Villa Sorrento — Restaurant in South Bradenton

I would like to first point on that I was shocked that they charge a $3.00 credit card fee. I wish they would have told me that when I made a reservation because I would have brought cash. The bread and olive oil spices they give you before dinner is fantastic. My meal chicken and broccoli didn't look great, but it was very flavorful but could have used more chicken. I think it had about 5 pieces of small chicken pieces. Not much. The salad could have used more than a drizzle of salad dressing. And the chocolate cake at $6.95 should be retired. It tasted like it was from Cosco, and when I am paying good money and a hefty price for a plate of dessert, I would hope it is homemade or at least taste really fresh and good. I hate when restaurants skimp on desserts and just buy junk at Cosco or the local restaurant wholesaler, if you are going to charge those prices at least offer a fresh, delicious dessert menu like Riverhouse does.They are homemade and fresh, and I walk out of there not being annoyed that I paid a certain price for dessert but I leave happy because it is a good dessert. Ending my meal at Villa Italia Cafe with a terrible, boxed dessert doesn't lead me to want to order that again. This restaurant has good flavors in the meal (I had the chicken and broccoli and my daughter had the Vodka penne-good flavor as well). I think this restaurant is good, but needs a few tweaks to upgrade the food that they serve. Again, great bread and oil dip, full of flavor meal choices, but terrible dessert. And the bruschetta needs an update, something about it just tastes like the house dressing...

So, not a great looking place from the outside and when we got in, again, not too impressive. The waitresses were very attentive and the menu was extensive and varied. We got a small complimentary basket of bread and olive oil which was just enough to whet our appities, very tasty Focctia bread. I ordered the Stromboli Supreme, my wife ordered the Eggplant Parmesan and my sister tried the Veal Piccata.

I'm not sure what they made the Strombolli bread with but it was perfectly done and coated with a fantastic mix of spices. The filling was perfect as well and it was a pleasure to have something so simple and yet so pleasing. The eggplant Parmesan was made from young, sweet eggplant and the sauce pleased my wife, who is fussy sometimes when it comes to sauce. The Veal Piccada, was perfectly done and tasted just wonderful to us. I wish the owners would publish their menu cause all of the popular Italian dishes came with the choice of veal, chicken, shrimp or grouper.

So, to sum it up, if you like good Italian food, you have to make the trip to Palmetto and try Villa Sorrento. The prices are a little on the higher end but...

5-Star Review: Villa Sorrento – Bradenton, FL Submitted by R.D. Hartmann Last night, friends invited us to Villa Sorrento (BYOP) in Bradenton, and it was nothing short of spectacular. From the moment we walked in, Chef Eugenio Rizzo and his incredible service team, Tricia and Lena, made us feel like family. The meal began with appetizers: the fried calamari was solid, but the eggplant was outright excellent—crisp, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned. Then came the mains, and let me be clear: the chicken piccata and veal piccata are hands-down the best I’ve ever had in Florida. Tender, lemony, and perfectly balanced. But the real showstopper? The seafood dishes. Loaded with plump, fresh shrimp, scallops, and mussels, they were over-the-top delicious—a must-order for any seafood lover. Yes, you might drive past this unassuming spot and think twice. Don’t. This is old-school Italian at its absolute finest. Chef Rizzo works magic in the kitchen, and Tricia & Lena deliver service that’s warm, attentive, and genuinely delightful. Villa Sorrento isn’t just a meal—it’s an experience. We’ll be back soon. R.D....