The Most Flavorful Italian in Tampa

Moschello's Pizza

★★★★☆ 4.4 (107) • $$

"Best New York pizza around here, and great Italian dishes. Great service and nice dinning room to eat in!"

Noble Crust

★★★★☆ 4.3 • $$

"Went here for brunch on Saturday with my aunt. The parking lot was crazy busy no spots we had to park kind of far away but definitely worth it. My son wanted to try the beignets that were light, airy dough balls covered in a jelly and chocolate with a caramel floss to dip stuff in lots of them in the serving. I had a figgy piggy pizza that was amazing. My son had the pepperoni pizza that he said was really really good. He loves cup pepperoni and they had that. My aunt had the fried green tomato eggs, Benedict and she loved it. The other aunt had a French toast and said it was amazing. She ordered extra crispy bacon on the side and they did not disappoint with how crispy and good those tasted. The iced tea was really good. Nice flavor waitress was on top of making sure we had everything we needed. One aunt had a bloody Mary and said it was very tasty. The other had a mimosa or two and she loved them. We left very full and very satisfied. this place is hopping for their brunch can't get a reservation so it's just a wait definitely worth the 35 minutes we waited. Tables inside or not too much together plenty of room at our four top. You can see inside the kitchen, which I kinda like. Bathrooms are very clean."

Noble Crust

★★★★☆ 4.3 (831) • $$

"This was a great choice for a birthday dinner for my hubby. We made a reservation the day before, & initially I didn't like where we sat, but it did work out perfectly. It was on the bar side in a somewhat higher booth, but not too high. I just don't like the dividers, but it was fine. If we sat in the main area, it would have been loud with the big groups. Their additional seating is like a sun room so it's not as cool bc if all the windows. So it did work out fine.Our server was friendly and cheery and he took care of us. He was a little absent bc he was taking care of other tables, but that was ok. We both ordered Chicken Marsala. I had to order it too, and it was definitely so good. I also ordered a frozen orange creamsicle. This drink is irresistible here! Lastly, they give you a free dessert for birthdays, so I ordered that while my hubby was away. I picked the coconut pie. It was a generous size slice, & the best we have had in forever. We like Noble Crust food, and service is alright for the most part. It's pretty dark, that's how it is here. Thankfully not too loud bc it was middle of the week, but I could see how the volume would carry. It was a good experience overall and the birthday guy was happy!"

Monty's Pizza

★★★★☆ 4 (124) • $

"It's my first time here and I came in during a rush after work. This place has been here 40 years and earned its reputation! I'm very impressed about everything!!!! The service kept up with my every request and I'm thankful for everything that they have done! My pizza was not thick, it was "NY"Style and flexible. The toppings were abundant and my beer never hit bottom! I will be back and they deserve a try!"

Il Forno Italian Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.4 (9)

"Food is very good! Had a calzone and it was really tasty. Our waitress was attentive an took great care of our party of 6."

Fireside Pizza Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.2 (368) • $$

"I realized that we first went to this place about 13 years ago when my daughters were young. The door is so cool. The pizza was excellent and our server was wonderful. We had a half and half pizza with one side Supremo and the other vegetarian."

Brian's Place

★★★★☆ 3.9 (372) • $$

"Such a cute spot with a waterfront view! Brian's place has fresh, delicious food clearly prepared with love. :) I got the sun dried tomato Alfredo with shrimp (can add chicken, shrimp, or grouper) & it was divine! The owner came out to greet us and was incredibly kind. I appreciate the extra personalized touches Brian's Place offered. I tried Brian's Place for the first time after Hurricane Helene devastated this area of FL- they were flooded out but are making renovations and doing their best to rebuild. Please please support our local businesses getting back up on their feet! They clearly care and make outstanding food- it's a win win to visit Brian's Place! Thank you for still being here."

