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EXPLORE | | | | | | | 2900 Bayport Dr
Tampa,
FL
33607-1479
813-207-6800 | | | | | Description: AIRPORT AREA. Bright and airy, this chic restaurant rests atop the Hyatt Regency and affords extensive views of the Tampa area. Its menu of northern Italian cuisine centers around seafood, pasta, poultry and steaks, but the specialty of the house is veal, especially scaloppine Armani. For a first course, guests may choose their own appetizers from the selections on the antipasti bar. Entrees, which include marinated salmon and rack of lamb, are classic but creative and have contributed to the many awards the restaurant has garnered. Frequented by celebrities, Armani's is also ideal for romantic dinners and special occasions. Jackets and reservations are required.
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| 1413 S Howard Ave
Tampa,
FL
33606
813-254-3355 | | | | | Description: SOHO. Although it could easily be pretentious, thanks to subdued lighting and gracious details, Bella's prefers to greet guests with relaxed charm. In fact, it's a delightful place to dine throughout the day, and folks return often to tuck into wood-fired pizzas and a plethora of delectable pasta dishes. The open kitchen provides a hint of what's to come, and whether you choose a chicken entree, stuffed eggplant, an appetite-pleasing bowl of pasta, or a bit of tiramisu, you'll see the kitchen's skill immediately. Late hours and favorable prices heighten Bella's appeal.
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| 1702 E 7th Ave
Tampa,
FL
33605
813-248-0099 | | | | | Description: YBOR CITY. Named after Italian sculptor Bernini, this elegant restaurant occupies the building that once housed the Bank of Ybor City. Its elegant interior befits the extravagant entrees and sophisticated diners who frequent the place. Although lunch is a casual affair, dinner itself is an occasion. Live jazz plays in the background and patrons feast on calamari, black Angus beef, orange-glazed duck and salmon carpaccio. The open dining room provides a vista through the entire restaurant, and guests who partake of martinis and cigars upstairs have an even better view of events. Desserts, as necessary as main courses, are fresh interpretations of Italian classics. NB Their wood-fired pizzas are nothing short of sinful.
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| 4205 S MacDill Ave
Tampa,
FL
33611
813-835-6622 | | | | | Description: SOUTH TAMPA. Small in square footage, maybe, but definitely not in taste or quality. This fabulous Italian restaurant, tucked into a shopping center, warmly welcomes guests with age-old favorites like tender osso buco and fragrant linguine with clam sauce. It accompanies the main dishes with savory soups and fresh salads to craft a meal that's simple in style but unquestionably satisfying. The signature dish, involtini di carne, is especially good; it pairs veal filets with prosciutto and herbs and cooks them in a wine-infused tomato sauce. The succulent veal and combination of flavors make for a sublime entree.
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| 232 N Dale Mabry Hwy
Tampa,
FL
33609
813-875-6660 | | | | | Description: WEST TAMPA. Understated elegance and a premiere dining experience await you at this celebrated restaurant. Tables set with crystal, china and silver pamper guests and provide a perfect lead-in for the carefully prepared cuisine. Waiters in black tie deliver osso buco, linguine with lobster, and poached salmon with shrimp and asparagus. You'll also find beef carpaccio, a grilled porterhouse and pasta with scallops and calamari. The extensive wine list, populated with numerous Italian vintages, ensures that you'll have a perfect complement to the meal. Desserts, including profiteroles and Grand Marnier souffle, work toward the same purpose. NB Live music in the lounge.
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| 203 Westshore Plz
Tampa,
FL
33609
813-288-9000 | | | | | Description: AIRPORT AREA. Fine Southern Italian cuisine comes to your table family-style at Maggiano's, guaranteeing that you'll leave at full capacity. J. Cammarrari's Roast Chicken Vesuvio, Picatta-Style Veal Scallopine, and Baked Shrimp Oreganata how to decide? The atmosphere is distinctly Italian, with cozy tables, red-checked tablecloths, and family portraits hanging on every wall.
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| 2223 N Westshore Blvd
Tampa,
FL
33607
813-313-3235 | | | | | Description: AIRPORT AREA. Billed as "a place to see and be seen," suave Pelagia is that and more. This attractive trattoria delivers impeccable Mediterranean-influenced Italian dishes like lobster ravioli, pan-seared sea scallops with Key lime emulsion, spinach-potato gnocchi and sautéed Blue Nose bass with zucchini Niçoise-style. The dining room, all the while, recalls the legendary Milanese sense of style, blending contemporary elements of metal, marble and wood to create one of the area's more attractive scenes.
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| 19040 Bruce B. Downs Blvd
Tampa,
FL
33647
813-615-0087 | | | | | Description: NEW TAMPA. For a good long while brunch pickings in New Tampa were quite slim. Well, fortunately for the folks who call this part of Tampa "home," Polo's came along and roundly addressed that issue. Modestly-priced and perfect for families, Polo's Sunday brunch is an a la carte affair that tempts with ditties like the corned beef hash and eggs breakfast platter, Texas French toast, pigs in a blanket, and eggplant or meatball Parmigiana sandwiches. At dinner, the kitchen's Old World sensibilities reemerge and dishes like veal saltimbocca and grouper livornese vie for your palate's favor.
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| 2909 W Cypress St
Tampa,
FL
33609
813-879-4544 | | | | | Description: WEST TAMPA. The heritage of Italian baking runs prominently through this family-run business, which opened on Cypress Street in the early 1960s. When you step into the place, you'll find a host of delicacies to choose from, including cakes, pastries, cookies and tortes of all flavors and varieties. Quality ingredients are always used, and the light, tender results are proof. There's also a deli on the premises where you can order soups, salads and sandwiches. Specialty offerings include the Italian steak sandwich, the vegetarian and the Cuban, a Tampa-area classic.
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| Lauro Ristorante Italiano3915 Henderson Blvd
Tampa,
FL
33629
813-281-2100 | | | | | Description: SOUTH TAMPA. After years of training in European kitchens, chef Lauro Medaglia was inspired to open his own restaurant. The fruit of that labor is his self-named restaurant. The northern Italian cuisine he creates is exquisite, focused on pasta and veal dishes. The gnocchi is terrific, as is the crab capellini and the agnolotti. The putanesca sauce, pungent and rich with olives and fresh herbs, is a house favorite too. Service is accommodating, and the wine list affords a number of good choices. Couples in particular love the quiet ambience and often choose the restaurant for special nights out.
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