Catullo’s Italian

Italian restaurant · San Pablo

Catullo’s Italian

Italian restaurant · San Pablo

4

1650-2 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL 32224

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Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null
Catullo’s Italian by null

Highlights

Handmade pastas, pear fiocchi, and flavorful sauces create a beloved Italian experience  

Featured in Eater
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1650-2 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL 32224 Get directions

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@catullos_italian

$$ · Menu

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1650-2 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL 32224 Get directions

+1 904 240 1252
facebook.com
@catullos_italian

$$ · Menu

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Last updated

Sep 1, 2025

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@eater

The 13 Best Restaurants in Jacksonville, Florida | Eater Miami

"Transitioning from a Jacksonville food truck to brick-and-mortar acclaim, this Italian eatery now graces a modest strip mall in Jacksonville and a location in Ponte Vedra. The menu celebrates Italian cuisine with dishes like lasagna featuring hand-rolled pasta, delicate gnocchi, variously filled ravioli, and the beloved pear Fiocchi, a blend of pears and cheese. A pro tip for diners: To avoid waiting, aim to arrive as the restaurant opens, given the limited seating at both venues. The bar operates on a first-come, first-served basis, offering an opportunity to snag a seat if one is available."

https://miami.eater.com/maps/best-jacksonville-florida-restaurants-map-guide
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@eater

The Best Italian Restaurants in Jacksonville, Florida | Eater Miami

"One of the Jacksonville’s most talked about Italian restaurants is Catullo’s Italian. Hidden in a shopping center between a Walmart and a dry cleaner, the intimate restaurant often has a wait of an hour or more, even on weeknights. To start, try the arancini, which is made with a base of Calabrian chili and Parmigiano risotto and stuffed with tangy goat cheese before being breaded and fried. The pear fiocchi pasta is a fan favorite on the menu. It starts with pasta purses stuffed with sweet pears and three different kinds of cheese, then tossed with a caramelized pear, blue cheese, and goat cheese sauce. The dish is finished with pieces of crispy and salty fried prosciutto for a perfect bite."

https://miami.eater.com/maps/best-italian-jacksonville-florida-map-guide
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@postcardnews

From food truck to cult favorite, this small dining room turns out handmade pastas like pear fiocchi and rich ragùs. Featured by Action News Jax after a national Top 100 nod.

https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/catullos-italian-jacksonville-named-yelps-top-100-us-restaurants-2023/WZPEGOCPCNHNRMKSEDG6ZI7IAU/
Italian Restaurants in Jacksonville (2025)
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@postcardnews

Food-truck-turned-restaurant famed for handmade pastas and nightly specials—pears-and-cheese fiocci and silky risotti keep regulars lining up. Previously recognized by Yelp’s editors; still very much a locals’ favorite today.

https://catullos-italian.site/
Best Restaurants in Jacksonville (2025)
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Andrew LoSchiavo

Google
Probably the best Italian food I have had in Jacksonville. Pasta was fresh with great flavors in the sauces and creative recipes. Dishes were 20-30$ a plate. They have good wines from Italy. Deserts were excellent whether the raspberry, lemon, and pistachio gelato, cannoli, or limoncello cake. It’s a small restaurant so be prepared to wait 30 minutes. The lights were a little dim, but the place is clean and service was friendly and efficient. They forgot sausages on my friends pasta so the brought it out no charge. I only got a picture of a portion of the menu.

Alexis

Google
Lovely cozy and intimate ambiance with warm welcoming service. No reservations but wait flew by! They have benches outside. The pasta sauce was extremely flavorful and they have lots of options and specials. Would love to go back and try more! We got the arancini which had plentiful goat cheese on the inside which was a nice surprise and I got the pasta with scallops, lemon olive oil and a hint of truffle suave.

Jodie Martinez

Google
As an Italian myself, I am extremely picky of places that make and serve Italian food. Catullo's Is my absolute favorite. The food is authentic and the flavor is perfect. I have been here multiple times and I live 3 hours from here. Everytime I know I'm coming into town, I have to come here. Tonight I got the Burrata and it was so enjoyable. I noticed no one posted pictures of the Burrata cut so you can see the creamy inside. So I posted a few pictures with the cut Burrata. I also had the Chicken Capricciosa. It is breaded chicken with breaded eggplant, prosciutto and mozzarella cheese, etc... I changed to the vodka type sauce with the homemade pappardelle pasta and it is amazing! Fresh baked bread, fresh vegetables, fresh green lettuce, and just all around fresh food with a taste to die for! The pictures truly can not give their food the justice it deserves with their taste. Please take my word for it and try the Chicken Capricciosa. It will blow your mind with the flavors it has! Love this little family owned piece of Heaven! Jacksonville's Best Kept Secret!

