The Italian Fisherman — Restaurant in Grant-Valkaria

Where do I start? The Italian Fisherman is NOT "just a restaurant". It's an experience. Many many people come in curious hungry strangers... and leave feeling like family. Some people just have that way about them where they can make anybody feel comfortable and cared for. Dave has that ability in abundance .. and makes it seem so effortless. It's not fake or a ploy for business. He just genuinely cares. In fact, everyone that works there is this way too. They genuinely care. So first and foremost you will be welcome and comfortable. Now let's talk about the rest! The entertainment is on point, live music by some really great local musicians. But that's not all, Dave does his best to fill any free time mingling with the tables, getting to know the new guest or "first timers". Visiting with the many many regulars or "V.I.P.s" who come as often as possible. He shows off his magic and card skills to a thrilled, packed room left scratching their heads and softly saying.."how did he do that?". Next the atmosphere... totally chill. Dress however you want. Seats are comfy, plenty of room (even when sold out). Mobster movies on the tv set the vibe, cool memorabilia on the walls (some donated by regulars), Fishing paraphernaila hanging from the ceiling. Other cool touches like the boat shaped bar. Even the porch area has a fence with fish shapes carved in between each section. Lots of care and details went into this place. You can see it everywhere you look. Now for the food. Italian, who doesn't love Italian?? Am I right? Especially when it's good. And this...IS GOOD! The food never disappoints. Some favorites are the eggplant parm, the pasta, the mussels, the bruschetta, the rice ball..oh the rice ball.... there's also an amazing fish in an egg batter that has to be tried (even for non fish eaters... they may just love this!). Oh I can't forget the desserts! The food just keeps coming... and coming... and coming.. you get the point. If you leave the Italian Fisherman hungry, then you are doing something WRONG! And the food is ALL prepared by one talented man named Ricky. This place LITERALLY checks every box. But, don't take my word for it. Go make that reservation and find out for yourself! Find out why we drive 45 minutes...

You know what it's like? You ever have a musician that you follow, that you've liked your whole life? And then they're on the back half of their career, and they show up on the upcoming events list in your town's entertainment venue, and you're like, "Wow, that's only a 2,000-seater, how bad is it for them that they're playing my town?" And then you go see them for like 30 dollars and it's better than when they were playing arenas? Why? Intimacy.

This town is blessed with good food, but part of why you go out is to have an experience. A lot of places you go, you can't hear your own company right across the table from you, they have some manager thinking they're genius by sacrificing the front line workers to pinch pennies, having on or two servers tagging a dozen tables at once, and it's supposed to be this special thing and you realize you didn't enjoy any aspect of it. The food you weren't paying attention to, the friends and family you couldn't pay attention to. And the other people or this week's newhire or some other random thing causing you stress.

Here? The ambiance is very specific, but perfectly fine. The live music isn't just a rando blending into the background but a real live person setting a mood and EXTREMELY talented. The food demands your attention and you're gonna recoil in appreciation of how dang good it is. And you'll have a good time not just with the people you came with, but everyone else that's in this big, joyful, hilarious warm boat with you, regaled with stories and jokes.

It's ironic that the the owner is a sleight of hand expert with his cards because everything about the meal and the vibes is authentic, generous, and surprisingly affordable. It's APPROPRIATE that he's a sleight of hand expert because the truism about that talent applies to eating here -- the magic is a better experience when it's happening to you personally.

Do not miss a chance to eat here. You aren't getting this anywhere else in town. Or in any town in the...

This restaurant is a perfect blend of not taking themselves to seriously to food that you’d make at your own table. The owner will come around and do magic tricks. He says he does this for entertainment which it definitely is but I also think it’s to ensue his guests are having a good time. Instead of simply walking up to the table like other restaurant owner/managers would do he is doing it in an inviting and entertaining way while also making sure his guests are comfortable and happy. This place is only by reservation either at 430pm or 645pm. There is no menu so the food you get is what they have that day. You get plenty of food and take plenty home with you as well. They will come around before the food starts to come out and ask about food restrictions or allergies. They will also take this time to ask you if you’re there for a special occasion like a birthday. You can order drinks like alcohol and cola and tea and they will swiftly come to your table to refill, just raise your glass when you’re ready. Apps come first each table get an average of 7 different apps larger tables get larger portions but all tables get the same amount of app. This rule continues to the other courses. It took us about an hour to eat the apps and they even come around before your done with the apps to ask you if your want to go containers. Then there’s the main and finally the dessert. We took 4 different to go containers but we enjoyed every course that came out. The owner also does a lot for the community by either helping to get donations for those in need to giving free dinners to our service members and first responders alike. Restaurants are not new to the owner he told us that he’s started 70 plus different restaurants perfected them and then sold them. At the end of the day this place is more than a restaurant it provides a service to the community while ensuring its customers...