Diners' Choice: Italian restaurants in Tampa

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Italian cuisine in Tampa? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Quality Foods Market

5.0

5 (328)

$50 and over

Italian

Tampa

About the restaurant

Quality Foods Market offers a unique culinary experience, featuring authentic Italian cuisine, in a relaxed, elevated casual, and intimate atmosphere. Enjoy a seasonally changing, from scratch menu, featuring both classic and modern pastas; hand cut steaks from USDA Certified Premium Hereford Heritage 1881 Beef; New Zealand Lamb Chops; USDA Certified Prime Veal; and the freshest seafood available, flown in from around the world throughout the week. In addition, Quality Foods Market offers a curated wine list with selections from all over the world, and an unrivaled craft and imported beer selection. Executive Chef Christopher Houp takes the time to interact with each and every guest throughout the dining experience, taking the Chef's Table concept to a whole new level. Tables are limited, with just 16 seats inside, and an additional 16 seats for al fresco dining. Our guests are treated to a true Italian dining experience, as we allow a minimum of three hours between reservations.

Top review

Barb

Dined 3 days ago

If you want the best pasta outside of Italy this is the place to come. The flavors are as big as the portions and you can smell and taste the quality of the ingredients used. The bolognese with the wine pasta is my favorite, but I also love the sausage and red pepper sauce. The buffalo milk ricotta on top is a must! The service is great too and Chef Chris makes the visit feel very personal. Don't forget to pick his brain for wine. He is very knowledgeable and the wine list is impressive with lots of unique and small production wines from all over the world.

Caffe Paradiso - Tampa

4.9

4.9 (1229)

$30 and under

Italian

Tampa

About the restaurant

Caffé Paradiso voted best Italian resturant in Tampa is known for it's great home made regional dishes excellent service and reasonably priced wine list, also preparing special dishes at your request.

Top review

Margo

Dined on Jun 5, 2025

It is always delicious, great service, friendly staff!

Tasty Venues Italian Bistro

4.9

4.9 (189)

$31 to $50

Italian

Brandon

About the restaurant

Tasty Venues' Osteria Rita is now serving our fall and winter menu, full of delicious new options. Our setting is quiet and intimate, perfect for conversation. Special culinary events are posted on our culinary events calendar at www.MyTastyVenues.com. Tasty Venues believes that the universal language of food is a way to bring people together. By exploring the delights of the table, we not only nourish our bodies, but we also nourish our spirits. Tasty Venues was established to share beautiful foods and experiences in recognition of the connections we create around the shared table. Come try Chef Cinzia's superb creations!

Please be advised that we do not have a children's menu, highchairs, or booster seats. In consideration of our guests who prefer an intimate/romantic/quiet conversation dining experience, children under the age of 10 will not be seated during dinner service because our small size precludes the ability to adequately accommodate them.

Top review

Tricia

Dined on May 2, 2025

It’s always amazing! We had both had a busy rough Friday and needed a date reset. This restaurant feels like going home to us. So grateful for the ambiance and sweet people here.

Bavaro's Pizza Napoletana & Pastaria - Tampa

4.8

4.8 (1235)

$30 and under

Italian

Tampa

About the restaurant

*Weather may interfere with your reservation, we will do our best to accommodate you.*

Bavaro’s opened its doors in March 2009 as the first traditional Neapolitan Pizzeria in the state of Florida.

A company committed to the art and craft of Neapolitan pizza, Bavaro’s stays true to tradition by using hand-crafted, wood-fired brick ovens designed by third-generation Neapolitan craftsmen, a 100-year-old yeast culture, 100-year-old Neapolitan recipes, and top-of-the-line ingredients sourced directly from Italy.

From a restaurant in downtown Tampa that seats 50 guests, to a global brand with a standard of quality that resonates around the world, Bavaro’s has since built 3 additional locations and continues to commit itself to the high-quality, welcoming experience that guests all around the country have grown to love.

Top review

Jennifer

Dined today

I’ve been a patron of Bavarro’s for over 10 years. Ever since the TV was added the atmosphere isn’t great. It changes the lighting, it changes the romantic vibe of not looking at screens and we noticed all the staff stopping working and watching the baseball game. Our server wasn’t very attentive. She took so long to return after dropping the dessert menu we decided against it. I think her name was Caitlin or something similar sounding. Our food was incredible as always and we love the consistency of the food quality throughout the years. This won’t deter us from returning but it won’t be a spot we return to for a romantic atmosphere anymore until that TV is removed.

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4.7

4.7 (416)

$30 and under

Italian

Tampa

About the restaurant

We bought La Casa della Pasta in 2017 and moved from our home in the Langhe in Piedmont, located in the northwest of Italy to the sunshine state. We have always been passionate about food and wine and would like to share the authentic Italian cuisine we know and love with you! While our time at La Casa della Pasta is just beginning, we have spent many years in the restaurant industry and are eager to share our delicious food with you! We hope to see you soon, Mara and Franco.

