We absolutely love this place, but today was the first time I was disappointed. I will start with the Meatballs are absolutely to die for! So delicious The one thing unique about this place is they tell you, order any classic Italian dishes and they can make it. I asked for chicken cacciatore, and was told, "sorry we can't make that". Very disappointing. I had to settle for chicken parmigiana. All of our dishes were delicious but still disappointed. read more

Osteria Natalina is hands down the best Italian restaurant I've been to , and I can't believe I've lived in Tampa my whole life without knowing about it! The food is homemade, authentic, and the prices are very reasonable given the quality. We started with the calamari salad 5/5 which is non breaded calamari , cucumbers , red pepper with lemon and olive oil. It was enough for 2 to share and was light and fresh . The eggplant Parmesan 4/5 was rich and comforting, not too heavy on sauce and cheese which I prefer. The beef lasagna with pink sauce 5/5 was so perfectly tender , hearty, cheesy, and clearly made from scratch ...one of those simple but perfect dishes! The chicken Marsala 5/5 came with pasta and broccoli ...super tender and paired beautifully with its mushroom Marsala wine sauce. We ended the meal with the tiramisu 5/5 , perfectly creamy, light, and not overly sweet. The espresso flavor really came through, making it one of the best I've ever had. A few things to know: the restaurant is very small with limited seating, and they don't take reservations. They also don't allow kids, so the atmosphere stays quiet and intimate. they're only open for dinner and take out seemed busy. There was also a standard 20% tip no matter the party size which I was fine with as service was outstanding! Osteria Natalina is a hidden gem. I will definitely be coming back to try more dishes! read more

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We lovrd this charming little spot tucked in the corner of a strip mall. Small, but cute, the service was just excellent. And the food was ridiculously tasty! AND, portions were huge! We both got Lasagna and loved it, but wish we'd shared and tried a second dish. All looked excellent. Pro tip: try the Pear Pocket pasta! High recommendation! read more

Osteria Natalina - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Make sure to arrive before they open! A line will start forming, and they will open the doors a couple minutes before 5:30 to start seating groups. Now the important question, is it worth it? YES! Staring with the service, Yubi was amazing and provided great recommendations. The ambiance of the restaurant is the cutest. Food wise, for instalate I recommend the insalata di caprese and insalata di cesare. For main, the I recommend the lasagna and the raviolis. We also had tiramisu, mango gelato, and salted caramel gelato for dessert; each one of them was delicious. We will be back! read more

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Heard good things about the food, so I called a month in advance to make a Valentine's Day reservation. At the time, I was told they do take reservations for Valentine's Day, even though they usually don't. I called on February 10th to confirm the reservation time as I forgot the exact time, only to be told they had no record of my reservation -- no name, no phone number, nothing. Instead, I was told I'd be placed on a call list "in case something opens up," which is unacceptable given that I called months ahead of time. When I asked to speak with a manager, the person I spoke to became confrontational and accused me of trying to fake a reservation to "scheme" my way into getting a table. I was then berated simply for calling to confirm a reservation. Extremely disappointed. I never even got the chance to try the food due to the unprofessional and hostile behavior of management. This is not how customers should be treated. read more

Osteria Natalina - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Overall the experience was great, but today it was missing the special spark of times before. The food was maybe slightly under seasoned or the vibe was just off. Maybe it's the 20% service charge, which is mentioned on the menu but no where else). Maybe it's just changed. Maybe it was an off day. Overall no complaints, just missing the spark that used to be there. read more

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Food? Excellent!!! Service? Excellent!!! Ambiance? Excellent!!! We have been searching for good Italian food since moving from NY. Well, you won't get good food here. You will get amazing good here! We will be back!! read more

Osteria Natalina - Lasagna in pink sauce!!! Yummy ! - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Loved it again. I was bragging about it to four coworkers and it lived up to all of our expectations. Bravo again!

