Outstanding! Best paella I have ever had, even better than in Spain and that's saying something. Randy had a huge portion of homemade lasagna with spinach. Generous portions and an excellent wine selection.
(5)
Jody R.
We decided to try Ariani's on the basis of other reviews and we're so happy we did. First of all the place is charming in a throwback Italian way. Owned by a lovely husband and wife team. She works the front of the house and he is the head chef. Our entire meals were delicious, so much so that we are going back again tonight on our last night here. We shared a Caesar salad and enjoyed the house bread while waiting for our entrees. DH had a special that he adored. I had the chicken, veal, shrimp parmigiana trio. Wow. The location behind a DQ is the only negative, but don't let that stop you from a delicious dining experience.
(5)
Valerie D.
I dunno about this place. I stopped in to grab a to-go order and I was not impressed. When I walked in there was no one to be found, just a tv blaring an instructional DVD of the chef, while staring at about 100 pictures of himself on the wall. Stood there for about 5 min, until someone came over, only because another patron saw me and told the waiter, but was ignored when a couple of regulars came in behind me. Great! I decided to order since I was hungry. ordered baked ziti and it was decently priced . No offense, but the ziti platter from Dominos tastes better than the crap I was served. Severely undercooked pasta, the sauce was not fresh and there was only a small sprinkling of mozerella. Not interested in going back, if I want bad Italian food and a cook who thinks so highly of themselves, I'll just go to my aunt's house for dinner.
(1)
Wing W.
Date visited: March 13th, 2010. This review is purely regarding decor and the treatment my wife and I got at the restraunt. We never made it to the table. My wife and I decided to give this establishment a try based on positive recommendations from some local friends. This was a special night for us, so we thought Italian would be nice. When we drove up, we saw an abundance of flashing neon indicating that this was, in fact, an italian restraunt. We parked and approached the front doors to be greeted by large signage promoting the chef's instructional DVD(s) around the posted menu. Ignoring the flashing neon and the DVD advertisements, the exterior of the restraunt looked fine. Upon entering, there were no greeters or employees to be seen. More large signage indicating that DVD(s) are for sale, and that learning to cook will make one a better lover. By now, my wife and I were starting to get some weird vibes. Another group enters behind us, who appear to be some twenty or so years our senior. After a few minutes of waiting, a female hostess appears and after glancing between me and my wife, and the larger party, she begins to address the larger party before I indicate that we had arrived first. She turns to me, asks tersely, if we had a reservation and when I indicated that I did not, she asked us to wait "over there" and immediately begin to talk to and address the larger group, addressing one another by first name, and immediately seats them. No mention of reservation was ever made. My wife and I both left, and wrote it off. However, after relating the event to some local friends, they were puzzled because they had never heard mention of needing a reservation at that restraunt before. My wife and I can appear younger than we look and we are a mixed couple. A part of me wonders whether either of these characteristics contributed to our terse and somewhat bewildering treatment. Rather than have it ruin our evening, we spent our money elsewhere. Because of our treatment and the conflicting message of the restraunt, I cannot recommend this place. The daytime photos Susan B. provided are representative. Nighttime photos should be provided as well, but we're basically done with this restraunt. Regarding the menu: Appetizers ranged from between $5-$10. Main dishes ranged from between $15-$30. The wine list looks extensive and the entrees they served were all quite enticing. It is truly unfortunate that we were not able to partake of the restraunt's offerings. Regarding attire: The customers we saw entering and leaving, while we waited, all appeared to be dressed casually. White t-shirts, slacks and/or shorts, dresses/skirts. The hostess was dressed in a black jacket/pants combination.
(1)
James W.
So, ok, yeah, the decor is dated, but the place is very clean and the food, overall, is pretty good. Now, don't get all turned off, but their liver is the item to order. You can't believe how well they prepare it. Negatives are the only veggie is spinach and their house salad isn't so great. Order the caeser salad instead. Over time, the prices seem to have crept up. We've stopped going as often, as a result.
(4)
Susan B.
Hidden in the Del Prado mall, a taste of Northern Italy can be found in Ariani's Restaurant. Easily one of the best restaurants in SW Florida, hosts Dario and Alice Zuljani have spent over 25 years serving exceptional food and welcoming guests. If you have never been there, it's a must. If you've already been there, you know what I'm talking about. Try the filet with escargot! Wow!
WOW. So gooood I had to get the DVD to try to replicate some entrees. I would marry Chef Dario just for the food orgasms. I ordered the Veal Scaloppine Marsala & Mushroom, which is veal seasoned and sauteed with mushroom and marsala demiglace sauce. Outstanding! I can see how Ariani Restaurant was voted one of the top 500 restaurants in Florida. Aside from the amazing food, the restaurant has a lovely ambiance. The chef walked around and greeted everyone, how many restaurants have their own chefs walk around to ask about their customers' opinions? I personally vote Ariani as the best Italian restaurant in Florida.
(5)
Steve M.
Outstanding, in my view easily the best restaurant in Cape Coral or Ft. Myers area. My wife and I split the Chilean Sea Bass, with spinach and pasta, and it was wonderful. More than enough for 2. Gianni, our waiter, was a real pro. The chef checked in with us and was delightful. You will be very pleased.
(5)
Janice M.
Wonderful. Nice atmosphere, decent wine be the glass, excellent food and they were really good about adjusting items for our dietary needs. They really appreciated us as customers and so we will be back certainly!
(5)
Larry B.
Terrific Italian restaurant. Great service. Awesome Italian dishes. Great specials. Their sausage is to die for. Would go back here more often except for one thing( I hope they read these reviews) the bread is excellent but never heard of a first class Italian restaurant that did not offer olive oil for dipping. They have it but charge for it?? Prices are high enough that it should be available with the bread. My goodness go to Carrabas and check it out. Oil and spices! 5 stars otherwise! Chef or owner great! Wait staff Great! The oil thing is just a "principle " thing!
(4)
Aviva L.
