Cafe Gabbiano

Italian restaurant · Siesta Key

Cafe Gabbiano

Italian restaurant · Siesta Key

1

5104 Ocean Blvd, Siesta Key, FL 34242

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Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null
Cafe Gabbiano by null

Highlights

Charming and cozy, this rustic Italian spot serves handmade pasta and delightful wine, with a friendly staff sure to make any occasion special.  

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5104 Ocean Blvd, Siesta Key, FL 34242 Get directions

cafegabbiano.com
@cafe_gabbiano

$30–50 · Menu

Reserve

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5104 Ocean Blvd, Siesta Key, FL 34242 Get directions

+1 941 349 1423
cafegabbiano.com
@cafe_gabbiano
𝕏
@cafegabbianofl

$30–50 · Menu

Reserve

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outdoor seating

Last updated

Mar 7, 2025

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"Homey Italian food, hand-made pasta, private dining, climate-controlled patio." - Travel + Leisure Editors

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Charlie Deakman

Google
Rico our waiter was fantastic. Made us feel right at home and had great taste recommending us things from the menu. A person in our party was gluten free and vegitarian and they went out of their way to make sure they were taken care of with a custom pasta dish. Our meal was one of the best I have had in my life and the service and atmosphere was perfect. Such a great local place made better by fantastic staff. Thank you for the amazing meal.

Ben I

Google
Good food, not great. A little heavy handed and not "fine" but good. It's a neighborhood type place and you wouldnt be mad at having it near by but you won't see it in conde naste. Server was personable and really on top of everything. Ceasar salad was kind of bland. Chilean sea bass was good but again not outstanding. Nice room to eat in and comfortable. As with everything dining wise in Sarasota area it's empty and closing up by 9pm.

Brooke Rita Louise

Google
This place was so perfect to go to. I was visiting my friend for my birthday, and they really blow it out of this word for birthdays. The waitress made it so special, and really made me feel #1, I wish I remembered her name (long dark colored hair tan skin). Highly recommend for birthdays. In addition, the food was delicious, I had the gnocchi. I liked it, im just not an onion person and wish I knew onions were on it. Aside from that tho, yum! The strawberry basil drink was also a must if you love basil!

Charles Lusk 2nd

Google
This was our second time eating here and it is nothing short of fabulous. I forgot to get a picture of the soft shell crab special appetizer, but take my word it was delicious. Everything I’ve eaten here has always been fresh and delicious. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Lori Zimmerman

Google
Authentic Italian food with amazing staff! I was the coordinator for my dear friends’ wedding. Cafe Gabbiano was the absolute best venue and experience for our friends and family! We highly recommend! We will definitely eat here every time we are in Sarasota!

Rick Colon

Google
Changed my reservation based on the reviews and location. Sometimes those things pan out and other times they don't. This day....it panned out! It was my birthday and I wanted some good Italian before I began tge festive celebrations. I got what I asked for. The ladies that sat us and serviced our table were a young, knowledgeable and very happy bunch! Everyone checked on us. The place was well lit and sits just beyond tge hustle and bustle of downtown Siesta Key. Let's talk about the food! Well done! Full flavored and made perfectly! From the long list of wines to the extensive drinks, there was a ton to savor! And the food was the big winner! Thoroughly enjoyed it and got a little birthday surprise at the end!! When making reservations, I note tgat it's a birthday occasion but not everyone seems to notice. They noticed and the ladies were enthusiastic in their wanting to bring it over! Great spot!

Amy Arbuckle

Google
They did an absolutely amazing and beautiful job. Everything was wonderful, food incredibly delicious, very friendly staff. The guests at our daughter's wedding couldn't stop talking about how wonderful the food was and how much they loved Jessica the bartender. Above and beyond service, food, atmosphere, and everything else. Marc and Chris did a wonderful job getting everything put together and making sure everything was perfect. Definitely recommend them to anyone and everyone. Added some pictures although they don't do it justice. Couldn't share to many for personal reasons.

Vinny Ernandez

Google
The food was good, the service was terrible. Took my wife for a birthday dinner, after seated Took 20minutes for the waiter to take our drink order. After we ate dinner someone brought our bill, never offered dessert. Only seen our waiter twice, one for drink order and one for dinner. $120 for dinner was not worth it. First and last time going there.

Sue S.

