The food and service far exceed my expectations! This place is located in a strip center, so based on curb appeal, you may pass this place up, and if you do, you are truly missing out on a Tampa treat. Once inside, the decor is spectacular and they also have a full bar and a private room for special events. I recently hosted a bridal shower here in the private room which was spectacular. The decor of the venue is so romantic and chic that as far as decor for the actual shower, we were able to save some money and just get some fresh flowers to fem the place up. The presentation of the food was absolutely five star and gave the feeling that you were in a top Michelin star restaurant in Vegas. We had the salad with the polenta croutons, salmon sliders, and a dish I will continue to talk about for ages and try to replicate, the chicken salad served in squash boat. Delish!! I cannot say enough positive things about this place and how wonderful it made our event. We actually came in under budget as the pricing is more than reasonable for the quality of the food and level of service. I will most definitely go back to Pane Rustica and recommend this place to anyone either planning an event or just wanting to grab a fantastic lunch in the area. Great place to watch a football game with healthy and delicious food and drink options. read more

Finally got there on a trip to the S. Tampa enclave Well earned rep for lunch. Had some good soup, excellent chicken salad sandwich and a sample of flat bread pizza. High points are the elegant setting, but casual feel and wonderful breads. Sampled several at lunch and brought a loaf of rustic Italian home......resisting temptation to buy pastries as well. Prices are very reasonable for superior foods, and counter service is very friendly and helpful. We arrived right at 11 am and were first in line....but the flood gates opened immediately as customers flocked in...including 3 varieties of BDU cammies on troops from MacDill. I still snicker when see the Navy blue/black/gray comouflage outfits....but no longer ask if they hide behind waves. No humor or all about that and they have heard it too often from grunts. read more

I am a Tampa Native and I've always thought this place was stellar but what moved me to write this review today was a chocolate chip cookie I grabbed for my daughter. This choc chip cookie was a religious experience- I mean perfect crunch on the outside and chewy and chocolatey and spectacular- I wish I could think of more adjectives but I was so blown away all I could think of was,"WOWWWWWWW". This is a fantastic place for lunch- the soups always do me so right- ohhhh and the pastries in the morning- or Tortas (little omelette like things in a pan) sell out quickly. My fav in there dinner menu has always been the salmon in dill sauce. The menu is pretty seasonal and the chef always comes up with new things! This is a muy popular place- and now with their added bar- the parking lot in this strip mall is entirely always packed! Oh and grab some bread from Pane Rustica, walk next door to redneck wine then continue in to Cheese Please and have an instant intimate party at home! Tampa is moving on up! read more

My favorite place to eat in Palma Ceia-so far. Don't let the outside scare you off, it seems like any other eatery in a plaza. The place is quite aesthetically pleasing inside. Their lunch is carried out like an order then sit place (but you should still tip that 20%). Their bread is fresh, their cheese is fresh, their roast beef is bleeding, and their deserts are all homemade (they are a bakery). Lunch is absolutely amazing at Pane Rustica. During dinner they turn into a sit down restaurant offering finer dishes such as Scottish Salmon, Braised boneless Short Ribs, and Hanger steak marinated with things like fennel watercress, celery root puree, cured olives, and lavender cognac glazes. Surprisingly for being open at lunch and not being a sit down restaurant, the décor of this place fits perfectly to both atmospheres. There is also a bar where you can eat and be served for both meals. Absolutely superb. Yeah I said it. read more

My second time dining at Pane Rustica was this past Friday. Both times, I've tried to get up the nerve to order the "Shut Up and Eat" thingy where you don't know what you're ordering...but I chickened out. Next time? The sandwiches at this place are spectacular. Griddled pastrami with some sort of cheese (gouda?) and a horseradish sauce on 7-grain was simply fantastic. I haven't yet been for dinner to see how it differs from lunch, but they are hitting home runs so far with their lunch offerings. There's a reason this place is so highly reviewed. read more

Simply outstanding food -- I have never had a bad meal here! The Mahi-Mahi was in an amazing sauce -- every meal was great! I will be back!!! read more