Delicious food, amazing desserts and a fantastic waitstaff. My husband had the eggplant parm and he cleaned his plate. I had the zuppa di mare and it had some of the best cooked mussels and shrimp I've ever had in that dish. Thank you for an excellent dinner on our visit from Chicago :)
(5)
L L.
My parents were referred to this restaurant so we went for dinner on a Saturday night. We did not have a reservation but they pleasantly accommodated us quickly with a table. Note: make a reservation for Saturday nights, especially in the winter. Every person that we encountered looked us in the eye and exchanged pleasantries. We started with the escargot, which were HUGE and on toast points and a delish sauce. We also shared the antipasto a that had a tasty dressing. Dad had the salmon with lump crab meat, asparagus and sauce. He liked, but not loved it. I had the tuna steak, rare, which was fantastic and my dad said he wishes he ordered it. Both of the fish dishes came with spinach and a pasta with clam sauce. Dishes were in the $22 range and I feel that it's a fair price for the amount of food given. Mom had the veal with the artichoke and lemon and loved it. I'd give it 5 stars but my parents said the martinis were watery.
(4)
Babbity R.
My husband grew up in Cape Coral. I lived there for 10 years. I can't believe we never ate here! Perhaps the building and location gave us the impression that it wouldn't be very good. I don't know. But now we feel like we really missed out on something incredible! During a recent visit to Grandma's, my husband and I were able to snag one of those elusive date nights that parents of 4 children rarely seem to get. We wanted to go somewhere nice so we checked Yelp and some other websites for reviews. When we saw this place listed with good reviews we decided to give it a try. I ordered the chicken parmesan, which is my standby if nothing else captures my interest. It was perfect. The BEST chicken parmesan I may have ever eaten. Even better than Moms. Now THAT is hard to beat! I can't remember now what my husband ordered, but he loved it! I think it was seafood? Our waitress was very nice. Near the end of our meal she asked if it was our anniversary or a special celebration. When we told her it was just a date she disappeared into the kitchen and came back with a huge dessert to share. She told us that we looked like we were enjoying each others company so much, like we were so in love, so this dessert was on the house. It was our first taste of rum cake and it was incredible!! If we ever get a date night again while visiting Grandma, you'll know where to find us!
(5)
Krista M.
Stumbled into this restaurant after a long road trip and seeking something other than fast food. The DQ beckoned as we were extremely hungry and wanting something relatively quickly but we already had our chocolate malts for the day so a fancy looking strip mall Italian restaurant won the dining battle. We read the full menu on the wall outside to make sure we were game and while the prices seemed a bit on the higher side, we decided it would be worth it to have something fresh and different. Our host seemed new to the game - not very comfortable with the menu or the computer and it took a rather long time for him to take our order. We watched the video of the owner/chef cooking delicious looking meals (a DVD you can purchase at the counter), admired the map of a region in Italy that is named by regional dish (nice kitsch touch) and a 3-D framed review of the restaurant. After running out of things to glance at our host completed our to-go order and then motioned for us to go to the bar area to wait for our meal. We ordered the penne pasta with fresh mushrooms/broccoli, an order of fried calamari (one of the house specials) with marinera sauce and a minestrone soup. The cocktails/wine/drink menu was extensive but we were tired/driving so a 'near beer' and cranberry spritzer it was. The bar was certainly lively with the boisterous, snozzled owner introducing himself to everyone, telling stories about how he acquired his big, new tv for the restaurant, and bits and pieces about people in the community etc. We were definitely entertained during the wait while the barkeep (very sweet, quiet) kept things steady and drinks flowing. Finally our meal arrived and we were off! The calamari was tasty but didn't seem fresh and the marinera standard fare. The vegetarian pasta was nicely done but a bit on the bland side (perhaps it's not what they're known for - seems the lasagna is the popular item in most reviews) and rather standard fare for the price. Sadly they forgot to include the minestrone soup so don't know if that was the stellar menu item and the bread was a little on the dense/borderline stale side - not what I'd expect from a more upscale Italian restaurant. Happy to have tried it out. I think the key is to eat in in the cozy dining room area and enjoy the full experience w. wine, digestif afterwards etc.
(3)
Diana G.
This place is AWESOME!!! been there at least 5 times and each time has been a great experience. The staff knows how to treat their customers and the food is FRESH!!! and tasty! Really good Italian food.
(5)
Melis W.
This place has been around for a long time. It's a dinosaur and it shows. I think they still employ the original waitstaff. They're good, but kind of forgetful, and really slow. I really question all the good reviews...but, this is Cape Coral, not a place full of people with discerning tastes. I Wanted so much more from this place. I wanted to like it, but it's a little too old school, and not in a good way. I guess the scented candle at the host station ( "5 o'clock shadow" fragrance) should have been a warning. Who doesn't know scented candles don't belong near food, let alone a restaurant. The food is cooked well, but flavor is just not there. The sides and sauces taste like they're either frozen or from a box. They've either opted for cheap ingredients or just take too many short cuts. Other places have popped up in the area doing Italian food a lot better. When they're clientele finally dies off, so will this place.
(2)
Jeff P.
The service was attentive, but the service was awkward, forgetful, and a little distracted. The service from bus staff for water, and bar for drinks was excellent. The food was top-notch: the chef obviously invested time selecting fresh ingredients and invested time in the preparations. Chef also took time to inquire as to our table's satisfaction with the meals and was very engaging. There was a good wine selection and a warm atmosphere that leans more toward family-Italian that formal. This could easily become a favorite.
(4)
Frank C.
Had a very good meal here. The service was very attentive and the atmosphere was comfortable and inviting. The chef circulated around the tables welcoming diners and later asking about the quality of food and service. We had a broccoli rabe and sausage appetizer that was perfect. The broccoli was sweet and the amount of garlic used was just right. I had a dish of chicken, sausage and shrimp served in a light risotto that was very good. The portion was huge. My wife had the baby lamb chops that were cooked to order and tender. Sister had the eggplant and seemed to enjoy it. I am not sure what Tony had, but I am pretty sure he enjoyed it. The bread was fairly good. Had to ask that they bring out oil for the bread. It was seasoned very well. Otherwise they serve the bread with tin foil butter. This is very good Italian for SW Florida. I will certainly return next year.
