I’m from Venezuela and I grew up surrounded with Italian food, to the point I could wake up at 2 AM and go cook some pasta with it’s sauce from scratch.Since I moved to this country I’ve been struggling to find good Italian spots where I can go sit down and feel like home. Mucca Ballerina has been the most amazing recommendation my friends could’ve given me so far.Pasta is home made, breads are fresh. They do their oils with pesto, which makes it perfect for the quality of the bread.I tried the lasagna from my friend and I tasted the pasta’s flavor, the sauce, the meat and the spices. Everything had their own delicious taste and it was just wonderful.Pizza sizes are perfect.My carbonara wasn’t what I was expecting, since in my country we do the white sauce instead of the eggnog sauce, and we also use a different pasta, but to be something authentic from the Roman chef I simply loved it. I’ll love to try it again with a different pasta and extra ingredients. Vegetables.Drinks. Their water it’s good, even though I don’t like that type of water too much. I loved the way they serve Coca-Cola. And I’m definitely trying the wine next time.About customer service: they were very busy at the time we got there. We got a perfect seat. But food, drinks and check were a little delayed. This wasn’t happening to just us. They only had 2 servers and almost every table was full. What I loved about this fact, and the reason why I couldn’t even be upset about it, is because the chef and owner came out to help his boys. He talked to every table asking how they were feeling and how everything was. Maybe what could be better? I’m not sure. He seems like a very good man, and it made all of us feel like this place is more than just a restaurant.Going back next day off. Next time there will be wine and I hope to meet the owner too so I can congratulate him.

This is an incredible place! This was the best meal Ive had in a long time. Ravioli was to die for, wine and dessert were both excellant, and I loved the cozy vibe! All the food honesty looked amazing. We came here on last night of vacation but would have come every day of our trip in Sarasota if we had known about this gem

This food was excellent. The girl at the counter was very nice too. Normally folks dont cook pizza well with lots of toppings. This was an exception. Look forward to coming back here next time were in town.

Always out must visit when we go to Sarasota. In unassuming storefront on Main St but amazing authentic food. Never been disappointed. Shared several dishes tonight. Veal, Caico e pepe and lasagna which is something I can never not get. It is so good Don’t miss it!

My wife and I are in the Bradenton/Sarasota area for a few weeks during this visit. We hosted two sisters and a brother-in-law, and decided to take them to La Mucca. This was our fourth visit, and we have yet to be disappointed. PLEASE prepare yourself for an Italian/Rome like experience---very well paced (not hurried) evening. It is as much an event as it is a dinner/experience. The family is exceptionally friendly and welcoming, we feel as if we have known them for years. Our server (Julia, the oldest sibling) was very attentive to our requests and engaged easily with us during conversation. Note, she and my oldest sister were teaming up on me (the youngest :) ).No drinks ordered this night, so on to the food. The bread is wonderful; though I have never met bread I did not like. The rosemary focaccia is also tasty. We ordered calamari (lightly fried)--and the jalapenos/hot peppers mixed in gave most bites a nice touch of heat. Our other appetizer is our favorite appetizer--- the pizza burratina. The burrata cheese is so creamy, placed with the arugula--and the balsamic glaze sets off the flavors. The chicken Parm my wife and I ordered was excellent, the sauce not too salty and the rigatoni side was al dente and perfect. The portion size was enough to take some home for lunch the next day. My brother-in-law loved his Bolognese, and the cacio e pepe ordered and shared by my two sisters was enjoyed thoroughly. Finally, the desserts of organic pumpkin pie and Tiramisu showed us we really did have room for some more food. I LOVE pumpkin pie, but in this case, I think it was a tie as to the best dessert. The conversation after dinner with Julia, and her father stopping over to see how the evening was going, only added to the family feel we sensed all night.

The Best Italian Food in Sarasota and Florida, the service is 5 star, the personal is very friendly, I recommended it. Thanks Guys

Amazing Restaurant! Took my family there last night for the 1st time and we had a great evening. Highly recommed La Mucca Ballerina when youre looking for the best in Italian cuisine.

Very good authentic Italian food, and extremely friendly and nice people. If you are looking for good food in a small, intimate setting surrounded by friendly people, this is the spot. The atmosphere is relaxed yet multi-cultural, with several languages being spoken (Italian, French, Spanish, Romanian, and of course English). I highly recommend this restaurant and will definitely return.

