Yum! We found le colonne by accident, meaning, we parked where we could find a spot near St. Armand's Circle and ta da! a scrumptious looking Italian place with people actually speaking Italian. It had to be good... and we weren't disappointed. Our waiter, while not one of the Italian family members who clearly owned the place, was super friendly and helpful. We sat outside at a table with an umbrella with a view of the bustling circle. We had nice soft bread while we waited for my tortellini alla boscaiola and grandma's veggie pizza. I was so excited to see the tortellini on the menu because it is a dish I have seldom been able to find outside of Italy. It didn't end up being exactly as I expected as this version had a red cream sauce instead of the barely-there white sauce I remembered from Rome but it was still very good even if the tortellini was a little mushy. The serving was also a big heaping plate which I can always appreciate. Grandma loved her pizza even though the serving was much larger than she expected. If we go back, I'd be curious to try their tiramisu! Also, speaking to the character of the staff, when the elderly couple dining a few tables from us got up to leave, the woman fell, cutting her leg on the sidewalk. I went to help and when the staff realized what was going on, several of them rushed over as well. I moved out of the way so one of the male wait staff (who could lift her up better) could help her into their vehicle while another went to get a cloth to put on her leg. It's always uplifting to see people willing to help beyond the confines of their job.
(4)
Cheryl H.
Chianti Riserva and homemade cannelloni - melt in your mouth goodness! We sat at the bar and Marco took very good care of us, making it easy to share generous portions. The Caesar salad was crisp and lightly dressed, great flavor without being overdone. But the cannelloni was the star - crepe-like pasta wrapped around ground veal and topped with tomato sauce. Delicious! And with three large pieces, enough to share.
(5)
Clark D.
Great homemade pasta and gnocchi. My wife ordered the fillet and it was wonderful. The kids ordered pizzas they were delicious
(5)
Alex P.
Had dinner here last night and while the atmosphere was very nice, the food was a little underwhelming. Due to being on St. Armand's I was expecting higher prices, but I felt as if the food was lacking in flavor. I ordered the Salmon Piccata which was alright at best. My salmon was a little on the dry side and my penne side pasta was a bit undercooked. The tomato sauce is "homemade" but could be more flavorful. My boyfriend ordered the Gnocchi in a four-cheese sauce. This dish was extremely bland without any substantial flavor at all. He had to add a bunch of pepper to it in order to make it appetizing. The restaurant itself was very well decorated with a nice dimly lit intimate vibe. The service was very upbeat and friendly, but I have to deduct stars for the food. For the price point I was expecting exceptional food, but what I received was pretty average at best.
(3)
Catherine H.
We recently received a gift certificate for this restaurant. My husband and I ate there on a Monday evening. We were immediately greeted and seated. The young lady was also our waitress. Teressa (sp), was excellent. She was very efficient and courteous. Our meals were delicious. We ordered from the specials of the day. I indulged in the dessert. The decor was beautiful. It was a wonderful dining experience.
(5)
Sydney S.
Not the least bit impressed. Would not return. Both of our meals lacked seasoning resulting in both meals (which were totally different) tasting relatively alike. The one pleasantly of the evening was the waitstaff.
(2)
Sue A.
Delicious gourmet Italian food, fantastic service, and family friendly. Wow!!!! Veal was fantastic, best ravioli I've had in years, and perfectly cooked fish.
(5)
Mary B.
a trio of ravioli was served in what would be considered a fine Italian restaurant. It was their chef feature for the night. The host, from Italy, was sure of himself and a tad arrogant. I expected amazing food. The ravioli was drowned in over seasoned sauces, too much salt and the dough, chewy. I tasted the Risotto a friend had and almost choked. It was some kind of rice with frozen seafood. The "owners" were there, from Rome, and they never greeted people. The bartender, also from Rome, was ok, not friendly. At times we had to wave him down to serve us. and it was a slow night. Disappointing.
(1)
Don H.
Our first-ever visit to Le Colonne was late on a Sunday afternoon before the dinner crowd. Service was very attentive. Food was delicious. I can't imagine anything here that is not a home run.
(4)
Brett N.
Why 4 stars? Because margherita pizza isn't even my thing, but I liked it here. --- --- --- My girlfriend's mom apparently loves this place more than she loves her own daughter, so while her dad was making a rare visit, we ventured down to Sarasota and introduced him to Le Colonne. It's like many other Italian eateries in Florida: it can be a bit romantic, while shorts and flip flops are also acceptable. It's too hot here to go full-on candlelight dinner and suit jackets. I don't understand how Le Colonne can only be rated 3 stars overall, but I also think the gf's mom is over-hyping the place pretty drastically. My opinion fits right in the middle. A solid restaurant... nothing amazing, but nothing awful. The service was nice and prompt, and I liked my margherita pie, even though I would probably never order it under normal circumstances.
(4)
Mike B.
The most expensive and underwhelming food we had the week we were in the area. The Ossobuco was bland/flavorless. The Trio Ravioli was so thick we could not distinguish any other flavors than the pasta. The Antipasto was forgettable, and the wine was grossly overpriced... I call this kind of wine a "hotel wine." If you travel much, you know exactly what that means.
(2)
leslie o.
Horrible experience. I started with a seafood salad which was the special appetizer. It was bland and tasteless. The server hovered around and attempted to clear my plate every 5minutes. Then the main course arrived. Sea bass in a white wine sauce and a side of gnocchi. It must have been under the heat lamps for 10-15 minutes as it was too hot to eat and had turned to mush. My first and last visit here
(1)
Naddy M.
Loved this atmosphere. Loved the service. Loved the food. They had live music, very beautiful violinist. Coming from NYC the prices at this place were very reasonable. I would definitively recommend this place.
(5)
Jonathan F.
I have to agree with the rest of the reviews about this restaurant. Main issue is the price/value relationship. Food was nice but not on par with the price point. Service was nice and speedy, contrary to most reviews. I had the gnocchi gorgonzola, the name on the menu is something else, but couldn't taste much gorgonzola in the sauce.
(3)
Deke K.
I enjoyed a fine Italian dining experience here, sitting in the raised outdoor balcony beneath tiny white lights. I ordered the cheapest pasta dish on the menu at $17.95, penne alla sargento. I was told the flour is imported and different from what we are used to, all made daily in house. I found the noodle very "chewy" perhaps thicker and chewier than I am accustomed with store-bought noodles. It arrived hot in a sauce of tomato, olives, eggplant cubes and mozzarella bits. It was well-seasoned and a great meal. A sommelier came to ask if he could help pair a wine with my dish. I'd already decided on an Argentinian Sangiovese. Most glasses of wine on St. Armand's are $9 or $10 a glass, a tough pill to swallow. The roll was also homemade and delicious. I had a difficult time keeping a waitress coming to me at the right times. Long wait to order, long wait for meal to arrive, no one to refill water glass, where the heck is my check, etc. So the "4" is generous for an elegant dish.
(4)
Gail L.
The outside seating was lovely and the staff was very attentive to our table. I ordered the salad with prosciutto and artichokes which was delicious. The reason for the drop in star is because of the pizza. I was expecting real italian pizza with thin crust cooked at very high temperatures because I had read reviews about how authentic it was. The pizza wasn't like the thin authentic italian pizza one would order in Italy. I would go back, but I wouldn't order the pizza.
(4)
Brian S.
Nice restaurant spot with outdoor seating, but way to expensive with cold food. We were walking around and almost every place was packed. This place wasn't. They had nice tables outside so we decided to try it for lunch. There was no lunch menu. Everything was $20 and up. They had pizza's for about $19 each. We asked the waiter if he thought we could split one. He said there were personal size and to small. They were big. Way more then one person would eat and I am a pretty big guy. I got the feeling they were trying to inflate the bill. I can get over that if it was good food. I hate reading reviews were people go into a nice restaurant and order a burger and say it wasn't good. I don't think I am doing that here. It was just crappy, cold, and had a fancy name for the topping ( or lack of one). Try some place else. If you doubt what I say read my other reviews. I am usually very easy with the stars.
(1)
Matthew G.
Authentic, old school Italian joint. The kind of place that's been there forever, the one like you went to on vacation in 1973 and is still there - same menu but a nice, new, modern-trattoria feel. The gnocchi was the best I have ever had. Get it instead of the regular entree side of pasta for an up-charge, you deserve it. It's a place I will come to again whenever I'm in Sarasota. The tomato gravy would be great on a flip-flop.
(5)
Michael B.
Horrible experience and the food was anything but good. We walked in to this promising restaurant and the greater or closest waiter was on his phone rather than paying attention to the customers. After a lady barked at him in Italian he merely looked up at us and a young waitress came to service. She was great to us considering. We had a great advisor of the wines but then the food. I ordered veal as did my wife. The veal I ordered was breaded in a tasteless egg basted breading. The dish had spaghetti bolognese as a side which tasted like it came out of a chef boy R D can. I give it a 1 star based on it was bland and the worst I had ever had. My wife's was in a lemon sauce and came to the table not even warm. She sent it back and after 10 minutes it was steaming and rubbery as we believe they had microwaved it. We did not eat our meals, paid for the wine and ate elsewhere.
(1)
Nick B.
