Social Profile: 
✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in
… View more
Spiffy Italian venue offering classic fare & an extensive, global wine list in contemporary digs.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 435 Mandalay Ave, Clearwater Beach, FL 33767
Phone: (727) 441-1111
Website: http://www.forlinis.com/
Menu Photos
Photo Gallery
Related Web Results
Forlini’s Restaurant – Italian Restaurant in Clearwater Beach, FL
Our menu features fresh seafood, steaks and chops, homemade pastas, signature dishes, as well as traditional Italian dishes.
Forlini’s Restaurant | Clearwater Beach FL – Facebook
It’s Tuesday everyone!! Forlini’s opens at 5 pm. Call for reservation or just walk in. We hope to see you there. 727-441-1111.
Forlini’s Ristorante & Bar – Clearwater, FL on OpenTable
Forlini’s Restaurant & Bar in Clearwater, Florida offers seafood, steaks, chops, pasta and more, along with a world-class wine list for your dining pleasure.
Reviews
Adnan
Came here with my family for a birthday dinner. The appetizers were delicious and the main dishes were amazing! Everything was fresh and made to order. You can definitely taste the fresh ingredients. Paul and his staff treated us like we were part of their family. Will definitely be back again!
… moreAnn Swenson
This place is family owned and run. Everybody here is either related to the family or adopted by the family. They are the most amazing people! Our server Andrew is a spectacular server making us feel at home.
The lasagna was the best I have ever enjoyed in my entire life! I am a very picky eater and this lasagna was actually better than my own homemade lasagna.. I had the scallops Sinatra and it was also fabulous. My husband had the lasagna and we also had escargot and bruschetta for appetizers . The bruschetta had the freshest mozzarella cheese I’ve ever tasted and it was fabulous! I rarely leave such outstanding reviews but this place touched my heart as the hostess’s son serves in the Marines and there is a BMT graduate poster hanging in the bar area!
Proud military family indeed. Gid bless him and his family.
As a “region rat” spoiled by Chicago food, this was a real treat away from home.
Thank you Forlini Family
… moreThe lasagna was the best I have ever enjoyed in my entire life! I am a very picky eater and this lasagna was actually better than my own homemade lasagna.. I had the scallops Sinatra and it was also fabulous. My husband had the lasagna and we also had escargot and bruschetta for appetizers . The bruschetta had the freshest mozzarella cheese I’ve ever tasted and it was fabulous! I rarely leave such outstanding reviews but this place touched my heart as the hostess’s son serves in the Marines and there is a BMT graduate poster hanging in the bar area!
Proud military family indeed. Gid bless him and his family.
As a “region rat” spoiled by Chicago food, this was a real treat away from home.
Thank you Forlini Family
Mark Zane
Absolutely outstanding experience at Forlini’s.
From the moment we walked in, the family and the entire staff provided exemplary, genuine hospitality. You can immediately tell this is a place where pride, tradition, and care still matter. Every interaction felt warm, professional, and personal—something that is increasingly rare.
The food was absolutely incredible, and that assessment comes from someone who has traveled to Italy multiple times and has very high standards for authentic Italian cuisine. The flavors, preparation, and attention to detail were exceptional—nothing rushed, nothing careless, and nothing disappointing.
This was our first visit, and we were traveling from out of town. After this experience, Forlini’s is now a must-return destination for us. The next time we’re in Clearwater Beach, we will 100% be back.
I also want to address some of the negative reviews mentioning longer wait times. We dined here on New Year’s Eve, one of the busiest nights of the year, and our food took maybe 5–10 minutes longer than what some people might consider “fast.” What became immediately clear to us was that true quality takes time. The extra few minutes were more than worth it, and the results spoke for themselves.
If you value authentic Italian food, exceptional service, and a family-run atmosphere that still cares deeply about the craft—Forlini’s is absolutely worth your time.
Highly recommended.
… moreFrom the moment we walked in, the family and the entire staff provided exemplary, genuine hospitality. You can immediately tell this is a place where pride, tradition, and care still matter. Every interaction felt warm, professional, and personal—something that is increasingly rare.