Joshua Bowlus

Google
Catullo’s is incredible. Our first time here and it did not disappoint. No reservations, small restaurant, so there will be a 30 - 60 minute line to get a table but totally worth it. Enjoy a glass of wine in the meantime. We ordered a few of their main hits, starting with the best arancini I think I’ve ever tasted. The Calabrian chili in the risotto really sets it off in a great way. For entrees we did Pear Fiocchi (this was SO good and unique), and Chicken Capricciosa - that marinara is made with love, and the fresh pappardelle pasta was heavenly. To finish, we got their Limoncello Mascarpone Cake (amazing!) and also the Torta Della Nonna (the dessert special - a delicious lemon pastry). We had a seat at the bar where Ryan and Steve gave us top notch service. They even rolled us back to our car (ha! JK). We cannot wait to go back and try more from the menu. Thank you for a memorable evening, Catullo’s!

Tony Copeland

Google
My wife is Italian and I'm not but this place was amazing. It's a small hole in the wall place that you better come early if you want in or you could be waiting. I was lucky and didn't have to wait, but knowing what I know now, it's worth the wait. The marinara sauce was so full of flavor without being sweet. The pasta is cooked to perfection. The cannoli cream was rich and sweet. I could go on and on and don't have words to describe what I just ate. Just trust me you really need to make it to this place and try something. The staff seemed super knowledgeable about the menu and our server was quick to top off drinks. They stayed busy but you didn't feel rushed at any point during the meal. I don't know how they handle a place being so busy and keep smiling during the process. I will admit because of the size of the place it might get a little loud at times, but you can easily look past that when you taste the food. Took the wife there just for a date night and after the first bite of her entree, she was telling me she wanted to come back soon and didn't care about the sounds around us. Would say it's a great place to come and eat for a date night, but maybe not a first date. Conversation can be hard to have at times if it gets loud, so keep that in mind. But Italians are known for being loud... well that's what my wife says and it seems true from my experience. I thought the price of the food was a bit high, but when you taste it, I don't think your going to mind. Good food can demand a good price and I don't think they are charging enough for how good that was.

John Griffin

Google
Great food. Family owned and operated. Happy my money is going to a local family and not some faceless corporation. If there is a long wait see if there is bar seating available.

Axxley

Google
Small cozy restaurant with good eats and good service. We enjoyed all our food specially the shrimp rosata (we made it spicy and added pancetta per the server’s recommendation). The restaurant is small so there is a line that forms about 30 minutes prior to opening. If opening time is too early for your dinner, I recommend coming at least 1hr 15min after opening when some of the tables from the first round of diners begin to clear out.

Mike Sutorus

Google
24 June 2025. First time trying this local restaurant since me and my son moved to this side of town. We both wanted an Italian meal but in one word what we got was “ disappointed”. We ordered their spicy meatballs with garlic sauce appetizer but were brought five over cooked mini meatballs that weren’t spicy and almost hard as rocks sitting in garlic sauce. I ordered lasagna and he ordered the creamy chicken pesto. He wasn’t impressed with his meal and I was not impressed with mine either. My lasagna must have been an edge piece since it was half empty with mostly noodles. The sauce they poured over it had no flavor and tasted like tomato sauce poured from a can. I have had better food at Olive Garden with better service for less cost. Maybe since it was a Tuesday they didn’t have their A team working and the B team didn’t cut it. I try to support our local businesses but this won’t be one of them.

Cole M.

Yelp
Absolutely amazing! The service, food, and price make the line and wait more than worth it. With that said... GET THERE EARLY. Apparently all of Jacksonville knows how good their food is. Haha Highly recommend

David S.

Yelp
All entrees are phenomenal. We always enjoy sitting at the bar with the gang however the table service is equally as good. Owners as well as the entire Catullo's staff are always happy to see that you enjoy your evening. The pear pockets are an absolute must even if you just order as an appetizer for the table. It's a must have entree. Get there early as they open at 5 and it's always packed. Papa D
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Scott K.

Yelp
Must visit and pay double for Olive Garden quality Fuck these bs assholes that make me type 85 character
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Flo V.

