Great Italian food needed
 

I love Mom and Dad's in Lady Lake. The food is great and it's always busy. I will report, though, that some on here have given the place some bad reviews. I've yet to have a bad meal there, but hey, I guess if they don't go, it's less crowded for the rest of us that love it!

ALSO: Although it is a chain, everyone always has great things to say about Carrabbas.

Based on several visits with small and large groups, I've got to go with Little Joey's.

Although it is a chain, I still love Carraba's. The pasta weezie is my favorite.

Sorry-there is none! I am a retired Italian Chef-nothing here is authentic nor good! The places do not realize "Less is more" & put so much junk & garlic in the food (which they do NOT do in Italy!) that most of it is barely edible! My husband will not even go out for Italian here - he only eats it at home. The best homemade ravioli are at Mom & Dad's in Lady Lake. The second best are at Bellview Pizza (cash only place) in Bellview - as is their thin crust pizza. Other than those couple of items, you need to go all the way to Naples Florida (Campiello) or a really large city!

I'm a retired Italian food eater and I disagree that nothing here is good.

alicehelen: Acosta me. I agree somewhat. Giovanni's the owner orignated from Naples isn't bad. But frakly I stay away from Italian restaurants around here because I always walk away wanting.

The problem is too many people view Italian cooking as simply using Italian ingredients. What they don't understand is that Italian cooking is more about attitude. You are correct when you say less is more. I was very fortunate to have an Italian mother and father both of whom could cook up a storm from scratch.


Ciao, Ciao, Ciao

Before anyone mentions the Olive Garden my good Italian friend Pasquale Pizzaferrato says "a true Italian wouldn't be caught dead at the Olive Garden." I do like the salad and breadsticks there though.

We have tried Angelo's on 441, south of Leesburg, and have been satisfied with their Italian dishes.

We also liked Angelo's. Food is good, not great, service is good and the restaurant is lovely

Good Job!!!!!!!!!
 

Yup, Mesa de Notte is very good. Been there many times.

Skip1

I eat Italian food only at home
All the restaurants here are lacking

I like Olive Garden. Never been disappointed with the food.

I have tried Little Joey, Carraba, Mom and Dads and still like Olive Garden.

Augustines was the best but they left the Villages many years ago.

Z

Try Ocala!

Italian
 

Little Italy of Inverness, open as deli for lunch, great dinners

I caught this thread late and can't believe no one has mentioned Bellevue Pizza yet. It's on 441 just north of the intersection of 441/301. It's true, good Italian food is scarce around here, but Bellevue is very good. They have a full menu with different size portions available.

And here's a tip if you don't like to wait: show up between 1:30 for a late lunch, or no later than 5:00 for early dinner.

We are going to pasta fair in bellview today. Have been there and food has been very good.

For our group birthday celebrations, we have been going to a little place over in the Inverness Regional Shopping Center, near the K-Mart. Owner-chef Luigi has been very accommodating. The staff is friendly. The fried calamari and the cannoli are the best. Not a full bar, just wine and beer. Not expensive.

Chefs of Napoli II
1546 Highway 41 North
Inverness, FL
(352) 419-6554

I like Pasta Faire. Great pasta dishes.

Any reports on Red Sauce, good or bad, at Lake Sumter Landing?

Vic Embers in Leesburg. Awesome!

Sorry, one of the worst.

No one has mentioned Naples in Leesburg. What's the opinion on them?

Go west to Inverness and try Enrico's and Chefs of Napoli. Both quite good. Enrico, in particular, quite authentic. Also in Inverness, Little Italy Deli has fixed price, multi-course meals on the weekends by reservation only. Great authentic Italian fare and super service from the Italian owners. No one leaves disappointed.

Wow!!!!!!!!
 

Found this in the Leesburg Daily Commercial:

Italian restaurant coming to Brownwood
Posted: Monday, May 20, 2013 9:00 am | Updated: 4:15 pm, Wed May 22, 2013.

An Italian restaurant will become the fifth eatery planning to call the new Brownwood Paddock Square Mall home.

Orlando-based Micholi Inc. will be opening Ricciardi’s Italian Table and Wine Bar later this year. The full-service restaurant will pay partial homage to the historic Michigan eatery, Ricciardi’s Italian Restaurant, and its backers allowed social media fans to pick the name. Micholi executives had narrowed the choices to two: Ricciardi’s Italian Table and Wine Bar and Ricciardi’s Wine Bar and Tra ttoria, before turning the final vote over to Facebook and Twitter fans.

“What better way to get the community excited about our opening than including them in such an important decision,” said Joe Liguori, president of Micholi Inc. and owner of Pizzeria Valdiano in Orlando. “We are thrilled to incorporate the Ricciardi name into the new restaurant.”

The City Fire American Oven and Bar was the first restaurant to open in Brownwood and soon will be joined by Five Guy’s Hamburgers, World of Beer and Gator’s Dockside. According to The Villages Gourmet Club, a Too Jays Original Gourmet Deli might be headed to Brownwood, too, making six eateries total.

Great to know - thanks!

My wife and I enjoy Riccardo's. It is located on 441, just north of the Marion Market. It is in a strip mall just past Big Al's Barber Shop. The food is delicious. Riccardo's is a mom and pop place with an excellant menu. The pizza is also pretty good.

We really like Pizzeria Valdiano in Orlando. Just went there today and found out about the new TV location. I hope they have pizza takeout and not just table service. It's a NY style (not exactly so don't get all over me!) pizza with great chocolate cannoli's also!

Wow ! So many oinions, and that's great. After all is said and done, it comes down to personal taste. What the patron expects the meal to deliver. Growing up in an italian family, I was taught to believe that italian food will let you identify the ingredients involved. That in how you appreciate the presentation. Mom and Dads has not dissapointed me. Some better italian waitstaff will even ask you of your preferences, agreeing that you know what you expect. So, sit back, be patient and enjoy your meal.

We ate there often when we lived in Baldwin Park. Joe uses a lot of his mothers recipes for sauces and tiramisu. His pizza wins awards for best in Orlando.
His new place in Brownwood will use the name Riccardis from Torch Lake across from the original Brownwood Acres in MI.

A family owned place will be opening in Brownwood in the Fall

Italian restaurant.....very very good...
 

We are from NY and have tried most of the 'Italian' restaurants and or pizzerias in the Villages with great disappointment. Naples restaurant and pizzeria in Leesburg is just like NY pizza and the food is outrageous. He even will make Sicilian pie. I highly recommend this place.

Pasta Faire in Bellview is great and reasonably priced.
Napoli II in Tavares is also authentic

Pasta Faire is really good !

Naples Italian restaurant and pizzeria......coming from an Italian from NY...best pizza and Italian food around. Located in Leesberg about 15 minutes from The Villages. Worth the trip.

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

:loco:

I gotta agree with you there!

Well now. The fact that you are a professional chef explains a lot.

We have a bunch of untrained palates here in The Villages. I had my first homemade Italian dish when I moved here.

But then, there are other things that are cultured about a lot of us.

Are you from the East Coast?