Nice spot for a date night. Food is good - not unbelievable, but good. Prices are inflated but it's St. Armand's, so get used to it. Lasagna is great. Pizza is good, enough for two people but not if you're starving.
(4)
Marc L.
Ate here on Christmas night, one of the few good restaurants open in Sarasota on Christmas. Ate here in a party of 9, and service was excellent, as was the food. I had pasta in tomato/egglplant/olive sauce (excellent), two of us had eggplant parmesan, one had gnocchi in cream/cheese sauce, one had ravioli in marinara sauce, one had grouper. All food was excellent. Good wine selection, we had a Dolcetto d'Alba which was great with the food. I gave this a 4 rather than a 5 because I didn't find the food to be highly imaginative, just very tasty and delicious. I see the comment from Albert P using words such as silly, pretentious, dungeon, expensive, so-so, indelicately prepared, overcooked. I simply disagree with these observations/opinions. My family has been dining here for years and has never been disappointed. I would say that the place is slightly expensive for the food quality. The food quality, however, is quite good.
(4)
Wendy G.
Basic Italian. Good but not great. It felt like the kind of place that has gotten very comfortable with themselves and that the customer is not the primary goal. Our server while very kind was less than competent. Great service and so-so food can go a long way but so-so- service and so-so food does not make one want to return. This is a one time kind of restaurant. :-(
(3)
Albert P.
This is a silly, expensive, and pretentious place on St. Armand's Circle. Sit outside if you can, since the inside is a dark dungeon if you're not facing the street. Food was quite expensive and quite so-so -- in general the food was indelicately prepared and overcooked. The best thing were really just the pizza. After coming here, I'm realizing that visitors to Sarasota sure like to spend money, no matter what they get.
(2)
Jamie W.
The best Italian restaurant in the Sarasota area. I'll stick by my last review. Ristorante Le Colonne was one of the best Italian restaurants I've been to throughout the US. And, if you've read my other reviews, I don't hand out praise easily especially for Italian. First, the service was exceptional. We had the owner's son. He was informative, had great recommendations and was very polite. His mixed English and Italian added an authentic touch to this restaurant open by a couple from Rome. Our group of four had the freshly made pasta, ravioli, gnocchi and Osso Bucco. Each dish was perfectly prepared, dished and served. And, delicious. The fresh pasta was light and flavorful. Their sauce's we fabulous, too. The house wines were great selections and certainly a value before 7pm. The place was packed inside and out by 9pm on a weeknight. While the overall cost may seem high, it is an excellent value compared to the other restaurants in this high rent district. I can't wait to comeback again! My only negative comment is the shocking short pour espressos which also always arrive cold. They should steam the cup first and then pour doubles. I've never scene such a small espresso before!
(5)
Brad C.
Awful service and high high prices. We have been there several times because one f our family likes a certain dish there. Never again though.
(1)
Nicole C.
We stumbled upon this amazement while trying to get dinner at Columbia. We were told there would be a wait time of an hour. We walked down a few streets and went here instead luckily. They had a violinist playing fiddler on the roof soundtracks among other songs exquisitely. The music really set the atmosphere. The lighting inside is very soft and very romantic. The manager came over and spoke Italian and recommended wine. Very good wine selection. The menu is a little overwhelming but don't be afraid to try something new and creative. True Italian. They are very accommodating and made my sister her own special dish off the menu. Service was amazing. The pizza was very good flat new York style. The only downside I can say is the desert selection. Tiramisu, gelato, sorbet and cannoli. They were out of sorbet. So we had gelato. Eggnog, cappuccino, and strawberry flavored. I will tell you this is not gelato it is ice cream. But the very observant waitress noticed we didn't like them and took them off the bill promptly. This place was amazing. Perfect atmosphere. Please do not pass this up!!!
(5)
Rick S.
Great food. Friendly staff. My new favorite in St. Armand's Circle. Family run business by real nice people - authentic Italian... it even say's so on Francesca!! What a doll :-)
(5)
Bill G.
Fabulous lunch and reasonable prices. Pollo di Ruticana is to die for.
(4)
Sara S.
All I have to say is over one hour wait for our food. Food is way over priced too. With meal, a drink , shared appetizers and tip, it came out to $45 per person for mediocre Italian food. The lobster ravioli had only four pieces swimming in bland orange sauce. The server was attentive b/c we were one of the only tables inside and then she disappeared for over half an hour when more tables were seated. I had to chase her down and ask her for refills and an update on our food. There's a woman with hair dyed a shade of red that doesn't exist in nature who may own the place. I swear her face would have cracked if she smiled. She was huffing and puffing with a scowl on her face all night. We only ate here b/c it was the only restaurant with tables open at St. Armands Circle and now I see why. They are lucky they get the spill over of the better restaurants on St. Armands.
(1)
rhett t.
Wow, I wanted to like this place. But, other than its place of prominence, it failed to deliver. Again, I ate early with my boy who craved ravioli oh would that be illusionary. My salad was awful. The house made balsamic dressing was cloyingly sweet with no redeeming qualities. And, the mixed greens were loaded with 'shrooms with no advance warning. The bread was ehh. Although it appears that the pasta is made that day, the dough arrives in plastic and the ravioli tasted old. My son ate none of the raviolis con ricotta y spinaci. But I tried them and the filling was fine, sauce competent if uninspiring, but the pasta was cut thick and tasted old. These guys will not be working for Batali anytime soon. The good news was my son liked the pizza and it tasted better than school pizza. But, the wood oven added no flavor and the sauce might rival Costco for mediocrity. There were some redeeming qualities. There were a few great values on the wine list (sassacaia for retail), the service was understandably decent given the wine and the lack of customers, and my son adored the dessert. I kept thinking this was a prime target for kitchen nightmares.
(2)
Jack D.
Le Colonne was a fantastic surprise, on a family vacation from Boston and have to say this place was whacked good. All kidding aside the 4 of tried something different, each course was fabulous.
(5)
emily F.
Yes, it's off the main drag of St. Armands Circle. No, it's not as busy as The Columbian...don't let this deter you from trying this little gem. The food is authentic and delicious. Freshly made pastas (from scratch), delicious hearty sauce, freshly caught fish (I had Sea Bass), and the BEST ceasar salad. The outdoor seating area is so cute and not crowded. Friendly staff, good service. Don't be afraid to give this place a try - you will not be dissapointed.
(5)
Zac C.
Have had excellent food here over the years during my visits to Sarasota. I love their red sauce, which goes with several different dishes. The service isn't the greatest (which is why 4 stars instead of 5), but it isn't terrible either, and I come here almost every trip down to Sarasota and the reason is the food is delicious and moderately priced. Haven't had a bad meal here.
(4)
Nenoy C.
Would not recommend the risotto.
(1)
Brenda R.
I should have read the other, apt reviews: overpriced and meager entrees. 3 arguing owners. One of our sons was sick within minutes of leaving, and having had their bacon shrimp. I had the eggplant parmesan: one slice of eggplant, and 2 large spoonfuls of pasta and unremarkable sauce. The caesar salad was some lettuce, packaged croutons, and, if you can believe this, a salad dressing. The price for 4 people, for extremely small entrees, one wine, no dessert: $125. PASS!
(1)
Stephanie V.
Those that gave more than 2 stars don't know good italian food. We came here for lunch since we were in the mood for italian. Big mistake. I ordered the cannoloni. It was not great, but edible. My husband ordered the chicken parm sub. I felt so bad for him. I came and was on a flatbread. You could not pick it up. It was a soggy mess. Italians use nice crusty bread not a flatbread. Lunch was $35 just for that and water.
(2)
James E.
My glass of prosecco arrived flat as a board, not a single bubble. Food was average. Total bill was shockingly high.
(2)
Marty M.
They server us Chef Boyardee from a can and charged us $80. Worst food ever!
(1)
Tiffany E.
Should have looked at the yelp review before eating here- Opps I see we are not the only ones who had a bad dining experience here. The menu looked great when we sat down and our waitress was very friendly when she took our order. The issue was that we never saw her again. We needed another drink and she was nowhere to be found. We asked another server that we had not seen our waitress and they got our drink for us but did not look concerned. Food runners delivered our food but still no waitress. My husband wanted another glass of wine and had to ask two people and still no waitress. For an upscale restaurant should have had more attentive service. This seemed normal for the restaurant- They work as a team I believe, helping each other out. In many establishments, this system works but you need to have more staff layered in to check on tables needs so they don't feel stranded and neglected like we did. The food was very good but the service was so bad that it was disruptive to enjoying the meal. There are too many other good Italian restaurants in the area. Will never be back.
(2)
Matt D.
Had dinner here last night with my girlfriend since we are around the area on vacation. By looking through Yelp it looked like this is the area for some good date night food. This is a nice upscale area where you are paying for the location so be ready to spend a little more for your food. Also it looked like all the other restaurants had a long wait and we were very hungry. Some of the food was good and other food was not so good. I got the shrimp cocktail for an appetizer with their very own creamy cocktail sauce. Shrimp was not that great for being close to the ocean and the sauce tasted like nothing but mayo. For entree I had the homemade lasagna and the girlfriend had the spaghetti. Both were very good and had good flavor. I would eat here again but wouldn't travel out of my way for it.
