was not expecting to go abbondanza but found on short walk from hotel service is great kid friendly bread delicious pasta outstanding with very large portions 17month old loved it wsp
(4)
Natalie E.
For the price good food. We were all spent out from paying 100 bucks the last two nights. So we go here based on reviews. Food was good but if you aren't really hungry, you'll feel you wasted your money! Reason- they give you super human amount of food. It borders on ridiculous! I had the spaghetti and meatballs.... I swear me, my boyfriend and five of our closest friends could eat off their one serving! You definitely get you money's worth. Appetizer, spaghetti/meatballs, veal Parm, and pie will set you back 40. Very decent for key west!
(4)
Gina J.
We went there for new year's eve dinner - we didn't plan ahead and all nearby restaurants were booked. They offered a fixed menu, so our experience may not be typical. We had an appetizer, which is not at all memorable (since I don't even recall what it was after one week!). The salad tasted like prepackaged lettuce mixed with bottled dressing. The seafood pasta came in a bowl so huge that the pasta inside can feed a family of three! Naturally, a lot of my pasta got wasted, which made me feel guilty. The dessert was also lackluster. All in all, I won't terribly mind going back there, but given all the good restaurants nearby, I would only go there when given no choice.
(2)
Frank R.
When getting suggestions for Italian, everyone seems to mention Abbondanza or Mangia-Mangia. We only tried Abbondanza so can't compare. We decided to try it at our B&B manager's suggestion (turned out he works here part time). The place is huge and can handle large parties well. We had a short 15 minute wait and then were seated inside. It is a very nice place and we had excellent service. Food was VERY substantial. Large bowls of pasta even I couldn't finish - and that's saying something. I had the Calabrese pasta with sausage on top of angel hair pasta. Lots of sausage and peppers on top of a mountain of pasta. Salad that came with the meal was a dissappointment. One leaf of lettuce with diced peppers and tomatoes on top - very soggy. Overall - nice place, handles large groups and has big portions. Not the best - but we had a pleasant experience overall. Will probably try one of the others next time to compare.
(3)
R S.
I ate here in '09 and '10. Judging by other reviews the food may have drastically changed since then. I enjoyed the food a great deal and the portion size was large for a good price. (Good leftovers that I left in the frig at my hotel room 2 years running). What I could not believe was that both times I had the same evil, snotty, haughty waitress. She seemed to think that we were really at some high class dining place, and it was really just an average place.
(3)
Juliette H.
I absolutely LOVED this restaurant! The atmosphere is fantastic- it strikes the perfect balance of fine dining while also remaining comfortable and relaxing. The wait staff was very friendly and accommodating, and also knew a great deal about the menu. I tried the Mint Chocolate martini at our waitress' recommendation, which was absolutely wonderful. I tried the chicken alfredo entree, which was a sizeable portion and at a reasonable price. I would definitely recommend this restaurant!
(5)
Peri B.
We had just arrived into town and spent the first night in a nearby motel until we could get our house back from tenants. Abbondanza was a short walk and it was packed. Good sign. We're from Monterey, CA and have a number of both trendy and traditional Italian and seafood restaurants. We love a scampi and hot bread with balsamic and olive oil to dip. Since we'd been flying all day, we were really looking forward to a nice meal. Well, what we got was bland pasta. I had the Pesto and my husband had the scampi. It was like hospital food. The dipping oil wasn't seasoned or anything special. We split a Caesar salad, which didn't include an anchovie and was topped with a dressing that most likely came in a big plastic bottle. If you want to pay top dollar for tourist food, Abbondanza is your place. I mentioned this experience to a number of my friends who live here and they all tell me they have taken this place off of their list.
(2)
Bob M.
On recent visit to KW, had a very delightful meal with family. Shrimp scampi, egg plant parm, usages and peppers were exquisite. Nice a garlicky, home style salad very good bread. Wait staff nice Erika was excellent. Provided insight into menu and made recommendations. Would highly recommend this establishment when visiting the keys. Reasonably priced.....
(4)
Jeremy D.
Seems like a nice place from the menu and the atmosphere, but the food and the service need CPR. The garlic bread was where the good eats ended. We both ordered seafood pasta dishes and had the same experience: the food was bland, poorly mixed, and there was no sauce that made it down to the pasta itself. I had a couple dozen mussels laid on top of the bland pasta and they were all still in the shell - quite a weird preparation being that I couldn't even see or reach the pasta below. The server(s) seemed to have trouble understanding that used plates should be cleared from our table. I could barely find a place to put my drink down. The server wasn't rude, just not very good. Definitely overpriced and overrated.
(2)
Bill T.
Nice quiet place with really good food. We shared Calimari appetizer and a nice Chianti. My wife had the veal pic arts and enjoyed it (should have been served over pasta, however) I has Linguini and clams (very good). Finished our dinner with homemade KLP. If you enjoy "family style" Italian food, you'll like Abbondanza.
(4)
Chris R.
Perfect spot for something different in Key West. If you're tired of fish sandwiches, conch fritters, or Cuban food, give Abbondanza a try. Reasonable prices, a nice laid-back atmosphere, good portion size and friendly service. We're definitely not food critics and maybe most people won't think this is 'great' Italian food. However, we were very happy with the experience.
(4)
James S.
Our first night in Key West was Valentine's Day. This is a nice restaurant near South Beach on Simonton. We got a seat immediately at a table at the bar. Eggplant Parmesan was delicious, as well as a huge portion. This is a fun place, and very reasonable. Give it a shot, if you are looking for Italian comfort food with a sophisticated ambiance.
(5)
Lauren A.
We were looking for a dinner spot that was off of the beaten path of Duval street. We decided to come here after driving around a bit for a dinner spot. The menu is small but the portions are huge. One plate could be shared by 3 people! I got the lasagna and it was delicious...I just wish I could of taken the left overs home.
(5)
Todd P.
A large group of friends from across the country recently converged on Key West to celebrate a 30th birthday. The birthday boy himself could have a second career as a cruise director -- we call him Julie McCoy (for anyone that remembers The Love Boat) -- because he LOVES organizing. After becoming conjoined twins with our hotel concierge Jane, together they selected Abbondanza for dinner our first night in town. The restaurant was very accommodating, arranging a dining area in a back room for us since there were nearly 20 people all together. After some soft, fresh baked bread and olive oil, I ordered the Grouper fillet, served with steamed broccoli and a couple of small, baked red potatoes. The fish was perfectly cooked and the sides were fine, although a titch boring in presentation and flavor. I'm glad I didn't order pasta! Not that it was bad, by any means, but because the portions are HUGE! In fact, too big, judging by how much anyone who ordered pasta ate -- they seemed to just skim a bit off the top of the giant bowls. All in all, Abbondanza was a nice kick off to a week of debauchery in Key West. "The Love Boat...set a course for adventure, your mind on a new romance...." or something like that. Now that damn song's stuck in my head!
(3)
Jim D.
This is the 3rd time I've gone to eat there in a 4yr time frame. The food was really good and the service was very friendly and interactive. Petra was our server and she went out of her way to make sure we were taken care of. The portions are huge and the prices for Keywest are very reasonable. The KLP was amazing. They serve an actual salad and not just out of the bag. I will be returning the next time I'm in Keywest.
(4)
Ashish K.
Omg what a find! It's kinda hidden especially since its not on duval but this is totally worth the 10 min walk.. sumptuous garlic bread. We got the Capellini Estate, it was super. Still can taste those sweet tomatoes , they were the best ever . Even the pasta was like melting fresh!! Highly recommended.. Our server was very nice and she even gave us the MUST have Key Lime Pie for free !!
(5)
John M.
OK calamari and salads. My wife, son and daughter all had dinners with cream sauces and they were pretty good. I had the eggplant parmagian and it was the worst I've ever had. The marinara sauce on the side of spaghetti wasn't the good for me, either. Way too garlic-y. I ate only a few bites of both and when the waiter asked how much I enjoyed it, I groused. Said I usually loved egplant parmesian but this wasn't at all good. He brought boxes for the family's leftovers and whisked mine away. I expected at least an adjustment on the bill for my largley uneaten meal but there was none. We only have a few nights here in Key West and I hoped for a better meal. I'd never eat here again and wouldn't recommend it either. Eggplant parm isn't hard to get right and this place didn't. Based on cost of the entire meal ($95 withiout alcohol) vs value, I was disappointed.
(2)
Dawen H.
Extremely awesome seafood! great service and atmoshere! big portion of food. Love it!
(5)
Shawn S.
We decided on going for Italian for dinner and chose Abbondanza since it had good reviews and it was close to our hotel. The decor was very nice, a warm welcoming look to it. We opted for some Calamari for an appetizer, the breading was light and the calamari was tasted fresh. My girlfriend went with the Spaghetti Calabrese and I went with the special tortellini. The portions are quite large, (hence the name) her dish could have easily served 2 adults and my dish was a large order that was filling. The sauce with the spaghetti was very good and thought the sausage was outstanding, it was grilled crispy on the outside and nice sweet/spicy flavor on the inside. The tortellini weren't over cooked, were nice and tender, the accompanied cream sauce was perfect. Wish we could have taken back to the hotel to re-heat but not an option.
(4)
Peg H.
Excellent food and atmosphere. We had penne with olive oil, crushed red pepper, capers, and crushed garlic. It was to die for. I have it 4 stars because the service was a little slow but very polite and friendly.
(4)
John K.
My friend is a local concierge in Key West and this was the Italian restaurant he recommended. It's away from the hustle and bustle of Duvall Street yet close enough to the actions. Very nice decor inside and reasonably priced. Food was most excellent and service was good. Give this place a try, you won't be disappointed :)
(4)
Levi M.
After 7 years and three states, I have finally found a great Italian Restaurant. Great food, Huge portions. Service was very good. The only down side was the Tiramisu was ok, it was a bit dry. The server told us that it was brought in pre-made.
(4)
William R.
Only two reviews? What a crime. Here's our take on this wonderful restaurant: We were strolling along Duvall Street last year when hunger overtook us and we found ourselves standing in front of Abbondanza. We shrugged and went inside. The decor is unremarkable but we were hungry. The menu is typical neighborhood Italian. I ordered spaghetti & meatballs, my wife ordered the chicken picatta. When our meals arrived, our eyes popped: HUGE portions - each entree was enough for 2-3 people. Then we began eating - both dishes were outstanding: best spaghetti & meatballs I've had in years. Sadly, we were unable to finish our meals and since we were traveling, no doggy bags. We had to leave a good part of our meals on the plate - enough to make you cry! When we return to Key West, we will come back here FIRST! Highly recommended.
(5)
John N.
I'd heard from a fellow traveler who is Italian and from New York that the food here was fantastic, even as compared to his hometown fare. I paid a visit and was not disappointed. I had the lasagna which was very good as was the accompanying salad and bread. I would definitely recommend. The atmosphere is low light and intimate so take that into consideration.
(4)
Jon S.
We had eaten our share of seafood and needed a change for one dinner our friends took us here food and staff was exceptional.
(5)
Allison S.
This quaint Italian restaurant in key west was charming. I only gave it 3 stars, however, because the service was lacking. Our waiter was not attuned to our needs, and often took a long time to bring us what we asked for. The food was decent, definitely have had better Italian good before, but the portions were very generous. I think there are better Italian places on the island but this one was just okay.
(3)
Louie C.
Very good service, romantic atmosphere, and the place was reasonably priced considering the portions can feed 2. I would def. go back here next time im in key west.
(5)
Chris S.
Great Italian eatery for Key West! The fish and chicken selections were excellent that my wife and I had!
(4)
Steve K.
Fantastic pasta. Yelp'd it and wasn't disapponinted
(5)
Kelly M.
Very nice dinner here while visiting Key West My wife said it was good but not the best she ever had I had the lasagna and found it to be very tasty Prices are very good for the island
(4)
Blue G.
Best Italian in Key West! But of course we all have our own favorite Italian place in another city that nothing else lives up to. And this one won't either, but this is why I strongly recommend it: It is the whole Italian package deal. Great food and lots of it. Always a crowd, but never a wait. Good bread and salad with every meal. First class service. The atmosphere is both elegant and welcoming. It feels like a big night out just sitting in the restaurant and talking with your guests. After dinner you will want a glass of wine or coffee to keep the evening going. Then take your leftovers for lunch the next day. They box it for you...I like that!
(5)
Mike S.
Yummy grouper Filomena was great !!! Hannah was very nice! Go there and eat !!! Yummy !!!! Second refill on soda free? That's weird tho !
(4)
Doug P.
Very nice place to dine at. I had the lasagna , it was amazing. The bruschetta and cheesecake were very good as well. Lindsey was our bartender , she was the best . Lindsey was very pleasant and helpful with the best choices of entrees on the menu. Stop by and have dinner and see Lindsey !!!
(5)
David C.
Can the portions be any larger? Bring your appetite and a carry out Always good and never disappoints.
(4)
Robyn S.
Had the Chicken Parmesan and it was very great! Serving was a very good portion. It was yummy!
(5)
Allen M.