Yelp
OMG.... wish we had an option of more stars.... I'd give them a 10*+ !!! Amazing staff, great comfortable atmosphere and the food is over-the-top delicious. Visiting with our kids, we have 3 of us having Birthdays in April.... sooooo, our Son said he's got the perfect Italian place to go. He was sooooo right !! Catullo's.... we sat at the bar.... Steve, our Bartender, greeted us with a great smile. Ran to get us some in-house made bread. Soft & delicious. Another Bartender, AJ arrived soon after and he gave us the lowdown of the wine selection. After a couple of tastings... we selected a bottle of Principi Di Butera Merlot. Then, we discussed the Sangria... so we ordered one of those too !! Refreshing, dry with just the right sweetness. Two of us ordered the pappardelle pasta with meatballs, one got their lasagna & and someone ordered the pappardelle with clams. The sauce is flavorful and you can also ask to have it a bit spicy!! I could eat the meatballs by themselves... they are that good. All the dishes were a good portion and absolutely full of flavor. We ended up taking half of the meatball pasta dish home.. for leftovers!!! Just as good the next day. The place got pretty busy and take outs were constantly heading out the door. Cool part.... We introduce ourselves when we arrived (since it was our Birthday celebration), and with ALL the patron activity throughout the evening , they called us by name to say goodbye as we left. We'd say, that was a nice, classy touch !!! Definitely a place to enjoy a flavorful meal. We promised to be back on our next visit to Jacksonville, FL !!
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Amber H.

Yelp
Unpopular opinion...it's just ok. We really wanted to like this place. It's very difficult to get a table as they only take walk ins and the wait time quickly jumps to 45 minutes to an hour right after they open. So, it should be great right? Not really... The food was frankly just ok. The chicken capricciosa was very, very chewy and the creamy chicken pasta boasted to be a food truck favorite, and that about sums the meal up. Something I would expect out of a food truck. Rubbery, with "sure that was ok" taste. The burrata appetizer was good though. Service was very good and friendly. The restaurant itself is intimate with not much in the way of decor but it's a small family spot so that's to be expected. Overall, probably won't be coming back. The thought of sitting outside of the restaurant next to a walmart for an hour to get a table doesn't sound very appealing considering the food is just average at best.
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Galina A.

Yelp
Amazing food and service!! I finally had the chance to try our catullos and I am so glad I did!! We had a party of 6 and the wait was only about 45 minutes on a Saturday night. I wasn't a huge fan of the appetizers but the entrees made up for it!
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Ayesha F.

Yelp
Great experience, a cozy environment, excellent service, and delicious food. Came here for a family member's birthday. After passing by and seeing a line outside for years I knew it would be the perfect spot for an Italian lover's birthday dinner. Most of my party arrived around 430 pm and there was already a line outside. I arrived at 5 pm and was escorted to my waiting party. I was outside parking and preparing a gift bag when everyone else was seated. We started with the meatball appetizer (fried- we didn't like them at all) but we were quickly given the house meatballs instead which are the best I've ever eaten & mozzarella sticks - which were a bit overcooked but still tasty. There were 5 of us so we each tried something different. I had the scallop risotto which was creamy and delicious. The service is what takes this place over the top and is likely why there's always a line. We enjoyed ourselves and the food and will certainly return.
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Charlotte P.

Yelp
On a cold blustery day I stood inline to taste the deliciousness that was beyond the closed door. 5pm could not come fast enough- freezing! The restaurant is small and seating is on a first come basis. Lines can get long. Yep, they are that GOOD! Once inside I sat at the bar waiting for the rest of my party to arrive. They arrived just in time for us to grab the last table. Once seated we opted for entrees only as we had a show to attend at 7. Most at the table ordered Pear Fiocchi plus an order of Lasagna. The Fiocchi was amazing! The pear flavor coupled with an amazing cheese blend left me craving more. Our visit was fast. Our meal amazing and the service perfect. Can't wait to go back and spend some time truly dining.
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Charlotte D.

Yelp
We went and enjoyed Catullo's on Atl and San Pablo last night. Wait wasn't long 45 min. Food and service were amazing as always.
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Jan B.

Yelp
Went last Thursday for the lasagna special. The sauce was unbelievable, as were all the elements. So good I didn't share my leftovers with my husband. Still very busy but waits not quite as long with the new location open. Staff are just wonderful.
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Jace F.

Yelp
Discover the hidden gem, Catullo's, nestled in a humble Florida strip mall next to a Walmart - a surprising portal to the charm of Little Italy. Prepare for a brief wait in this cozy nook, but rest assured, it's a delay well justified. Begin your culinary journey with a salad, showcasing a homemade dressing that defines Italian perfection - smooth, balanced olive oil and white wine vinegar and spices that might have you contemplating a second helping. The main act unveils creative pasta delights; no Chicken Parm clichés here. Opt for classics like penne, ravioli, or tagliatelle, paired with tantalizing sauces - Rosato, Catullo, or Sun Dried Tomato Pesto. My pick, the eponymous Catullo sauce, a delicate Alfredo infused with Calabrian chilies, added the perfect kick to my ravioli rendezvous. The wine list is a voyage through old-world Italian classics and new-world delights - when in Rome, or rather, Catullo's, indulge accordingly. The service is top notch, friendly and informative. As if this feast weren't Herculean enough, the olive oil cake steals the show for dessert. A newfound menu star, its moist decadence, paired with an addictive orange glaze, vanished in a flash. #sorrynotsorry Consider me a Catullo's enthusiast, having ventured beyond the cover. My next visit to Jax will undoubtedly feature a hearty appetite and a seat at this Italian treasure.