Love this place. Everything is great. Will be back here every trip

Sandwiches a pretty simple takeout item to execute well? At a price point of about ten bucks I would’ve easily just had a Publix sub. No seasonings to speak of on the smothered chicken sandwich. The caramelized onions were sautéed not caramelized and the prosciutto sandwich didn’t have enough balsamic or tomato though the roast on the tomato was very nice. I found the bread to be good my wife did not. It just could’ve been better do what it was. Not the worst and definitely a decent bite to get as you stroll downtown or if you want to eat at the bay park and since I haven’t given their dine in a chance I feel it unfair to rate them as anything other than simply decent but it a highly competitive environment with at least three other Italian restaurants nearby. It’s got to be a cut above. Good luck to you there I hope this was some productive feedback and I’ll be back to try again for sure!

Homemade pasta/ bread plus live music 🎶🎵🎶. Not bad at all ☺️

Being from Chicago one type of food that is near and deer to our stomach is pizza. This is the BEST thin crust pizza we have ever had. The texture of the crust was incredible. The quality and taste of the ingredients was amazing and we could tell they love making food. When we told the waitress that my wife has a gluten issue, they made gluten free pasta and recommend a stuffed tomato, which was amazing. The breed, flat bread and dips that we snacked on was made fresh that day and you could tell. And to top it off, the waitress was friendly and very helpful. Not hitting this place is a miss.

Why did it take me almost 2 years of living in Downtown to have just discovered this gem last night? This place was fantastic in every way and I will be making this a regular treat from now on. The fresh pasta was out of this world. I highly recommend this experience.

Very overpriced and very bland. I ordered chicken marsala and basically got a boiled chicken breast and dry noodles with maybe a teaspoon of sauce. They also made my food 30 minutes before pickup time and was cold by the time I got there.

Great staff and good food. Very pleasant experience. Even turned the music down when a member of my party requested it.

If I lived in Sarasota, I might selfishly not give La Mucca Ballerina 5 stars, wanting to ensure that it never got too busy. But 5 stars it deserves! We stopped in for a light lunch on Monday -- shared a small pizza and a couple of beers -- and vowed to return later in the week for dinner. Last night we did and we could not have made a better choice. This is a family-run business (all somewhat recent arrivals from Rome) with a relatively limited seating capacity - less than 30 seats. For dinner we had the pleasure of being served by daughters Sarah and Julia, who also was cooking last night (Wednesday), having been told that Papa Zappaterreno had headed home after a long day of cooking.As we entered, we were behind a couple from New Jersey picking up dinner. They had discovered this gem a couple of years ago and sung its praises. The small space was filled with the aroma of a recently cooked porchetta, visible in the counter display case, next to freshly baked bread that we later enjoyed with dinner. Apparently the porchetta is a weekly specialty and will be available for sandwiches today (Thursday).We started with the Antipasto for Two. As you can see, it was beautifully presented. It consisted of both hot (meatball, eggplant rollatini) and cold (zucchini, cured meats, tomato, cheese) elements. Because the porchetta was made today, Julia informed us there was a special pasta for tonight only. The sauce was tomato-based, and used the drippings and pork bits from the cooked porchetta. The pasta was either spaghetti or spaghettoni, and was served with several pieces of delicious sausage. Although I had planned on ordering the Amatriciana, we both opted for the special -- and were not disappointed. It was rich, flavorful, and hearty. The pork flavor was strong, but not overly so, and it was not too sweet, as so many tomato sauces tend to be.Although we finished our meals completely, we did not leave empty-handed. The porchetta smelled just too good to pass up, so we ordered some to take with us, and will enjoy that for our lunch today.Sarasotans not familiar with La Mucca Ballerina should visit this autentica cucina romana without delay! Buon appetito!

After having a great lunch, we returned for dinner a few days later. We started with a fabulous antipasto that had a variety of cold and hot appetizers. They were rolling and cutting ravioli as it was being ordered. Instead of pasta, I received a plenteous side portion of sauteed spinach with my veal saltimbocca. This place does a great job with eggplant. It was all delicious! This is a great family run place....Dont miss it!

