This place is a hidden gem . Located in a strip mall on Tampa Rd. When you enter the restaurant there is a homey feeling, you can smell the fresh scent of baked bread. There is a piano playing wonderful dinner music. Everything is made from scratch and to order. If you are looking for a good place to enjoy Italian food made from scratch and taking your time while dining, this is the place for! Excellent service , wine selection, ambiance and great food! They have a special ravioli each day. Salads are fresh and delicious! Bread warm and crispy outside . Great place for a special occasion. read more

Great food. Great service. Great Environment. reasonably priced.Good sized portions. read more

We had a lovely evening with a delicious meal and friendly attentive and knowledgeable service. Everything George recommended was absolutely delicious. This is not a restaurant for people in a hurry, or who like the run of the mill Italian food, but if you've been to Italy and had wonderfully well made Italian food, eaten at a leisurely pace with live piano music in the background, delicious wine to accompany your meal, and knowledgeable recommendations then I highly recommend Casa Cosenza. I had veal piccata which was superb and reminded me of a meal I once had in Sorrento. He had the seafood risotto which was full of seafood and absolutely delicious. To end our meal we shared the tiramisu, which was the best I've had in a long time and the homemade limoncello is not to be missed as a fabulous aperitif. Make a reservation and enjoy this little gem hidden away in a strip mall with Marshall's and Ace Hardware in Oldsmar. read more

Casa Cosenza - The dining room at Casa Cozensa - Italian Near Me - Oldsmar, Florida

See all

The food was delicious, great service. The ambience, love the authentic Italian atmosphere.

Eh. I had been wanting to go here because we had a couple friend a few years ago that ranted about it. I had a craving for lasagna so we made reservations on a Friday night and went with some friends. It's in a strip mall, but I tried to not let that bother me. Once inside I noticed the floor is jacked up (the vinyl boards don't meet) in multiple places, dingy white hanging dividing curtains, LED purple lights. The decor as a whole is nice-ish but out dated. There's white table cloths, a fire place and live music which ordinarily would give classy vibes, but it was just not coming together. The few guests there were all much, much older. Like 70+ looking, so maybe the decor was working for them. The other waiters and perhaps the owner (hostess) were outgoing, helpful and very friendly, but our waiter was absent, slow and was very impatient with us. Twice we had to grab a different waiter to ask him for assistance (ie water refill and our bill) because our waiter was MIA. The wine was good and the food was ok, but not amazing. I had lasagna and I've had better, but for the price it should have been amazing! It arrived burnt top and hard corners and just warm- but it was hot inside so it was fine. My husband had Chilean Sea Bass which he had the same experience "good, not great and way over priced." Our friends felt the same about their meals and dessert. This, coupled with the lack of service and the decor, was enough to say "well that was ok but we won't come back".... But then we got the bill. First of all our server would not do separate checks so we split the bill down the middle. Altogether the bill was $300 (before tip) for 1 bottle of wine, 1 cocktail, 1 appetizer, 4 entrees, 2 desserts and no service. Just not the experience our friends had ranted about. Maybe it was better preC-19 years?? read more

Two hours to eat. Service is fine. The bread served is embarrassing basically stale. The special was a 15oz beef shank that was emphasized three times as 15 oz to justify the $57 price. 12oz was bone 2 ozs was fat 1oz of meat. They took $20 off the bill when I pointed it. Anything less than $57 is not enough. The dessert was Wynn Dixie quality. read more

Delicious authentic Italian food! This is a very unique family run business in Oldsmar. A husband and wife own it and cook all the food. We went for a birthday and enjoyed the evening immensely. The food was very tasty. We had an issue with the lasagna though. Three people ordered it. One was cold in the center and one had no meat in it. Other than that we had a great evening. There were a lot of gluten free meals available which helped because we have 2 people with celiac disease. On Friday nights they have live music. read more

