Sorrento Italian Restaurant, Bakery & Deli

Was a little worried about the location and the age of the strip mall, and the interior could use some updating, but the food was fantastic! Best pizza crust I’ve found in florida, great marinara, and fresh mozzarella! Definitely worth a try. Haven’t tried the entrees yet, but the calzones were delicious, and the naked rosemary wings were tasty!

Ordered an extra large pizza. Meatballs, mushrooms and light cheese. Got the cheese portion perfect. Generous on the toppings. Wood fire oven. Pizza was very good. Looked beautiful. High quality. But it was missing something in the sauce. It was a bit bland. Toppings offered some flavor compensation but I would suggest they add some sweetness to their pizza sauce. I suggest asking for crust extra crispy as well. Our pizza could have stayed in the oven a little longer.
The place looked very nice inside. Quite busy. Friendly. We will go there and try dine in.

I would like to first say the original owner Joseppi is back and everything looking good. He hired a new chef from Italy and completely new staff .Joseppi’s now has coal fired pizza and a new menu, and with coal fire your pizza is ready in 4 minutes tops after being placed in the oven .
I have uploaded some pics to let everyone know what your in for, and would like to conclude that iv’e come to Joseppi’s and the bakery for 11 or 12 years and never disappointed in a meal or the service .Only on one occasion I was given a burned pizza and speaking to Joe about it, was given another free.

This place is amazing!!! The staff goes out of the way to make you feel at home and the owner, Joseppe, is great. The homemade from scratch pasta is my favorite but everything was delicious!

Just drove by. Not in business anymore, :(. Used to be really good though…

They are very nice great pastries and breads even have lard bread wow people who work there are nice

This is my favorite bakery, competes easily with those in NYC or Philly!
Have tried most all the pastries and it’s all so fresh!
Give it a try, you won’t be disappointed.
I’ve even asked for custom fillings in the past and the response was, «how many»?
Doesn’t get any better than that!

Talk about the worst pastries ever. Then again I had low expectations going in. Visiting family from NYC and had my aunt pick up some pastries to bring to Sunday dinner. I was extremely embarrassed once the boxes were opened. What a poor excuse for pastries and cakes. Also where is the justification in charging $ 3 for a pastry that looks mini? The pricing is ridiculous and not even worth it. Cakes were dry and the lobster tail was soggy. I can go on and on about how much this place is horrible but I am just so grateful to be home in New York.

I love the bakery, Italian pastries yum.
The restaurant needs help we were there on Saturday at noon. Not one person except in the bakery.
I would be interested in some to go items in the case. The case had plastic containers and yuk. So we had coffee and a pastry. The menu also looks outdated. Two feet from your deli the bakery has clients standing in line. I hope you change your look so I wants to eat there. No one has those great pastries!

Great authentic food with great, friendly service. So glad friends at the pool told us about this place.

I wrote a review earlier about the pizza bring «blan» earlier about a month ago. I tried the pizza again just now and requested it room temperature, and this time blew my socks off. It was so much better then the first time. Again the restaurant was spotless.
I was reluctant to try there pizza again, but after the owner responded to my earlier review I wanted to try it again.
Im glad I did!

It’s Sunday and it’s only 7:24 when I walked into the store. All I wanted was a cannoli. This lady yelled across the room and said they’re close. It clearly says on the website and the door that they close at 8 PM. Bad service! Didn’t expect to be turned away when we’re already inside. Also if you’re really close lock the doors so no one would come in.

I decided to order delivery from Sorrento’s this evening. I was pleased with the customer service they were great. But, I just wouldn’t recommend the food the Alfredo I ordered was over cooked and bland the calamari was also bland. I definitely will not be returning…

Came here on a whim with a friend…
So hard to find a place that knows how cook a veal properly! This is definitely an exception. Scallopini of veal was pretty much fork tender. Prosciutto is delicious. Almost tasted like bacon! Service was good. Chef Mike is the kind of wise guy you find in Brooklyn lol. I love people like that. Server was cute little red head who was very sweet, professional and attentive.
The seating is awesome. Where else can you find a booth with leaned back seats and a foot rest??? Great bakery with fresh pastries. My cannoli was really fresh, crunchy and creamy.
Definitely worth a try. Especially, if you like Italian food and an old town feel.
I will be returning even though it’s not really an area I come to often.
Thank you for reading,
–Anthony «Bugles» Caputo

Service was terrible food just so nothing to write home about one star for effort. We were a party of six. Our apps and salad were served and dishes were still on the table and had to ask three times for bread. The wait staff were not experienced and that is the owner’s fault.