Came in shortly before kitchen closed (about half an hour before overall close), but was still served by the kitchen. Ordered the cacio e pepe with fried chicken, and my accompaniment ordered the ravioli. Both were most excellent, the breading on the chicken held perfectly, it was cooked to perfection, the pasta was amazingly tender, and the sauce was delicious and perfectly balanced. The wait was made entertaining and enjoyable by the amount of Italian ringing around the cozily decorated space in most energetic tones. The bread that came with the food was some of the most tender I have ever had. I would recommend this highly, it is by far the best Italian I have found in the SRQ area.

Sweet little homey cafe, with delicious food and wonderful servers. lovely family run business!

I especially want to recommend this place! .. The food is really Italian, simply delicious !! .. and the attention is very warm, they make you feel welcome, the owner approaches the tables and is very friendly. The waiter is a young man from the Sarasota Ballet, a very attentive boy, it was a pleasure to eat and meet such special people!

Great selection of Italian dishes. Prices are fair. Food was excellent and so was the staff. Service is not fast so give yourself extra time, it is worth it.

Fresh. Delicious. Homemade.My husband and I went to eat here last night and were blown away by the quality of food and service. We had been debated about what restaurant to choose and I’m SO happy we chose here. The waitress helped us pick our pizza and pasta which was no disappointment. I don’t want to go back home to our pizza because theirs was the best I’ve ever had. And don’t get me started on the Cannolis... absolutely amazing. After eating we had to know how the restaurant came about and read their story on the website and were blown away by the background of the family and food, they truly tell their story through their service and dishes. I told my husband “Ifeel like we just took a vacation to Italy and had dinner”. HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Amazing sandwich joint with great service. All of the food tastes amazing and it had a alley pub atmosphere. You can take out but we are in and even though they were really bust they took the time to clear a table for us.

Highly recommended!!! Great intimate atmosphere superb customer service, and best of all delicious Italian food, the Bologna’s pasta is incredible!!!! I will be back my next trip

Excellent food. Prices a bit high. Its a quaint little restuarant.

Best customer service ever. Pizza is GREAT and the pasta is PRICELESS. 100% recommended

Family owned business. They are from Roma. Moved in few years ago. Had a long chat in Italian, it was nice to chat in my own language again. Some people might find it pricey but you are in Main St Sarasota and everything is made from scratch. Nice staff ans cozy.

Small place, and slow service. But come in, seat, and enjoy a great amazing fresh Roman, yes you hear well, pure Roman style Italian dinner. Simple pasta, simple sauce, home made bread. All superb in taste.Try bread with tomato spread to start, or the olive oil spread. Follow by gnocchi in bolognese sauce, or any home made pasta. Pizza crust to die for. A great small piece of Italy. Sorry, of Rome,Mario, it was great! Thanks

Best Italian food hands down! My husband and I are from out of town and I have had some tasty Italian food but nothing like this. There is some much flavor that you get from fresh homemade Italian that sets itself apart from everything else. Every bite was delicious! Homemade lasagna, pasta, and even the cheesecake and Tiramisu! Bread was so fresh and made in house. It went well with our pasta and salads.

Terrific food and a wonderful staff. Highly recommend it.

Amazing food and service. The chicken parm was the best I’ve ever had!

This place is great! The owners are from Rome! Great food, friendly people! We will be back!

Best Italian food I have ever had. It’s family run and what a nice family they are.

Out standing service and food. Would not change a thing, you have to try the cheesecake it is so light and delicious. There is not any other Italian restaurant that could even come close to this.

Alright so I was really hankering for some decent Spaghetti and Meatballs. Having tried everywhere else, I went for it. The cook himself came out with my to-go order and told me Its the best in town.Well he was right. You can tell that this isnt some canned meat sauce. This tastes as good as my family recipe that takes 8 hours to cook properly. Handmade noodles to boot.Best spaghetti in Sarasota, easily.

Service was extremely friendly! The pizza was absolutely fantastic, this place is authentic Italian.

I absolutely love this place. Family owned and delicious food. I love that you hear them speaking Italian back and forth. A lovely family with beautiful food💕

Best Italian food Ive ever had! Pasta made fresh daily! The nicest family owns the place. Great Italian wine too.

