I was visiting Clearwater. Was told by some locals this was a good place. Very friendly place! I was pleased with the service, food, only issue is that post 15% tip on your bill. I never tip lower than 15% but depending on the waiter service tip sometimes 30%. Anyways we went on Wednesday they had a little Live Jazz band in the bar which was really Cool. When I am back in Clearwater I will definitely stop again.
(4)
Jordan H.
Driven by several times, today went with wife at spur of the moment. Surprised at amount of cars in parking lot all the time. Ambiance is likely nicer on the bar side. Short version on my phone - $25 shrimp scampi, monkeys on the wall paper, clam appetizer special where clams were size of a nickel.... Staff super nice, clean but dated interior, so so food, everything over priced by 15%, and then a fixed 15% tip ?? I usually tip 20%, but am not going through the work and signing off on a waiver, noting that the 15% was explained to me, to leave an additional $2-3 on the next line, so I feel bad for the staff with that one. Better places out there, won't be returning, nothing above average here.
My husband and I have been going to Alfano's for years; when it was in a smaller building. We love the Wednesday night jazz in the lounge and the bartender Keith is awesome. He always remembers your name, your drink, your preference and so on.... The food is great too .....we always look forward to the specials and love the Shrimp Frances, eggplant and soups. The local "vibe" is nice and the owner always come out to greet you. We just booked our Christmas dinner this year!
(5)
Lola P.
Nice atmosphere, food was good. However our server, Daniel needs to get a new line of work. Terrible server....
(4)
Duane D.
This is a nice upscale italian restaurant. The crowd is older, and the atmosphere is elegant but staid. The food is quite good and the prices are reasonable for an upscale place. The food is comparable to an upscale chain like Carrabas, but with a more personal local feel. The sausage cheese bread appetizer was awesome. We also enjoyed the pork shank with risotto and the lobster ravioli. All in all, a nice experience and I would go back again.
(4)
Derek R.
In the past a very nice, comfortable restaurant with good food and service. Today, not so, the food good, but the service doesn't recognize there is a line between attentive and intrusive. A shame, because surely it will discourage the traditional client.
(2)
Carol M.
We have dined her for several years as a couple and with friends & family. The atmosphere in the Venetian room is like being in an Italian Villa. The food is delicious, very tasty. We drive from Dunedin to dine at Alfano's the servers are very knowledgeable about the menu and provide impeccable service. I love the fact that this is a family owned restaurant rather than the usual Italian chain dining. The piano is a wonderful touch. I suggest the Eggplant parmigiana. Delicious.The salad which comes with the meal is like a mini antipasto salad. They do an excellent job with banquets and large parties.
(5)
Stephanie M.
I did not pay the bill for this experience and did not order from the full menu, so my review is somewhat limited in scope. We had a fixed menu choice for a large wedding rehearsal dinner; I chose the fettuccine alfredo. You could tell the alfredo sauce was homemade and absolutely delicious... I would have liked to have a slightly larger portion size considering it did not come with a protein or any side vegetables. The garlic bread was fantastic and the kids ate it up! Love the ambiance of the building, and I am sure that is what draws people here for special occasions. I did not get the smug experience from the staff as experienced in other reviews... so maybe they've had sensitivity training since then? Would love to try the menu next time and see what their culinary expertise in italian cuisine covers.
(4)
Ginny P.
The eggplant parm was fabulous. The rooms are beautiful.
(4)
Happy F.
It had been about a year since me and my wife last dined at Alfano's and what a difference a year has made! I had the the Shrimp Milano priced at $22. The shrimp was overcooked and not fresh. The overall dish was bland and unfresh. The salad was okay but nothing special. We had calamari as an appetizer. It was rubbery with no crunch whatsoever - probably the worst I've ever had. My wife had the special which was some sort of a stuffed beef dish. She could not eat it. Although pricey, our previous experience eating at Alfano's was good. I had Shrimp Scampi and my wife had Salmon. Both dishes were very fresh and the overall experience was pleasing. We were very disappointed in this visit. We wasted 75 bucks and 70 minutes of our lives we'll never get back! Sometimes I will give an establishment the benefit of doubt, chalk it up to a bad night, and give them another chance. Not at these prices. I won't be returning to Alfano's.
(1)
Jessica S.
I was here for the Clearwater Panhellenic literary muse event. We had a set menu with salad, bread, a choice of chicken parmigiano, eggplant parmigiano or salmon and to finish spumoni pie. Everything was very tasty and the wait staff was on top of everything. They handled the large party with ease. I will certainly put Alfano's on my list of resturaunts to visit.
(4)
Sara G.