Let me first say that I am rating this as a Veggie. In a town chocked full of average, fried, crappy "seafood in a basket" restaurants, Abbondanza was a wonderful treat. Amazing service, and great atmosphere. Our server was very accommodating and helped me modify the Penne Primavera to my needs ( no cream sauce for me ). The dish came out PACKED with all of my veggies - zucchini, cauliflower, spinach, red peppers, yellow squash, broccoli, carrots and topped with fresh raw beets. I opted for no peas and mushrooms but thats part of the dish also. It was so fresh and delicious. I love going to The Cafe when in Key West for my veggie meals but this was SPECTACULAR change of pace. My meat-eating family also loved their meals as well. I gave it a perfect 5 starts. Oh and mine was a large enough portion to have lunch tomorrow :-)
(5)
Rachel R.
Open late which is good when you want quality food and a late start. Every time we've come down food has been exceptional, but this time the seafood linguini had the blandest broth... Not what I was expecting. The seafood was cooked perfectly and great on its own but the broth needed a kick. Service was great and friendly and the atmosphere is laid back yet elegant.
(3)
Lynn H.
If you're looking for a decent restaurant with lower prices than you'd typically find on Key West, Abbondanza is it. The food is good, but nothing to write home about. However, portion sizes are huge, so if you have a big appetite, this place is for you. Service was friendly and prompt, and drinks were good. We were four adults looking for a foodie experience, and this was not quite it, but it would be a great place to bring a family.
(3)
Megan M.
My husband and I went here for our anniversary dinner. He had the Chicken Parmigiana and I had the Shrimp Scampi. SOOO GOOD! I had a glass of wine as well. Big portions and well worth the money. We would highly recommend eating here. Would definitely go back!
(5)
Teri D.
Stuffed grouper not bad. Lobster sauce a bit too heavy though. If you are a fan of pastas then this may be the place for you. Their side salads didn't look much better than something you'd get from the grocery store doused with Italian dressing and although the Grouper Filomena was good it would've been so much better if it had not been swimming in that lobster sauce - took away from the taste of fresh grouper. Hubs had veal marsala and we both agreed that was the first time we've seen brown veal marsala. Usually its a bit of a deep burgundy wine color but this looked doused in mushroom sauce. What really miffed me was their charging for soda refills. Usually if it comes out in a bottle you know they charge per but when it comes in a glass you assume its free refills. Not here! The first two sodas are free then they charge you for the next ones. What kind of policy is that? Plus when we got the bill THAT is when we found out about the charge. Wasn't told nor did we see it in the menu. Plus we saw a table of 4 ladies complain that we got our meal before they did and we came in after they did. They were told it was because it took looker to cook their 4 meals than our 2. Not good....
(2)
Chad H.
Please read on. We relied on Yelp almost exclusivity for our week long trip to KW. And you all never let us down. However, the reviews for Abbondanza were generally not good, and due to proximity to our rental house, we came anyway. In short , we had a fantastic experience. Quite a bit better than most of the reviews. I had the Seabass special, and my wife had the tortellini special, my 8 year old son had TWO mussels appetizers and our other kids loved their spaghetti. We all loved our dinners. Salad was great, bread was great , drinks were great , service was great . On the week, we ate everywhere from five stars to hot dogs at Mallory. So we soaked it all in. We would recommend Abnondanza.
(5)
Michael D.
Great place for dinner. Portions are huge and service was great. Try the passion fruit martini for an unusual take on the classic. Well worth the time and cost. Prepare to take home the extras.
(5)
B C.
I have to say it is excellent. The stuffed grouper is from heaven. Perfect service. Will be a must every time I am in Key West.
(5)
Christopher G.
Ate here tonight for my step fathers birthday. Awesome drinks, friendly service, cute girls. Appetizers were a bit small, but the food was delicious. I ate the chicken pancetta and it was the best I have had yet. Great place.
(5)
Alysha C.
Very good Italian food ! Huge portions, and great prices. The location was great, clean and quiet inside . The food tastes great and we had great service as well.
(4)
Harv N.
They definitely do not do take out. Dine in only. Yelp misdirected me on this one. Had a quaint bistro feel inside.
(4)
Yun L.
Garlic bread is great, but spaghetti... I would like to stay in Rhode Island to eat Italian food that matches its name.
(2)
Patricia C.
Atmosphere was nice but after a mix up regarding our large crowd seating the manager really missed an opportunity to shine and instead spent the service recovery time trying to prove she was right. Started the dinner on a sour note. Too bad as we were hoping for a good experience
(2)
Steven D.
The italian food was not the greatest, but edible. I highly recommend Mangia Mangia.
(2)
Patty G.
Must update. Wonderful food, service is great. This restaurant has a homey feel, comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. Also, they are very accomodating for large parties, just make sure you get reservations ahead of time.
(4)
Gail H.
Our party of three loved this place! Went late evening and were seated quickly. The calamari appetizer was excellent we finished it and could've eaten more. The bread was also very nice and fresh we enjoyed it along with a glass of good wine which was a treat. Spaghetti and meatballs were excellent -we couldn't finish it took half the portions home just to be a great treat tomorrow for lunch. The manicotti was possibly the best I've ever had. Worth a visit.
(5)
DruMiguel E.
Abbondanza in Italian means "Abundance" - and they take this seriously. I have never had so much pasta served. It was too much, if you can't carry the leftovers, let alone eat them - you know they're going to throw them away... so the waste kind of sucks, even the waitress pointed out she hates how much food they throw away each day - I think if they served less, and charged less they could have the same great food and reputation, and earn my fifth star. Great food, authentic Tuscan flavors, and good service (rare on the island). Highly recommended.
(4)
Peter R.
What a terrific restaurant! Very nicely decorated and intimate, it's a great place for a romantic dinner, and the made-to-order menu items are true feasts. I ordered the penne puttanesca, which was deliciously prepared with an array of fresh ingredients. The portion size was very satisfying, and I tend to have a huge appetite. Form the outside, the restaurant looks like it was once a private residence, as do many businesses in Key West, now converted to a quaint and very well-maintained establishment, from the landscaping to the decor and lighting. Service was a touch on the slow side, but that's understandable considering that the dishes were freshly prepared, and this probably isn't the kind of place you'd go to for a quick bite, anyway. With the right company, it's the perfect place for a leisurely dinner and conversation with friends, loved ones, and from the moment you walk in, you feel relaxed. Do yourself a favor & try it out! I'll definitely be back next time I'm in Key West!
(4)
Craig S.
Very good food and ambiance. However, with a name like Abbondanza I expected authentic Italian food. This experience was closer to Olive Garden. They do not have any decent cheeses to enjoy with the wine. All in all the food was good. I just can't rate it higher than a 3 when I would not consider this an authentic Italian restaurant.
(3)
Joe W.
This place has really, really... and I mean really gone downhill over the last year. Used to this place was well worth your $, and the customer service was respectable. Now it's not worth getting out of your car, and walking in to smell the roses! Something has happened where the food tastes nowhere as good as it used to, and you don't get a respectable portion size any more.
(2)
Ellissa G.
My husband and I loved this place. It was a quiet night, the atmosphere was very romantic. The food was wonderful my husband had spaghetti and meatballs and I had cannelloni. Both were great. I had a lemon drop martini which was only fair. Everything else was very good.
(4)
Elle K.
Walking in, I was so afraid that this place would turn out to be another hokey place masquerading as a homey Italian restaurant, but the food dispelled my fears! Particularly delicious was the roasted garlic, which was served with plenty of bread, and the steamed clams, sitting in a rich and salty white wine and garlic broth. The perfect combination is spreading the roasted garlic on a slice of bread, then dipping the whole thing in the clam broth--a piece of seafood heaven. The key lime pie beat that of another "famous" place near Duval Street, with a thick crust and a fresh and tart filling. Our waitress was lovely and friendly, an extra perk for Key West, given how many jaded waiters and waitresses there are that have to deal with tourists day in and day out.
(5)
Gregory N.
Nice place. Large portions and not that expensive. One block away from the south end of Duval Street. Easy to walk to from all the hotels in that area. Even though I only gave three stars, I would eat there again. My wife's lasagna was excellent, and I ended up splitting it with her. I ordered the canneloni, which was average. It is a baked dish, but the crepe shell was charred wherever it wasn't covered by sauce. I only ate half, and finished off the lasagna, hence the three stars. If you're having an insane weekend in Key West, and you want to relax, eat some good Italian food and not drop a bundle, here's your place!
(3)
Bryn L.
Wine was good, appetizer was great, chicken was very dry and chewy. Kind of a disappointment as this is not their norm. Hopefully this was just an off day for them.
(3)
Craig C.
Super Delicious, Hot and Fresh
(4)
Damian C.
First of all i must say evilin the server First the server evilina was good. The food, however was not. My friend ordered the lasagna, it was very chewy and had a rubbery texture. I order the linguini with the little neck clams, they gave me enough clams but over two pounds of linguini I couldn't even find the cream sauce they were talking about in the menu, it was like a watery soup on top of that the clams were over cooked . I will not be returning.
(2)
David S.
As in other reviews there was a good amount of food considering the prices. Seafood and Veal dishes are $22 which is expected. My wife had the Chicken Parmigiana and I had Chicken Caprese ($18) Both dishes were very good except my wife said she didn't care for the sauce they served with the spaghetti that came with the chicken parmigiana. I tasted it and it was a bit heavy on the oregano. Otherwise the food was good. Service however was hit and miss, Our waiter payed more attention to the 4 top behind us than he did us, too bad cost him a good tip and a bad review. We were double charged for drinks (either that or they don't offer free refills, who does that these days). Plus there were many times we were left waiting too long for refills. I would have rated the restaurant at 4 stars had it not been for the lackluster service.
(2)
Jim K.
The Bottom Line: The food was mediocre at best and the service, though friendly, was bad. In a town with so many dining options, why go here? ------------------------------------------------ My wife and I had high expectations here based on other Yelp reviews. We were very disappointed. The first thing I noticed about our waitress was that her white golf type shirt was dirty. Why would she, let alone her management, allow her to serve tables in a really dirty shirt? I learned a lesson from that. If the server is wearing dirty clothes - leave now. It's a sign of neglect and lack of attention to detail that might carry over in other aspects of their operation. As for the food: Fried Calemari Appetizer - tender but no flavor. My wife's pasta & shrimp - when it first came out it was very bland and needed more sauce. In spite of several attempts to get our server's attention when she was nearby she never looked our way or stopped in to check on us. When she finally did, she brought out more sauce and the dish was OK. My Tortellini with Porcini mushrooms - it was tasty and a large portion. The tortellini were the largest I've ever seen and cooked correctly. The cream sauce, however, was very pasty and had a taste and texture of raw flour. The cook failed to brown the flour before using it to thicken the sauce. Pretty bad. Also, only a few small slices of mushroom. Key Lime Pie - on of my favorite desserts. I have never been in the Keys before and had high hopes of getting some really good Key Lime Pie. It lacked flavor and was very heavy. I've had much better back home in NJ. All of these problems go back to the management. Our server was a nice girl who needs training and direction. The cooks need to focus on attention to detail and start turning out quality food.
(2)
Dale G.
I'm blown away with the reviews about this place! The minute you walk through the door you are hit in the face with the overpowering garlic smell. (I love garlic but not to that degree.) Salad that came with dinner was warm, all I could taste in my main course was garlic, wine selection was abysmal. Sorry we came here.
(1)
Megan S.
I've been here twice in two visits to Key West. It's a must visit for my parents every time they come. The prices are reasonable considering the portion size. I could easily get 3 or 4 meals out of my entree. I had the Chicken Piccata which was an entire chicken breast that I paired w/ pasta rather than the broccoli & stewed tomato it comes with. Dad had the Spaghettia Calabrese which has Italian sausage, peppers & onions in a red sauce. The sausage was tasty though we don't think it was hot Italian as the menu states. And my mother had her old standby of Spaghetti & meatballs. She gets this everywhere we go for Italian. Sometimes it's worth it, other times, not so much. Here it was definitely worth it. The meatballs are tender & tasty, easily 2.5" in diameter. It's a little dark in the restaurant...suppose that's for setting the mood, but I could barely see what I was eating. The decor is pretty (from what I could see) and cozy w/ throw pillows in the booths. They will not split checks (much to the chagrine of a jerk seated at the next table who talked about this until he decided to leave as this was too much for him to bear) so keep this in mind when dining w/ a larger party. Bring cash or have a plan to work this out amongst yourselves.
(4)
Rob B.
reasonably priced. Cozy ambience. Big portions. All entrees come with a salad. Plus, FREE PARKING for dinner. What a great bonus!!
(4)
Brian H.
Many parts of the meal were pretty good. Atmosphere is nice although some very loud, obnoxious couples near us ruined the second half of our meal. Salad, bruschetta, bread and wine were fine. My manicotti were decent although my partner's Chicken Marsala was slightly over done. I'd return and hope for better dining company near me.
(3)
G C.
We have been going to Abbondanza for at least eight years. We've had good experiences except for the last 2 years. This year we made reservations days in advance for Christmas night dinner. Instead of a nice intimate dinner for two we felt like we we're on a Disney cruise. Too loud , unsupervised kids every where, we struggled to hear our server. We mentioned to the hostess that perhaps there was a better choice of seating for us and she just ran away. Will have to think hard about going back .
(2)
GG V.
Awesome food, HUGE Portions. We had the Chicken Parm and Stuffed Ravioli and both were good. Even the salad pre-main course was warm and yummy. Bread with Olive Oil and Vinaigrette was delish as well. The prices are good for the portions.