(3)
Marty M.
They server us Chef Boyardee from a can and charged us $80. Worst food ever!
(1)
Nenoy C.
Would not recommend the risotto.
(1)
Sue A.
Delicious gourmet Italian food, fantastic service, and family friendly. Wow!!!! Veal was fantastic, best ravioli I've had in years, and perfectly cooked fish.
(5)
Mary B.
a trio of ravioli was served in what would be considered a fine Italian restaurant. It was their chef feature for the night. The host, from Italy, was sure of himself and a tad arrogant. I expected amazing food. The ravioli was drowned in over seasoned sauces, too much salt and the dough, chewy. I tasted the Risotto a friend had and almost choked. It was some kind of rice with frozen seafood. The "owners" were there, from Rome, and they never greeted people. The bartender, also from Rome, was ok, not friendly. At times we had to wave him down to serve us. and it was a slow night. Disappointing.
(1)
Don H.
Our first-ever visit to Le Colonne was late on a Sunday afternoon before the dinner crowd. Service was very attentive. Food was delicious. I can't imagine anything here that is not a home run.
(4)
Brett N.
Why 4 stars? Because margherita pizza isn't even my thing, but I liked it here. --- --- --- My girlfriend's mom apparently loves this place more than she loves her own daughter, so while her dad was making a rare visit, we ventured down to Sarasota and introduced him to Le Colonne. It's like many other Italian eateries in Florida: it can be a bit romantic, while shorts and flip flops are also acceptable. It's too hot here to go full-on candlelight dinner and suit jackets. I don't understand how Le Colonne can only be rated 3 stars overall, but I also think the gf's mom is over-hyping the place pretty drastically. My opinion fits right in the middle. A solid restaurant... nothing amazing, but nothing awful. The service was nice and prompt, and I liked my margherita pie, even though I would probably never order it under normal circumstances.
(4)
Sarah G.
Yum! We found le colonne by accident, meaning, we parked where we could find a spot near St. Armand's Circle and ta da! a scrumptious looking Italian place with people actually speaking Italian. It had to be good... and we weren't disappointed. Our waiter, while not one of the Italian family members who clearly owned the place, was super friendly and helpful. We sat outside at a table with an umbrella with a view of the bustling circle. We had nice soft bread while we waited for my tortellini alla boscaiola and grandma's veggie pizza. I was so excited to see the tortellini on the menu because it is a dish I have seldom been able to find outside of Italy. It didn't end up being exactly as I expected as this version had a red cream sauce instead of the barely-there white sauce I remembered from Rome but it was still very good even if the tortellini was a little mushy. The serving was also a big heaping plate which I can always appreciate. Grandma loved her pizza even though the serving was much larger than she expected. If we go back, I'd be curious to try their tiramisu! Also, speaking to the character of the staff, when the elderly couple dining a few tables from us got up to leave, the woman fell, cutting her leg on the sidewalk. I went to help and when the staff realized what was going on, several of them rushed over as well. I moved out of the way so one of the male wait staff (who could lift her up better) could help her into their vehicle while another went to get a cloth to put on her leg. It's always uplifting to see people willing to help beyond the confines of their job.
(4)
Cheryl H.
Chianti Riserva and homemade cannelloni - melt in your mouth goodness! We sat at the bar and Marco took very good care of us, making it easy to share generous portions. The Caesar salad was crisp and lightly dressed, great flavor without being overdone. But the cannelloni was the star - crepe-like pasta wrapped around ground veal and topped with tomato sauce. Delicious! And with three large pieces, enough to share.
(5)
Clark D.
Great homemade pasta and gnocchi. My wife ordered the fillet and it was wonderful. The kids ordered pizzas they were delicious
(5)
Alex P.
Had dinner here last night and while the atmosphere was very nice, the food was a little underwhelming. Due to being on St. Armand's I was expecting higher prices, but I felt as if the food was lacking in flavor. I ordered the Salmon Piccata which was alright at best. My salmon was a little on the dry side and my penne side pasta was a bit undercooked. The tomato sauce is "homemade" but could be more flavorful. My boyfriend ordered the Gnocchi in a four-cheese sauce. This dish was extremely bland without any substantial flavor at all. He had to add a bunch of pepper to it in order to make it appetizing. The restaurant itself was very well decorated with a nice dimly lit intimate vibe. The service was very upbeat and friendly, but I have to deduct stars for the food. For the price point I was expecting exceptional food, but what I received was pretty average at best.
(3)
Michael B.
Horrible experience and the food was anything but good. We walked in to this promising restaurant and the greater or closest waiter was on his phone rather than paying attention to the customers. After a lady barked at him in Italian he merely looked up at us and a young waitress came to service. She was great to us considering. We had a great advisor of the wines but then the food. I ordered veal as did my wife. The veal I ordered was breaded in a tasteless egg basted breading. The dish had spaghetti bolognese as a side which tasted like it came out of a chef boy R D can. I give it a 1 star based on it was bland and the worst I had ever had. My wife's was in a lemon sauce and came to the table not even warm. She sent it back and after 10 minutes it was steaming and rubbery as we believe they had microwaved it. We did not eat our meals, paid for the wine and ate elsewhere.
(1)
Nick B.
Nice spot for a date night. Food is good - not unbelievable, but good. Prices are inflated but it's St. Armand's, so get used to it. Lasagna is great. Pizza is good, enough for two people but not if you're starving.
(4)
Sydney S.
Not the least bit impressed. Would not return. Both of our meals lacked seasoning resulting in both meals (which were totally different) tasting relatively alike. The one pleasantly of the evening was the waitstaff.
(2)
Tiffany E.
Should have looked at the yelp review before eating here- Opps I see we are not the only ones who had a bad dining experience here. The menu looked great when we sat down and our waitress was very friendly when she took our order. The issue was that we never saw her again. We needed another drink and she was nowhere to be found. We asked another server that we had not seen our waitress and they got our drink for us but did not look concerned. Food runners delivered our food but still no waitress. My husband wanted another glass of wine and had to ask two people and still no waitress. For an upscale restaurant should have had more attentive service. This seemed normal for the restaurant- They work as a team I believe, helping each other out. In many establishments, this system works but you need to have more staff layered in to check on tables needs so they don't feel stranded and neglected like we did. The food was very good but the service was so bad that it was disruptive to enjoying the meal. There are too many other good Italian restaurants in the area. Will never be back.
(2)
Matt D.
Had dinner here last night with my girlfriend since we are around the area on vacation. By looking through Yelp it looked like this is the area for some good date night food. This is a nice upscale area where you are paying for the location so be ready to spend a little more for your food. Also it looked like all the other restaurants had a long wait and we were very hungry. Some of the food was good and other food was not so good. I got the shrimp cocktail for an appetizer with their very own creamy cocktail sauce. Shrimp was not that great for being close to the ocean and the sauce tasted like nothing but mayo. For entree I had the homemade lasagna and the girlfriend had the spaghetti. Both were very good and had good flavor. I would eat here again but wouldn't travel out of my way for it.
(3)
Brenda R.
I should have read the other, apt reviews: overpriced and meager entrees. 3 arguing owners. One of our sons was sick within minutes of leaving, and having had their bacon shrimp. I had the eggplant parmesan: one slice of eggplant, and 2 large spoonfuls of pasta and unremarkable sauce. The caesar salad was some lettuce, packaged croutons, and, if you can believe this, a salad dressing. The price for 4 people, for extremely small entrees, one wine, no dessert: $125. PASS!
(1)
Stephanie V.
Those that gave more than 2 stars don't know good italian food. We came here for lunch since we were in the mood for italian. Big mistake. I ordered the cannoloni. It was not great, but edible. My husband ordered the chicken parm sub. I felt so bad for him. I came and was on a flatbread. You could not pick it up. It was a soggy mess. Italians use nice crusty bread not a flatbread. Lunch was $35 just for that and water.
(2)
James E.
My glass of prosecco arrived flat as a board, not a single bubble. Food was average. Total bill was shockingly high.
(2)
Catherine H.
We recently received a gift certificate for this restaurant. My husband and I ate there on a Monday evening. We were immediately greeted and seated. The young lady was also our waitress. Teressa (sp), was excellent. She was very efficient and courteous. Our meals were delicious. We ordered from the specials of the day. I indulged in the dessert. The decor was beautiful. It was a wonderful dining experience.
(5)
Deke K.
I enjoyed a fine Italian dining experience here, sitting in the raised outdoor balcony beneath tiny white lights. I ordered the cheapest pasta dish on the menu at $17.95, penne alla sargento. I was told the flour is imported and different from what we are used to, all made daily in house. I found the noodle very "chewy" perhaps thicker and chewier than I am accustomed with store-bought noodles. It arrived hot in a sauce of tomato, olives, eggplant cubes and mozzarella bits. It was well-seasoned and a great meal. A sommelier came to ask if he could help pair a wine with my dish. I'd already decided on an Argentinian Sangiovese. Most glasses of wine on St. Armand's are $9 or $10 a glass, a tough pill to swallow. The roll was also homemade and delicious. I had a difficult time keeping a waitress coming to me at the right times. Long wait to order, long wait for meal to arrive, no one to refill water glass, where the heck is my check, etc. So the "4" is generous for an elegant dish.