Liz C.

Yelp
Although the service is always good, I don't like al dente pasta. My husband got the chicken and said it was chewy. Between them not taking reservations and us giving it another shot for the third time, I don't think that we will be returning.
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Gaby P.

Yelp
Great italian spot hidden right next to a WalMart. Walked right in on a Saturday evening and was seated without a wait. Ordered the Peposo & the Rustida Della Val Vigezzo, both were absolutely delicious. Will be back!
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Nikki Y.

Yelp
This place... is absolutely a win for the Jacksonville restaurant scene. I've heard so many great things but you never really know how good a place is until you've tried it for yourself. Super small and quaint restaurant really gives you the local restaurant around the block kind of vibe which is really nice. Wait time was about an hour for us and we arrived at 6:30. You can order a drink at the bar while you wait. Tons of parking in front. The pear fiocchi is a menu item I still think about on a day to day basis. make sure you try this one out! very unique and so delicious. Also disclaimer, I usually don't like goat cheese but the goat cheese flavor was very mild in the pasta and just worked to make the dish very creamy. The drink options here could be better since it's only beer and wine and an espresso martini would've hit the spot as a post-pasta treat but everything else was so good I have no complaints at all
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Becky J.

Yelp
Absolutely delicious food that tastes like it's made with love! The service was a perfectly timed team effort with our three course selections. The burrata with hot honey was delicious on the crostini, the perfect start! The side salad is lite and flavorful with the Kalamata olives, cucumbers, tomato, Pepperoncini pepper, topped with vinaigrette. The tortelloni was pasta perfection topped with the onion, beef, and wine reduction. The chicken with creamy pesto was flavorful and not heavy like many others. We waited about 45 minutes on a Wednesday night but it was worth every minute of our time! The restaurant is small and can get loud but we were able to have a conversation and enjoy the atmosphere while eating!
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Reganne C.

Yelp
The best Italian restaurant in Jacksonville. The place is small and gets extremely busy, so make sure you get there right as they open or prepare to wait. It's worth every minute of waiting, but in case you do not like to wait. I like their pear fiocci or the sausage and peppers. The spaghetti is a classic as well sangria is another wonderful taste.
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Sasha P.

Yelp
This is one of my all-time favorite Italian restaurants in Jacksonville. It's a bit of a hike from where we live, but SO worth the trip. No reservations means you risk having to wait for a table, but I promise you'll be glad that you did. We got lucky the last time and were able to snag two seats at the bar - which is JUST fine, still great service. The restaurant itself is pretty small but they are constantly cranking out dishes and they turn their tables relatively fast. You never feel rushed, but they take care of you during your visit. The space itself is super comforting and just feels like a classic Italian spot. The food is just so fresh and so flavorful. I love the spin on the classics and how comforting everything is, no matter what you order. We *devoured* the arancini, pear fiocchi, chicken pesto and toasted almond cream cake. Both of our pastas were cooked perfectly - we've had some mushy pasta at other restaurants lately that has been so disappointing - and had SUCH great flavors. I think I could order the pear fiocchi every day and still never get tired of it. Again, I'm not a big fan of sweets - this dessert is probably my favorite I've ever had. It was so light, so flavorful and had the perfect balance of textures. It was definitely not a sweet dessert. We got to chat with our server/bartender and the owners and everyone is just so, stinking, nice. You feel right at home and it makes you want to come back even more often to support this business. It really doesn't get any better than that.
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Jenny T.

Yelp
This is a delicious and one-of-a-kind restaurant. Each dish is carefully and wonderfully crafted. The pasta is fresh, especially the pear fiocchi! Service was good, the servers did seem a little overwhelmed with the busy night we came but our order came out correctly. The ambiance is perfect for a date night, but it may be a little loud for some. The olive oil cake dessert was unique and delicious.
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Rachel T.

