Cafe Bravvissimo

I went there with my husband, and 3 other family members...It was absolutely terrible....My blackened grouper was literally so burnt I could scrap crust off of it, and it tasted burnt, not blackened; my husband's chopsteak dish tasted like liver, but we think the meat was just old or had freezer burn, but neither one of us ate our dinner. My cousin ordered the fried seafood platter and when he began to eat it he found a hair fried in to the food. However, the best part was when we called the manager over, who mind you was wearing a T-shirt, shorts and sandals, with an ear ring in his ear, (as a Manager?) he argued with my cousin and said that his cooks were bald, and he was actually serious....OK the last time I checked you do not argue with a customer about anything....my husband and I own our own business, and that is just unprofessional. You do everything you can do to fix the situation WITHOUT AN ATTITUDE. You are there to serve people food, the key word being SERVE! My husband and I paid for our 1 glass of wine, soft drink, salads, and my lobster bisque soup, which was good. The other people in our party had their prime rib and had no complaints....However, 2 couples left because they waited too long for their food, and mind you we waited about 45 mins. We arrived at 5:30 and did not leave until 7:50pm. Pretty ridiculous....Also, one of the owners, a woman, she was also dressed in a tank top and jean shorts with sandals....ok if you are trying to promote your nice restaurant, bit of advice, don't dress like you're going to the beach unless you own a beachside bar and grill.....These owners and manager needed a lesson in just common courtesy and etiquette. My husband and I dine out a ton...we will never grace the presence of this place again, and if they are in business by Dec. of this year I will be shocked.....DON'T GO, DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME OR $....I could rant more, but I think you have gotten the point.... more

So I went recently to Bravissimo. It has always been a favorite place of mine. LOVE the food, great wine, and never had any issues. Went downtown and found the doors closed :-( Called the number I had for them from 411, someone answered... It's now Bravissimo CHOPHOUSE! THey moved to the old Straub's in aLtamonte. Pros: larger dining facility, more food choices, full liquor Cons: Altamonte Springs more

If your looking for a great little Italian place for a date, here is the place. With a menu that won't break the bank and portions that are perfectly sized, this is the place for you. The sidewalk seating is a bonus particularly on a fall evening. A nice wine selection to accomodate a menu filled with several chicken & pasta choices that are freshly prepared. I can recommend the Pollo Pesto, a little on the creamy side but a nice mix of chicken and pasta that isn't overdone with spices. A very attentive wait staff is just another selling point of this hidden gem. Pros: Not a chain, Great service, good food & prices Cons: Small TV at Bar more

I must say, Bravissimo has definitely lost my vote. It used to be my favorite Italian restaurant, but within the past year, I have lost all love for the place. My favorite dish ever used to be the Chicken Rollatini but the last time that I went the chicken was dry and it was not very good. I was so disappointed. I also love the garlic infused bread that they serve, but the last time we were there the waiter admitted that they had run out of garlic bread and had to get some bread from The Outback Steakhouse. Needless to say, I was very disappointed and have not been back since. I don't know if they have new management or a new chef or what, but they need to bring the old Bravissimo back! Pros: Good location, nice atmosphere Cons: Food is average, pricey more

I never write reviews on these websites, but after my horrible experience at Bravissimo and managements lack of concern for the bad experience I had, I felt I needed to write a review for this restaurant. The only good thing about Bravissimo is it's unique location in downtown Orlando. As for that, I would in no means recommend this establishment to anyone. I recently dined here with my boyfriend and ended up waiting over an hour for a table when we had a reservation. The restaurant, which is very tiny, seemed to be greedy in taking reservations and FAR overbooked themselves. The small kitchen and management were in no way able to handle the amount of guests dining at the restaurant. Our waiter did the best job he could for the 8+ tables that he was assigned to, but the entire dining experience still took us over 3 hours! We ordered the Brushcetta appetizer, stuffed chicken pasta entree, and the seafood stuffed chicken & risotto entree. All were mediocre and overpriced, and as being someone who has traveled to Italy, there is far better Italian food in Orlando elsewhere. My food came out completely cold after we waited over an hour and half for it. It had to be reheated, which took another 15 mins and left my boyfriend's food cold upon my entrees return. The management did not even acknowledge our long wait, bad service, and cold food, which in my eyes makes a huge impact on the dining experience. After our 3 hour, overpriced, and bad service experience I took the time to email the owner my concerns. After hearing no reply back I even called the restaurant to ask to speak with the manager, and got a rude blowoff response from the staff on the phone. This in my eyes shows that the management is not concerned with the reputation Bravissimo gets and could care less about the experiences their guests have while they dine there. more

Took my date here on Valentine's Day, and if you're looking for somewhere romantic in an otherwise tourist trap of a town, this is the place to go. Bravissimo's is located in a residential neighborhood, which adds to its allure. You almost feel like you're in someone's home. Now, i went on the night which i would guess would be the busiest, Valentine's Day, and while there was an hour wait to sit (even with a reservation), this was expected so me and my date were prepared. Alot of people in front of us decided to leave, which is funny because they weren't going to get better service anywhere else on this night. The owner was busy running around, but gave us 2 free rounds of beer while we waited. We ended up eating at the bar area, but it was perfect. Now, I'll admit the food isn't the greatest, but that doesn't matter, the place is just so romantic. Small enough so it feels exclusive, but big enough to fit a good crowd. If you're looking for top notch italian food, this isn't the place. if you're looking for something different and romantic, this is the place. we were almost the last ones out for the night, and walk to our car in the quaint neighborhood was special as well. It's a much different experience than eating in a business district. Pros: Romantic atmosphere Cons: Food is just average more

