There’s no shortage of restaurants in Bradenton, but, every once in a while, you come across one that really blows your mind. If you haven’t visited Tiramisu Ristorante Italiano yet, you’re missing out on one of the area’s hidden gems!
Don’t let the unassuming facade fool you. Restaurant owners Luca and Monica Cecconi have hit it out of the ballpark with their authentic, homemade Italian cuisine and intimate dining experience.
The restaurant holds only ten tables, giving each guest the opportunity to enjoy their meals in a cozy and comfortable environment. It’s the perfect setting for a romantic date night, particularly on Tuesdays, when diners are serenaded with live music by violinist Anton Cutajar.
The restaurant was opened in November of 2014, not long after the couple emigrated to America from Italy. Luca, who grew up in Livorno, not far from Pisa on the Mediterranean Sea, is the restaurant’s wine connoisseur, while Monica, who hails from a small mountain village near Bologna, is Tiramisu’s food expert.
Their specialty is homemade pasta, but you’ll also find excellent veal and seafood dishes. Luca says his favorite dishes are the Spaghetti Mare Mare (made with mussels, clams, shrimp and calamari sauteed in tomato sauce) and the Scaloppina Melanzana (veal scaloppini with fried eggplant, marinara sauce, and mozzarella cheese). He also recommends some of their classic dishes like Eggplant Parmesan and Lasagna.
If you’re a cheese lover, you won’t want to miss out on the homemade pasta dishes that are cooked inside a giant cheese wheel. They recently finished a wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano and started a new wheel of Pecorino Romano cheese last week. Yum!
Tiramisu Ristorante Italiano is located at 5215 14th St W. in Bradenton. It’s on the corner of 14th Street and 53rd Avenue, right behind Dunkin’ Donuts. Although walk-ins are welcome, since the restaurant is so small, reservations are recommended. You can make a reservation by calling (941) 753-2800.
Take-out is available, but Luca and Monica highly recommend dining in so you can enjoy this unique experience the way it was meant to be. If you want to get a sneak peek, you can check out their menu online. Also, be sure to follow them on Facebook so you can keep up on any special events they have planned!
The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. and is closed on Sunday and Monday. They’ll be closed from September 8th until the 30th for their annual trip to Italy. You’ll want to make your reservations soon, or else you’ll have to wait until they return. Either way, we guarantee you won’t be disappointed!
When you stop by, make sure you let them know you heard about it on Discover Bradenton.