The food was ok. My pasta needed a bit of salt. Service was amazing. However, be careful and read the check, they charge 20% tip. I'll probably tip the 20% anyway, but is not necessary to charge you before paying. I don't know if I'll be back read more

Osteria Natalina - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

The daily lasagna. Enough said! It's the best, no matter which version they're serving, I like it with princess sauce. Also highly recommend the meatballs, cannoli, caprese salad. The place is small so arrive early. The staff is warm and welcoming! read more

The food was fresh and delicious! We had fried shrimp, Mahi Mahi Sandwich and Grouper Reuben... All delicious! We went to see Steve Poltz. He was so very entertaining. Would go see him again! The acoustics and sound here are great. It's quite rustic and eclectic but loved it! read more

The only thing I did not love about this place, is that it is not in Plant City where I live and it is a bit of a drive ... However! It was worth every minute I was on the road and I will be back again 100%. 7 people in our party with various tastes and everyone was raving about their dishes. I had a very large Veal Chop and I was in heaven. To the chef and all the ladies that made our evening so very special thank you, thank you, thank you!! Worth the drive and any wait you may have to get in read more

It just occurred to me that I never got any Italian food (aside from sandwiches) since moving to Tampa, and I was glad Osteria Natalina got to be my first! One thing I will say right off the bat, me and my partner got so scared by the reviews saying that the restaurant only has like two chairs inside and people have to wait forever even when they come right at opening time, so we ended up coming 30 minutes early. This was definitely unnecessary, maybe it just happened to be a very boring Saturday evening but yeah. I got the linguine with crab/lobster and my partner got the linguine with sausage ragu. The linguine was a generous amount with an even bigger portion of fresh, delicious seafood. I loved that the sauce was creamy, but light-tasting. We also got a slice of Tiramisu and cup of Stracciatella gelato. The gelato was good, but the Tiramisu was incredible-- probably the best we've ever had. Super moist and fluffy, but wonderfully and perfectly sweet! My partner also got this sparkling red wine, and as someone who hates anything to do with alcohol, it was amazing. Whoever picked this wine for the restaurant, thank you for convincing me that wine can in fact taste good. My only quip is that the complimentary bread was very meh. Since we ended up being one of the first people to come in for dinner, I was so ready for some hot, crunchy bread only to find it lukewarm and just ... eh. I will say the olive/olive oil dip it came with was absolutely delicious, I just wish the bread was half as amazing as everything else we experienced here. The service all around was lovely, the waitresses that came by explained in great detail all the specials and were just so friendly when it came to any of our questions or needs. I'll be back soon to try everything else they have to offer here (maybe I'll even be a bit bold and ask if they can make me fettuccine alfredo)! read more

Osteria Natalina - Linguine alla Salsiccia - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Best restaurant I've ever eaten in! So delicious, fresh, flavor packed beautifully served, but the service is what I want to emphasize here. It was phenomenal. They were attentive and happy. Everyone seemed to like working there and they made it such a lovely night out for us. This restaurant deserves TEN stars!!!! Wow. Just wow! You want a nice dinner out? Go to osteria Natalia! read more

Food Excellent Exquisite pasta with pink sauce Service. A1 ! Lovely Servers Kind and helpful Best wines !! Thank you Adolfo! My family loves visiting you Yvette read more

Such a local gem! Osteria Natalina has been around the corner from me for years and I finally made a stop in for a weekday dinner with a friend! They don't take reservations and the place is fairly small so we got there a little early and we're seated right away. It wasn't too crowded the entire time we were there but with the amazing service and food, I would be surprised if they weren't busy on the weekends!!! The servers were very nice and attentive and the food was amazing quality and so freaking delicious! The portions were also a nice size. I can't say there was one standout because everything was amazing. I will say that the amaretto cake was prob one of the best desserts I have had in a while. Highly recommend if you're craving some great Italian food! read more

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Please do yourself a favor and head straight to Osteria Natalina. We had the most incredible experience tonight, both the food and service were fantastic! I did half orders of Gnocchi and the Strozapretti Alla "Bel Sit" and we finished with Cannolis. So so great! read more

Tried this place out for the first time a few weeks ago and I'm mad I didn't know about it sooner. The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable. The food is always fresh and prepared daily. They have a great wine selection and the ambiance is perfect for a date night w/ a partner or friends! 10/10 read more