The smell literally drew us in from the street! Authentic food of the highest quality. This is the real deal. Wonderful service, solid wine selection and relaxed atmosphere were a nice bonus. Dessert was aces too—real ricotta cheesecake and authentic cannoli. Hands down the best Italian in the region...and I should know...hailing from North Jersey!! 😉

Amazing food and service! Meatballs were delicious, broccoli rabe had good flavor- had both cold to-go for later. #9 Grilled Chicken sandwich with pesto mayo, mozz etc was addicting it was so good. This is a must to go to if you are around! I am from NY and this is some of the best italian deli food you can have down here. Service was very friendly. Definitely a top favorite place!

This place is is the best Italian restaurant in Sarasota area. The food is amazing, the atmosphere is incredible. They deserve more than 5 stars

Ordered 2 meatball parm subs...for 26 dollars I was expecting fireworks...2 meatballs on sub par bread...this place is supposed to be authentic Italian...I had better at subway!

Delicious homemade pasta dishes and yummy tiramisu! I had the ravioli with spinach and ricotta cheese..... melt in your mouth good! They sent a lovely warm welcoming appetizer of toasted bread, sautéed mushrooms and marinated artichoke hearts w/mortadella. Simple and so good!Family owned and operated from Rome, Italy! La Mucca Ballerina takes you to Italy for a moment, to that familiar little restaurant that treats you like family. We will be back!

Everything is homemade and tastes incredibly delicious. I come all the way from Orlando just to come here! 10/10 recommend!

I could eat an entire loaf of that homemade bread with that pesto butter and it was amazing and to find a place that serve al dente homemade pasta was a plus

We out of state folk were looking for a tasty lunch and ran into reviews for this place and decided to come for the sandwiches. The menu looked interesting but nothing out of the ordinary.How wrong we were.We parked right outside and walked in the ordinary dining space with window bar seating and about ten or so tables. When we went to the counter to look at the chalk board to order, we saw all the fresh pizzas or flatbread sitting looking wonderful under the light. Caprese, eggplant, prosciutto, ham and mozzarella, and a special chicken and orange.We had to order 2 half-sized servings each to try 4 different kinds. They were all great. Three were eaten cool and the ham/mozz was warmed up for us. The caprese pizza was classic and robust, the ham and mozzarella had a wonderful focaccia crust on top and bottom that was crisp, and the chicken and orange was fresh, hearty and bright.One of the best parts were three of the people working were switching back and forth between English and Italian with each other and some if their customers. The food tasted authentic. Something youd pick up in a streetside cafe.My wife had spent a month in Italy and our experience here took her back to her time there. Out of everywhere we ate over the week, this was her favorite place.If you want a quick cafe boutique taste of Italy, you cant pass this place up.

Had a great time at the dancing cow :) authentic Italian atmosphere and the owner (and staff) are super nice and hospitable. The food was very authentic. We loved the minestrone soup, caprese, and lasagna we ordered, everything felt super fresh and was handmade. Loved it! Definitely recommended if you’re around!

Little family owned place packing a lotta flavor- this carbonara with guanciale was sublime! Homemade pasta was cooked perfectly, and the sauce was rich, creamy, and ripe with crispy bits of pork heaven. Ill be back!

We visited this restaurant while vacationing in FL. The food and decor and food was as close as being in Rome without actually being in Rome. We enjoyed it so much, we drove an hour again the next night to eat there. The arrabiattissima was one of the best pasta dishes Ive ever had. Bravo to the maestro chef/owner. We will back again.

Awesome food really home made Italian food, highly recommended

Best Italian Restaurant I’ve Ever Had The Pleasure of Dining At.

Much more than sandwiches. Authentic italian. Try any pasta, they are all great as are the vegetable sides. When you talk to your waiter you will realize this place is the real italian deal!

We were always curious about this place...... After spending 10 years in Rome, Italy, I was looking for a place to get my Roman fix in Sarasota..... Chef Mario is a great chef and really knows how to cook Roman food..... My wife and I had the Amatriciana pasta, finally, someone who makes it in the right way!!!!!! And the stuff Raviolis were amazing as well...!!!!!We had Tiramisu ( wow, very creamy) and Cannolis (very good as well).....We really enjoyed the ambiance, it is like being in Rome..... Chef Mario is very personable, he came to our table and we had a nice conversation, obviously in Roman dialect........Over all, a great experience, authentic italian flavors with a great service.....A must try for the real LOVERS of ITALIAN FOOD!!!!!!