Yelp
The food was great. Everything we ordered was delicious & prepared perfectly. The service professional & friendly. The ambiance is like being in a comfortable wine cellar. Definitely recommend this restaurant.

Mel A.

Yelp
On the last night of my trip to Siesta Key village, I decided to come here for dinner. Made last minute reservations only to find out that I couldn't because my party of 1 was too small. I took a chance anyway and walked there as it was only a block away. I explained my situation and that I do not wish to sit at the bar if that can be helped. They were very accommodating and seated me at my own table. The bar tender, who also happened to be my waiter, came by quickly and grabbed my drink order and my appetizer order. I wanted the Burrata prepared with tomatoes and basil. It came out fantastic but wish there were a bit more balsamic reduction to it. Still really good though! For my entrée, I ordered the squid ink shrimp fra diavolo. I am a huge fan of squid ink pasta and this place did not disappoint. My dish was so delicious and had the right amount of spice to make me sweat a little but not be running out of there breathing fire. In other words, it was some of the most wonderful squid ink pasta. Of course, I couldn't leave without dessert. They had cannoli and I got cannoli. Yum. So delicious! I am generally judgey because I have had some great cannolis in my life but this one gets the seal of approvals. This place is definitely a place that requires a revisit the next time I find myself in Siesta Key! Service was excellent and so was the food. Overall, one of the best experiences during my little getaway.

Danielle U.

Yelp
Absolutely amazing. Been here about 10 times now. Service, food, wine list... all wonderful! Came here with a few kids and our server went out of his way to make sure they got fruit while waiting for food, kids food out first, and bubbles to play with outside. All while still ensuring the adults enjoyed the evening. The customizable meal options with sides were perfect for picky eaters. Food came out fast and delicious. Couldn't recommend this place enough.

Kelly Y.

Yelp
Had a wonderful dinner at Cafe Gabbiano's while visiting the Siesta Key area for our family of four. We made a reservation ahead of time and were promptly sat when we arrived. Our waitress was so lovely- friendly and gave wonderful recommendations on food etc. My son even commented on her service saying she was so nice! Our whole experience was great from drinks to food. We had some appetizers with soup and salad as well as entrees. I loved my poached pear salad. It was fresh and just perfectly done and presented! They offer a variety of typical Italian fare like the pollo parmigiana which was delicious but also different dishes. My husband got a salmon special which he raved about how nicely they cooked the salmon and the flavors. Unfortunately, we were too full for dessert but it was a fabulous meal and I would highly recommend Cafe Gabbiano's if you happen to have the pleasure of being in the Siesta Key area!

Ashley S.

Yelp
If you're looking for really good Italian or seafood on the island this is the spot ! We went with a huge party and had great service. A few of us ordered the chef special which is always great and packed full of flavor and usually a little interesting and more upscale. The prices fit the location and the quality and elaborate food served. The restaurant is like rustic Italian vibes and feels very upscale but also cozy. Would totally go back again. I think it's such a nice date night spot too!

Kathy S.

Yelp
Our first time here. A very cute place with a unique and inviting decor inside. Our server was very pleasant and good at pacing the meal so that we were not rush (it was early and the kitchen was not yet busy). The food was very good. We both opted for pasta (lasagna and tortellini) and salad. My only complaint was that when the staff delivered our meals, they did not offer cheese. Instead someone came around nearly 10 minutes later to offer it, but by then we had already eaten a lot of our entrees. That seems a huge blunder in an Italian restaurant. We would definitely return as the menu is large and there are many things I would like to try.

Abdul E.

Yelp
Made a reservation for my family for Monday night. Reservation is strongly suggested. And if they offer you the table next to the check in desk outside, you do not have to take it. Still not sure why there is a table right next to the check in desk right at the entrance stairs. If you like a greeter role that table is perfect :) The server was very nice and informative. The decor inside is very cozy the comforting. The menu is full of great options abc best part is many options including lasagna do not have pork. All home made Pasta. So delightful. The lasagna special tomatoes sauce. Everything was excellent. Tortellini squid ink spaghetti with shrimp diavolo was insane. Reasonable size dishes for the price. This is a must as far as Italian food. Every dish perfected. Service excellent. Timing of food service is perfect. We plan to visit every time we are in town.

Susan D.