(4)
Doug P.
Very nice place to dine at. I had the lasagna , it was amazing. The bruschetta and cheesecake were very good as well. Lindsey was our bartender , she was the best . Lindsey was very pleasant and helpful with the best choices of entrees on the menu. Stop by and have dinner and see Lindsey !!!
(5)
Allen M.
Let me first say that I am rating this as a Veggie. In a town chocked full of average, fried, crappy "seafood in a basket" restaurants, Abbondanza was a wonderful treat. Amazing service, and great atmosphere. Our server was very accommodating and helped me modify the Penne Primavera to my needs ( no cream sauce for me ). The dish came out PACKED with all of my veggies - zucchini, cauliflower, spinach, red peppers, yellow squash, broccoli, carrots and topped with fresh raw beets. I opted for no peas and mushrooms but thats part of the dish also. It was so fresh and delicious. I love going to The Cafe when in Key West for my veggie meals but this was SPECTACULAR change of pace. My meat-eating family also loved their meals as well. I gave it a perfect 5 starts. Oh and mine was a large enough portion to have lunch tomorrow :-)
(5)
Blue G.
Best Italian in Key West! But of course we all have our own favorite Italian place in another city that nothing else lives up to. And this one won't either, but this is why I strongly recommend it: It is the whole Italian package deal. Great food and lots of it. Always a crowd, but never a wait. Good bread and salad with every meal. First class service. The atmosphere is both elegant and welcoming. It feels like a big night out just sitting in the restaurant and talking with your guests. After dinner you will want a glass of wine or coffee to keep the evening going. Then take your leftovers for lunch the next day. They box it for you...I like that!
(5)
Mike S.
Yummy grouper Filomena was great !!! Hannah was very nice! Go there and eat !!! Yummy !!!! Second refill on soda free? That's weird tho !
(4)
Rachel R.
Open late which is good when you want quality food and a late start. Every time we've come down food has been exceptional, but this time the seafood linguini had the blandest broth... Not what I was expecting. The seafood was cooked perfectly and great on its own but the broth needed a kick. Service was great and friendly and the atmosphere is laid back yet elegant.
(3)
Kelly M.
Very nice dinner here while visiting Key West My wife said it was good but not the best she ever had I had the lasagna and found it to be very tasty Prices are very good for the island
(4)
Lynn H.
If you're looking for a decent restaurant with lower prices than you'd typically find on Key West, Abbondanza is it. The food is good, but nothing to write home about. However, portion sizes are huge, so if you have a big appetite, this place is for you. Service was friendly and prompt, and drinks were good. We were four adults looking for a foodie experience, and this was not quite it, but it would be a great place to bring a family.
(3)
Megan M.
My husband and I went here for our anniversary dinner. He had the Chicken Parmigiana and I had the Shrimp Scampi. SOOO GOOD! I had a glass of wine as well. Big portions and well worth the money. We would highly recommend eating here. Would definitely go back!
(5)
Teri D.
Stuffed grouper not bad. Lobster sauce a bit too heavy though. If you are a fan of pastas then this may be the place for you. Their side salads didn't look much better than something you'd get from the grocery store doused with Italian dressing and although the Grouper Filomena was good it would've been so much better if it had not been swimming in that lobster sauce - took away from the taste of fresh grouper. Hubs had veal marsala and we both agreed that was the first time we've seen brown veal marsala. Usually its a bit of a deep burgundy wine color but this looked doused in mushroom sauce. What really miffed me was their charging for soda refills. Usually if it comes out in a bottle you know they charge per but when it comes in a glass you assume its free refills. Not here! The first two sodas are free then they charge you for the next ones. What kind of policy is that? Plus when we got the bill THAT is when we found out about the charge. Wasn't told nor did we see it in the menu. Plus we saw a table of 4 ladies complain that we got our meal before they did and we came in after they did. They were told it was because it took looker to cook their 4 meals than our 2. Not good....
(2)
David C.
Can the portions be any larger? Bring your appetite and a carry out Always good and never disappoints.
(4)
Robyn S.
Had the Chicken Parmesan and it was very great! Serving was a very good portion. It was yummy!
(5)
Chad H.
Please read on. We relied on Yelp almost exclusivity for our week long trip to KW. And you all never let us down. However, the reviews for Abbondanza were generally not good, and due to proximity to our rental house, we came anyway. In short , we had a fantastic experience. Quite a bit better than most of the reviews. I had the Seabass special, and my wife had the tortellini special, my 8 year old son had TWO mussels appetizers and our other kids loved their spaghetti. We all loved our dinners. Salad was great, bread was great , drinks were great , service was great . On the week, we ate everywhere from five stars to hot dogs at Mallory. So we soaked it all in. We would recommend Abnondanza.
(5)
Michael D.
Great place for dinner. Portions are huge and service was great. Try the passion fruit martini for an unusual take on the classic. Well worth the time and cost. Prepare to take home the extras.
(5)
B C.
I have to say it is excellent. The stuffed grouper is from heaven. Perfect service. Will be a must every time I am in Key West.
(5)
Gregory N.
Nice place. Large portions and not that expensive. One block away from the south end of Duval Street. Easy to walk to from all the hotels in that area. Even though I only gave three stars, I would eat there again. My wife's lasagna was excellent, and I ended up splitting it with her. I ordered the canneloni, which was average. It is a baked dish, but the crepe shell was charred wherever it wasn't covered by sauce. I only ate half, and finished off the lasagna, hence the three stars. If you're having an insane weekend in Key West, and you want to relax, eat some good Italian food and not drop a bundle, here's your place!
(3)
Peter R.
What a terrific restaurant! Very nicely decorated and intimate, it's a great place for a romantic dinner, and the made-to-order menu items are true feasts. I ordered the penne puttanesca, which was deliciously prepared with an array of fresh ingredients. The portion size was very satisfying, and I tend to have a huge appetite. Form the outside, the restaurant looks like it was once a private residence, as do many businesses in Key West, now converted to a quaint and very well-maintained establishment, from the landscaping to the decor and lighting. Service was a touch on the slow side, but that's understandable considering that the dishes were freshly prepared, and this probably isn't the kind of place you'd go to for a quick bite, anyway. With the right company, it's the perfect place for a leisurely dinner and conversation with friends, loved ones, and from the moment you walk in, you feel relaxed. Do yourself a favor & try it out! I'll definitely be back next time I'm in Key West!
(4)
Craig S.
Very good food and ambiance. However, with a name like Abbondanza I expected authentic Italian food. This experience was closer to Olive Garden. They do not have any decent cheeses to enjoy with the wine. All in all the food was good. I just can't rate it higher than a 3 when I would not consider this an authentic Italian restaurant.
(3)
Joe W.
This place has really, really... and I mean really gone downhill over the last year. Used to this place was well worth your $, and the customer service was respectable. Now it's not worth getting out of your car, and walking in to smell the roses! Something has happened where the food tastes nowhere as good as it used to, and you don't get a respectable portion size any more.
(2)
Ellissa G.
My husband and I loved this place. It was a quiet night, the atmosphere was very romantic. The food was wonderful my husband had spaghetti and meatballs and I had cannelloni. Both were great. I had a lemon drop martini which was only fair. Everything else was very good.
(4)
Elle K.
Walking in, I was so afraid that this place would turn out to be another hokey place masquerading as a homey Italian restaurant, but the food dispelled my fears! Particularly delicious was the roasted garlic, which was served with plenty of bread, and the steamed clams, sitting in a rich and salty white wine and garlic broth. The perfect combination is spreading the roasted garlic on a slice of bread, then dipping the whole thing in the clam broth--a piece of seafood heaven. The key lime pie beat that of another "famous" place near Duval Street, with a thick crust and a fresh and tart filling. Our waitress was lovely and friendly, an extra perk for Key West, given how many jaded waiters and waitresses there are that have to deal with tourists day in and day out.
(5)
Dale G.
I'm blown away with the reviews about this place! The minute you walk through the door you are hit in the face with the overpowering garlic smell. (I love garlic but not to that degree.) Salad that came with dinner was warm, all I could taste in my main course was garlic, wine selection was abysmal. Sorry we came here.
(1)
Megan S.
I've been here twice in two visits to Key West. It's a must visit for my parents every time they come. The prices are reasonable considering the portion size. I could easily get 3 or 4 meals out of my entree. I had the Chicken Piccata which was an entire chicken breast that I paired w/ pasta rather than the broccoli & stewed tomato it comes with. Dad had the Spaghettia Calabrese which has Italian sausage, peppers & onions in a red sauce. The sausage was tasty though we don't think it was hot Italian as the menu states. And my mother had her old standby of Spaghetti & meatballs. She gets this everywhere we go for Italian. Sometimes it's worth it, other times, not so much. Here it was definitely worth it. The meatballs are tender & tasty, easily 2.5" in diameter. It's a little dark in the restaurant...suppose that's for setting the mood, but I could barely see what I was eating. The decor is pretty (from what I could see) and cozy w/ throw pillows in the booths. They will not split checks (much to the chagrine of a jerk seated at the next table who talked about this until he decided to leave as this was too much for him to bear) so keep this in mind when dining w/ a larger party. Bring cash or have a plan to work this out amongst yourselves.
(4)
Rob B.
reasonably priced. Cozy ambience. Big portions. All entrees come with a salad. Plus, FREE PARKING for dinner. What a great bonus!!
(4)
Brian H.
Many parts of the meal were pretty good. Atmosphere is nice although some very loud, obnoxious couples near us ruined the second half of our meal. Salad, bruschetta, bread and wine were fine. My manicotti were decent although my partner's Chicken Marsala was slightly over done. I'd return and hope for better dining company near me.
(3)
G C.
We have been going to Abbondanza for at least eight years. We've had good experiences except for the last 2 years. This year we made reservations days in advance for Christmas night dinner. Instead of a nice intimate dinner for two we felt like we we're on a Disney cruise. Too loud , unsupervised kids every where, we struggled to hear our server. We mentioned to the hostess that perhaps there was a better choice of seating for us and she just ran away. Will have to think hard about going back .
(2)
GG V.
Awesome food, HUGE Portions. We had the Chicken Parm and Stuffed Ravioli and both were good. Even the salad pre-main course was warm and yummy. Bread with Olive Oil and Vinaigrette was delish as well. The prices are good for the portions.
(4)
Craig C.
Super Delicious, Hot and Fresh
(4)
Damian C.
First of all i must say evilin the server First the server evilina was good. The food, however was not. My friend ordered the lasagna, it was very chewy and had a rubbery texture. I order the linguini with the little neck clams, they gave me enough clams but over two pounds of linguini I couldn't even find the cream sauce they were talking about in the menu, it was like a watery soup on top of that the clams were over cooked . I will not be returning.
(2)
Bryn L.
Wine was good, appetizer was great, chicken was very dry and chewy. Kind of a disappointment as this is not their norm. Hopefully this was just an off day for them.
(3)
David S.
As in other reviews there was a good amount of food considering the prices. Seafood and Veal dishes are $22 which is expected. My wife had the Chicken Parmigiana and I had Chicken Caprese ($18) Both dishes were very good except my wife said she didn't care for the sauce they served with the spaghetti that came with the chicken parmigiana. I tasted it and it was a bit heavy on the oregano. Otherwise the food was good. Service however was hit and miss, Our waiter payed more attention to the 4 top behind us than he did us, too bad cost him a good tip and a bad review. We were double charged for drinks (either that or they don't offer free refills, who does that these days). Plus there were many times we were left waiting too long for refills. I would have rated the restaurant at 4 stars had it not been for the lackluster service.
(2)
Jim K.
The Bottom Line: The food was mediocre at best and the service, though friendly, was bad. In a town with so many dining options, why go here? ------------------------------------------------ My wife and I had high expectations here based on other Yelp reviews. We were very disappointed. The first thing I noticed about our waitress was that her white golf type shirt was dirty. Why would she, let alone her management, allow her to serve tables in a really dirty shirt? I learned a lesson from that. If the server is wearing dirty clothes - leave now. It's a sign of neglect and lack of attention to detail that might carry over in other aspects of their operation. As for the food: Fried Calemari Appetizer - tender but no flavor. My wife's pasta & shrimp - when it first came out it was very bland and needed more sauce. In spite of several attempts to get our server's attention when she was nearby she never looked our way or stopped in to check on us. When she finally did, she brought out more sauce and the dish was OK. My Tortellini with Porcini mushrooms - it was tasty and a large portion. The tortellini were the largest I've ever seen and cooked correctly. The cream sauce, however, was very pasty and had a taste and texture of raw flour. The cook failed to brown the flour before using it to thicken the sauce. Pretty bad. Also, only a few small slices of mushroom. Key Lime Pie - on of my favorite desserts. I have never been in the Keys before and had high hopes of getting some really good Key Lime Pie. It lacked flavor and was very heavy. I've had much better back home in NJ. All of these problems go back to the management. Our server was a nice girl who needs training and direction. The cooks need to focus on attention to detail and start turning out quality food.
(2)
Frank R.