(4)
Gail L.
The outside seating was lovely and the staff was very attentive to our table. I ordered the salad with prosciutto and artichokes which was delicious. The reason for the drop in star is because of the pizza. I was expecting real italian pizza with thin crust cooked at very high temperatures because I had read reviews about how authentic it was. The pizza wasn't like the thin authentic italian pizza one would order in Italy. I would go back, but I wouldn't order the pizza.
(4)
Brian S.
Nice restaurant spot with outdoor seating, but way to expensive with cold food. We were walking around and almost every place was packed. This place wasn't. They had nice tables outside so we decided to try it for lunch. There was no lunch menu. Everything was $20 and up. They had pizza's for about $19 each. We asked the waiter if he thought we could split one. He said there were personal size and to small. They were big. Way more then one person would eat and I am a pretty big guy. I got the feeling they were trying to inflate the bill. I can get over that if it was good food. I hate reading reviews were people go into a nice restaurant and order a burger and say it wasn't good. I don't think I am doing that here. It was just crappy, cold, and had a fancy name for the topping ( or lack of one). Try some place else. If you doubt what I say read my other reviews. I am usually very easy with the stars.
(1)
Matthew G.
Authentic, old school Italian joint. The kind of place that's been there forever, the one like you went to on vacation in 1973 and is still there - same menu but a nice, new, modern-trattoria feel. The gnocchi was the best I have ever had. Get it instead of the regular entree side of pasta for an up-charge, you deserve it. It's a place I will come to again whenever I'm in Sarasota. The tomato gravy would be great on a flip-flop.
(5)
Marc L.
Ate here on Christmas night, one of the few good restaurants open in Sarasota on Christmas. Ate here in a party of 9, and service was excellent, as was the food. I had pasta in tomato/egglplant/olive sauce (excellent), two of us had eggplant parmesan, one had gnocchi in cream/cheese sauce, one had ravioli in marinara sauce, one had grouper. All food was excellent. Good wine selection, we had a Dolcetto d'Alba which was great with the food. I gave this a 4 rather than a 5 because I didn't find the food to be highly imaginative, just very tasty and delicious. I see the comment from Albert P using words such as silly, pretentious, dungeon, expensive, so-so, indelicately prepared, overcooked. I simply disagree with these observations/opinions. My family has been dining here for years and has never been disappointed. I would say that the place is slightly expensive for the food quality. The food quality, however, is quite good.
(4)
Wendy G.
Basic Italian. Good but not great. It felt like the kind of place that has gotten very comfortable with themselves and that the customer is not the primary goal. Our server while very kind was less than competent. Great service and so-so food can go a long way but so-so- service and so-so food does not make one want to return. This is a one time kind of restaurant. :-(
(3)
Albert P.
This is a silly, expensive, and pretentious place on St. Armand's Circle. Sit outside if you can, since the inside is a dark dungeon if you're not facing the street. Food was quite expensive and quite so-so -- in general the food was indelicately prepared and overcooked. The best thing were really just the pizza. After coming here, I'm realizing that visitors to Sarasota sure like to spend money, no matter what they get.
(2)
Jamie W.
The best Italian restaurant in the Sarasota area. I'll stick by my last review. Ristorante Le Colonne was one of the best Italian restaurants I've been to throughout the US. And, if you've read my other reviews, I don't hand out praise easily especially for Italian. First, the service was exceptional. We had the owner's son. He was informative, had great recommendations and was very polite. His mixed English and Italian added an authentic touch to this restaurant open by a couple from Rome. Our group of four had the freshly made pasta, ravioli, gnocchi and Osso Bucco. Each dish was perfectly prepared, dished and served. And, delicious. The fresh pasta was light and flavorful. Their sauce's we fabulous, too. The house wines were great selections and certainly a value before 7pm. The place was packed inside and out by 9pm on a weeknight. While the overall cost may seem high, it is an excellent value compared to the other restaurants in this high rent district. I can't wait to comeback again! My only negative comment is the shocking short pour espressos which also always arrive cold. They should steam the cup first and then pour doubles. I've never scene such a small espresso before!
(5)
Brad C.
Awful service and high high prices. We have been there several times because one f our family likes a certain dish there. Never again though.
(1)
Mike B.
The most expensive and underwhelming food we had the week we were in the area. The Ossobuco was bland/flavorless. The Trio Ravioli was so thick we could not distinguish any other flavors than the pasta. The Antipasto was forgettable, and the wine was grossly overpriced... I call this kind of wine a "hotel wine." If you travel much, you know exactly what that means.
(2)
leslie o.
Horrible experience. I started with a seafood salad which was the special appetizer. It was bland and tasteless. The server hovered around and attempted to clear my plate every 5minutes. Then the main course arrived. Sea bass in a white wine sauce and a side of gnocchi. It must have been under the heat lamps for 10-15 minutes as it was too hot to eat and had turned to mush. My first and last visit here
(1)
Naddy M.
Loved this atmosphere. Loved the service. Loved the food. They had live music, very beautiful violinist. Coming from NYC the prices at this place were very reasonable. I would definitively recommend this place.
(5)
Jonathan F.
I have to agree with the rest of the reviews about this restaurant. Main issue is the price/value relationship. Food was nice but not on par with the price point. Service was nice and speedy, contrary to most reviews. I had the gnocchi gorgonzola, the name on the menu is something else, but couldn't taste much gorgonzola in the sauce.
(3)
Jack D.
Le Colonne was a fantastic surprise, on a family vacation from Boston and have to say this place was whacked good. All kidding aside the 4 of tried something different, each course was fabulous.
(5)
emily F.
Yes, it's off the main drag of St. Armands Circle. No, it's not as busy as The Columbian...don't let this deter you from trying this little gem. The food is authentic and delicious. Freshly made pastas (from scratch), delicious hearty sauce, freshly caught fish (I had Sea Bass), and the BEST ceasar salad. The outdoor seating area is so cute and not crowded. Friendly staff, good service. Don't be afraid to give this place a try - you will not be dissapointed.
(5)
Zac C.
Have had excellent food here over the years during my visits to Sarasota. I love their red sauce, which goes with several different dishes. The service isn't the greatest (which is why 4 stars instead of 5), but it isn't terrible either, and I come here almost every trip down to Sarasota and the reason is the food is delicious and moderately priced. Haven't had a bad meal here.
(4)
Rick S.
Great food. Friendly staff. My new favorite in St. Armand's Circle. Family run business by real nice people - authentic Italian... it even say's so on Francesca!! What a doll :-)
(5)
Bill G.
Fabulous lunch and reasonable prices. Pollo di Ruticana is to die for.
(4)
Nicole C.
We stumbled upon this amazement while trying to get dinner at Columbia. We were told there would be a wait time of an hour. We walked down a few streets and went here instead luckily. They had a violinist playing fiddler on the roof soundtracks among other songs exquisitely. The music really set the atmosphere. The lighting inside is very soft and very romantic. The manager came over and spoke Italian and recommended wine. Very good wine selection. The menu is a little overwhelming but don't be afraid to try something new and creative. True Italian. They are very accommodating and made my sister her own special dish off the menu. Service was amazing. The pizza was very good flat new York style. The only downside I can say is the desert selection. Tiramisu, gelato, sorbet and cannoli. They were out of sorbet. So we had gelato. Eggnog, cappuccino, and strawberry flavored. I will tell you this is not gelato it is ice cream. But the very observant waitress noticed we didn't like them and took them off the bill promptly. This place was amazing. Perfect atmosphere. Please do not pass this up!!!
(5)
Sara S.
All I have to say is over one hour wait for our food. Food is way over priced too. With meal, a drink , shared appetizers and tip, it came out to $45 per person for mediocre Italian food. The lobster ravioli had only four pieces swimming in bland orange sauce. The server was attentive b/c we were one of the only tables inside and then she disappeared for over half an hour when more tables were seated. I had to chase her down and ask her for refills and an update on our food. There's a woman with hair dyed a shade of red that doesn't exist in nature who may own the place. I swear her face would have cracked if she smiled. She was huffing and puffing with a scowl on her face all night. We only ate here b/c it was the only restaurant with tables open at St. Armands Circle and now I see why. They are lucky they get the spill over of the better restaurants on St. Armands.
(1)
rhett t.
Wow, I wanted to like this place. But, other than its place of prominence, it failed to deliver. Again, I ate early with my boy who craved ravioli oh would that be illusionary. My salad was awful. The house made balsamic dressing was cloyingly sweet with no redeeming qualities. And, the mixed greens were loaded with 'shrooms with no advance warning. The bread was ehh. Although it appears that the pasta is made that day, the dough arrives in plastic and the ravioli tasted old. My son ate none of the raviolis con ricotta y spinaci. But I tried them and the filling was fine, sauce competent if uninspiring, but the pasta was cut thick and tasted old. These guys will not be working for Batali anytime soon. The good news was my son liked the pizza and it tasted better than school pizza. But, the wood oven added no flavor and the sauce might rival Costco for mediocrity. There were some redeeming qualities. There were a few great values on the wine list (sassacaia for retail), the service was understandably decent given the wine and the lack of customers, and my son adored the dessert. I kept thinking this was a prime target for kitchen nightmares.