(4)
Denise D.
My favorite restaurant in Lee County. I have never had a bad meal here. My favorite is the filet mignon with escargot on top. Although I consider it more of an upscale restaurant for our area, I'm always surprised to see people walking in with shorts and flip-flops. Maybe since I am a former New Yorker I expect people to dress a little bit when they're going to a nice restaurant. I don't drink so I can't tell you anything about their wine menu but I've come with people who said the wine was very good. It is a little pricey for a lot people (but so worth it) so it's kind of a special occasion restaurant for our family.
(5)
Lori F.
Excellent service Maria is the best!! Food is out of this world!! Order the lasagna with meatballs and the garlic n oil penne pasta was highly recommend!!
(5)
Erik S.
This is hands down the best Italian restaurant in the entire area, Fort Myers included. Everything we've eaten here has been stellar, from simple appetizers to the Beef Wellington. Definitely ask if the chef can make some recommendations: Chef Dario is one if the most entertaining and happy people you will ever meet and is always enthusiastic about his recommendations. His wife Alice is equally charming. Don't let the look of the building or the location fool you: There is some serious food and professional service happening inside. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
(5)
Oleg S.
The food was just ok nothing special. We had steak which was dry and chewy. We also had chicken Marsala which was just plain. I think they don't marinate their meat and just put it on gril and serve it to people. I was expecting much better service and meals from them. Also if you come with 5 people they will include 20% tip in your bill.
(2)
Angela B.
Stumbled across this place accidentally- I was hungry and killing time while my kid was at the gym across the lot. From the moment I walked in, the service, atmosphere and of course- the food was amazing. The paella was incredibly good, portion was way too much to eat at one meal, and the chef/owner was very engaged with the customers. Definitely a new favorite!
(5)
Nic Z.
Ariani's is... interesting. To give a little back-story, my parents came here last winter, and the first thing the owner said to them was, "Do you speak English?" hah... They don't look foreign and certainly speak English. I'm not sure whether I would walk out or laugh it off. Their entire dining experience was one disaster after another, from drink to entrees - even dessert - and my dad never wanted to come back. My mom decided to give it another shot this year, and I tagged along. The food is really nothing special, prices are higher than they should be, but it has a nice atmosphere inside; that's probably all it has going for it. Our server consistently disappeared for 15-20 minute stretches, so this is not a place to have dinner in an hour -- count on two, at least. I don't think any of us will be coming again.
(3)
Vincent E.
Real good basic Italian place. Seated per our reservation. Artichoke heart and spinach appetizer was phenomenal.. Main course was very good. I wasn't crazy for the type of sausage they use..it was almost like a store bought polish kielbasa, but other than that, overall it was as very good. Staff and service was fast and courteous.. If I'm back in the area I will definitely go and I recommend u try it..
(4)
Jah M.
If your looking for a stellar Italian meal in an intimate Italian atmosphere, you can't beat Ariani's. Chef Dario and his elite team of professional servers will impress you. Its a smaller restaurant so I do recommend reservations, but they also have med and large functions rooms for larger family celebrations. The food and wine is top notch, and its common around 8pm to have chef Dario to come out to sing and great his customers. I been there several times and never disappointed. I recommend this restaurant for special occasions. They always know how to make you feel special.
(5)
Melissa S.
My husband and I just moved in a couple of blocks away and decided to walk here for dinner after seeing the positive reviews on Yelp. The outside of the restaurant isn't particularly appealing, and unfortunately it seems that the employees use the tables out front as their "break" area. It is dark and intimate inside the restaurant, and quite quiet. Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. We were a little surprised at the price of the items on the menu, as we were expecting a less expensive dinner according to the "price range" on Yelp. I ordered one of the most affordable menu items ($19), the Eggplant Parmesean. It was quite good, maybe a little too much cheese, but it came with the most delicious spinach I have ever tasted. My husband ordered the lasagna, which he enjoyed, but again the spinach was to die for. We ordered a cannoli to finish, which was good. This restaurant was good, but I am not eagerly awaiting my next visit.
(3)
Scott M.
we took a party of 20 plus people to Ariani's during the week. They handled the party without notice. Food was great. The Owner/chef is very enthusiastic. It's a great place to enjoy food and friends.
(5)
Kim C.
Great service and great food!! Thank you for helping to make our parents 60th anniversary a wonderful celebration!!
(5)
Scott G.
I have lived in Cape Coral for more than 30 years and have often passed by the establishment without ever giving them a try. We are regulars at Papa Joe's on Cape Coral Pkwy and were always told that Ariani's was a fancy version of Papa's. Since it was the 25th wedding anniversary for my wife and me we decided to go for the fancier option and went to Araini's for dinner. They say first impressions are the most important impression and ours was not good. As we walked in there were three waiters standing outside of the front door smoking cigarettes, in their tuxedo shirts. They must have an area away from guests to use as a break area, is what I thought. We made our way through the cloud of smoke and into the door what we found seemed to be a fairly nicely decorated restaurant. The decor was nice and kind of felt like a little bit of Italy. The place appeared to be clean but reeks of cigarette smoke, probably from the employees standing directly outside of the door smoking cigarettes. We were not immediately greeted at the door by a hostess but after about three or four minutes of waiting, finally a young lady came and took us to a table. The menu was good and the prices were about what I would expect from the reputation that I've heard of this place. I found the wine list to be quite limited compared to the offerings of the dinner menu and based on their reputation for being a fancier restaurant. The food was good not great. Nothing that would make me say wow I need to come back and have this again. Our server was accommodating and friendly, she will be the most memorable experience from this restaurant. So my recommendation would be if you looking for a place with nice ambience and a fancier feel for special occasion, Ariani's will due. If you are looking for a gourmet meal with a nice glass of wine, I would try someplace else.