I recently hosted a baby shower at Pane Rustica for my older sister. It was a wonderful experience and I would recommend this location to any person that asks me. This is a superior location for any event for the following reasons: 1. The event coordinator, Topher, is a complete pleasure to work with. I was planning my sister's shower while in another state and he accommodated my schedule and was very kind throughout the planning process. In addition, he went out of his way to make sure my sister had a wonderful shower. I am so appreciated for his professionalism and kindness. He is a true gem. 2. The staff that worked with Topher are also wonderful and were very attentive to the guests at the shower. They went above and beyond. For example, they created mocktalis for pregnant guests at no extra charge. They were also equally as kind and helpful (e.g. drink service, serving cake, and cleaning up.) 3. And lastly, the accommodations were wonderful. The room was very spacious and perfect for the event out size (approximately 40 guests) and the food was delicious. Words cannot fully convey how pleased I was with my experience. read more

Pane Rustica is everything you can really ask for in a restaurant. Friendly staff, great food and a vibrant dinner and bar scene late night. I went in a few weeks ago looking for some fresh bread for a dinner I was doing that night. The owner, who I believe is named Kevin, came over and educated me on all the different artisinal breads they had baked that morning. I bought one or two, and he generously threw in a few others for free just for me to try. That speaks volumes to me. This hospitality and courteousness can be seen trickling down through all the employees. Really a great spot, I highly recommend it. read more

I have to agree that this place is overrated. The problem is that there are so few places with "artisanal" foods in the Tampa area that people will flock here no matter what. That said, if you compare their food to any other decent Italian-inspired lunch spot in another city, Pane sucks. You have to be very careful about what you order. Because you may get something really good (like the pizzas) or something really bad (like a salad with fishy seafood, wilted veg and too much salt). Go here, but order with caution. It's prolly best to stick to the baked goods. I give it 1 star for the pizzas and the tarts. read more

One of the best lunch spots around!! Their flatbread pizza is delicious and you get an entire 1/4 pie when you order a "slice" for under $5. The chicken salad in the acorn squash is delicious!!! They give you a red skin potato salad with olives and balsamic as a sandwich side. I would prefer chips or potatoes with no olives that are crispy or cheesy, it's just a weird side all together. 4 stars for not having pizza by the slice after lunch hours. Also parking can really be a drag, even though there is an entire lot. It's also super disappointing when you order a sandwich and they are out of the bread you want. read more

Don't let the strip mall exterior fool you...Pane Rustica is a gem tucked away in a non-freestanding location. We went with a large group and were immediately seated, warm bread/hummus and cocktails in-hand in no time at all. While everything we ordered was all amazing, my entree in particular was unexpectedly awesome! Seared sea scallops over homemade fettuccine, andouille sausage, okra and fresh corn in a spicy tomato cream sauce. Holy fiery delicious party in my mouth! Lessons learned: don't judge on appearance and order a Moscow Mule. read more

I hosted an event there last night... The good: Great service and flexibility in building a custom menu and room set up. Overall the food was delicious - especially the risotto special and halibut. The mocha cookie dessert special was out of this world! The bad: Would have loved to see a more extensive wine list. The noisy: While our private room was perfect for conversation the noise coming from the main room was quite loud. read more

Last night was my 1st to this restaurant and wow it was unbelievable my total experience! We took our very special friends out for dinner there and the service was the best service I personally have EVER received. Our waiter was Oscar from Guatemala and it was top notch all the way. Let's talk about the food It was AMAZING I had the Halibut with parsnip purée with Brussel sprouts and fennel that what is the special for the night and I licked my plate clean. The bakery had the freshest bread and the homemade hummus was to die for. This is going to be one of my new favorite spots to go eat. If you have visitors from out of town take them here they will NOT be disappointed! Ask for Oscar unbelievable service and attention to detail! read more