See all

8:35pm Server was not the best. Didn't bring bucket of ice for wine then when she did she brings it from another table not a fresh bucket just a used one from a different table. Was very unsanitary and just gross. Her overall attitude was very rude. She grabbed the menu out of my hand when I couldn't read what I ordered (wasn't English) It was very disappointing for how beautiful the venue is. Love the atmosphere and look of it but the serve was very very bad. This is before the food - I will review the food once it comes. Order - Bruschetta Napoli Caesar Salad Gnocchi Sorrentina 8oz medium well (butterflied) I've now been here for an hour and have only received a Cesar salad and appetizer. Horrible service. I asked when the food would be out at 9:34 server said she would put it in now.. 9:41pm I receive a plate of .... Yeah I'm not sure what that was 0/5. Horrible. read more

There are so many things I could say about this little gem of a restaurant but I'll just say it is simply wonderful. It is reservation only and I understand why- There are Very few times when the restaurant isn't filled with happy customers. It is such a fun atmosphere inside and it is so clean, crisp , and fresh looking With the white table cloths and the beautiful bar on one side of the restaurant. Another plus is the fantastic piano player that plays beautiful music while you are dining. Also, huge shoutout to the wonderful Sparky who served us last night. He was not only so fun to talk to but explained any me I items questions we had and you can just tell he loves his job! And also shoutout to Mercy who makes one of the BEST martinis I have ever had. We shared the La Caprese Fredda (fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, oil and balsamic and some pesto) and the Involtini di Melanzana (rolled eggplant with ham and cheese in a delicious tomato sauce and baked). There were two entrees, the lasagna that was described as the most tender and flavorful lasagna he ever had and I had the Cotoletta alla Milanese, which is thin pieces of veal breaded and pan fried with tomatoes, arugula, Parmesan and balsamic glaze on top and a side of linguini with pink sauce. This is our second time here and we can't get enough! We want to try everything! Prices aren't too bad but it really is quality food you are eating and makes for an amazing and romantic date night. read more

Casa Cosenza - Cotoletta alla Milanese- amazing! - Italian Near Me - Oldsmar, Florida

See all

Casa Cosenza is a hidden gem in Tampa Bay. My family and I were in Italy this past November and Casa Cosenza truly brings genuine homemade and delicious Italian food to Tampa. We came here in February for my father's birthday and we also invited relatives from out of town to join us. We felt very welcome with the staff and our waiter spoke fluent Italian which made the experience even more authentic. He even sang happy birthday to my father in Italian which was a memorable moment. My entire family enjoyed the entire experience and delicious fresh pasta and the deserts were great also. They play live music which only adds to an already delicious and enjoyable meal. My family from out of town enjoyed it so much they said that this is their new favorite restaurant in Tampa. I highly recommend Casa Cosenza if you're looking for a delicious, authentic and memorable experience. read more

Great food and service They always make adjustments for my dietary needs. I am gluten intolerant read more

We came for our anniversary dinner and it was honestly one of the best meals we've had together since our honeymoon. The owner was charming, kind, and accommodating. The homemade pasta was to die for! Everything was so fresh and flavorful down to the herbs. Such a pretty place with a warm atmosphere. Even the live piano player made it special. We will be back for sure! read more

Really lovely restaurant.. attentive staff and incredible menu. Enjoyed my birthday dinner with friends ... service was spot on and food was spectacular, Waiter treated us to lemoncello shot, which was smooth, sweet and ice cold. I would highlight recommend!! Kim ' read more

Have eaten at Casa Cosenza twice now, and both experiences have been fabulous. The first time that we were there we took my boyfriend's 98-year-old Italian mother. She is notorious for not finishing anything and taking leftovers home. Let's just say that she was impressed. She ate every single morsel, nothing was left on the plate! She loved her ravioli and the sauce in particular. The second time we went was on Valentine's Day. They had a fixed menu, but there were various options. The meal included a bottle of wine and three courses. They again did not disappoint. We met the owners, the wife is the chef. It seems like these true Italians are making a name for themselves in the city of Oldsmar. Our server, Freddy, was attentive and accommodating. We are looking forward to our next trip. read more