(3)
Abigail F.
I've known people in Cape Coral who shied away from Ariani because they thought it may be TOO upscale. I would agree that compared to other Italian establishments I've been to this one is more of a fine dining experience. But we went with a 1 year old and a 4 year old and the staff as well as Chef Dario himself were extremely family friendly. SO don't be shy about trying the place. I ordered the pork medallions. They were excellent. Hubby had the veal parm and was pleased. We also had dessert but for the life of me don't remember exactly what we each tried! Wait a sec, I think I had Tiramusa. And he had chocolate cake. And we shared. Anyways! Give it a try. Its good. I'm not saying its the best Italian in SW Florida, but is among the best of an overall limited selection. And its northern Italian style is unique.
(4)
Ivana D.
Hands down one of the best Italian meals I've had in years. I hadn't been here since I was a kid in 1998. However, when a restaurant is in business for two decades, like Ariani, you the food is good. Our server was extremely pleasant and made excellent suggestions. The chef came to our table and was generous, too. Very pleasant atmosphere, and worth every penny.
(5)
Andrea P.
I expected the food to better after reading the reviews. The food wasn't good and the waiter was very helpful with the menu. He kept telling us "there's going to be an extra charge for that" with everything we asked for.
(2)
Shannon O.
The seasoned olive oil dipping mixture is a must! We visited Ariani in March, 2011 while In town to house-hunt. Very hungry we came across this restaurant. Reviews kept us intrigued. The exterior and interior decor is dark and dated but the food is wonderful. We were given butter with our table bread and inquired about olive oil instead. The seasoned olive oil is served warm. It's unbelievable! A totally hidden secret and completely addicting. I'd never had that way and couldn't top eating it. Our appetizers and entrees were equally delicious. Our server made a very satisfying wine choice for us. The service until dessert was excellent - then something went wrong, we waited 15+ minutes for our dessert delivered by another server. We never saw our first server at our table the rest of the evening. While apologetic, the staff didn't quite pull the service level back up...we waited long for our check too. 5-star potential, make the investment and update the decor design - inside and out.
(4)
Filip D.
I invited my neighbor to his favorite restaurant: Ariani's. When entering, I couldn't believe my eyes: this looks like a place from the 70's. BUT the food is wonderful. I had the 'Lamboco', a giant slowly cooked lamb chop with a wonderful sauce. This is an ideal restaurant for people who are open to learning something more from the Italian kitchen than the world wide spread 'pizzas' and 'spaghettis', things that mostly belong to what I consider as fast food kitchen. I heart that the Chef sometimes sings for his guests... o sole mio, mama mia!!
(5)
Dave J.
One of the best Italian restaurants in all of southwest Florida. In fact, my dad and I enjoyed this place SO much, we ate there TWO nights in a row. He's going to be a regular diner there, and I would be, except I live in Chicago most of the time. But when I visit him, it will definitely be on my list of places to visit. Let me tell you why. I wasn't impressed intially when I walked into the place. It was dark, it was quiet. And there was no one up front to greet us. A minute or so later, we were warmly greeted and led to the dining room. While it was still a bit dark, there was a great looking mural of an old Italian fishing village on the wall. The mural depicts the village of Ariani, where the chef is originally from. Our waiter, Chris was, to say the least, enthusiastic, friendly, and very knowledgeable. He's the one who told us about the mural, and spoke with pride and admiration about the chef and how we couldn't go wrong ordering anything off the menu. There were two menus, actually. One was a listing of daily specials, maybe a dozen or so pasta, meat, chicken, and fish dishes. Chris explained that the specials menu changed every few days or so. The regular menu had the appetizers, and nice selection of meat, fish, chicken, and pasta dishes. One of the items that stood out was the Schnitzel. Schnitzel? In an Italian restaurant? Chris explained that due to the large number of German tourists to the Southwest Florida region, the chef thought it prudent to cater to their tastes as well. Nice touch. As appetizing as the Schnitzel sounded, I opted instead for the Lasagna, which was featured on the specials menu. My dad ordered the Chicken Marsala. Both dishes were plentiful in quantity and excellent in quality. Dad has a small appetite, but his meal was SO good, he ate it all. I haven't seen him become a member of the "clean plate club" in a very long time. AND he was still hungry for dessert! We opted for the Napoleon on the dessert menu. It was light, sweet, and delicious! I was surprised I still had room for dessert too! The chef came out to greet us, on both nights of our visit. My dad enjoyed the lasagna on the second night, and I tried the veal saltimbocca...again, an excellent and well prepared dish. It is a bit pricey, but for food of this exceptional quality, you can justify paying a bit more. If I lived in SW Florida on a full time basis, I can easily see being a customer here at least once a week. And it's a great place to bring family and friends for solid, delicious, and plentiful Italian food!
(5)
Khristina T.
Great Italian restaurant. The food choices are delicious and unique. The chef comes around and greets all the guests. We will definitely be back
(5)
Ashley M.
Would love to go back! Went over the weekend for a cocktail hour with my boyfriend and a group he is in. We had calamari, bruschetta, and caprese salad. It was all delicious! I wish we would have stayed for dinner. I will be going back sometime to try out their food! I have heard nothing but good about ariani!
(5)
Caitlyn S.
A great Italian restaurant and a must try. The service is great but do not expect to eat and be done under an hour, this is truly a dining experience restaurant. The food is always delicious and never disappoints. I feel at home here, they treat you like family!!
(4)
Matt M.
Great lambbocca. Service is amazing. The owner is hilarious
(5)
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
Address :1529 SE 15th Terrace
Cape Coral, FL, 33990
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Jamie S.
Outstanding! Best paella I have ever had, even better than in Spain and that's saying something. Randy had a huge portion of homemade lasagna with spinach. Generous portions and an excellent wine selection.
