Vote for your Favorite Italian Food in SoWal

kurt · 01-30-2009, 06:43 AM

I am including Pasta Grill which is over the line a bit in Bay County on the west end of Panama City Beach.

Panama City Beach - Pasta Grill
Inlet Beach - Spicy Noodle
Rosemary Beach - Onano Cafe
Seagrove Beach - Angelina's
Grayton Beach - Borago
Santa Rosa Beach - Enzo's
Santa Rosa Beach - Guglielmo's
Miramar Beach - Fat Clemenza's

Did I miss anyone? (pizza was covered in another poll, even though some of them also serve pasta).

We welcome all reviews. Please try to focus on the positives and be kind. Let the discussion begin!

____________________________________

P.S. - we appreciate all of you who share your experiences and give reviews on our forum. If you are interested in getting more involved and writing Restaurant Reviews for us, please let us know by contacting us!

Edit - Bud & Alley's Pizza Bar opened about 6 weeks after this poll began, so was not included. Read about it here - A PIZZA BAR IS BORN!!! Open for lunch & dinner in Seaside

sunspotbaby · 01-30-2009, 07:08 AM

We always go to Goooooglielmos. Hubby loves veal parm and not every restaurant serves it, but they do and it is awesome!

The Service is great as well.

Allifunn · 01-30-2009, 08:40 AM

I must confess, I have not been to most of these restaurants, so I can not make a good call just yet.

Fat Clemenzas is the best I've had out of the establishments I have been to.
(The BEST Italian food I have had is made by a cute little Italian wench I know

)

frank1971 · 01-30-2009, 09:37 AM

Enzo's baby!! Now that is some good living!!

SWGB · 01-30-2009, 11:30 AM

Hey kurt, can you make it a multiple choice poll? There are several I would choose on that list for various different reasons.

Thanks in advance.

30A Skunkape · 01-30-2009, 11:33 AM

I love Borago and Onano both, but I give Borago a nod because they have a full service bar which is a great spot to linger before or/(and

) after dinner.

SWGB · 01-30-2009, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 30A Skunkape

I love Borago and Onano both, but I give Borago a nod because they have a full service bar which is a great spot to linger before or/(and

) after dinner.

They serve dinner too?

goofer44 · 01-30-2009, 06:22 PM

Borago is awesome !! I like to watch Mark and the guys cooking. They really love what they do.

Beach Runner · 01-30-2009, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 30A Skunkape

I love Borago and Onano both, but I give Borago a nod because they have a full service bar which is a great spot to linger before or/(and

) after dinner.

And during dinner, if, for example, Duke/Wake is on TV, and Wake is winning (OH NO!).

swantree · 01-31-2009, 09:03 PM

for a family style type of dinner i would have to go with Spicy Noodle. i know we have been going there since it opened. it ain't fancy but it is well priced and the staff is always there to please!

POPS316 · 02-04-2009, 09:20 AM

I went to Enzo's the other night. The food was fantastic and more then we could eat. It is every bit as good as back home in New York. And to make it even better the atmosphere was warm and inviting. Very personal also.

John R · 02-04-2009, 09:23 AM

Borago should be included in this poll.

kurt · 02-04-2009, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John R

Borago should be included in this poll.

Borago has been in the poll from the start and is currently leading.

John R · 02-04-2009, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kurt

Borago has been in the poll from the start and is currently leading.

I'm slow, but i'm dumb. I was looking for B and not T. thanks.

joho · 02-04-2009, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allifunn

I must confess, I have not been to most of these restaurants, so I can not make a good call just yet.

Fat Clemenzas is the best I've had out of the establishments I have been to.
(The BEST Italian food I have had is made by a cute little Italian wench I know

)

Hey I know that little Italian wench and I'll have to agree with you!
Maybe we can get her to make some gorgonzola pasta for the river?
Hopefully I've planted the seed!