Casa Cosenza - Dessert! - Italian Near Me - Oldsmar, Florida

I stopped in on a Wednesday Afternoon. It was myself and another couple in the place. Very quiet. For an Italian eatery, it doesn't look like one on the inside. None of the dark woods or reds and whites you expect to see, it is all Yellow and white, very light and airy - almost seaside looking. The bread and oil you're served is tasty, I ordered Chicken Parmigan for my meal and found that when it came to the table, it was burnt. They tried to hide that it was, but underneath, the bottom side was black. It didn't taste terrible, but it was certainly black. The pasta sauce was tasty. Would I come back? no. read more

See all

We arrived on a Thursday at 6pm figuring we'd have a relaxed meal, get in, and get out. We definitely got in... Upon entering this home-like restaurant, we couldn't believe we were actually in a strip mall. The windows, decorations, photos from Italy, and decor are truly unique. We were warmly greeted after just a minute or two and I conversed with the waiter in Italian using almost my entire vocabulary! When in Italy, a meal is to be savored with good wine and good conversation. It's not unusual to spend four hours in a restaurant with appetizers (antipasti), pasta (primi), meat (secondi), vegetables (contorni), desert (dolci) and digestive liquor all served as separate courses. American style where you might wolf down free breadsticks and aim to get in and out in 45 minutes simply doesn't exist. I'm here to tell you it doesn't exist at Casa Cosenza either. We started with the Tagliere di salumi e formaggi italiani con miele piccante e marmellata senapate, aka the "cutting board". Please let me do the honor of translating. This dish includes sliced Italian salami and prosciutto, the finest cured meat on the planet, with three types of Italian cheese, spiced honey, and fruit marmalade. Enjoying this antipasti was like taking a trip to Italy. In fact, we both were a little sad we were in Oldsmar instead but we slowly got over it with each bite. Then, we both ordered pasta dishes. I had pasta fresca del giorno which is a simple dish of fresh pasta and tomato sauce with plenty of olive oil. Only in Italy or at Casa Cosenza can such humble ingredients be turned in to a taste sensation. My wife had linguine al pesto con carciofini fritti, which is linguini with pesto and fried artichokes and a beautiful parmesan cheese garnish. It was stupendous, again with fresh pasta. These dishes were both quite large and I believe they were designed to stand on their own and not be a primi followed by a secondi as in Italy. Now, I must note, each of these dishes took 30 minutes or so to come to our table after ordering. We enjoyed some prosecco and relaxed, taking in the atmosphere. Now, it was past 8pm, we were quite full, and dessert wasn't in our plan. The trick was the restaurant was now packed to the gills and the three waiters and waitresses were overwhelmed. They were handling the front of the house, the bar, outside seating, inside seating, busing tables, taking orders, delivering food, etc. Their mission was truly mission impossible. Our mission was to obtain the check. This also turned out to be mission impossible! Eventually, our waiter admitted he couldn't find it in the chaos and asked what we had ordered. Once we got through that, the check magically appeared! Of course, by now, it was approaching 9pm and we wanted dessert after all! Luckily, Small Cakes is right next door with plenty of cupcakes! Yum! read more

See all

Amazing dining experience you wouldn't expect in a local strip mall. Authentic and fresh Italian specialties. Easy, friendly, yet white tablecloth service. read more

I had such high hopes for this place as I'd heard so much about them. Based on prices I would consider this "fine dining". Based on the food, average at best. I was with a group, and it was a limited menu for us. Price included app (family style) salad, main course and dessert. I had a tase of the charcuterie, which was good, although sparce, and Caprese, which was terrible, IMO. The tomatoes were anemically pale with NO flavor. At a fine dining establishment, I would expect the finest produce supplier, which was obviously not the case. It was also not seasoned at all and no olive oil. The Caesar salad was OK, with what seemed like bulk ordered croutons, not freshly made in house, which I would expect at a fine dining place. The dressing was just OK. I've made better. My main course was Veal Marsala. It was slightly overcooked and dry. I didn't taste any marsala wine and mushrooms were sparse. It came with ravioli, which could have had more cheese inside, and the sauce, from the Marsala was bland and needed salt to give it any flavor. A major disappointment. Dessert was also family style. I had cream puffs, which were good, but VERY small, about the size of a half dollar. I had 2. I also tried the cannoli because I love them. They were small as well and the shell was so thick and hard that the filling squeezed out all over my fingers. There was no way I could have cut it on a plate. Also, to note, I had a glass of wine that when poured was the last of the bottle and not a full pour. The waiter said he would be back to top it off, which he never did. I also noted that I was skipped over for water refills (I drink a lot of water). I know it sounds petty, but when you pay over $70 for a meal, I expected WAY more. I see no reason to go back. There are other Italian restaurants in the area that are highly recommended that I will try. read more