Just wow. I had some pretty high expectations for Pane Rustica after reading all of the glowing Yelp reviews and also getting personal recommendations from others who have dined there. Well, they not only met my expectations - they exceeded them. Six of us visited for dinner a few weeks ago and we haven't stopped talking about it since! Service: Our waiter was awesome, he was able to give spot-on descriptions of each dish for those who asked for clarification. He was quick with the drinks, very personable and even had the whole table in laughter several times. Appetizers, entrees and desserts came out at the appropriate times and all together, a simple thing to mention but it makes a ton of difference when you're dining in a large group and some people are served while others have to wait. Atmosphere: Dimly-lit, cozy, romantic. I was amazed that a) this lay within the concrete facade of a strip mall and b) how different the atmosphere felt vs. dining there for lunch during the day. I guess that's why it's so dark inside at dinner time. The only thing that didn't fit in was the thumping bass from the club music they were playing in the bar. Food/Drink: Between the 6 of us we tried the scallops, short ribs, a baked rigatoni dish, several salads and the wood roasted vegetables with goat cheese. Everything was delicious and cooked to perfection. The cocktails we tried were inventive, tasty and strong, and those of us who opted for wine were happy for a good selection of wines by the glass. Prices were on the high end but so was the quality, we thought. A word of warning about reservations: don't expect to hop on Open Table a couple hours before dinner time for a Friday or Saturday night reservation unless you want to be seated at 10 or later, I would recommend planning it at least a couple of days days in advance if you'd like to eat between 7 and 9. I can't speak for the difficulty of getting a table during the week but I imagine it would be somewhat easier. Fun Tip: You could always order dessert off the menu (which is probably amazing) - OR you can walk over to the bakery and gelato case, try as many samples of the gelato as you want and then concoct your own Brownie or Pecan Bar a la Mode (er, a la Gelato) which is fan-freaking-tastic. Do it! Also, if you haven't already figured this out, you might want to wear your fat pants when you go to Pane Rustica. Just sayin. read more

Weeze, weeze, ugh, can barely breathe right now, ate too much. Darn it, this wasn't supposed to happen until next week (Thanksgiving) Service was very attentive and good. The Rustica salad was excellent. Loved the crispy polenta cakes, and roasted garlic. Spagetti and red sauce was on point, for me it is the measuring stick of an italian place. Wifey's rigatoni and sausage was good. There was cheese in there too! Much cheese, mmmmmm. The homemade sourdough and hummus was really delicious, we housed it. The Summer Cake, oh the summer cake, SO. Good. to. taste. Next stop, is trying their lunch offerings. read more

I absolutely love this place. It is my go to lunch spot. The daily chicken salad in baked squash is one of my favs. However, I think the true reason I keep coming back is the cookies and cupcakes. The sugar cookie is fantastic. The service is quick and friendly. read more

Pane Rustica is a really cool restaurant and bakery in Tampa. Don't let the storefront location fool you. We arrived for dinner about 7:00 pm on a Thursday and both the restaurant and bar were hopping! Great, fun atmosphere. This is not an intimate place - it was loud and upbeat. I was at a business dinner but otherwise would have loved to hang out at the bar for awhile. I ordered the scallops (4 jumbo ones) with potato coins and snap pea shoots in a corn fondue with chorizo. The scallops were done perfectly and the accompaniments were wonderful! I really enjoyed this meal. I had a berry gelato for dessert which was the perfect ending to a really great meal. You need to check this place out if you are in the Tampa area!! read more

Pane Rustica - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

This was my second time to this cuisine. The first time I just had a flatbread and dessert and both were amazing so we were really excited to try it again and we had high expectations since we enjoyed it so much. We wanted to try some of the entrees this time to get the full experience. They start by bringing out very fresh bread that was just baked with some hummus & olive oil which has some very nice flavors in it. We finished the bread rather quickly due to it being to delicious and we were wanting a second loaf. Our waiter only had 3 tables to serve and we were trying to spot him to waive him down asking for more of the awesome bread. Meanwhile another server walking by noticed that our glasses were empty so he ask what we were drinking so he could refill them and we also asked him to bring more bread. Then once we had our refill on drinks and bread our food finally arrived. I got the Pan Seared Jumbo Sea Scallops that came with Crispy Potato Coins. The scallops were amazing cooked perfectly, I wasn't sure what the coins were but they ended up just being little chips which I didn't care for so I waiting to find my server again so I could ask him if I could swap it out for another side. I ended up getting a side of green beans. The green beans were covered in this awesome seasoning (very good flavors) but there was only about 7 green beans. Sides are pretty small. I was with my parents and they split the Red wine braised boneless Meyer's Short Rib and that was pretty awesome too but it was almost not enough to split with 2 people. I would like to go back and try all the different flatbreads sometime and I hope the service will be better. read more