DebbieJo · 02-05-2009, 12:16 PM

Enzo's food was beyond suculent! Seems to be the locals family night place. Welcomes children, family oriented. Comfortable atmosphere for every mood. My favorite fish dinners are served at Enzo's aswell as awesome steak dishes. Pardon the spelling I just got my wine. I am so glad I here! Great place to end a long day with warm people and great food not to mention fine wine selections......salute'

Tootsie · 02-08-2009, 06:09 PM

oh, I need to be able to vote at least three times here for my absolute faves: Fat C's, Onano, and Pasta Grill. Borago is one of my all time favorite restaurants but do not consider it in the authentic Italian category, like the ones I've mentioned. They have their own unique twist, which is uniquely wonderful though.

Enzo's is also a favorite.

Fat C's is on my list of "things I can't live without".

Beach Runner · 02-08-2009, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tootsie

Fat C's is on my list of "things I can't live without".

Quite an endorsement! We thought about going there Friday night, but online it looks mainly like a pizza place. We didn't want to drive to Destin for pizza. I am obviously missing something. Please fill me in.

Miss Kitty · 02-08-2009, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tootsie

oh, I need to be able to vote at least three times here for my absolute faves: Fat C's, Onano, and Pasta Grill. Borago is one of my all time favorite restaurants but do not consider it in the authentic Italian category, like the ones I've mentioned. They have their own unique twist, which is uniquely wonderful though.

Enzo's is also a favorite.

Fat C's is on my list of "things I can't live without".

Well puck...take me this Spring!

RiverOtter · 02-09-2009, 04:01 PM

I don't feel my vote would be fair. I've only been to a couple of those.

hnooe · 02-09-2009, 06:10 PM

PASTA GRILL/ PASTA GRILL/
PASTA GRILL

--First, second, and third place!!! Hands down--been to them all (Borago's great! but not real Italian)--NO CONTEST!

*only negative--they need crustier, real Italian bread--I think they succomb to the wishes of the standard PCB tourist in that dept.

Tootsie · 02-09-2009, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beach Runner

Quite an endorsement! We thought about going there Friday night, but online it looks mainly like a pizza place. We didn't want to drive to Destin for pizza. I am obviously missing something. Please fill me in.

they should have had a dinner menu on their website. the lunch menu is pizza, hot sandwiches and salads, soups. (the pizza is to die for made by hand by adorably hot italian men (seriously) and cooked right in the brick wood fired oven.). dinner includes fish and pasta specials, pizza, veal and chicken marsala, etc., lasagna, canelloni, stuffed shells, several pastas, and real homemade desserts that will make you slap somebody. everything made by hand.

reservations a must on weekends (it is so discovered by locals and tourists, and its pretty small).

we shall have to take Miss Kitty.

Fat C's

Hnooe is right about Pasta Grill too. I need to get back over there and soon. It's awesome and so authentic. the owner is from Italy and has an incredible bakery next door. It's a close second in my line up of Italiano restaurants in the area. Onano is a really special dining experience and so delicious - it may be my first or second. I can't decide. these three are tied for first.

Amy@Avalon · 02-10-2009, 10:34 PM

Several places on the list have good "inspired by Italian" type food. I have been to Italy a few times and say that Fat Clemenza is the most authentic, not sure if that means best. It is hard to compare straight up without same dish competition. That being said-- I have never been disappointed in a meal at Fat C. Pasta Carbonara is a fave and all the desserts are killers.

BeachbumAggie · 02-11-2009, 09:23 PM

Fat C's has amazing wood grilled bread to start, hubby isn't a bread freak and he was fighting me for it! Hubby got pizza, it's like the pizza you get in Italy or France-different that your usual American pizza but oh so good. I got veal parm-2 pieces, one was tender and one was tough but the pasta and sauce was sooooo good that the meat could have walked off my plate and I wouldn't have cared!

Families, locals or frequent flyers since the staff seemed to know them. Our service was great and we'll be back in May!

