Recommends

Beth71

Joined 2 years ago

Excellent food, great service. First time eating here. From the moment we walked in, the servers/hostesses were great. They were so nice and very prompt with service. The owner was so friendly. We were not dressed as nice as we should have been for a beautiful place like this but it didn't matter. My teenage daughter and her friend loved the food, atmosphere, service and music as much as I did. We had the fettuccine alfredo and it was superb. The best Italian I have ever had. Strongly recommend going if you haven't been. Service was fast and courteous.

Recommends

Taz59

Joined 2 years ago

Good food, Rude service. We have eaten here on numerous occasions and still go back. The food is low end authentic Italian, aptmospere is like "low rent" classy. Most authentic Italian run establishments have a much better attitude about service. The Sarnellis are only impressed by your "apparent" station in life. Strange when you consider that they own a business that could only allow them lower middle class status. The owner/hostess is very rude to most customers, and usually picks out a table of perceived affluence to spend all of the attention on (the staff follows her like the Germans followed Hitler),her Italian accent is worked on, but lends a little extra ambience... Never the less, Sarnellis is adequate Italian cuisine, and atmosphere. Much better than the immitation Italian that is the only alternative in our area. Ladies wear a dress, and men wear a suit and tie, if you care about being VIP status. She might even sing a little "mamma mia" for you if you look and act especially important.

Recommends

Adventurer

Joined 4 years ago

Very fancy. Not Americanized. This is as close to an actual Italian restaurant as Ive ever gotten. The care taken in the decor blew me away. I went with a freind and we were not treated "Rudely" (I personally dont like to be patronized, even if i pay more I pay for the food. Not to be loved) They actually do the table setting the way high class restaurants do. i was very impressed and I was given good service

The food. was good but it did not WOW me. It wasnt really spicey or anything and I thought the portions were small. I am American though , but dont go here expecting a plate overflowing with food. you will get european portions. I do not really like judging food but I will say I thought my little side dish of pasta had some really bland sauce. almost just tomato paste

This would be a great place to take your girlfreind as it is VERY Romantic. Pink cloth napkins and roses on the table. She will definately be impressed. If you do not score after taking her here then you need to find a new girlfreind.

I ended up taking a drinking buddy so that ended up being akward

Doesn't Recommend

CETaylor

Joined 4 years ago

Rude, left a bad taste in our mouths. Ambiance is like a tired old living room, it smells musty.

Extremely rude management. We got the feeling they were very self important and we were in the way.

I read another review that chalked this up to European attitude, I lived in Europe and was never treated this poorly. This is just an excuse to treat the customers like they are in inconvenience.

The homemade mozzarella is very rubbery and there was much too much Grand Marnier in the sauce, it over powered the dish.

Save your money - skip this one.

Recommends

leigher

Joined 5 years ago

Rosaria Inconsistent. I have been to Sarnelli's on 10 to 15 occasions. We find that Rosaria Sarnelli, the owner, is the hostess (dare I say it) and is CHOOSY on who she acknowledges and how she treats people (good and bad). On some occasions, she is delightful (it helps to be in a dress for ladies and a suit jacket for gentlemen). On others, we are scowled at. We are professional people and spend money at Sarnelli's but were told one night that she needed to attend to another table because they were doctors. Who cares!

The service staff follows her lead.

I would say honestly that the food is very good. But in these economic times, it would be nice with the staff of Sarnelli's treated EVERYONE with respect. We all have choices in food, where we eat and how much money we want to spend at these items.

Parking is good.

Recommends

ghmlaw

Joined 5 years ago

Wonderful food, excellent service, reasonably priced!. I recently organized a birthday dinner for my wife at Sarnelli's which included sixteen people. We had a delightful dinner and I can say that the service and quality of food were excellent. What's more, the total tab was much less than I expected it to be. I heartily recommend this restaurant. I am aware of some of the negative comments made and can only say that I have patronized this establishment for a number of years, have had many dinners there, and have never had a negative experience.

Doesn't Recommend

blueridgemtns

Joined 5 years ago

Sorry Service. Our family tried to eat at Sarnellis based on reccomendations from friends. We were ignored upon arriving for 10 minutes. (There were 5 empty tables plus we had reservations) We had to ask the waiter about the specials. He had to ask us to repeat everything we said 3 times minimum. We asked for a refill and our glass wasn't returned. After 30 minutes of waiting on our drink, we asked about it and we were told by our waiter that it wasn't his job. By that time I needed another drink too, and he refused to take my glass. The food was fair at best. The service was unacceptable. It's not my concern who's job it is to fill my empty cup. If you want to spend $$$$ to eat frozen shrimp, be ignored and treated like 2nd class citizens, by all means, go for it..

Recommends

jeather

Joined 6 years ago

Worth it!. Best EVER!!! Make a reservation, or you will not get seated and then enjoy. Everything is sooo fresh and tasty. I have to drive an hour but it is worth every min. My in-laws make it there first destination when coming in town from PA. Yea - it is that good!

Recommends

Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Editorial Review by Christy Buena. Locals flock to the Italian restaurant for veal, pasta, seafood dishes and cannelloni served at affordable prices.

Recommends

greggbates

Joined 7 years ago

Great service, Best Northern Italian cooking anywhere.. This place should be in a "BIG" city like Hotlanta, not a little place like Orange Park, but what can you do? Haven't found anyplace in ATL that can touch Sarnelli's, chef Manuel Sanelli is "World Class" He should get on that Iron Chef show and open up a case of u-know-what on Iron Chef Morimoto or Mario Batali! I am glad to read in the local newspaper that "Manny" is opening a new place just south of Sarnelli's and going to call it "The Blue Grotto"

Can't wait!

Gregg