(5)Jody R.
We decided to try Ariani's on the basis of other reviews and we're so happy we did. First of all the place is charming in a throwback Italian way. Owned by a lovely husband and wife team. She works the front of the house and he is the head chef. Our entire meals were delicious, so much so that we are going back again tonight on our last night here. We shared a Caesar salad and enjoyed the house bread while waiting for our entrees. DH had a special that he adored. I had the chicken, veal, shrimp parmigiana trio. Wow. The location behind a DQ is the only negative, but don't let that stop you from a delicious dining experience.
(5)Valerie D.
I dunno about this place. I stopped in to grab a to-go order and I was not impressed. When I walked in there was no one to be found, just a tv blaring an instructional DVD of the chef, while staring at about 100 pictures of himself on the wall. Stood there for about 5 min, until someone came over, only because another patron saw me and told the waiter, but was ignored when a couple of regulars came in behind me. Great! I decided to order since I was hungry. ordered baked ziti and it was decently priced . No offense, but the ziti platter from Dominos tastes better than the crap I was served. Severely undercooked pasta, the sauce was not fresh and there was only a small sprinkling of mozerella. Not interested in going back, if I want bad Italian food and a cook who thinks so highly of themselves, I'll just go to my aunt's house for dinner.
(1)Wing W.
Date visited: March 13th, 2010. This review is purely regarding decor and the treatment my wife and I got at the restraunt. We never made it to the table. My wife and I decided to give this establishment a try based on positive recommendations from some local friends. This was a special night for us, so we thought Italian would be nice. When we drove up, we saw an abundance of flashing neon indicating that this was, in fact, an italian restraunt. We parked and approached the front doors to be greeted by large signage promoting the chef's instructional DVD(s) around the posted menu. Ignoring the flashing neon and the DVD advertisements, the exterior of the restraunt looked fine. Upon entering, there were no greeters or employees to be seen. More large signage indicating that DVD(s) are for sale, and that learning to cook will make one a better lover. By now, my wife and I were starting to get some weird vibes. Another group enters behind us, who appear to be some twenty or so years our senior. After a few minutes of waiting, a female hostess appears and after glancing between me and my wife, and the larger party, she begins to address the larger party before I indicate that we had arrived first. She turns to me, asks tersely, if we had a reservation and when I indicated that I did not, she asked us to wait "over there" and immediately begin to talk to and address the larger group, addressing one another by first name, and immediately seats them. No mention of reservation was ever made. My wife and I both left, and wrote it off. However, after relating the event to some local friends, they were puzzled because they had never heard mention of needing a reservation at that restraunt before. My wife and I can appear younger than we look and we are a mixed couple. A part of me wonders whether either of these characteristics contributed to our terse and somewhat bewildering treatment. Rather than have it ruin our evening, we spent our money elsewhere. Because of our treatment and the conflicting message of the restraunt, I cannot recommend this place. The daytime photos Susan B. provided are representative. Nighttime photos should be provided as well, but we're basically done with this restraunt. Regarding the menu: Appetizers ranged from between $5-$10. Main dishes ranged from between $15-$30. The wine list looks extensive and the entrees they served were all quite enticing. It is truly unfortunate that we were not able to partake of the restraunt's offerings. Regarding attire: The customers we saw entering and leaving, while we waited, all appeared to be dressed casually. White t-shirts, slacks and/or shorts, dresses/skirts. The hostess was dressed in a black jacket/pants combination.
(1)James W.
So, ok, yeah, the decor is dated, but the place is very clean and the food, overall, is pretty good. Now, don't get all turned off, but their liver is the item to order. You can't believe how well they prepare it. Negatives are the only veggie is spinach and their house salad isn't so great. Order the caeser salad instead. Over time, the prices seem to have crept up. We've stopped going as often, as a result.
(4)Susan B.
Hidden in the Del Prado mall, a taste of Northern Italy can be found in Ariani's Restaurant. Easily one of the best restaurants in SW Florida, hosts Dario and Alice Zuljani have spent over 25 years serving exceptional food and welcoming guests. If you have never been there, it's a must. If you've already been there, you know what I'm talking about. Try the filet with escargot! Wow!
(5)Scotch G.
Wing W--You missed out. What do you need, a red carpet? It's about the reward. If you want a show, go to the Broadway Palm. The cuisine has not missed it 's mark on any visit. Frankly, they could kick me in the Jimmy as long as I could savor the bounty. Tonight my special lady friend and I had Calf Liver "alla Veneziana "Pan-grilled, sautéed with onion, finely chopped meaty bacon and touch of wine - demiglace reduction and Wellington. WOW. Ha ha, you lose.
(5)Juanita P.
WOW. So gooood I had to get the DVD to try to replicate some entrees. I would marry Chef Dario just for the food orgasms. I ordered the Veal Scaloppine Marsala & Mushroom, which is veal seasoned and sauteed with mushroom and marsala demiglace sauce. Outstanding! I can see how Ariani Restaurant was voted one of the top 500 restaurants in Florida. Aside from the amazing food, the restaurant has a lovely ambiance. The chef walked around and greeted everyone, how many restaurants have their own chefs walk around to ask about their customers' opinions? I personally vote Ariani as the best Italian restaurant in Florida.
(5)Steve M.
Outstanding, in my view easily the best restaurant in Cape Coral or Ft. Myers area. My wife and I split the Chilean Sea Bass, with spinach and pasta, and it was wonderful. More than enough for 2. Gianni, our waiter, was a real pro. The chef checked in with us and was delightful. You will be very pleased.
(5)Janice M.
Wonderful. Nice atmosphere, decent wine be the glass, excellent food and they were really good about adjusting items for our dietary needs. They really appreciated us as customers and so we will be back certainly!
(5)Larry B.