Casa Cosenza is a pleasant little Italian restaurant located in Oldsmar, within a plaza that has plenty of parking. It had very nice ambiance to it. As you enter the restaurant, you could immediately start smelling the cooking which was exciting. I could immediately see that it was very spacious inside, with family style table seating on the left side, and bar seating on the right. I came with a group of girls, and we had a table for four with actual candle light. The menu was separated into sections by appetizers, pasta dishes, meat dishes and sides and salads. There is a separate menu for drinks, wines, and beer and another menu for deserts, coffee and after dinner liquor. The server also graciously explained the specials which included a lot of seafood varieties and another steak option. I ordered a pasta dish that was on the main menu called pasta all'amatriciana. It has tomato sauce and pancetta with a thicker than spaghetti pasta that has a continuous hole down the center of it. I appreciated seeing how the restaurant makes its own fresh pasta. The pasta making station is situated near the kitchen but visible from the dining area, which adds an element of interest to the experience. The pasta dish was quite large in portion and tasted fine. I would have preferred the pancetta to taste a little crispier as a personal preference and the pasta a bit more al dente. It felt a bit more on the soft side to me. I also ordered a side salad which I enjoyed. The oil dressing had a depth of flavor to it, like a hint of nutmeg which I thought was unique. We shared a tiramisu and had coffee and limoncello at the end of the night. The presentation was nice and enjoyable. I enjoyed this night out with the girls and appreciated a newer Italian restaurant experience. read more

See all

Reading the other reviews from obvious non-foodies here I cringe at the lack of culture of most Americans that are used to food chain versions of Italian food. These are the same people who go to Italy to order pepperoni pizza...and if you don't get the joke then you don't know what pepperoni means in Italian. And the tomato sauce is meant to be simple, not out of a glass jar and orange. Ohh and as for gluten free...stay at home or give one stars to a restaurant that advertises gluten free, not Italian! This restaurant serves real Italian flavors: simple, traditional with basic rustic flavors. Home made pasta with nice gluteny wheat. And traditional recipes that you would find in a tuscan trattoria. For someone who has lived in Italy (me) it's great to know I don't have to go to a chain wannabe Italian restaurant when I can get the real thing. read more

Casa Cosenza - Italian Near Me - Oldsmar, Florida

We had a wonderful experience and this was very reminiscent of family restaurants in Italy that we visited recently.

Thank you so much for the outstanding dinner. In spite of being home, our anniversary dinner turned out great thanks to you. The four course dinner started with excellent rolled eggplant and ham. The fresh pasta in the fettuccine Primavera was to die for. The main course of Grigliatta di terra, fit the bill. And naturally your homemade desserts finished an excellent meal. The takeout is easy and well instructed. You've placed a couple of nice seats out and the table at the front door where we can pay and pick up the meal. I recommend this takeout for an excellent meal. read more

See all

TLDR: good place for a long intimate dinner. Fish was ok. Martini looked pretty. Avoid the veal, potatoes, or raviolis. We actually were very excited to try this restaurant as it was the location of our Italian language course. The location is nice inside & family run. The waiter tried his best to seem nice, but with a big group he was clearly overwhelmed. The owner is also the head chef and can often be spotted helping run food to the tables. Which shows his passion for this Restraurant. The interior is intimate and romantic. With dim lighting and an expensive menu. This is a place that looks like a first date location, until you get to the food. Full disclosure, I am very picky about Italian food. But, my husband and I ate here twice (for our language course) but ultimately decided to forfeit the money spent on our language course due to this location. The prices are pretty steep considering the taste And our course requires us to purchase a meal at each class. So we dropped the course and enjoyed dinner at another restaurant instead. read more