Great food. Thoughtfully prepared with care! Amazing Italian Cheesecake as well. Thank you!!! Oh and I cant the vino cookies. 😁

Wonderful service from a lovely waitress. The food is too delicious and filling. You recieve garlic bread and dipping sauce on the house. The wine that Im trying today is exquisite. The ambiance is relaxful, happy, and like youre a part of the family. P.S. I also enjoyed my entree of carbonara...and then tiramisu, and affogato to finsh. Amazing! Ill be back. :-)

Such a nice gem on Main Street away from the bar/bar food scene. Small dining area with a nice balance of quick food and sit down dining. Great wine selection and the staff has always been great with suggestions. If you miss the feel of traveling and experiencing a family run business this is the cure.

If you really want to have an authentic italian experience, look no further. Great family run restaurant. A true italian family runs this place. There must be a handful of this places across left America.

Great restaurant and has amazing homemade food that you will love.

Great customer service, yummy food! Real italian product!

The food was exceptional and super authentic. Service was awesome. The homemade pasta and sauce made me come back for lunch the next day, had a porketta sandwich on homemade bread. It was devine.

This is a true family-owned restaurant. The chef stopped by our table at the end of our meal and explained that the family had recently moved from Rome to open a restaurant in Florida. And WOW, you can definitely tell that this place is the real deal. For dinner, we ordered a caprese salad, spaghetti carbonara, and one of the specials (pasta with ricotta and broccoli rabe). Everything was incredibly fresh and delicious! Plus, the place has great ambiance -- perfect for a date night.We will absolutely be returning the next time we are in Sarasota.

Amazing! Great customer service and such a kind and wonderful family!!! Not to mention the best Italian food I’ve ever had!

I’ve spent a good deal of time in Rome, Italy, and always enjoyed strolling the streets and finding a “treasure” of a restaurant for lunch or dinner. What a surprise I had to see that we have such a restaurant in Sarasota! While the place is modest, the food certainly is not! It’s on par with the best I’ve found in Rome and why not – the owners have a “sister” restaurant in Rome! The pizza is to die for, the salads and other very authentic Italian food is superb! They also do take out and home delivery! This restaurant delivered the finest dining experience I’ve had in Sarasota!

The food and service was just amazing

Food is awesome!! Staff and management as well, definitely worth the trip!!

The food and service were spectacular!! All the food is homemade a and delicious. I fell in love with this little restaurant and highly recommend.

Run and owned by a family from Italy. Cannot say enough about the excellent food. Yummy!!

Excellent soft bread, fried eggplant and fresh made mozzarella! Sorry friendly, quick service.

Wonderful, authentic Italian food made by a beautiful family from Rome!

Amazing place. Real Italian food

Excellent food. Excellent employees. We were so very welcome. A special thank you goes to Mr. Marcido.Have a great business . Enjoy your life in USA as we are enjoying our life in USA for more 20 years.God bless you guys of La Mucca Ballerina as well God bless your family.Juka Xhukellari & Avni Kondi.St Petersburg, FloridaJanuary 19,2021

Our whole family enjoyed the pizza here. The kids loved the cheese one and adults really enjoyed their eggplant pizza and the blueberry cake loaf. We are actually planning our day today so we can get there for lunch again. Kudos!

Great service, decently priced and authentic food.

Incredible food! Fresh, quality ingredients, amazing culinary compositions, excellent atmosphere, and lovely people. Highly recommended! ¡Muy autentico!

It’s like being in Rome! Outstanding!

Authentic Italian food! I’m a hard person to please when dining out since I cook at home and want something better than I can make when dining out. We were in town for the art fair and since we are unfamiliar with the area we Googled restaurants in the area. Mucca Ballerina came up with 4+ Stars so we decided to give it a try. I had the eggplant parmigiana sandwich and my friend had the chicken parmigiana sandwich. It did not disappoint! We finished off with an espresso, a cappuccino and ricotta cheesecake dessert. I would highly recommend this restaurant. It’s a casual atmosphere with great food.

