Casa Dora Italian Cusine & Pizzeria — Restaurant in Jacksonville

Ok. So, let me start off with saying that the last time I went here was in 2012. So, don't necessarily take my experience in account for how service and food is now. But, as an experienced and current server, I have some experience in restaurant service. Any how, my boyfriend and I were walking around downtown Jax and decided to stop and eat dinner early because we were very hungry. Casa Dora was the closest place to us and wet both love Italian food and my he loves pizza (he is 50% Italian). At the time we stopped in, around 3 p.m. they weren't too busy in house. However, it's possible they had multiple delivery orders. I know I'm going on and on, I apologize. So, my whole point is that service was very slow. It took a long time to be seated. A very long time to get our drinks. I was getting upset that they hadn't taken our order, let alone brought our drinks. So, me being hangry, said something to the waitress. And since I'm a waitress I know that what I said could've been a bit nicer. But, I was hangry. Also, though as a waitress I know customers are always right. If you've ever been here, you know that you can see them cook your food from where you sit. Well, the cook dropped our pizza dough on the floor and picked it back up and used it to make our pizza. But, my boyfriend didn't tell me because for one I was so hungry he didn't want me to not eat, and for two he didn't want me to make a scene and embarrass him. I couldn't figure out why he took one bite, gagged and then said he wasn't hungry anymore. Lovely. It took him a couple of weeks to tell me what had happened and when he did, I thought he was breaking up with me the way he started off. Lol. So, there, that's my experience at the house of Dora. Hopefully that was an isolated incident. I will add that the atmosphere is cozy and the food looks delicious and...

A true hidden gem. Absolutely do not judge it by it’s cover!

My husband and I walked here from our hotel, the Hyatt Riverside. It was a Saturday night, 7:30pm, there was no one in the restaurant and Only one man working behind the counter. He motioned to us the “display counter” which had various pizzas and pastas sitting under a heat lamp. I think he preferred if we ordered the food that way, but since we’ve never been here before, we weren’t really sure, and considered leaving…. The man brought us out his menu and we ended up ordering a pizza and veal piccata off the menu.

You could tell this restaurant was popping in the 90,s. The walls are adorned with various autographs from celebrities who stopped in and ate.

Since there was only one man working, the food took a little longer but ABSOLUTELY worth the wait. The veal was amazing and perfectly cooked. The pizza equally as good. We had a glass of wine with our meal, and the bottle tasted fresh and not like it had been open for too long. The man working, who I assume was the owner, was SO friendly. He made the whole experience so enjoyable.

As we enjoyed our meal other various patrons, some regulars, and some not, came and went. All ordered off the “display counter” so I can only assume the food there is equally as amazing as the food we got off menu. He was also preparing to host a dance recital reception starting at 9pm, and the hosts came in to confirm and sounded so excited to be eating there later. I have a feeling my husband and I will be back for more before the end of our vacation .

Do not pass this joint up just by the looks of it, or just because the service is slow. You won’t be...

My sister and I went in October 2023 as we were in Jacksonville for Matt Rife. We found this cute little Italian place and decided to try it out. Let me tell you, Angie, Freddie, and Sal make you feel right at home. They welcome you in like family and treat you like it. They were so sweet to us and the food was PHENOMENAL. They have THE BEST pizza I have ever had. You have no idea what wine you’ll like? Don’t worry, Freddie has got you. We told him what we were in the mood for and he killed his wine selection EVERYTIME. I also had the Chicken Tortellini and it was DIVINE. My sister and I were trying to figure out how to take some food home with us 6 hours away!!! We came back the second day of our trip because we were craving it and they remembered us! Angie told us she was having a bad day and wanted to see a familiar face. We LOVE Angie. We were trying to figure out how we were going to carry our food and bottles of wine while we were using some rentable electric scooters and Angie went above and beyond the call of duty. She went out to her car parked outside to see if she had anything that was big and would stabilize the food and wine for our scooter trip back! Freddie also gave us garlic bread on the house so we could try it!!… needless to say, we got some for us to have in our hotel room. If you go to Jacksonville, you HAVE to go here to this wonderful, sweet spot. It is a MUST and you...