4 of us had a recent dinner here. It's a casual place in a strip mall. They serve beer and wine, but do not serve liquor. Their appetizer special was fantastic, fiori di zucca fritti. As others have commented, the homemade pasta is fantastic. We...each had a different dish, and all were very good. Our waiter had a good knowledge of the fairly extensive Italians wines, and his recommendation was spot on. We'll be back! In high season, reservations are a must, and they fill up weeks in advance. So plan accordingly.More

I love the ambiance! It is charming & intimate. The menu had so many wonderful choices that I had a hard time choosing, but decided on the duck confit. Many of the items were cooked sous vide, the duck confit being one. It was delectable!...My guest ordered the Branzino, also cooked sous vide and she said it was "excellent". There were 2 problems though, that have me rating this a 4 out of 5 vs a 5: The hostess as well as our server, although very professional, seemed not happy to be there. There was a hard edge to their demeanor. The other aspect is that my guests spaghetti was over-cooked to the point of being "mush", as she described it. Our server did make a new batch that was then done perfectly. The market is what one walks into first and that looked very inviting. I did take a closer look before leaving and I will definitely shop there for specialty items in the future.More

Surprising little spot in an unlikely office like building. The restaurant is attached to an Italian market that is really nice. Only 44 seats in this rustic Italian bistro, so make a reservation. The pasta is all homemade and absolutely scrumptious. No wonder, as the...owners are from Parma, the breadbasket of Italy. The menu is very large, compared to the size of the place. Many lovely northern Italian dishes, but also lamb chops and steak on the menu. Not much atmosphere, but with this food, who needs it?More

Simply the BEST Italian restaurant in this part of the state -or maybe the entire state. Based on multiple visits, dating back to its first days at the previous location, La Violetta delivers, time and time again, a superb experience in a boutique setting. Our...tastebuds have been pampered with delicious dishes such as the mushroom soup, made-on-premises pastas, esp. caramelli, tortellini and gnudi, each in a lip-smacking sauce, ossobucco, filet Mignon with foie gras and truffles, branzino sous vide, pasta frutti di mare and, for dessert, the chocolate tartufo. And then any of their specials of the day and a compact array of superb red wines, most of these from small wineries, true under-reported gems. Not once, in years, has there been a miss. Bout what makes this place so special is the “package” that surrounds the meals: the warm welcome, the attentive, well-informed service, the casual yet smart atmosphere and, not to be overlooked, the easy parking. Pricey, but you get a mouth-watering bang-on dining experience for the bucks.More

I would not ever go back to this restaurant, I could have choked on the shells left in my zuppa de Pesci because they must put the shell fish through a machine in order to prepare this dish . They also overcharged me after I...signed the bill, which is reprehensible.More

Nice selection of dishes from all over Italy, including some rarely found, as "trippa alla Fiorentina". Homemade pasta. Excellent!

Great experience and will be back soon. Our server was very friendly and made sure we had everything we needed to have a great dinner.

This was our first dining experience since Emilio and Rosario changed the name and location of the their authentic and wonderful Italian restaurant. The new location includes an Italian food market, which is where we will shop when we want to create our own Italian...meals. We like the atmosphere of the new restaurant. It is cozy and casual. The food and service continue to top notch. Our waiter was friendly, helpful and very funny. He made our evening with our friends even more fun. I ordered the rack of lamb, which was perfectly cooked to the temperature that I prefer. My wife had the Tris Di Ravioli, which she loved. Our friends had the pasta special, of which they were very happy. We will definitely return.More

This was our first time dining at the new location after having dined several times at the former location, including under its former name La Scarpetta. I am happy to say that nothing has been loss in the transition. The cuisine remains authentic, creative and...excellent and the service is very good. It is our favorite Italian restaurant in Sarasota.More

So we were on a vacation. It was recommended by a friend of ours so we had high expectations. The place is looking nice , decorations all over the place they have a market but its very overpriced. So sbout the restaurant part server was...knowledgeable but after the order didnt give any attention us. He seemed to enjoy talking with other tables but didnt want to talk with us more than needed. Food was good i had one of their fish , my mom asked for well done lamb but it was medium. By the time i got my fish it was luke warm, for that price its not acceptable. Sadly a bad experience.More

Pleasant ambience, good service and delicious food. The caprese salad was outstanding, although having the traditional oil and vinegar bottles on each table would have been a nice addition. The pasta frutti di mare was good, although the seafood seemed overcooked, and the ravioli trio...was excellent. I ordered a glass of a very pleasant chianti, but was disappointed by the meagre pour.More

We have only dined here twice but both times it has been an excellent experience. Wonderful authentic Italian cruising and sincere service as well. Wonderful wines served. Gracious and happy owners to welcome you to an extraordinary meal. Everything we have had has not disappointed...us!More