Tornatore's Pizzeria

3818 Edgewater Dr.

Orlando, FL 32804
(407) 292-2248
View Website Here

Back in 2015, Celebrity Chef Robert Irvine gave Tornatore’s a makeover on the Food Network’s Ambush Episode of Restaurant Impossible.

Sometimes these restaurants will stay open for a bit, then close, because the ownership reverts to their old ways. This is not the case with Tornatore’s Pizzeria, as owner Denny Tornatore and his staff have continued with the changes Chef Irvine recommended and are turning out some pretty darn good Italian eats.

At Tornatore’s, they stress the importance of making everything from scratch, including homemade pastas and even fresh mozzarella by hand.

The menu here is filled with delicious signature dishes like Tortellini Tornatore, Chicken Riggies, Lasagna, Veal Parmesan, and a wide variety of specialty pizzas all made fresh. “Everything from Scratch” is their unique point of difference. 

Of course we had to start with Garlic Knots. These were very large, but nonetheless light and airy with plenty of fresh garlic, oil and a side of marinara for dipping.

The Antipasto Plate was very good, with capicola, salami, prosciutto, roasted red pepper, fresh burrata mozzarella, tomatoes and kalamata olives.

We enjoyed the Fried Calamari that was very tender, lightly breaded and fried golden, served with banana peppers and roasted red peppers.

While waiting for our entrees to arrive, we ordered a slice of cheese pizza. Tornatore’s has quite a reputation for good pizzas, like those you would get in New York, and I can see why. This was a thin and crisp cracker like crust that held up really well and was delicious. Next time we are definitely ordering a whole pie… maybe a Leah’s Pie with Mozzarella, sausage, roasted red pepper, caramelized onion.

Our first entree was the Capellini Primavera with homemade capellini pasta, carrots, broccolini, spinach, onions, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, peas & cabbage in a garlic and oil sauce. This had great flavors and was very rich, while also not being a too hearty pasta dish.

We also ordered a side of Broccolini & Fresh Garlic sauteed in oil that was a tasty treat along with our pasta dishes.

Admittedly, I was a bit upset to learn they were out of Veal Parmesan, but my back up order of Rigatoni with marinara sauce and an incredibly delicious Italian sausage made me pretty happy.

Stop in to Tornatore’s sometime, you can watch them make pasta the way it’s been done for centuries in the time honored traditional way. They also have plenty of traditional Italain desserts as well. The food here was exceptional, and we loved the quaint small hometown atmosphere.

Tornatore’s is closed on Monday, Tuesday to Thursday they are open from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm, Friday they are open till 10:00 pm, Saturday from 4:00 pm 10:00 pm, Sunday 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

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Caffe Positano -Sanford

1665 WP Ball Blvd.

Sanford, FL 32771
(407) 531-1151
View Website Here

Food is not a commodity at Caffé Positano’s…it’s a passion. Owned by two brothers and two cousins, the authentic Italian foods and flavors of Positano, Italy have been brought to Central Florida.

Close friends since childhood, these family members prepare food with only the finest ingredients. Virtually each meal is prepared for you as you order. There are no pre-cooked or pre-packaged foods in this kitchen.

The sauces are made fresh each day; the house salad dressing is made from scratch with olive oil, red vinegar, and seasonings, and then whipped into a creamy consistency. No thickeners or cream are added.

Vegetables are cooked “AL DENTE”, which means they are not over cooked, in order to retain vitamins, flavor, and texture. They use only the finest imported Italian pasta, and Gnocchi, which can often be heavy, but here it is melt in your mouth and as light as a feather and is made fresh daily in house.

The use of extra virgin olive oil is a must and they do not use any type of tomato paste. Be assured that only the finest ingredients are used to prepare your meal. In an age where pre-cooked and pre-packaged foods are the norm, you can come to Caffé Positano’s and enjoy a relaxed environment with a freshly cooked meal…the way it’s supposed to be.

The Apopka Location is the original, and offers a bit more of a higher end sit down and eat restaurant experience, whereas the Sanford location is a straight up cafe. They do have plenty of seating and table service, but it's more of a cafe environment than the original in Apopka. 

The Garlic Knots here are top notch! Loaded with butter, garlic and Parmessan, these things will disappear fast.

The Caprese was simple and delicious with fresh sliced tomato, thick slices of fresh Mozzarella, olive oil, basil and black olives.

We really enjoyed the Calamari, Nice and lightly battered with a good crispness and not chewy at all.

The Eggplant Rollatini was awesome as well, with eggplant stuffed with Ricotta cheese and topped with mozzarella and tomato sauce.

Stromboli was simply amazing. You can order this in a variety of ways, this one was a simple pepperoni, mushrooms and extra cheese. The dough was buttery and magnificent, and it was fully loaded. 

Surprisingly, the hot wings, and the curly seasoned fries here were quite impressive as well.

The Baked Lasagna with Ricotta, Mozzarella Cheese and Meat Sauce was quite delicious.

I love a good Veal Parmigiana, but it is getting increasingly harder to find. The one at Caffe Positano is on the money...delicately smashed, breaded, fried, and served with the right amount of tomato sauce and pasta, puts this dish in my favorites category.

We really enjoyed the simplicity of the Sanford location with great service and even better food. This place is good for a quick bite, or a sit down and eat meal with the family. 

My next venture shall be to the original in Apopka, but I was very impressed with the Sanford spot.

Caffe Positano Sanford is open on Monday to Thursday from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm, Friday and Saturday they are open to 10:30 pm, and Sunday they are open from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm.

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