La Strega Bistro - DeBary — Restaurant in DeBary

My wife and I had the pleasure of dining at La Strega Bistro in DeBary last night, and I must say, it was a fantastic experience from start to finish. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warmth and hospitality that set the tone for the entire evening.

We started our meal with the octopus carpaccio, a delicate and flavorful appetizer that truly showcased the chef's skill and creativity. Each delicate slice of octopus melted in the mouth, accompanied by vibrant flavors that danced on the palate, leaving us eager for more.

For the main course, we opted for the Massimiliano pizza, a creation that stole the show. Crafted by the owner's son, Adrian, and cooked in a brick oven, this masterpiece boasted a symphony of flavors. The creamy burrata di bufala cheese paired harmoniously with the earthy baby bella mushrooms, while the Prosciutto di Parma added a savory depth. The fresh basil and just the right amount of white truffle oil elevated the pizza to new heights. The burrata, with its luxurious texture, truly took the pizza to another level. Needless to say, we devoured the entire pizza.

What made our experience even more memorable was the impeccable service we received at the bar. Our bartender, Alex, served us ice-cold Peroni in chilled glasses with a friendly demeanor and expert bartending skills, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to our meal. Learning about his journey from Ecuador to Ukraine, and finally to DeBary, was a fascinating glimpse into his life and added a personal touch to our dining experience. His friendly demeanor and skillful bartending truly enhanced our time at La Strega.

We spent a couple of hours playing cribbage at the bar and enjoying the lively atmosphere. To cap off the evening, we indulged in a shot of grappa, a perfect ending to a perfect meal.

In summary, La Strega is more than just a restaurant – it's a culinary gem with a welcoming atmosphere and a team of dedicated professionals who go above and beyond to ensure that every guest leaves with a smile on their face. I can't wait to return and explore more of the menu, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an exceptional dining...

We went here yesterday to celebrate our anniversary. It was a very disappointing experience. We have been here in the past, and we're happy with the food and service. I should have known from the start of service that it wouldn't go well. I ordered an iced tea and they didn't have any, then I ordered pasta with broccoli rabe and sausage and they didn't have broccoli rabe. It was understandable at the time because we had just had a hurricane a week ago, and they probably didn't get their deliveries. They brought out bread and drinks quickly. Our appetizer came out pretty fast also. We ordered the arancini. It was OK, but nothing I would order again. It was doused in sauce. My husband ordered Veal ala Limon for his main course. The veal came, and it was so overcooked and chewy. You couldn't even cut it. It was inedible. They remade it, but it was not much better. My chicken was pretty disappointing also. I ordered chicken Marsala. It was slightly chewy and bland. Definitely not marsala wine in the dish. It was not easy to cut with a butter knife. Definitely not what we had hoped for. The only good part of the meal was the service and drinks, although service seemed to slip a bit after we had an issue with my husband's meal. The owner came by earlier in the evening before we had our meals to see if everything was good, but not after we had an issue with our meal. Little did we know that the restaurant had changed hands since we last visited. It was definitely not for the better. We will not be returning. I would rather have Olive Garden or Carrabas over this place, and I would have saved some money. The server took 20% off of my husband's meal, but I think they could have offered something more. Don't waste your time or money. I have posted a pic of the original veal that came out. They didn't even take it. They left it on the table. Let me also add that there was little to no lemon sauce on the plate either. Not that it would have helped. My husband had also told them that his knife was dirty and they never came to replace it. The 4.8 stars on Yelp have to be from the previous owners. Don't be...

I love food! I love amazingly delicious food! Who knew I would find a fantastic Italian in DeBary.

Chef Aldo is from Napoli and has been in this area for 5 months and prior to that he was in Miami. His English is still very broken but his cooking is out of this world!

Everything we had was fresh. You could taste the fresh tomatoes that were used in the sauce. The greens were crisp the light vinegar and oil over the salad allowed all the vegetables to stand out on their own.

The charcuterie platter was delicious! The sweetness of the figs, the roasted red peppers, the fresh olives (notice the color), cheese and meats was presented beautifully and all worked together.

The service was friendly and attentive.

We actually ate three loaves of the bread! It was warm with crisp crust and soft inside. The herbs in oil were delicious. We needed the bread to enjoy with the charcuterie and our meals.

I knew looking at the menu that it was not a sicilian chef and I was correct. I love seeing different dishes on the menu. It is different from the more Southern Italian restaurants many of us go to. I will have to come back many times in order to try a lot of the menu. It won't take much to twist my arm.

The pasta was made fresh in our meals. The meatballs had good flavor. The tomato sauce was made with fresh tomatoes. It had a nice balance. This was the lunch portion and it came with either a salad or soup.

My lasagna was the best I've had. Fresh sheets of pasta with several different types of meat, sauce and cheese. This was the lunch portion. I loved all the flavors.

The spaghetti with clams was perfect. It was filled with fresh clams, fresh garlic (not overwhelming), white wine and parsley. My brother said it was perfect! He is very critical of Italian restaurants (that comes from our mother being Italian and traveling overseas) and he was very impressed with the restaurant overall.

They have a wood fired pizza oven, a nice wine list and a pleasant dining room.

They close at 3:00 p.m. and reopen for dinner.

Try this restaurant if you want an elevated Italian...