In Manhattan, there’s a saying among restaurateurs that “New Yorkers eat with their eyes,” meaning that they are happy when the meal covers the plate, and more. In Sarasota, we have the opportunity to experience just that at Marcello Ristorante Italiano.

This inviting, intimate restaurant provides a dining experience unlike any other. It seems as if you’ve been invited into the home of owner and chef Marcello (pronounced “mar-chello”) Aquino. This amiable chef has brought a slice of New York, combined it with a bit of Italy and deposited it on the South Trail.