Professional staff and amazing Italian food. What more can you ask for? Carmelo's Italian Ristorante has brought great Italian dining to Punta Gorda FL and the word is out. The place has been packed since the day they opened, fortunately they take reservations. You will love it. This is probably the best Italian restaurant in Charlotte county if not Southwest Florida.

Dining in Punta Gorda, Fl., has just become more exciting and diverse now that Carmelo's Italian Restaurant has opened in the downtown Historic District of Punta Gorda.

This past Saturday evening, as we were passing through Punta Gorda on our way home, we happened to notice that Carmelo's Italian Restaurant was open for dinner. Being a little early, and before the "peak" dining hours without having made a reservation on a busy Saturday evening "in season," we decided to chance it and see if we would be able to slip in for dinner.
As luck would have it, a table was available, without wait and we were seated at a comfortable table for two in this newly and tastefully decorated restaurant.

The wait staff had our table set immediately with a bottle of ice cold water and took our order for two glasses of the house Chianti were ordered, which proved to be a good choice. The menu selections offered something for every palate and taste, and at a reasonable price.

I choose to start my dinner with a bowl of Pasta E Fagioli followed by Chicken Parmigiani with pasta with Pomodoro sauce along with a side salad of mixed greens. My companion decided upon the Chicken Marsala sautéed with mushrooms in a sweet Marsala wine, with pasta, and a mixed greens salad. She chose with great difficulty as she wanted a "Whitman Sampler" of several dinner choices offered, but she chose wisely, as did I, as both of our dinners were well prepared and presented.

And upon my inquiry, we were told that although the menu did not offer Chicken Francaise (one of my personal favorites) that the Chef could accommodate that request at a future visit. During my next visit to Carmelo's, (hopefully soon) I will definitely have the Chicken Francaise.

Carmelo's Italian Ristorante is a very welcomed addition to the many dining choices that we have in this harbor front city in SW Florida and I encourage everyone who enjoys fine Italian food to stop in and enjoy their favorite Italian meal. I doubt that you'll be disappointed.
Bon Appetite !