What a gem of a restaurant find!! We were in the area and Cafe Michele Osteria Italian came up in our Google search. Lucky us!! The food is fabulous - Luigi made us feel right at home and his charm added to our spectacular dining experience. I took home what was left of my delicious pork osso buco and made a fabulous gravy with it as its base to serve over pasta for dinner the following evening - what a delight. I would never have expected such quality food and service at this storefront restaurant in the Miromar Outlet Mall - The place has the feel of a neighborhood restaurant - filled with good food and friends and families meeting up and dinning together. Cheers and hats off to this place!! We will definitely be back…
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
TT NoNo
We went bc of all the reviews and quite frankly the gentleman that answered the phone. We had a conversation in half Italian half English. I fell in love with him Eating here is a different story though.. we were 1 of 2 tables when we got there and it remained that way.The food was not a pleasant experience. We ordered two appetizers calamari and octopus carpaccio. I have never in my life seen calamari come out in the shape it was presented to us today(see picture)It was good but MAYBE had 10 pieces on the plate and a very large portion of arugula.The octopus was a huge mistake. I don't even know what we were served honestly. It looked like octopus bologna SERIOUSLY (see picture) with, again, a gigantic pile of arugula...There was SOOO much lemon on it that we were unable to eat it (lemon to hide something?) $50 for two appetizers (that we only ate one btw ?...couldn't get the server to understand we didn't want to take it home and we didn't want to eat it, so we left it and paid for it )Sure, I'll gladly pay that price for good food, any day, all day, but this stuff was pretty much inedible.I really wanted to like this place, but it's a hard pass for me ..
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 5
Len Dog
Highly over priced .. food was ok but not great, service was good because the one waitress was running around like crazy, get her some help geez, $16 for 4 of the smallest meatballs I’ve ever had at a restaurant basically equivalent to 1 meatball..its ok but for the prices it should be better
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Lily Hope
Food was okay. Nothing spectacular and definitely not worth $26. I think the prices for what they actually give you is a bit much. Service was lacking. There are much better options out there. Will not be back.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Ravioli Stuffed Alla Norma
Ted Koziel
Are there today. Ordered the meatball.when served I asked for bread ,was informed they ran out of bread. 4 bite size meatball for $16.00. I won’t be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 1
Anthony P
New place for us... not the usual Italian we're used to. No spaghetti, no angel hair, and no parmesan (chicken nor veal, or eggplant). Wine selection was very good, and the bread with oil and garlic was delicious... As were the meatballs.Very much liked the service...Interesting... some of the food selections below were not on the menu or available when we asked...
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Carla Cordoves
Homemade food, greasy staff and cozy ambiance. This was the most authentic Italian experience I’ve had in the US in a long time. Will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pappardelle Alla Bolognese
Ovidiu Lovin
Always had fusili alla putanesca pasta here. Last time me and my family went there and were served just pasta with tomato sauce and no trace of anchovies not to mention that their portion was half the size. It's a shame that their cutting corners like that.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
G. C.
My husband and I came here because it was close to our hotel. What a nice place! The ambiance, service and food was excellent. I felt like I was in Italy. I highly recommend. Everything was fresh and delicious. Prices reasonable. Reminds me of my favorite Italian restaurant in Detroit that is 100% authentic. Everything made from scratch. We are so glad we found this place! And no, I am not family or related to the owner like someone else posted.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
irene young
We did not know what to expect. The fish was amazing the pasta and Gnochi was outstanding . We had a large party and were served timely . Great
Randomly went here while we were waiting for the car to charge. Holy cow was really legit. Had the bolognese and the sauce was delicate and nuanced. The pasta was fresh. Totally unexpected great Italian food in a freaking outlet mall. Give it a shot you won’t be disappointed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pappardelle Alla Bolognese
Joni Iraci
We’ve been here many times for both lunch and dinner. It’s like being back in Italia. The food is superb, the servers attentive and the ambiance is authentic. Highly recommend this fantastic restaurant. It rivals the best Italian restaurants in NYC!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Steph
Great overall experience from the moment we sat down to when we left. The owners could not have been more welcoming. The food was delicious and authentic. We had a wonderful time during our first visit .... and it will not be our last! Thank you for a memorable evening!
Carol Ravera
Best meal we have ever hadI have been to Italy and this rivals some of the best food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Stephen Phelps
Friends in Estero made a reservation last week for 8; four of us drove up from Naples. We questioned the quality of an Italian meal in an outlet mall; however, we were shocked & proven to be narrow-minded. Everyone had an outstanding meal. My husband & I ordered Casarecce alla Pugliese & Lasagna alla Bolognese e Besciamella, respectively; one of the best meals we’ve had in years. Service was extremely attentive. It’s unfortunate we had to cancel a return trip for this afternoon; however, we’ll definitely return.
