Clemenza’s

We’ve been here 4 times and the food is always good. Unfortunately, we had a very unwelcoming experience this morning at brunch because our server seemed like she either hated her job or just didn’t want to be there. She never made eye contact with either of us and just stared off in another direction while she was at our table even when we would say something. I asked for a refill of my drink when the manager/​owner? walked by and she was the one that ended up dropping it off. When I went to say thank you, she just walked away without saying a word. As she was walking away from the other table next to us, she asked how is it, referring to our food, but walked away before we could reply. We’re still baffled by the experience this morning. We perceived it as very unwelcoming and even rude. We’ve never had or seen this server before and if we go back, we’ll definitely ask to not be seated in her section. Just avoid the middle-​aged blonde lady w/​red lipstick as your server and you’ll likely have a great experience.

This place was simply amazing every time my wife and I go in. The wait staff is on point, courteous, and always in a chipper mood. The food is prompt, displayed perfect and always flavorful. Best restaurant we have found since moving from North Carolina.

I came here for dinner at 6pm on a Friday night and would gladly eat here again. Atmosphere and servers were both nice.
I had their special of the day — Pork Milanese with Saffron Rice and Green Beans. It was cooked well and the only thing I would have to complain about would be that it didn’t impress me that much for a $ 25 plate. (Perhaps the saffron bumped the price up?) I also had a Coconut Bomba cake for dessert, which was tasty.
My wife had the Mimmo pizza (prosciutto, tomato, mushrooms). She says it was «Amazing. Would eat 47 more times at least.» I had a piece and would agree that it was delicious. Crust was perfectly crispy and chewy. Bottom wasn’t soggy at all. She also had a tiramisu which she quite liked.
My two year old had two meatballs and a slice of her mom’s pizza. She devoured her dinner.
My mother in law had the chicken marsala which she described as the best chicken marsala she has ever had.
Mother in laws boyfriend had the chicken alfredo. He didn’t say much about his meal except when asked if he liked it — «Oh yeah, it’s great.»

Stopped in here for lunch because it was close to where I was working. Ordered a Chicken Parm Sandwich and Potato and Lentil soup, the food was very good. The place seemed a bit hectic even though it wasnt that busy and it took awhile for my sandwich. The staff being very friendly made up for the shortfalls.

I like the atmosphere, but the service is not stellar. It needs improvement. I did take a cooking class there. That was nice. They have nice wine and there is a bartender there that makes the best lemon-​drop martinis. Mama Clamenza’s Sunday breakfast is nice, but don’t go there hungry because you’ll wait a long time. Make reservations.

One of the best hole in the wall restaurants I’ve ever been to. Odd location but the wine, service, and food was amazing. Salmon citrus salad was beautiful and so tasty and fresh, gnocchi was soft and smooth. Would recommend to everyone!

My husband and I love this place! Great food, great drinks, great service. Love the breakfast!

Visiting Fort Walton Beach: hungry for Italian: not many to choose from! We ended up here and was satisfied. I got the eggplant parm after reading another review and it was very good. My son got the gnocchi and it was amazing. The only negative I can say is the waitress was not very attentive. In fact: three out of four water glasses were totally empty for the last half of our meal and we didn’t see her to even ask for refills

First time here per a recommendation of a coworker for lunch. Great call. Had the Fat Clemenza sub and fries… followed by an espresso. Best sandwich I’ve had in years… hands down. And the service was outstanding. If you are in the area, and are looking for some solid Italian fare, don’t pass this place up. Will definitely be adding this to my locations to frequent in FWB.

Thumbs up from all 4 people in our party. We were here for breakfast and very much enjoyed it. We had a roasted chicken and spinach/​Caramelized onion egg omelet served with a small salad w/​strawberry vinegarette dressing, with toast, a special of the day that was tenderloin popovers served with the same salad, crepes and sausage and pepper risotto with eggs. Food was fresh and delicious and we would gladly come back. I hear the pizzas are good as well.

We love this place. The ambience, the service, the food. All fabulous! Every time we are in town, we try to visit. They have a full bar and wood fired pizza. Their patio is dog friendly too. Worth the visit if you are hungry for Italian. It’s a great place, especially for this beach town.

There has been a decline in the overall experience. Has there been a management change?
My family and I have gone to Clemenzas numerous times. Each time is great. We’ve not been there for a few months and decided to go today. Here were my observations: They only had 1 special (which they were out of)…in the past they’d always have 2 or 3. They were out of regular coffee! I’ve never heard of such a thing (especially from the place that’s supposed to be the best). They gave us a broken high chair for our 1 yr old. There was a random vacuum hanging out in the dining area. Saw some tables get half the party served followed by significant wait for the rest of the party. The servers were also outspoken about how slammed the kitchen was and how they «fight back and forth about how many specials they’ll make». Overall it really felt disjointed and poorly managed. Food was still tasty but I was disappointed at the overall decline in quality.

Was really looking forward to enjoying dinner here. I’ll spare the details and just get to the point… do not waste your time or money. The calamari was bland and marinara tasted like it was straight from a jar. The overpriced entrees lacked flavor… I was really expecting more.

Nope. Nope. Nile. Nook. Moor. Nooe. No thanks. Is this enough letters yet? No. Try hard swanky. No.

