Tavolino Della Nonna (Coral Springs)
***** Tavolino Della Nonna, 10181 West Sample Road, Coral Springs, Florida 33065 (954) 509-0046.
Last night I ate in Tavolino Della Nonna…a terrific white tablecloth Italian joint located in Coral Springs. Just so you know…A couple of you guys wrote to me and told me that I had to try this joint…so, old Jeff gave Tavolino a shot.
Anyway…Tavolino has been in business for something like 2-years. For you GPS types out there, it is located on Sample Road, within short walking distance of both Pizza Time and DeSalvo’s the well known “red sauce” joints. Tavolino is-not a pizza joint…it’s a semi-upscale restaurant with both indoor and outdoor patio seating…but don’t worry your tee shirt-shorts ensemble will work. At this juncture take a look at Tavolina’s website www.tavolinorestaurant.com for menu/prices/photos.
Like I said before, semi-upscale, but the guys running this joint make you feel like an old friend…when you eat there, you’ll see what I am talking about. The owners–shall we say, are very visible and make sure that everything is running just right. Last night, I watched as they made the rounds to each and every table, kibbitizing (in an Italian restaurant?) and making people “try” this and “that”…
Before I talk food, let me tell you about a cute “idea” that the joint has decor-wise…one little side room, is decorated Ralph & Alice Kramden, 328 Chauncey Street…there is a formica table circa 1955 that seats 6-maybe-8…so if this type of thing floats your boat, call ahead and reserve that “table.”
Onto the food…last night I “tried”– meatball appetizer ($11), tortellini appetizer ($13), veal parmigiana ($23), chicken scarpariello (on bone) ($21), snapper almondine ($23), grilled chicken/pasta ($17)…the food is absolutely delicious.
Just so you know…Tavolino isn’t a $13.95-$16.95 soup or salad-entree-pasta side-garlic rolls joint…there is no pizza, subs, calzones or stromboli. Figure on spending–something like 40-50 bucks a head for a great meal. Trust me on this one, the food runs absolute circles around most of the Italian joints down here. I know that the ala carte menu may “scare” some of you guys…the house salad is big enough to feed two as are the side pasta dishes, so if you order the “right way” you won’t have to get a second-job to pay the tab. Our waitress was super-helpful on “picks” etc…last night, they had a “strolling” magician who worked all the tables…how he changed those $1 bills into $100 bills is beyond me.
Since I am on the Hollywood Cookie Diet, I passed on dessert. I will tell you, that the dessert tray looked absolutely incredible and that everything including the joint’s bread are made in house.
You guys know that I eat in Italian joints all the time…I am telling you, that Tavolino is one of the better restaurants in South Florida. You definitely want to try this one.
Tavolino is open Tuesday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday 11am-11pm, Saturday 4pm-11pm and Sunday 4pm-10pm, the joint is closed on Monday.
Jeff,
Just a little note thanking you for the wonderful review. I know you shoot straight and we appreciate your warm comments. I welcome you and your lovely family back and I won’t even charge for the bad jokes. Thanks again,
Ed Pozzuoli
YOU SOUND LIKE YOU ENJOY GOOD RESTAURANTS. IS THERE A RESTAURANT IN THE AREA THAT SERVES PIZZA THAT HAS A THIN CRUST AND GOOD INGREDIANTS LIKE DIFARA’S IN BROOKLYN. TOPPINGS AND CRUST THAT HAVE FLAVOR.
GAIL: Just had a chance to read your comment.
As a Brooklyn Boy, I am quite familiar with Difara’s…you are talking one of the top pizza joints in the United States. With that in mind, check my review 6/29/09 The Best 17 “Regular” Pizza Joints In South Florida…most of them make some real good pizza…but DiFara’s is in a class of its own.
Thanks for reading…
We ate at Tavolino tonight for Mothers Day..Although the food was good we were not happy with our waiter who was rather smug. As we entered the restaurant and waited to be seated we felt as if we had inconvenienced the gent who seated us by him saying “We will find you a table somewhere in the back.” We asked for the empty table in the front but we were told “No no you cant sit there.” We just felt “uncomfortable” to say the least. We will not return as food is not the only reason to choose a restaurant. I am a fair diner. We drove from Boca Raton and although we enjoyed each others company again this is another restaurant in Coral Springs we will not return too. I’ve lived in Coral Springs ten years and in Boca Raton fourteen years and still feel so much more comfortable in Boca Raton. Good Luck to you all I just had to say how we felt.
have eaten here 3 times. food and service always terrific. stay in boca.
sun sentinel gave them 3 1/2 out of 4 stars this morning. a year after jeff beat them there.
