Il Ritorno

Had a special birthday dinner here. Food, service, and environment were wonderful! We had the beets, fish eggs, and octopus as starters...all were excellent. Main dishes were crab spaghetti, grouper, and the filet...absolutely perfect. Finally the banana French toast plus the vanilla/chocolate espresso dessert was decadent! Big thank you to Chef Dani and team for all that beautiful hard work back in the kitchen! Highly recommend and we will definitely be returning!

This is one of the few restaurants I’ve been to that left a long lasting impression on me. I was in St. Pete for work for a week and went here twice. The bartender was a passionate young guy who was incredibly enthusiastic and guided me through the meal- I ended up getting this agnolotti with goat cheese and crispy lamb belly on top - one of the most absolutely sensational bites of food I’ve ever had. I ended up coming back to St. Pete for New Years Weekend JUST for il Ritorno to have the tasting menu with the wine pairing. It was a true experience that I will appreciate forever. (This was in summer and winter of 2023). P.S. the tallow butter and bread alone is worth the meal!

I had the best meal of my life at Il Ritorno. The 10 course tasting menu is phenomenal and the wine pairing makes it even better. Martha P. was an excellent server, extremely knowledgeable about every course and wine pairing, she made our already exceptional experience even better. The manager poured a few of our wines and you could tell how truly passionate he was about good service, food, and wine. Every staff member we encountered was kind and knew every element of every dish. The food here is outstanding, but the service takes it to the next level.

Nothing but AMAZING thing to say! They 1000% deserve a Michelin star…absolutely blown away from start to finish. The food is INCREDIBLE, presentation is IMPECCABLE, service is UNMATCHED. As a couple with combined 30+ years restaurant experience, IL Ritorno is at the top of our list of best restaurant experiences hands down. Thank you Deborah, Joe, and Chef Dave for the wonderful experience!

I recently dined here and overall had one of the best restaurant experiences I’ve had in a while. The food was beautifully presented, everything looked very intentional, and the overall atmosphere felt polished and professional. You can tell the team takes pride in what they do. The manager was especially kind and welcoming, which really stood out and made a positive impression. The only downside was the attitude of the assistant and the host, which unfortunately didn’t match the high level of service shown by the rest of the team. Other than that, everything was wonderful, and I truly enjoyed my experience.

The food at Il Ritorno was truly incredible — every dish was beautifully prepared and full of flavor. Unfortunately, the service did not match the quality of the cuisine. After being seated for our 8:30 reservation, it took about 10 minutes before anyone greeted our table, and another 15–20 minutes before we received drinks or even bread. Throughout the rest of the evening, we noticed a consistent pattern of slow service, especially when it came to getting drink refills or placing additional orders. For the price point and reputation of this establishment, we expected a much more attentive and timely dining experience. Amazing food, but the service was subpar and disappointing for what you pay.

Il Ritorno delivers a creative, well-executed dining experience with some genuinely memorable dishes. The menu shows real imagination, and when it hits, it really hits. The tuna crudo and the butternut squash ravioli were standouts — beautifully balanced, flavorful, and worth returning for. That said, not every dish landed for us. There were one or two misses that didn’t quite justify the price point, which does lean a bit high for the portion sizes. Still, the overall experience was excellent: inventive combinations, solid execution, and a clear point of view from the kitchen. All things considered, it’s a great spot for a special night out, especially if you appreciate thoughtful, creative cooking and don’t mind paying a premium for it.

We were a large party. Everyone was very professional and kind. Drinks were good. Our server was excellent. Food was ok. One plate was sent back due to too much salt. Steak tartar was very good. My squash ravioli was very tasty. The Brussel sprouts were highly salted. The aged steak was ok. Not much flavor. This was our third time here. First 2 times, on point. This time, not so much. My husband and I will return, but the rest of our guests were not impressed.

We visited here for our anniversary in October 2025, and while the overall experience was OK, we both agreed we would not take the time to go back. The Pros: We went on a Monday night, so the restaurant was quiet and the service staff was very attentive. We were waited on right away and were even given a free glass of champagne each to celebrate our anniversary! The highlights of our meal included some fantastic bread, pasta, beautiful plating, and a great wine selection! The Cons: The rest of our meal, however, we would say was quite underwhelming. The salad was a bit bitter, and the octopus (while cooked absolutely perfectly) had a bit of a fishy flavor. But the real disappointment for us was the meatballs. We did not realize these came fried, and when they were served to us, we each had one bite and decided we did not particularly care for them. We kindly let our waitress know, and even though we left the entire remaining dish untouched, she did not offer any apologies or to take it off our bill. All in all, it is a nice meal. But for people like us who go to Michelin Guide restaurants all the time, we felt this missed the mark.

I was very disappointed with this place. I went with my husband to celebrate my birthday, and aside from the small portions—which I can understand—the food was simply not good. The plates are beautifully presented, but the flavors did not deliver. My husband ordered the New York strip, and I ordered the risotto. With the risotto, I couldn’t taste the truffle at all, even though it was shaved fresh at the table. The Parmesan was so strong that it completely overpowered the other flavors. As for the steak, while it was tender and cooked well, the flavors were off and the sauce did not complement the meat. The octopus appetizer was the highlight—delicious, though the portion was quite small, which aligns with their molecular/Michelin-style approach. The desserts were decent; I enjoyed the apple tart and the gelato. Overall, the experience was just okay. I would not return or recommend this restaurant. Considering the price, there are much better options available.