Trattoria Bella Napoli — Restaurant in Sarasota

Mamma mia! Perfetto! Bellissimo! Absolutely delicious! I only wish we had discovered this restaurant before our last day of vacation. It reminded me of the best Italian spots in Moscow — and, of course, in Italy itself!

This is a truly authentic Neapolitan restaurant with warm, welcoming service and homemade dishes that taste like they came straight from a family kitchen in Naples. A real gem that will brighten your stay in sunny Florida.

Let’s start with the bread. Oh, the bread! It’s sourdough, served complimentary with a delicate eggplant appetizer — no need to order it. The crust is perfectly crisp, the inside soft and airy… just perfect!

Now, the sautéed mussels and clams — incredible. The garlic bread and the sauce in this dish go together like the Bay of Naples and a mandolin song — beautiful, timeless, and deeply Italian.

The white bean soup was a surprise. My teenage daughter, who is usually picky, finished the whole bowl — that alone speaks volumes.

And the pizza… wow. You have to try it, especially the ones with white sauce. I recommend the potato and sausage pizza for those who enjoy new flavors. The dough is soft, homemade — absolutely delicious. I honestly don’t think there are many places in the U.S. that serve pizza this good.

The pistachio pasta (rigatoni in pistachio cream sauce) was something I’d never seen on a menu before. Creamy, rich, topped with crushed pistachios — so flavorful, nothing extra, just the right balance.

In fact, that’s what I appreciated most — every dish felt thoughtfully composed. No clashing flavors, nothing out of place. Everything worked in harmony.

Our whole family truly enjoyed this dinner. Highly...

Trattoria Bella Napoli exudes warmth and rustic charm from the moment you step through its doors. The intimate atmosphere makes it perfect for both romantic dinners and casual gatherings with friends. The menu is a celebration of classic Neapolitan-Italian cuisine, with a focus on fresh, high-quality ingredients.

Antipasti: We started with Tagliere Misto, a platter bursting with a variety of cured meats, cheeses, fig jam, and gnocco fritto.

Pizza: A special request was the Provola e pepe pizza, with a light, airy crust topped with smoked mozzarella, tangy tomato sauce, basil and fresh cracked black pepper. Simple yet utterly satisfying, it showcased the quality of the ingredients.

Pasta: For the main course, we opted for the Paccheri Genovese, a slow cooked white ragù made with beef, onions, carrots, and celery served over wide, hand-cut paccheri. The pasta was perfectly al dente, and the sauce was deep and flavorful without being overwhelming.

Dolci: We finished with Delizia al limone, a lemon-essence sponge cake filled with zesty lemon cream and topped with a light lemon glaze which was decadently creamy with just the right balance of lemon flavor. The texture was smooth without being too heavy.

Overall: Trattoria Bella Napoli delivers on all fronts—authentic, flavorful food, warm hospitality, and a welcoming atmosphere. Whether you’re a die-hard Italian food lover or just looking for a memorable dining experience, this restaurant is sure to impress. It’s a wonderful spot to unwind and indulge in some of the finest Neapolitan-Italian cuisine...

Found this restaurant based on great reviews and had high expectations. The food took a long time especially considering that we placed the entire order at once. We enjoyed the Pizza Carpaccio. The pear salad was good but I wish it came with dressing. After waiting about 45min for the food, we waited another 10-15min to get some oil and vinegar for the salad. The plain pasta with no sauce that our little one ordered was supposed to be linguine but she got rigatoni. Glad she was hungry and didn’t make a big deal. As the menu had no side or kids pasta listed we got charged $19.99 for a portion of plain pasta that wasn’t even filling for a small child. Our waiter was either super busy or kept forgetting about us. Asked for a side of bread - that never came. No water refills either. After ordering dessert, 10min later we got the check, then another 10min later got the cheesecake. For a sit down restaurant that charges $20 for plain pasta this type of service is definitely not what one should expect. On the bright side - their cheesecake, was one of the best one we had in recent years! The worst part was the proximity of our table to the weed shop. It was so close to it that each time someone walked in or out we could smell it. The hostess was very polite but as it was busy, she could...