Terrific Italian restaurant. Great service. Awesome Italian dishes. Great specials. Their sausage is to die for. Would go back here more often except for one thing( I hope they read these reviews) the bread is excellent but never heard of a first class Italian restaurant that did not offer olive oil for dipping. They have it but charge for it?? Prices are high enough that it should be available with the bread. My goodness go to Carrabas and check it out. Oil and spices! 5 stars otherwise! Chef or owner great! Wait staff Great! The oil thing is just a "principle " thing!
(4)Aviva L.
Delicious food, amazing desserts and a fantastic waitstaff. My husband had the eggplant parm and he cleaned his plate. I had the zuppa di mare and it had some of the best cooked mussels and shrimp I've ever had in that dish. Thank you for an excellent dinner on our visit from Chicago :)
(5)L L.
My parents were referred to this restaurant so we went for dinner on a Saturday night. We did not have a reservation but they pleasantly accommodated us quickly with a table. Note: make a reservation for Saturday nights, especially in the winter. Every person that we encountered looked us in the eye and exchanged pleasantries. We started with the escargot, which were HUGE and on toast points and a delish sauce. We also shared the antipasto a that had a tasty dressing. Dad had the salmon with lump crab meat, asparagus and sauce. He liked, but not loved it. I had the tuna steak, rare, which was fantastic and my dad said he wishes he ordered it. Both of the fish dishes came with spinach and a pasta with clam sauce. Dishes were in the $22 range and I feel that it's a fair price for the amount of food given. Mom had the veal with the artichoke and lemon and loved it. I'd give it 5 stars but my parents said the martinis were watery.
(4)Babbity R.
My husband grew up in Cape Coral. I lived there for 10 years. I can't believe we never ate here! Perhaps the building and location gave us the impression that it wouldn't be very good. I don't know. But now we feel like we really missed out on something incredible! During a recent visit to Grandma's, my husband and I were able to snag one of those elusive date nights that parents of 4 children rarely seem to get. We wanted to go somewhere nice so we checked Yelp and some other websites for reviews. When we saw this place listed with good reviews we decided to give it a try. I ordered the chicken parmesan, which is my standby if nothing else captures my interest. It was perfect. The BEST chicken parmesan I may have ever eaten. Even better than Moms. Now THAT is hard to beat! I can't remember now what my husband ordered, but he loved it! I think it was seafood? Our waitress was very nice. Near the end of our meal she asked if it was our anniversary or a special celebration. When we told her it was just a date she disappeared into the kitchen and came back with a huge dessert to share. She told us that we looked like we were enjoying each others company so much, like we were so in love, so this dessert was on the house. It was our first taste of rum cake and it was incredible!! If we ever get a date night again while visiting Grandma, you'll know where to find us!
(5)Krista M.
Stumbled into this restaurant after a long road trip and seeking something other than fast food. The DQ beckoned as we were extremely hungry and wanting something relatively quickly but we already had our chocolate malts for the day so a fancy looking strip mall Italian restaurant won the dining battle. We read the full menu on the wall outside to make sure we were game and while the prices seemed a bit on the higher side, we decided it would be worth it to have something fresh and different. Our host seemed new to the game - not very comfortable with the menu or the computer and it took a rather long time for him to take our order. We watched the video of the owner/chef cooking delicious looking meals (a DVD you can purchase at the counter), admired the map of a region in Italy that is named by regional dish (nice kitsch touch) and a 3-D framed review of the restaurant. After running out of things to glance at our host completed our to-go order and then motioned for us to go to the bar area to wait for our meal. We ordered the penne pasta with fresh mushrooms/broccoli, an order of fried calamari (one of the house specials) with marinera sauce and a minestrone soup. The cocktails/wine/drink menu was extensive but we were tired/driving so a 'near beer' and cranberry spritzer it was. The bar was certainly lively with the boisterous, snozzled owner introducing himself to everyone, telling stories about how he acquired his big, new tv for the restaurant, and bits and pieces about people in the community etc. We were definitely entertained during the wait while the barkeep (very sweet, quiet) kept things steady and drinks flowing. Finally our meal arrived and we were off! The calamari was tasty but didn't seem fresh and the marinera standard fare. The vegetarian pasta was nicely done but a bit on the bland side (perhaps it's not what they're known for - seems the lasagna is the popular item in most reviews) and rather standard fare for the price. Sadly they forgot to include the minestrone soup so don't know if that was the stellar menu item and the bread was a little on the dense/borderline stale side - not what I'd expect from a more upscale Italian restaurant. Happy to have tried it out. I think the key is to eat in in the cozy dining room area and enjoy the full experience w. wine, digestif afterwards etc.
(3)Diana G.
This place is AWESOME!!! been there at least 5 times and each time has been a great experience. The staff knows how to treat their customers and the food is FRESH!!! and tasty! Really good Italian food.
(5)Melis W.
This place has been around for a long time. It's a dinosaur and it shows. I think they still employ the original waitstaff. They're good, but kind of forgetful, and really slow. I really question all the good reviews...but, this is Cape Coral, not a place full of people with discerning tastes. I Wanted so much more from this place. I wanted to like it, but it's a little too old school, and not in a good way. I guess the scented candle at the host station ( "5 o'clock shadow" fragrance) should have been a warning. Who doesn't know scented candles don't belong near food, let alone a restaurant. The food is cooked well, but flavor is just not there. The sides and sauces taste like they're either frozen or from a box. They've either opted for cheap ingredients or just take too many short cuts. Other places have popped up in the area doing Italian food a lot better. When they're clientele finally dies off, so will this place.
(2)Jeff P.
The service was attentive, but the service was awkward, forgetful, and a little distracted. The service from bus staff for water, and bar for drinks was excellent. The food was top-notch: the chef obviously invested time selecting fresh ingredients and invested time in the preparations. Chef also took time to inquire as to our table's satisfaction with the meals and was very engaging. There was a good wine selection and a warm atmosphere that leans more toward family-Italian that formal. This could easily become a favorite.
(4)Frank C.
