Apulia Osteria Italiana

Authenticity is always one of my considerations in addition to the reasons for high ratings. The specials show the culinary skills of the chef and that was obvious: Pasta made with squid ink….outstanding!!! We look forward to our next outing there.

My wife and I had dinner at Apulia last week. It was the best Italian meal I have had in the area. Carmelos in Punta Gorda was my number 1 but now Apulia is the best. The decor is very nice and the maitre d Michael wore a suit and tie. Nice touches. We had vodka martinis to start and they were made perfectly. We split lobster ravioli as our appetizer and we shared a chicken parm plate and cavetelli with crab. All 3 were superb. Creme brulee finished off our excellent meal. Our waiter Michael was helpful and attentive. Chef Dario came out to greet the customers and we told him how happy we were. We will be back.

Will be one of our favorites. Reina is an excellent bartender/waitress. Will call ahead to make sure she is there and she can take care of us and guess. The food is awesome. Good wine selection.

First time customers based on an Airbnb recommendation. Annie, our server, was wonderful. So very helpful and attentive. Loved everyone of her recommendations. Food was spectacular. Will definitely be back.

My family and I went for a diner and the food was outstanding. We had diner specials recommend by the waitress . Congratulations to the Chef and entire restaurant staff . We had a great time!!!! We high recommend and can't wait to come back again !!

The fried calamari is the spectacular! So fresh & delicately battered 🤌💕

Last night was my third time at Apulia. It was Valentine’s Day and the place was at capacity. We had a reservation so we were seated almost immediately. Our server was obviously busy, but she was friendly and efficient. We got our drinks in a reasonable amount of time. I had the pork chop. Actually, I’ve had it all three times I’ve been there. That’s three PERFECT pork chops on three occasions. I am always tempted to get something else, but a perfect chop is a wonderful thing…The green beans and roasted potatoes that came with it were also spot-on. Our family always shares samples of their meals, so I got try: Classic lasagna- this was made with bechamel and bolognese sauce, not gobs of ricotta that you get at most other places. This is the classic Italian version of lasagna and it was great. I don’t know if the pasta was made in house, but given the quality of their ingredients and their attention to detail I would be surprised if it were not. - pasta bolognese: a very well-executed, authentic Bolognese. The texture was perfect. I pride myself on my Bolognese (from Marcella Hazan’s cookbook), so I know that you have to pay attention to it over a long time to make it as well as they did. Excellent. Again, I assume the pasta was made in-house. - Veal Limone I didn’t get to sample it, but the person who ordered it was very happy with it. This dish is a specialty at his favorite restaurant where he lives in Maine, so that was high praise! - Roast Chicken breast with mushroom ravioli and asparagus: this was a daily special. The ravioli were lovely, served in a creamy, saffron sauce. From the menu description, I was expecting to see a roasted chicken breast, but it was in small pieces in the sauce. Tasted great regardless. As I said, the place was hopping, full of couples out for Valentine’s Day dinner. Despite the pressure, the wait staff handled it well, the kitchen didn’t miss a beat (all six entrees hit the table within 2 minutes of each other), the manager came by to make sure we were happy. To me, any place that can nail a pork chop and make wonderful lasagna has me hooked.

Wonderful dining experience on our Anniversary 6/30. Have been a fan of Chef Dario for a long time. We visited his other restaurant Rossini’s many times was so glad we were finally able to visit Apulia. The restaurant’s atmosphere was great and welcoming. Our waitress Melissa was very knowledgeable and attentive. We had the Calamari and Eggplant Parmigiana that was excellent and was surprised with a special dessert in honor of our anniversary. Chef Dario and his wife Sheila always makes us feel like family. Congratulations on your new restaurant. Bill and Gail Ross

I've eaten here a few times and it's always a great experience! It's an upscale Italian restaurant run by a renowned Italian chef with a great service & friendly staff. The food is always amazing, and considering how much it costs to exist in the world today, the prices are reasonable for an upscale restaurant which gives you plenty of bang for your buck. I always leave stuffed and happy. Everything is delicious and fresh, from appetizers to dessert. I never have to wait long for my food. They have a great wine selection and bar as well. They take reservations, which is great during season in Florida when it's crowded with folks on vacation. I can't say enough good things about Apulia! It's my favorite Italian restaurant!

Finally a great local restaurant where you get what you pay for. An upscale varied chef inspired menu with a good wine list. The octopus cucumber appetizer melted in your mouth. My lobster ravioli were the best ever. My wife’s eggplant parm was perfectly prepared and soft. Not the breaded & fried version you become accustom to. The only problem with the desert menu is we only ordered one to share. It was the highlight. The staff was attentive & friendly. So happy we were recommended to Apulia Osteria out of season. I guarantee by season you won’t be able to get a reservation .