Ciao Bella Pizza & Pasta

★★★★☆ 3.7 (121) • $$

"Sunday night is our order in night. Generally, we order Italian but have ordered delivery from other restaurants the past few weeks. Tonight we're getting Italian & it's narrowed it down to two restaurants. I decided to check Yelp and see where these two restaurants are in the ratings. But wait, up popped Ciao Bella. Checked the menu, handed the phone over so the hubs could peruse it too & Ciao Bella it is. Hubs ordered: Bruschetta, Shrimp Portofino & Carrot Cake. I ordered: Chicken Marsala- with a side of pasta & Chocolate CakeWe are a little more than 5 miles from this place. The food was piping hot. I took the lid off and it was steaming. One of my all time favorite dishes in the world is Chicken Marsala. The other places we order from I do not order their Marsala. But this dish was covered in mushrooms, the sauce had a beautiful sheen and the chicken looked perfectly cooked. Holy Cow, this is the best Marsala I've had since my Italian best friend made it for me many moons ago. Seriously People, it was that good! The mushrooms were, as I said, plentiful, chicken was perfectly cooked and the pasta was just al dente when the chef took it off the stove. With how hot it was when it got here that pasta kept cooking & was perfect! The hubs Shrimp Portofino: the shrimp were plump, the seasoning plentiful and sauce looked fabulous. He actually held off eating the entire dish to savor this delightful entree for tomorrow's lunch. He works from home Monday's so no worries of reheating a seafood dish in the company microwave but there was zero seafood smell to this dish anyways. The Bruschetta was prepped and ready for us to eat. It was delicious. I put it this way because one of restaurants we've ordered from put everything in cups so the bread isn't soggy. So yes, our bread was a little bit soggy but it was so good I didn't even care and texture is very important to me. Now to dessert. Usually we split the dessert. My hubs said of the carrot cake "I haven't had a carrot cake like that since my grandmother's" Unfortunately, I never met his grandma but I've heard stories about her cooking. I will say it was the best carrot cake I have eaten. I got half the carrot cake and decided to take about to two bites worth of the chocolate cake. Since I was writing this review I had to taste everything right? Well, I took two bites of the carrot cake and gave it back to the hubs. Because the chocolate cake was just that good. I am ending this review here because I have some chocolate cake to finish. I will add this; the next time we get Italian it will be from Ciao Bella. No doubt about it"

Jay Luigi

★★★★☆ 4.4 (228) • $$

"Absolutely loved this cute little dining spot and would love to come back! The theme is so adorable with a 70s diner vibe. You order your food then go to your table which I personally don't mind but I know may be a deterrent for some families. I think it would make the perfect charming date. As for food everything was delicious and no notes on taste tbh. We started with the crispy artichoke app and the chicken parm app and both were incredible! The pasta sauce that came with it was to die for I would literally drink it. I got the sweet Jamie Kay pizza and was so full but literally couldn't leave a crumb it was delicious. I really appreciate that there are 3 levels of crust thickness you can choose from because everything is personal size. Almost everyone got pizza and enjoyed but my best friend got the fagioli pasta and really really loved it! It wasn't my personal choice of pasta but you could really tell that the pasta was made fresh and cooked perfectly al dente. This supper was paid for by her parents so I didn't get drinks but the spritz was absolutely calling my name and I wanted to tryI saw they have a brunch menu which I would love to come back to try I but I do wish they had a bottomless mimosa option instead of paying by the glass. As for service, the people here are so incredibly nice, they messed up an order and ended up fixing it and taking it off the bill. The only thing was that everyone's entrees came out at different times and my friend had her pasta and finished it before my pizza came out last but I'm definitely willing to look past it because the food was just that good!"

Neapolitan Italian Eatry

★★★★☆ 3.9 (71)

"This place is so great. The pizza dough is the best in Florida if you ask me. They filter the water 7 times which makes the dough taste so much better. The decor is just a typical small pizzeria, eclectic but cute. The service is prompt and personable. Jennifer as excellent. The mozzarella sticks are deliciousy gooey. I ordered the sausage and peppers sandwich and my friend ordered spaghetti and meatballs lunch special. The portions are huge and everything was incredible. This is a place that you could easily become a regular at. The prices are reasonable especially for your portion size."

