Antonio's Trattoria and Wine Bar

528 S Park Ave.

Winter Park, FL 32789
(407) 636-7222
View Website Here

Antonios Trattoria and Wine Bar started out as a place to grab a good slice of pizza, enjoy some salad and wings and a glass of wine or two. The inside was complete with exposed brick walls, a rather basic menu and red and white checkered tablecloths.

In the last few months, things have drastically changed, and they are now focused on a Trattoria Italian-style eating establishment that is generally less formal than a ristorante, but more formal than an osteria.

In Tuscany, a Trattoria rooted in tradition may typically provide no printed menu, casual service, wine sold by the decanter rather than the bottle, and low prices, with an emphasis on a steady clientele rather than on haute cuisine. Food tends to be modest but plentiful (mostly following regional and local recipes).

Inside Antonios is definitely more of an authentic Trattoria with the redo that was done. The walls have decorations on them, the red and white checkered tablecloths have been upgraded to white linen, and the vibe is definitely upscale, but still very casual with modest pricing, and the pizza is a thing of the past.

Food here focuses on traditional Northern and Southern Italian cuisine with dishes that reflect the regions very adequately. Sauces are made fresh with the highest quality ingredients delivered daily.

The heart of Antonio’s is in their food, they work hard and do good with simple cuisine that reflects the regions from which the food comes from. They are eager to share the family traditions with you and welcome you to the family, too.

I usually don't post about free complimentary bread offered at most restaurants, but this bread at Antonio’s was special. Fresh, Crisp, and loaded with Parmessan and a very fine Extra Virgin Olive Oil, I can gladly tell you, we ate the whole loaf.

I love a good Buratta, and the one served up here is pretty awesome. Burrata Pugliese E Parma Prosciutto features some exceptional Burrata, arugula, fresh tomatoes, Parma ham, roasted peppers and Modena balsamic reduction.

If you love a great Carpaccio, like I do, then look no more… Carpaccio di Manzo con Rucola and Parmigiano is simply amazing, this dish is made with thinly sliced filet mignon, arugula, shaved reggiano and truffle oil, and is hands down some of the best I've ever had.

Northern Italian fare is really based in Butter and Cream sauces, rather than traditional red sauces, and Tortellini con Panna E Piselli at Anthony’s is a great example of that, this is a magnificent pasta dish that is made with Veal stuffed tortellini, pancetta and peas in a reggiano cream sauce. This was simply outstanding.

On the left we have Filetto di Sogliola alla Francese, a Sole fillet Francese style in a chardonnay lemon sauce that was so flavorful and just fell to pieces when going for a bite, and a very great piece of Sole fillet. On the right is Scaloppine di Vitello alla Valdostana, a Veal scaloppini topped with prosciutto, fontina cheese and sage in chardonnay sauce over sautéed spinach.

Although we would have loved one of the many great desserts Antonio’s offers, like a fine cannoli, we settled for a really great espresso made with Julius Meinl coffee from Vienna, which was very strong, delicious and reinvigorating.

Whether you prefer a dish inspired by northern Italian cooking such as Tortellini con Panna E Piselli or a southern Italian delight inspired by the bright lively Mediterranean taste that most people associate with Italian cuisine, you’ll find the same commitment to bold yet balanced flavor common to all great Italian cooking at Antonio’s La Trattoria.

Antonio’s is closed on Monday. They are open Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 am to 10: 00 pm.

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Tornatore's Pizzeria

3818 Edgewater Dr.

Orlando, FL 32804
(407) 292-2248
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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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