Gargi’s Lakeside

Amazing food. Beautiful scenery. Loved the whole experience. Our waiter was very pleasant and made excellent wine and food suggestions. If I can make a recommendation, I’d tell everyone to have the Veal Picatta.

I went here for my future mother in law’s birthday for an early dinner. It was cold out so we ended up sitting inside, but we could see through the windows that the view from the outside patio was gorgeous! You could see the lake and the skyline of downtown.
Our server greeted us and began taking drink orders. He was very pleasant and polite. We actually had several servers, probably because it was right when they opened and not busy at all. Service was quick and everything was right.
I ordered the chicken marsala… I normally don’t order chicken because I am pretty picky with it. I fear it would be too dry or tough. When my entrée came out, I had a bite and it was surprisingly good! The marsala sauce was great too, and the mushrooms in it were big and tasted fresh.
Overall, it was a great experience. I think the only downside is that the entrees were pretty pricey for italian food– that’d be the only thing that would keep me from going here again.

If you’re looking for the best bruschetta I’ve ever had, Gargi’s is where to find it. Its fresh, tasty, and worth every penny. My entrée was equally as tasty, chicken breast cooked with vodka and shallots in a cream sauce covered in mozzarella cheese all sitting on sautéed spinach.
My date and I sat outside on an end of summer evening and enjoyed the sunset over the lake (not a world class sunset by any means but still enjoyable). Our view was somewhat impaired by the overgrown hedges between us and the lake which was disappointing but not deal breaking.
The parking lot is small but the have valet and there are spots on the street around the lake to park. I will definitely be back to check up on those hedges… and that bruschetta ;)

Recently my gf and I came for dinner with a few friends as well as somewhat low expectations (due to their Unilocal rating), but we all left with the feeling that we’d definitely return. Based on what I’ve read, I’d say one of the draws of this restaurant would be their lakeside seating, however, it felt kind of muggy so we decided to dine indoors. The interior wasn’t that much to look at, but we still felt it was better than being outside.
We chose not to order appetizers so our first bite was their bread (just ok) and their house salad which actually had a tasty dressing. The entrees consisted of my Chicken alla Florentina (Chicken sautéed with Vodka and shallots in a light cream sauce and topped with Mozzarella served over a bed of sautéed spinach) while my gf ordered Gnocchi in Pesto Sauce topped off with grilled chicken. I was expecting a great meal since the waitress stated all of their pasta and sauces are handmade at the restaurant, but all our meals completely exceeded my expectations. The melted mozzarella over my chicken was perfect, as was the sauce along with the spinach; it was a great dish. The pesto gnocchi was absolutely delicious as well, even with no sauce this would’ve been a great plate of pasta. In terms of the pesto, I feel the need to clarify that it’s much creamier than any other pesto I’ve come across; it almost seemed to have the consistency of a light Alfredo sauce.
The waitress was nice enough and offered solid service, but the food is ultimately why I will return again.