Mariana's The Stinky Rose

★★★★☆ 3.9 (120) • $$

"This has been our local go-to since we moved here in 2022. Lately, the food has been inconsistent. Let me preface this by saying that we always prefer to patronize local businesses over chains.Two orders ago, there was a problem with the pizza we ordered. I called and spoke to a manager who took my info and offered a credit for the next order. The next order was just fine and we were all satisfied. I placed an order tonight and it was wrong. When you order a pizza, they show it to you before you take it, so I accept some responsibility. We ordered a pizza with broccoli and black olives on the whole pie and meatballs on half. When I went to pick it up, I noticed that the veggie side was bunched up and misshaped, so I was focused on that instead of the fact that the veggies should have been on the whole pie. I didn't want to make a big deal or have to wait for a new pizza on a Saturday night, so I brought it home (after giving a 20% tip on the bill).When I got home I realized that only half the pie had veggies, so I called and spoke to a manager who is giving us a partial credit. I appreciate the speedy and attentive customer service. However, when we tried to eat the pizza, the crust was so thinand floppy that we had to put it in the air fryer and still eat it with a fork and knife. You shouldn't sacrifice quality for speed.The spaghetti bolognese was basically a tray of pasta with about a 1/4 cup of sauce. This has happened multiple times and is not a nourishing meal.Again, we love to support local businesses, and we understand that sometimes things go wrong. But the inconsistency with the food is an issue, especially for the price we pay.I will give them another chance, but I'm very disappointed. I appreciate the prompt response from management but until the kitchen produces great food for the price, this restaurant is going out of our regular rotation."

Bay Street Bistro

★★★★☆ 4 (104) • $$$

"The prices are high for Lakeland, especially considering that the food is slightly above average. The waitress that served me was very good and polite, really on top of things. The rest of the staff, could not be bothered. The ambiance is fine, but again, average. I do not think I would go back for a meal."

The Latin Dugout

★★★★☆ 4.1 (9)

"This is not you normal Latin food. It has special items you may want to explore. They have something that I don't have before. This food truck also serve some Italian pasta. But their specialty is really the Dominican street food. They have plenty items to try. We got pinchofongo. It is strange street food. The inside can be chicken or pork. We pick the marinated grilled pork. This dish the pork is wrapped the fresh plantains outwardly. Then it deep fried. This dish is good with finger eating. It was delicious. Other than pinchofongo, they have the Yaroa, Mangu, and salchipapa. All this are rare ethnic food. If you do go, the area have a lot food trucks to try."

Impasto

★★★★★ 5 (10)

"We were so lucky to get this food truck at work last Wednesday! A fairly new truck, they specialize in a sort of flatbread/pizza rollup in a variety of flavors, in addition to decadent parmesan truffle fries and more apps. They were super friendly, fast and delicious, not to mention accommodating to our needs.I LOVE that they had local drinks like Made cold brew and Mother's kombucha on tap!Unfortunately, they did run out of a few items: cold brew, fried chicken; so, I recommend getting in line and ordering first before it's gone!I had the meatball Impasto and it was so hearty and delicious. They do NOT skimp on ingredients and I had enough for leftovers.Suggestion for the business: It would be great if you created a "half rollup, half fry" meal deal for people who don't want leftovers or who don't want to spend too much on lunch. I think it would do really well!"

Country Pizza Italian Grill

★★★★☆ 4.2 (30)

"First time customer: real good crust and cooked perfectly! Excellent service and decent atmosphere. No draft beer but 5 types in cans - served in icy mug. IMO 7.6"

Lakeland Stadium Pizza & Italian Grill

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (35) • $$

"Ordered a small meat pie. My girlfriend ordered the lasagna. Her review is that the lasagna tasted store bought. The tomato sauce wasn't good. The meat was just ground beef. The lasagna came with two garlic knots, which were good and a side salad with fresh mozzarella. Those two were good. My review (small meat pizza) the dough looked store bought as well however it was good. The pizza was actually pretty good. I have this place three stars while my girlfriend gave it two stars. I left it a three but ultimate we will most likely not return nor recommend. My girlfriend did ask our server how the lasagna was prior to ordering it and we were told it was made in house. Also, the floors are super sticky so wear non skid shoes. The bathrooms were clean."