Wow! What an amazing New Year’s Eve event! Thank you for the perfectly beautiful evening which was exquisitely paired with delicious food and wine. It was delightful to be part of an event that showcased your passion for food and sharing your creations with others. Both you and your wife are lovely and the wait staff was attentive and fun as well. We fully enjoyed every aspect of the evening! Thank you! Happy New Year!

We (wife & I) were later than usual.. (This was our 5th visit in the last 3 months). We had our eye on the grouper special,, but they had just served the last one while we were enjoying our 1st glass of wine... Sarah & Finn both recommended the pork chop, so we tried it. Glad we did! it was thick, tender and perfectly prepared. Came with roasted potatoes and a nice mushroom glaze/sauce... We added a salad and shared all. We sat at the bar this time, and service was great! We highly recommend Apulia... it's our new favorite spot in the Englewood/Placida area!

We have enjoyed delicious meals and great drinks, wine, and service many times at Apulia. Tonight my husband got a carryout because i was too tired to go out for dinner…fresh crispy Caesar salad, and pollo ai funghi (chicken marsala with mushrooms). He enjoyed chatting with Finn (great bartender) and dinner was so delicious! Highly recommend! 👍🙂

Food, 10 out of 10! service, 12 out of 10! Thanks Annie for making our dinner extra special! If you haven’t been, make it a point to go.

Thank you, Apulia, for always shining bright with your simple, Italian dishes. Dario is a true professional chef. Fresh, hot, & perfect meals every single time. Also a special shout out to Finn for being the most gracious bartender and friend. I’m sorry I don’t have photos to post, but I’ll be back to post more. I was so hungry. I forgot to take pictures 😂 . -Karlee and Tim Fielding

Please don’t cook tonight. Any night of the week is perfect for Apulia. The menu was not overwhelming but had great choices. Started with some beautifully prepared apps. We had the lobster ravioli ala-vodka (home made of course) and the veal piccata. Just the right amount of deliciousness at very reasonable prices. Our server Michelle was outstanding as well as the rest of her attentive staff and chef. Beautiful and romantic setting. Perfect for date night. Or any night. Good luck to all of you at Apulia. Bravo!

Loved our meal, the vibe and the service! We were so glad we stopped here for dinner. Had the three course special and a glass of wine and could not have asked for a more relaxing and delicious meal. Service was superior and to top it off the owner came out and chatted with us! Wow! Can’t wait to go back!

Wonderful meal! I had the lobster ravioli and my husband the chicken marsala. The patrons all seemed a happy bunch- lots of laughter and chatter all around us. A shout out to Thomas who poured our water and brought us our meals. His beautiful smile, exceptionally warm manner and incredibly hard work will take him far! The world needs more Thomases.

If you're into real authentic Italian food you can't beat this place. I was there this past Thursday night and had a fabulous dinner. On the way out I had the opportunity to meet the owner and chef he was very hospitable and humble as we complimented him and his staff.

One of My All-Time Favorites in Florida! I make a point to visit this restaurant every time I’m in Florida, and it never disappoints. It’s truly one of my top spots—everything on the menu is excellent. The chef, originally from Puglia, Italy, clearly knows his craft—the flavors and presentation are always on point. The service is consistently great, the drinks are well-made, and the wine selection is impressive. If you’re lucky, you might be able to attend one of their wine tasting dinners—we went on September 22nd and it was absolutely fantastic. We're picking up our bottles this evening and looking forward to yet another outstanding dinner.

I came here tonight with my husband and we had a great meal. We just got married last night and this was our first dinner date as a married couple. Shan couldn’t have been sweeter and accommodating. Food was delicious and the establishment was very hospitable over all

Service, food and drinks were amazing. We were treated like we were the only couple in the restaurant. Fresh, scratch made food at its finest. We are truly lucky to have this fine dining establishment so close to us.

We had dinner there last night and we loved it! We've been eating lasagna for most of our lifes and this one by far is the most exquisite one we've had hands down! We had leftovers for lunch today and it was as delicious as last night! The veal parmigiana and the pasta that came with it was also excellent! Our server was also great. Unfortunately I can't remember her name. We can't wait to go back time and time again!

We returned to Apulia last night and again we weren't disappointed! Food was excellent and our servers Kim and Rayna were again awesome! We only have 1 complaint and that's not being able to order the lasagna whenever we want lol! It's so delicious! We highly recommend this restaurant. We also met It's General Manager and found him to be very friendly and accommodating!

We have lived in the area for a while and never had the chance to stop, after hearing so many recommendations for others we finally decided to give it a try. We are so glad we did, from the second you are greeted it’s obvious this restaurant really cares about the quality of its overall product. The service was great, the atmosphere is very nice but the food is the star, everything was absolutely fantastic and exceeded what I was expecting even after so many recommendations. They are definitely one of the more pricey places you will eat, and they are worth every penny. Will definitely be coming back and recommending this place to anyone looking for a very special meal.

Very friendly staff, the owner comes out from the kitchen to meet you (they r from Italy), the food is excellent. Have already been back a few times & have taken family there for their first visit.