The food was absolutely incredible, and that assessment comes from someone who has traveled to Italy multiple times and has very high standards for authentic Italian cuisine. The flavors, preparation, and attention to detail were exceptional—nothing rushed, nothing careless, and nothing disappointing.
This was our first visit, and we were traveling from out of town. After this experience, Forlini’s is now a must-return destination for us. The next time we’re in Clearwater Beach, we will 100% be back.
I also want to address some of the negative reviews mentioning longer wait times. We dined here on New Year’s Eve, one of the busiest nights of the year, and our food took maybe 5–10 minutes longer than what some people might consider “fast.” What became immediately clear to us was that true quality takes time. The extra few minutes were more than worth it, and the results spoke for themselves.
If you value authentic Italian food, exceptional service, and a family-run atmosphere that still cares deeply about the craft—Forlini’s is absolutely worth your time.
Highly recommended.
Eddie Oakie
Went to Forlini’s for the first time and it was fabulous! From the atmosphere, service, food, everything was great!
Our server, Deanna, was very friendly and helpful with our order.
They also serve a hot roll and olive oil before the meal.
I had the Chicken Parmesan and Kris had the Shrimp with pasta.
We both ordered a Caesar salad and it was all served on time and was delicious!
We will definitely return!
Reservations, especially on weekends and holidays is recommended!
… moreOur server, Deanna, was very friendly and helpful with our order.
They also serve a hot roll and olive oil before the meal.
I had the Chicken Parmesan and Kris had the Shrimp with pasta.
We both ordered a Caesar salad and it was all served on time and was delicious!
We will definitely return!
Reservations, especially on weekends and holidays is recommended!
Patrick O’Leary
I was down to see the Phillies and stopped by to eat. Everything was great! The food was fantastic and Andrew did an awesome job taking care of us. Very attentive service and all around a great meal. Will definitely return next time we are down.
… moreChristina Izzi
When most RI people travel, we care about finding good food. Finding good Italian food that compares to home is generally difficult. Amazingly we found it here at Forlini’s. Great service and terrific food. We had a delicious calamari, chicken parm, Scallops Sinatra over homemade fettuccine, Shrimp Capri and spaghetti & meatballs. Everyone was more than pleased, a taste of home while away.
… moreAaron Beals
I wanted more flavor. If you like a more subtle flavor this may be the place for you. The drinks were nice.
… moreMIAngel K
Forlini’s is always a great experience! Excellent true Italian cuisine! New Year’s Eve dinner was fantastic! The Lamb was so tender and perfectly prepared. We had a table of 12 and all of us had excellent food. Drinks were delicious and perfectly made. Love the Espresso martini! This is a family owned restaurant and it shows in the personalized service, excellent food, and an atmosphere that makes you feel at home! Perfect for a romantic evening out or to gather with friends, Forlini’s is the place to be! Definitely a place to return to again and again! What an excellent way to bring in the New Year, any special occasion or just a nice evening out!
… moreMr. E
Honest Take: Overpriced Tourist Trap with Publix Quality
If you take a look at my profile, you’ll see I’ve reviewed a wide range of restaurants, so here is my straight-up, honest take on this joint.
The Vibe
Let’s start with the look and feel. The place looks decent from the outside, but once you’re inside, it’s a different story. It is rather plain and has a “used” vibe to it. They have the stereotypical Italian music playing in the background, but it’s really nothing special.
The Service
The service was mid at best. Our waitress kept forgetting which person ordered what, and simple details were totally overlooked, like bringing out small plates so we could split the appetizers.
The Food
Now for the food: it’s Olive Garden grade at best. Many of the dishes, especially the appetizers, were low quality.
Shrimp Cocktail: This was just four shrimp that looked like they came from Publix, served on a plate of loose lettuce. They cost over $4 a pop and were not even jumbo size. I’m fairly certain these were the exact same frozen ones you get in a bag at Publix.
Caprese: Nothing special and greatly overpriced. It was four unripe tomato slices with a bit of mozzarella and a forgettable vinaigrette sauce drizzled on top.
Peppers and Sausage: Your classic Publix Italian sausages. They were super greasy and nothing special. Again, it wouldn’t surprise me if they were from Publix as well. The peppers were just a couple of slices of red bell that added zero to the dish.