Yelp
An absolute 10+ experience! My friend and I "love" trying new restaurants and wine pairing dinners! That is how we discovered this restaurant on Siesta Key! Last night was a Caymus and Truffle tasting! How bad can that be? NOT! An intimate tasting room for the dinner, shared seating so we made new friends quickly...Our Caymus rep, Nestor, was charming and informative...Service (thx Jessica) - and her sister..was exceptional...the food delicious - and all made to order....oh. and from scratch!! YES, even all the pasta!! WOW, I think I am in love, and I could go on singing their praises forever. I plan to return soon for a "regular" sit down dinner...I am confident it will not disappoint! Thanks Peter and Mark...Carol and my "newfound friends" (U know who you are) for a truly exceptional dining experience!

Michelle L.

Yelp
First it is very pretty inside lots wines to look at. But..Too expensive! What a joke the buffalo mozzarella with the tomatoes and arugula $20. 3 SMALL slices of buffalo mozzarella what a joke! The truffle ravioli was very HARD worse than Al dente this was undercooked. The Milanese was ok, nothing special, the risotto was cold. We were not offered any grated cheese for the food but the table across from us was, very strange. Tiramisu was fine. I rather go next door to island tap house for a ton of food for a cheaper price. We are locals and live here full time but I think they thought we were tourists bc we were young. I guess don't judge a book by the cover!

Michele S.

Yelp
Service was impeccable. Weather was good so we decided to sit outside which was lovely. Only item to note is that the view is of the parking lot. Food was really good. Nothing innovative but a solid meal was had by both myself and my companion.

declan w.

Yelp
I dined in at Cafe Gabbiano last night for Valentine's Day. Was really looking forward to taking out my fiancé out for Valentine's Day and was highly disappointed. Our first impression started off bad as we were waiting at the hostess stand a red headed woman who seem to be manager was arguing with the other staff which we found very unprofessional . Come to find out she ended up being our server she was very unpleasant to say the least. We had to constantly get her attention in order to get taken care of. The bussers were a lot more attentive and friendly. The food was good but for it being Valentine's Day the experience was underwhelming and we won't be coming back.

Amanda R.

Yelp
We went to Cafe Gabbiano tonight, date night and first time diners. We were so happy with our experience. The wine list quite impressive, we started with the mussels (great/fresh), husband had the ossabucco ravioli, I had the lasagna - all fantastic! This is the cutest little restaurant, quaint with indoor/outdoor dining. Our server, Chris was fantastic, he was attentive without being intrusive. We're looking forward to returning soon!

Crystal B.

Yelp
from start to end ...terrible. We had 4pm reservations on Christmas Eve. We were seated and the hostess rudely informed us we needed to be outa there by 6:15. Great welcoming start. Husband ordered veal, looked gray and boiled. He requested another and it came out like soup. I ordered the lobster ravioli, pasta was thick and chewy, lobster was of a rubber band consistency. we are locals and have not been to Gabbiano in over 20 years and now I remember why. Go to Olive Garden or another Italian chain and save your money. this place is horrible. Thanks for an incredibly crappy Christmas Eve dinner.

Bonnie W.

Yelp
The service was super. As we shared each dish, he split before serving. We had the poached pear salad, the sautéed calamari which was flavorful but slightly more chewy than expected. We then got an order of the Lobster ravioli. Even though it came with 5 raviolis, our server added an additional one so we had 3 apiece! Couldn't eat them all but we each tried the ravioli, stuffed with ricotta, meaty chunks of lobster meat in a white lobster and chopped tomato sauce. Wish I had some now! I had it the next evening. The flavors blended and was yummy. I want it now! Ambiance. A bit noisy, but clean, crowded for Thanksgiving, can't wait to return.

Michael T.

Yelp
In town for an art show with friends from Italy and found this place. Glad we did. The food was amazing. Start to finish. My branzino was EXCELLENT. Shout out to our server / bartender extraordinaire Chris. Great guy. Great service. We will definitely be back next time we're in Sarasota.

SnowWhite W.

Yelp
Have been here several times, my family comes every time we visit Sarasota. Service and food quality has declined since our last visit. My husband ordered a medium rare filet that came out medium well. When he informed the server she just apologized, didn't offer to remake or remedy the issue. We also ordered pastas with no parm cheese offered. Staff and food quality should be reassessed.

Hannah B.

