy that is impossible to manufacture. Its sassy attitude is authentic and playful. Your first hint of this attitude is on the shirts worn by the staff. They read: “Eat your pasta, mind your business, and pay your bill.” Yep, this ain’t Olive Garden. You don’t just see the place, or smell the place, or taste the place. You feel it. Barbosso is an immersive dining experience. You can’t help but feel happy while you are there, and immensely satisfied when you leave. What makes the place work so well is the staff. They are everywhere. The service is personal and engaging, without being annoying. From the greeters, to the wait staff, the bartenders, cooks and table setters, they are efficient and chatty, with sly smiles and amusing stories. Characters one and all. Some of the staff have been there since the place opened in 2016. The staff are an obvious extension of their exuberant boss, Chef Joe. To know Joe’s story, you just need to read the menu. It’s a great read while you enjoy your first cocktail. The crown jewel of Cafe Barbosso is the Chef’s Table, available on Wed, Thur, Fri, and Sat. An eight course meal fit for Kings and Queens. Chef Joe is clearly in his element as he meticulously dishes up each plate. No one dares touch their plate until everyone has been served and the master has introduced the dish. After all at the table have their course in front of them, Joe bellows out, “LET ME TELL YOU WHAT YOU ARE EATING!” He snaps off his latex serving gloves and shoots them across the room like rubber bands. This is where the attitude is personified… in its creator. Every dish has a story. Every ingredient, like the 40-year old balsamic, sourced from a prized domain known only to a privileged few. Joe says proudly, “The vegetables, basil, and micro greens come from a local organic farm, where we also get our marijuana.” You can tell he is only half joking. He probably doesn’t get all of his vegetables there. Joe explains the origins of the recipe of each dish. Many of the recipes are from a combination of the family restaurant he worked at as a child in Italy, and the authentic Italian restaurants he and every wise guy in NYC frequented in Brooklyn. When serving the dessert (by far the best Strawberry Short Cake I ever tasted), he bellows, “HOLLY SH*T PEOPLE! What is this?! How I wish I was you so I could make love to me!” The Chef’s Table is indeed a treat. 6:30 pm promptly. Limited seating. Reservations required. Book early. I doubt there are seats to be had when the snowbirds return. But worry not, if you can’t get a seat at the Chef’s Table, there are plenty of family-style tables and tables for two inside and outside on the patio. The patio is a particularly nice spot for enjoying the big band playing classics on the lawn outside. In fact, people come from all over Sarasota to tail gate the band and set up their lawn chairs on the sidewalks and grass outside of the cafe. No need to have reservations. No need to even be eating there. At Cafe Barbosso, it’s all about family and community. Here’s a secret tip. Pick a table just on the other side of the Chef’s Table. If there are any left overs after each course is served to those at the table, Joe is known to surreptitiously serve the leftovers to people sitting at the tables surrounding the Chef’s Table. No charge. Those diners lucky enough to be sitting on the periphery gasp like they just won the lottery. So go with your appetite, and with a good attitude. If you’re feeling down or pissy, don’t go. They won’t be having any of that. Just be prepared to bring home leftovers and need a full day to recover.
Be the first to ReplyThere Are Better Italian Restaurants
If you want big dishes of mediocre food, you should try this restaurant. Three of four of us were not happy with our meals. The place is noisy, hectic and uncomfortable. Meal was served too quickly, sometimes even before the previous dish was finished. Plates were generous but not great.
Be the first to ReplyA restaurant with a unique vibe!
The food is always delicious...the service is good...and the vibe of the restaurant is something everyone should experience!!!
Be the first to ReplyFantastic dining
Fantastic! Ordered chicken piccata entree with the bruschetta appetizer. Very tasty! Service was superb. Recommend reservations especially on weekends. Big band entertainment on Friday and Saturday outside.
Be the first to ReplyA great night out
We sat in the patio area, away from the crowded interior, and enjoyed the fresh air and thunderstorm. The octopus appetizer was almost a main course and absolutely delicious. Several drinks on the beverage menu were not available but the martinis we ordered were great. The pizza here is excellent, as was our service.