When getting suggestions for Italian, everyone seems to mention Abbondanza or Mangia-Mangia. We only tried Abbondanza so can't compare. We decided to try it at our B&B manager's suggestion (turned out he works here part time). The place is huge and can handle large parties well. We had a short 15 minute wait and then were seated inside. It is a very nice place and we had excellent service. Food was VERY substantial. Large bowls of pasta even I couldn't finish - and that's saying something. I had the Calabrese pasta with sausage on top of angel hair pasta. Lots of sausage and peppers on top of a mountain of pasta. Salad that came with the meal was a dissappointment. One leaf of lettuce with diced peppers and tomatoes on top - very soggy. Overall - nice place, handles large groups and has big portions. Not the best - but we had a pleasant experience overall. Will probably try one of the others next time to compare.
(3)
R S.
I ate here in '09 and '10. Judging by other reviews the food may have drastically changed since then. I enjoyed the food a great deal and the portion size was large for a good price. (Good leftovers that I left in the frig at my hotel room 2 years running). What I could not believe was that both times I had the same evil, snotty, haughty waitress. She seemed to think that we were really at some high class dining place, and it was really just an average place.
(3)
Juliette H.
I absolutely LOVED this restaurant! The atmosphere is fantastic- it strikes the perfect balance of fine dining while also remaining comfortable and relaxing. The wait staff was very friendly and accommodating, and also knew a great deal about the menu. I tried the Mint Chocolate martini at our waitress' recommendation, which was absolutely wonderful. I tried the chicken alfredo entree, which was a sizeable portion and at a reasonable price. I would definitely recommend this restaurant!
(5)
Peri B.
We had just arrived into town and spent the first night in a nearby motel until we could get our house back from tenants. Abbondanza was a short walk and it was packed. Good sign. We're from Monterey, CA and have a number of both trendy and traditional Italian and seafood restaurants. We love a scampi and hot bread with balsamic and olive oil to dip. Since we'd been flying all day, we were really looking forward to a nice meal. Well, what we got was bland pasta. I had the Pesto and my husband had the scampi. It was like hospital food. The dipping oil wasn't seasoned or anything special. We split a Caesar salad, which didn't include an anchovie and was topped with a dressing that most likely came in a big plastic bottle. If you want to pay top dollar for tourist food, Abbondanza is your place. I mentioned this experience to a number of my friends who live here and they all tell me they have taken this place off of their list.
(2)
Bob M.
On recent visit to KW, had a very delightful meal with family. Shrimp scampi, egg plant parm, usages and peppers were exquisite. Nice a garlicky, home style salad very good bread. Wait staff nice Erika was excellent. Provided insight into menu and made recommendations. Would highly recommend this establishment when visiting the keys. Reasonably priced.....
(4)
Jeremy D.
Seems like a nice place from the menu and the atmosphere, but the food and the service need CPR. The garlic bread was where the good eats ended. We both ordered seafood pasta dishes and had the same experience: the food was bland, poorly mixed, and there was no sauce that made it down to the pasta itself. I had a couple dozen mussels laid on top of the bland pasta and they were all still in the shell - quite a weird preparation being that I couldn't even see or reach the pasta below. The server(s) seemed to have trouble understanding that used plates should be cleared from our table. I could barely find a place to put my drink down. The server wasn't rude, just not very good. Definitely overpriced and overrated.
(2)
Bill T.
Nice quiet place with really good food. We shared Calimari appetizer and a nice Chianti. My wife had the veal pic arts and enjoyed it (should have been served over pasta, however) I has Linguini and clams (very good). Finished our dinner with homemade KLP. If you enjoy "family style" Italian food, you'll like Abbondanza.
(4)
Chris R.
Perfect spot for something different in Key West. If you're tired of fish sandwiches, conch fritters, or Cuban food, give Abbondanza a try. Reasonable prices, a nice laid-back atmosphere, good portion size and friendly service. We're definitely not food critics and maybe most people won't think this is 'great' Italian food. However, we were very happy with the experience.
(4)
James S.
Our first night in Key West was Valentine's Day. This is a nice restaurant near South Beach on Simonton. We got a seat immediately at a table at the bar. Eggplant Parmesan was delicious, as well as a huge portion. This is a fun place, and very reasonable. Give it a shot, if you are looking for Italian comfort food with a sophisticated ambiance.
(5)
Lauren A.
We were looking for a dinner spot that was off of the beaten path of Duval street. We decided to come here after driving around a bit for a dinner spot. The menu is small but the portions are huge. One plate could be shared by 3 people! I got the lasagna and it was delicious...I just wish I could of taken the left overs home.
(5)
Allison S.
This quaint Italian restaurant in key west was charming. I only gave it 3 stars, however, because the service was lacking. Our waiter was not attuned to our needs, and often took a long time to bring us what we asked for. The food was decent, definitely have had better Italian good before, but the portions were very generous. I think there are better Italian places on the island but this one was just okay.
(3)
Levi M.
After 7 years and three states, I have finally found a great Italian Restaurant. Great food, Huge portions. Service was very good. The only down side was the Tiramisu was ok, it was a bit dry. The server told us that it was brought in pre-made.
(4)
Todd P.
A large group of friends from across the country recently converged on Key West to celebrate a 30th birthday. The birthday boy himself could have a second career as a cruise director -- we call him Julie McCoy (for anyone that remembers The Love Boat) -- because he LOVES organizing. After becoming conjoined twins with our hotel concierge Jane, together they selected Abbondanza for dinner our first night in town. The restaurant was very accommodating, arranging a dining area in a back room for us since there were nearly 20 people all together. After some soft, fresh baked bread and olive oil, I ordered the Grouper fillet, served with steamed broccoli and a couple of small, baked red potatoes. The fish was perfectly cooked and the sides were fine, although a titch boring in presentation and flavor. I'm glad I didn't order pasta! Not that it was bad, by any means, but because the portions are HUGE! In fact, too big, judging by how much anyone who ordered pasta ate -- they seemed to just skim a bit off the top of the giant bowls. All in all, Abbondanza was a nice kick off to a week of debauchery in Key West. "The Love Boat...set a course for adventure, your mind on a new romance...." or something like that. Now that damn song's stuck in my head!
(3)
Jim D.
This is the 3rd time I've gone to eat there in a 4yr time frame. The food was really good and the service was very friendly and interactive. Petra was our server and she went out of her way to make sure we were taken care of. The portions are huge and the prices for Keywest are very reasonable. The KLP was amazing. They serve an actual salad and not just out of the bag. I will be returning the next time I'm in Keywest.
(4)
Ashish K.
Omg what a find! It's kinda hidden especially since its not on duval but this is totally worth the 10 min walk.. sumptuous garlic bread. We got the Capellini Estate, it was super. Still can taste those sweet tomatoes , they were the best ever . Even the pasta was like melting fresh!! Highly recommended.. Our server was very nice and she even gave us the MUST have Key Lime Pie for free !!
(5)
John M.
OK calamari and salads. My wife, son and daughter all had dinners with cream sauces and they were pretty good. I had the eggplant parmagian and it was the worst I've ever had. The marinara sauce on the side of spaghetti wasn't the good for me, either. Way too garlic-y. I ate only a few bites of both and when the waiter asked how much I enjoyed it, I groused. Said I usually loved egplant parmesian but this wasn't at all good. He brought boxes for the family's leftovers and whisked mine away. I expected at least an adjustment on the bill for my largley uneaten meal but there was none. We only have a few nights here in Key West and I hoped for a better meal. I'd never eat here again and wouldn't recommend it either. Eggplant parm isn't hard to get right and this place didn't. Based on cost of the entire meal ($95 withiout alcohol) vs value, I was disappointed.
(2)
Dawen H.
Extremely awesome seafood! great service and atmoshere! big portion of food. Love it!
(5)
William R.
Only two reviews? What a crime. Here's our take on this wonderful restaurant: We were strolling along Duvall Street last year when hunger overtook us and we found ourselves standing in front of Abbondanza. We shrugged and went inside. The decor is unremarkable but we were hungry. The menu is typical neighborhood Italian. I ordered spaghetti & meatballs, my wife ordered the chicken picatta. When our meals arrived, our eyes popped: HUGE portions - each entree was enough for 2-3 people. Then we began eating - both dishes were outstanding: best spaghetti & meatballs I've had in years. Sadly, we were unable to finish our meals and since we were traveling, no doggy bags. We had to leave a good part of our meals on the plate - enough to make you cry! When we return to Key West, we will come back here FIRST! Highly recommended.
(5)
John N.
I'd heard from a fellow traveler who is Italian and from New York that the food here was fantastic, even as compared to his hometown fare. I paid a visit and was not disappointed. I had the lasagna which was very good as was the accompanying salad and bread. I would definitely recommend. The atmosphere is low light and intimate so take that into consideration.
(4)
Jon S.
We had eaten our share of seafood and needed a change for one dinner our friends took us here food and staff was exceptional.
(5)
Shawn S.
We decided on going for Italian for dinner and chose Abbondanza since it had good reviews and it was close to our hotel. The decor was very nice, a warm welcoming look to it. We opted for some Calamari for an appetizer, the breading was light and the calamari was tasted fresh. My girlfriend went with the Spaghetti Calabrese and I went with the special tortellini. The portions are quite large, (hence the name) her dish could have easily served 2 adults and my dish was a large order that was filling. The sauce with the spaghetti was very good and thought the sausage was outstanding, it was grilled crispy on the outside and nice sweet/spicy flavor on the inside. The tortellini weren't over cooked, were nice and tender, the accompanied cream sauce was perfect. Wish we could have taken back to the hotel to re-heat but not an option.
(4)
Peg H.
Excellent food and atmosphere. We had penne with olive oil, crushed red pepper, capers, and crushed garlic. It was to die for. I have it 4 stars because the service was a little slow but very polite and friendly.
(4)
John K.
My friend is a local concierge in Key West and this was the Italian restaurant he recommended. It's away from the hustle and bustle of Duvall Street yet close enough to the actions. Very nice decor inside and reasonably priced. Food was most excellent and service was good. Give this place a try, you won't be disappointed :)
(4)
Louie C.
Very good service, romantic atmosphere, and the place was reasonably priced considering the portions can feed 2. I would def. go back here next time im in key west.
(5)
Chris S.
Great Italian eatery for Key West! The fish and chicken selections were excellent that my wife and I had!
(4)
Steve K.
Fantastic pasta. Yelp'd it and wasn't disapponinted
(5)
danielle w.
was not expecting to go abbondanza but found on short walk from hotel service is great kid friendly bread delicious pasta outstanding with very large portions 17month old loved it wsp
(4)
Patricia C.
Atmosphere was nice but after a mix up regarding our large crowd seating the manager really missed an opportunity to shine and instead spent the service recovery time trying to prove she was right. Started the dinner on a sour note. Too bad as we were hoping for a good experience
(2)
Christopher G.
Ate here tonight for my step fathers birthday. Awesome drinks, friendly service, cute girls. Appetizers were a bit small, but the food was delicious. I ate the chicken pancetta and it was the best I have had yet. Great place.
(5)
Alysha C.
Very good Italian food ! Huge portions, and great prices. The location was great, clean and quiet inside . The food tastes great and we had great service as well.
(4)
Harv N.
They definitely do not do take out. Dine in only. Yelp misdirected me on this one. Had a quaint bistro feel inside.
(4)
Yun L.
Garlic bread is great, but spaghetti... I would like to stay in Rhode Island to eat Italian food that matches its name.
(2)
Steven D.
The italian food was not the greatest, but edible. I highly recommend Mangia Mangia.
(2)
Patty G.
Must update. Wonderful food, service is great. This restaurant has a homey feel, comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. Also, they are very accomodating for large parties, just make sure you get reservations ahead of time.
(4)
Gail H.
Our party of three loved this place! Went late evening and were seated quickly. The calamari appetizer was excellent we finished it and could've eaten more. The bread was also very nice and fresh we enjoyed it along with a glass of good wine which was a treat. Spaghetti and meatballs were excellent -we couldn't finish it took half the portions home just to be a great treat tomorrow for lunch. The manicotti was possibly the best I've ever had. Worth a visit.
(5)
DruMiguel E.
Abbondanza in Italian means "Abundance" - and they take this seriously. I have never had so much pasta served. It was too much, if you can't carry the leftovers, let alone eat them - you know they're going to throw them away... so the waste kind of sucks, even the waitress pointed out she hates how much food they throw away each day - I think if they served less, and charged less they could have the same great food and reputation, and earn my fifth star. Great food, authentic Tuscan flavors, and good service (rare on the island). Highly recommended.
(4)
Natalie E.
For the price good food. We were all spent out from paying 100 bucks the last two nights. So we go here based on reviews. Food was good but if you aren't really hungry, you'll feel you wasted your money! Reason- they give you super human amount of food. It borders on ridiculous! I had the spaghetti and meatballs.... I swear me, my boyfriend and five of our closest friends could eat off their one serving! You definitely get you money's worth. Appetizer, spaghetti/meatballs, veal Parm, and pie will set you back 40. Very decent for key west!
(4)
Gina J.
We went there for new year's eve dinner - we didn't plan ahead and all nearby restaurants were booked. They offered a fixed menu, so our experience may not be typical. We had an appetizer, which is not at all memorable (since I don't even recall what it was after one week!). The salad tasted like prepackaged lettuce mixed with bottled dressing. The seafood pasta came in a bowl so huge that the pasta inside can feed a family of three! Naturally, a lot of my pasta got wasted, which made me feel guilty. The dessert was also lackluster. All in all, I won't terribly mind going back there, but given all the good restaurants nearby, I would only go there when given no choice.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : 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.
danielle w.
was not expecting to go abbondanza but found on short walk from hotel service is great kid friendly bread delicious pasta outstanding with very large portions 17month old loved it wsp
(4)Natalie E.
