Corelli’s Pantry Italian Market & Pizza — Restaurant in Clermont

We couldn't even get service,....... Yup that's right. Today, May7 2021, my cousin ( visiting from Cleveland, Ohio) and her daughter came up from Valrico, we came down from Grand Island, to have lunch and visit. I had chosen Corelli's. after viewing their well made and enticing website. I had even called to confirm the type of service they had ( full restaurant vs. Deli and carryout only, if they were very busy at lunchtime, which he said they weren't. ( Now I know why.) So we arrive. Great looking exterior, I was really looking forward to a new "favorite spot". We walk in, the front is a deli counter,..awesome....my husband was looking forward to taking some treasures home. We stopped at the counter. Waiting for someone to direct us, no one looked up from their service to the few customers in there. I saw the entrance to the dining room, and since we didn't see any "wait for Hostess" sign, we went ahead in to the dining room, which was empty and choose a table. Apparently as my husband was walking into the dining room he heard the gentleman behind the counter say, " well they can sit there all day, but they're not getting any service".

He picked the wrong person, If he thought he could act so rude and we would put up with it. My husband said, I'm sorry, we didn't see a sign,...his response.."we don't have one". It all went downhill from there. I hope this guy wasn't an owner, because he was so rude. He just expected that we should know to wait to be seated. I am sure that you and I have been to enough restaurants that say seat yourself or wait for hostess.....and if there is NO sign.....and NO one acknowledges you...I think,...seat yourself. We ended up going across the street, and the food was good, but, I personally was very let down about our lunch plans. It's hard for me to try something new, but, their self accolades convinced me this was going to be enjoyable. Sad to say reality smacked us...

This was an impromptu stop to purchase a hard to find bottle of Fiuggi Italian spring water. I was immediately pleased to use the onsite parking rather than searching for a curbside space in downtown Clermont. From the moment stepped inside, I loved the atmosphere of Corelli's. Small, in a European way, with a fresh meat and cheese deli case right in front of you, shelves of imported and California wines scattered around the perimeter, and a friendly banter among the staff. I could tell by the willing assistance I got from a woman stocking a grocery shelf that Corelli's Pantry could be one of the rare finds I stumble upon.

After I snagged my water (and a bag of Orecchiette pasta I could not find elsewhere), I decided to try their lunch special of 2 pizza slices with a drink for $7. Adding a topping beyond cheese was a nominal $.50 per slice. I sat in their dining room in back, observing wall decor of Italy and other things I don't exactly recall--but it added to the intimate appeal and warmth.

The slices arrived to my table in about 5 minutes. These were massive slices, absolutely loaded with the bacon topping I requested! The crust was thin and void of any excess oil that so often drips from pizza. The crust had just enough "chew" to verify its handmade origin. The sauce was good, if not distinct, and the lunch was entirely enough for one large, hungry man.

When I return, I will try the pizza with the house recipe Italian sausage. The menu calls it out as something special, and really, that is why I dine! They also offer Italian food catering service in Clermont and beyond—I did not expect to see that.

This was just my first visit, but Corelli's may very well have the best pizza in Clermont, or even...

Heard great things about this location so decided to check it out. They close at 8pm, arrived at 7:10pm to place an order for one pizza. Ordered and then sat down and waited for pizza. 30 minutes go by, no pizza. Meanwhile, there is no one else seated in the restaurant. At 7:45, a guy from the back comes by and says that they got backed up because of last minute grub hub and door dash orders and that our pizza should be out shortly. Finally at 7:55pm, our pizza comes out and a different guy says that the pizza was ready earlier, but he tripped and it fell on the floor so he had to remake it. We start eating our pizza and at 8pm, the front door of the building gets locked, and the first guy from the back comes by and tells us that when we are finished, we need to walk to the back of the restaurant, past the kitchen, and exit through the back door to leave. At 8:05, he comes back and asks if we need a to-go box to take the rest of our pizza home. I felt extremely rushed, the workers were breathing down our necks to get us out of there, it was super uncomfortable. People were sweeping around our feet, the workers were blasting music in the kitchen, and banging pots and pans together to the beat of the music. This was an absolute nightmare of my sister and I just trying to hang out and grab a piece of pizza. Absolute hot mess of a place, won’t return. Do better people. Plus side, the...