Be the first to ReplyI'LL PASS IT ON
We ordered the steamed Mussels appetizer half were closed and inedible. For dinner I ordered the Seafood Fra Diavolo Linguini Pasta, Clams, Mussels, Shrimp, Fresh Fish, Marinara Sauce $28.00 It came with 2 clams, 3 mussels, 2 shrimp a filet of fish broken into little pieces hidden in a half of pound of pasta. I have ordered this dish many times at different restaurants and received much more shellfish. I asked for the manager, Debbie came to the table I explained the problems with our food, she said, "I'LL PASS IT ON" and walked away. Rude. To top all this, when we received the check there was a $2.00 up charge for ROCKS. I asked the waiter what it was, he stated it was because I ordered my cocktail on the rocks. There are many more restaurants in Sarasota where you can get great meal and not be ripped off.
Be the first to ReplyWow! What a find. Friendly staff. Excellent food quality
Restaurant was busy. Was seated at bar area. Got the brusetta, veal Marsala and chicken piccata. All excellent! On weekends, many local folks set up their lawn chairs to view the jazz orchestra outside. A real find in Palmer Ranch. Would recommend!
Be the first to ReplyA bit disappointing
I enjoyed the premise of the artists painting as we dine. The atmosphere was high energy all around. A bit loud, but could easily have conversations.
The menu is excellent, many comfort items that I love. The service excellent and my choice of drink was exactly how I like it.
I chose the short ribs.
Unfortunately, disappointingly, the short ribs were tough enough to need a steak knife. One of the signature aspects of short ribs is that the meat falls off the bone and one doesn't need a knife at all. On top of that, I had 3 globs of fat from the meat that I spit out! The gravy/sauce had great depth of flavor, but I would never order that dish again. The Caesar Salad was a very bland flavor, not even worth eating......so I didn't. The tiramisu that came with the dinner, was excellent.
Extremely disappointed
We had a party of 17 to celebrate a family birthday, the waiter explains what they are out of. It would of been better to say what they had ( half the menu was off the list). Then they tell us that they ran out of bread, and all coke products. Our server did the best he could with our 17 top( he had 5 other tables by himself) it took 40 minutes for drinks, some food came out cold some came out 10-15 minutes after the the first dinner that arrived. I get there is a shortage of workers and things. However, this was 3.5 hours of not enjoying a night out. Nobody came to apologize about anything we did get a free order of breadsticks since they were out of bread. All was first time and everybody said it would be there last
Be the first to ReplyMediocre, heavy NY Italian style food and crude owner
We have eaten many times here since it’s a convenient location and we like to frequent and support local restaurants, especially when the virus has compromised so many small businesses. But after last night, we will not be supporting this business due to the extremely rude and disgusting owner. We have see Joe “in action” before and have dismissed his crude behavior. After a discussion over a poorly prepared entree went from a smiling (maybe not an appropriate one at this moment) comment by a customer to a F*** You by the owner, not only once but 3 times, no mediocre meal is worth treatment like this. Joe just couldn’t let it go and came back more than once with equally vulgar loud comments. A server came to me to explain Joe has personal problems but there is no excuse for an owner to swear at a guest. If he has problems, leave them before he comes through his door to welcome guests.
Took half hour to order our meal, unreasonable $7 up charge for additional spinach but left server 20% gratuity since we figured she has to take owner’s abuse, too. We will heed his advise never to frequent his restaurant again
although it wasn’t directed specifically toward us, but said with another F-bomb.
Chef's Table Is Fun and Interesting
Wow. The reviews for this place are all over the map. We took a party of 5 adults to the Chef's Table and came away suitably impressed. They served our 8 course meal over a 1.5 hour stretch and at no time did we feel like we were waiting or rushed. Great interaction with the owner/chef and he was able to customize a few things for my wife who is allergic to lobster. All in we were $150/person for the $80 per person dinner, drinks/wine and. tips. Loved the live art going on during dinner with 3 people paining while we were there. We will go back for a regular dinner some time to see how the measures up. Not quite 5 star, but pretty close.