La Terrazza Ristorante Italiano

★★★★★ 4.5 (284) • $$

"The end of one year. The beginning of a new one (2025). So, what better place to be than in a small restaurant that was private and different. It seemed we were stepping into a relatives kitchen, to sit at the table to talk, drink and eat. And all in no rush. This is typical Italian. And this seemed to be typical for La Terrazza.We planned to be here as the year ended, and it was a good choice as all of us said. Greeted at the door we were invited in to sit down at the table and see what there was to have. The team is excellent. The gentleman who was to help us went through the menu and started with what we might like to drink while we thought of it all. This was not too tough as it being Italian you might as well have a glass, or bottle, of wine. Red or white. It is your choice. And the wine was from Italy so it was a special choice to have depending on the main course.The wine was brought to us and we were ready to start with the appetizer first. In traditional fashion we ordered that first, later we would decide on the main entree. With wine in hand we made the toast and talked. The white wine we good. The red wine was also good. It was your choice.When the appetizers came we did make a variety of selections. I had the Proscuitto e Formaggio. This is thin slices of Parma proscuitto with shaved parma cheese, olives, tomatoes and salad. And excellent choice that is topped with a light vinaigrette. Excellent. We also had a plate of Insalata di Asparagi. A true dish of salad and asparagus, tomatoes, mozzarella, roasted red peppers, and artichokes. This was also topped with virgin olive oil and lemon. A light refreshing taste that would also make an excellent dinner in the summer. We also tried other appetizers that we shared and enjoyed.Next the main entree arrived. We each chose some different entrees. All a good choice. To start several of us had the Spaghetti ai Frutti di Mare....A true dish of seafood over pasta. This was hand made pasta as well. You can tell by the al dente style. This was combined with clams, mussels, sea scallops, and shrimp specially cooked and added. This was in a light white wine, olive oil, garlic sauce that is mixed with chopped tomatoes. Perfection. The seafood was truly fresh of the day. The pasta ideal. The sauce just needed a piece of bread to soak it up. We also had the Agnolotti di Aragosta e Garnachio. This is once more homemade ravioli that is stuffed with a mixture of lobster and crab meat. It is in a light Alfredo sauce that also had shrimp and asparagus. It is a different combination that once again was made fresh in the kitchen. It was what to expect if you were at home doing this.Natural, one of the items to try was the Veal Scaloppine Piccata. It was a thinly sliced piece of veal that was put in a white wine butter sauce with capers and parsely. This was served with chef's potatoes and fresh vegetables. And those vegetables could have been their own meal. It was an ideal mix on all levels. A good selection, especially with white wine to drink. Naturally we all shared the dishes we had.Once we completed our meals, and shared what we did, it was time for desert. For this we went traditional. A Cannoli or a Tiramisu. It goes without saying it is what you expect and the way it is made. We also tried a slice of cheese cake which was not as you might get in New York. The cake was thick and fresh. It was topped with a mix of berries, a sauce and a scoop of whipped cream. It was a multiple of flavors and textures combined on top of the cake.It did help to have an espresso to end the meal. And the evening.Overall La Terrazza is an excellent choice in Ybor City. The Italian difference to what you see outside. The team is excellent and helpful. The food is perfect thanks to the chef and team. The price is good for the meal you have the the portions you do receive. This is a great place to keep in mind next time we go back to be there. It is worth the trip without even going to Italy!Grazie!!!!"

Ava

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (712) • $$

"We were a large group celebrating a friends birthday The food exceeded my expectations. Had the double filet mignon . Service was superb. Staff were super friendly. I don't usually like meat balls but the ones I had at this restaurant were surprisingly very delicious"

Mandola's Italian Kitchen

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (157) • $$

"Been trying to go to Mandola's Italian kitchen for a year since they've opened. Today I was with a business partner and we stopped in for lunch. He got the eggplant sandwich and I got the sausage and peppers on the ciabatta and they were both really good sandwiches. I also had the minestrone soup and that was also good. Got a lemon ricotta cookie to go and haven't tried it yet, but they have a cute gelato and mini bakery at the front. Going to come back here for a real dinner one night because all the dinner entrées look good."

