La Trattoria - Dunedin

So unique and always very good! It will be helpful to know about the style of this restaurant before you go. There is no menu nor price. The atmosphere is very casual but the price is not necessarily very casual. May not be a great place for a romantic dinner. BUT trust me, this place is so great. Food is just amazing and great service too. I especially love the little 'purse like pasta ' with Amaretto Sauce. Highly recommended!

What matters most is the food and the family atmosphere; this place scores big! The chef/owner has been working the place for over 25 years. He rolls out a cart with the dinner choices and explains all the options for preparation no menus! We had house Chianti, stuffed mushrooms, filet, lobster ravioli, veal Marsala, rabbit and cannoli. All excellent. We passed everything around family style which really enhanced the occasion. Go!

OH...MY...GOD!!!! This place is the real deal Italian trattoria! There's no menu because you don't need one! The chef brings out beautiful cuts of meat and explains how you can have them prepared. Every single thing we ordered was hands-down amazing! We made a reservation and we'll be back tomorrow night!! Tucked away in a strip mall... you'd never know it's here. What a gem. Two thumbs way, way up!!!

We started with a delightful bread and oil mixture, the oil was handmade with pieces of floating garlic. The restaurants owner then brought a table full of meat and gave us the oral menu!!! We had the eggplant for appetizer it was very good. I had chicken marosla for dinner it was so good. I finished off the night with a cannoli for dessert, DELISH. My son was able to break one of their forks in half, he’s so strong. Would definitely recommend, remember to take a trip to the bathroom while your there, its an experience in its own.

Imagine going into the home of an Italian grandpa and having him cook you an amazing dinner. First he brings out a cart, and on this cart he has appetizers and all the proteins fresh and available for you to choose from. You choose your appetizer (if you want one), your meat, your pasta and your sauce. Then he goes back into the kitchen and makes it up for you, to order. How much would you pay for that? This isn't a big restaurant, there isn't a fully staffed kitchen in the back, its primarily Gaetano. He's cooking what you decided on fresh for you, what you picked from the ingredients that are fresh today. This isn't big chain dining, its not even what you get at most family owned local restaurants. This is slow food. This is personal food. This is food that takes time. It's not quick, its not cheap, and its the closest thing to a home cooked Italian American meal you will ever get outside of family or a personal chef. Yes, the dining room is dated, but so is this kind of personalized old world cooking- where there's no menu and every dish is custom made to order. I'm 3rd generation Italian American. This is REAL italian American cooking. Gaetano is a treasure, please respect him and treat him like one.