Yelp
Incredible restaurant! Located in the main hub of Siesta Key dining and activity, so the only drawback you may find here is paid-only parking. Otherwise, the food is out of this world and the service is fast and friendly. The outdoor patio was comfortable and casual while still being fit for a special occasion. Came for a birthday dinner and we were even surprised with a complimentary dessert!

N M.

Yelp
Four of us went for a special birthday celebration. we sat at a nice table our server was pleasant as well as knowledgeable about the menu our apps, meals, coffees & desserts were appropriately spaced and were delivered to the four of us in a timely fashion the only thing that was not cool is that no one acknowledged our friends birthday. the birthday was mentioned when the reservation was made as well as when we arrived her husband had also mentioned it to the women at the front desk, We will go back, however will go elsewhere when celebrating a special occasion.

Dan A.

Yelp
I love this place. It's the best Veal Parm I've ever had and I order it every time I go to a decent Italian Restaurant. In fact, it is a major reason we stay on Siesta Key.

Christine F.

Yelp
Came for my birthday with a party of seven and the food, service, ambiance did NOT disappoint. We are Italian and lived in Italy growing up, and also traveled Italy extensively so finding great authentic Italian food here in the US can be a challenge. The food was really excellent and authentic. Everyone was friendly and attentive. They even replaced a calamari order that tipped over and spilled on the floor as it was being passed. This restaurant is apparently a local secret. I searched through a local FB foodie group and it didn't come recommended as often as other restaurants but i searched every recommendation, reads tons of reviews and ultimately kept coming back to Cafe Gabbiano and super glad I did. We will definitely be back. Might even go back this week. We were pleasantly surprised with how generous the portions as well.

William H.

Yelp
Not a typical Italian restaurant! Pricy, but excellent 5-star Italian restaurant for foodies! The dining experience was stellar - food, wines, rich desserts, and attentive service. They offer multiple veal preparations but their Costolette di Vitello - 14 ounce bone-in Veal Chop with sautéed mushrooms, cream and brandy was spectacular! All desserts went over well but favorite one was Limoncello Tartufo - best Limoncello dessert I ever had.

Michelle S.

Yelp
We enjoyed our dinner. Veal chop and the Branzino... delicious. Great wine menu too. We weren't thrilled with the bar area when we waited for our table to open but the place was busy. Our waiter Rob was very attentive! We had an enjoyable evening !

Matthew R.

Yelp
Food wasn't horrible but also not great. A little expensive in comparison to the food quality. Salads are solid, desserts were delicious. Great wine selection. I would for sure do drinks and desserts here but dinner I would most likely go elsewhere

Doug W.

Yelp
Wonderful service. Excellent burrata appetizer. We asked for more balsamic vinegar, though - quickly delivered. Chicken Parm was very good. Chicken was crisp and pasta was firm. Sauce was great - Could have used a bit more...perhaps on the side? Chicken Mamma Lucia was great as well. Excellent parmigiana risotto (option instead of potato).

Peter L.

Yelp
My wife and I have frequented Cafe Gabbiano numerous times and, previous to this evening, was always impressed. This evening, however, our dining experience left us somewhat disappointed. The food simply wasn't up to par compared to our previous visits and the service was just okay. My wife and I shared the mussels appetizer, which was served almost immediately after ordering. There was very little sauce and several of the mussels never opened. Not a good sign. Flavor was so so. We waited for what seemed like forever for our main courses. For my main course, I ordered a house specialty; Mama Lucia Veal. The veal was tough...making the dish anything but enjoyable. The Risotto seemed more like sticky rice. Not impressed. My wife had the Bronzino. She asked for mashed potatoes instead of Risotto, but was told "they have no potatoes tonight." Hard to imagine. Thank goodness she didn't order the $52 filet mignon...which is so demanding of mashed potatoes. Vegetables were perfectly cooked. String beans were nice and crisp. 4 stars for the ambiance. 2 stars for the food. 2.5 stars for service. 3 stars overall. Sorry to say it will be sometime before we go back, if ever.

Art N.