I love Gargi’s Lakeside Italian — it’s the best homemade Old World Italian around. And I always dine outside, even in inclement weather on the wide-​open-​view patio, well covered against rain, and heated in the winter, overlooking wonderful Lake Ivanhoe. It’s very peaceful in the light or at night, when you can see the still lake in the foreground and just catch the colored lights of cars on I-​4 in the background. I know the I-​4 thing doesn’t sound peaceful, but it’s far enough away and high-​up, so you don’t hear it, but you do see the lights pass, and it’s actually nice, as the lights dance in reflection at the far end of the lake.
The cuisine is perfectly cooked — when you order a soup, they cook each bowl to order. The seafood is fresh that morning, and never overcooked. The shellfish are ample in size and every clam opens or it doesn’t appear on your plate.
The pasta is a perfect al-​dente and the sauces range in offerings from northern Italian Alfredos to pink Milanos to southern Italian Marinara or Bolognase — the last two of which are simmered all day to bring out the redness and natural sweetness of the hand-​peeled Roma tomatoes this place selects.
It’s hard to go wrong on this large menu, perhaps too large, but the owner just told me they are down-​sizing it by about half. Don’t worry if your favorite disappears because they will still make it to order. Some of the down-​sizing is just making groupings by meat or pasta type, then you’ll choose your sauce and ingredients. You can do it that way right now, and specify your choice (e.g., my favorite: Gnocchi noodles in pink Milano cream sauce with peas and bacon), and they will oblige.
Don’t be afraid of the substantial meats, such as steaks or chops. The steaks are Prime (or extremely good Choice) Grade and perfectly marbled. A little angel-​hair pasta on the side gives the Italian flair, and sauteed vegetables complete the ensemble.
The house salad is just a touch zesty and has nice green selection. The Caesar Salad is not hand-​made at the table (and Caesar Salad isn’t really Italian anyway — look up its history), but it’s very good, and not too salty, and you can barely taste the anchovy, just as most people prefer it. But if you like more anchovy in your Caesar, they’ll oblige. Breads are baked there and are crusty Italian without being overly chewy, and a nice virgin olive oil that’s not too bitter is a good bread-​dip. The leftover bread becomes the croutons for the Caesar, adding a good bit of flavor.
I’m not quite a «regular» at Gargi’s but I’m going there increasingly. It’s slightly under-​recognized, though the weekend crowds are pretty good there. Still, you can almost always get a table without a reservation, so it can be a good last-​minute choice. When my parents or other guests are in town and I want to impress them with Orlando’s culinary scene, I take them to the top, trendy places, but I also take them to Gargi’s. Often they’re more impressed by Gargi’s than by hip places like Luma on Park or The Ravenous Pig. Seriously, it’s that good, and I have a difficult palate to please after years of fine dining as a confirmed foodie. :-)
Oh, yes, and the service — it’s very good and very personable. Because this is a family-​owned restaurant, you won’t find a server who isn’t fully knowledgeable about the menu and wine list. They’re highly attentive because they actually care about your experience. You can chat with them if you wish, or simply enjoy your meal overlooking that peaceful lake, and a vista of lighted downtown to the south.
Get over to Gargi’s. Pricing is agreeable, and actually probably overly reasonable for what you receive. I think you’d often pay more at a blah chain joint like, dog-​forbid, Olive Garden (help!) than you will at Gargi’s, and now you’ve got sooooo much better of an option here on the lake, getting the real thing.

We sat outside and it was a very nice view, people on boats, jet skis, etc. Our server was wonderful! Starting off the bread was decent, nothing special. House salad,
I only ate a few bites I didn’t enjoy the dressing. We had gnocchi’s with pesto that we felt was very over cooked, pesto was good though. The chicken parm was filled with a ton of spaghetti and a small, thin piece of chicken. I would go back for a drink and app but probably would not order a meal again. We are also coming from the North End in Boston so we are picky with our Italian food! I also overheard that the happy hour is weekdays 3 – 6.

Love it or hate it, Gargi’s Lakeside is an Orlando institution that’s situated in the heart of The City Beautiful. As a lifelong Floridian I’m almost embarrassed to admit I’d yet to frequent Gargi’s until a few weeks ago. Between the internet and family, I’d heard a myriad of opinions about this family owned Italian establishment. So, while venturing out for sushi one night we made an abrupt u-​turn after driving by this lakeside restaurant. Gargi’s has been on my «list» forever, but had yet to actually make it inside.
After walking in we were immediately seated lakeside and promptly served Italian wine, setting the stage for an exceptional evening. Between my husband’s recent trip to Italy and the restaurant’s local legacy, our expectations were fairly high. Here’s what we tasted and enjoyed during our recent visit!
Shrimp Scampi: Large shrimp sauteed in white wine, garlic, lemon butter and Parmesan. A warm start to our Italian experience, not something I’d order again, but the shrimp was flavored well and complimented our wine.
Chicken Alla Bill Fredrick: Yes, that Mayor Bill. This light, yet satisfying dish was filled with chicken cutlets with mushrooms, onions, and peppers all sauteed in a Chardonnay wine with a touch of marinara. This large portion was fresh and clearly made to order, something I’d recommend tasting during your next Gargi’s visit.
Gnocchi Gorgonzola: Homemade gnocchi simmered in a light cream with Gorgonzola cheese topped with grapes, almonds and walnuts. An odd combination on paper, but that made from scratch gnocchi was unreal. This tender, rich pasta was fresh, savory and to put simply — fun to eat!
If you haven’t tried this lakeside spot yet, it’s worth a visit, and if you haven’t been lately we’d suggest taking another look.

