Ciao Italian Bistro - Fernandina Beach

The overall experience at this restaurant was lovely. However, it seemed that they were short-staffed, and some of the dishes were not up to par. I would recommend trying the roasted mozzarella and lobster ravioli, but I would suggest skipping the meatballs. The owner and waiter were both very friendly, though the waiter seemed overwhelmed at times and was not always available when needed. It felt like they could use more staff to provide better customer service. The atmosphere was pleasant, but the chairs could use an update considering the higher prices and elegant setting. The food, for the most part, was delicious and well-timed thanks to the waiters. However, the meatballs were a letdown being over-seasoned and cooked. The high price for children's meals was also disappointing. I may return to this restaurant, but it will likely not be a regular spot for me.

We celebrated a birthday on Friday night at this restaurant and I made reservations ahead of time due to its popularity. The service was outstanding and the food was delicious! We started with the Bruschetta as an appetizer and then tried a variety of dishes. The calf cuts and pasta with a light lemon glaze were especially tasty. The owner came by our table frequently and was very friendly.

We ate here on our trip to Fernandina in 2022. I'm not a fan of Italian food, but I was surprised! The surroundings were beautiful. The Italian owner met us at the door and sat down us. The waiting staff never let a cup dry or the garlic bread basket go empty. They knew about the menu what was in how it was done. The food was delicious, but not too rich. We ordered the roasted mozzarella for an appetizer. It came with a pesto aioli, that was good at everything. They also serve groundless garlic bread. We tried the Fatuccini alfredo, chicken parm, Cappelli de Angelo and chicken marsela. It was all delicious, but not exaggerated. The portions were generous. You have wine and alcohol, but we don't drink. We spent about $120 for 4 people with a tip, so it is a little higher end. We're going back to our next trip.

We had Christmas dinner here. We had no reservation and sat in the bar area. The atmosphere was airy and light. The waiting staff was as attentive as in a busy night. We had the meatball duo and the roasted mozzarella was delicious. For dinner we had the chicken parmesan and the braided boneless short ribs. The food and food temperature was on point. The sauce for braided beef short ribs was a little red wine heavy, except we had no complaints. We rated the place at four stars when the hostess sat other people who came after us and did not ask or seek who is next.

So I worked at the place years ago when they weren’t on the island. Really enjoyed working for Mrs. Kim and Luca. My sister and I went last night to their new location on the island. Chef John Pinter and his wife Chelsea took really great care of us. Mrs. Kim made sure we were comfortable when we first got there. Mrs. Chelsea is an extremely great waitress. She was on point with everything and I highly recommend you go to this place. The food is fantastic service is great and the environment is excellent.