Casa Benedetto's — Restaurant in Florida

Food was pretty good, but too expensive. The pictures make it look like a really nice place but no... it's a tiny cafe style restaurant in the end of a strip mall with a size made more for a quick coffee than a high priced Sicilian/Italian place that wasn't any better than an Olive Garden. Too cramped to be enjoyable and the wait staff, other guests and owners walking back and forth in the little aisle, with only enough room for one person, left them brushing against me, and the breeze they left as they blew by over and over and over, it was annoying. I'm sure my food collected all the dust and dander they left in their wake. I went to wash my hands and when I came out of the bathroom I had to move over and wait out of the way for the rude gentleman that was helping wait tables... Maybe because letting your guest, or a lady, go first must not have been how he was trained or raised. I think it was the owners or son.

I went in around 4 pm and was the only person there for a while. The waitress I had at first must have been fairly new. She was cool, but before I even got my entree she was sent out to go get something from the store for the kitchen. There were no other wait staff available yet so I was left with the rude no personality guy that made me move for him waiting on me. At one point the little old lady running the joint came down the aisle and decided to blow her nose as she passed my table while I was eating my salad, and I felt the wind off it...grrrrr I almost got up and left. Like I mentioned, I was the only one in there and she blew her nose over my food as she walked by. Yuck. I was so disgusted I almost called her out on it too. They had been posting for a job opening multiple times so I wanted to get a real feel of the place, and the food, before I applied. and learned quickly they were a miserable group of people. Not my vibe at all. I ordered the wild mushroom ravioli dish which came with salad and bread. It claimed to be a marsala sauce but it was thick and tasted more like mushroom Alfredo sauce. It was still good and the portion was satisfying. Due to the price and the small location and neg energy of the place, I will not go back. I probably would have tipped better if my original waitress had stayed. To her I apologize but Lurch wasn't getting my money. Never make your patrons move out of the way for you when you are charging over $25 per plate. That's McDonalds behavior. Seems like some local regulars were coming in as I was wrapping up.

I suggest if you want to eat here just be prepared it's small and there's a lot of movement going on and the people aren't happy to be there, which spills over into your food. I left feeling full but not positive. A restaurant is a SERVICE industry position. So save your frowns and misery for when you are on your own time not when you are SERVING the people paying $30 just for a salad...

Ate here today with three other people. The service started out slow and we sat for a lengthy amount of time before the waitress came to take our drink order. The restaurant didnt appear very busy but the waitress made a comment that she was so maybe they dont have alot of staff. I will say that the food was very good. I had the mussels and veal parmesan and I have no complaints. The others had rice balls which they said were delicious, calamari, chicken parmigiana, and a seafood pasta. There were no complaints on the food. The portion of bread for four people was a bit of a joke and we had to wait awhile to get a second order. We sat with dirty plates in front of us for awhile but ...I know the waitress was busy. We are ready to cash out and the owner tells us that the credit card machine is broken and she can only accept cash. Well we are not from here and already walked a distance to get to this place. She proceeds to tell us we have to go to publix down the road a decent walking distance to take money out of an atm. I make a joke because I am pregnant about it being frustrating to have walked here, to have to walk where I came from, walk back, then walk back the same direction again. There was not even an apology. I am not one to demand things taken off my check but this was a bit unacceptable. I had ordered a cheesecake before knowing the machine was broken. The lady could of at least taken that off..so I leave my phone behind as collateral and walk to take money out and pay the 3$ atm fee. I walk back and the owner( at least I believe she was, short black hair) takes my check and doesn't even offer to discount it in the slightest or attempt to apologize. I asked her if she could at least take off the atm fee from the check. She seemed to be offended that I request that but did take the $3 off. I was making change to leave the waitress a tip and I said well I dont want to take it out on the waitress...the owner responded well you should because it's her fault...if you dont know how to use something you ask or it gets broken...I'm sorry but i found that to be unprofessional. I am not one to write reviews but after the customer experience we received I felt compelled to do so. The 4 of us went back and shared the experience with the 45 plus people that are here for a law enforcement conference. They will not be giving this place their business. It's a shame too because their food is...

Wow! I stopped by Casa Benedettos a few months ago on the spur of the moment with a friend. We had a lovely dinner in the middle of the week. It was just really, really enjoyable.

Decided to return tonight with some real foodies to see what they thought as well. I was a little nervous that maybe it wouldn't be as good as last time. So many restaurants are inconsistent here.

I could not have been more wrong. It was just as good as the previous time (thanks to the waiter I made better menu choices though!). Perfectly delicious from start to finish. I had the Penne A La Vodka and my wife had the Zuppa de’ Pesce. I don't like to take too many photos at dinner, but as you can see....they didn't take any shortcuts with the seafood here. Look at all those muscles, and clams and perfectly cooked shrimp! The Penne was just heavenly (probably why everyone else's forks kept going into my bowl!). My friends had the Chicken and the Veal Parmigiana, perfectly breaded, pounded very thin and such a huge portion! There was so much food....perfect for sharing and also for lunch tomorrow!

The quality here has been phenomenal, and the servings are no joke. As the waiter said, if you leave Casa Benedettos hungry, there's something wrong with you!

Christian was our waiter (not sure if that's spelled right). He was just perfect. Very attentive, excellent recommendations, and really fun to talk to! Always present, but never hovering. We've had other servers there that have been equally wonderful.

And the desserts! To die for! I assumed they were made elsewhere and shipped in as they are in so many places. That was a false assumption too! Made right there. Finally an edible cannoli in St Augustine!

It is our new go-to place. When we have out of town guests or just want a quiet, romantic dinner, we will definitely be returning. A really great meal for a really good price (all that delicious home-made food doesn't come cheap, and their prices are extremely reasonable!). And please be patient, enjoy a glass of wine and some conversation while your food cooks! They aren't reheating prepped food in the microwave.

Can't wait to go back, despite being too full to sit down, we still had some food-envy on our way out the door. Please do save room for that cannoli...