Made a visit there yesterday went to my go to sandwich «The Bronx Bomber» I have to say I was disappointed. There was not enough meat on it and one piece of prosciutto on it. I had to take the meat off the other side and combine it. I had gotten this before and was way happy. Hopefully they just had a bad day and not a thing to come. My wife had the same issue very little meat only 2slices of each kind on it good thing we got a pizza or we would have starved. Also bakery was out of lot of stuff we drove an hour to get disappointed!

Very disappointing, mostly due to the behavior (or lack thereof) of the owner.
My spaghetti and meatballs was fine. Sauce/​gravy was very good. My partner’s lasagna arrived looking like soup-​flat and swishing about in a bowl. Garlic bread was dry (could not see any butter or oil or anything). While I was discussing our unhappiness with the waitress a woman came to the table and listened to the conversation-​then she walked away. Oh well, the Chef came to our table and apologized. He was so genuine and nice and sincerely sorry and asked us to please come again and give them another chance. He even brought a take out piece of lasagna for my friend to take home. He made me promise that we would come again. Fine until on walking out I learned the woman who had come to our table to listen was the owner! She never said a word then or later. She rather disappeared into the bakery and never made any effort to speak with us. So many options-​comp the one meal, offer a complimentary dessert from the bakery, whatever-​NOTHING. Our waitress must have apologized a dozen times and the owner never even backed her up.
As to the «décor», what décor? Paint job not flattering or interesting. Several inexpensive mis-​matched posters.
Across the street from two quality Italian restaurants. Same prices at Argento’s where the food is always excellent.
Sorry, owner blew it. See all the «canned messages» to other reviewers as to «how you would like to discuss the complaints». Don’t bother sending me one. It’s obvious by the owners’ behavior in person you’re really not interested.

Could be good…
After passing by several times we decided to have dinner at Sorrento. We have had the bakery products before and all were great.
Where to start… we had the calamari appetizer. It was simply fantastic, well, almost. The calamari was cooked perfectly, delivered to the table hot and could not have been better. The sauce that accompanied it was ok in flavor, but not hot. Lukewarm at best. While not the best sauce if it had been hot then this dish would have been close to 5 stars.
With the main courses we decided to order meatballs. We did not see a «sides» list on the menu but asked the waiter if we could order a side of meatballs and he said we could. He asked how many, and since there were 3 of us we ordered 3.
The food came out. The 3 meatballs we ordered came out as only 2. I pointed out to the waiter that we ordered 3 and he said they are only served 2 at a time… well, it would have been nice for him to tell us that instead of asking us how many we wanted and then not bringing out that number.
The shrimp scampi consisted of 6 medium shrimp, looking sad, by themselves, in a dish. No sides. When we asked the waiter where the sides were he asked «oh, did you want them?»… well the menu says potato croquettes and fresh vegatables come with the meal, we didn’t tell him not to bring them, so yeah, we want them. When we were almost done with the meal the veggies and one croquette finally came out of the kitchen. The croquette was hot in spots and cold in others…
The ziti arabita was tasty but like the sauce that came with the calamari it wasn’t hot, just lukewarm. The chicken on it was dry and had an odd taste.
Oh yeah… the «fresh baked bread» that should come with every meal according to the menu never made it to our table…
We won’t be back.
4÷16÷15: After reading owners response, I think energy should be put into improving your restaurant not making excuses. Yes, someone at our table did not eat gluten… it is not an «allergy» they just choose not to… you will notice we also had calamari (which is breaded) and 2 of us had pasta, which of course has gluten. The server was never told not to bring any bread… bread was never mentioned nor offered. You should have stopped your response after «your server was new». As I said, it could be good once teething pains are overcome.

It’s so hard to find a good pizza now days. (I guess it depends on what you want) but, I went into the bakery to check out the goodies and it was quite busy in there, but of course the ladies get to talking and I was speaking to a lady from Brooklyn, NY and she advised me to try their pizza. She stated that it’s the best pizza around plus and the people (owners) are from Brooklyn also. So I gave it a try a couple weeks later and I was not dissatisfied at all! I will definitely order it again. Best pizza!

The best italian cookies! I love the rainbow butter cookies. The cookies remind me of being back in New York. Finally a place that bakes real italian cookies!!! I drive from Tampa to come to this place. Friendly service every time I visit. If your looking for good italian food or pastries this is the place

The Worst, I will never return as will NEVER the other 11 people with me tonight. The Only good thing was the comrarderie of us all having the same bad experience. The Service was deplorable, The nasty attitude waitress had an excuse for everything, no bread, salads slow, drinks taking forever… 30 minutes? No water??? NO COFFEE??? are you kidding me??? blah blah, soooo busy… yet they only had 4 other tables and we were 3… no drinks like forever and then they charge double BECAUSE SHE is slow on the Ball… they charge double at the Cinderella stroke of 7, which is when she finally came to the table… HORRIBLE!!! Run, Run!!! I can honestly say the worst dining experience ever in my lifetime and I have had many thousands of great, This is the first really bad that I had to shout out about… and the food sucked…
I don’t even want to give it one star… but I wasn’t able to.
Never again!