(2)
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Address :22 S Blvd of Presidents
Sarasota, FL, 34236
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
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.
Sarah G.
Yum! We found le colonne by accident, meaning, we parked where we could find a spot near St. Armand's Circle and ta da! a scrumptious looking Italian place with people actually speaking Italian. It had to be good... and we weren't disappointed. Our waiter, while not one of the Italian family members who clearly owned the place, was super friendly and helpful. We sat outside at a table with an umbrella with a view of the bustling circle. We had nice soft bread while we waited for my tortellini alla boscaiola and grandma's veggie pizza. I was so excited to see the tortellini on the menu because it is a dish I have seldom been able to find outside of Italy. It didn't end up being exactly as I expected as this version had a red cream sauce instead of the barely-there white sauce I remembered from Rome but it was still very good even if the tortellini was a little mushy. The serving was also a big heaping plate which I can always appreciate. Grandma loved her pizza even though the serving was much larger than she expected. If we go back, I'd be curious to try their tiramisu! Also, speaking to the character of the staff, when the elderly couple dining a few tables from us got up to leave, the woman fell, cutting her leg on the sidewalk. I went to help and when the staff realized what was going on, several of them rushed over as well. I moved out of the way so one of the male wait staff (who could lift her up better) could help her into their vehicle while another went to get a cloth to put on her leg. It's always uplifting to see people willing to help beyond the confines of their job.
(4)Cheryl H.
Chianti Riserva and homemade cannelloni - melt in your mouth goodness! We sat at the bar and Marco took very good care of us, making it easy to share generous portions. The Caesar salad was crisp and lightly dressed, great flavor without being overdone. But the cannelloni was the star - crepe-like pasta wrapped around ground veal and topped with tomato sauce. Delicious! And with three large pieces, enough to share.
(5)Clark D.
Great homemade pasta and gnocchi. My wife ordered the fillet and it was wonderful. The kids ordered pizzas they were delicious
(5)Alex P.
Had dinner here last night and while the atmosphere was very nice, the food was a little underwhelming. Due to being on St. Armand's I was expecting higher prices, but I felt as if the food was lacking in flavor. I ordered the Salmon Piccata which was alright at best. My salmon was a little on the dry side and my penne side pasta was a bit undercooked. The tomato sauce is "homemade" but could be more flavorful. My boyfriend ordered the Gnocchi in a four-cheese sauce. This dish was extremely bland without any substantial flavor at all. He had to add a bunch of pepper to it in order to make it appetizing. The restaurant itself was very well decorated with a nice dimly lit intimate vibe. The service was very upbeat and friendly, but I have to deduct stars for the food. For the price point I was expecting exceptional food, but what I received was pretty average at best.
(3)Catherine H.
We recently received a gift certificate for this restaurant. My husband and I ate there on a Monday evening. We were immediately greeted and seated. The young lady was also our waitress. Teressa (sp), was excellent. She was very efficient and courteous. Our meals were delicious. We ordered from the specials of the day. I indulged in the dessert. The decor was beautiful. It was a wonderful dining experience.
(5)Sydney S.
Not the least bit impressed. Would not return. Both of our meals lacked seasoning resulting in both meals (which were totally different) tasting relatively alike. The one pleasantly of the evening was the waitstaff.
(2)Sue A.
Delicious gourmet Italian food, fantastic service, and family friendly. Wow!!!! Veal was fantastic, best ravioli I've had in years, and perfectly cooked fish.
(5)Mary B.
a trio of ravioli was served in what would be considered a fine Italian restaurant. It was their chef feature for the night. The host, from Italy, was sure of himself and a tad arrogant. I expected amazing food. The ravioli was drowned in over seasoned sauces, too much salt and the dough, chewy. I tasted the Risotto a friend had and almost choked. It was some kind of rice with frozen seafood. The "owners" were there, from Rome, and they never greeted people. The bartender, also from Rome, was ok, not friendly. At times we had to wave him down to serve us. and it was a slow night. Disappointing.
(1)Don H.
Our first-ever visit to Le Colonne was late on a Sunday afternoon before the dinner crowd. Service was very attentive. Food was delicious. I can't imagine anything here that is not a home run.
(4)Brett N.
Why 4 stars? Because margherita pizza isn't even my thing, but I liked it here. --- --- --- My girlfriend's mom apparently loves this place more than she loves her own daughter, so while her dad was making a rare visit, we ventured down to Sarasota and introduced him to Le Colonne. It's like many other Italian eateries in Florida: it can be a bit romantic, while shorts and flip flops are also acceptable. It's too hot here to go full-on candlelight dinner and suit jackets. I don't understand how Le Colonne can only be rated 3 stars overall, but I also think the gf's mom is over-hyping the place pretty drastically. My opinion fits right in the middle. A solid restaurant... nothing amazing, but nothing awful. The service was nice and prompt, and I liked my margherita pie, even though I would probably never order it under normal circumstances.
(4)Mike B.
The most expensive and underwhelming food we had the week we were in the area. The Ossobuco was bland/flavorless. The Trio Ravioli was so thick we could not distinguish any other flavors than the pasta. The Antipasto was forgettable, and the wine was grossly overpriced... I call this kind of wine a "hotel wine." If you travel much, you know exactly what that means.
(2)leslie o.
Horrible experience. I started with a seafood salad which was the special appetizer. It was bland and tasteless. The server hovered around and attempted to clear my plate every 5minutes. Then the main course arrived. Sea bass in a white wine sauce and a side of gnocchi. It must have been under the heat lamps for 10-15 minutes as it was too hot to eat and had turned to mush. My first and last visit here
(1)Naddy M.
Loved this atmosphere. Loved the service. Loved the food. They had live music, very beautiful violinist. Coming from NYC the prices at this place were very reasonable. I would definitively recommend this place.
(5)Jonathan F.
I have to agree with the rest of the reviews about this restaurant. Main issue is the price/value relationship. Food was nice but not on par with the price point. Service was nice and speedy, contrary to most reviews. I had the gnocchi gorgonzola, the name on the menu is something else, but couldn't taste much gorgonzola in the sauce.
(3)Deke K.
I enjoyed a fine Italian dining experience here, sitting in the raised outdoor balcony beneath tiny white lights. I ordered the cheapest pasta dish on the menu at $17.95, penne alla sargento. I was told the flour is imported and different from what we are used to, all made daily in house. I found the noodle very "chewy" perhaps thicker and chewier than I am accustomed with store-bought noodles. It arrived hot in a sauce of tomato, olives, eggplant cubes and mozzarella bits. It was well-seasoned and a great meal. A sommelier came to ask if he could help pair a wine with my dish. I'd already decided on an Argentinian Sangiovese. Most glasses of wine on St. Armand's are $9 or $10 a glass, a tough pill to swallow. The roll was also homemade and delicious. I had a difficult time keeping a waitress coming to me at the right times. Long wait to order, long wait for meal to arrive, no one to refill water glass, where the heck is my check, etc. So the "4" is generous for an elegant dish.
(4)Gail L.
The outside seating was lovely and the staff was very attentive to our table. I ordered the salad with prosciutto and artichokes which was delicious. The reason for the drop in star is because of the pizza. I was expecting real italian pizza with thin crust cooked at very high temperatures because I had read reviews about how authentic it was. The pizza wasn't like the thin authentic italian pizza one would order in Italy. I would go back, but I wouldn't order the pizza.
(4)Brian S.
Nice restaurant spot with outdoor seating, but way to expensive with cold food. We were walking around and almost every place was packed. This place wasn't. They had nice tables outside so we decided to try it for lunch. There was no lunch menu. Everything was $20 and up. They had pizza's for about $19 each. We asked the waiter if he thought we could split one. He said there were personal size and to small. They were big. Way more then one person would eat and I am a pretty big guy. I got the feeling they were trying to inflate the bill. I can get over that if it was good food. I hate reading reviews were people go into a nice restaurant and order a burger and say it wasn't good. I don't think I am doing that here. It was just crappy, cold, and had a fancy name for the topping ( or lack of one). Try some place else. If you doubt what I say read my other reviews. I am usually very easy with the stars.
(1)Matthew G.
Authentic, old school Italian joint. The kind of place that's been there forever, the one like you went to on vacation in 1973 and is still there - same menu but a nice, new, modern-trattoria feel. The gnocchi was the best I have ever had. Get it instead of the regular entree side of pasta for an up-charge, you deserve it. It's a place I will come to again whenever I'm in Sarasota. The tomato gravy would be great on a flip-flop.
(5)Michael B.
Horrible experience and the food was anything but good. We walked in to this promising restaurant and the greater or closest waiter was on his phone rather than paying attention to the customers. After a lady barked at him in Italian he merely looked up at us and a young waitress came to service. She was great to us considering. We had a great advisor of the wines but then the food. I ordered veal as did my wife. The veal I ordered was breaded in a tasteless egg basted breading. The dish had spaghetti bolognese as a side which tasted like it came out of a chef boy R D can. I give it a 1 star based on it was bland and the worst I had ever had. My wife's was in a lemon sauce and came to the table not even warm. She sent it back and after 10 minutes it was steaming and rubbery as we believe they had microwaved it. We did not eat our meals, paid for the wine and ate elsewhere.