Yelp
We have traveled the world and try to stay in sync with local restaurants in different places always try to be kind and give a little bit of extra kudos where it's deserved. We cook at home a lot with fresh ingredients from known local fresh suppliers. Tonight's experience was something to behold as spoken from my husband's lips. We arrived and we were seated in the bar area, which was perfectly fine, but considering the restaurant was fully open and we requested a table why not put us in the restaurant which was absolutely lovely. Tip: sit in the restaurant! Our server tonight was wonderful, we ordered some really nice wine. We chose our appetizers from the charcuterie menu. And, I must say everything on there was absolutely the cheapest product that you can buy. I buy Parmesan Reggiano frequently. I buy good quality Reggiano and it taste flavorful with great texture .... Whatever café Gabbiano was serving, unfortunately it tasted of nothing, neither did the shrimp, it was most likely farmed. It tasted nothing like gulf shrimp that was local. My husband is very sensitive to aromas, and he tasted my main course he thought it that it was rotten, def not fresh. Overall, great server. Average food, at best.

Grace H.

Yelp
Great food, romantic atmosphere and we got a friendly/nice waitress! We got the truffle fries, ravioli obusco, plus lasagna and the Argentinian wine suggested by our waitress was so fantastic. I wish I remembered what it was. There was a bit of a wait due to the holiday crowd but worth the wait as we got to chat a bit with Peter T. who was such a nice guy! And of course, the lava cake was amazingly great! My husband and daughter loved it so much as well. We will be back for sure!

Dan S.

Yelp
We came by this place in the heart of siesta key for a good Italian meal. We got exactly that. Our waitress was a bit flaky but overall we enjoyed our meal here. The wine menu is in tiny print so you might need a magnifying glass but we got a perfectly good Sauvignon Blanc at a reasonable price point. As for dishes, I got the Veal Scallopini Mama Lucia which is a specialty of theirs. Yet the veal was a bit chewy and I found the dish just slightly forgettable a day later. My dining companion enjoyed theirs more FWIW. But the pasta with seafood was quite good with tons of fresh seafood in the red sauce. Overall, a solid Italian place in a great location.

Lauren C.

Yelp
I came to Cafe Gabbiano for my wedding reception after only planning the reception by phone and they knocked it out of the park! The food was amazing it beat all expectations as our guest of 25 people all ordered off the menu. The food came out, hot, timely, and very delicious. If I could give the staff and food more than five stars, I would. Chris and Nora went above and beyond as well as their wait staff. I cannot thank them enough for making my day so special. We will definitely be back for a first year anniversary if not sooner!

Ale R.

Yelp
The food was okay. We didn't think it was amazing but it was also not terrible. The service was also okay. Nice wine room.

Matt P.

Yelp
Best food I have had in a long time. Service was impeccable. Keep up the great business y'all

Terri H.

Yelp
10 out of 10! Absolutely fabulous Italian dining and an intimate ambiance! We frequent Cafe Gabbiano on special occasions and just because. Their Pollo Parmesan is my husband's favorite and I love their eggplant Parmesan. The Italian bread --- is to die for! I'm Italian and this is truly the best, crusty Italian bread I've ever tasted. ROBBY is a waiter extraordinaire and knows what we enjoy. The staglione salad and the Caesar salad are outstanding. We were treated to my birthday tiramisu with mini cannolis. Everything about Cafe Gabbiano is "molto bene" ! Grazie Mille to Robbie and staff for making my birthday a memorable evening!

Carmen D.

Yelp
Where do I begin? I've lived in Sarasota for several years and am a big time foodie. We eat out several times a week. For what ever reason Cafe Gabbiano hadn't made our radar, untill now. Glad to finally have this experience. So this review is gonna start with Jessica, the most incredible server. Talk about sweet, efficient and professional. She really made our evening. The food was outstanding. Authentic, flavorful, beautifully plated and super warm. The way my belly likes it. We started with a fried mozzarella appetizer. Which Jessica suggested. Wow, mouth watering. We enjoyed a Lasagne Bolognese and the Pollo Parmigiana entrée. The portions were excellent and the flavors where outstanding . This is definitely our new go to. What a wonderful experience. We celebrated a birthday and glad we choose Cafe Gabbiano. Thank you for your attention to details and all the care that comes through in your food. Pure Perfection!!!!

Rob D.

Yelp
We were staying in Siesta Key for the weekend and was looking for something good to eat. We looked around the area and came across cafe Gabbiano. This restaurant was very unassuming but WOW, what a great place. Service was spot on. We never needed anything because they were very attentive. For dinner I had the Linguini Pescatore and my wife had the OssoBuco Ravioli. The portions were really good. The flavors for. Oth dishes were amazing. I would recommend and return to this restaurant when I am back in the area.

