We had a wonderful time at our first dining experience at Marcello Ristorante in Sarasota.
Every meal is prepared by Marcello, the restaurant’s chef and sole cook. “Nothing has been cooked in the kitchen except by me,” said Marcello. With only nine tables and a wine room seating 12, the restaurant is intimate.
We had a great time sitting at Marcello’s table, watching him cook along with his antics with his servers. It appeared to me they have a server per table! I enjoyed the flattened veal chop on the bone served with homemade pasta and arugula.
Make sure you make a reservation. Tables are booked many weeks in advance. I called three times leaving messages that I would take any available day, and after the third call Marcello called back and said, “You wanna sit with me?” which meant sitting at the bar edging the kitchen to watch him cook and to talk. This area sits three comfortably and four squished.
Enjoy! Call ahead!
Marcello Ristorante Italiano
4155 S. Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL 34231
— Francis X. Gallagher, CEO, Publisher
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