(1)Nick B.
Nice spot for a date night. Food is good - not unbelievable, but good. Prices are inflated but it's St. Armand's, so get used to it. Lasagna is great. Pizza is good, enough for two people but not if you're starving.
(4)Marc L.
Ate here on Christmas night, one of the few good restaurants open in Sarasota on Christmas. Ate here in a party of 9, and service was excellent, as was the food. I had pasta in tomato/egglplant/olive sauce (excellent), two of us had eggplant parmesan, one had gnocchi in cream/cheese sauce, one had ravioli in marinara sauce, one had grouper. All food was excellent. Good wine selection, we had a Dolcetto d'Alba which was great with the food. I gave this a 4 rather than a 5 because I didn't find the food to be highly imaginative, just very tasty and delicious. I see the comment from Albert P using words such as silly, pretentious, dungeon, expensive, so-so, indelicately prepared, overcooked. I simply disagree with these observations/opinions. My family has been dining here for years and has never been disappointed. I would say that the place is slightly expensive for the food quality. The food quality, however, is quite good.
(4)Wendy G.
Basic Italian. Good but not great. It felt like the kind of place that has gotten very comfortable with themselves and that the customer is not the primary goal. Our server while very kind was less than competent. Great service and so-so food can go a long way but so-so- service and so-so food does not make one want to return. This is a one time kind of restaurant. :-(
(3)Albert P.
This is a silly, expensive, and pretentious place on St. Armand's Circle. Sit outside if you can, since the inside is a dark dungeon if you're not facing the street. Food was quite expensive and quite so-so -- in general the food was indelicately prepared and overcooked. The best thing were really just the pizza. After coming here, I'm realizing that visitors to Sarasota sure like to spend money, no matter what they get.
(2)Jamie W.
The best Italian restaurant in the Sarasota area. I'll stick by my last review. Ristorante Le Colonne was one of the best Italian restaurants I've been to throughout the US. And, if you've read my other reviews, I don't hand out praise easily especially for Italian. First, the service was exceptional. We had the owner's son. He was informative, had great recommendations and was very polite. His mixed English and Italian added an authentic touch to this restaurant open by a couple from Rome. Our group of four had the freshly made pasta, ravioli, gnocchi and Osso Bucco. Each dish was perfectly prepared, dished and served. And, delicious. The fresh pasta was light and flavorful. Their sauce's we fabulous, too. The house wines were great selections and certainly a value before 7pm. The place was packed inside and out by 9pm on a weeknight. While the overall cost may seem high, it is an excellent value compared to the other restaurants in this high rent district. I can't wait to comeback again! My only negative comment is the shocking short pour espressos which also always arrive cold. They should steam the cup first and then pour doubles. I've never scene such a small espresso before!
(5)Brad C.
Awful service and high high prices. We have been there several times because one f our family likes a certain dish there. Never again though.
(1)Nicole C.
We stumbled upon this amazement while trying to get dinner at Columbia. We were told there would be a wait time of an hour. We walked down a few streets and went here instead luckily. They had a violinist playing fiddler on the roof soundtracks among other songs exquisitely. The music really set the atmosphere. The lighting inside is very soft and very romantic. The manager came over and spoke Italian and recommended wine. Very good wine selection. The menu is a little overwhelming but don't be afraid to try something new and creative. True Italian. They are very accommodating and made my sister her own special dish off the menu. Service was amazing. The pizza was very good flat new York style. The only downside I can say is the desert selection. Tiramisu, gelato, sorbet and cannoli. They were out of sorbet. So we had gelato. Eggnog, cappuccino, and strawberry flavored. I will tell you this is not gelato it is ice cream. But the very observant waitress noticed we didn't like them and took them off the bill promptly. This place was amazing. Perfect atmosphere. Please do not pass this up!!!
(5)Rick S.
Great food. Friendly staff. My new favorite in St. Armand's Circle. Family run business by real nice people - authentic Italian... it even say's so on Francesca!! What a doll :-)
(5)Bill G.
Fabulous lunch and reasonable prices. Pollo di Ruticana is to die for.
(4)Sara S.
All I have to say is over one hour wait for our food. Food is way over priced too. With meal, a drink , shared appetizers and tip, it came out to $45 per person for mediocre Italian food. The lobster ravioli had only four pieces swimming in bland orange sauce. The server was attentive b/c we were one of the only tables inside and then she disappeared for over half an hour when more tables were seated. I had to chase her down and ask her for refills and an update on our food. There's a woman with hair dyed a shade of red that doesn't exist in nature who may own the place. I swear her face would have cracked if she smiled. She was huffing and puffing with a scowl on her face all night. We only ate here b/c it was the only restaurant with tables open at St. Armands Circle and now I see why. They are lucky they get the spill over of the better restaurants on St. Armands.
(1)rhett t.
Wow, I wanted to like this place. But, other than its place of prominence, it failed to deliver. Again, I ate early with my boy who craved ravioli oh would that be illusionary. My salad was awful. The house made balsamic dressing was cloyingly sweet with no redeeming qualities. And, the mixed greens were loaded with 'shrooms with no advance warning. The bread was ehh. Although it appears that the pasta is made that day, the dough arrives in plastic and the ravioli tasted old. My son ate none of the raviolis con ricotta y spinaci. But I tried them and the filling was fine, sauce competent if uninspiring, but the pasta was cut thick and tasted old. These guys will not be working for Batali anytime soon. The good news was my son liked the pizza and it tasted better than school pizza. But, the wood oven added no flavor and the sauce might rival Costco for mediocrity. There were some redeeming qualities. There were a few great values on the wine list (sassacaia for retail), the service was understandably decent given the wine and the lack of customers, and my son adored the dessert. I kept thinking this was a prime target for kitchen nightmares.
(2)Jack D.
Le Colonne was a fantastic surprise, on a family vacation from Boston and have to say this place was whacked good. All kidding aside the 4 of tried something different, each course was fabulous.
(5)emily F.
Yes, it's off the main drag of St. Armands Circle. No, it's not as busy as The Columbian...don't let this deter you from trying this little gem. The food is authentic and delicious. Freshly made pastas (from scratch), delicious hearty sauce, freshly caught fish (I had Sea Bass), and the BEST ceasar salad. The outdoor seating area is so cute and not crowded. Friendly staff, good service. Don't be afraid to give this place a try - you will not be dissapointed.
(5)Zac C.
Have had excellent food here over the years during my visits to Sarasota. I love their red sauce, which goes with several different dishes. The service isn't the greatest (which is why 4 stars instead of 5), but it isn't terrible either, and I come here almost every trip down to Sarasota and the reason is the food is delicious and moderately priced. Haven't had a bad meal here.
(4)Nenoy C.
Would not recommend the risotto.
(1)Brenda R.
I should have read the other, apt reviews: overpriced and meager entrees. 3 arguing owners. One of our sons was sick within minutes of leaving, and having had their bacon shrimp. I had the eggplant parmesan: one slice of eggplant, and 2 large spoonfuls of pasta and unremarkable sauce. The caesar salad was some lettuce, packaged croutons, and, if you can believe this, a salad dressing. The price for 4 people, for extremely small entrees, one wine, no dessert: $125. PASS!
(1)Stephanie V.
Those that gave more than 2 stars don't know good italian food. We came here for lunch since we were in the mood for italian. Big mistake. I ordered the cannoloni. It was not great, but edible. My husband ordered the chicken parm sub. I felt so bad for him. I came and was on a flatbread. You could not pick it up. It was a soggy mess. Italians use nice crusty bread not a flatbread. Lunch was $35 just for that and water.
(2)James E.
My glass of prosecco arrived flat as a board, not a single bubble. Food was average. Total bill was shockingly high.
(2)Marty M.
They server us Chef Boyardee from a can and charged us $80. Worst food ever!
(1)Tiffany E.
Should have looked at the yelp review before eating here- Opps I see we are not the only ones who had a bad dining experience here. The menu looked great when we sat down and our waitress was very friendly when she took our order. The issue was that we never saw her again. We needed another drink and she was nowhere to be found. We asked another server that we had not seen our waitress and they got our drink for us but did not look concerned. Food runners delivered our food but still no waitress. My husband wanted another glass of wine and had to ask two people and still no waitress. For an upscale restaurant should have had more attentive service. This seemed normal for the restaurant- They work as a team I believe, helping each other out. In many establishments, this system works but you need to have more staff layered in to check on tables needs so they don't feel stranded and neglected like we did. The food was very good but the service was so bad that it was disruptive to enjoying the meal. There are too many other good Italian restaurants in the area. Will never be back.
(2)Matt D.
Had dinner here last night with my girlfriend since we are around the area on vacation. By looking through Yelp it looked like this is the area for some good date night food. This is a nice upscale area where you are paying for the location so be ready to spend a little more for your food. Also it looked like all the other restaurants had a long wait and we were very hungry. Some of the food was good and other food was not so good. I got the shrimp cocktail for an appetizer with their very own creamy cocktail sauce. Shrimp was not that great for being close to the ocean and the sauce tasted like nothing but mayo. For entree I had the homemade lasagna and the girlfriend had the spaghetti. Both were very good and had good flavor. I would eat here again but wouldn't travel out of my way for it.