Jessica S.

Yelp
Ambiance: 5/5 Food: 5/5 Drinks: 4/5 Service: 4/5 First off, I love this location on Siesta key. Plenty of parking and close to many hotels, rentals, the beach, etc. Ambiance: so pretty with the Christmas lights and displays of wine bottles. Typical Italian restaurant interior. Food: OMG! Amazing! The sautéed calamari was so delicious! The red sauce was so flavorful. I got the Ossobuco ravioli and the portion didn't look big but the raviolis were huge and I ended up being very satisfied! It is deceiving. The bolognese sauce was rich with meat and very tender. Sauce was excellent. Highly recommend dish! My boyfriend got the veal parm which was huge and it was pretty good as well but my dish was a lot better. Drinks: limoncello martini was very good but also very strong. Red sangria was just okay for me. It wasn't my favorite place to get it. Service: so the reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I signed in on Yelp and showed 2 women the free bubbly drink upon check in and no one came out with my drink! I asked a few times and finally I assumed they weren't going to do that promotion anymore. Upsetting! Please take down the check in promo then if you aren't going to honor it! Food came a lot faster than I expected especially the appetizers.

Erica M.

Yelp
This place is average! Hard to say this place is authentic style Italian. Pricey just because of its location, will most likely not be back.

Lori G.

Yelp
The food is very good here. One of my favorites, their lasagna whenever we visit siesta key this is always a must.

Elena L.

Yelp
I had high expectations after reading the reviews, but one rude waitress who has an attitude she couldn't care less about her customers ruins the mood of a nice evening. I would Not go there again where the service is that bad unfortunately.

Kevin T.

Yelp
Had a party of 16 and not one bad word to say. food was awesome. drinks were good. We had two servers and both were attentive and polite. Even our reservations were on time and ready for them and ready for my party thank you to Café Gabbiano and all of its employees.

Adair R.

Yelp
Hands down the best meal I had during my stay in Siesta Key!! It's been almost two weeks since my trip there and I'm STILL thinking about it! The wait staff and management were very friendly and welcoming the second we stepped foot in the door. Everything was spectacular from the bread and butter, calamari appetizer to my truffle ravioli! The food was fresh and packed full of flavor. Good size portions for the price point too! I am a sucker for anything truffle so the ravioli called my name the second I laid eyes on it! It was amazinggggg!! So rich and creamy without being too over powering. I loved their take on ravioli, it almost resembled more of a tortellini. It wasn't too dense, they were nice and airy which I enjoyed! The fried calamari appetizer was also noteworthy! Cooked to perfection without being too chewy! The homemade red sauce it was served with was out of this world!! I'd go back to try a different dish just so I could eat that red sauce again! I'm so glad we picked this spot for my friends fancy bachelorette dinner! It did not disappoint and it was a meal we continued to talk about! I wish we would've planned our meal there one of the first nights so we had time to go back a second time. I highly recommend dining her! Perfect for a special occasion or just a night out! Don't sleep on this place!!

Mimzy F.

Yelp
Came here as a fancier treat during our trip and it wasn't the experience we hoped it would be. The biggest issue we had was the service - there were so many people coming to our table, but instead of it feeling like we were EXTRA taken care of, instead it felt like we slipped through the cracks of everyone thinking someone else was taking care of things when they were not. We asked no less than 5 people for bread. Our 2 waiters, the manager that came over to see how things were and two different bussers. Each person said they were on it, but we only got our bread after we were halfway through our meal at which point it defeated the purpose. We also never received the special olive both a waiter and the manager promised. Regarding the food itself, it didn't blow us out of the water. Nothing was bad, but the flavor wasn't anything outstanding. The lobster ravioli had NO flavor whatsoever. The cheese platter we ordered was underwhelming and again, no bread. The scallopine mama lucia was the best of all the things I tried but it was unfortunately so much else took away from it. The last thing that tainted our experience and rounded it off in a bad note was that we got home to realize we had left our card behind. Obviously this was our fault, but what was frustrating about the situation is that they had my name and phone number from the reservation we made that matched the name on the card. Calling us to let us know it was there, even if they also needed to say we couldn't come back and get it until they opened the next day, would have eliminated a full day of frustration and concern that we didn't know where it was and couldn't get in contact with anyone until they opened. Simple measures like that go a long way. Also editing to add that I completely forgot about until just now - when I called to make the reservation, I let them know we were celebrating a few birthdays, with one falling during our trip. When I arrived, I also let the hostess know when she asked if we were celebrating something. When we ordered dessert, we told one person to please bring a candle. When dessert arrived, no candle. Someone else came over and noticed that nothing had happened and the waiter came over and said I wish someone had told me (to us) that there was a celebration. Like, come on, the only thing we didn't do was scream it in front of the birthday girl's face to make sure you heard - 3 other people there all knew why we were there and yet again, much like the bread, the ball got completely dropped and then we receive a comment as if it was on our end....

