Scarpino’s Classic Italian Restaurant changed hands at the end of 2023. The new owners are Bradenton locals with a lot of experience in the restaurant business. This trio of restaurant business veterans saw and opportunity to open a restaurant in their hometown and couldn’t turn it down.
Rob Arias, Tom Anderson, and Daniel Sanchez met through the years and had one goal in common – to bring incredible Italian food to this community.
Scarpino’s now has crisp new colors and decor inside and out. The furniture offers comfortable wood and wicker chairs and white tables that remind you of the Italian summer. To take the summer vibe a step further, I recommend starting your meal with a refreshing Aperol Spritz, Amaretto Stone Sour, or a bottle of Peroni birra from a new cocktail list and full bar.
The menu features Appetizers, Soups, Salads, Meats, Seafood, 41 different Pizza selections, and more than 15 Pasta dishes.
I’ve visited a few times now and can recommend you to try the Crispy Calamari, Garlic Shrimp, or Pasta Fagioli for a good start.
I also enjoyed the pasta fagioli soup, a combination of pasta beans and sausage. They serve a regional variation with a flavorful and thicker broth than the commercial version, which I often find to be a bit too watery. They also have Wedding Soup if you’re a fan of Italian soups.
There’s much more to try past the appetizers. Many people visit Italian restaurants for their pasta dishes, and Scarpino’s shines with those as well.
Fettuccine comes in three variations, Alfredo, Carbonara, and Puttanesca; Spaghetti has three options too – Bolognese, Marinara, and with Meatballs.
Penne can be served with Sausage & Roast Peppers or with Portobello & Sausage; then add other favorites like Lasagna, Gnocchi, Stuffed Shells, and Ravioli. There are just so many ways to enjoy pasta any way you like.
Add to that other Specialty Dishes like Parmigiana, Piccata, Marsala, Florentina, Frances, or Piccata. You can select chicken, veal, or pork for many of these plates.
Tuscan Ribs, Risotto, Filet Mignon and Eggplant complete this list.
They also offer seafood. Shrimp, Salmon, and Clams appear on the menu with several preparations like Scampi and Fra Diavolo, plus a very special Lobster Ravioli.
Their pizza menu is extensive and is prepared by Giorgio, their own Italian Pizzaiolo.
Toppings and combinations include, as you can probably expect, spinach, meatball, sausage, mushroom, onion, artichoke, anchovy, bacon, chicken, eggplant, and so on.
I ordered a San Daniele Pizza on one of my visits. I can tell you that the crust was crispy, thin, and perfect to my liking. It was loaded with burrata mozzarella, pesto, onion, and prosciutto over tomato sauce.
There are many others that I can tell you about; Quattro Stagioni (where artichokes, tomatoes, mushrooms, and ham or prosciutto, are baked on four separate sections of the pizza); Capricciosa (mozzarella cheese, Italian baked ham, mushroom, artichoke and tomato); Focaccia, Meat Lovers and Supreme. Their pizzas offer vegetarian options and gluten free crust.
Oh! I almost forgot the Calzone, Stromboli, and Meatball Sandwiches. There are just so many delicious choices!
One thing I never forget is the desserts. The options include a delicious and individual (but shareable) Tiramisu, Cannoli, Gelato, and my new favorite, Lemon Cake. The cake is several layers of cake with a lemon cream center and crisp top crust sprinkled with powdered sugar and caramel. It’s absolutely incredible!
There are two really important things that I have to tell before I end. One, which is simply phenomenal, is their Bar Menu. You will not find this online. You can order from this menu at any of the high-top tables next to the bar or sitting at the bar.
They have $11 – $13 and $14 Menu Specials including Spaghetti with Marinara, Bolognese, or Meatballs – Cheese Ravioli – Meatballs (2) and House Salad – Penne with Sausage & Peppers – Rigatoni alla Vodka – and even Chicken Piccata with Pasta.
Second, is the Lunch Menu, which includes $14 Sandwiches such as Chicken Parmigiana, Italian Hero, Meatball Sandwich, and Philly Cheese Steak. That’s a great deal for a hand-crafted sandwich with fresh ingredients and meats, their own marinara sauce, and house-baked bread.
My final remarks have to be words of encouragement to the new owners, Daniel and his wife Laura who manage the day-to-day. They’ve assembled an attentive and friendly staff and a great kitchen team led by Chef Martin – which I’m sure will earn the love and respect of many of us in Bradenton.
Scarpino’s is open 7 days a week and offers live music several times during the week.
11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Located at:
6152 14th Street West, Bradenton, FL, 34207
(in the Target Plaza)
Follow them on Facebook and on Instagram
