Iavarone's Steakhouse & Italian Grill — Restaurant in Florida

A Comedy of Errors

So many things went wrong at dinner, it was laughable.

The 3-4 attempts to order our preferred wines were unsuccessful where we finally asked they bring us what they do have. We were happy with what was selected for us but when we tried to order another, they didn’t have enough to pour a 2nd liter. Again, we asked them to bring what they did have and at this point we can only assume it was blend of whatever spits of wine they had left.

While still perusing the menu, we asked for bread. Our table was informed of the restaurant rule. No bread is to be served while the customers have menus. Much like children at school, you can get your toy after you finish your homework.

Cod and Steak was served for dinner. The 34oz Porterhouse was to be shared, after asking for plates we were given saucers to eat off of as if we were sitting for tapas or tea and petite fours. The “house” salad that came with dinner was bare and boasted a bowl of lettuce and 3 olives. The steak was ordered medium and as the menu offers, cut and sliced on request. It arrived well done, carved around the bone, not sliced. After sending it back for doneness, the manager arrived.

After many blunders and apologies, we politely declined the steak and looked forward to the cannoli.

What was in the cannoli shell was indescribable. But if I’m doing my best, I’m going to say it was the piece of chewed up steak that was sent back.

Our party had enough at this point. The manager returned to a table of very disappointed customers and rather than utilizing any managerial skills for challenging situations we were told our bill was going to be paid for by the “nice gentleman at the bar.” I can’t share her name; she told us she didn’t have one. Pitiful.

We came to dine and left having drank what was given, bartering menus for bread, playing rock, paper scissors over who was getting the olives on the salad, watching long asparagus spears roll of our saucer sized dinner plates and pondering the new cannoli stuffing Iavarone's created.

Thanks for the comedy show experience Mr. Nice...

This place has horrible customer service and awful food. Our overall experience was terrible. Once we arrived for our reservation, I decided to sit at a booth so we could watch the NBA playoffs. The hostess said it would be a short wait because they had to clean the table since another party had just left. After twenty minutes, I asked the hostess about the table's status. I was then told the party was still there, and they were just waiting for them to leave to clean. After receiving this conflicting information, I looked at the table myself and saw no party was there. It took another ten minutes before we were seated.

I asked the hostess that seated us if she could put the television next to our table on the NBA playoffs because all the others were playing baseball and hockey. The hostess returned and said they didn't have the premium channel and only had Direct TV. So, I informed her that the NBA playoffs were on a local channel.

Once our waitress arrived, I asked if she could change the television to the NBA playoffs, which we had asked before. The waitress said sure and that she would look into it. However, it wasn't until we received the drinks that we were told, "We must don't have the channel because I asked, and they hadn't changed it." I asked to speak with a manager because I had no interest in eating at an establishment that didn't value its customers. As we waited, the food arrived by the runner, who I asked about the television, and he said he would also talk to the manager to see if they could change the channel. Halfway through our meal, the television was switched to the basketball game. Our waitress later returned and asked if the food was ok as if I had never asked to speak with the manager.

I had the 8oz Filet Mignon, Fettucine Alfredo, and a Caesar salad. The steak was nothing to brag about. The Fettuccine Alfredo was horrible, and the salad was soggy. I have eaten better food from the dining facility while deployed on my tour in Afghanistan. This place should be ashamed to call itself a business, how it treats its customers, and the food...

Ivarone's and I go way back. The family has been in the business since the 40's, Carmine opened this place in the early 80's and his brother Malio who had a place on Dale Mabry moved his place downtown. Carmine is still around but his sons run the place now.

The food has always been great in my 30 plus years as a customer. Diverse is a word that comes to mind and I am not just talking food. From seafood to steaks to pastas and salads, all your bases are covered. The steaks are amazing as is the seafood. They have all your basic pasta dishes that are always on point. The list is endless in it's uses, here are a multitude of ways I have exploited it. Romantic dinners, family visits, out of town guests, lunch sandwiches at the bar, business lunches and dinners, work parties, birthdays, holidays and my favorite...sneaking over for a house salad, the lasagna or a sandwich and a glass of chianti.

While times change, prices change and the menu changes...great food is a constant. The house salad has changed, it's much smaller than I remember and looks different. They should not have changed that. The lasagna is the same, comforting and tasty. The chianti wine is good, on tap now. My favorite shrimp are gone, forgot the name, so I had the calamari. Lightly breaded, perfectly cooked but stingy with the marinara. C'mon guys, really!

Ivarone's has been that trusted and true friend that stands tall in your life with whom you've shared many great experiences. Like having dinner at a table next to Derek Jeter. Many celeb sightings and many cherished memories with friends and family over the years.

This place is a hidden treasure, they stay busy so use reservations for dinner, during the week you can walk in for lunch. They have their own free parking as well as a full bar and a hidden rooftop area for events. Come get you some and find a new place to hang. Pricing is now...