For the price good food. We were all spent out from paying 100 bucks the last two nights. So we go here based on reviews. Food was good but if you aren't really hungry, you'll feel you wasted your money! Reason- they give you super human amount of food. It borders on ridiculous! I had the spaghetti and meatballs.... I swear me, my boyfriend and five of our closest friends could eat off their one serving! You definitely get you money's worth. Appetizer, spaghetti/meatballs, veal Parm, and pie will set you back 40. Very decent for key west!
(4)Gina J.
We went there for new year's eve dinner - we didn't plan ahead and all nearby restaurants were booked. They offered a fixed menu, so our experience may not be typical. We had an appetizer, which is not at all memorable (since I don't even recall what it was after one week!). The salad tasted like prepackaged lettuce mixed with bottled dressing. The seafood pasta came in a bowl so huge that the pasta inside can feed a family of three! Naturally, a lot of my pasta got wasted, which made me feel guilty. The dessert was also lackluster. All in all, I won't terribly mind going back there, but given all the good restaurants nearby, I would only go there when given no choice.
(2)Frank R.
When getting suggestions for Italian, everyone seems to mention Abbondanza or Mangia-Mangia. We only tried Abbondanza so can't compare. We decided to try it at our B&B manager's suggestion (turned out he works here part time). The place is huge and can handle large parties well. We had a short 15 minute wait and then were seated inside. It is a very nice place and we had excellent service. Food was VERY substantial. Large bowls of pasta even I couldn't finish - and that's saying something. I had the Calabrese pasta with sausage on top of angel hair pasta. Lots of sausage and peppers on top of a mountain of pasta. Salad that came with the meal was a dissappointment. One leaf of lettuce with diced peppers and tomatoes on top - very soggy. Overall - nice place, handles large groups and has big portions. Not the best - but we had a pleasant experience overall. Will probably try one of the others next time to compare.
(3)R S.
I ate here in '09 and '10. Judging by other reviews the food may have drastically changed since then. I enjoyed the food a great deal and the portion size was large for a good price. (Good leftovers that I left in the frig at my hotel room 2 years running). What I could not believe was that both times I had the same evil, snotty, haughty waitress. She seemed to think that we were really at some high class dining place, and it was really just an average place.
(3)Juliette H.
I absolutely LOVED this restaurant! The atmosphere is fantastic- it strikes the perfect balance of fine dining while also remaining comfortable and relaxing. The wait staff was very friendly and accommodating, and also knew a great deal about the menu. I tried the Mint Chocolate martini at our waitress' recommendation, which was absolutely wonderful. I tried the chicken alfredo entree, which was a sizeable portion and at a reasonable price. I would definitely recommend this restaurant!
(5)Peri B.
We had just arrived into town and spent the first night in a nearby motel until we could get our house back from tenants. Abbondanza was a short walk and it was packed. Good sign. We're from Monterey, CA and have a number of both trendy and traditional Italian and seafood restaurants. We love a scampi and hot bread with balsamic and olive oil to dip. Since we'd been flying all day, we were really looking forward to a nice meal. Well, what we got was bland pasta. I had the Pesto and my husband had the scampi. It was like hospital food. The dipping oil wasn't seasoned or anything special. We split a Caesar salad, which didn't include an anchovie and was topped with a dressing that most likely came in a big plastic bottle. If you want to pay top dollar for tourist food, Abbondanza is your place. I mentioned this experience to a number of my friends who live here and they all tell me they have taken this place off of their list.
(2)Bob M.
On recent visit to KW, had a very delightful meal with family. Shrimp scampi, egg plant parm, usages and peppers were exquisite. Nice a garlicky, home style salad very good bread. Wait staff nice Erika was excellent. Provided insight into menu and made recommendations. Would highly recommend this establishment when visiting the keys. Reasonably priced.....
(4)Jeremy D.
Seems like a nice place from the menu and the atmosphere, but the food and the service need CPR. The garlic bread was where the good eats ended. We both ordered seafood pasta dishes and had the same experience: the food was bland, poorly mixed, and there was no sauce that made it down to the pasta itself. I had a couple dozen mussels laid on top of the bland pasta and they were all still in the shell - quite a weird preparation being that I couldn't even see or reach the pasta below. The server(s) seemed to have trouble understanding that used plates should be cleared from our table. I could barely find a place to put my drink down. The server wasn't rude, just not very good. Definitely overpriced and overrated.
(2)Bill T.
Nice quiet place with really good food. We shared Calimari appetizer and a nice Chianti. My wife had the veal pic arts and enjoyed it (should have been served over pasta, however) I has Linguini and clams (very good). Finished our dinner with homemade KLP. If you enjoy "family style" Italian food, you'll like Abbondanza.
(4)Chris R.
Perfect spot for something different in Key West. If you're tired of fish sandwiches, conch fritters, or Cuban food, give Abbondanza a try. Reasonable prices, a nice laid-back atmosphere, good portion size and friendly service. We're definitely not food critics and maybe most people won't think this is 'great' Italian food. However, we were very happy with the experience.
(4)James S.
Our first night in Key West was Valentine's Day. This is a nice restaurant near South Beach on Simonton. We got a seat immediately at a table at the bar. Eggplant Parmesan was delicious, as well as a huge portion. This is a fun place, and very reasonable. Give it a shot, if you are looking for Italian comfort food with a sophisticated ambiance.
(5)Lauren A.
We were looking for a dinner spot that was off of the beaten path of Duval street. We decided to come here after driving around a bit for a dinner spot. The menu is small but the portions are huge. One plate could be shared by 3 people! I got the lasagna and it was delicious...I just wish I could of taken the left overs home.
(5)Todd P.
A large group of friends from across the country recently converged on Key West to celebrate a 30th birthday. The birthday boy himself could have a second career as a cruise director -- we call him Julie McCoy (for anyone that remembers The Love Boat) -- because he LOVES organizing. After becoming conjoined twins with our hotel concierge Jane, together they selected Abbondanza for dinner our first night in town. The restaurant was very accommodating, arranging a dining area in a back room for us since there were nearly 20 people all together. After some soft, fresh baked bread and olive oil, I ordered the Grouper fillet, served with steamed broccoli and a couple of small, baked red potatoes. The fish was perfectly cooked and the sides were fine, although a titch boring in presentation and flavor. I'm glad I didn't order pasta! Not that it was bad, by any means, but because the portions are HUGE! In fact, too big, judging by how much anyone who ordered pasta ate -- they seemed to just skim a bit off the top of the giant bowls. All in all, Abbondanza was a nice kick off to a week of debauchery in Key West. "The Love Boat...set a course for adventure, your mind on a new romance...." or something like that. Now that damn song's stuck in my head!
(3)Jim D.
This is the 3rd time I've gone to eat there in a 4yr time frame. The food was really good and the service was very friendly and interactive. Petra was our server and she went out of her way to make sure we were taken care of. The portions are huge and the prices for Keywest are very reasonable. The KLP was amazing. They serve an actual salad and not just out of the bag. I will be returning the next time I'm in Keywest.
(4)Ashish K.
Omg what a find! It's kinda hidden especially since its not on duval but this is totally worth the 10 min walk.. sumptuous garlic bread. We got the Capellini Estate, it was super. Still can taste those sweet tomatoes , they were the best ever . Even the pasta was like melting fresh!! Highly recommended.. Our server was very nice and she even gave us the MUST have Key Lime Pie for free !!
(5)John M.
OK calamari and salads. My wife, son and daughter all had dinners with cream sauces and they were pretty good. I had the eggplant parmagian and it was the worst I've ever had. The marinara sauce on the side of spaghetti wasn't the good for me, either. Way too garlic-y. I ate only a few bites of both and when the waiter asked how much I enjoyed it, I groused. Said I usually loved egplant parmesian but this wasn't at all good. He brought boxes for the family's leftovers and whisked mine away. I expected at least an adjustment on the bill for my largley uneaten meal but there was none. We only have a few nights here in Key West and I hoped for a better meal. I'd never eat here again and wouldn't recommend it either. Eggplant parm isn't hard to get right and this place didn't. Based on cost of the entire meal ($95 withiout alcohol) vs value, I was disappointed.
(2)Dawen H.
Extremely awesome seafood! great service and atmoshere! big portion of food. Love it!
(5)Shawn S.
We decided on going for Italian for dinner and chose Abbondanza since it had good reviews and it was close to our hotel. The decor was very nice, a warm welcoming look to it. We opted for some Calamari for an appetizer, the breading was light and the calamari was tasted fresh. My girlfriend went with the Spaghetti Calabrese and I went with the special tortellini. The portions are quite large, (hence the name) her dish could have easily served 2 adults and my dish was a large order that was filling. The sauce with the spaghetti was very good and thought the sausage was outstanding, it was grilled crispy on the outside and nice sweet/spicy flavor on the inside. The tortellini weren't over cooked, were nice and tender, the accompanied cream sauce was perfect. Wish we could have taken back to the hotel to re-heat but not an option.
(4)Peg H.
Excellent food and atmosphere. We had penne with olive oil, crushed red pepper, capers, and crushed garlic. It was to die for. I have it 4 stars because the service was a little slow but very polite and friendly.
(4)John K.
My friend is a local concierge in Key West and this was the Italian restaurant he recommended. It's away from the hustle and bustle of Duvall Street yet close enough to the actions. Very nice decor inside and reasonably priced. Food was most excellent and service was good. Give this place a try, you won't be disappointed :)
(4)Levi M.
After 7 years and three states, I have finally found a great Italian Restaurant. Great food, Huge portions. Service was very good. The only down side was the Tiramisu was ok, it was a bit dry. The server told us that it was brought in pre-made.
(4)William R.
Only two reviews? What a crime. Here's our take on this wonderful restaurant: We were strolling along Duvall Street last year when hunger overtook us and we found ourselves standing in front of Abbondanza. We shrugged and went inside. The decor is unremarkable but we were hungry. The menu is typical neighborhood Italian. I ordered spaghetti & meatballs, my wife ordered the chicken picatta. When our meals arrived, our eyes popped: HUGE portions - each entree was enough for 2-3 people. Then we began eating - both dishes were outstanding: best spaghetti & meatballs I've had in years. Sadly, we were unable to finish our meals and since we were traveling, no doggy bags. We had to leave a good part of our meals on the plate - enough to make you cry! When we return to Key West, we will come back here FIRST! Highly recommended.
(5)John N.
I'd heard from a fellow traveler who is Italian and from New York that the food here was fantastic, even as compared to his hometown fare. I paid a visit and was not disappointed. I had the lasagna which was very good as was the accompanying salad and bread. I would definitely recommend. The atmosphere is low light and intimate so take that into consideration.
(4)Jon S.
We had eaten our share of seafood and needed a change for one dinner our friends took us here food and staff was exceptional.
(5)Allison S.
This quaint Italian restaurant in key west was charming. I only gave it 3 stars, however, because the service was lacking. Our waiter was not attuned to our needs, and often took a long time to bring us what we asked for. The food was decent, definitely have had better Italian good before, but the portions were very generous. I think there are better Italian places on the island but this one was just okay.
(3)Louie C.
Very good service, romantic atmosphere, and the place was reasonably priced considering the portions can feed 2. I would def. go back here next time im in key west.
(5)Chris S.
Great Italian eatery for Key West! The fish and chicken selections were excellent that my wife and I had!
(4)Steve K.
Fantastic pasta. Yelp'd it and wasn't disapponinted
(5)Kelly M.
Very nice dinner here while visiting Key West My wife said it was good but not the best she ever had I had the lasagna and found it to be very tasty Prices are very good for the island
(4)Blue G.
Best Italian in Key West! But of course we all have our own favorite Italian place in another city that nothing else lives up to. And this one won't either, but this is why I strongly recommend it: It is the whole Italian package deal. Great food and lots of it. Always a crowd, but never a wait. Good bread and salad with every meal. First class service. The atmosphere is both elegant and welcoming. It feels like a big night out just sitting in the restaurant and talking with your guests. After dinner you will want a glass of wine or coffee to keep the evening going. Then take your leftovers for lunch the next day. They box it for you...I like that!
(5)Mike S.
Yummy grouper Filomena was great !!! Hannah was very nice! Go there and eat !!! Yummy !!!! Second refill on soda free? That's weird tho !
(4)Doug P.
Very nice place to dine at. I had the lasagna , it was amazing. The bruschetta and cheesecake were very good as well. Lindsey was our bartender , she was the best . Lindsey was very pleasant and helpful with the best choices of entrees on the menu. Stop by and have dinner and see Lindsey !!!
(5)David C.
Can the portions be any larger? Bring your appetite and a carry out Always good and never disappoints.
(4)Robyn S.
Had the Chicken Parmesan and it was very great! Serving was a very good portion. It was yummy!
(5)Allen M.