Top review

TerriVIP

Dined on May 31, 2025

I have found my new favorite Italian restaurant! House made pasta done to perfection! Great wine list! Both owners visited our table. A great dining experience!

Trattoria Pasquale

4.7

4.7 (1320)

$31 to $50

Italian

Tampa

About the restaurant

Trattoria Pasquale's is a family owned and operated Italian restaurant proudly serving Chef Luigi Cavallaro's Northern Italian Cuisine in a welcoming atmosphere.

Please note that due to flood damage we are currently only seating in our upstairs space. Stairway access only.
Due to our limited seating availability, we have to cap table times at 2 hours. Thank you for your patience with this as we continue to rebuild from the storm!

Top review

CherylVIP

Dined on Jun 5, 2025

Food was excellent as always, however, they have made major changes to the wine list, very few low-mid $ range, plenty of over $100 bottle options. We normally could always find a good mid-level bottle of wine for $50-$60 but no more unfortunately. That was disappointing.

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Popular dish

Farfalle Luigi Nicola

Popular dish

Eggplant Parmigiana

Experience

Father's Day - Steak Dinner Special

Donatello

4.7

4.7 (3418)

$50 and over

Italian

Tampa

About the restaurant

Welcome to Donatello, a fine dining restaurant serving authentic Italian cuisine since 1984.
Located close to the Tampa Airport, Raymond James Stadium, International Mall and convenient to I-275 and Downtown, Donatello features an award winning wine list to accompany traditional veal dishes like Osso Bucco, homemade pastas, fresh seafood, prime steaks, with decadent desserts, and live music 6 nights a week in our piano lounge and bar. Perfect for a romantic evening, large groups with private dining available, or celebrating a birthday or special occasion, Donatello's old world charm provides an unique dining experience.

Top review

ThomasVIP

Dined 7 days ago

Great food, old-fashioned Mater D excellent tables and wonderful atmosphere if you’re celebrating on a date night is the place to go

Jay Luigi

4.7

4.7 (108)

$30 and under

Italian

South Tampa

About the restaurant

Jay Luigi offers a fresh and modern take on Italian cuisine in the heart of South Tampa’s vibrant SoHo district. Known for its Roman-style pizzas, fresh pastas, shareable plates, and crisp salads, Jay Luigi combines traditional flavors with a contemporary twist. The menu also features options for vegetarian, gluten-free, and health-conscious diners.

With a full bar serving an array of Italian wines, craft beers, and aperitif-style cocktails, it’s the perfect spot for date night, family gatherings, or a casual meal with friends. Guests can enjoy brunch favorites like savory breakfast pizzas and more on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, or visit for dinner served daily.

Jay Luigi’s welcoming atmosphere, convenient location, and thoughtfully curated menu make it a top choice for those seeking authentic Italian food or a relaxed yet upscale dining experience in Tampa.

Top review

TracyVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Phenomenal food! Excellent service, drinks are great, especially the limoncello spritz. You don’t know what you are missing out on if you haven’t been here.

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Experience

Happy Hour

BellaBrava Bexley

4.7

4.7 (511)

$30 and under

Italian

Land O' Lakes

About the restaurant

In 2003, while exploring Tuscany and indulging in the finest Italian culinary delights, we recognized a need for an Italian restaurant in Tampa that fuses traditional flavors with the contemporary essence of urban living.

In 2005, BellaBrava: New World Trattoria was established in downtown Saint Petersburg, where our Tuscan-inspired vision became a reality. Our New World Trattoria offers a relaxed dining experience, affordable prices, and a focus on building lasting connections with our guests rather than pursuing haute cuisine.

Our menu harmoniously blends old-world tastes with new-world sophistication. From seafood and classic pasta dishes to mouthwatering pizzas, we're confident that everyone will discover a delightful treat. Our special Woodstone ovens create delectable flatbreads, pizzas, and calzones, using fresh, locally sourced ingredients that evoke the flavors of Tuscany and other Italian cuisines.

Top review

RheaVIP

Dined 7 days ago

Excellent Food and Service, We do plan to come back!

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Popular dish

Eggplant Parmesan

Popular dish

Black Truffle Pasta v

Popular dish

Arancini

BellaBrava Tampa

4.7

4.7 (658)

$30 and under

Italian

Tampa

About the restaurant

BellaBrava New World Trattoria was born in 2005 in Downtown Saint Petersburg. Over the years since, BellaBrava has been voted Best Restaurant in Saint Petersburg, Best Italian, and is a perennial Guest favorite on Beach Drive.

Now open in Midtown Tampa, BellaBrava Tampa brings the same menu and outstanding service we are proud of to Tampa. Enjoy great Italian wines and cocktails, New World Trattoria cuisine, and consistently excellent service.

In the heart of Midtown Tampa, we’re the perfect spot for a great lunch while shopping, or an intimate dinner with friends and family.

Top review

Nory

Dined 2 days ago

The food was amazing and the server was very sweet!

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