Yelp
Five stars! Nothing but positive things to say about Catullo's. It took us a whole year to get here, but we will be back again much sooner. We knew the wait is always long, and we can't usually get there early enough on a weekday. We decided to go on a rainy Saturday to celebrate belated Valentine's Day/early birthday. We arrived around 4:30 pm and the wait was an hour. Perfect timing! I got a glass of wine at the bar and we stood outside under cover near the heaters to wait. It was not bad at all. The restaurant is small inside and really reminded my of my favorite Italian restaurant in Pittsburgh. Our server was friendly and I got to meet one of the owners that brought our fried mozzarella appetizer. The fresh bread we started with was delicious and so was the fried cheese. These are not your standard "cheese sticks". I spotted them at the bar when I went in to get a glass of wine and knew we had to try them. Delicious! The marinara sauce that came with them was the show stopper. We should have asked for more because I did scoop it all up on the bread to eat. lol! I know everyone raves about the pear fiocchi, but I decided to go with the garganelli. It had tomato and ricotta sauce with cauliflower, saffron, pine nuts and breadcrumbs. It sounded really unique and fresh garganelli is not usually on menus. My boyfriend went with the lasagna. We both ate the whole thing!! The portions are big, the quality of the fresh pasta is amazing and all of the food was very reminiscent of our trip to Tuscany. We absolutely loved it and couldn't save room for dessert. Next time I'll save room for the cannoli. The super Tuscan wine was my favorite and was reasonably priced too. This tiny restaurant is in a strip mall next to Walmart, so there is a huge parking lot. Can't wait to go back again soon!
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Courtney K.

Yelp
This place lives up to its reputation! Do not let its location fool you (and it might -- between a Walmart Neighborhood Market and a Dry Cleaner is an odd place for a gem like this!), it's worth over 5 stars! The pear pasta is a favorite, but I've never regretted a choice made here! Gluten free options are awesome too! Worth the line you're bound to wait in (no reservations).
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Debra D.

Yelp
What a wonderful restaurant! It has a terrific, unusual menu. Every single entree in our party has been outstanding. (The pasta with the pear twist is worth the hype.) The waitstaff is knowledgeable and helpful. The red sangria is a favorite of mine. Every dessert is delicious. If you're wondering, it's one of my favorite places to dine. A big thank you to Catullo's for always knocking it put of the park!
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Athena B.

Yelp
I have been DYING to try Catullo's! I finally was able to get there and I will never forget that meal! We did have to wait 1.5 hours for two people, which is a lot to me but that food was totally worth it!! I had the pear fiocchi and my friends had the mushroom tortilonni and the creamy chicken pesto! HOLY COW YALL!!! Every bite is packed with so much flavor! I've been jones-big to try the fiocchi and boy did it live up to my expectations!! The flavor was absolutely amazing!! I loved it!! The mushroom tortelloni were so flavorful and tasted amazing!! The creamy chicken pesto was also amazing! The sauce was such a great flavor which I loved. I cannot wait to return to try more of this delicious menu!!
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Amber S.

Yelp
There is room for debate of "the best in Jax" for lots of different kinds of restaurants. Italian isn't one of them. Catullo's literally cannot miss when it comes to food. Everything this place makes is delicious and flavorful. I've been here several times and tried all kinds of things on their menu - from fried mozzarella to gnocchi Catullo to "plain old" Alfredo. Every single one of them was next-level. My first qualm with this lovely place is how tiny the restaurant is. I've sat in a few different places in the restaurant and never feel like I have enough space. It can also get very loud because of how many people there are in such a small space. I also really wish they took reservations. It's near impossible to get a table within 15-30 minutes, so don't come when you're starving. The service is always great and you can tell they take great pride in the experience customers get from dining there. That means a lot to me. If they were able to get a bigger space, I think they'd be perfect.
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Silver S.

Yelp
My favorite Italian restaurant in town! You will love this place. Expect a line at 5pm but that just means it's that good!
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Audrey A.

Yelp
Always worth the wait, Catullos will satisfy your pasta hankering with fresh ingredients and flavorful combinations. The food is always delicious and the service top notch. While I usually gravitate toward my normal dishes (which we ordered), we tried something new that's going to be a favorite -- Peposo. I totally passed this menu item and it came at the recommendation of are amazing server (you're the best Ryan!!). So much deliciousness. If you're looking for something without cheese, this savory dish of pappardelle noodles enveloped in a perfectly seasoned and tender beef stew really hits the spot - it's comfort on a plate. Another item I haven't tried until now is the burrata appetizer and I highly recommend. A few at the table said it was the best burrata appetizer they've had. I wish I could order the greens as a side salad - the dressing was light and packed with flavor.

Lauren B.

Yelp
Every single dish we tried was delicious!!! Bruschetta, caramel cheesecake, wine, bread, and 3 different pastas. Yum
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Teresa W.