Be the first to ReplyGreat food and customer service
WE have been fans of the restaurant since the beginning, but have limited our visits to take out during the pandemic. Their meals never disappoint, and on a recent order, our pizza was inadvertently left out. Debbie, the manager, was very apologetic and responsive and as repeat customers, left us feeling valued. We will continue to support this amazing restaurant.
Be the first to ReplyAmazing Food, Staff, and Atmosphere
Awesome NY Italian style restaurant. Great staff and the place is just fun. Music on Thursday thru Sunday. The place to go for special occasions or last minute dinner. Always excellent. Pizza is amazing.
Be the first to ReplyGreat for social ambiance & service. Food? Meh.
This is where to be if you want a fun, lively atmosphere & good service. There is often live music (a shame that locals who routinely enjoy this from the parking lot don't tip the musicians), and lots of people!
The place is always hopping! So go for the ambience, the art, the music, the buzzz & good service.
A few years ago, I sat at the bar (the server was outstanding) and had the meatballs, which were superb!
Alas, my recent meal was a disappointment but all else was good. My server was great but the meatballs? They were heavy -- like a golf ball. They were dense, & topped with an inelegant, cold glob, and I mean a cold glob of ricotta cheese. Meh. I will return for the ambiance, I will buy something, I will tip. But I might eat a sandwich before I go.
Fun funky atmosphere with good food
We enjoyed our visit to Cafe Barbosso last night. Bob, our waiter from NJ, was informative and helpful. It seemed that they might be short-handed because of our wait time between courses but that was fine with us as we were in no rush. It was enjoyable watching the artists work on their pieces while we waited. We started our meal with six clams oreganata, which were delicious! We followed that up with an assortment of entrees, including chicken cutlet parm, eggplant, and a pasta dish as well as a margarita pizza. We felt the eggplant was the least successful of the dishes. The eggplant slices were very thin and when stacked with the cheese and sauce, had become mushy (something other reviewers mentioned but I love eggplant and needed to see for myself.) The chicken cutlets were flavorful and very well cooked but needed more sauce, next time we'll ask for extra. The pasta dish and pizza were very well done. Our guests were happy to find a new pizza option near their home.
We will be back to this fun restaurant to try some of the other dishes.
Gone downhill
4 or 5 years ago it was great
Went tonight for the first time in a couple of years. Awful. Server was terrible, food was bad to mediocre. I couldn’t eat my pizza because the huge pieces of sun dried tomatoes were not edible, way tough and chewy. I couldn’t even cut them, she asked if I needed a sharper knife????? Wtf? Asked for an extra napkin 5 times
I am a server myself, not a prima donna, I know bad food and bad service
Let’s start with why you not only go to a restaurant, but, in this particular case, the “Chef’s Table,” a place traditionally th
Let’s start with why you not only go to a restaurant, but, in this particular case, the “Chef’s Table,” a place traditionally that means food well above average, extraordinary. And while the focus is on innovation, which is a good idea, the execution for a particular, but important reason, falls short of making a meal here, “memorable.” One word tells the story. Spices. And more particularly garlic. The food was bland. And, given the clientele, intentionally so. That’s what they want (apparently) and that is what they get. Again, the different dishes are creative, no argument there. They just lack panache, zing. The atmosphere is what you bargained for. Somewhat noisy, but you are surrounded by artwork prepared by local artists, most of it at least interesting. The chef, also the proprietor, related that over the years they have sold almost $4 million dollars of art work, not a bad “sideline.” And he himself is a very gifted artist, note the stunning Audrey rendering. An interesting aspect of the operation, and this deserves a “thumbs up,” is that they don’t charge a corkage fee. Good for them. We would return if they changed their approach, specifically, amped up the seasonings. But, given their obvious success with their current game plan, one doubts they will do so.
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