I wasn't particularly impressed, but I wasn't particularly disappointed. Pretty standard food. Not better or worse than Carrabba's though. I'd expect a place like this to be slightly elevated in comparison. So yeah. Go here or don't. You'll get the same stuff at a lower price point at one of the chain Italian places. The tartufo was really good, though! Took it to go!
(3)
T D.
I have been dining here for more than 15 years and it has always been excellent. The owners are naturals at running a restaurant and are utterly gracious hosts. I stopped in yesterday and had a special. It was a business meeting and my colleague opted for the same dish. As always, it was superb and a great value. Service was entertaining and efficient. I saw a review here that suggested the same food for less at a chain restaurant. In what universe? This is the real deal and no chain restaurants compare. Daughter Nicolette will likely greet u at the door - tell her "Trey" sent u and see if you have ever tasted better for less. I can recommend the following without reservation: Linguine in white sauce Calamari Friti Chicken Tetrazzini Shrimp - any way Zuppa de Mare Deserts "Splendido Bar" If I lived closer - would eat there at least weekly!
(5)
Ross O.
Wait staff is a bit inconvenienced by requests. Not kid friendly at all, while the food is average for a stouffers meal. I only go here when my grandma makes us.
(2)
Miguel C.
Alfano's is an ultra pretentious, high brow restaurant where the food is not the star of the show. As soon as we walked into Alfano's the man at the front, possibly the owner, gave us this look like we did not belong. He remarked, "Oh, so you won't be needing the wine list, right?" I should have known from the start this was not going to be good. The decor is an eclectic Victorian style, complete with evil cherub seat covers and wall paper featuring a monkey wearing a hat and climbing a tree. The main dining room has a table under shade of one of those umbrellas you put in between patio furniture. The clientele are all in their 70s and beyond, dressed up locals who converse and laugh at volumes so high that you can hardly hear yourself converse at your own table. This is a local hang out for all the snobs in the area who love to take their time to sit and sip on wine over conversations that demand all attention. While this all may be forgivable, what wasn't forgivable was the food. We started with calamari with a side of marinara sauce that tasted out of a can. Next course was soup, one cream of tomato, the other pasta e fagioli. The cream of tomato wasn't bad, the pasta e fagioli was just one big serving of salt. No complexity in flavor just one overwhelming helping of salt. Our entrees were the chicken tetrazinni and veal socca. The chicken tetrazinni tasted exactly like the lean cuisines you buy a the store, I kid you not! It had an overwhelming salty flavor and the alfredo sauce was runny and had no body. The veal socca was just a confused dish. Veal cutlets fried in romano cheese, topped with fontina and asparagus then put in parchment paper and cooked. They then serve it to you partly in the parchment paper it cooked in and they then drench the whole meal in a salty mixture they pass off as demi glace. The only flavor I could detect was salt and loads of it. The fried outside crust of the veal turned to mush after being cooked in this parchment bag and as you ate it, the parchment on the bottom of the plate that was soaked in demi glace would accompany every bite. We told our waiter we were not please and they never called a manager nor offered to comp our meal. In the end we walked out paying $72 and those old folks that were there an hour ago continued to howl with laughter and sip their drinks.
(1)
Ciji C.
Do not waste your money! My dinner tasted like a lean cuisine & cost 5 x's more which I wouldn't mind if it was half way decent which this was not! Seriously though, you'd be better off going to Olive Garden. It's just as salty & just as microwaved for half the price!
(1)
Kathleen B.
I LOVE Alfano's! My husband and I have been going here for many years. I appreciate that it is not "kid friendly". I think the prices are closer to a $$, and the prix fix early bird menu is very reasonable, with a lot of choices. The canneloni is hand made and wonderful, as is the veal marsala, and the garlic bread is the best around. We try to go as often as possible for an excellent, AUTHENTIC Italian meal. Try it before you believe all the other reviews.
(5)
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Address :1702 Clearwater Largo Rd
Clearwater, FL, 33756
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
J D.
I was visiting Clearwater. Was told by some locals this was a good place. Very friendly place! I was pleased with the service, food, only issue is that post 15% tip on your bill. I never tip lower than 15% but depending on the waiter service tip sometimes 30%. Anyways we went on Wednesday they had a little Live Jazz band in the bar which was really Cool. When I am back in Clearwater I will definitely stop again.
(4)Jordan H.
Driven by several times, today went with wife at spur of the moment. Surprised at amount of cars in parking lot all the time. Ambiance is likely nicer on the bar side. Short version on my phone - $25 shrimp scampi, monkeys on the wall paper, clam appetizer special where clams were size of a nickel.... Staff super nice, clean but dated interior, so so food, everything over priced by 15%, and then a fixed 15% tip ?? I usually tip 20%, but am not going through the work and signing off on a waiver, noting that the 15% was explained to me, to leave an additional $2-3 on the next line, so I feel bad for the staff with that one. Better places out there, won't be returning, nothing above average here.
