Taverna Toscana — Restaurant in Bradenton

Well where do I even start? We had a 6:45 reservation but we were early. Instead of one of the 4 (yes 4) hostesses directing us to the bar the directed us to sit and wait out in the waiting area. At 6:43 pm I asked how long it would be for our table and I was told 10 more minutes. We were sat prior to the ten minutes but then at the table we were given menus and a specials menu that was only for Thursday (it’s Saturday). When asking the server, Isaiah, about it he apologized and prompt brought us a new specials menu.

We ordered a bottle of wine, Allegrini Amarone, one we’ve had before but here was $180, no big deal but it was higher on the price point on their menu. The server brought what looked like a larger than normal bottle out with a wax seal with a different name on the bottle. He proceeded to open it even after my husband mentioned it wasn’t the one we had ordered. Another employee (female) offered a decanter where she put an aerator in it that was dripping wine from previous use. As fate would have it, the cork broke off in the bottle and the server went to speak to the sommelier. Upon further inspection they realized it was the wrong bottle of wine and brought us the correct one. (Later in the meal it was mentioned the first bottle was from a captain’s list and was $450) but it was never offered for us to keep it. It would’ve been nice at this point to have had the sommelier come to the table to discuss the wine from the same region.

It appears to me that this restaurant is trying to be a fine dining restaurant in an area that doesn’t match its goal. The service from the hostess station set the precedent for the rest of the meal.

We received our appetizers and the meatball was phenomenal! I was impressed with for as big as it was it was cooked all the way through!

The Caesar salad was just ok. Croutons were good! Dressing just eh.

When the main course Came out the ossobuco was impressive to look at but had no real flavor. My husband’s filet was cooked to temperature but again no real Flavor.

The sides were large and plentiful and more than enough to share.

I ate a few bites of my ossobico. But it was pretty dry without the sauce. It was impressive to look at ahead of time though.

We got a dessert menu and lemonchilo wasn’t any option as an after dinner drink until we asked for it and we were asked if we wanted it chilled. Just another added layer of where customer service could’ve prevented frustration.

Dessert was just ok. I ordered a Carmel espresso martini which was good and strawberry cheesecake came on a non chilled plate .

The server seemed to be trying to make up for the wine Incident. He was very kind .

Overall I think they’re trying to be something not: I don’t...

We are excited to finally have a restaurant, in atmosphere, that rivals most of what you find in downtown Sarasota…in downtown Bradenton. The space is lovely. A contemporary design befitting the modern office building it occupies. The restaurant is reached via a plaza attached to the Sunz building. There’s valet parking (the valet was complimentary on our visit, not sure if this will be standard). The terrace bar was not yet open during the VIP soft opening but I suspect it will become very popular. It’s away from the road on the mezzanine level, covered yet very open and airy…a perfect spot to enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail or after work gathering. We’ve dined at several of Chef Viviani’s restaurants in Chicago and the vibe is similar. Energetic. Yes, the restaurant is loud. Not so much from the music, as from the acoustics. Our server had a very soft voice and hearing her was a tad difficult. The cocktail menu is interesting and we tried several while perusing the menu. We ordered quite a few items. Sharing all the dishes amongst the 4 of us. The starters, meatball with ricotta and roasted bone marrow were both good but the marrow was in desperate need of salt. The beet salad was delicious and large enough to share. Our mains were sea bass, osso buco, mushroom truffle pizza with side dishes of Brussels sprouts and truffle Parmesan fries. The osso buco was a large portion on a bed of mashed potatoes, this dish also needed seasoning. The sea bass was overcooked and on the dry side but the cous cous underneath was delicious. Their pizza is Roman style/focaccia was large enough to share. The sprouts and fries you find on so many menus were what you’d expect. Nothing earth shattering but nicely done. We were offered two complimentary desserts that evening (gelato and key lime cheesecake) and both were very good. The wine we ordered was not available. So our server brought a different bottle to the table and said it was similar. It just happened to be $20 more. We went with her recommendation but probably should’ve asked for the wine list to make our own selection. The staff was still learning the ropes and I hope, in time, service will improve. Dishes sat on our table throughout our meal when they should’ve been removed. Utensils that were removed were not replaced. Servers and support staff walking past our table and not checking in on how our food was or if we needed anything. Basic stuff. It didn’t ruin our experience but stands out…when you’re spending $400 for dinner there’s an expectation of service. We will be back to try the pastas and steaks. Welcome to Bradenton,...

Me and my colleague just enjoyed a fantastic lunch at Taverna Toscana! We were immediately and warmly welcomed by the service staff and shown to our seat upon arrival. The decadence we were met with upon arriving is unmatched, and we truly and thoroughly enjoyed our experience at this fantastic restaurant.

Firstly, let's speak about the employees. Each and every one of them was extremely helpful, polite, and knowledgeable about the dishes, and their recommendations for consumption. It was our first time visiting the establishment, so feedback from the wait staff is important when considering the options on the menu. From the ambiance of the individualized light at the table to the continuous attentive servers that made our experience as pleasant as can be, we thank you for your attention to detail, and your attention to us.

Secondly, the food itself was AH-MAZING. We had the Nduja mussels as an appetizer, which was quite plentiful in itself. The portion was quite generous and the freshness of the mussels was paired with the tanginess of the blistered tomatoes, making for a mouthwatering welcome. I enjoyed the roasted chicken fusilloni while my colleague indulged in her truffle mushroom roman pizza, and I continuously had to look up because the aroma from the truffles was so tantalizing that it continuously held my curiosity, until I tasted the entree myself. The pairing was perfect, for the mushrooms were soft and delicious and complimented the tame and creamy cheese. My roasted chicken fusilloni held my attention and my tongue captive because of the tenderness of the chicken itself, which was bathed in the rich velvety white wine cream sauce. The basil was an impressive garnish that made for a beautiful meal.

Thirdly, the drink I enjoyed was a Strawberry Crush mocktail. The tanginess of the strawberry paired very well with the aromatic ginger beer that left a sweetness that was in no way overbearing, but it went quite well with our dishes and offered a bit of a reprieve from the cream.

Everyone that introduced themselves and offered their assistance to us were sweet, patient, and very impressive. We left full, satisfied, and eager to visit for dinner.

Thank you so much for having us, Toscana Taverna! We look forward to spreading the word about our wonderful experience and returning for what will surely be a magical dinner experience. I implore everyone to check out their new lunch options and give them a try...