Cameron E.

Yelp
First off the ambiance is nice however I would suggest getting seated outside. We were seated inside and it was so dark we had to use our phone lights to read the menus. Same goes for when the food came out it was difficult to see well at all. The First Lady that came to our table carrying two bottles of spring water spoke no English at all. She just held the bottles up for us to choose but couldn't tell us what they were. I assumed this water was complimentary but they charged $6 for it, however we had no idea because of the communication problems. Food was ok. Appetizers were good. We got the bruchette and the muscles. Both were decent portions and tasty. I got the veal chop and it was full of gristle. The sauce was good with it. The risotto was dry and flavorless. My wife got the lasagna and it was pretty good. Desert was nothing special. Place has potential but we won't be going back probably.

Gordon G.

Yelp
This for me is normally a go to. Not tonight. I had asked before ordering our calamari appetizer for an aolli. Expecting a mayonnaise based sauce, they brought oil with garlic. Most of the staff do not understand English so fixing problems is challenging. Next I ordered the veal chop medium rare. It came out medium well at best. I returned it, ŵhich I rarely do, but it was so overcooked. They replaced it within minutes but the chop was much smaller. I paid for a full size chop cooked medium rare and did not get it. Hope they can get it together.

Danielle V.

Yelp
Everything at Cafe Gabbiano was amazing!! The service was impressive, they truly made my boyfriends birthday a very special night. The food was hot and delicious, the plating was gorgeous. I was so impressed! We started with the calamari and the bread with the delish oil dipping sauce. The calamari was crispy and perfectly coated. I had the chicken special which had Brie cheese and mushrooms. Amazing! My boyfriend at the Chicken Parm, so crispy and perfect. The dessert trio was so good, my fav was the key lime pie! Highly highly recommend.

Sharon P.

Yelp
Food. Service. Ambiance. Everything was too-notch! Great place and would definitely go again!

Mike M.

Yelp
I had to pull together a dinner for 16 people with relatively short notice, and Cafe Gabbiano made it easy. The food and service were stellar. Several of those who attended commented on how much they enjoyed the food and service. Any misses were relatively minor: lack of communication between the event organizer and the staff that coffee and tea were included in the per person price (not to be charged separately) and the check being a little inaccurate, which they corrected when I did the math for them. Overall, excellent.

Sara K.

Yelp
Espresso Martini is AMAZING with the chilled stainless glass. The linguini was stellar - so much food you could split with someone. Mussels appetizer was good but could use a little more sauce! Overall, greatttttt experience!

John M.

Yelp
Cafe Gabbiano is an amazing spot to head to for dinner, but be warned that it is extremely popular. I would definitely recommend making a reservation. The service here is stellar and the ambiance is top-notch. The food is definitely a solid contender. I heard someone in my dining party remark that the ambiance of Cafe Gabbiano was a bit dated, but I had to disagree. I found it warm and inviting, a perfect compliment to both the food and the service. The branzino was definitely good and something you should check out. I know this fish has become extremely trendy, but it became trendy for a reason (it is simply delicious). I would definitely recommend a visit here, but again, please make a reservation.

Ed A.

Yelp
Sat at the bar last night for HH and Savor Sarasota dinner. We had to ask for the Savor Sarasota menu plus the daily special menu. The Smoked Old Fashioned was decent, has scotch. Ordered the lobster ravioli and did not taste any lobster. The pollo manna Lucia was flavorless with minimal sauce. The majority of the time the bartender was missing in action. Asked him about it and his response was that he had business to do. He also was running food to other tables which is not his fault, but affects the service. We got our check, and said we would pay after we receive our desserts. Food very bland and service mostly non existent. The cannoli and key lime pie were incredible. Will not be back.