Saw servers drinking on the job. Pros: Wine Cons: Food, parking more

As perfect as one could hope for in a dining experience. At no point did we feel rushed from the ordering to the after dinner drinks. This is quite a contrast from the rushed, quick table turnover style of almost any modern restaurant. The mood is relaxed, but the food is taken seriously. Wine selections were recommended and matched well with the entrees and desert, but they were not pretentious or stuffy. Pros: high quality food, fun atmosphere, enthusiastic service, exceptional value Cons: parking more

I am a first time Citysearch reviewer, but after my experience last night at Bravissimo, I felt compelled. What a great location! I absolutely loved the fact that it is nesteled into a quaint historic neighborhood, a street filled with character-this is the perfect location for a gem of a restaurant. The restaurant is nicely decorated with a traditional italian feel. As we arrived we were promptly seated by the hostess. The menu was dirty and falling apart, the cheap linen napkin was flopped on the table, over a side plate and silverware that reminded me of a banquet setting in a cheap hotel. After several minutes of looking around wondering when we might be greeted by a server, a lady popped to our table and without saying hello immediately asked us if we were ready to order. Sort of shocked, i began to inquire about items on the menu. She answered my questions and then told us she would give us a few more minutes. I grabbed her before she walked away and requested an appetizer, without an opportunity to order a beverage she left the table and didn't come back. Finally the hostess stopped by and wondered if we had even been helped yet. I let him know that we would like to order some wine. Several minutes later our Caprese Salad came out (before we even got our wine). The presentation was poor. The tomatoes looked like they came from my mothers garden, there was a pile of iceburg lettuce in the center of the plate as garnish? The bread was nothing special, actually it was awful and served with butter packets. When I requested a bottle of balsamic vinegar there was a residue stuck in the top that dripped out like slime. I was told they clean the bottles once a week? Food was average, the sauce was bland. I was looking forward to finding my new favorite neighborhood restaurant, instead I'm spending my work day writing a horrible review. The lot of for sale, someone should buy it and force these owners out. The location and building has SO MUCH POTENTIAL!! Pros: Ambience, Location Cons: poor value - less than average food with high prices more

Everything is excellent here. This is the CUTEST most romantic restaurant in Orlando. The food is awesome. My husband loves the Penne Della Casa, I love the Farfalle. But I have tasted everything and all is awesome. Sitting outside is pleasant and it is also less than one mile to Lake Eola and Orange Ave. Prices are great and portions are good size. Pros: Ambience, FOOD more

Tried to enjoy this quaint restaurant ;but the food was cold and tasted horrible.The server supposedly the owner, was totally inept and arrogant! Pros: Great location Cons: food and servce more

This restaurant has been fined repeatedly by the Florida DBPR for unsanitary conditions. You might want to eat elsewhere. more

I was very disappointed because I had heard good things and was looking forward to the meal. My Caesar salad was tasteless. My wifes chicken (in the Chicken Caprese) looked and tasted like it was cooked in a microwave. And our dessert (chocolate & peanut butter cheesecake) had the taste of freezer burn. On the positive side. The prices, wine, service, and Gnocchi were all excellent. I will try this restaurnant again to see if I just caught them on a bad night. Pros: Prices, Service, Wine List Cons: Food Quality more

The best authentic Italian food in Orlando. The gnocchi is a must. Absolutely the best gnocchi I've ever had in a restaurant. One of those rare restaurants that the wine list is twice the size of the menu. In the middle of a neighborhood (Thorton Park) in what used to be an old grocery store (back in the twenties-thirties). Most of the parking is on the street. more

I HAVE BEEN EATING AT BRAVISSIMOS FOR YEARS! THE ATMOSPHERE, FRIENDLY SERVICE AND THE FOOD ARE ALWAYS EXCELLENT! I ALWAYS BRING OUT OF TOWNER'S, AND THEY AGREE. MOST PEOPLE DESCRIBE IT AS SOMETHING YOU WOULD SEE IN NYC NOT ORLANDO! BUT IT IS THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN TOWN..... I EAT THERE ALL THE TIME SO I USUALLY GO FOR SPECIALS, LIKE GROUPER IN A CREAMY DILL SAUCE, OR A FILET TOPPED WITH A PORTABELLO MUSHROOM DEMI-GLAZE, BUT FOR NEW COMERS I ALWAYS SUGGEST THE POLLO ROLLATINI, AN AWESOME STUFFED CHICKEN DISH I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYWHERE ELSE..... DOES GET CROWDED ON THE WEEKENDS SO MAKE RESERVATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!! more

Bravissimo is one of my favorite places to eat in Orlando. Not only is the food delicious, but it is a great value and wonderful atmosphere. It is one of the best ""mom and pop shops"" in town! Pros: inexpensive, atmosphere, great Italian food Cons: parking, limited seating more

A great restaurant in a unique location! Equals a great experience. Every dish is EXCELLENT! Everybody always loves the lobster ravioli and the Penne de la Casa. more

If you want a great italian meal at a reasonable price, this is the place. What a cute little place and the setting is old Orlando. I bring people here all the time and they keep coming back for more! Pros: private, great food, friendly service more

I have been going here for some time and it is one of my favorite restaurants! The atmosphere is cozy, great private room in the back, and outside dining. My favorite entree is the Lobster Ravioli. It is always outstanding!! This is a great place for a romantic dinner ( if you aren't seated in the middle of the restaurant!) I have always found the owner to be friendly, and have never had an issue with my reservations. Only once, I had to wait about 20 minutes, but that was ok, my date and I went into the bar and had a drink and enjoyed the atmosphere. My guess is that the people who complained about the reservations being given away, were probably late- This is always a favorite, and I often take out of town guests here- who ALWAYS request to go back when they are visiting. Pros: Food, inexpensive, atmosphere Cons: middletables, parking more