This Florida Restaurant’s Homemade Pesto Is So Good Locals Can’t Stop Talking About It

Pull off East Altamonte Drive in Florida and you will quickly understand why locals whisper about the pesto before they even mention the pasta. Nonno’s Italian Restaurant turns a modest Florida strip center into a true dining destination, where warmth, flavor, and family hospitality come together effortlessly.

This is the kind of Florida restaurant where first-time guests are treated like regulars and every plate arrives generous, comforting, and made with care. Sauces taste slow-simmered, portions feel proudly abundant, and the atmosphere carries that relaxed, welcoming Florida charm people love.

The LaCommare family runs the kitchen with heart, creating an experience that feels personal rather than polished for show. And then there is the pesto — bold, fragrant, and unforgettable — a signature flavor that has become part of Florida’s local food legend.

One bite is enough to make you pause, smile, and start planning your return before the meal even ends.

Come hungry. Come early.

And expect to leave already craving your next Florida visit to Nonno’s.

Exact Location And First Impressions

Nonno’s Italian Restaurant sits at 1140 E Altamonte Dr #1018, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701, a practical location with easy access from busy East Altamonte Drive. The exterior is unpretentious, tucked into a strip center that hums with neighborhood energy.

Step through the door and the vibe shifts instantly from errands to evening, the kind of threshold that suggests comfort ahead.

The first greeting often comes with a smile and a joke, then a clear rundown of wait times. It can get busy, especially on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings, so arriving at opening is a veteran move.

While you wait, you will likely catch trays of steaming pasta floating by and hear the clink of plates like a friendly dinner bell.

Seating is close, convivial, and oriented around conversation as much as cuisine. You will notice families, date nights, and solo diners leaning into bowls of soup and towering subs.

Service moves quickly without rushing, which makes the room feel both lively and calm. Before the menu has even settled in your hands, warm bread lands, and the famed pesto arrives like a welcome handshake that hints at everything to come.

History, Family, And Ownership

Nonno’s is family run, and you feel it in the cadence of the service and the way staff check on tables with genuine curiosity. The restaurant’s Google listing credits the LaCommare clan, with a nod to Sicilian roots and a love for red sauce classics.

You might hear a story shared tableside, or watch the owners circulate with gratitude that reads as habit, not performance.

Exact founding dates and a formal origin timeline are not publicly detailed, yet the lived history unfolds in the room. Regulars greet servers by name, newcomers get patient walk throughs of specials, and there is a practiced rhythm to pacing.

The phrase neighborhood staple gets tossed around loosely; here it lands with clarity.

Family influence also shows up in the menu’s balance of hearty standards and thoughtful specials. Recipes feel road tested, refined in a local kitchen rather than corporate boardroom.

That continuity is part of the draw, especially for diners chasing comfort without fuss. If you value an owner who thanks you for coming, keep your eyes up; it happens often.

And when the bread and pesto hit, you understand how tradition can be tasted as much as told.

Decor, Ambiance, And Seating

The room is compact and warm, framed by simple decor that supports rather than distracts. Lighting skews golden, the kind that flatters pasta bowls and friendly faces.

Tables are set fairly close, which builds an animated soundtrack of happy clatter and shared recommendations between neighbors.

You will notice the practical layout of a busy, well loved spot. Servers navigate confidently, weaving plates through tight lanes with skill.

It is comfortable, not fussy, with touches that nod to Italy without slipping into a theme park pastiche. The vibe reads like a favorite living room with better seating and even better sauce.

Depending on time of day, the room can flip from calm lunch to full tilt dinner crescendo. That shift carries a certain charm, especially when you are leaning into soup or salad while deciding between classics and specials.

No table feels forgotten, and staff keep water topped and smiles coming. The underlying message is clear: settle in, take your time, and do not worry about eavesdropping.

The best kind of ambiance is the kind built by people who are happy to be there.

The Famous Pesto And Bread

At Nonno’s, the pesto with warm bread is not a side note; it is the opening scene that steals the show in true Florida comfort-food fashion. The spread arrives vivid green, fragrant with basil and garlic, and balanced with just enough richness to cling lovingly to every crumb.

You dip once, then twice, then realize you have started a personal challenge to save room for dinner.

Texture matters here. The pesto is smooth but not flat, with a rustic touch that grips the bread’s tender interior and lightly crisp crust.

