Ferraro’s, garlic knots, and a reason to keep dinner in Parrish

Dinner can stay in Parrish

Here’s the deal: sometimes the hardest part of date night is the conversation that starts with “Where do you want to eat?” and somehow lasts longer than dinner.

Put Ferraro’s on the list. It’s at U.S. 301 and Erie Road, with a menu that can take you from a shared pizza to a full Italian dinner. That gives two people plenty of ways to agree on a restaurant—even if agreeing on the toppings is a separate negotiation.[1]

There is a family story behind the name

The LoGrande family traces its restaurant history from Sicily to New Jersey and then Florida. On Ferraro’s website, the family describes three generations in the business and serving New Jersey diners since 1980.

That is the kind of local-business story I want to make room for here. Parrish’s food scene includes the places already feeding the community, alongside the new names arriving with all the construction.[1]

First decision: something for the table

I’d start by looking at the garlic knots and the Sicilian rice balls. The online menu lists knots with garlic, oil, and marinara at $6; the rice balls, with beef, peas, and mozzarella, are $12.

Those are online-menu prices checked September 8, so confirm the current menu when you go. But they give you a much better picture of the place than “Italian restaurant near me.” And yes, an appetizer can be part of the plan even when pizza is coming. I’m comfortable with that math.[2]

The pizza decision could take a minute

The pizza list stretches from a classic cheese pie to the Ferraro’s Special with sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, peppers, and onions. There is also a Nonna Maria with plum tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil, and Romano, plus a hot-honey pepperoni option.

My approach would be to choose the pizza together before getting distracted by the rest of the menu. Otherwise, the person who said “I’m good with anything” may suddenly develop a very detailed position on toppings.

If pizza is not what you came for, the menu also has beef lasagna, baked rigatoni, stuffed shells, and chicken-and-spinach cannelloni. There is enough variety to make the same dinner idea work for different appetites.[2]

My take: give an ordinary night a reason to happen

I like a date-night idea that is easy to put on the calendar. A restaurant in Parrish, something to share, and a meal you actually want to sit down for—that is enough of a starting point.

You can keep it to dinner or make it the second half of a weekend outing. The museum train ride is one possibility for a date day, provided you leave room between the return trip and the meal. I would let the food and the conversation carry this part of the evening.

The details to save

Ferraro’s Italian Grille is at 8348 U.S. 301, Parrish. Posted hours are 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon–9 p.m. Sunday. The phone is 941-723-1111.

The restaurant links to its current menu and online ordering below. Take a look, pick a night, and settle the toppings before you get hungry.[1]