Great food Sparky our waiter was awesome. We had a few of the appetizers.. all were delicious,

Pleasing interior design, a really great place. Our waiter was the kind that likes attention and I found them annoying and a distraction. Someone had a birthday and he made a point of singing louder than everyone. I guess he took it as a moment to shine. There was no real indication that the food would take 40 minutes to arrive. Had we known this we'd have ordered more appetizers. As it was I was so hungry I kept eating the unexceptional bread. You can get a better loaf and Publix. The food itself was mediocre and way over priced. I was disappointed and again bewildered by the area's inability to grow decent Italian restaurants. read more

We live in Palm Harbor and never thought of going to this authentic Italian restaurant. Actually, we had one negative review from a friend and we agree to disregard and give it a shot! The service was perfect! Our table had my name on it since I called to reserve it! Beautiful restaurant, very white, clean and distant tables. We ordered an appetizer that was delicious, La Caprese Calda, much better than expected. Then I ordered the gnocchi which was smooth and perfect and my fiancé ordered the Scaloppine al Marsala, which he loved! We ordered the rum cake for dessert but was not a fan. The cake had the consistency of a bread and no taste, the toppings were minimum and didn't help the dessert. Above all, a great expand we plan on going back to try other plates! read more

This is the closest I can come Italy with a plane ticket. I love this restaurant and the couple who own it. My friends and I have visited twice in a row for Friday lunch. I'm officially obsessed with a couple of items: Involtini do Melanzana and Marscapone Fig Gelato. The Melanzana is delicious, sublime. I am prepared to go back often to try everything. The decor is charming and spotless. Do not go expecting a fast food experience. Go to enjoy the food and linger with your friends and family. read more

See all

Superb to get back: of course the food - yes, the food, the friendly nonintrusive staff, and the very relaxing ambience -- perfect place to relax together. Found hidden gems in the wonderful menu. That plus a 'right' bottle of wine and we were set for some very relaxing just-us-time. Thank you! read more

Shook this place had such good reviews... From the moment we sat down waitress seemed nervous & it was not busy... Left us mid order to go bring another table food which was awkward. The bread was stale & almost broke our teeth it was so hard. There were multiple ants crawling on the window next to us. We got martinis & they served it with one blue cheese olive that was clearly from a jar. The charcuterie board had no crackers or anything & had jarred olives as well. It tasted like lunch meat from subway. Pasta fagioli soup was cold when served & had no flavor. Gnocchi was like chewy flour balls. The lasagna had zero flavor & was underwhelming. Won't be back. read more

Came for lunch (Saturday) and had a great meal. The food was fresh and full of flavor, the service was great and the overall atmosphere was clean and sophisticated. Owners are from Italy and the authentici shows through. Look forward to returning. read more

This place has a classy all white interior and is an upscale feel without pretentiousness. I always love places with homemade pasta. Neither of us were in the mood for fish but they had a Chilean sea bass dish that looked amazing. I had the Tagliatelle and added shrimp. Ask for George- he's a great waiter. Definitely have the tiramisu - it's divine. read more

Oh how I pray this wonderful gem can make it in a world of the mediocre chain restaurants that pervade this area!! I started simply for my first visit. Crisp Caesar salad with homemade dressing. Tagliatelle in pomodoro, the hubby had lasagna. Both were perfectly cooked and delicious!! I felt as though I was back in Italy; from the Italian news station (quietly running over the bar), to hearing the Italians eating lunch and visiting with each other in Italian. It was wonderful. We met a wonderful couple at the next table and reminisced over our trips to Italy. I am first generation from Calabria, and can't say how happy I am to have a place that makes fresh pasta when I don't feel like it. Better than grandma (sorry grandma) used to make. It took me way too long to realize this place existed. I plan on making up for my ignorance in the upcoming weeks and months. From the truly Italian dishes to the Pino Grigio that took me back to Positano and Rome. Thank you so much!!! read more

Casa Cosenza - Tagietelle - Italian Near Me - Oldsmar, Florida

Everything was wonderful but! Was a little surprised a salad was not included with my pasta. Wonderful surprise. Hidden gem!