(3)Jacquie N.
Well, I really wanted this one to be a winner. I did. Roberta told me I had to come here. I believed her. So here I am. Waiting..... For a really long time. For service, for wine, for the order and forever for the food. And I am solo. :( So, the location is off the common path. Cool. The decor is eclectic, in an Italian Grandma with a sense of humor way. Like wall paper with cute monkeys, kind of way. So...... I waited to be seated. Waited to place a drink order. Waited for the wine to come. The point is... The wait was beyond notable. And I was not in any particular hurry. Sigh..... When the soup came out.... Italian wedding "cup"- that was shockingly small in size ( this is NOT a bad thing) made up for size with flavor. The meatballs where mildly blan-ish, but the rest carried it well. --- and then I waited ---- When the entree came out, it was a surprise of 151 flambé, (not noted on menu) which turn most of the heads close by. Cute, fun, but did not add to the plate itself. Just theater. Now the heartbreak --- the duck was terrible. Not inedible, just not cooked the way that brings duck to "happiness" level. No, it was terrible. It would be better to remove it from the menu then to serve this cooked so poorly. Look, disclaimer, duck is visceral to me everything of happiness, Christmas, family, Yumminess is wrapped up in duck. This is not that duck. :( I should know better, but hope springs eternal. Maybe there are other dishes they excel at. Please find them. This place should have some winners. I may not have found them Final lost of star --- 15% gratuity is included in the bill. This is a horrible South Beach, Miami Beach style. Did not expect it here.
(2)Stacy F.
My husband and I have been going to Alfano's for years; when it was in a smaller building. We love the Wednesday night jazz in the lounge and the bartender Keith is awesome. He always remembers your name, your drink, your preference and so on.... The food is great too .....we always look forward to the specials and love the Shrimp Frances, eggplant and soups. The local "vibe" is nice and the owner always come out to greet you. We just booked our Christmas dinner this year!
(5)Lola P.
Nice atmosphere, food was good. However our server, Daniel needs to get a new line of work. Terrible server....
(4)Duane D.
This is a nice upscale italian restaurant. The crowd is older, and the atmosphere is elegant but staid. The food is quite good and the prices are reasonable for an upscale place. The food is comparable to an upscale chain like Carrabas, but with a more personal local feel. The sausage cheese bread appetizer was awesome. We also enjoyed the pork shank with risotto and the lobster ravioli. All in all, a nice experience and I would go back again.
(4)Derek R.
In the past a very nice, comfortable restaurant with good food and service. Today, not so, the food good, but the service doesn't recognize there is a line between attentive and intrusive. A shame, because surely it will discourage the traditional client.
(2)Carol M.
We have dined her for several years as a couple and with friends & family. The atmosphere in the Venetian room is like being in an Italian Villa. The food is delicious, very tasty. We drive from Dunedin to dine at Alfano's the servers are very knowledgeable about the menu and provide impeccable service. I love the fact that this is a family owned restaurant rather than the usual Italian chain dining. The piano is a wonderful touch. I suggest the Eggplant parmigiana. Delicious.The salad which comes with the meal is like a mini antipasto salad. They do an excellent job with banquets and large parties.
(5)Stephanie M.
I did not pay the bill for this experience and did not order from the full menu, so my review is somewhat limited in scope. We had a fixed menu choice for a large wedding rehearsal dinner; I chose the fettuccine alfredo. You could tell the alfredo sauce was homemade and absolutely delicious... I would have liked to have a slightly larger portion size considering it did not come with a protein or any side vegetables. The garlic bread was fantastic and the kids ate it up! Love the ambiance of the building, and I am sure that is what draws people here for special occasions. I did not get the smug experience from the staff as experienced in other reviews... so maybe they've had sensitivity training since then? Would love to try the menu next time and see what their culinary expertise in italian cuisine covers.
(4)Ginny P.
The eggplant parm was fabulous. The rooms are beautiful.
(4)Happy F.
It had been about a year since me and my wife last dined at Alfano's and what a difference a year has made! I had the the Shrimp Milano priced at $22. The shrimp was overcooked and not fresh. The overall dish was bland and unfresh. The salad was okay but nothing special. We had calamari as an appetizer. It was rubbery with no crunch whatsoever - probably the worst I've ever had. My wife had the special which was some sort of a stuffed beef dish. She could not eat it. Although pricey, our previous experience eating at Alfano's was good. I had Shrimp Scampi and my wife had Salmon. Both dishes were very fresh and the overall experience was pleasing. We were very disappointed in this visit. We wasted 75 bucks and 70 minutes of our lives we'll never get back! Sometimes I will give an establishment the benefit of doubt, chalk it up to a bad night, and give them another chance. Not at these prices. I won't be returning to Alfano's.