Let me first say that I am rating this as a Veggie. In a town chocked full of average, fried, crappy "seafood in a basket" restaurants, Abbondanza was a wonderful treat. Amazing service, and great atmosphere. Our server was very accommodating and helped me modify the Penne Primavera to my needs ( no cream sauce for me ). The dish came out PACKED with all of my veggies - zucchini, cauliflower, spinach, red peppers, yellow squash, broccoli, carrots and topped with fresh raw beets. I opted for no peas and mushrooms but thats part of the dish also. It was so fresh and delicious. I love going to The Cafe when in Key West for my veggie meals but this was SPECTACULAR change of pace. My meat-eating family also loved their meals as well. I gave it a perfect 5 starts. Oh and mine was a large enough portion to have lunch tomorrow :-)
(5)Rachel R.
Open late which is good when you want quality food and a late start. Every time we've come down food has been exceptional, but this time the seafood linguini had the blandest broth... Not what I was expecting. The seafood was cooked perfectly and great on its own but the broth needed a kick. Service was great and friendly and the atmosphere is laid back yet elegant.
(3)Lynn H.
If you're looking for a decent restaurant with lower prices than you'd typically find on Key West, Abbondanza is it. The food is good, but nothing to write home about. However, portion sizes are huge, so if you have a big appetite, this place is for you. Service was friendly and prompt, and drinks were good. We were four adults looking for a foodie experience, and this was not quite it, but it would be a great place to bring a family.
(3)Megan M.
My husband and I went here for our anniversary dinner. He had the Chicken Parmigiana and I had the Shrimp Scampi. SOOO GOOD! I had a glass of wine as well. Big portions and well worth the money. We would highly recommend eating here. Would definitely go back!
(5)Teri D.
Stuffed grouper not bad. Lobster sauce a bit too heavy though. If you are a fan of pastas then this may be the place for you. Their side salads didn't look much better than something you'd get from the grocery store doused with Italian dressing and although the Grouper Filomena was good it would've been so much better if it had not been swimming in that lobster sauce - took away from the taste of fresh grouper. Hubs had veal marsala and we both agreed that was the first time we've seen brown veal marsala. Usually its a bit of a deep burgundy wine color but this looked doused in mushroom sauce. What really miffed me was their charging for soda refills. Usually if it comes out in a bottle you know they charge per but when it comes in a glass you assume its free refills. Not here! The first two sodas are free then they charge you for the next ones. What kind of policy is that? Plus when we got the bill THAT is when we found out about the charge. Wasn't told nor did we see it in the menu. Plus we saw a table of 4 ladies complain that we got our meal before they did and we came in after they did. They were told it was because it took looker to cook their 4 meals than our 2. Not good....
(2)Chad H.
Please read on. We relied on Yelp almost exclusivity for our week long trip to KW. And you all never let us down. However, the reviews for Abbondanza were generally not good, and due to proximity to our rental house, we came anyway. In short , we had a fantastic experience. Quite a bit better than most of the reviews. I had the Seabass special, and my wife had the tortellini special, my 8 year old son had TWO mussels appetizers and our other kids loved their spaghetti. We all loved our dinners. Salad was great, bread was great , drinks were great , service was great . On the week, we ate everywhere from five stars to hot dogs at Mallory. So we soaked it all in. We would recommend Abnondanza.
(5)Michael D.
Great place for dinner. Portions are huge and service was great. Try the passion fruit martini for an unusual take on the classic. Well worth the time and cost. Prepare to take home the extras.
(5)B C.
I have to say it is excellent. The stuffed grouper is from heaven. Perfect service. Will be a must every time I am in Key West.
(5)Christopher G.
Ate here tonight for my step fathers birthday. Awesome drinks, friendly service, cute girls. Appetizers were a bit small, but the food was delicious. I ate the chicken pancetta and it was the best I have had yet. Great place.
(5)Alysha C.
Very good Italian food ! Huge portions, and great prices. The location was great, clean and quiet inside . The food tastes great and we had great service as well.
(4)Harv N.
They definitely do not do take out. Dine in only. Yelp misdirected me on this one. Had a quaint bistro feel inside.
(4)Yun L.
Garlic bread is great, but spaghetti... I would like to stay in Rhode Island to eat Italian food that matches its name.
(2)Patricia C.
Atmosphere was nice but after a mix up regarding our large crowd seating the manager really missed an opportunity to shine and instead spent the service recovery time trying to prove she was right. Started the dinner on a sour note. Too bad as we were hoping for a good experience
(2)Steven D.
The italian food was not the greatest, but edible. I highly recommend Mangia Mangia.
(2)Patty G.
Must update. Wonderful food, service is great. This restaurant has a homey feel, comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. Also, they are very accomodating for large parties, just make sure you get reservations ahead of time.
(4)Gail H.
Our party of three loved this place! Went late evening and were seated quickly. The calamari appetizer was excellent we finished it and could've eaten more. The bread was also very nice and fresh we enjoyed it along with a glass of good wine which was a treat. Spaghetti and meatballs were excellent -we couldn't finish it took half the portions home just to be a great treat tomorrow for lunch. The manicotti was possibly the best I've ever had. Worth a visit.
(5)DruMiguel E.
Abbondanza in Italian means "Abundance" - and they take this seriously. I have never had so much pasta served. It was too much, if you can't carry the leftovers, let alone eat them - you know they're going to throw them away... so the waste kind of sucks, even the waitress pointed out she hates how much food they throw away each day - I think if they served less, and charged less they could have the same great food and reputation, and earn my fifth star. Great food, authentic Tuscan flavors, and good service (rare on the island). Highly recommended.
(4)Peter R.
What a terrific restaurant! Very nicely decorated and intimate, it's a great place for a romantic dinner, and the made-to-order menu items are true feasts. I ordered the penne puttanesca, which was deliciously prepared with an array of fresh ingredients. The portion size was very satisfying, and I tend to have a huge appetite. Form the outside, the restaurant looks like it was once a private residence, as do many businesses in Key West, now converted to a quaint and very well-maintained establishment, from the landscaping to the decor and lighting. Service was a touch on the slow side, but that's understandable considering that the dishes were freshly prepared, and this probably isn't the kind of place you'd go to for a quick bite, anyway. With the right company, it's the perfect place for a leisurely dinner and conversation with friends, loved ones, and from the moment you walk in, you feel relaxed. Do yourself a favor & try it out! I'll definitely be back next time I'm in Key West!
(4)Craig S.
Very good food and ambiance. However, with a name like Abbondanza I expected authentic Italian food. This experience was closer to Olive Garden. They do not have any decent cheeses to enjoy with the wine. All in all the food was good. I just can't rate it higher than a 3 when I would not consider this an authentic Italian restaurant.
(3)Joe W.
This place has really, really... and I mean really gone downhill over the last year. Used to this place was well worth your $, and the customer service was respectable. Now it's not worth getting out of your car, and walking in to smell the roses! Something has happened where the food tastes nowhere as good as it used to, and you don't get a respectable portion size any more.
(2)Ellissa G.
My husband and I loved this place. It was a quiet night, the atmosphere was very romantic. The food was wonderful my husband had spaghetti and meatballs and I had cannelloni. Both were great. I had a lemon drop martini which was only fair. Everything else was very good.
(4)Elle K.
Walking in, I was so afraid that this place would turn out to be another hokey place masquerading as a homey Italian restaurant, but the food dispelled my fears! Particularly delicious was the roasted garlic, which was served with plenty of bread, and the steamed clams, sitting in a rich and salty white wine and garlic broth. The perfect combination is spreading the roasted garlic on a slice of bread, then dipping the whole thing in the clam broth--a piece of seafood heaven. The key lime pie beat that of another "famous" place near Duval Street, with a thick crust and a fresh and tart filling. Our waitress was lovely and friendly, an extra perk for Key West, given how many jaded waiters and waitresses there are that have to deal with tourists day in and day out.
(5)Gregory N.
Nice place. Large portions and not that expensive. One block away from the south end of Duval Street. Easy to walk to from all the hotels in that area. Even though I only gave three stars, I would eat there again. My wife's lasagna was excellent, and I ended up splitting it with her. I ordered the canneloni, which was average. It is a baked dish, but the crepe shell was charred wherever it wasn't covered by sauce. I only ate half, and finished off the lasagna, hence the three stars. If you're having an insane weekend in Key West, and you want to relax, eat some good Italian food and not drop a bundle, here's your place!
(3)Bryn L.
Wine was good, appetizer was great, chicken was very dry and chewy. Kind of a disappointment as this is not their norm. Hopefully this was just an off day for them.
(3)Craig C.
Super Delicious, Hot and Fresh
(4)Damian C.
First of all i must say evilin the server First the server evilina was good. The food, however was not. My friend ordered the lasagna, it was very chewy and had a rubbery texture. I order the linguini with the little neck clams, they gave me enough clams but over two pounds of linguini I couldn't even find the cream sauce they were talking about in the menu, it was like a watery soup on top of that the clams were over cooked . I will not be returning.
(2)David S.
As in other reviews there was a good amount of food considering the prices. Seafood and Veal dishes are $22 which is expected. My wife had the Chicken Parmigiana and I had Chicken Caprese ($18) Both dishes were very good except my wife said she didn't care for the sauce they served with the spaghetti that came with the chicken parmigiana. I tasted it and it was a bit heavy on the oregano. Otherwise the food was good. Service however was hit and miss, Our waiter payed more attention to the 4 top behind us than he did us, too bad cost him a good tip and a bad review. We were double charged for drinks (either that or they don't offer free refills, who does that these days). Plus there were many times we were left waiting too long for refills. I would have rated the restaurant at 4 stars had it not been for the lackluster service.
(2)Jim K.
The Bottom Line: The food was mediocre at best and the service, though friendly, was bad. In a town with so many dining options, why go here? ------------------------------------------------ My wife and I had high expectations here based on other Yelp reviews. We were very disappointed. The first thing I noticed about our waitress was that her white golf type shirt was dirty. Why would she, let alone her management, allow her to serve tables in a really dirty shirt? I learned a lesson from that. If the server is wearing dirty clothes - leave now. It's a sign of neglect and lack of attention to detail that might carry over in other aspects of their operation. As for the food: Fried Calemari Appetizer - tender but no flavor. My wife's pasta & shrimp - when it first came out it was very bland and needed more sauce. In spite of several attempts to get our server's attention when she was nearby she never looked our way or stopped in to check on us. When she finally did, she brought out more sauce and the dish was OK. My Tortellini with Porcini mushrooms - it was tasty and a large portion. The tortellini were the largest I've ever seen and cooked correctly. The cream sauce, however, was very pasty and had a taste and texture of raw flour. The cook failed to brown the flour before using it to thicken the sauce. Pretty bad. Also, only a few small slices of mushroom. Key Lime Pie - on of my favorite desserts. I have never been in the Keys before and had high hopes of getting some really good Key Lime Pie. It lacked flavor and was very heavy. I've had much better back home in NJ. All of these problems go back to the management. Our server was a nice girl who needs training and direction. The cooks need to focus on attention to detail and start turning out quality food.
(2)Dale G.
I'm blown away with the reviews about this place! The minute you walk through the door you are hit in the face with the overpowering garlic smell. (I love garlic but not to that degree.) Salad that came with dinner was warm, all I could taste in my main course was garlic, wine selection was abysmal. Sorry we came here.
(1)Megan S.
I've been here twice in two visits to Key West. It's a must visit for my parents every time they come. The prices are reasonable considering the portion size. I could easily get 3 or 4 meals out of my entree. I had the Chicken Piccata which was an entire chicken breast that I paired w/ pasta rather than the broccoli & stewed tomato it comes with. Dad had the Spaghettia Calabrese which has Italian sausage, peppers & onions in a red sauce. The sausage was tasty though we don't think it was hot Italian as the menu states. And my mother had her old standby of Spaghetti & meatballs. She gets this everywhere we go for Italian. Sometimes it's worth it, other times, not so much. Here it was definitely worth it. The meatballs are tender & tasty, easily 2.5" in diameter. It's a little dark in the restaurant...suppose that's for setting the mood, but I could barely see what I was eating. The decor is pretty (from what I could see) and cozy w/ throw pillows in the booths. They will not split checks (much to the chagrine of a jerk seated at the next table who talked about this until he decided to leave as this was too much for him to bear) so keep this in mind when dining w/ a larger party. Bring cash or have a plan to work this out amongst yourselves.
(4)Rob B.
reasonably priced. Cozy ambience. Big portions. All entrees come with a salad. Plus, FREE PARKING for dinner. What a great bonus!!
(4)Brian H.
Many parts of the meal were pretty good. Atmosphere is nice although some very loud, obnoxious couples near us ruined the second half of our meal. Salad, bruschetta, bread and wine were fine. My manicotti were decent although my partner's Chicken Marsala was slightly over done. I'd return and hope for better dining company near me.
(3)G C.
We have been going to Abbondanza for at least eight years. We've had good experiences except for the last 2 years. This year we made reservations days in advance for Christmas night dinner. Instead of a nice intimate dinner for two we felt like we we're on a Disney cruise. Too loud , unsupervised kids every where, we struggled to hear our server. We mentioned to the hostess that perhaps there was a better choice of seating for us and she just ran away. Will have to think hard about going back .
(2)GG V.
Awesome food, HUGE Portions. We had the Chicken Parm and Stuffed Ravioli and both were good. Even the salad pre-main course was warm and yummy. Bread with Olive Oil and Vinaigrette was delish as well. The prices are good for the portions.