Plum Tomato

★★★★☆ 3.5 (196) • $$

"My family and I have been coming here for years and we love Plum Tomato! Some of the best pizza and wings in the area and Melissa and the girls are always so fast and friendly! Great local place, you've gotta check it out!"

Hawkeye's New York Pizza and Pasta

★★★★☆ 4.2 (75) • $$

"The customer service alone is a reason to come back! The food is absolutely amazing. The people are so welcoming and patient. We felt at home eating there. We drove 20min away and were absolutely blown away by this place."

Verducci's Trattoria Pizzeria

★★★★☆ 4 (484) • $$

"The food and service were fantastic. We ordered a pizza and the lasagna and the both were spot on. It reminded me of food from back home (NY). Mars gave us exceptional service. We will be back"

Casa Cosenza

★★★★☆ 4 (238) • $$

"Disappointed. Made reservations a week in advance to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Our table was next to a large party of 30+. Needless to say it was very loud and noisy- not romantic. The service was good and so was the food- good not great. The highlight was the lemon cello. Everything else was just ok- sorry perhaps our taste buds were impacted by the loud noise from the huge party next to us. I booked the reservation with open table and highlighted to celebrate our anniversary- this was never mentioned by our waiter. Not a great first impression"

Positano's

★★★★☆ 3.7 (302) • $$

"I think we just found our favorite restaurant in Pinellas County! It was hard earned and we've been through a lot of food and spaces but this time, I feel like we finally SCORED!!! So much so that I kinda wanted to write the chef a love letter! We watched other food come out--the lasagne looks AMAZING! We had Calamari to start, then the AMAZING bread and olive oil dip---that could've been my last meal and I would've died happy!! The house salad was delicious (it's how I make my own salads-same ingredients so it was terrifically like home!) and then we both got special. I got the Pollo Toscana--GIRL!!!!! you have no idea!!! Some of my fav veggie elements with a creamy spicy sauce, 100!!! Hubby got the ribeye and wanted to share but I was too involved with my own food, LOL! He seemed to really enjoy it. But like I said--I have a yummy sauce, mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes, spinach---Im in deep over here--not really thinking about a steak. He did murmur something about spinach and veggies but honestly--I was so mesmerized by my own plate I couldn't focus on anything else. Honestly, like a said...a love letter feels in order. Absolutely delicious!"

Bloomingdale Pizza

★★★★☆ 3.6 (116) • $$

"Newly renovated inside, same great pizza and service! We were planning on going to the restaurant next door but notice that the inside of Bloomingdale Pizza had been renovated and had a BAR!!! Great atmosphere, Rick (our bartender) was awesome and our food was delicious...as usual! I can't express how happy I am to see them doing well!"

Amici Italian Eatery

★★★★☆ 4 (186) • $$

"I've eaten here several times and the food has been uniformly great. Great wood fired pizzas and tasty pasta dishes. Service is friendly, informal and impeccable. The restaurant is cozy and comfortable. I love supporting locally owned businesses, and this place is worth our support."

Joey's New York Pizza and Italian Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (258) • $$

"This must not be a fun place to work ... everyone was grumpy no smiles nothing. I ordered fried calamari ... it looked like some of it slid off the plate and the marinara spilled in the process. I think .... I will just go somewhere else next time .... it did not make me feel like ... wow cant wait to come back . Left a 20% tip because I have waited tables but I have a feeling not everyone would do that . My servers name was something like Kendra .... the ink on the receipt was faint and hard to read"

Country Pizza Italian Grill

★★★★☆ 3.9 (126) • $

"Outstanding service the servers really work hard they are really nice. Parita's has a positive can do attitude shines. The food and pizza are wonderful and the chicken wings are my favorite. If you are hosting a small party they have a great back room the ambiance is nice and it is clean. This is a great place to for lunch or dinner. I've been here for lunch and dinner with friends here. I was really surprised and happy."