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When a friend of mine suggested Pane Rustica for lunch one day, I figured it would be similar to Panera. I guess it was the familiar name. I wasn't, however, expecting to be pleasantly surprised, but I was! Wow. So many absolutely delicious lunch items to choose from, an awesome bakery spread, gelato that's to die for, and the best jasmine green tea I've ever laid tastebuds on. So good that I made my boyfriend track down the distributor and ordered a few cartons for home. I ended up choosing their chicken salad of the day (they have a new one every day, and they're awesome), inside a roasted acorn squash bowl served with a piece of their rustic white bread with a spread of goat cheese. YUM! Of course I couldn't leave without trying one of their coconut bars. Since then I've been back many times and usually get the same lunchtime meal, but once they were out of squash, forcing me to try something new. I ended up ordering the caprese sandwich and it didn't let down. I hear dinner at Pane is also quite delish, so I'll have to trek down there one evening to see what all the fuss is about. My only complaint? SO many people hit up Pane on any typical day for lunch. The wait can be long. read more

I never give five stars, ever, but this place earned it. I loved every moment and every bite. I was visiting a friend in Tampa with some "ladies who lunch" and I picked this place based on reviews. You never know with some reviews, but i thought i would give this place a try. I was glad I did. I started off with a glass of my favorite drink, a gray goose dirty martini with blue cheese olives and it was perfect. To begin, the server brought a loaf of fresh bread, hummus, and basil to the table. I was blown away by the freshness and the taste. For a starter, I went with the Caesar salad which came served with white anchovies. YES! Dinner was the Lobster Ravioli and i must say I had a FOOD-gasam. No other Lobster ravioli will ever compare. For dessert, I ordered the last of the fresh baked cookies, a sambuca, and an expresso. ALL DELISH! The service was so good. At the end of the night our server brought us a bunch of bread for free. I can't wait to go back again. read more

An excellent destination choice for lunch. The sandwiches are made with the freshest ingredients using their exceptional breads. But do try their outstanding thin crust pizzas. My favorite is the roasted garlic & sausage. read more

Divinely delicious. Hubby and I grabbed dinner here Saturday on the way to watch the UFC fights. I had heard wonderful things about it and it was just a few miles from our final destination. We didn't make reservations but I figured if the wait was insane we'd just head elsewhere and check Pané Rustica out another time. We got lucky (there was an hour wait, but there was an open booth in the bar area that is first come, first serve) and man did we get lucky! Our food was splendid. They brought out fresh baked bread with a hummus/oil/basil dip that was to die for. I could have eaten the whole loaf. We followed with an order of the crab cakes and again, absolutely delectable. Super crabby (not overly breaded they make these from scratch using lump crab) and served among chopped up mangoes, tomatoes. There were just sooo tasty. The plate comes with two....I considered beating my husband off with a fork and eating both, but that would just be cruel. Now for the main course. I had looked at the menu prior to visiting and fell in love with the seared scallops. I couldn't have made a better decision. Served over "crispy potato coins" (code for tiny little chips), snap pea shoots, rendered chorizo and drizzled with creamy corn fondue, this meal had a surprising bite...just the right amount of spicy to keep it interesting. My husband ordered off of the special menu - the Alaskan Halibut - and, though he though it was good, he was pretty jealous of my entrée. We were stuffed. 100% full. Couldn't eat another bite. So of course we got dessert to split. We devoured the summer cake - topped with a variety of berries and ice cream. So so yummy. I won't lie and say in the end I ate way too much and felt like i was going to explode when watching the fight later. But it was so worth it. Love this place! read more