(3)Marty M.
They server us Chef Boyardee from a can and charged us $80. Worst food ever!
(1)Nenoy C.
Would not recommend the risotto.
(1)Sue A.
Delicious gourmet Italian food, fantastic service, and family friendly. Wow!!!! Veal was fantastic, best ravioli I've had in years, and perfectly cooked fish.
(5)Mary B.
a trio of ravioli was served in what would be considered a fine Italian restaurant. It was their chef feature for the night. The host, from Italy, was sure of himself and a tad arrogant. I expected amazing food. The ravioli was drowned in over seasoned sauces, too much salt and the dough, chewy. I tasted the Risotto a friend had and almost choked. It was some kind of rice with frozen seafood. The "owners" were there, from Rome, and they never greeted people. The bartender, also from Rome, was ok, not friendly. At times we had to wave him down to serve us. and it was a slow night. Disappointing.
(1)Don H.
Our first-ever visit to Le Colonne was late on a Sunday afternoon before the dinner crowd. Service was very attentive. Food was delicious. I can't imagine anything here that is not a home run.
(4)Brett N.
Why 4 stars? Because margherita pizza isn't even my thing, but I liked it here. --- --- --- My girlfriend's mom apparently loves this place more than she loves her own daughter, so while her dad was making a rare visit, we ventured down to Sarasota and introduced him to Le Colonne. It's like many other Italian eateries in Florida: it can be a bit romantic, while shorts and flip flops are also acceptable. It's too hot here to go full-on candlelight dinner and suit jackets. I don't understand how Le Colonne can only be rated 3 stars overall, but I also think the gf's mom is over-hyping the place pretty drastically. My opinion fits right in the middle. A solid restaurant... nothing amazing, but nothing awful. The service was nice and prompt, and I liked my margherita pie, even though I would probably never order it under normal circumstances.
(4)Sarah G.
Yum! We found le colonne by accident, meaning, we parked where we could find a spot near St. Armand's Circle and ta da! a scrumptious looking Italian place with people actually speaking Italian. It had to be good... and we weren't disappointed. Our waiter, while not one of the Italian family members who clearly owned the place, was super friendly and helpful. We sat outside at a table with an umbrella with a view of the bustling circle. We had nice soft bread while we waited for my tortellini alla boscaiola and grandma's veggie pizza. I was so excited to see the tortellini on the menu because it is a dish I have seldom been able to find outside of Italy. It didn't end up being exactly as I expected as this version had a red cream sauce instead of the barely-there white sauce I remembered from Rome but it was still very good even if the tortellini was a little mushy. The serving was also a big heaping plate which I can always appreciate. Grandma loved her pizza even though the serving was much larger than she expected. If we go back, I'd be curious to try their tiramisu! Also, speaking to the character of the staff, when the elderly couple dining a few tables from us got up to leave, the woman fell, cutting her leg on the sidewalk. I went to help and when the staff realized what was going on, several of them rushed over as well. I moved out of the way so one of the male wait staff (who could lift her up better) could help her into their vehicle while another went to get a cloth to put on her leg. It's always uplifting to see people willing to help beyond the confines of their job.
(4)Cheryl H.
Chianti Riserva and homemade cannelloni - melt in your mouth goodness! We sat at the bar and Marco took very good care of us, making it easy to share generous portions. The Caesar salad was crisp and lightly dressed, great flavor without being overdone. But the cannelloni was the star - crepe-like pasta wrapped around ground veal and topped with tomato sauce. Delicious! And with three large pieces, enough to share.
(5)Clark D.
Great homemade pasta and gnocchi. My wife ordered the fillet and it was wonderful. The kids ordered pizzas they were delicious
(5)Alex P.
Had dinner here last night and while the atmosphere was very nice, the food was a little underwhelming. Due to being on St. Armand's I was expecting higher prices, but I felt as if the food was lacking in flavor. I ordered the Salmon Piccata which was alright at best. My salmon was a little on the dry side and my penne side pasta was a bit undercooked. The tomato sauce is "homemade" but could be more flavorful. My boyfriend ordered the Gnocchi in a four-cheese sauce. This dish was extremely bland without any substantial flavor at all. He had to add a bunch of pepper to it in order to make it appetizing. The restaurant itself was very well decorated with a nice dimly lit intimate vibe. The service was very upbeat and friendly, but I have to deduct stars for the food. For the price point I was expecting exceptional food, but what I received was pretty average at best.
(3)Michael B.
Horrible experience and the food was anything but good. We walked in to this promising restaurant and the greater or closest waiter was on his phone rather than paying attention to the customers. After a lady barked at him in Italian he merely looked up at us and a young waitress came to service. She was great to us considering. We had a great advisor of the wines but then the food. I ordered veal as did my wife. The veal I ordered was breaded in a tasteless egg basted breading. The dish had spaghetti bolognese as a side which tasted like it came out of a chef boy R D can. I give it a 1 star based on it was bland and the worst I had ever had. My wife's was in a lemon sauce and came to the table not even warm. She sent it back and after 10 minutes it was steaming and rubbery as we believe they had microwaved it. We did not eat our meals, paid for the wine and ate elsewhere.
(1)Nick B.
Nice spot for a date night. Food is good - not unbelievable, but good. Prices are inflated but it's St. Armand's, so get used to it. Lasagna is great. Pizza is good, enough for two people but not if you're starving.
(4)Sydney S.
Not the least bit impressed. Would not return. Both of our meals lacked seasoning resulting in both meals (which were totally different) tasting relatively alike. The one pleasantly of the evening was the waitstaff.
(2)Tiffany E.
Should have looked at the yelp review before eating here- Opps I see we are not the only ones who had a bad dining experience here. The menu looked great when we sat down and our waitress was very friendly when she took our order. The issue was that we never saw her again. We needed another drink and she was nowhere to be found. We asked another server that we had not seen our waitress and they got our drink for us but did not look concerned. Food runners delivered our food but still no waitress. My husband wanted another glass of wine and had to ask two people and still no waitress. For an upscale restaurant should have had more attentive service. This seemed normal for the restaurant- They work as a team I believe, helping each other out. In many establishments, this system works but you need to have more staff layered in to check on tables needs so they don't feel stranded and neglected like we did. The food was very good but the service was so bad that it was disruptive to enjoying the meal. There are too many other good Italian restaurants in the area. Will never be back.
(2)Matt D.
Had dinner here last night with my girlfriend since we are around the area on vacation. By looking through Yelp it looked like this is the area for some good date night food. This is a nice upscale area where you are paying for the location so be ready to spend a little more for your food. Also it looked like all the other restaurants had a long wait and we were very hungry. Some of the food was good and other food was not so good. I got the shrimp cocktail for an appetizer with their very own creamy cocktail sauce. Shrimp was not that great for being close to the ocean and the sauce tasted like nothing but mayo. For entree I had the homemade lasagna and the girlfriend had the spaghetti. Both were very good and had good flavor. I would eat here again but wouldn't travel out of my way for it.
(3)Brenda R.
I should have read the other, apt reviews: overpriced and meager entrees. 3 arguing owners. One of our sons was sick within minutes of leaving, and having had their bacon shrimp. I had the eggplant parmesan: one slice of eggplant, and 2 large spoonfuls of pasta and unremarkable sauce. The caesar salad was some lettuce, packaged croutons, and, if you can believe this, a salad dressing. The price for 4 people, for extremely small entrees, one wine, no dessert: $125. PASS!
(1)Stephanie V.
Those that gave more than 2 stars don't know good italian food. We came here for lunch since we were in the mood for italian. Big mistake. I ordered the cannoloni. It was not great, but edible. My husband ordered the chicken parm sub. I felt so bad for him. I came and was on a flatbread. You could not pick it up. It was a soggy mess. Italians use nice crusty bread not a flatbread. Lunch was $35 just for that and water.
(2)James E.
My glass of prosecco arrived flat as a board, not a single bubble. Food was average. Total bill was shockingly high.
(2)Catherine H.
We recently received a gift certificate for this restaurant. My husband and I ate there on a Monday evening. We were immediately greeted and seated. The young lady was also our waitress. Teressa (sp), was excellent. She was very efficient and courteous. Our meals were delicious. We ordered from the specials of the day. I indulged in the dessert. The decor was beautiful. It was a wonderful dining experience.
(5)Deke K.
I enjoyed a fine Italian dining experience here, sitting in the raised outdoor balcony beneath tiny white lights. I ordered the cheapest pasta dish on the menu at $17.95, penne alla sargento. I was told the flour is imported and different from what we are used to, all made daily in house. I found the noodle very "chewy" perhaps thicker and chewier than I am accustomed with store-bought noodles. It arrived hot in a sauce of tomato, olives, eggplant cubes and mozzarella bits. It was well-seasoned and a great meal. A sommelier came to ask if he could help pair a wine with my dish. I'd already decided on an Argentinian Sangiovese. Most glasses of wine on St. Armand's are $9 or $10 a glass, a tough pill to swallow. The roll was also homemade and delicious. I had a difficult time keeping a waitress coming to me at the right times. Long wait to order, long wait for meal to arrive, no one to refill water glass, where the heck is my check, etc. So the "4" is generous for an elegant dish.