(4)Doug P.
Very nice place to dine at. I had the lasagna , it was amazing. The bruschetta and cheesecake were very good as well. Lindsey was our bartender , she was the best . Lindsey was very pleasant and helpful with the best choices of entrees on the menu. Stop by and have dinner and see Lindsey !!!
(5)Allen M.
Let me first say that I am rating this as a Veggie. In a town chocked full of average, fried, crappy "seafood in a basket" restaurants, Abbondanza was a wonderful treat. Amazing service, and great atmosphere. Our server was very accommodating and helped me modify the Penne Primavera to my needs ( no cream sauce for me ). The dish came out PACKED with all of my veggies - zucchini, cauliflower, spinach, red peppers, yellow squash, broccoli, carrots and topped with fresh raw beets. I opted for no peas and mushrooms but thats part of the dish also. It was so fresh and delicious. I love going to The Cafe when in Key West for my veggie meals but this was SPECTACULAR change of pace. My meat-eating family also loved their meals as well. I gave it a perfect 5 starts. Oh and mine was a large enough portion to have lunch tomorrow :-)
(5)Blue G.
Best Italian in Key West! But of course we all have our own favorite Italian place in another city that nothing else lives up to. And this one won't either, but this is why I strongly recommend it: It is the whole Italian package deal. Great food and lots of it. Always a crowd, but never a wait. Good bread and salad with every meal. First class service. The atmosphere is both elegant and welcoming. It feels like a big night out just sitting in the restaurant and talking with your guests. After dinner you will want a glass of wine or coffee to keep the evening going. Then take your leftovers for lunch the next day. They box it for you...I like that!
(5)Mike S.
Yummy grouper Filomena was great !!! Hannah was very nice! Go there and eat !!! Yummy !!!! Second refill on soda free? That's weird tho !
(4)Rachel R.
Open late which is good when you want quality food and a late start. Every time we've come down food has been exceptional, but this time the seafood linguini had the blandest broth... Not what I was expecting. The seafood was cooked perfectly and great on its own but the broth needed a kick. Service was great and friendly and the atmosphere is laid back yet elegant.
(3)Kelly M.
Very nice dinner here while visiting Key West My wife said it was good but not the best she ever had I had the lasagna and found it to be very tasty Prices are very good for the island
(4)Lynn H.
If you're looking for a decent restaurant with lower prices than you'd typically find on Key West, Abbondanza is it. The food is good, but nothing to write home about. However, portion sizes are huge, so if you have a big appetite, this place is for you. Service was friendly and prompt, and drinks were good. We were four adults looking for a foodie experience, and this was not quite it, but it would be a great place to bring a family.
(3)Megan M.
My husband and I went here for our anniversary dinner. He had the Chicken Parmigiana and I had the Shrimp Scampi. SOOO GOOD! I had a glass of wine as well. Big portions and well worth the money. We would highly recommend eating here. Would definitely go back!
(5)Teri D.
Stuffed grouper not bad. Lobster sauce a bit too heavy though. If you are a fan of pastas then this may be the place for you. Their side salads didn't look much better than something you'd get from the grocery store doused with Italian dressing and although the Grouper Filomena was good it would've been so much better if it had not been swimming in that lobster sauce - took away from the taste of fresh grouper. Hubs had veal marsala and we both agreed that was the first time we've seen brown veal marsala. Usually its a bit of a deep burgundy wine color but this looked doused in mushroom sauce. What really miffed me was their charging for soda refills. Usually if it comes out in a bottle you know they charge per but when it comes in a glass you assume its free refills. Not here! The first two sodas are free then they charge you for the next ones. What kind of policy is that? Plus when we got the bill THAT is when we found out about the charge. Wasn't told nor did we see it in the menu. Plus we saw a table of 4 ladies complain that we got our meal before they did and we came in after they did. They were told it was because it took looker to cook their 4 meals than our 2. Not good....
(2)David C.
Can the portions be any larger? Bring your appetite and a carry out Always good and never disappoints.
(4)Robyn S.
Had the Chicken Parmesan and it was very great! Serving was a very good portion. It was yummy!
(5)Chad H.
Please read on. We relied on Yelp almost exclusivity for our week long trip to KW. And you all never let us down. However, the reviews for Abbondanza were generally not good, and due to proximity to our rental house, we came anyway. In short , we had a fantastic experience. Quite a bit better than most of the reviews. I had the Seabass special, and my wife had the tortellini special, my 8 year old son had TWO mussels appetizers and our other kids loved their spaghetti. We all loved our dinners. Salad was great, bread was great , drinks were great , service was great . On the week, we ate everywhere from five stars to hot dogs at Mallory. So we soaked it all in. We would recommend Abnondanza.
(5)Michael D.
Great place for dinner. Portions are huge and service was great. Try the passion fruit martini for an unusual take on the classic. Well worth the time and cost. Prepare to take home the extras.
(5)B C.
I have to say it is excellent. The stuffed grouper is from heaven. Perfect service. Will be a must every time I am in Key West.
(5)Gregory N.
Nice place. Large portions and not that expensive. One block away from the south end of Duval Street. Easy to walk to from all the hotels in that area. Even though I only gave three stars, I would eat there again. My wife's lasagna was excellent, and I ended up splitting it with her. I ordered the canneloni, which was average. It is a baked dish, but the crepe shell was charred wherever it wasn't covered by sauce. I only ate half, and finished off the lasagna, hence the three stars. If you're having an insane weekend in Key West, and you want to relax, eat some good Italian food and not drop a bundle, here's your place!
(3)Peter R.
What a terrific restaurant! Very nicely decorated and intimate, it's a great place for a romantic dinner, and the made-to-order menu items are true feasts. I ordered the penne puttanesca, which was deliciously prepared with an array of fresh ingredients. The portion size was very satisfying, and I tend to have a huge appetite. Form the outside, the restaurant looks like it was once a private residence, as do many businesses in Key West, now converted to a quaint and very well-maintained establishment, from the landscaping to the decor and lighting. Service was a touch on the slow side, but that's understandable considering that the dishes were freshly prepared, and this probably isn't the kind of place you'd go to for a quick bite, anyway. With the right company, it's the perfect place for a leisurely dinner and conversation with friends, loved ones, and from the moment you walk in, you feel relaxed. Do yourself a favor & try it out! I'll definitely be back next time I'm in Key West!
(4)Craig S.
Very good food and ambiance. However, with a name like Abbondanza I expected authentic Italian food. This experience was closer to Olive Garden. They do not have any decent cheeses to enjoy with the wine. All in all the food was good. I just can't rate it higher than a 3 when I would not consider this an authentic Italian restaurant.
(3)Joe W.
This place has really, really... and I mean really gone downhill over the last year. Used to this place was well worth your $, and the customer service was respectable. Now it's not worth getting out of your car, and walking in to smell the roses! Something has happened where the food tastes nowhere as good as it used to, and you don't get a respectable portion size any more.
(2)Ellissa G.
My husband and I loved this place. It was a quiet night, the atmosphere was very romantic. The food was wonderful my husband had spaghetti and meatballs and I had cannelloni. Both were great. I had a lemon drop martini which was only fair. Everything else was very good.
(4)Elle K.
Walking in, I was so afraid that this place would turn out to be another hokey place masquerading as a homey Italian restaurant, but the food dispelled my fears! Particularly delicious was the roasted garlic, which was served with plenty of bread, and the steamed clams, sitting in a rich and salty white wine and garlic broth. The perfect combination is spreading the roasted garlic on a slice of bread, then dipping the whole thing in the clam broth--a piece of seafood heaven. The key lime pie beat that of another "famous" place near Duval Street, with a thick crust and a fresh and tart filling. Our waitress was lovely and friendly, an extra perk for Key West, given how many jaded waiters and waitresses there are that have to deal with tourists day in and day out.
(5)Dale G.
I'm blown away with the reviews about this place! The minute you walk through the door you are hit in the face with the overpowering garlic smell. (I love garlic but not to that degree.) Salad that came with dinner was warm, all I could taste in my main course was garlic, wine selection was abysmal. Sorry we came here.
(1)Megan S.
I've been here twice in two visits to Key West. It's a must visit for my parents every time they come. The prices are reasonable considering the portion size. I could easily get 3 or 4 meals out of my entree. I had the Chicken Piccata which was an entire chicken breast that I paired w/ pasta rather than the broccoli & stewed tomato it comes with. Dad had the Spaghettia Calabrese which has Italian sausage, peppers & onions in a red sauce. The sausage was tasty though we don't think it was hot Italian as the menu states. And my mother had her old standby of Spaghetti & meatballs. She gets this everywhere we go for Italian. Sometimes it's worth it, other times, not so much. Here it was definitely worth it. The meatballs are tender & tasty, easily 2.5" in diameter. It's a little dark in the restaurant...suppose that's for setting the mood, but I could barely see what I was eating. The decor is pretty (from what I could see) and cozy w/ throw pillows in the booths. They will not split checks (much to the chagrine of a jerk seated at the next table who talked about this until he decided to leave as this was too much for him to bear) so keep this in mind when dining w/ a larger party. Bring cash or have a plan to work this out amongst yourselves.
(4)Rob B.
reasonably priced. Cozy ambience. Big portions. All entrees come with a salad. Plus, FREE PARKING for dinner. What a great bonus!!
(4)Brian H.
Many parts of the meal were pretty good. Atmosphere is nice although some very loud, obnoxious couples near us ruined the second half of our meal. Salad, bruschetta, bread and wine were fine. My manicotti were decent although my partner's Chicken Marsala was slightly over done. I'd return and hope for better dining company near me.
(3)G C.
We have been going to Abbondanza for at least eight years. We've had good experiences except for the last 2 years. This year we made reservations days in advance for Christmas night dinner. Instead of a nice intimate dinner for two we felt like we we're on a Disney cruise. Too loud , unsupervised kids every where, we struggled to hear our server. We mentioned to the hostess that perhaps there was a better choice of seating for us and she just ran away. Will have to think hard about going back .
(2)GG V.
Awesome food, HUGE Portions. We had the Chicken Parm and Stuffed Ravioli and both were good. Even the salad pre-main course was warm and yummy. Bread with Olive Oil and Vinaigrette was delish as well. The prices are good for the portions.
(4)Craig C.
Super Delicious, Hot and Fresh
(4)Damian C.
First of all i must say evilin the server First the server evilina was good. The food, however was not. My friend ordered the lasagna, it was very chewy and had a rubbery texture. I order the linguini with the little neck clams, they gave me enough clams but over two pounds of linguini I couldn't even find the cream sauce they were talking about in the menu, it was like a watery soup on top of that the clams were over cooked . I will not be returning.
(2)Bryn L.
Wine was good, appetizer was great, chicken was very dry and chewy. Kind of a disappointment as this is not their norm. Hopefully this was just an off day for them.
(3)David S.
As in other reviews there was a good amount of food considering the prices. Seafood and Veal dishes are $22 which is expected. My wife had the Chicken Parmigiana and I had Chicken Caprese ($18) Both dishes were very good except my wife said she didn't care for the sauce they served with the spaghetti that came with the chicken parmigiana. I tasted it and it was a bit heavy on the oregano. Otherwise the food was good. Service however was hit and miss, Our waiter payed more attention to the 4 top behind us than he did us, too bad cost him a good tip and a bad review. We were double charged for drinks (either that or they don't offer free refills, who does that these days). Plus there were many times we were left waiting too long for refills. I would have rated the restaurant at 4 stars had it not been for the lackluster service.
(2)Jim K.
The Bottom Line: The food was mediocre at best and the service, though friendly, was bad. In a town with so many dining options, why go here? ------------------------------------------------ My wife and I had high expectations here based on other Yelp reviews. We were very disappointed. The first thing I noticed about our waitress was that her white golf type shirt was dirty. Why would she, let alone her management, allow her to serve tables in a really dirty shirt? I learned a lesson from that. If the server is wearing dirty clothes - leave now. It's a sign of neglect and lack of attention to detail that might carry over in other aspects of their operation. As for the food: Fried Calemari Appetizer - tender but no flavor. My wife's pasta & shrimp - when it first came out it was very bland and needed more sauce. In spite of several attempts to get our server's attention when she was nearby she never looked our way or stopped in to check on us. When she finally did, she brought out more sauce and the dish was OK. My Tortellini with Porcini mushrooms - it was tasty and a large portion. The tortellini were the largest I've ever seen and cooked correctly. The cream sauce, however, was very pasty and had a taste and texture of raw flour. The cook failed to brown the flour before using it to thicken the sauce. Pretty bad. Also, only a few small slices of mushroom. Key Lime Pie - on of my favorite desserts. I have never been in the Keys before and had high hopes of getting some really good Key Lime Pie. It lacked flavor and was very heavy. I've had much better back home in NJ. All of these problems go back to the management. Our server was a nice girl who needs training and direction. The cooks need to focus on attention to detail and start turning out quality food.
(2)Frank R.