Osteria Natalina - Lasagna and steak - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

I don't live in Tampa so I don't know if I can call this a hole in the wall place, by judging from the modest surroundings in a strip mall it's definitely not a setting you'd expect to find such a great dining experience in. It's definitely not under the radar, from how packed this place was when were there. In a sea of Italian options I appreciate the less ubiquitous take on seafood-forward Italian dishes. The waiter made sure to reassure us that "we can make any traditional Italian American dish as well", but with tired options like that everywhere, we were definitely eager to embrace the bounty of the sea. Mulled over many delicious options before settling on Risotto Al Nero Di Seppia and linguine Alla aragosta e granchio. I'm a sucker for squid ink anything and this risotto had all the sweet, salty and umami notes one could hope for. The linguine had such generous cuts of seafood mixed into the sweet and tangy sauce. We found both to be great value, especially for the portions! Friendly staff and a down to earth vibe make this a comfortably laid-back eatery. Would love to come back next time I'm in Tampa! read more

Osteria Natalina - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

The staff was so nice! The prices were amazing compared to back home in Orlando. We got the caprese, the special (meatball lasagna) and the tiramisu. Everything tasted amazing. The cork walls were interesting to look at, will be returning again! read more

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Absolutely fabulous. It's on a first come, first served basis. The food was wonderful and the server shared that if the chef is able to, he will substitute any pasta for anything or make any variation. Obviously that's not possible if they're full, but how fabulous if it's a slow night to be able to ask for some dish my grandmother used to make?! I love that. The restaurant itself is very small, but beautifully decorated. It feels like a neighborhood treasure. My favorite thing was the squash carpaccio. Delicious! read more

This place is super tiny, super uncomfortable like a Tiny narrow alley or long deep closet, with about 10 tables. The kitchen is behind a wall with a tiny slit that the food comes out, just big enough for a plate so you can not see in the kitchen at all. Kinda shady. This was suppose to be our romantic dinner out & it turned into a horrific terrible experience with long waits, cold food/over cooked veal pasta etc., There is no salt or pepper on the table & we had to wait like 20 mins to get the black pepper for our salads. The salads came dressed very lightly so we loved that & there was two wines we like on the wine list but they were out of the Montepulciano. Out of a lot of stuff. So the waitress recommended another that was just as nice. None of the veal on the menu was available and all 3 specials were lamb. Lamb Cannelloni, lamb chops and Lamb lasagna. They pushed it hard on us, they were pushing it hard on everyone we always order veal. We didn't want lamb. However, the waitress said we could order anything, that they would make it. She said they had the veal scaloppini & they could make us that. So hubby got veal Parma, and I got veal Marsala as I usually do. First it came out cold with hot pasta. And it looked nice but the veal was cold. I tasted it. So we sent them back and instead of making us a fresh one, they microwaved it and ruined it as your not suppose to reheat veal it's so delicate especially scallopini. It came back half the size, half as much, bc they cut off the bad parts from over cooking. The waitress even said she "scraped the cheese and sauce off to reheat it" hubby was astonished she admitted that to his face. Hubby was not pleased with half his entree missing, neither was I & we told the waitress, and mine was now chewy like Rubber, what was left of it and hubby was also missing his cheese on top. WOW. Just a disaster. And we waited almost 2 hours for those entrees. Hubby asked for it to be taken off his check... Then, the owner came over like out of a bad B mafia movie & was really mad and stuck his finger in my face, and in a really thick Jersey shore Italian accent kind of way, told us to GTFO never come back. We told him that was not a problem & we left. I felt really bad for him he was so mad that hubby didn't want his half cut off portion of veal he messed up. I didn't want my rubber veal either so it all ended well I guess. But I looked online & found several incidents where this hot head movie mafia guy has lost his temper like this before. Hot head men that loose it like this over a plate of food is not normal & not good for any kind of business. I have to agree with that other Yelper that left the review that said he was rude to her & wouldn't allow her children in his restaurant. You def do not want your children around this hot headed guy who can't control his temper. Do not recommend. read more