Ever wonder what Italy tastes like? Try this.
Staff: ⁵⁄₅: these folks are non-​stop. From entry to check payment it’s like you’re one of them. Even had a chance to talk to the owner while waiting, and I must say this. It shows even more credibility as an owner if you jump in and help your people.
Location: ⁵⁄₅. The ambience was superb, lighting was on point, it’s like one of those great places to bring a date or celebrate an occasion
Food: ⁵⁄₅ — No BS, no lies, perfection. It tasted like there’s a portal to an actual Italian kitchen in the back that goes from the restaurant in Venice to here. Aside from the main courses (and bruschetta that killed it all day) somehow managed to find room for tiramisu. The last time I had tiramisu was an absolute disaster. This time was a completely different story.
Pricing: ⁴⁄₅. A tad on the pricey side but what do you expect, its a bit more upscale.
Overall: ⁵⁄₅: Wow — impressive from start to finish.

For now, I’m going to give Clemenza’s 4 stars, but I will reconsider after dining-​in (will it go up to 5 stars, stay at 4, or plummet???). My guess from my experience is that it can only go up!
I placed a large order for pick up and my mom picked up the order, so I did not see the inside of the restaurant nor did I experience table service, but I am looking forward to it; I will definitely be going back for a dine-​in experience.
My order was ready for pickup promptly and on time, within about 30 minutes of placing it, and it was all neatly packaged and nice and hot when we got home. They even walked out with my mom and loaded it into the car for us (it was a big order, but not that big… They were just being courteous, and it was very appreciated).
Also of note, shortly after I placed the order someone called me back to make sure I knew that the restaurant I called was the FWB location and not the Destin location. Fortunately, I had called the correct location, but I definitely appreciated the consideration and courtesy of the call.
Mimmo’s Homemade Garlic Rolls — Good, but the dough itself was too buttery and heavy for me.
Grilled Eggplant Caponata — Also very good, but I was wanting more intense flavors. It is topped with capers and anchovies, so I was expecting a heavy salty and briny flavor. It was too mild for me, but still good.
Sautéed Spinach — Tasty. Simple, but that’s what wanted; spinach and garlic.
Caesar salad — Good. Not the best I’ve ever had though (again, I prefer bold flavors and wanted that punch of anchovy). It was crisp, fresh, and light.
Chicken Saltimbocca — Very good. Moist and lots of flavor.
Lasagna — My husband said it was the best he has ever
Pasta Bolognese — Delicious. Full of flavor and texture. Classic, «simple» dish done right
Margherita Pizza — Nice subtle flavors. Exactly what I wanted. Lovely, light and crisp, yet somehow slightly doughy crust. Perfecto!

Good food, excellent atmosphere. We had the pizza which was well prepared and cooked in a brick oven. Overall it was a good meal. The service was excellent and very attentive to our every need. I would certainly recommend trying this place if you’re in the area.

This is the top breakfast place in the Destin area. The eggs Benedict is the best I have ever had. Superb ingredients and the hollandaise sauce is fantastic. This is a must try on weekends for their breakfast!

BLUF: I very much disliked this restaurant.
I had high hopes for Clemenza’s. It came highly recommended by people I know. But I could not be more disappointed. It did not live up to my Olive Garden scale. If Olive Garden has better food than your restaurant, then you’re in trouble. Fort Walton Beach is a small town… hell, Destin, FWB, and Crestview combined is still a small town, so I can see why most people think this place is the balls. Sadly it’s just average.
We drove by to make sure it wasn’t packed. We saw several tables that were empty so we decided to try it. We had attempted to try it before, but the wait was 45 minutes. We go in, and there’s no one to greet us at the door. We stand around for a few minutes until finally someone shows. Looks like the manager. He tells us to hold on. Then the host shows up and he couldn’t be any less welcoming. We felt like we were inconveniencing him just by being there. He tells us the wait is going to be 10 – 15 minutes even though there were at least 5 tables open. Finally we are seated. Our waitress was great. Very quick and did not engage in unnecessary and awkward interactions.
The food was so blah! The bread was very thick and heavy. It tasted nothing special. Any chain of restaurant has better bread than this place. I ordered the roasted pepper gorgonzola bruschetta and it was incredibly soggy. The taste was ok but it was impossible to eat because of the sogginess. Bruschetta is supposed to be toasted but this had no crunch to it at all. For my entrée, I ordered the pasta emiliana. It smelled great… but it was just ok. We ordered tiramisu for dessert and it was good.
We paid about $ 50 for everything, and my husband even had a beer, so I think prices are fine. Overall, I did not enjoy the food. On top of everything, I feel super bloated and gross and guilty for eating this as a cheat meal that I didn’t even enjoy that much. Can’t recommend.

1 word — OUTSTANDING! Every bite was just incredible. I’m sorry, Tradewinds fans, but Clemenza’s has taken over as the best Italian food in the Northwest Florida Area. Not only was the food great, but the service was impeccable too. Everyone on the staff is committed to making this an experience second to none. When we left, the entire staff, including the owner, thanked us for coming in. Water stayed full and they were there to take care of our every whim.
We had: Veal Parmigan, Ravioli in a vodka sauce, vegetarian pizza, Shrimp in white sauce, extra meatballs, calamari starter and a chocolate stout cake for dessert. I highly recommend all of them.