It is generous without feeling oily, bright without turning sharp. Florida locals rave about it because it is the rare starter that signals real care and technique, a small ritual repeated table after table.

If you are new, pace yourself. The pesto is bottomless temptation, but Nonno’s entrées are legitimately hearty.

Ask for extra bread only if you trust your appetite. For fans of simple pleasures, this is a Florida-worthy reason to drive across town, savor the basil, and let conversation linger over the final swipe in the bowl.

Menu Highlights And Signature Dishes

The menu reads like a love letter to Italian American comfort, then surprises with Sicilian leaning specials. You will see chicken parmesan with a satisfying crunch, chicken marsala that regulars praise, and a silky Alfredo that earns repeat orders.

Subs like meatball parm or sausage bring serious heft, served on quality rolls that hold up under sauce.

Starters and sides are not throwaways. Soup options rotate, with wedding soup and minestrone frequently mentioned, plus an antipasto salad known for size and variety.

Pasta shapes pair with house sauces, including a popular vodka sauce and the crowd adored pesto served with bread. Portions trend large, which means leftovers become tomorrow’s victory lunch.

Specials change and can include stuffed chicken variations or seafood touches that nod to the restaurant’s Sicilian spirit. When in doubt, ask your server to steer you toward a kitchen favorite.

The guiding principle is familiarity done right, calibrated through repetition and genuine feedback. It is a menu designed for sharing, sampling, and discovering that your table neighbor was correct: the dish tastes even better than it looks.

Service Style And Hospitality

Service at Nonno’s blends efficiency with warmth, the kind that makes even a busy night feel personal. Servers offer suggestions with confidence and a smile, then circle back at just the right moments.

On many visits, the owners greet tables directly, shaking hands, thanking guests, and turning a meal into a shared occasion.

Expect clear communication about wait times and pacing, which helps the evening flow. When the room hits full capacity, the team stays attentive to small details like quick refills and timely bread baskets.

Guests often mention how their server seems to appear exactly when needed, a small magic trick that comes from practice and pride.

Newcomers receive patient menu walk throughs, regulars get knowing nods toward personal favorites, and large parties are handled with calm coordination. If you have a question about sauces or portion sizes, ask, and you will get an honest, helpful answer.

The effect is reassuring: you are in good hands, and the food will follow suit. Hospitality here is not performative; it is the daily craft of people who like feeding their neighbors well.

Price, Portions, And Value

Nonno’s sits comfortably in the $$ range, a Florida sweet spot where value is measured in both flavor and portion size. Servings are generous, often large enough to become leftovers that reheat beautifully the next day.

Most guests find the pricing fair, especially considering the care poured into soups, sauces, and sides.

Every entrée comes with a side salad or soup, stretching the experience without stretching your budget. Subs arrive hearty enough to share if you are also ordering starters, and pasta bowls never hold back on sauce.

Bread and pesto are included, a thoughtful Florida-style touch that sets the tone before the main course even arrives.

When weighing cost against experience, the extras matter: warm greetings, consistent pacing, and the hands-on presence of owners who check in on tables. That hospitality turns an ordinary Florida weeknight into something that feels like a small celebration.

Add the bonus of a take-home box for tomorrow’s lunch, and the value becomes undeniable. It is the kind of Florida restaurant where families eat well without stress, and solo diners can indulge without guilt.

Hours, Best Times, And Practical Tips

Hours currently list as Closed on Monday and Tuesday, open Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 11:30 AM to 9 PM, Saturday 12 to 9 PM, and Sunday 5 to 8 PM. Checking the website or calling +1 407-260-8900 before heading out is smart.

The restaurant’s site is nonnositalianrestaurant.com, which posts updates and contact details.

Peak times cluster around weekend dinners, when waits can stretch from 45 minutes to 90 minutes. Arriving near opening is the insider move, especially on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

If the lobby fills, staff keep the process organized and friendly, and the food lands quickly once seated.

Parking is shared with the strip center and usually manageable with a few loops. For large parties, call ahead to coordinate and set expectations.

If you love an unhurried meal, consider an early weeknight or a late lunch on open days. Most importantly, save room for pesto and plan your entree strategy with leftovers in mind.

That way, lunch tomorrow will be just as satisfying as dinner tonight.