Palace Italian Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.5 (142) • $$

"We have been coming to N end of Lakeland for about 7 years and finally have a favorite restaurant! Each time we have come it has been better and better. Great place for an excellent bowl of pasta, a glass of wine at a good price, and friendly attentive service. Tonight we came in to grab a drink and place a pizza order to go and we were treated like family. Got 2 pizzas and garlic knots and they were excellent and we are from Chicago-the land of great pizza. Huge 18" pizza for $20 ish depending on toppings is a great value and so delicious. The supreme is 23 I think and you get 5 ingredients...such a good deal. Among all the chains and mediocre food around here this is a true gem! We have tried most of the pizza around here and this is the best!"

Savory Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.1 (175) • $

"Decided to come here on a Saturday afternoon after a nearby art show.It wasn't crowded so we were sat immediately. Server was great, extremely friendly and knowledgeable of the menu which says a lot because listen, that menu has A LOT of options.Seriously, everything you can imagine. Eggplant parmesan, taco salad, steak, chicken wings, pasta... it's very possible you'll get overwhelmed just from the options alone which could be a pro or a con.Now, let's talk about the food... absolutely delicious.I was nervous the food wouldn't be seasoned but it was. It wasn't too salty or bland, it was actually just right... and most importantly, it was fresh. You could tell the food was fresh. Also the portions, omg the portions. You get hide portions... like back in 90s when they were trying to feed 3 people with one portion kinda sizes. You don't see portions like this anymore. You should def have food to take home if you don't overdo it. Prices are great, and for 3 people out meal was less than $50 which is rare in these 2023 inflation prices. Would I come back? Absolutely!"

Padula's Pizzeria

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (103) • $$

"Ordered a large supreme pizza and a greek salad with caesar dressing, to be picked up from DoorDash on a Sunday evening.This was my first time ever eating from this pizzeria, and other than Pizza Hut, unfortunately I've found myself very disappointed by the offerings in the Spring Hill area. Fortunately, I found the pizza to be chock full of plentiful toppings, the pepperoni was nicely cooked, spicy, and curled up around the edges. I'll add about the salad when we eat that, likely later tonight (10/01/2023), or tomorrow. I would have given it five stars but the crust could have used more cooking so next time, I'll ask for it to be more done.-- edit: the salad was excellent, and was huge! I ate it for two days as a meal, the dressing was delicious and probably the best Caesar dressing I've ever tasted (and I've been eating various brands for three decades now). This tasted fresh. I'll try to take a photo next time of the salad so you can see how jam-packed it was with meats and veggies. Great job, Padula's! I'll definitely be a repeat customer."

The Vineyards Trattoria

★★★★☆ 4.2 (366) • $$

"Live music on Thurs evenings. Fun for a local spot. Plenty of parking. Easy to get in and out ofOutside seating when Fl weather cools. But it just looks over the parking lot so don't get too excited lolFood is ok. I don't come from the East coast but my Ny friends rave about the food"

Sam's New York Pizza

★★★★☆ 3.5 (119) • $

"My wife and I order from Sam's every week, and we're never disappointed. Pizza is always hot whether I get it delivered or pick it up and the garlic rolls are fantastic. A 2 liter of Coke is a little pricey here but no one's perfect."

Bella Cucina Italian Family Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.6 (89) • $$

"Just left this restaurant after a quick lunch. I cannot recommend it. My family, friends and I will stay away for the time being. First problem: The only beer this place sells is bud lite in a can. That's a non-starter and I should've just left right away. Next issue: The spaghetti and meatballs wasn't good. The sauce was bland and the meat was dry. Just no good. Lastly, the service is great. The blond waitress with the pretty smile could not have been nicer. Just skip this place for now."

Mandola's Italian Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4 (282) • $$

"Restaurant is beautiful inside. Casey was my server/bartender and she was fantastic! I had the sausage and peppers and a chopped salad. Food was fabulous. I will definitely go back every time I'm in this area."