The places mentioned are all good. If you really want to feel like you are in a small town in Italy, Montauro's on Tampa Bay Blvd is very authentic. It is a Mom and Pop place and prices are very reasonable. It is not the most elegant place, but good food and good people.
Hello! I will be in the Tampa area in a few weeks and I was looking for any input on decent Italian restaurants to eat at while I am there. I would prefer nothing further than an hour from TPA. Thanks in advance for the help!
Donnatellos is your best bet.
Bellisimo Italian Eatery in Largo about 1/2 hour from Tampa. They just opened last November. The food was absolutely wonderful and the atmosphere was nice. Prices were also fairly reasonable.
They are located at the Westshore Plaza Shopping Mall. Have valet parking. If you are lucky you may get a table in one of the inner rooms where the tablecloths resemble those in that famous Bronx Italian Restaurant in the Godfather movie.
than chain restaurants like Maggianos.
I greatly appreciate you all taking the time to let me know of yummy places to eat.
Let me add two more Ally.
Cristino's in Belleair. Simple, family place with outstanding coal fired pizza and fresh pasta dishes. Simple, casual inexpensive. Onerous beer and wine.
Cesaers at The Beach. On Clearwater Beach. Upscale, great food and service. Pricey, but very good.
Good luck!
I agree Maggianos... a large venue and most everything is prepared daily on premise
Sadly the last time I ate at Donatellos, I got food poisoning.
I was so weak after a violent exist of body fluids from my body, I truly could not even crawl to my phone to get help.
I was terrified waiting for my girlfriend to find me on the floor.
I did call the restaurant the next day and let them know what happened, that I had not eaten anything that day except their bread and my meal- nothing else so it was my dinner.
The manager was beyond apologetic, promised to discard everything and offered another meal etc.
I did not call the health department because I had eaten there many times with no issue and always enjoyed my food, the service is excellent etc.
I did not take him up on the offer because I honestly do not think I could ever swallow a bite of food from there again.
JUST FYI, if anybody else is to go there and has a similar nightmare-- perhaps a call to the health department is in order.
That restaurant was cited twice in 2015 and 2016 for health code violations. Found dead roaches under food prep counters and mouse droppings on floor near groceries cabinets. You can check restaurant health code violations at a web site:
www.abcactionnews.com/news/dirty-dining
Oh dear, I now feel terrible for not calling health dept. I did not work for 3 or four days after that because I was so physically drained, dehydrated, dizzy, etc.
I really thought it was a total fluke- as I said I'd eaten there many times- no issues.
A restaurant could receive spoiled food and really not to be blame because they are doing everything properly...
WOW, oh wow...
My date had texted me the next afternoon to say thank you etc
I did not tell him of course I did not want him to feel bad but I now feel I should so he does not maybe take somebody else there- yikes
That restaurant was cited twice in 2015 and 2016 for health code violations. Found dead roaches under food prep counters and mouse droppings on floor near groceries cabinets. You can check restaurant health code violations at a web site:
www.abcactionnews.com/news/dirty-dining
The places mentioned are all good. If you really want to feel like you are in a small town in Italy, Montauro's on Tampa Bay Blvd is very authentic. It is a Mom and Pop place and prices are very reasonable. It is not the most elegant place, but good food and good people.
My favorite Italian Restaurant! It's amazing.