(4)Gail L.
The outside seating was lovely and the staff was very attentive to our table. I ordered the salad with prosciutto and artichokes which was delicious. The reason for the drop in star is because of the pizza. I was expecting real italian pizza with thin crust cooked at very high temperatures because I had read reviews about how authentic it was. The pizza wasn't like the thin authentic italian pizza one would order in Italy. I would go back, but I wouldn't order the pizza.
(4)Brian S.
Nice restaurant spot with outdoor seating, but way to expensive with cold food. We were walking around and almost every place was packed. This place wasn't. They had nice tables outside so we decided to try it for lunch. There was no lunch menu. Everything was $20 and up. They had pizza's for about $19 each. We asked the waiter if he thought we could split one. He said there were personal size and to small. They were big. Way more then one person would eat and I am a pretty big guy. I got the feeling they were trying to inflate the bill. I can get over that if it was good food. I hate reading reviews were people go into a nice restaurant and order a burger and say it wasn't good. I don't think I am doing that here. It was just crappy, cold, and had a fancy name for the topping ( or lack of one). Try some place else. If you doubt what I say read my other reviews. I am usually very easy with the stars.
(1)Matthew G.
Authentic, old school Italian joint. The kind of place that's been there forever, the one like you went to on vacation in 1973 and is still there - same menu but a nice, new, modern-trattoria feel. The gnocchi was the best I have ever had. Get it instead of the regular entree side of pasta for an up-charge, you deserve it. It's a place I will come to again whenever I'm in Sarasota. The tomato gravy would be great on a flip-flop.
(5)Marc L.
Ate here on Christmas night, one of the few good restaurants open in Sarasota on Christmas. Ate here in a party of 9, and service was excellent, as was the food. I had pasta in tomato/egglplant/olive sauce (excellent), two of us had eggplant parmesan, one had gnocchi in cream/cheese sauce, one had ravioli in marinara sauce, one had grouper. All food was excellent. Good wine selection, we had a Dolcetto d'Alba which was great with the food. I gave this a 4 rather than a 5 because I didn't find the food to be highly imaginative, just very tasty and delicious. I see the comment from Albert P using words such as silly, pretentious, dungeon, expensive, so-so, indelicately prepared, overcooked. I simply disagree with these observations/opinions. My family has been dining here for years and has never been disappointed. I would say that the place is slightly expensive for the food quality. The food quality, however, is quite good.
(4)Wendy G.
Basic Italian. Good but not great. It felt like the kind of place that has gotten very comfortable with themselves and that the customer is not the primary goal. Our server while very kind was less than competent. Great service and so-so food can go a long way but so-so- service and so-so food does not make one want to return. This is a one time kind of restaurant. :-(
(3)Albert P.
This is a silly, expensive, and pretentious place on St. Armand's Circle. Sit outside if you can, since the inside is a dark dungeon if you're not facing the street. Food was quite expensive and quite so-so -- in general the food was indelicately prepared and overcooked. The best thing were really just the pizza. After coming here, I'm realizing that visitors to Sarasota sure like to spend money, no matter what they get.
(2)Jamie W.
The best Italian restaurant in the Sarasota area. I'll stick by my last review. Ristorante Le Colonne was one of the best Italian restaurants I've been to throughout the US. And, if you've read my other reviews, I don't hand out praise easily especially for Italian. First, the service was exceptional. We had the owner's son. He was informative, had great recommendations and was very polite. His mixed English and Italian added an authentic touch to this restaurant open by a couple from Rome. Our group of four had the freshly made pasta, ravioli, gnocchi and Osso Bucco. Each dish was perfectly prepared, dished and served. And, delicious. The fresh pasta was light and flavorful. Their sauce's we fabulous, too. The house wines were great selections and certainly a value before 7pm. The place was packed inside and out by 9pm on a weeknight. While the overall cost may seem high, it is an excellent value compared to the other restaurants in this high rent district. I can't wait to comeback again! My only negative comment is the shocking short pour espressos which also always arrive cold. They should steam the cup first and then pour doubles. I've never scene such a small espresso before!
(5)Brad C.
Awful service and high high prices. We have been there several times because one f our family likes a certain dish there. Never again though.
(1)Mike B.
The most expensive and underwhelming food we had the week we were in the area. The Ossobuco was bland/flavorless. The Trio Ravioli was so thick we could not distinguish any other flavors than the pasta. The Antipasto was forgettable, and the wine was grossly overpriced... I call this kind of wine a "hotel wine." If you travel much, you know exactly what that means.
(2)leslie o.
Horrible experience. I started with a seafood salad which was the special appetizer. It was bland and tasteless. The server hovered around and attempted to clear my plate every 5minutes. Then the main course arrived. Sea bass in a white wine sauce and a side of gnocchi. It must have been under the heat lamps for 10-15 minutes as it was too hot to eat and had turned to mush. My first and last visit here
(1)Naddy M.
Loved this atmosphere. Loved the service. Loved the food. They had live music, very beautiful violinist. Coming from NYC the prices at this place were very reasonable. I would definitively recommend this place.
(5)Jonathan F.
I have to agree with the rest of the reviews about this restaurant. Main issue is the price/value relationship. Food was nice but not on par with the price point. Service was nice and speedy, contrary to most reviews. I had the gnocchi gorgonzola, the name on the menu is something else, but couldn't taste much gorgonzola in the sauce.
(3)Jack D.
Le Colonne was a fantastic surprise, on a family vacation from Boston and have to say this place was whacked good. All kidding aside the 4 of tried something different, each course was fabulous.
(5)emily F.
Yes, it's off the main drag of St. Armands Circle. No, it's not as busy as The Columbian...don't let this deter you from trying this little gem. The food is authentic and delicious. Freshly made pastas (from scratch), delicious hearty sauce, freshly caught fish (I had Sea Bass), and the BEST ceasar salad. The outdoor seating area is so cute and not crowded. Friendly staff, good service. Don't be afraid to give this place a try - you will not be dissapointed.
(5)Zac C.
Have had excellent food here over the years during my visits to Sarasota. I love their red sauce, which goes with several different dishes. The service isn't the greatest (which is why 4 stars instead of 5), but it isn't terrible either, and I come here almost every trip down to Sarasota and the reason is the food is delicious and moderately priced. Haven't had a bad meal here.
(4)Rick S.
Great food. Friendly staff. My new favorite in St. Armand's Circle. Family run business by real nice people - authentic Italian... it even say's so on Francesca!! What a doll :-)
(5)Bill G.
Fabulous lunch and reasonable prices. Pollo di Ruticana is to die for.
(4)Nicole C.
We stumbled upon this amazement while trying to get dinner at Columbia. We were told there would be a wait time of an hour. We walked down a few streets and went here instead luckily. They had a violinist playing fiddler on the roof soundtracks among other songs exquisitely. The music really set the atmosphere. The lighting inside is very soft and very romantic. The manager came over and spoke Italian and recommended wine. Very good wine selection. The menu is a little overwhelming but don't be afraid to try something new and creative. True Italian. They are very accommodating and made my sister her own special dish off the menu. Service was amazing. The pizza was very good flat new York style. The only downside I can say is the desert selection. Tiramisu, gelato, sorbet and cannoli. They were out of sorbet. So we had gelato. Eggnog, cappuccino, and strawberry flavored. I will tell you this is not gelato it is ice cream. But the very observant waitress noticed we didn't like them and took them off the bill promptly. This place was amazing. Perfect atmosphere. Please do not pass this up!!!
(5)Sara S.
All I have to say is over one hour wait for our food. Food is way over priced too. With meal, a drink , shared appetizers and tip, it came out to $45 per person for mediocre Italian food. The lobster ravioli had only four pieces swimming in bland orange sauce. The server was attentive b/c we were one of the only tables inside and then she disappeared for over half an hour when more tables were seated. I had to chase her down and ask her for refills and an update on our food. There's a woman with hair dyed a shade of red that doesn't exist in nature who may own the place. I swear her face would have cracked if she smiled. She was huffing and puffing with a scowl on her face all night. We only ate here b/c it was the only restaurant with tables open at St. Armands Circle and now I see why. They are lucky they get the spill over of the better restaurants on St. Armands.
(1)rhett t.
Wow, I wanted to like this place. But, other than its place of prominence, it failed to deliver. Again, I ate early with my boy who craved ravioli oh would that be illusionary. My salad was awful. The house made balsamic dressing was cloyingly sweet with no redeeming qualities. And, the mixed greens were loaded with 'shrooms with no advance warning. The bread was ehh. Although it appears that the pasta is made that day, the dough arrives in plastic and the ravioli tasted old. My son ate none of the raviolis con ricotta y spinaci. But I tried them and the filling was fine, sauce competent if uninspiring, but the pasta was cut thick and tasted old. These guys will not be working for Batali anytime soon. The good news was my son liked the pizza and it tasted better than school pizza. But, the wood oven added no flavor and the sauce might rival Costco for mediocrity. There were some redeeming qualities. There were a few great values on the wine list (sassacaia for retail), the service was understandably decent given the wine and the lack of customers, and my son adored the dessert. I kept thinking this was a prime target for kitchen nightmares.
(2)