Beach Runner · 02-11-2009, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tootsie

they should have had a dinner menu on their website. the lunch menu is pizza, hot sandwiches and salads, soups. (the pizza is to die for made by hand by adorably hot italian men (seriously) and cooked right in the brick wood fired oven.). dinner includes fish and pasta specials, pizza, veal and chicken marsala, etc., lasagna, canelloni, stuffed shells, several pastas, and real homemade desserts that will make you slap somebody. everything made by hand.

reservations a must on weekends (it is so discovered by locals and tourists, and its pretty small).

we shall have to take Miss Kitty.

Fat C's

Sounds like a wonderful idea! We love Italian food. And we love Miss K, too.

Miss K, I promise that Big D and I will not check Gator scores during the meal.

SWGB · 02-12-2009, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beach Runner

Sounds like a wonderful idea! We love Italian food. And we love Miss K, too.

Miss K, I promise that Big D and I will not check Gator scores during the meal.

Can we get that in writing? Do we have a notary in the house?

kurt · 04-08-2009, 09:02 AM

It may be unfair to add Bud & Alley's Pizza Bar at this late date, but you can read and leave reviews at A PIZZA BAR IS BORN!!! Open for lunch & dinner in Seaside

steele mama · 04-08-2009, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiverOtter

I don't feel my vote would be fair. I've only been to a couple of those.

Mine's not fair either, but I voted anyway!!!

Dave Rauschkolb · 04-14-2009, 06:00 AM

If we are excluded because we serve mostly Pizza I understand. Every poll must have guidelines. Even though the name is PIzza Bar we have Pasta, a large variety of Antipasti dishes and Italian Salads. On our trip to Rome, Naples and Ischia, an Island off Naples we ate amazing food and studied menus and created our menu from those experiences. Our goal is to create the most authentic Italian restaurant possible. I believe we were excluded from the Pizza Poll because we were not open yet. If we don't make it in then my vote is for Pasta Grill, it's the real deal. Thanks! P.S. I am not even going to try and pretend I am Italian. Pasta Grill is real Italian by real Italians.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kurt

I am including Pasta Grill which is over the line a bit in Bay County on the west end of Panama City Beach.

Panama City Beach - Pasta Grill
Inlet Beach - Spicy Noodle
Rosemary Beach - Onano Cafe
Seagrove Beach - Angelina's
Grayton Beach - Borago
Santa Rosa Beach - Enzo's
Santa Rosa Beach - Guglielmo's
Miramar Beach - Fat Clemenza's

Did I miss anyone? (pizza was covered in another poll, even though some of them also serve pasta).

We welcome all reviews. Please try to focus on the positives and be kind. Let the discussion begin!

____________________________________

P.S. - we appreciate all of you who share your experiences and give reviews on our forum. If you are interested in getting more involved and writing Restaurant Reviews for us, please let us know by contacting us!

kurt · 04-14-2009, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Rauschkolb

If we are excluded because we serve mostly Pizza I understand. Every poll must have guidelines. Even though the name is PIzza Bar we have Pasta, a large variety of Antipasti dishes and Italian Salads. On our trip to Rome, Naples and Ischia, an Island off Naples we ate amazing food and studied menus and created our menu from those experiences. Our goal is to create the most authentic Italian restaurant possible. I believe we were excluded from the Pizza Poll because we were not open yet. If we don't make it in then my vote is for Pasta Grill, it's the real deal. Thanks! P.S. I am not even going to try and pretend I am Italian. Pasta Grill is real Italian by real Italians.

Hi Dave, you were excluded because you were not open when the poll started. If you were added now you would likely not get the number of votes you deserve. I'd be happy to add you to the poll now but with only 2 weeks left for voting it might not look so good for you. We can start another poll at some point and include you.

Meanwhile, I added the link above to your review thread which has some powerful endorsements.
A PIZZA BAR IS BORN!!! Open for lunch & dinner in Seaside