Love this place, small and intimate. We love to sit in the patio and enjoy the lake and sunset. I had the linguini aeoli with shrimp. It was great!

We came here because of the great reviews.
We sat for about 3 hours waiting on all our guests. We had some house wines and a few cocktails. Loved the fact that there’s a playground next door and a lake out back. It was beautiful even though we sat inside.
The server was super sweet, after 2 hours, they switched from lunch to dinner menu and when we decided to order, lunch was no longer being served but he managed to run back and forth a few times to get our lunch sandwiches ordered.
The portions were great, a little unorganized but all good. There was a good watermelon martini a couple of our friends enjoyed so much, they took the recipe home.
Lets see. I had the mussels. Ahhh. that’s why the 4 stars, I was the only one that didn’t enjoy my meal. Wasn’t great. But the sandwiches were good, spaghetti and gnocchi was good from everyone’s input.
My son loved the playground, kept him very entertained. Salads were good. Service is good.

I have been intending to try this place for quite a while. Other than homemade comfort food favorites, good Italian food is my favorite. Growing up in a small town, 2.5 miles square, in Central NJ during the ’60’s and ’70’s, I saw the gamut of Italian fare. There were 7 Italian spots in my little town ranging from a pizza slice place downtown to several higher end full menu restaurants.
Gargi’s is the real deal and the setting is spectacular! The simple house salad was fresh with a great mix of flavors. The scampi appetizer was bright and light. The filet on wine sauce with mushrooms was served with, my choice, roasted potatoes and vegetables. Everything was prepared exactly to order. Finally, the canoli dessert was just enough to top off the meal. I have found my go to Italian restaurant in Orlando.

We had my bridal party here and it was perfect. We had the patio to ourselves, the view was gorgeous and food was amazing!
Thanks for making our bridal shower such a success! Will be back again!