What a gem of a restaurant find!! We were in the area and Cafe Michele Osteria Italian came up in our Google search. Lucky us!! The food is fabulous - Luigi made us feel right at home and his charm added to our spectacular dining experience. I took home what was left of my delicious pork osso buco and made a fabulous gravy with it as its base to serve over pasta for dinner the following evening - what a delight. I would never have expected such quality food and service at this storefront restaurant in the Miromar Outlet Mall - The place has the feel of a neighborhood restaurant - filled with good food and friends and families meeting up and dinning together. Cheers and hats off to this place!! We will definitely be back…
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
We went bc of all the reviews and quite frankly the gentleman that answered the phone. We had a conversation in half Italian half English. I fell in love with him Eating here is a different story though.. we were 1 of 2 tables when we got there and it remained that way.The food was not a pleasant experience. We ordered two appetizers calamari and octopus carpaccio. I have never in my life seen calamari come out in the shape it was presented to us today(see picture)It was good but MAYBE had 10 pieces on the plate and a very large portion of arugula.The octopus was a huge mistake. I don't even know what we were served honestly. It looked like octopus bologna SERIOUSLY (see picture) with, again, a gigantic pile of arugula...There was SOOO much lemon on it that we were unable to eat it (lemon to hide something?) $50 for two appetizers (that we only ate one btw ?...couldn't get the server to understand we didn't want to take it home and we didn't want to eat it, so we left it and paid for it )Sure, I'll gladly pay that price for good food, any day, all day, but this stuff was pretty much inedible.I really wanted to like this place, but it's a hard pass for me ..
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 5
Highly over priced .. food was ok but not great, service was good because the one waitress was running around like crazy, get her some help geez, $16 for 4 of the smallest meatballs I’ve ever had at a restaurant basically equivalent to 1 meatball..its ok but for the prices it should be better
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Food was okay. Nothing spectacular and definitely not worth $26. I think the prices for what they actually give you is a bit much. Service was lacking. There are much better options out there. Will not be back.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Ravioli Stuffed Alla Norma
Are there today. Ordered the meatball.when served I asked for bread ,was informed they ran out of bread. 4 bite size meatball for $16.00. I won’t be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 1
New place for us... not the usual Italian we're used to. No spaghetti, no angel hair, and no parmesan (chicken nor veal, or eggplant). Wine selection was very good, and the bread with oil and garlic was delicious... As were the meatballs.Very much liked the service...Interesting... some of the food selections below were not on the menu or available when we asked...
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Homemade food, greasy staff and cozy ambiance. This was the most authentic Italian experience I’ve had in the US in a long time. Will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pappardelle Alla Bolognese
Always had fusili alla putanesca pasta here. Last time me and my family went there and were served just pasta with tomato sauce and no trace of anchovies not to mention that their portion was half the size. It's a shame that their cutting corners like that.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
My husband and I came here because it was close to our hotel. What a nice place! The ambiance, service and food was excellent. I felt like I was in Italy. I highly recommend. Everything was fresh and delicious. Prices reasonable. Reminds me of my favorite Italian restaurant in Detroit that is 100% authentic. Everything made from scratch. We are so glad we found this place! And no, I am not family or related to the owner like someone else posted.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We did not know what to expect. The fish was amazing the pasta and Gnochi was outstanding . We had a large party and were served timely . Great
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Randomly went here while we were waiting for the car to charge. Holy cow was really legit. Had the bolognese and the sauce was delicate and nuanced. The pasta was fresh. Totally unexpected great Italian food in a freaking outlet mall. Give it a shot you won’t be disappointed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pappardelle Alla Bolognese
We’ve been here many times for both lunch and dinner. It’s like being back in Italia. The food is superb, the servers attentive and the ambiance is authentic. Highly recommend this fantastic restaurant. It rivals the best Italian restaurants in NYC!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great overall experience from the moment we sat down to when we left. The owners could not have been more welcoming. The food was delicious and authentic. We had a wonderful time during our first visit .... and it will not be our last! Thank you for a memorable evening!
Best meal we have ever hadI have been to Italy and this rivals some of the best food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Friends in Estero made a reservation last week for 8; four of us drove up from Naples. We questioned the quality of an Italian meal in an outlet mall; however, we were shocked & proven to be narrow-minded. Everyone had an outstanding meal. My husband & I ordered Casarecce alla Pugliese & Lasagna alla Bolognese e Besciamella, respectively; one of the best meals we’ve had in years. Service was extremely attentive. It’s unfortunate we had to cancel a return trip for this afternoon; however, we’ll definitely return.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5