Marcelina’s Italian Restaurant, located in southwest Ocala, is praised by customers for its authentic Italian cuisine and welcoming atmosphere.The restaurant, co-owned by Estella and Marcelina Salamanca, offers a menu featuring classic Italian dishes such as veal parmigiana, grouper Francese, and various pasta dishes.Customers commend the restaurant’s fresh ingredients, homemade sauces, and friendly service, with some even driving from neighboring towns to enjoy their meals.Marcelina Salamanca, emphasizing the restaurant’s dedication to customer satisfaction, describes Marcelina’s as a “hidden gem” that aims to create a homely dining experience.

Edie Gandy paid Marcelina’s Italian Restaurant, in southwest Ocala, a lofty compliment while dining there recently with Alan Henderson.

“We’ve tried a number of local Italian restaurants and Marcelina’s is the closest we’ve found to real Italian food,” Gandy said. The couple has tasted local fare while traveling in Italy.

Henderson had veal parmigiana, breaded and baked topped with “homemade marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese,” according to the menu.

Marcelina Salamanca, restaurant co-owner, poses with regular guest Frank Trask, a Korean War veteran and Bronze Star recipient, at Marcelina’s Italian Restaurant on Feb. 15, 2025.

Gandy had a fish dish, grouper Francese, in which the fish is “sautéed in lemon butter and white wine,” according to the menu.

Marcelina’s is located in the Kingsland Plaza at 8810 SW State Road 200 Unit 115, just west of On Top of the World. The building once housed Carmine’s restaurant. Marcelina’s is co-owned by Estella Salamanca and her daughter, the restaurant’s namesake, Marcelina Salamanca.

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Marcelina’s Italian Restaurant serves chicken, veal and pasta-based Italian dishes as well as soups and salads and baked dishes. Traditional dishes like spaghetti, ravioli and lasagna are also served.

“Formerly Carmine’s, Marcelinas continues the tradition of preparing and serving your favorite Italian dishes and at the (same) time offering a friendly, comfortable environment. Little details make the difference, fresh hand-grated cheese over your salad an warm crusty bread to dip in the dish of olive oil loaded with fresh garlic,” marcelinasocala.com states,

Marcelina Salamanca has called Marcelina’s Italian Restaurant a “hidden gem.” The restaurant opened in 2019 and continues to delight guests.

“I like what I do. We make it feel like home for our guests,” said Marcelina Salamanca, who has an associates in science degree in business administration from College of Central Florida.

On a recent Saturday evening Marcelina’s Italian Restaurant was packed.

A customer waiting on a takeout order said he drives from Dunnellon every Saturday night to get veal at the restaurant.

“Awesome,” he said of the veal.

Diners at at Marcelina’s Italian Restaurant on Feb. 15, 2025. The restaurant was at or near capacity.

Frank Trask; his wife, Ingrid Parady; and Trace Carsedden and Karin Sargent gathered at the restaurant to dine together. The four regularly visit various restaurants and Trask chose Marcelina’s for that week’s meeting place.

“(One of the staff) meets you at the door. You feel at home,” Parady said.

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Angie and Charles Ward, former upstate New York residents now living in OTOW, visit the restaurant once a week and like the service and the food.

“We love it,” Angie Ward said.

Marcelina’s Italian Restaurant, Kingsland Plaza, 8810 SW State Road 200 Unit 115; Marcelinasocala.com; (352) 509-7721; open Tuesday-Saturday, 2-9 p.m. and Sunday, 2-8 p.m.