The Entrees
Since we were a large group, we got to see a lot of the main dishes.
Salmon: Somehow both greasy and overcooked. It was very dry, and the broccoli it came with was minimal and lightly cooked. It was still very crunchy and had zero character.
Scallops: These were pretty small (smaller than a 50 cent piece) and were right on the border of being overdone. Once again, these looked and tasted exactly like the frozen kind from a bag at Publix.
Sinatra Dishes: Nothing special about the sauce. The meats were pretty plain and really lacked any sort of special flavor.
Veal: Extremely small and pretty tough, which should never be the case with veal.
Chicken Parmesan: This was an epic disappointment. It came with a sad, very small bowl of noodles with what appeared to be Ragu sauce. The chicken itself looked like something you’d make at home when you’re trying to use up meat before it goes bad. It was just layered with basic tomato sauce and shredded pizza cheese.
The Bottom Line
If this place were located anywhere other than a tourist trap, it would never survive. You are essentially paying premium prices for low-end Olive Garden quality food. Actually, I’m being mean to Olive Garden there; at least they shred the parmesan in front of you. This place just brought out a bowl of what looked and tasted like Kraft Parmesan from the green plastic container you buy at Publix.
… moreIf you take a look at my profile, you’ll see I’ve reviewed a wide range of restaurants, so here is my straight-up, honest take on this joint.
The Vibe
Let’s start with the look and feel. The place looks decent from the outside, but once you’re inside, it’s a different story. It is rather plain and has a “used” vibe to it. They have the stereotypical Italian music playing in the background, but it’s really nothing special.
The Service
The service was mid at best. Our waitress kept forgetting which person ordered what, and simple details were totally overlooked, like bringing out small plates so we could split the appetizers.
The Food
Now for the food: it’s Olive Garden grade at best. Many of the dishes, especially the appetizers, were low quality.
Shrimp Cocktail: This was just four shrimp that looked like they came from Publix, served on a plate of loose lettuce. They cost over $4 a pop and were not even jumbo size. I’m fairly certain these were the exact same frozen ones you get in a bag at Publix.
Caprese: Nothing special and greatly overpriced. It was four unripe tomato slices with a bit of mozzarella and a forgettable vinaigrette sauce drizzled on top.
Peppers and Sausage: Your classic Publix Italian sausages. They were super greasy and nothing special. Again, it wouldn’t surprise me if they were from Publix as well. The peppers were just a couple of slices of red bell that added zero to the dish.
The Entrees
Since we were a large group, we got to see a lot of the main dishes.
Salmon: Somehow both greasy and overcooked. It was very dry, and the broccoli it came with was minimal and lightly cooked. It was still very crunchy and had zero character.
Scallops: These were pretty small (smaller than a 50 cent piece) and were right on the border of being overdone. Once again, these looked and tasted exactly like the frozen kind from a bag at Publix.
Sinatra Dishes: Nothing special about the sauce. The meats were pretty plain and really lacked any sort of special flavor.
Veal: Extremely small and pretty tough, which should never be the case with veal.
Chicken Parmesan: This was an epic disappointment. It came with a sad, very small bowl of noodles with what appeared to be Ragu sauce. The chicken itself looked like something you’d make at home when you’re trying to use up meat before it goes bad. It was just layered with basic tomato sauce and shredded pizza cheese.
The Bottom Line
If this place were located anywhere other than a tourist trap, it would never survive. You are essentially paying premium prices for low-end Olive Garden quality food. Actually, I’m being mean to Olive Garden there; at least they shred the parmesan in front of you. This place just brought out a bowl of what looked and tasted like Kraft Parmesan from the green plastic container you buy at Publix.
HMC
Decided to try Forlini’s while visiting for work from Texas. Looks like this is more a place where locals go and I can see why. The food was amazing!! I sat at the bar and Luke was my bartender and he was awesome. He made a perfect martini and was just all around great at his job! I also tried some house made orange-cello and it was so good! I mentioned this spot the following day to one of my colleagues who said they go way back with some of the people who work there and they had great things to say about Forlini’s as well.
… more