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This. Place. Is. A. Must. My husband found out about Osteria from a friend and decided to bring me here for a surprise birthday dinner. It. Was. AMAZING. We brought our own bottle of wine and paid a $25 corkage fee. This was worth it because I had a special bottle for the occasion. But they do have wine and beer for purchase (no liquor that I saw). The restaurant is that of a small Italian cucina, very quaint and romantic. Only about a dozen tables or so and first come first serve, no reservations. We waited about 40 min for our table (party of 2) but was able to open our wine and be served while waiting. The service was EXQUISITE! Wow, what an experience from the time we arrived to when we left. Everyone was so knowledgeable and nice! The menu has a variety of Italian dishes. We started with the special meatball appetizer and mussels. The BEST! The meatballs were perfection! My husband had one of the specials with included the most TENDER filet I've ever had along with a decadent truffle pasta I couldn't decide on a dish (they all sounded so good!). Our server helped me and I decided on chicken parmigiana. Keep in mind, they will make (and your server will tell you this) ANY TRADITIONAL ITALIAN DISH. The service is just amazing. To top it off, one of the server overheard my husband tell another customer it was my birthday (while we had been waiting for a table). So at the end, it was a surprise to us both when we were brought two mini cannolis. Of course they were PERFECTION. So, with all that said and in case I didn't use enough capital words...YOU MUST EXPERIENCE THIS RESTAURANT AND ALL THEY HAVE TO OFFER. Come with an appetite and your own bottle of wine if you wish. Our experience here was exquisite and I hope to go back one day soon! P.S. they also have a pretty busy to-go service, so if you don't have the time to enjoy the ambiance, at least try the food to go! read more

Osteria Natalina - Filet w amazing truffle pasta (I cannot remember the Italian name) - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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I am conflicted when it comes to restaurants that don't take reservations. On one hand, it has to be a great feeling as a restaurateur to have such a popular & successful joint (see:The Garlic in NSB). On the other, as a diner, it sucks out loud to be thwarted by an excessive wait time for a table. Henceforth, my previous attempts to dine at Osteria proved futile. With so few tables, it was nearly impossible to secure one on a Friday or Saturday night. However, after my son finished performing in a theater production up the road...we thought we'd give it another try. HOLY MOTHER OF GOD am I glad we did. We waited about 5 minutes for a table for 4. Service was impeccable and attentive. Food was unbelievably delicious. Pasta pillows, gnocchi, bruschetta, snapper special, lasagna of the day...it was all just perfect. Absolutely love the 20% service charge to be distributed to all FOH and BOH employees. Tipped on top of that because the service was that good. Will definitely return! read more

Osteria Natalina - Sachettinni du pare - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Osteria Natalina is a true hidden gem in Tampa! The cozy, authentic atmosphere makes you feel like you've stepped into a little Italian trattoria. While some may argue that fettuccine Alfredo isn't "real" Italian, theirs is absolutely incredible--rich, creamy, and downright addicting. Every dish is made with love and high-quality ingredients. If you're looking for an intimate spot with amazing homemade pasta, this is it! read more

Oh my gosh!! This place was OUTSTANDING! The service, the food, *chefs kiss*! We were just visiting Tampa for the weekend and my husband was craving Italian. He spent some time in Italy while stationed there and so he's a bit more particular about his Italian food. We came across Osteria Natalina on Yelp and with its great reviews and authentic looking food we knew we had to check it out! I don't believe I need to go into detail about everything. Place was small and quaint, it was loud on our particular night due to a rowdy 8-10 top seated next to us, but it's fine. Service was very quick! We narrowed it down to two items and had him pick his favorite of our two, and then pair it with a glass of wine. I forget what my husband got, but I got the squid ink pasta dish. I LOVE unique foods, so this was completely up my alley. My husband had a bite and said mine was so much better than his. read more

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Food was absolutely delicious, it just took a while to get to me. Was quoted a certain amount of time to receive food and it took much longer. read more

