Nikki’s Greek Cafe — Restaurant in Siesta Key

What a great Italian bistro in Gulf Gate!

Came here for the first time with another couple. Not sure how I found this place but made advance reservations. It’s located in the Gulfgate area in a strip center.

We were warmly greeted when we arrived and promptly seated at one of the 10 tables in the restaurant. Table spacing was good although I could hear the conversation next us pretty easily. The interior is nicely, decorated with the feel of an Italian bistro. There are two waitresses for the 10 tables. As the tables filled up the noise level increased, but never too much to have a conversation at our table.

They have a limited but nice wine selection and we ordered a couple of glasses. No spirits are served here. Prior to dinner they bring out a bread service and like a pickled eggplant that was very good.

Among us, we ordered three appetizers, the tomino wrapped in prosciutto, the mussels and the meatballs (7). Could’ve easily shared the meatballs among four people. The mussels were very plump and cooked perfectly. The tomino could have used a bit more prosciutto.

For my main I ordered the tortellini Bolognese. I wanted to try this after seeing the picture online. It did not disappoint it had excellent flavor and a nice portion.

My partner ordered off the menu meatballs with linguine and a red sauce. She liked it, but liked mine better.

The last dish ordered was a tagliatelle shrimp puttanesca. As a side he opted for the house salad split two ways with it. Another nice prepared dish with a good portion and great flavor.

All the dishes ordered came out hot when they got to our table. The presentation was nice and service was prompt during our meal.

Our waitress was attentive albeit new and still learning some of the intricacies with the menu. We were...

Super underwhelmed at the quality and taste of the dish I had 😔especially bc I go off other people’s reviews so I had high expectations for Tortellino Bistro based on what everyone was saying…. I was going to get the fettuccine carbonara and should have but instead I got the house special which was a lamb dish that was $42 and normally money is nothing but the lamb tasted old, and I cook lamb at least twice a week at home so I know how lamb tastes when it’s fresh or when it’s a couple days past when you should‘ve already cooked it; the lamb also had no flavor so definitely wasn’t seasoned, and the whole dish itself I wouldn’t have paid more than $20 for based on the quality of the food and the flavor/taste. I didn’t even call the restaurant because they couldn’t speak English when I was there and there was only two people there so I just counted it as a loss and marked it as a “no bueno” on my restaurant list ☹️ I absolutely love Italian and I’m from New York so I thought this was going to be exquisite authentic Italian food but disappointed to...

Charming Italian Gem in Gulf Gate – A Must-Visit!

Tucked away in the heart of Gulf Gate in Sarasota, this quaint little Italian restaurant is an absolute treasure. From the moment you walk in, you're treated like family. The owners are not only warm and welcoming, but they're also hands-on in both the kitchen and the dining room, which really adds to the personal touch of the entire experience.

What truly stood out was their willingness to go above and beyond—when I requested a special pasta dish with shrimp and lobster, they happily obliged and delivered a phenomenal meal that wasn’t even on the menu. The seafood was perfectly cooked, the pasta was fresh and al dente, and the flavors were rich without being heavy. You could really taste the love and authenticity in every bite.

It’s the kind of place that makes you want to come back—not just for the food, but for the atmosphere and the people behind it. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a cozy, delicious Italian meal with a...