Both myself and those that I frequent Sorrento’s with are becoming increasingly disappointed with the direction in which the place seems to be heading. We have been coming since it was an elderly couple running the place. Much has changed — mostly for the better despite the familiarity disappearing. I miss being somewhat known and greeted like family.
Although many imperfections can be found, the renovations have given the place a much more upscale and romantic look for dining in. When I’ve picked up food I’ve heard a female singer they hire — beautiful voice. The classy additions through décor, entertainment, and menu display changes are nice, but the service has taken a turn for the worse. I have been fair and visited a few times before deciding so, but at this point I’m confident that I don’t ever want to dine-​in again.
A few weeks ago I just wanted a dinner and a soda to go. They took my order and disappeared forever and a day. In their defense, the place was packed. After over 15 minutes I was asked if I was helped. I said yes and explained what I was waiting for. Another 10 minutes later someone else comes by and asks if I need something. Yes, I’m waiting an obnoxious amount of time for a dinner. The guy comes back (haven’t seen the girl who took my order since) and tells me they don’t have what I ordered. Well, that’s lovely to know this late. So I pick out a stuffed pepper from the display case and get told it will get heated up. 10 minutes or so later I have no stuffed pepper and there are people standing around the deli. Ticktock, ticktock, «Are you still waiting for that pepper?» YEP. Long story short — I wasted a lot of time, got my soda comped, and got my bakery order comped without asking for it.
So I figure «Alright, I see new owners walking around. Busy day. I’ve always loved this place… I’ll let it slide»
The other day I came for the bakery. There is usually a girl working there who is very nice. She was busy with a huge wedding order. Meanwhile, myself and a few other people are waiting forever and ever. She kept apologizing. She should not have to feel like she has a reason to apologize. She’s taking a huge order that is beneficial for the company. However, an apology from the 3+ men walking around (just two people dining in and no customers at deli counter) or owners who were there would have been appropriate!
Today we decided to dine in and try the 2 for $ 20 in an attempt to not splurge on dinner for once. Good choices on that menu. I was satisfied. I’ll just go ahead and make a list regarding our experience rather than continue to ramble:
— People behind us complaining about service and not getting bread with their dinners. They were sent home with bread.
— Refills never came from waitress
— We did not get bread while we were waiting for our meals, but at least we were not sent home with it. Got 4 slices in the middle of main course. Olive oil dip NOT flavorful. Tasted like pure olive oil.
— Asked if they have Caesar salad. Answer was yes. Handed an Italian salad with Parmesan cheese on top. For the record — Italian dressing and parm didn’t taste great together. Wish they just said «no» so we could order accordingly.
— Owner or other employees never come over to check on anyone or help the waitress (with the exception of one nice guy who seemed really busy)
We were one of maybe five tables. Better service was very much expected, but this service fit the disappointing pattern we have been experiencing.
The main course and soup were good, though.
We will continue using the bakery especially on holidays. I’m sad to say that I have no interest in remaining loyal otherwise (Which IS in fact sad if you see my past reviews of the place on here or Facebook. We were big fans.)
3 stars for the deli and bakery being worth 4 – 5 stars. Now that it’s all one big place on Unilocal,3 is what it averages out to for me when you include the awful experience with hot foods. Please note that this is mostly service related.

This used to be primarily a deli but they’ve expanded into the adjoining space and are now a proper restaurant. While the food was good the space leaves a lot to be desired. Many of the tables were dirty and remained dirty throughout our stay. The floor was dirty, as was the window sill adjacent to our booth. The transition between the old and new spaces is an eyesore and appears have been hastily completed. The drop-​ceiling tiles are old and unappealing and several of the booths seem to be an afterthought. Even the paint on the walls while new, is already chipped and appears to have been a quick fix with previous paint showing through. And the gentleman who served us, I assume works primarily in the kitchen because the black shirt he was wearing was filthy.
The food is good and a welcome alternative to the chains that line 19, but the owner needs to take an objective look at the space and the way it’s maintained.

*Update* This is now our go to weekend restaurant. We love it here. Have never had a bad experience. Everyone is super Friendly. The food is always great!
They recently went under new owners. This was my first time here. Our waitress was super friendly and personable. We ordered a side of meatballs for an appetizer. They were worth coming back just for them. They were to die for and I loved the sauce. My husband liked his lasagna and I had a chicken dish that was on special. Everything was delicious and we will be back soon.