The Italian Kitchen - Port St. Joe

Port St. Joe is known for laid-back Forgotten Coast charm and fresh Gulf seafood, which makes The Italian Kitchen a bit of a surprise, in the best way.

This is scratch Italian food in a small, warm supper club setting, and it has developed a devoted following among both locals and visitors who keep coming back for the handmade pasta, the deep dish pizza, and a Thursday night couples dinner that books up fast every week.

TL;DR Don't have time to read the full article? Here are my top finds:
🏨Hotels and Vacation Rentals
📍Tours

The Italian Kitchen Port St Joe

Chef Anne runs the kitchen, and the food reflects someone who genuinely cares about what ends up on your plate. Portions are generous, ingredients are fresh, and the atmosphere is exactly what you want from a supper club tucked into a small Florida Panhandle town.

We would go to the Italian Kitchen Supper Club every single time we are in Port St. Joe it is that good.

The Italian Kitchen operates as two connected concepts sharing the same address block in downtown Port St. Joe. The Supper Club at 108 First Street is the dine-in restaurant, a small, intimate space with the feel of a proper Italian supper club.

Next door at 101 Monument Avenue is the original delivery and takeout kitchen, where you can order online or by phone and pick up or have your food delivered.

The dine-in menu and the pickup and delivery menu are slightly different, so if you are planning to visit the Supper Club, expect a fuller experience than what you will find online. Both sides of the operation are run by the same team and reflect the same commitment to handmade Italian food.

The restaurant is small. Reservations are not required but are strongly recommended, especially on weekends and Thursday evenings.

Indoor Seating

The Supper Club dining room is cozy and unpretentious in the way that the best neighborhood Italian restaurants always are. The space is small enough that you feel like you are part of the evening rather than just passing through it. Tables are close together, the room has a great energy.

We ended up talking with two other couples who were enjoying dinner and it was fantastic.

Outdoor Seating

Outdoor seating is available and a great option on the kind of breezy Forgotten Coast evenings that Port St. Joe does well. On a beautiful day, this is where you want to be, relaxed, unhurried, with great food in front of you and no reason to rush.

The Italian Kitchen Menu

The menu at The Italian Kitchen is built around handmade pasta, deep dish pizza, and classic Italian entrees.

Appetizers

• Fried Mozzarella
• Handmade Meatballs
• Bread with dipping oil
• Garlic Cheese Bread
• Deep fried ravioli with marinara
• Italian stuffed Mushrooms

Salads

• Caprese - SO GOOD!
• Chopped Italian
• Caesar Salad

Entrees

• Spinach Shells
• Lasagna - John said his Lasagna was delicious!
• Spaghetti
• Chix Parm
• Eggplant Parm
• Asiago and Ricotta Gnocchi
• Alfredo with Blackened chicken
• Cheese Ravioli
• Chicken Marsala
• Procini Truffle Mushroom Ravioli
• Shrimp Scampi over Linguini

Pizza

The deep dish pizza at The Italian Kitchen is one of the most talked-about items on the menu. It takes about 45 minutes to prepare - the menu notes the wait time upfront so there is no surprise. Personal pan pizzas are also available.

Amore e Cena - Thursday Couples Dinner

"Amore e Cena" means love and dinner, and Thursday night at The Italian Kitchen is dedicated entirely to that idea. Chef Anne creates a new 4-course authentic Italian dinner each week.

Reservations are required for Amore e Cena - the dinner books to capacity regularly. If you need to cancel, please call the restaurant so your spot can go to someone else.

Vegan - salads with a few adaptations

Vegetarian - There were a ton of options to choose from.

Why you will love The Italian Kitchen

•  Scratch Italian kitchen with handmade pasta, pizza, and desserts
• Deep dish pizza that is worth the 45-minute wait
• Amore e Cena Thursday couples dinner - a 4-course weekly changing menu for two
• Family platters perfect for vacation groups
• Delivery and takeout available from the adjacent kitchen
• Sunday private dining option for special occasions
• Kids menu with simple, crowd-pleasing options
• One of the most popular restaurants on the Forgotten Coast

Things to know when planning a visit to The Italian Kitchen

The Supper Club Address - 108 First Street, Port St. Joe, Florida

Delivery and Take out Address - 101 Monument Avenue, Port St. Joe

Phone - (850) 340-3425

Hours - Monday to Saturday 11 am - 9 pm

Please confirm with the restaurant to ensure that the hours have not changed.

Reservations - Not required for lunch or dinner at the Supper Club, but strongly recommended - especially on weekends. Required for Thursday Amore e Cena. Call (850) 340-3425 to reserve.

Accessibility - The restaurant is small but there is space to move around.

Plus Size Seating - The restaurant is small but we were comfortable and enjoyed an amazing dinner. The seats do not have arms and have a padded seat.

Dress Code/Suggestions - Casual to smart casual. This is a supper club in a small Florida Panhandle town - no need to dress up, but it is a step above flip flops and beach cover-ups.

Pets - Confirm current pet policy directly with the restaurant.

Parking  - There is a small parking lot next to the restaurant take out area along with street parking.

 

Port St Joe Restaurants and Attractions nearby

 Things to Do in Port St. Joe, Florida - A full guide to the best things to do in Port St. Joe and Cape San Blas.

The Joe Coffee Shop - A great Port St. Joe coffee shop for a morning start before or after your Italian Kitchen visit.

Dagwoods - A casual Port St. Joe lunch spot worth knowing about.

Bayside Bakery and Cafe - Breakfast, baked goods, and coffee in downtown Port St. Joe.

Sweet Bunz - Port St. Joe's pink donut shop with fresh daily donuts.

Sugar Shack - Ice cream and frozen treats in Port St. Joe.

Shoobies - Frozen treats right in town.

Joe Mama's Wood Fired Kitchen - Another Port St. Joe dining option with wood-fired flavors.

T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park - One of the most beautiful state parks in Florida with pristine wilderness beaches on Cape San Blas.

Cape San Blas Lighthouse - A historic lighthouse on Cape San Blas worth the short drive from Port St. Joe.

Salinas Park - Gulf and bay beach access on Cape San Blas with a boardwalk over the water.

Cape Palms Park - A beautiful Cape San Blas park with a long boardwalk pavilion over the Gulf.

Constitution Convention Museum State Park - Port St. Joe's historic state park where Florida's first constitution was drafted.

Additional Florida Gulf Coast Articles

 Florida Gulf Coast Lighthouses - A guide to the lighthouses along the Florida Gulf Coast.

RV Camping on the Gulf Coast - The best RV parks and campgrounds along the Gulf Coast of Florida and Alabama.

Driftwood Inn Mexico Beach - A great hotel on the Forgotten Coast, close to Port St. Joe.

Port St. Joe, Florida Tours

T-Man's Charters offers 8 hour fishing tours, St Joseph Bay Touring, Apalachicola River Touring, Scalloping tours, Snorkeling, and Fishing Charters.

Shallow Seas Charters offers Day on the Bay trips, Full day inshore fishing tours, Half day inshore fishing tours.

Salty Fish Excursions offers Trips to the tip of Cape San Blas, Short cruises around the bay, 3 hour eco tours, Family fishing tours in the bay, and scalloping tours.