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This place rocks. The food is incredible, the service is great, and the wines are phenomenal. I highly recommend this if you're looking for a great Italian meal. It is pretty small, and they don't do reservations, so get there earlyish if you're going on a weekend. If you have a wait, it's a really great excuse to drink good wine:) read more

This review is for takeout. I ordered online from their website and picked up dinner on Valentine's Day. We ordered the sacchettini with grilled chicken, the fettuccini with shrimp, and the chicken milanese, and a caesar salad and a tiramisu. The food was ready and packaged when I arrived right on time for the pickup. The food was cold. It was generally delicious, especially the pasta. My husband said his fettuccini was perfectly al dente and the shrimp perfectly cooked as well. The sacchettini were so delicious with just enough pear to cut through the richness of the cheese. The chicken milanese was all pounded to very thin, which was fine, but it was no longer crispy as it had been in plastic container for a while. But it tasted good, and the portion was large enough for my kids to share. The salad that came with the chicken milanese was good, but the caesar salad was utterly forgettable (every component was as generic as a low-end Italian place -- I expected better of this restaurant). The tiramisu was excellent and a great portion. I have lived in South Tampa for over a decade, but this was my first visit here because they don't take reservations and they also don't take kids. I'm hoping that the cold food was the result of a busy Valentine's Day for the restaurant because takeout is really my family's only option for eating here again. read more

First of, service was awesome. We got there arouns 5:40 on a Friday and was so glad because by 6 there's no tables available. Dishes were relatively on the pricy side for a casual place. We had veal (high hope but super disappointed) that was luke warm and not very tasty, and the beef tip mushroom pappardelle (taste good but absolutely had too much butter in it), each dish was $33 on top of appetizers and drinks. And on top, they impose a 20% service charge which i did not like. I have no problem tipping 20% or more especially when the service was excellent like here, just not necessary to do that (for a two-person table). read more

I was told this was the best Italian in Tampa Bay so I made the trek from Clearwater on my birthday for dinner. I'm torn because there wasn't anything that was terrible but nothing that screamed best Italian I've ever had either. The service was extremely lacking and slow to the point of irritation. I tried to be understanding but they didn't look short handed. It's a very small restaurant. However they seem to have quite a few take out orders so they need somebody dedicated to that. I felt the menu was limiting for things I like, however, I was told you can ask for any Italian dish and they will make it. The olive tapenade they bring out with the bread needs more olive oil. The sachettini looked like the most delicious option so that's what I chose. It was very very good. Unique and delicious! The portion was small for the price though. My dinner companion had the chicken which was good. Penne with vodka sauce on the side. I would not recommend their vodka sauce which I think they call Princess sauce. That is typically my favorite dish but theirs tasted like literal tomato soup. The Limoncello cake was very good. Light and spongey with a light frosting The chocolate gelato was a dark chocolate and had an odd flavor Overall if you are in the area and don't mind very little service in this small restaurant, I would say try it out. However this isn't a place I would intentionally make the drive to again Good but not amazing read more

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An unassuming Italian restaurant located in a strip mall that went above expectations! Ambiance is very understated and has only a few tables available. They provide bread with an olive tapenade. We got the calamari appetizer, which is not fried calamari but grilled with vegetables. We also got the yellow fin tuna, which was a bit fishy. The entrees were great, with the lasagna special being our favorite! I usually avoid lasagna because it tends to get mushy and over cooked. This lasagna was firm and held together well, and tastes like a warm hug. We also tried a few other dishes which all tasted great. They also have an extensive wine selection. Surprised at how much I enjoyed this place being I'm a native NY/NJ where Italian food is abundant. Service was also amazing and would definitely come back again. Overall a great place if you're looking for a no-frills, low-key place with great, home cooked italian food. read more

