Poppy's Italiano — Restaurant in Florida

This review is for the location on RT 210 in Saint Johns. Sadly, there is no way to review this particular location.

Upon entering restaurant, you are greeted by a warm, pleasant Italianesque atmosphere. There is a small inviting bar area, with several high-top tables, outside dining, and a main dining room.

The main dining room is both cozy while still affording ample seating. The perimeter is outlined in booths, while the interior of the room contains tables. Each table is adorned with salt, pepper, Parmesan cheese, red pepper, and Poppy's branded, interlocking glass bottles filled to the brim with oil and vinegar.

Walls are faux brick featuring wine bottles displayed vertically among vibrant oil paintings depicting old world scenery. The room is dimly lit making for a pleasant atmosphere when paired with the soft sounds of classical Italian music.

Although I would have preferred a full-sized menu, the paper menu bursts with color offering multiple, well-arranged panels of featuring traditional Italian fare.

Our waiter arrived promptly- within 30 seconds of us having taken our seats. He brought with him a tall, cool carafe of water and wasted no time pouring it for us.

For our first visit, the soup de jure was Italian Wedding Soup. All soups are available in one size only. The soup arrived hot and was seasoned well with an overabundance of fresh vegetables and small, tasty meatballs.

Proper plating and presentation is at the forefront of the Poppy's experience. All of the food we ordered was well garnished, plated on dishes sized in proportion to the food being served with an overall score of 9/10 for presentation.

Two types of bread are offered- garlic bread and ciabatta. The garlic bread is more akin to an oversized roll served over olive oil. You may find it best to enjoy this with a knife and fork lest you find yourselves with oil-soaked hands.

The ciabatta bread is served warm with foiled butter packets, something that I find highly out of place, and off putting. For an establishment that places so much emphasis on guest experience, taste, and presentation, foiled butter packets are something you'd expect from a cheap diner. A small ramekin of soft, whipped butter would be more at home here, and would take the bread serving to an entirely different level.

The house salad arrived served deliciously cold. The vegetables were so fresh, you'd be forgiven for assuming they were grown and harvested from a garden in the kitchen. Fresh lettuce, tomato, and onion were amazingly crisp. This salad, albeit simple, was a 10/10 and more than compensated for the peasant butter packets.

So far, we have visited this establishment twice, wish service being better the first time, but not terrible the second. The food was very good both times.

Another point of contention was the paper napkins. With an atmosphere, food, and presentation of this caliber, one would expect cloth napkins. I would cheerfully pay upwards of 20 percent more provided Poppy's had "real" menus, whipped butter, and cloth napkins. It is only these three items that feel grossly out of place within a restaurant that has gone the extra mile in every other area.

On our second visit, our waitress failed to remove the empty salad bowls from our table. They were still there, up to, and including, after we completed our entire meal-- this despite it not being busy.

All-in-all, Poppy's has not failed to deliver. Excellent food, inviting atmosphere, and beautiful presentation and plating make Poppy's a soon to be favorite that should not disappoint.

We look forward to this Poppy's location opening on Rt. 210 in Saint Johns, where we are confident it will reign supreme when compared to other...

During my recent visit to Poppy's Italiano, I experienced an authentic taste of Italy that left me thoroughly impressed. The restaurant's cozy, rustic decor and friendly atmosphere made it a perfect setting for a relaxed evening out.

I started my meal with the Bruschetta, which was a fantastic choice. The fresh tomatoes, basil, and garlic atop crispy, toasted bread drizzled with balsamic glaze created a perfect symphony of flavors. It was light, refreshing, and the ideal way to kick off the evening.

For the main course, I couldn't resist the Lasagna, which came highly recommended. It was everything I hoped for and more, with layers of rich, flavorful meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and perfectly cooked pasta, all topped with melted mozzarella. Every bite was comforting and delicious, reminiscent of a homemade meal.

I also tried the Chicken Parmesan, which was equally impressive. The chicken was tender and juicy, with a crispy breaded coating, smothered in marinara sauce and topped with gooey mozzarella cheese. Served with a side of al dente spaghetti, it was a hearty and satisfying dish.

To finish the meal, I indulged in the Tiramisu. The layers of coffee-soaked ladyfingers and creamy mascarpone were perfectly balanced, creating a dessert that was both rich and light. It was the perfect end to a delightful meal.

The service at Poppy's Italiano was exceptional, with attentive and friendly staff who made sure I had everything I needed. Overall, my visit to Poppy's Italiano was a wonderful dining experience, and I can't wait to return to explore more of their delicious menu. If you're in Jacksonville and looking for authentic Italian cuisine, Poppy's Italiano is definitely...

My wife and I ended up here since our favorite Italian restaurant was closed on Sundays and we really wanted Italian for Valentine's Day. The meal started out fine. The bread was fresh with garlic and olive oil, very delicious. The salad came out and it was also very delicious. However everything that happened afterwards was unfortunately not good.

First of all, we waited for over an hour before our meals came out. Mind you the place wasn't even close to being packed as the majority of the floor was vacant. I had ordered the veal parmesan and my wife got baked rigatoni.

When it finally arrived, my wife's meal didn't look like it was baked at all and the plate was cold. She took maybe 3 bites and was unable to eat anymore due to the marinara sauce. The acidity of the marinara sauce was so high it burnt her lips and tongue and made us wonder if it was even cooked at all or thrown together on the plate and in a microwave just to get it out to us since we had been waiting so long.

My meal definitely seemed like it had been reheated in a microwave as the edges of the veal was dry and hard while the interior was lukewarm. The marinara on my spaghetti was disappointing as well as I could taste the acid in the sauce too.

Overall, I loved the bread and salad and many of the appetizers I saw being brought out looked and smelled good. We probably won't ever go back though as the meal itself was lacking in so many ways it was definitely not worth the expense and neither of us see a point in going back. I realize this place is pretty beloved by most around town, however the impression we got today was definitely not in line with...