(1)Jessica S.
I was here for the Clearwater Panhellenic literary muse event. We had a set menu with salad, bread, a choice of chicken parmigiano, eggplant parmigiano or salmon and to finish spumoni pie. Everything was very tasty and the wait staff was on top of everything. They handled the large party with ease. I will certainly put Alfano's on my list of resturaunts to visit.
(4)Sara G.
I wasn't particularly impressed, but I wasn't particularly disappointed. Pretty standard food. Not better or worse than Carrabba's though. I'd expect a place like this to be slightly elevated in comparison. So yeah. Go here or don't. You'll get the same stuff at a lower price point at one of the chain Italian places. The tartufo was really good, though! Took it to go!
(3)T D.
I have been dining here for more than 15 years and it has always been excellent. The owners are naturals at running a restaurant and are utterly gracious hosts. I stopped in yesterday and had a special. It was a business meeting and my colleague opted for the same dish. As always, it was superb and a great value. Service was entertaining and efficient. I saw a review here that suggested the same food for less at a chain restaurant. In what universe? This is the real deal and no chain restaurants compare. Daughter Nicolette will likely greet u at the door - tell her "Trey" sent u and see if you have ever tasted better for less. I can recommend the following without reservation: Linguine in white sauce Calamari Friti Chicken Tetrazzini Shrimp - any way Zuppa de Mare Deserts "Splendido Bar" If I lived closer - would eat there at least weekly!
(5)Ross O.
Wait staff is a bit inconvenienced by requests. Not kid friendly at all, while the food is average for a stouffers meal. I only go here when my grandma makes us.
(2)Miguel C.
Alfano's is an ultra pretentious, high brow restaurant where the food is not the star of the show. As soon as we walked into Alfano's the man at the front, possibly the owner, gave us this look like we did not belong. He remarked, "Oh, so you won't be needing the wine list, right?" I should have known from the start this was not going to be good. The decor is an eclectic Victorian style, complete with evil cherub seat covers and wall paper featuring a monkey wearing a hat and climbing a tree. The main dining room has a table under shade of one of those umbrellas you put in between patio furniture. The clientele are all in their 70s and beyond, dressed up locals who converse and laugh at volumes so high that you can hardly hear yourself converse at your own table. This is a local hang out for all the snobs in the area who love to take their time to sit and sip on wine over conversations that demand all attention. While this all may be forgivable, what wasn't forgivable was the food. We started with calamari with a side of marinara sauce that tasted out of a can. Next course was soup, one cream of tomato, the other pasta e fagioli. The cream of tomato wasn't bad, the pasta e fagioli was just one big serving of salt. No complexity in flavor just one overwhelming helping of salt. Our entrees were the chicken tetrazinni and veal socca. The chicken tetrazinni tasted exactly like the lean cuisines you buy a the store, I kid you not! It had an overwhelming salty flavor and the alfredo sauce was runny and had no body. The veal socca was just a confused dish. Veal cutlets fried in romano cheese, topped with fontina and asparagus then put in parchment paper and cooked. They then serve it to you partly in the parchment paper it cooked in and they then drench the whole meal in a salty mixture they pass off as demi glace. The only flavor I could detect was salt and loads of it. The fried outside crust of the veal turned to mush after being cooked in this parchment bag and as you ate it, the parchment on the bottom of the plate that was soaked in demi glace would accompany every bite. We told our waiter we were not please and they never called a manager nor offered to comp our meal. In the end we walked out paying $72 and those old folks that were there an hour ago continued to howl with laughter and sip their drinks.
(1)Ciji C.
Do not waste your money! My dinner tasted like a lean cuisine & cost 5 x's more which I wouldn't mind if it was half way decent which this was not! Seriously though, you'd be better off going to Olive Garden. It's just as salty & just as microwaved for half the price!
(1)Kathleen B.
I LOVE Alfano's! My husband and I have been going here for many years. I appreciate that it is not "kid friendly". I think the prices are closer to a $$, and the prix fix early bird menu is very reasonable, with a lot of choices. The canneloni is hand made and wonderful, as is the veal marsala, and the garlic bread is the best around. We try to go as often as possible for an excellent, AUTHENTIC Italian meal. Try it before you believe all the other reviews.
(5)