Had a very good meal here. The service was very attentive and the atmosphere was comfortable and inviting. The chef circulated around the tables welcoming diners and later asking about the quality of food and service. We had a broccoli rabe and sausage appetizer that was perfect. The broccoli was sweet and the amount of garlic used was just right. I had a dish of chicken, sausage and shrimp served in a light risotto that was very good. The portion was huge. My wife had the baby lamb chops that were cooked to order and tender. Sister had the eggplant and seemed to enjoy it. I am not sure what Tony had, but I am pretty sure he enjoyed it. The bread was fairly good. Had to ask that they bring out oil for the bread. It was seasoned very well. Otherwise they serve the bread with tin foil butter. This is very good Italian for SW Florida. I will certainly return next year.
(4)Denise D.
My favorite restaurant in Lee County. I have never had a bad meal here. My favorite is the filet mignon with escargot on top. Although I consider it more of an upscale restaurant for our area, I'm always surprised to see people walking in with shorts and flip-flops. Maybe since I am a former New Yorker I expect people to dress a little bit when they're going to a nice restaurant. I don't drink so I can't tell you anything about their wine menu but I've come with people who said the wine was very good. It is a little pricey for a lot people (but so worth it) so it's kind of a special occasion restaurant for our family.
(5)Lori F.
Excellent service Maria is the best!! Food is out of this world!! Order the lasagna with meatballs and the garlic n oil penne pasta was highly recommend!!
(5)Erik S.
This is hands down the best Italian restaurant in the entire area, Fort Myers included. Everything we've eaten here has been stellar, from simple appetizers to the Beef Wellington. Definitely ask if the chef can make some recommendations: Chef Dario is one if the most entertaining and happy people you will ever meet and is always enthusiastic about his recommendations. His wife Alice is equally charming. Don't let the look of the building or the location fool you: There is some serious food and professional service happening inside. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
(5)Oleg S.
The food was just ok nothing special. We had steak which was dry and chewy. We also had chicken Marsala which was just plain. I think they don't marinate their meat and just put it on gril and serve it to people. I was expecting much better service and meals from them. Also if you come with 5 people they will include 20% tip in your bill.
(2)Angela B.
Stumbled across this place accidentally- I was hungry and killing time while my kid was at the gym across the lot. From the moment I walked in, the service, atmosphere and of course- the food was amazing. The paella was incredibly good, portion was way too much to eat at one meal, and the chef/owner was very engaged with the customers. Definitely a new favorite!
(5)Nic Z.
Ariani's is... interesting. To give a little back-story, my parents came here last winter, and the first thing the owner said to them was, "Do you speak English?" hah... They don't look foreign and certainly speak English. I'm not sure whether I would walk out or laugh it off. Their entire dining experience was one disaster after another, from drink to entrees - even dessert - and my dad never wanted to come back. My mom decided to give it another shot this year, and I tagged along. The food is really nothing special, prices are higher than they should be, but it has a nice atmosphere inside; that's probably all it has going for it. Our server consistently disappeared for 15-20 minute stretches, so this is not a place to have dinner in an hour -- count on two, at least. I don't think any of us will be coming again.
(3)Vincent E.
Real good basic Italian place. Seated per our reservation. Artichoke heart and spinach appetizer was phenomenal.. Main course was very good. I wasn't crazy for the type of sausage they use..it was almost like a store bought polish kielbasa, but other than that, overall it was as very good. Staff and service was fast and courteous.. If I'm back in the area I will definitely go and I recommend u try it..
(4)Jah M.
If your looking for a stellar Italian meal in an intimate Italian atmosphere, you can't beat Ariani's. Chef Dario and his elite team of professional servers will impress you. Its a smaller restaurant so I do recommend reservations, but they also have med and large functions rooms for larger family celebrations. The food and wine is top notch, and its common around 8pm to have chef Dario to come out to sing and great his customers. I been there several times and never disappointed. I recommend this restaurant for special occasions. They always know how to make you feel special.
(5)Melissa S.
My husband and I just moved in a couple of blocks away and decided to walk here for dinner after seeing the positive reviews on Yelp. The outside of the restaurant isn't particularly appealing, and unfortunately it seems that the employees use the tables out front as their "break" area. It is dark and intimate inside the restaurant, and quite quiet. Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. We were a little surprised at the price of the items on the menu, as we were expecting a less expensive dinner according to the "price range" on Yelp. I ordered one of the most affordable menu items ($19), the Eggplant Parmesean. It was quite good, maybe a little too much cheese, but it came with the most delicious spinach I have ever tasted. My husband ordered the lasagna, which he enjoyed, but again the spinach was to die for. We ordered a cannoli to finish, which was good. This restaurant was good, but I am not eagerly awaiting my next visit.
(3)Scott M.
we took a party of 20 plus people to Ariani's during the week. They handled the party without notice. Food was great. The Owner/chef is very enthusiastic. It's a great place to enjoy food and friends.
(5)Kim C.
Great service and great food!! Thank you for helping to make our parents 60th anniversary a wonderful celebration!!
(5)Scott G.
I have lived in Cape Coral for more than 30 years and have often passed by the establishment without ever giving them a try. We are regulars at Papa Joe's on Cape Coral Pkwy and were always told that Ariani's was a fancy version of Papa's. Since it was the 25th wedding anniversary for my wife and me we decided to go for the fancier option and went to Araini's for dinner. They say first impressions are the most important impression and ours was not good. As we walked in there were three waiters standing outside of the front door smoking cigarettes, in their tuxedo shirts. They must have an area away from guests to use as a break area, is what I thought. We made our way through the cloud of smoke and into the door what we found seemed to be a fairly nicely decorated restaurant. The decor was nice and kind of felt like a little bit of Italy. The place appeared to be clean but reeks of cigarette smoke, probably from the employees standing directly outside of the door smoking cigarettes. We were not immediately greeted at the door by a hostess but after about three or four minutes of waiting, finally a young lady came and took us to a table. The menu was good and the prices were about what I would expect from the reputation that I've heard of this place. I found the wine list to be quite limited compared to the offerings of the dinner menu and based on their reputation for being a fancier restaurant. The food was good not great. Nothing that would make me say wow I need to come back and have this again. Our server was accommodating and friendly, she will be the most memorable experience from this restaurant. So my recommendation would be if you looking for a place with nice ambience and a fancier feel for special occasion, Ariani's will due. If you are looking for a gourmet meal with a nice glass of wine, I would try someplace else.