Yelp
What more do we say than you must eat here! But be prepared. There are no reservations, no phone to call for wait times, no priority seating. You come and get in the line that forms outside the door at least 30 minutes before they open and you wait for them to open. Great food, great staff, small restaurant with lots of energy. Everyone on their team is great! Seriously some of the best team/ wait staff ever! Regan, Misty, Ryan, Christine, AJ, Steven, Tony, and more will treat you like family along with the owners. Family favorites for us are fried mozzarella sticks with marinara to start. For entrees, the Cheese Ravioli with rose sauce, lasagna and add the meatball, Sunday Suppa (spaghetti with meatballs), and the scallops with risotto. You can add spice to your liking to any dish., Love Catullo's!
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Frank G.

Yelp
Food is terrific, not your standard pasta & sauce Italian restaurant. Been there 3 times now and have never been disappointed. Only wish they took reservations.
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Sara B.

Yelp
We all know this place is phenomenal already right? But they deserve praise on all social media platforms. My advice - try to visit their original location as an early bird special: mon- thurs if possible, as soon as they open, or as close to it as you can get. If you visit on a Friday and Saturday night, be prepared to wait. They take zero reservations and the line outside the door is lengthy. Worth the wait; Yes! But Keep in mind our extreme summer temps may - oct, zero indoor waiting, only outside - it gets hot n muggy real quick out there. Newbs: If you are hesitant about ordering "pear pasta" join the club, I was too. My first visit I ordered the special and was extremely pleased. I had a taste of a friends pear pasta, Wow! Flavor explosion in your mouth; no exaggeration. So hear me out - what do you choose when deciding between the special, and their most famous pear pasta? F'ing don't! Get both, order the whole damn menu and take some stuff ToGo. Order a pear pasta for the table, either as an app or a shared entree, and order the special too. Eat a little or all. Or order pear pasta togo. Don't make hard decisions when it comes to treating yourself. You will thank yourself the next day while eating delicious leftovers. My extremely small, caring criticism that I think they could do better - bread. I'm not a huge fan of their bread. It's "meh" for an Italian restaurant. When you think Italian, you think fresh baked, savory bread that melts into your mouth. I'm gonna say, I don't love it. It's the fries to a good hamburger ya know. We crave those puffy clouds of carbs. We like to dip the bread in the sauce, soak it up, savor every minute of enjoyment. No crumb left behind. That's my two cents no one asked for. The bread is not giving big D energy like every app and entree is. It's the red headed step child. We love the red headed step child, but let's help her y'all. Let's give her a glow up - make her special! Also; get a dessert. The presentation alone is impressive. Just do it.
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Kate M.

Yelp
Food was awesome, service was fantastic, loved the ambiance inside. Will definitely come back!
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Anna B.

Yelp
Years later and this is still my favorite place to eat in Jacksonville. I take all my out of town guests here and when my husband and I get back from a big trip, this is the first place we like to go to feel back at home. There is always going to be a line so you'll need to plan accordingly. If you've never been here I recommend the Arancini for an app, Pear Fiocchi for your main, and I personally really like the Sangria Bianca for my drink- it's light and refreshing. The inside is small and intimate. The staff are friendly and helpful. This is a great date night spot!
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G.erilyn L.

Yelp
I'm BACK! This time I sat at the bar with my friend. The energy just hits different at the bar. I was craving my usual Creamy Chicken Pesto and had the Red Sangria during the meal and for dessert (don't judge me!) The bartenders and servers were AMAZING as ALWAYS and our food came out SUPER fast and I think I inhaled it just as fast. Things I learned this visit: *There are purse hooks under the bar. *They have gluten free pasta options. *Opening a Nocatee location soon. (I think I had heard this already, but if you didn't know, now you know). I mean... if you haven't been. What are you waiting for?

Cara E.

Yelp
Not impressed. I've been to the San Pablo location once before and wasn't impressed then either. The inside vibe and ambience of this place is really lacking in seating and decor... But my sister wanted to go for her birthday. We were a group of only 3 people. We arrived at 4:15 so we could get in line outside. They open at 5. They don't take reservations and the seating is very limited and it's first come first served. The food service was very slow, it took forever for our food to come out which was wild since we were the first ones to be seated. Pear fiocchi was good but it wasn't something I would keep coming back for. The arancini was good too... but everything was just "ok" for the price. The food was mediocre and forgettable. The one thing I won't forget, however was how much the bill was, $150.00 (including tip) for three entrees, 3 fountain drinks, and one appetizer. Absolutely over priced for food that was pretty average. But the biggest complaint was how the wait staff tried to rush us through our meal, no doubt to try and get the other people waiting in line to come in and be seated. Although it took half a century for our food to get to our table, they brought the entrees out while we were still eating the appetizer. Then, they came and cleared the bread, didn't ask if we were finished, they tried to come clear our plates and ask us for to-go boxes before we even fished eating our entrees. We felt like after we were done eating we couldn't even sit and relax and catch up with each other. The time we spent waiting outside was longer than the amount of time we spent inside eating our dinner!!!! The wait staff took our drinks... what a waste of a Saturday night. We ended up going to Crumble Cookies afterward and that somewhat redeemed our evening. Next time we will stick to our favorite go-to for Italian which is Poppies. If you're looking for great Italian food, with a relaxed ambiance, competitive menu pricing, and wait staff who are really chill, then go to Poppies and save yourself the headache.
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Wayne H.