Had a first date with someone last night. We had the best time. Our table was reserved with our name on it, which made us feel welcome. The server (Jay) was very attentive. The food was delicious. All made from scratch and you can tell. They can make to order as well which was a great feature as my date wanted something not specifically on the menu. The live music set a nice ambience but my only criticism was that it was a little too loud and sometimes over powered the room. read more

This gem brings fresh Italian food and spirit to the table as soon as you enter the door. My wife and I stopped I last night for a late meal and were impressed with our entire experience. The wait staff and owner work the room like a team that has been together for ever. Our meals were so fresh and well prepared, it was hard to save room fo dessert. But, there is always a little room for dessert. If your looking for a little escape from the every day, you won't be disappointed here. read more

This place is truly amazing! It is a hidden gem. From the bread, to appetizers, an incredible veal chop with mushrooms in a Marsala sauce and then phenomenal dessert were all over the top. I'll be back on every business trip to Clearwater going forward! read more

Nice place. Our waiter was great & food was nicely presented & good. Authentic Italian food, was a bit bland for my taste & cheese was not melted in the lasagna. The only problem is my Italian food is hard to beat. read more

Casa Cosenza - Bruschetta Napoli - Italian Near Me - Oldsmar, Florida

See all

Wow! Although it was a bit of a drive, I was happy to explore this restaurant keep in the Oldsmar burbs. It's located in a large strip mall, to the far corner and adjacent to a nail salon. What a lovely surprise to find a chic but homey interior. Perhaps the lighting could be dimmed to contribute to a more romantic ambience with the blue toned lighting. This restaurant has been the most impressive one in quite some time. There have been so many disappointments lately that saying NOTHING was really the nicest thing I could do. We started with the Sautéed calamari that was beautifully plated and delicious. I dared to order it even while wearing a white dress, and it was worth the gamble! My friend and I came to eat on the healthier side by choosing the seafood. My friend chose the fish of the day (sea bass). He gave it it the thumbs up, demolishing the filet and leaving only the clams which he didn't expect and doesn't like in general. That was my win, as l'm a fan. I ordered the seafood linguine with vodka sauce, and it was definitely worth breaking the no-carb diet. Although the food was very good, I think what I loved most was the warmth and hospitality that infused this restaurant from the owner and the only other waiter there we saw. The owner himself waited on us, and it's rare to find a restaurant whose owner imbibes it with so much heart and pride. Do enjoy yourself but take care while he pours you some of his wife's homemade limoncello. It's certainly not for the faint of heart! read more

Casa Cosenza - Sautéed calamari - Italian Near Me - Oldsmar, Florida

See all

Amazing! I did make a reservation and they were so nice to us. Great service. Tasteful pasta 10/10! Put this one in your list to go!

What's up fellow yelpers! I do this for everyone from a fellow yelper finding a good place to eat all the way to the businesses so the get commended or reprimanded lol. I went to Casa Cosenza twice in once for early brunch and once for dinner so this review shouldn't be taken lightly haha. Both times service was great even for dinner when it was packed and appetizers were tasting great! I brought my aunt and uncle to eat since I was visiting them and they enjoyed it too. Our appetizers were the bruschetta de la casa and napolitana both were good and the mozzarella sticks which was good as well. For the main course they had Pesce al forno which is fish with white wine sauce and bread crumbs and Pollo at Cacciatora which is chicken with potatoes. They both enjoyed both plates. I had the Filet mignon which was ok but wasn't bad I was a bit bummed out but everything was great other than that. They make pasta in house by hand which always tastes better and wine selection is great too! The ambiance was nice tables are spread apart and I really like their decor it looks clean and elegant but simple. White and blue all around gives it a clean look. read more

See all