(3)Abigail F.
I've known people in Cape Coral who shied away from Ariani because they thought it may be TOO upscale. I would agree that compared to other Italian establishments I've been to this one is more of a fine dining experience. But we went with a 1 year old and a 4 year old and the staff as well as Chef Dario himself were extremely family friendly. SO don't be shy about trying the place. I ordered the pork medallions. They were excellent. Hubby had the veal parm and was pleased. We also had dessert but for the life of me don't remember exactly what we each tried! Wait a sec, I think I had Tiramusa. And he had chocolate cake. And we shared. Anyways! Give it a try. Its good. I'm not saying its the best Italian in SW Florida, but is among the best of an overall limited selection. And its northern Italian style is unique.
(4)Ivana D.
Hands down one of the best Italian meals I've had in years. I hadn't been here since I was a kid in 1998. However, when a restaurant is in business for two decades, like Ariani, you the food is good. Our server was extremely pleasant and made excellent suggestions. The chef came to our table and was generous, too. Very pleasant atmosphere, and worth every penny.
(5)Andrea P.
I expected the food to better after reading the reviews. The food wasn't good and the waiter was very helpful with the menu. He kept telling us "there's going to be an extra charge for that" with everything we asked for.
(2)Shannon O.
The seasoned olive oil dipping mixture is a must! We visited Ariani in March, 2011 while In town to house-hunt. Very hungry we came across this restaurant. Reviews kept us intrigued. The exterior and interior decor is dark and dated but the food is wonderful. We were given butter with our table bread and inquired about olive oil instead. The seasoned olive oil is served warm. It's unbelievable! A totally hidden secret and completely addicting. I'd never had that way and couldn't top eating it. Our appetizers and entrees were equally delicious. Our server made a very satisfying wine choice for us. The service until dessert was excellent - then something went wrong, we waited 15+ minutes for our dessert delivered by another server. We never saw our first server at our table the rest of the evening. While apologetic, the staff didn't quite pull the service level back up...we waited long for our check too. 5-star potential, make the investment and update the decor design - inside and out.
(4)Filip D.
I invited my neighbor to his favorite restaurant: Ariani's. When entering, I couldn't believe my eyes: this looks like a place from the 70's. BUT the food is wonderful. I had the 'Lamboco', a giant slowly cooked lamb chop with a wonderful sauce. This is an ideal restaurant for people who are open to learning something more from the Italian kitchen than the world wide spread 'pizzas' and 'spaghettis', things that mostly belong to what I consider as fast food kitchen. I heart that the Chef sometimes sings for his guests... o sole mio, mama mia!!
(5)Dave J.
One of the best Italian restaurants in all of southwest Florida. In fact, my dad and I enjoyed this place SO much, we ate there TWO nights in a row. He's going to be a regular diner there, and I would be, except I live in Chicago most of the time. But when I visit him, it will definitely be on my list of places to visit. Let me tell you why. I wasn't impressed intially when I walked into the place. It was dark, it was quiet. And there was no one up front to greet us. A minute or so later, we were warmly greeted and led to the dining room. While it was still a bit dark, there was a great looking mural of an old Italian fishing village on the wall. The mural depicts the village of Ariani, where the chef is originally from. Our waiter, Chris was, to say the least, enthusiastic, friendly, and very knowledgeable. He's the one who told us about the mural, and spoke with pride and admiration about the chef and how we couldn't go wrong ordering anything off the menu. There were two menus, actually. One was a listing of daily specials, maybe a dozen or so pasta, meat, chicken, and fish dishes. Chris explained that the specials menu changed every few days or so. The regular menu had the appetizers, and nice selection of meat, fish, chicken, and pasta dishes. One of the items that stood out was the Schnitzel. Schnitzel? In an Italian restaurant? Chris explained that due to the large number of German tourists to the Southwest Florida region, the chef thought it prudent to cater to their tastes as well. Nice touch. As appetizing as the Schnitzel sounded, I opted instead for the Lasagna, which was featured on the specials menu. My dad ordered the Chicken Marsala. Both dishes were plentiful in quantity and excellent in quality. Dad has a small appetite, but his meal was SO good, he ate it all. I haven't seen him become a member of the "clean plate club" in a very long time. AND he was still hungry for dessert! We opted for the Napoleon on the dessert menu. It was light, sweet, and delicious! I was surprised I still had room for dessert too! The chef came out to greet us, on both nights of our visit. My dad enjoyed the lasagna on the second night, and I tried the veal saltimbocca...again, an excellent and well prepared dish. It is a bit pricey, but for food of this exceptional quality, you can justify paying a bit more. If I lived in SW Florida on a full time basis, I can easily see being a customer here at least once a week. And it's a great place to bring family and friends for solid, delicious, and plentiful Italian food!
(5)Khristina T.
Great Italian restaurant. The food choices are delicious and unique. The chef comes around and greets all the guests. We will definitely be back
(5)Ashley M.
Would love to go back! Went over the weekend for a cocktail hour with my boyfriend and a group he is in. We had calamari, bruschetta, and caprese salad. It was all delicious! I wish we would have stayed for dinner. I will be going back sometime to try out their food! I have heard nothing but good about ariani!
(5)Caitlyn S.
A great Italian restaurant and a must try. The service is great but do not expect to eat and be done under an hour, this is truly a dining experience restaurant. The food is always delicious and never disappoints. I feel at home here, they treat you like family!!
(4)Matt M.
Great lambbocca. Service is amazing. The owner is hilarious
(5)