Yelp
This place is so consistently amazing both in service and food. Took my son and DIL there last night after bragging how good it was forever. They did not disappoint! Everything was excellent. A special shout out to Jimmy, our server. He made sure everything was perfect as usual!
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Barry N.

Yelp
Amazing food, service and management. Not much I can add. Nice wine selection and prices. Felt like we were appreciated from the moment we arrived. -Barry Newman

Haley D.

Yelp
From the moment we walked in, to the moment we got the check the service was Impeccable!!! I can't tell you the last time I had such amazing service at a restaurant other than the high end ones in Saint Augustine. We got there early, around 4:20 pm and were first in line. It started filling up outside after and by the time 5pm hit had a pretty decent crowd waiting to get in. So I'd recommend getting there early. The food 10/10. It felt as if we were in a small hole in the wall restaurant in Chicago. I loved the atmosphere (chatty and loud) but it wasn't a bother! Everyone had a smile on their face around us. RUN, don't walk. If you haven't already been...you're missing out on a hidden gem.
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Bobbie T.

Yelp
After a couple failed attempts, we finally got into Catullo's. We started off with the aranchinis. Why these aren't more of a thing in the U.S. amazes me. Theirs did not disappoint. It had a nice spice to it. The mariners was spot on. We did the gnocchi special with sun dried tomatoes and fennel. It was good. Good. Not great. The gnocchi was a bit dense. We also ordered the pear Feocke...the server said it was their most ordered dish. I didn't care much for it but the hubs enjoyed. Atmosphere was fine. Small. The service was friendly. Try the bread.
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Frank M.

Yelp
This place was recommended by a co-worker, the fact they had Arancini on the menu more than peeked our interest. Please take this review with a "grain of salt" as our standards for Italian are quite elevated, and the fact that we ate here and rated the place says the food was great! The experience is of this restaurant was amazing, the service was awesome, the food better than most in the Jacksonville area, top 5 even! The food more on the gourmet side than traditional authentic side, delicious nonetheless! Again it will take a lot on the food side to get 4 stars or higher from me when it comes to Italian food. With that being said, this place is definitely worth trying!

Linda F.

Yelp
Food and service were great. Exactly as we expected. ambiance was ok, a little loud. They don't take reservations so get there early.
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Jackie R.

Yelp
Always such a hit. We no longer live in Jacksonville, but whenever we come visit, we make it a point to stop here! We've eaten inside around the time they first opened which was such a nice experience. But now, with 2 kids, we've been getting it to-go in the last couple years and it's STILL fire. My favorites are the pear fiocchi. SO so creative. I always say I'm gonna try to recreate something similar at home. But man this just is unique and delicious, I love it. The arancini is also delicious with a hint of spiciness. I like to bring their bread home and turn it into garlic bread! This most recent time we went, I placed an online order for the gnocchi with no Calabrian chilies bc it was for my kids. They had made it with the chilies, but without hesitation remade it the way I asked for it - with the rosado sauce. Always a hit! Def recommend. Can't wait to come back next time we're in town
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Heather G.

Yelp
I have been a handful of times and saw the special on Facebook knowing darn well I needed to try it. Decided to go on a more likely slow night...Halloween. I sat at the bar so it was nice and chill. Steven was awesome and attentive. I ordered the special of Cappellacci Alla Zucca Violina and OH.MY.GOD! It was sooooo good. Like so good. I can't tell you how good it was. I can only describe by the way I used my bread to clean my plate. I know it's only on special a few more days, but I'm seriously contemplating getting it again. I would say better than the pear fiocchi. Get you some if you can!
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Edith L.

Yelp
I was greeted at the door by Andrew an amazing host, luv the bartender Steve, I sat down for dinner was greeted by Mark C. Very family oriented & the brother Dave C. Also came by as well, first time with personal greetings by owners, which was impressive! Dinner was highly recommended & was a great choice! Delicious! Definitely coming back for another visit. Thank you.
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Heidi G.

