Is Nonno’s The Best Italian Restaurant In Altamonte Springs?
Is Nonno’s the best Italian restaurant in Altamonte Springs? The magic 8 ball says “all signs point to yes”. Nonno’s was recently voted the best Italian restaurant in Orlando for 2023. After our visit, it’s clear why they were chosen. With a foundation that is deeply rooted in the old country, Nonno’s is serving up traditional dishes like Grandma used to make. Sure, you’ll find lasagna and linguini on the menu but you’ll also find something that a lot of people wouldn’t think of right away when Italian food comes to mind, seafood.
Italy is a peninsula and seafood, especially in Sicily, is a staple that most Americans don’t imagine when dining out. Italian is actually some of the best Mediterranean food you can get and you owe it to yourselves to enjoy seafood from what may be the best Italian restaurant in Altamonte Springs. Boasting a whopping 4.8 out of a possible 5 stars on Google, 1,300 people can’t be wrong. We’re here to tell you they’re not. Aside from seafood dishes, Nonno’s serves up all the traditional Italian dishes you would expect to find in the most immaculate way.
Culture Helps Nonno’s Compete For Best Italian Restaurant In Altamonte Springs
There’s a culture here that you may not be used to. Nonno’s is family owned and operated and is, therefore, family oriented. The recipes have been passed down for generations, have been through Ellis Island, and are still making headway in 2023. Nonno’s is casual and fun like an Italian family dinner should be. You’ll make fast friends and you’re guaranteed to stay a while and come back soon. Between the food, the hospitality, and the laid-back atmosphere, there’s not a soul in the world who’d disagree.
Italian cuisine is supposed to be fun. It’s an experience. When you find that experience, and pair it with truly authentic Italian meals, you’ve hit the jackpot. Not only is Nonno’s constantly busy, with a dedicated base of patrons, but they’ve also managed to hang onto their employees for 10, 20, and even 30 years. How? Because Nonno’s is family-oriented and cultivates that experience. If you’re Italian, and can’t go to your grandma’s house for dinner, Nonno’s is a close second. If you’re not Italian, but you wish you were, Nonno’s is the next best thing to an Italian dinner at grandma’s house
The Pollo Di Stefano
If you’re looking for sausage, chicken, and prosciutto then the Pollo Di Stefano is the dish for you. This is a home run. The Pollo Di Stefano is a dish that every hard-working person should be coming home to after a long day at work. This is a flavorful, hot, home-cooked meal, and includes everything but the kitchen sink.
You’ve got your proteins, olives, mushrooms, and pepperoncini. Then, it’s all cooked in wine and lemon which makes the most decadent sauce. The Pollo Di Stefano is extremely well prepared. The chicken is tender, the sausage casing isn’t cracked, and there are all the flavors that you would hope an Italian dish of this caliber would have. When you take your first bite, you can tell how fresh the ingredients truly are. In short, it is phenomenal and we highly recommend that everyone try this dish.
The Grouper Genovese
Everyone knows that if you see the word “market” on a menu, next to a seafood dish, it’s fresh. The Genovese at Nonno’s is always made with the market fish. During our visit, Nonno’s was serving up Grouper Genovese. This is one of the most well-prepared pieces of fish that we’ve ever experienced. Fish is a delicate protein and it’s easy to overcook.
Nonno’s hit the nail on the head with a wonderfully prepared piece of flaky grouper atop a bed of perfectly cooked pasta. Add capers, garlic, onions, pine nuts, kalamata olives, lemon, and white wine and you just may be rolling yourself home (because you’re going to eat it all). If the Grouper Genovese sounds good to you, get in line. Be sure to ask your server about the market fish on the day of your visit and be prepared to become the envy of your table.
The Linguini Con Cozze
Prince Edward Island mussels are arguably some of the best mussels you can get. Prince Edward Island is where these particular mussels come from. The ocean climate and tidal patterns in this area are conducive to raising mussels, and in the past several years, Prince Edward Island has become one of the primary providers of fresh mussels in North America.
Needless to say, once again these were perfectly prepared. A lot of places serve up black mussels that are overcooked and plop down at your table a rubbery mess. The PEI mussels at Nonna’s are so flavorful and well-prepared that they melt in your mouth. You may need to order a second portion because as much as your family will want to try some mussels off your plate, you’re probably not going to want to part with any of them. If you fancy yourself a mussels addict, we can’t think of a better place to order a plate of mussels than possibly the best Italian restaurant in Altamonte Springs.
The Homemade Pesto With Fresh Warm Bread
Nonno’s pesto is, again, some of the best we’ve ever had. Nonno’s runs through more than ten gallons of their house-made pesto each week. Made fresh regularly, with vinegar instead of lemon juice, gives their pesto a unique taste that leaves you wondering why all pesto doesn’t taste like this. We had to ask for a second serving of pesto and consumed an entire loaf of their in-house bread. Dunk after dunk, we couldn’t get enough. Also, you can purchase Nonno’s pesto to take home with you as a late-night snack. If you ask nicely, they may toss an extra loaf of bread in your doggy bag so you can continue the dunk fest
So, Is Nonno’s The Best Italian Restaurant In Altamonte Springs?
So, is Nonno’s the best Italian restaurant in Altamonte Springs? According to everyone who visits, the answer is a resounding yes. For real Italian cuisine, Nonno’s is the highest-rated Italian restaurant in the entire area. Also, they’ve been crowned the best Italian restaurant in Orlando for the year 2023. You, the people, have spoken. The hospitality, atmosphere, perfectly prepared fresh and authentic dishes, and huge portions are all you need to know about to make your decision. If you’ve never been to Nonno’s, you’re going to become family real fast. Head on over to Nonno’s as soon as possible and ask for some of the dishes we tried during our visit. Also, tell them Park Ave Magazine sent you.
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