Restaurant Reviews
Reviewed 3/7/07 Via Italia
FINE DINING WITH "CASUAL ELEGANCE" Awarded "Best Dessert" by A Taste of Manatee with a second for both "Entrée" & "Appetizer" This cozy eatery in Bradenton boasts quite a following! And for those vacationing on Anna Maria and Longboat Key, you're not far away! Seamlessly hidden in a tiny strip mall on Manatee Avenue, this charming eatery is easily overlooked. But, if you do so...you'll miss something very special. For this little gem serves up some wonderful fare! Our waitress proudly relayed the specials of the evening as she provided us some excellent glasses of house Chiani from a great selection of wines. We perused the menu while dipping yeasty bites of foccacia bread in tangy balsamic and oil. Starters included mussels served in a spicy red or white sauce, artichokes baked with four cheeses, portobellos with gorgonzola, vine ripe tomatoes with mozzarella or calamari with marinara. So as not to over-eat, we opted to share something light as in the Bruschetta Della Sera. Four thick crispy slices burgeoning with chopped tomato, garlic, onion and herbs. The tasty morsels maintained a crispy exterior while the vegetable topping had a refreshing bouquet. The menu continues with a soup of Pasta e Fagioli, three varieties of salad, followed by a magnificent assortment of entrees. The specials featuring sautéed grouper and Filet mignon with Chianti sauce definitely struck a chord. But, we preferred to partake directly from the menu. Believe it or not...with six Pasta dishes, a scintillating collection of fresh stuffed raviolis, lasagna and multiple signature dishes of fish, chicken and veal...we were in a quandary! Fortunately, our experienced server was not ruffled in the least as we forged ahead with house salads bathed in light vinaigrette. On a previous visit, I feasted on a succulent Sea Bass with fresh tomatoes and little neck clams in white wine. I also sampled ravioli Aragosta, lobster stuffed with a marinara cream that was sublime… as well as an exceptional breast of chicken called “Pollo Asiago”; featuring broccoli, asiago and mozarrella cheeses finished with a red wine sauce. The men in our group ordered the Linguine Alle Vongole! A generous quantity of sautéed baby clams (donning their shells) on a bed of linguine tossed with garlic olive oil and white wine! Fortunately, I had a few samples. Never have I experienced such freshness and perfection when it comes to these little morsels. One usually finds an occasional chewy member of the batch but these were down right DELECTABLE! As for the ladies... The Vitello Ai Funghi is exquisite. Pounded thin, lightly dredged in flour and sautéed to perfection, these veal medallions were complimented by a kiss of Marsala and dressed with plump fresh shrooms. Dessert was a no brainer. Although tiramisu is excellent, the canolli is out of this world! The creamy ricotta filled shell drizzled with warm chocolate and a dusting of powered sugar is a sight to behold! Large enough for two...each mouthful provided a wonderful melange of velvety, sweetness and crunch. I suggest you go out of your way to find this wonderful experience! You won't regret it!
Italian Cuisine
VIA ITALIA 6777 Manatee Ave., W. Bradenton 941-792-5332 reservations $$$ D Italian Cuisine	A Taste of Italy – Simply the Best! "The food is 'bellisimo' according to Taste, Dining & Travel Magazine"
Lunch: Monday through Friday Dinner: Monday through Saturday Barrier-free access VISA, MasterCard & American Express credit cards accepted

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