Yelp
We enjoyed our 2nd visit tonight. We had each a salad (vinaigrette was popping & lettuce& tomatoes very fresh!). Also had meatball starter with garlic sauce. I had the cauliflower pasta which was ok. Hubs had the chicken pesto pasta he loved it. Had the rose which was ok, nothing to write home about, hubs had Pinot noir, he enjoyed it . Service from busboy, server and everyone was super friendly, nice & welcoming. They thanked us for coming in, 3x!!! Must be bc they expected no one on a hurricane night! Thank you. We will be back for sure. Many thanks
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Christos L.

Yelp
This is a hidden gem in a location where not much culinary activity is happening, as it's sort of in between downtown and the beaches. The place is cute, small, and very inviting inside. Being a smaller restaurant it is expected that wait times are a little above normal, even on traditionally less busy days/times. We went for our wedding anniversary on a Monday around 8pm and we're at our table by 8.35. The staff is very attentive and friendly. The food was excellent and very flavorful without being heavy on your stomach afterwards. We had the mozzarella appetizer. Being so late into the evening I found the crostini a bit more chewy than crusty, and I asked for regular bread instead. It is understandable and I'm sure if we were there at 5pm the crostini would be perfect. This is the only criticism of my whole experience. Everything else was perfect. The pear pouches pasta dish was delicious and was complex in textures which made it even more interesting. My wife's creamy chicken pesto was amazing as well and not heavy at all which was great. The cannoli was fresh and delicious as well, with a little more cinnamon taste than most places. The presentation of the dishes was appropriate and upscale without being over the top which is totally fine for the price point. A great gesture was that they offered us Prosecco at the end in nice flutes for our anniversary. Great experience, delicious food, at an affordable price, in a nice and intimate atmosphere. Will be returning soon!
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Tonya S.

Yelp
The food, atmosphere and wine were superb. We had an amazing evening and can't wait to return to Jacksonville for another visit.
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Gary D.

Yelp
We got here at 3:45 on a Saturday in order to be seated early when they open at 4pm. Otherwise the waits can be up to 3 hours, yes that's right 3 hours on a Saturday night. We had read the reviews and heard great things about this place so we had to try it out. We had gone a couple of Saturdays before and arrived at 5:30 and were told it was 3 hours. Needless to say we didn't stay. It's good but honestly not so good that it's worth the long waits. I had the sausage and peppers and the pasta in the dish was delicious and the dish itself was very good. The other couple with us had lasagne and another dish which I can't recall right now and enjoyed it but felt they weren't out of this world good. My significant other had the peposo and thought it was very salty. The service is good, the restaurant itself is fairly small and loud on a Saturday night. They serve complimentary bread but nothing such as oil or butter with it. The prices are reasonable and they only serve beer and wine, not a full bar. We live in Nocatee so we won't make the trek back to this location but will give their new Nocatee location a try when it opens.
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John B.

Yelp
Foods not that great, have to wait in line to get in and tables are placed so close together you can't carry on a conversation with who you're dining with
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Christopher T.

Yelp
Jacksonville! Small restaurant, opens at 5:00 and we were in line at 4:30 to get a table and we were second to last to get a table. We tried two other times at 6:00pm and they had a 1' 45" minute wait. Handmade pasta, fresh burrata, veal briaciola, wedding soup, amazing.... Amazing arancini with Calabrian chili risotto and goat cheese. I haven't had a Sfogliatella in a couple years. Either way whomever is making the Sfogliatella at Catullo's Italian is amazing! I purchased two more orders to bring home. Highly recommended to anyone wanting Italian food here in Jax! @catullos_italian you are rock stars!
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Monica M.

Yelp
The "line" is fake. They let 2-4 tables in after cryptically opening 1 blind. Then 2-4 more tables are let in.,, creating an illusion Outback Created 30 years ago. Food comes out too fast because it's not cooked! After which,there's no line . Undercooked sticky pasta. Raw garlic in the sauce. Kids pasta was undercooked swimming in butter, swimming. Flat water comes in Aquapan- which I'm good with, why not the cap?! This a an expensive joke. Carrabba's is consistent. Jax doesn't know good food. Ambience- the cryptic seating created an illusion it's full & in demand. It's loud, crowded & go elsewhere. 1 out of 10
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Jessica V.

Yelp
Favorite. Restaurant. In. Jax. Every birthday, every anniversary... any excuse to come to Catullos! We absolutely love the experience every time. The service is incredible and the food is even better. Only downside is that they don't take reservations so you've got to get there right before it opens or have a late dinner. There's also first come first serve bar space. I've never had anything I didn't love here but my absolute favorite is the pear fiocchi add Calabrian pepper. YUM! It's the perfect mix of sweet, savory and spicy. Nice selection of Italian wines (my fave) and bottles of wine are reasonably priced. Highly recommend Catullos!