Jeff,
Last night my wife and I and another couple had a wonderful dinner. We got there about 8pm and the outdoor patio and inside dining room were very busy. Despite that, our reservation was timely honrored. We had baked clams and fired mozzallera as appetizers. Obviously home made because they were fabulous. Our main dishes with pasta sides included chicken scarpiello on the bone, veal parm, chicken francise and chicken parm. The main dishes and sides were also excellent. For desserts we had delicous cookies and a cannolis. Once again excellent. Ed the oiwner visited the table twice during the evening. The waiter was also very attentive and made some great recommendations.
We highly recommend this restaurant.
My wife and I think that Tavolino is one of the best Italian restaurants. Love the food and service.
Nice break from the Pizza Times of the world.
mike s, agree with you. wonderful restaurant.
Just got back from a really delicious dinner. Thank you for the recommendation.
great food. music is so loud that it actually makes eating there a chore. asked two times but mgt didnt lower. we wont be back
Jeff:
It was nice meeting you the other night. As I mentioned, I have eaten in Tavolina a number of times. The food and service are always terrific. The one big problem I have with Tavolina is that they have piped in music which is much too loud. At times you can’t even carry on a normal conversation. I am not really sure why they just don’t lower the music because I am sure many have complained.
A ton of chatter about this one here in Boca. Really loved the food.
Love the outdoor patio.
Thought the little side room ala Honeymooners was cute.
Got to agree with many others, MUSIC IS TOO LOUD!!!!!!!!
Jeff,
Heard about this one a few weeks ago. Caught your review and also one of my friends who lives in Coral Springs mentioned how good it is.
My wife and another couple had dinner there on Saturday.
You are right, the food is very good.
The prices and service were also just fine.
Thanks,
GFG
terrific food and service. very reasonably priced.
Hey Jeff,
Tried it and really enjoyed it.
That magician they got is amazing.
Food is delicious there.
This is a must try.
second time last night. as good as the first time. love the food.
Great recommendations.
Delicious food, very good service.
Owner Ed, couldn’t be more personable.
Will definitely be back.
Jeff:
My husband and I really enjoy your website. Over the years, you have introduced us to some really good restaurants.
I just wanted to express an opinion.
My husband and I eat out quite a bit. We enjoy all kinds of food and frequent many restaurants. We’ve lived in Boca Raton for the past 27 years and we are originally from Queens, N.Y.
Certain restaurant owners/staff really know how to treat customers the right way and others take customers for granted.
For example, over the years we have eaten in Nino’s in Boca Raton at least 50 times. The food is really good and the prices are just right. Despite that patronage, the owner not even once in all of these years has ever offered us a complimentary “anything.” My husband and I don’t need free things, but a glass of wine, a dessert, a taste of a certain pasta, would make us feel that the owner appreciates our business.
We recently started to eat at Tavolina Della Nonna. To be exact we have been there four times over the past year or so. Unlike Nino’s, the owner Ed on each and every dinner has stopped by the table to say hello. In addition, on every outing he has offered complimentary desserts, after dinner drinks and offers to try this dish or that.
In my mind, Ed’s way is the right way and Nino’s way is the wrong way.
Right about now, you and your readers maybe asking, why we keep going to Nino’s? We go there because the food is very good as is the service. The owner has never done anything wrong or bad to us, it’s just that he hasn’t done anything to make us feel special.
I have picked out Nino’s and Tavolina as examples. Sadly, there are more restauarnts on the Nino’s side of the fence than the Tavolina side.
Just wanted to voice an opinion.
Keep up the great reviews.
Thanks,
L.B.
Boca Raton
Ate there last night.
One of the best Italian restaurants around.
Highly recommend.
excellent food and service.
jeff, one of your best finds. delicious food, good service and reasonable prices,
Ate there on Saturday night. Great food and service. Ed the owner makes it feel just right.
This is one of my favorites. Excellent food and service. Ed knows how to treat his customers.
Ate in the Ralph Kramden Room.
Food and service are terrific.
Ate there last night. Food was fair. I’ve been there before when it’s been better. Hopefully just an off night.
Delicious food, terrific service, reasonable prices. We love this joint.
Love this one. Great good and service.
Eddie the owner makes sure you are always treated special.
One of my favorite semi upscale Italian restaurants.
Love their food and service.