Gravy like grandma made! The selection of entrees is amazing! Wines, well bellisimo! Michael our waiter is so happy, pleasant and feels like a family member! I’m saying add a lil Italian soft music and you are there! Finest dining experience in the area!

We went on lasagna night which is a special they do periodically. Can't say that I ever had lasagna that was any better than this. It was marvelous!! Many other things on the menu I want to try!

Nice selection. Timely service and nicely appointed dining experience. The seafood special was terrific. I also tasted the veal and raviolis. Both very good.

I didn't know where else to put a reply to the chef. First, ty for your reply. The menu I had said $36 and my server and I even discussed it because I thought it was way too expensive for eggplant. However, after she explained it and how good it was, she had talked me into it, so I ordered it. Prefer eggplant Parm by far. So, you might have to change the menus, because if I come in again, I would expect an acknowledged mistake to be corrected. Ty If I could have, I would have rated a 4.8 because there is always room for improvement. I really felt that my three little thin pieces of eggplant should not cost $36 and I forgot it came with spaghetti which I don't like (not much of a pasta person. It was ok but not nearly as good as eggplant cutlets. I won't order it again. However, the Calamari was cooked PERFECT and although it was the highest I've paid for Calamari so far, the quantity matched the price. There was a lot PLUS there were 5 tentacles which are my favorite part!! Server was fantastic!! Definitely will come back when in that area to try something else, if I can find something I like cause I'm not a fan of a lot of pasta. Menu was small which really is a good thing, because it allows the chef to concentrate on making those few dishes excellent. I don't know this chef, but I hope he isn't arrogant like a lot of chefs. We will see. 😊

We did take out. Tried the food for the first time. The food was excellent. But.... our cesear salad was very very small. Very disappointing at a $12 charge.

We came in Tuesday 1-14 and had a reservation for three. Seated in the booth by back door and they put the dirty dishes on a table behind our booth. Looked at exit sign. So the ambiance was not what I expected. Food was good. Waiter good. Other tables open but we didn’t say anything since it was filling up but in the end they were still vacant. It was our second time there and a table not our preference after we sat there for awhile. Owner got in touch with me immediately and we worked it out.

They put enough garlic in everything to scare a vampire! Service was very attentive, and my husband’s triple tail piccata special was excellent. I don’t know if all the garlic came from the Caesar salad, we’ve had it before or the pasta. At any rate, tell the chef, less is more, please.

Service was great, food was ok. Gluten free pasta option was awesome but flavor and portion size wasn’t the best, especially for the cost. Chicken parm was great, beef bolognese was good, Clam linguine was ok. Out server was wonderful, and atmosphere was fun, but probably won’t try again.

Update! Since my earlier review we took our best friends to dinner and chose Apulia Osteria, and what a treat it was. Our service was above 5 stars and the food was spot on. We couldn't stop there and had to finish with dessert that put the whole evening over the top. Our server, Melissa, took such good care of us! Hopefully we can request her on our next visit.

Ordered take out and got here at stated time and ended up waiting another 20 min for our food. I asked if i should have called and he said they wouldn’t have answered because the guests that come in to eat come first not take out orders. Very rude. The last time we ate here and spent over $100 the waitress was very rude and rushed us to finish and get out. Food was great but the service needs a lot of work.

My husband and I wanted to split an entrée. There is an eight dollar fee to do this so I decided to get a salad which was $15. It was the size of a bread plate. We will not be going back to this restaurant.

We had a reservation and were seated at a small cocktail table. The server had difficulty just fitting drinks and two plates on it. We had the lasagna special; it was a small portion and very bland. Once our order was taken the waitress never came back. No checking on the food or drink refills, dessert, nothing. We flagged down another staff member who brought the check and that was it. A fairly pricey meal for poor service and bland food.

Worst food, poor management, chef sounds good, but produces poor quality. Three of us got the snapper special last night and Fish was cold, waiter told manager who told chef. Response was we can “reheat” verses cook it right and bring out a new fish. Any real chef knows you don’t reheat fish because will be over cooked and dry. The waiter was embarrassed by the manager’s response to buy us a drink. We came for the food, not a drink. There is a reason the place had so many open tables. Manager’s attitude was like it was our fault the food was cold. Chef Dario should correct his misleading website to say Poor Quality and get a new manager to represent him. Wait, the manager did represent chef Dario because it was the chef’s decision to not prepare the fish correctly.

My husband and I chose this restaurant to celebrate our 5 year anniversary, but unfortunately the experience was very disappointing. The food was overpriced and underwhelming, and we were seated next to a large, loud party which made it nearly impossible to enjoy our meal or even have a conversation. For two entrées, two appetizers, and two drinks, our bill came to $190 a price that would have felt fair only if the quality and atmosphere matched. Sadly, it did not. We left feeling frustrated rather than celebrated. I would not recommend this restaurant for a special occasion.