When getting suggestions for Italian, everyone seems to mention Abbondanza or Mangia-Mangia. We only tried Abbondanza so can't compare. We decided to try it at our B&B manager's suggestion (turned out he works here part time). The place is huge and can handle large parties well. We had a short 15 minute wait and then were seated inside. It is a very nice place and we had excellent service. Food was VERY substantial. Large bowls of pasta even I couldn't finish - and that's saying something. I had the Calabrese pasta with sausage on top of angel hair pasta. Lots of sausage and peppers on top of a mountain of pasta. Salad that came with the meal was a dissappointment. One leaf of lettuce with diced peppers and tomatoes on top - very soggy. Overall - nice place, handles large groups and has big portions. Not the best - but we had a pleasant experience overall. Will probably try one of the others next time to compare.
(3)R S.
I ate here in '09 and '10. Judging by other reviews the food may have drastically changed since then. I enjoyed the food a great deal and the portion size was large for a good price. (Good leftovers that I left in the frig at my hotel room 2 years running). What I could not believe was that both times I had the same evil, snotty, haughty waitress. She seemed to think that we were really at some high class dining place, and it was really just an average place.
(3)Juliette H.
I absolutely LOVED this restaurant! The atmosphere is fantastic- it strikes the perfect balance of fine dining while also remaining comfortable and relaxing. The wait staff was very friendly and accommodating, and also knew a great deal about the menu. I tried the Mint Chocolate martini at our waitress' recommendation, which was absolutely wonderful. I tried the chicken alfredo entree, which was a sizeable portion and at a reasonable price. I would definitely recommend this restaurant!
(5)Peri B.
We had just arrived into town and spent the first night in a nearby motel until we could get our house back from tenants. Abbondanza was a short walk and it was packed. Good sign. We're from Monterey, CA and have a number of both trendy and traditional Italian and seafood restaurants. We love a scampi and hot bread with balsamic and olive oil to dip. Since we'd been flying all day, we were really looking forward to a nice meal. Well, what we got was bland pasta. I had the Pesto and my husband had the scampi. It was like hospital food. The dipping oil wasn't seasoned or anything special. We split a Caesar salad, which didn't include an anchovie and was topped with a dressing that most likely came in a big plastic bottle. If you want to pay top dollar for tourist food, Abbondanza is your place. I mentioned this experience to a number of my friends who live here and they all tell me they have taken this place off of their list.
(2)Bob M.
On recent visit to KW, had a very delightful meal with family. Shrimp scampi, egg plant parm, usages and peppers were exquisite. Nice a garlicky, home style salad very good bread. Wait staff nice Erika was excellent. Provided insight into menu and made recommendations. Would highly recommend this establishment when visiting the keys. Reasonably priced.....
(4)Jeremy D.
Seems like a nice place from the menu and the atmosphere, but the food and the service need CPR. The garlic bread was where the good eats ended. We both ordered seafood pasta dishes and had the same experience: the food was bland, poorly mixed, and there was no sauce that made it down to the pasta itself. I had a couple dozen mussels laid on top of the bland pasta and they were all still in the shell - quite a weird preparation being that I couldn't even see or reach the pasta below. The server(s) seemed to have trouble understanding that used plates should be cleared from our table. I could barely find a place to put my drink down. The server wasn't rude, just not very good. Definitely overpriced and overrated.
(2)Bill T.
Nice quiet place with really good food. We shared Calimari appetizer and a nice Chianti. My wife had the veal pic arts and enjoyed it (should have been served over pasta, however) I has Linguini and clams (very good). Finished our dinner with homemade KLP. If you enjoy "family style" Italian food, you'll like Abbondanza.
(4)Chris R.
Perfect spot for something different in Key West. If you're tired of fish sandwiches, conch fritters, or Cuban food, give Abbondanza a try. Reasonable prices, a nice laid-back atmosphere, good portion size and friendly service. We're definitely not food critics and maybe most people won't think this is 'great' Italian food. However, we were very happy with the experience.
(4)James S.
Our first night in Key West was Valentine's Day. This is a nice restaurant near South Beach on Simonton. We got a seat immediately at a table at the bar. Eggplant Parmesan was delicious, as well as a huge portion. This is a fun place, and very reasonable. Give it a shot, if you are looking for Italian comfort food with a sophisticated ambiance.
(5)Lauren A.
We were looking for a dinner spot that was off of the beaten path of Duval street. We decided to come here after driving around a bit for a dinner spot. The menu is small but the portions are huge. One plate could be shared by 3 people! I got the lasagna and it was delicious...I just wish I could of taken the left overs home.
(5)Allison S.
This quaint Italian restaurant in key west was charming. I only gave it 3 stars, however, because the service was lacking. Our waiter was not attuned to our needs, and often took a long time to bring us what we asked for. The food was decent, definitely have had better Italian good before, but the portions were very generous. I think there are better Italian places on the island but this one was just okay.
(3)Levi M.
After 7 years and three states, I have finally found a great Italian Restaurant. Great food, Huge portions. Service was very good. The only down side was the Tiramisu was ok, it was a bit dry. The server told us that it was brought in pre-made.
(4)Todd P.
A large group of friends from across the country recently converged on Key West to celebrate a 30th birthday. The birthday boy himself could have a second career as a cruise director -- we call him Julie McCoy (for anyone that remembers The Love Boat) -- because he LOVES organizing. After becoming conjoined twins with our hotel concierge Jane, together they selected Abbondanza for dinner our first night in town. The restaurant was very accommodating, arranging a dining area in a back room for us since there were nearly 20 people all together. After some soft, fresh baked bread and olive oil, I ordered the Grouper fillet, served with steamed broccoli and a couple of small, baked red potatoes. The fish was perfectly cooked and the sides were fine, although a titch boring in presentation and flavor. I'm glad I didn't order pasta! Not that it was bad, by any means, but because the portions are HUGE! In fact, too big, judging by how much anyone who ordered pasta ate -- they seemed to just skim a bit off the top of the giant bowls. All in all, Abbondanza was a nice kick off to a week of debauchery in Key West. "The Love Boat...set a course for adventure, your mind on a new romance...." or something like that. Now that damn song's stuck in my head!
(3)Jim D.
This is the 3rd time I've gone to eat there in a 4yr time frame. The food was really good and the service was very friendly and interactive. Petra was our server and she went out of her way to make sure we were taken care of. The portions are huge and the prices for Keywest are very reasonable. The KLP was amazing. They serve an actual salad and not just out of the bag. I will be returning the next time I'm in Keywest.
(4)Ashish K.
Omg what a find! It's kinda hidden especially since its not on duval but this is totally worth the 10 min walk.. sumptuous garlic bread. We got the Capellini Estate, it was super. Still can taste those sweet tomatoes , they were the best ever . Even the pasta was like melting fresh!! Highly recommended.. Our server was very nice and she even gave us the MUST have Key Lime Pie for free !!
(5)John M.
OK calamari and salads. My wife, son and daughter all had dinners with cream sauces and they were pretty good. I had the eggplant parmagian and it was the worst I've ever had. The marinara sauce on the side of spaghetti wasn't the good for me, either. Way too garlic-y. I ate only a few bites of both and when the waiter asked how much I enjoyed it, I groused. Said I usually loved egplant parmesian but this wasn't at all good. He brought boxes for the family's leftovers and whisked mine away. I expected at least an adjustment on the bill for my largley uneaten meal but there was none. We only have a few nights here in Key West and I hoped for a better meal. I'd never eat here again and wouldn't recommend it either. Eggplant parm isn't hard to get right and this place didn't. Based on cost of the entire meal ($95 withiout alcohol) vs value, I was disappointed.
(2)Dawen H.
Extremely awesome seafood! great service and atmoshere! big portion of food. Love it!
(5)William R.
Only two reviews? What a crime. Here's our take on this wonderful restaurant: We were strolling along Duvall Street last year when hunger overtook us and we found ourselves standing in front of Abbondanza. We shrugged and went inside. The decor is unremarkable but we were hungry. The menu is typical neighborhood Italian. I ordered spaghetti & meatballs, my wife ordered the chicken picatta. When our meals arrived, our eyes popped: HUGE portions - each entree was enough for 2-3 people. Then we began eating - both dishes were outstanding: best spaghetti & meatballs I've had in years. Sadly, we were unable to finish our meals and since we were traveling, no doggy bags. We had to leave a good part of our meals on the plate - enough to make you cry! When we return to Key West, we will come back here FIRST! Highly recommended.
(5)John N.
I'd heard from a fellow traveler who is Italian and from New York that the food here was fantastic, even as compared to his hometown fare. I paid a visit and was not disappointed. I had the lasagna which was very good as was the accompanying salad and bread. I would definitely recommend. The atmosphere is low light and intimate so take that into consideration.
(4)Jon S.
We had eaten our share of seafood and needed a change for one dinner our friends took us here food and staff was exceptional.
(5)Shawn S.
We decided on going for Italian for dinner and chose Abbondanza since it had good reviews and it was close to our hotel. The decor was very nice, a warm welcoming look to it. We opted for some Calamari for an appetizer, the breading was light and the calamari was tasted fresh. My girlfriend went with the Spaghetti Calabrese and I went with the special tortellini. The portions are quite large, (hence the name) her dish could have easily served 2 adults and my dish was a large order that was filling. The sauce with the spaghetti was very good and thought the sausage was outstanding, it was grilled crispy on the outside and nice sweet/spicy flavor on the inside. The tortellini weren't over cooked, were nice and tender, the accompanied cream sauce was perfect. Wish we could have taken back to the hotel to re-heat but not an option.
(4)Peg H.
Excellent food and atmosphere. We had penne with olive oil, crushed red pepper, capers, and crushed garlic. It was to die for. I have it 4 stars because the service was a little slow but very polite and friendly.
(4)John K.
My friend is a local concierge in Key West and this was the Italian restaurant he recommended. It's away from the hustle and bustle of Duvall Street yet close enough to the actions. Very nice decor inside and reasonably priced. Food was most excellent and service was good. Give this place a try, you won't be disappointed :)
(4)Louie C.
Very good service, romantic atmosphere, and the place was reasonably priced considering the portions can feed 2. I would def. go back here next time im in key west.
(5)Chris S.
Great Italian eatery for Key West! The fish and chicken selections were excellent that my wife and I had!
(4)Steve K.
Fantastic pasta. Yelp'd it and wasn't disapponinted
(5)danielle w.
was not expecting to go abbondanza but found on short walk from hotel service is great kid friendly bread delicious pasta outstanding with very large portions 17month old loved it wsp
(4)Patricia C.
Atmosphere was nice but after a mix up regarding our large crowd seating the manager really missed an opportunity to shine and instead spent the service recovery time trying to prove she was right. Started the dinner on a sour note. Too bad as we were hoping for a good experience
(2)Christopher G.
Ate here tonight for my step fathers birthday. Awesome drinks, friendly service, cute girls. Appetizers were a bit small, but the food was delicious. I ate the chicken pancetta and it was the best I have had yet. Great place.
(5)Alysha C.
Very good Italian food ! Huge portions, and great prices. The location was great, clean and quiet inside . The food tastes great and we had great service as well.
(4)Harv N.
They definitely do not do take out. Dine in only. Yelp misdirected me on this one. Had a quaint bistro feel inside.
(4)Yun L.
Garlic bread is great, but spaghetti... I would like to stay in Rhode Island to eat Italian food that matches its name.
(2)Steven D.
The italian food was not the greatest, but edible. I highly recommend Mangia Mangia.
(2)Patty G.
Must update. Wonderful food, service is great. This restaurant has a homey feel, comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. Also, they are very accomodating for large parties, just make sure you get reservations ahead of time.
(4)Gail H.
Our party of three loved this place! Went late evening and were seated quickly. The calamari appetizer was excellent we finished it and could've eaten more. The bread was also very nice and fresh we enjoyed it along with a glass of good wine which was a treat. Spaghetti and meatballs were excellent -we couldn't finish it took half the portions home just to be a great treat tomorrow for lunch. The manicotti was possibly the best I've ever had. Worth a visit.
(5)DruMiguel E.
Abbondanza in Italian means "Abundance" - and they take this seriously. I have never had so much pasta served. It was too much, if you can't carry the leftovers, let alone eat them - you know they're going to throw them away... so the waste kind of sucks, even the waitress pointed out she hates how much food they throw away each day - I think if they served less, and charged less they could have the same great food and reputation, and earn my fifth star. Great food, authentic Tuscan flavors, and good service (rare on the island). Highly recommended.
(4)Natalie E.
For the price good food. We were all spent out from paying 100 bucks the last two nights. So we go here based on reviews. Food was good but if you aren't really hungry, you'll feel you wasted your money! Reason- they give you super human amount of food. It borders on ridiculous! I had the spaghetti and meatballs.... I swear me, my boyfriend and five of our closest friends could eat off their one serving! You definitely get you money's worth. Appetizer, spaghetti/meatballs, veal Parm, and pie will set you back 40. Very decent for key west!
(4)Gina J.
We went there for new year's eve dinner - we didn't plan ahead and all nearby restaurants were booked. They offered a fixed menu, so our experience may not be typical. We had an appetizer, which is not at all memorable (since I don't even recall what it was after one week!). The salad tasted like prepackaged lettuce mixed with bottled dressing. The seafood pasta came in a bowl so huge that the pasta inside can feed a family of three! Naturally, a lot of my pasta got wasted, which made me feel guilty. The dessert was also lackluster. All in all, I won't terribly mind going back there, but given all the good restaurants nearby, I would only go there when given no choice.
(2)