I’m very torn between 3 and 4 stars on this one. The thing is, my husband and I had a wonderful time, but it was despite pretty lackluster service.
I was looking for a spot for a romantic dinner, and pics of the lakeside view drew me in. Plus you can’t go wrong with Italian food, right? I made a reservation for 6 PM on a Saturday and requested the patio, for optimal sunset viewing.
When we arrived we were disappointed to see the only parking option was valet. Sure, it’s complimentary, but we had almost no cash for a tip, and I hate to leave a bad tip.
When we entered I told the host my name and reservation. He had a small slip of paper with what appeared to be the reservations, and obviously my name wasn’t on that list. But, no big deal, he still showed us to a table outside with a lovely view of the lake, just like I wanted. (By then the sun was pretty much set, but it was still very pretty.) I was happy that the patio had large heaters and plastic sheets over the openings to keep the heat in. It was a chilly night, but we were comfortable.
So, now for the service. Our server was very slow from the start. A young guy brought us glasses of water, but it was a bit too long before our server made her first stop at our table. And pretty much the whole meal proceeded in the same very slow manner. She didn’t take our order for dinner until after we had our appetizers. She never inquired about refills on our wine… you get the idea. Just very poor service.
The food was excellent. We started with the hot antipasto for two. This was a huge dish, and if I were to go back I would absolutely order it again. Stuffed mushrooms, eggplant rollatini, calamari, mussels, clams, shrimp, and the best fried mozzarella ever. The only negative was the menu indicated it would come with a side of marinara, and it didn’t. We requested that, and like everything, the cup of marinara took a bit of time to get to us.
For our entrees I chose the gnocchi with pesto and my husband had the linguine aioli with a side of meatballs. I loved the gnocchi and the pesto was excellent. I was just sad I had eaten so much of the appetizer I could barely touch my entrée. My husband liked his dish, but he complained that the meatballs tasted like the store-​bought kind and didn’t have enough texture. His pasta dish was good, but he felt it was priced too high for something very simple (just pasta, broccoli, and olive oil). His added meatballs were $ 6, so he wasn’t thrilled. I told him he should have ordered the gnocchi.
When it came time to pay I had a $ 25
certificate I gave towards the bill. I was surprised that the server added the gratuity onto our check. She said they do that whenever someone uses a discount. I understand why, but I’m good at tipping, and frankly her service was so poor it kind of bothered me.
All together we were there for 2 hours. I wasn’t joking about the slow service. Around 7 the patio became noticeably louder. In particular there was a family with children running all around, and people were just generally being loud. We had to make a real effort not to get annoyed, a second glass of wine would have really helped, but no luck.
So, yeah. Now that I’ve typed that up, I’m going with three stars. Beautiful place, but poor service really did it in.

Go for the outdoor lakeside views and ambiance.
I went when the sun was beginning it’s decent so we enjoyed wine and dinner on the deck next to the lake during sunset. I highly suggest this! This is a gem of a spot for sure. Relax, kick-​back, and enjoy your company.
A few things make this only an AOK experience.
1. The service was pretty terrible. Our server forgot things, would go missing, and it wasn’t crazy busy. It didn’t really take away from the experience as we weren’t in a rush but it didn’t add to it either. I had to flag down two other servers two separate times since ours wasn’t around.
2. The bread was ok, nothing amazing and the salad we nothing more than a few pieces of lettuce and a slice of tomato:
3. The prices were a little high for the overall quality of the experience, in my opinion. It’s not the fanciest place and doesn’t have the best bang for your buck.
What really stood out was the view! Paired with my glass of Malbec from Sawbuck — California, yes please!
The Salmon al la Gargi was delicious! Grilled Atlantic Salmon topped with a tapenade of capers, onions and olive oil. The salmon was cooked just to my liking and the light flavor was a great pairing for the fish. I went with a side of potatoes and veggies, very filling.
I may make this my go-​to unwind spot — really a stunning view.

I’m going to have to turn over a new leaf when it comes to 100% letting reviews sway me towards or away from a restaurant. For 3+ years I’ve lived here and have teetered on whether to give it a shot.
That being said, arriving on a Friday evening early for dinner, not a problem. It was before the sunset on Lake Ivanhoe, so my timing may have been off on this time. Had the place to ourselves. Small but good beer selection. And very well priced. Watch out though, unknowingly (yes, I swear) ordered italian beer (s) that I’d never tried and they were 7.0ABV. Whew.
I had the ravioli with vodka sauce. The words «pesto» never got to leave my mouth before the waiter suggested the vodka sauce, and I’m glad they didn’t, was a great choice.
The service was good, a little aloof, but after joking with them, they seemed to loosen up as well. Whether or not I hit Gargi’s on their best night or their worst no longer matters, I will definitely be back, especially in the fall, and especially when there is a rapidly approaching sunset over the lake.

OK, I’ll admit it. I’m in love. I’m obsessed.
The Chicken Piccata at Gargi’s Lakeside is heavenly. Ambrosial. I dream about the sautéed chicken simmered in white wine, lemon, shallots and capers. Oh, capers! You’re like delicious, mini olives of love!
The service was wonderful. The salad was crisp and fresh. The view is delightful.
But that chicken piccata… the stuff of which dreams are made!