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You're an Italian joint and want 5 stars from this Southern boy, you betta bring the goods and Osteria Natalina does. First of all, why didn't I think of the name Natalina for my baby girl instead of Gidget? That would have been so much better, oh well her problem now not mine, back to the review. I'm in T-Town looking for some supper and as always I open up my YELP app for some local guidance. Feeling like Italian and Natalia shows highly rated. I head that way around 9pm, damn near missed the joint since it sits in a common looking strip mall, simple sign and that's cool cuz I'm a simple man. Walk in and am greeted by a lovely hostess Deann, who also happens to be my waitress. She was sweeter than stolen honey this pretty thang. The place is like a small rectangular room with maybe 12 tables. Quaint, moody vibe. I like it already. I order a cold beverage and peruse the menu, which to be honest seemed 70-30 leaning to Italian seafood dishes. I ask about specials and sweet D tells me they've got some sleepers, names 'em, then get this...tells me "but our chef will make you anything you want". Say again? I felt so at home I expected if I peeked in the kitchen I might see my momma Cookin' up corn bread and frogs legs. Have you EVER had a restaurant cater to your culinary desires to cook you whatever you want? So I test her....how about some aglio olio or Cacio 'e Pepe'? Sweet D just nods and says no problem! My boy goes for the latter and on the first bite he looked like he'd been dipped in shit and rolled in cracker crumbs. I opted for the creamy rigs with filet and mushroom...melt in yo damn mouth. Just amazing. If you gonna slap me around a bit like that just go on and finish your business, they did....Tiramisu and some lemon chantilly cake. Wow, just amazing, I was as happy as a tick on a fat dog. Summed up, you need a romantic spot, not too noisy, with top shelf service and food that'll knock your Buster Browns clean off, Osteria Natalina is your place. read more

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Such lovely & attentive staff on a busy Saturday night. The dishes were thoroughly explained and items not shown on the menu were offered. Our meals were delicious! What a perfect setting for my first dinner in Tampa! read more

This is a smaller, intimate S. Tampa delight. While I was initially turned off over the phone, we proceeded to the restaurant, an hour before closing. I typically never do this, as I feel it is unthoughtful to the wait staff and chefs. However, 5 hungry people overruled my standard operating procedure. While in transit, we viewed their menu on-line, to order promptly upon our arrival. As soon as we entered I immediately understood why children under 10 were not permitted. With total seating of roughly two dozen, a unruly child could easily kill the ambiance. On this evening, the jovial party of six, seated at the front of the restaurant provided the other patrons with the perfect atmosphere. The only thing better than authentic Italian food; is enjoying Italian food whilst listening to Italians conversing. Absolutely perfect! The waitress was a delight. The place is warm and cozy. The restroom was clean. All in all this is a must visit for those looking for a authentic Italian experience. read more

Osteria Natalina - One of six with a late night appetite. - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Seriously the BEST Italian food I have eaten in Florida -maybe even better than places in New Jersey and New York!! Service is phenomenal!! Presentation is perfect! Fantastic wine list and the menu is just large enough that everyone can find the perfect choice!! read more

We came to Osteria Natalina the night before Valentine's Day. We arrived right as they opened which was a good plan as they have limited seating (maybe 8 tables total - a couple with four seats and the rest two seats). It filled up quick so we are excited for our meals. I got the lasagna, which had thin layers of noodles with a meat sauce. It was a good portion size. My husband got the chef's special of the night - a pasta dish with lobster and crab which he enjoyed. We did debate amongst ourselves whether the parmesan cheese was freshly grated - the waitstaff carried around a large glass container with the cheese in it. It's been a while since we have had the Kraft Parmesan cheese so we honestly weren't sure. For this restaurant, I would have thought they would grate the cheese at the table. One thing that was a bummer was that their tiramisu wasn't ready to be sliced yet so we didn't get to try it. As we left there were several parties waiting for a table and we can agree that Osteria Natalina is worth returning to. read more

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The service and food was amazing and it's hard to get good Italian since we moved her 20 years ago from Chicago

Yet another great experience at Natalina. Food, service, ambience are the best! We will continue to go back again and again. read more

We used to frequent this establishment. However, unfortunately they do not allow children even if the entire restaurant is empty. While this is stated on their website, we did not expect this from a simple Italian restaurant that seemed very accommodating. We will not return even without our child due to this policy. read more