The best focaccia and eggplant in Florida and probably America. Real food!

The food portions are pretty large, but the food was really good. The Cacio e Pepe is made well and is very filling. The sauce has a nice flavor and texture, and I’d give it a 9/10. The Bruschetta surprised me with a mountain of tomatoes on two pieces of bread. I have no complaints about the taste because the tomatoes tasted fresh, and the smell was amazing. The bread was also one of the best I have ever tasted. The portion was just very large, so that’s my only complaint. I’d definitely come back, its the perfect place to go for Italian food.

We have eaten at La Mucca several times after being introduced to it by friends who live in the neighborhood. If you want the feel of eating in an Italian kitchen in a friends house, you will not be disappointed. If you want an elegant atmosphere that will impress your friends and want to spend a lot of money for mediocre food, then you should not go here. The atmosphere is rustic and the food is divine. The family is very friendly and you may meet most of them. Because they are off the beaten path on Main St. towards Washington, it is largely undiscovered. Eat here and enjoy - but tell only your closest friends. Ooops.

Great Italian sub. The bread made the sandwich

Pasta being made by hand as you walk in. Absolutely delicious.

Fabulous Authentic Italian Sandwich for lunch!!We are on vacation and I have to come back here again before we leave to try dinner😍

My husband and I just enjoyed wonderful meals here. The lasagna and carbonara plates were plentiful and excellent! Friendly owner/chef and delightful daughters. We will return!!

Food was amazing!!!!! They do need more staff, very slow service. Would highly recommend if you have the time to sit for awhile.

Great place to grab lunch during the week. They have a nice rewards program too that you can text into, rather than downloading an app. Only tried their sandwiches and have not had one I didnt like. I only withhold the 5th star because I think the prices are a bit high for what you get.

Excellent Tuscan wine tasting and 4 course dinner. Food was like being back in Rome. Win was Tuscany over the top. A great dinner!

Family restaurant - fresh Italian / Rome food - home made - great semolina bread - authentic pasta.I love it. You will as well.

Bad service. Discriminated against my family. Won’t be coming back.

So great. They were great! Left another restaurant on main Street who didnt take our reservations - they sat us - awesome food -awesome cheesecake - awesome homomemade limoncello

I always enjoy going in there the workers are so nice and friendly. I enjoyed the meatball sub so much that I dont bother with eating Subway meatball sub. At least their meatball sub at mozzarella fella is fresh they know how to fix my sub as well. I hope the restaurant will stay around for a long time. There isnt a place that can take the place of the meatball sub at mozzarella fella. They will always have the best awesome meatball sub

Food was very good. More like 4.5 stars but definitely better than 4 stars.

The pizza. Oh my god the pizza. I honestly haven’t had pizza that good since Rome. The pizza was very reasonably priced. The pasta is a little more pricey, but homemade and also delicious. That pizza though... wow.

One of my favorite spots to grab lunch. Sweet little family with amazing pizza! Try the eggplant pizza, you won’t regret it.

Friendly staff. Wonderful, authentic Italian food. Tastes like my grandfather made it. I love this place. Definitely will come here again!

Wonderful dinner! The food was so fresh and delicious. Dinner was great and we topped it off with the cannoli and their home made Limoncellos. And Julia was a delight! Can’t wait to go back again.

Wow! We loved this place. The staff was friendly and accommodating. The fresh in house made mozzarella was a real treat. We had the eggplant roulette appetizer, Yum.The fresh large meatball with red sauce was even enjoyed by our picky niece. All the food was fresh. I also liked the it was an affordable meal. A great new place for main Street.

One of my favorites in Sarasota!! Authentic Italian food that takes me back to my visit to Italy. Love the laid back atmosphere and the family who always takes good care of us whether it’s eating there with friends or catering. Really question the one star reviews, lol, competitors who don’t like the competition?

Great food. Nice atmosphere

Great spot to get a fresh sandwich, wonderful mozzarella and a super homey feel. The staff are very nice and hospitable, always service with a smile. In terms of food, they are second to none. I love their plain Mozerella sandwich, it is great and refreshing on a hot Florida day.

It was good... not outstanding... but still good. Staff was extremely friendly and personable. Prices were on the higher end, but it is all homemade so that’s expected.