But first, financial advisor Codie Thomas is ready to share the perfect portions of his pick.

He says that their commitment to delicious food and family oriented service is what's made this spot his favorite go to.

It's located in Palm City and it's called Ristorante Claretta.

(music) Ciao my name is Christina Ingegnoli Maresca, and that's my restaurant.

Restaurant in Palm City.

Hi, my name is Francesco Ingegnoli.

I'm a co-owner of Ristorante Claretta with my sister.

Restaurante Clarita is 27 years in business.

We come directly from Italy.

And the idea to open a real Italian restaurant.

(Christina) The name started with my mama Clarita, which is a real name is Clara.

But because she is petite, we call Little Clara so Claretta (Francesco) Ristorante Claretta is very unique.

It's very different the restaurant, because we research the product we're going to use in our restaurant, most of the product we we have in the restaurant, they are imported directly from Italy.

We want to test the product, the simple dish.

(Christina) I'm in front of the house, all the people, they come inside, they see me.

They really enjoy to see me and I enjoy to see them.

For me, Ristorante Claretta is and I will use an Italian word Unico means it's just one of the kind.

(Francesco) for me I would say is a two word.

And they say, if you must, if you must, you need to stop by and try Ristorante Claretta.

(Michelle) So what a total surprise this place is, right?

Can you tell us why that is?

Yeah I mean, it's really unassuming location.

It's in a public shopping center, kind of on the end corner.

And Yeah, like you said, or like someone.

Said, sneezed.

You miss it.

You miss it.

Exactly, exactly.

But if you miss it, you're really missing a special restaurant.

It's a family-owned restaurant with Christina, and her brother is the chef.

And it's just they go back to Italy for three months, I think, every summer.

(Michelle) Oh, wow.

And they close up.

(Codie) Exactly, exactly.

(Michelle) That's so smart.

(Codie) Yeah, it's really cool.

(Michelle) And they probably go and get all kinds of, like, exciting ideas and flavors and come back with it all right.

(Codie) Yeah different Italian inspiration I guess.

And yeah, bring it back to for us to enjoy.

(Michelle) So Pat first thoughts.

It was spectacular.

We go to Italy every year and they had one dish that I only had once.

And I all my life I've been chasing this dish and it was just perfect.

(Michelle) I have to hear what that dish is.

(Pat) It's ravioli with roasted butternut squash and amaretti cookies.

Now you think actually.

Oh do you I do, yeah, (Michelle) it's one of my favorite Italian dishes.

(Pat) Oh.

It is great.

It's so great.

(Michelle) Lexine, what did you think when you went in?

I know you couldn't find.

You didn't even know it existed, right?

I did, not about that.

It's funny, because I have a girlfriend that lives literally across the street.

And we do that walk over the Roosevelt Bridge like every Saturday.

We pass by that public every Saturday.

And I've never looked over.

But for me, what I loved was I had a pasta dish.

It was a special that they were doing, and it was pink pasta.

It was made from purple potatoes and it was pink and it was just refreshing.

(Michelle) Codie, let's hear what you had this last time you went.

(Codie) Sure we started out with the risotto with truffles, and it was the first time I've ever had white truffles, and we just had the tasting portion of it.

Real truffle.

Oh my gosh.

Yeah.

It was like a dish that I've never experienced before.

(Michelle) Did they shave it at the table?

(Codie) They didn't.

It came already shaved, but it was fantastic.

And we just had a tasting portion of that one.

(Michelle) Okay.

(Codie) Which was the perfect amount.

My girlfriend and I shared it.

I think more would have been too much, but it was just the perfect amount.

(Michelle) It's all rice.

Yeah.

No doubt.

And then you had a fillet with peppercorn sauce.

(Codie) Oh my gosh.

Yeah.

It was one of the best cuts of meat that I've ever had.

And I wouldn't think going to an Italian restaurant.

Oh it was the best fillet I've ever had.

But it was fantastic.

(Michelle) And then you had it came with a pasta, I believe.

With more truffles.

(Codie) Yes.

And speck.

Yes.

Um, I have no complaints about that restaurant whatsoever.

Um, the family-oriented kind of nature.

(Michelle) Yeah.

(Codie) With all the pictures on the wall of their family and growing up.

Um, yeah, it's just unexpectedly wonderful.

(Michelle) That's lovely.

Pat, tell me about the veal scallopini.

(Pat) Oh delicious dishes.

Really a nice portion.

Maybe a six small slices.

But we also had the half portion of pastas, so we had two half portion of pastas, then the veal, then the dessert.

And so it was out of this world.

It's almost.

(Michelle) Tell me about your dessert.

(Pat) Pannacotta.

It's my favorite.

And a creamier panna cotta than I've had with a raspberry reduction on it.

Oh, that was special.

(Michelle) So panna cotta is a custard, but made without eggs, right?

Using gelatin to.

(Pat) Gelatin and a heavy cream.

But again, the cream tasted different than I've had it in other places.

And I could they bring Italian cream?

I'm not sure, but that's what they did like.

Yeah.

(Michelle) Lexine you had a, like a vanilla sorbet or gelato.

Excuse me.

With chocolate.

(Lexine) Gelato.

With chocolate cake.

Yes.

It was amazing that gelato was rich.

And it was really, really good.

The cake was very moist I loved that.

(Michelle) How was service for you?

(Pat) Spectacular.

Because the owner takes your order and then she guides you through what it is.

You know?

What experience do you want to have tonight?

And then our waiter made suggestions and the next thing you know, I would have had everything that was on the menu because everything sounded so good.

(Michelle) And what do you think about the prices of wine and food and value?

(Lexine) So their price range is a little bit up there, but considering that they closed for three months and they import most of their ingredients, I can understand why that happens.

(Michelle) Okay well Codie Ristorante Claretta was your pick Sum it up for us, please.

(Codie) Yeah, it's a treat.

You're going to pay a little more than you would at a typical place, but you're going to get so much more value for that for those dollars.

(Michelle) Pat (Pat) I thought it was a great value because it's so much less expensive than.

Going all the way to Italy.

And it's the same quality, the same, same magnificent evening.

(Michelle) Lexine (Lexine) I love the food quality.

I love the flavors and the profile there.

Everything is distinct.

(Michelle) For delicious Italian cuisine, you can visit Ristorante Claretta, located at 1315 Southwest Martin Highway in Palm City.

They are open for dinner Tuesday to Sunday.

Reservations are accepted where the average price for dinner without drinks is about $65.

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