Pane never disappoints. Their lunches are fresh, light, and flavorful and are accompanied by roasted potatoes with kalamata olives and sea salt. My boyfriends mom ordered their veggie burger (I thought to myself, who orders a veggie burger at a rustic Italian bistro!?) It was overwhelmingly large in portion size and packed serious flavor. It was so good that the next time I stopped in for lunch, I ordered it! Their shaved lamb sandwich on their olive bread is fabulous. Their oversized pizza slices are another great choice as well. For dinner, I've had their flatbreads (one was a special that had shaved lamb on it with arugula that was amazing!) Another flatbread I had that I'm anxiously awaiting to be put back on as a special is their calamari flatbread. It had grilled manchego cheese, watercress, flash fried calamari, with a combination of olive oil, aged balsamic, and fresh lemon juice on top. Their scallop entree is fabulous, as well as their braised beef. Their desserts are to die for. I was turned on to what appears to be a mere chocolate cookie. Not even close! It was a dark chocolate expresso cookie that is dusted with powdered sugar. It is utterly sinful! TIP: If you make a late night dinner reservation and hang around, your server will give you some of their fresh oven baked bread for free. We were pleasantly surprised on our last dinner outing to Pane. There were 8 of us and we hung around for a bit after our meal as it was a friend's 30th birthday. Our server asked us if we wanted any bread to take home, complimentary. We thought it was the bread we were served at the beginning of table service (which was fabulous) and obliged willingly. She came back with a colorful assortment of 8 loaves of bread! From kalamata olive to foccaccia to ciabatta rolls. Completely unexpected, but graciously accepted! They bake their bread daily and give away any unbought loaves/rolls to their customers. read more

Wonderful and friendly service, delicious food! I first experienced Pane Rustica when I decided we were going to host our rehearsal dinner here. Topher, the gentleman that assists you, was awesome! He was attentive to my needs, took the time to meet, review the menu and hear my ideas. We booked but ended up having to cancel a few months later as we decided to do a much larger scale family gathering instead. Regardless, if your in need of a nice restaurant please go here! The room we were going to use would have sat 14 comfortably and it was their smallest space. Their pizza is delicious! Then yesterday I had their Acorn Quash with house made chicken salad, wish I took a pic bc words don't do it justice! It was on the small side but ended up being a perfect late lunch meal. read more

The best Bolognese I've ever had!! Not even a bolognese kind of person but I'm obsessed and love everything I eat here!! Espresso chocolate cookie is the best and I always get one for my mom too! read more

Not that Pane Rustica needs another great review on here, but just had to throw in my 2 cents because I feel that strongly. First the food - it really is amazing. I have tried many different things on their menu for dinner as well as lunch, and have never had a bad meal or even item. Satisfies a foodie with unique but always smart combinations. Second the owner and staff - Kevin is wonderful. He attends to every detail and that shows in both his restaurant and in his catering. He has catered 2 events for me, and on both occasions he met with me about the menu and delivered and set up the food personally. The waitstaff is also generally helpful and on the ball, despite how busy the place gets. Pane started out as a quaint little bakery on MacDill, and has deservedly blossomed into a wonderful larger restaurant and bar. Best place for a dinner in Tampa, period. read more

We came here on a Friday night and were seated quickly although it was very busy. I don't remember his name, but he was the best server I've had in Tampa. He was a gentleman in his 30s, perhaps Italian decent. Always on top of everything. The food was some of the best I've had in Tampa as well. I had the ribeye- which was better than the majority of the finest steak houses I've been to. My husband had the a seafood Pappardelle. I usually don't order pasta because it seems to be always covered in sauce. This was not the case. The sherry taste was saturated into the pasta and it was not dripping with fat and sauce. It was delicate and delicious- the seafood some of the freshest tasting I've ever had. We will absolutely come back again. read more

This is theeee place to go for thin crust pizza. There are a half dozen types that you can order by the slice. The portions are generous and they feel a lot healthier than thick crust pizza. The olive tapenade pizza is favorite of mine. The decor is beautiful, the staff are friendly. The gelato we ordered seemed pricy but the taste will not disappoint you. read more

Fo' Shizzle?!!!??!!!! This is one of the greatest spots in South Tampa!! The pan seared sea scallops here are to die for!! Fun ambiance, great servers full of personality, and incredible food...... this truly is my kind of place. I ended up here one night around 9PM.... reading reviews on Yelp led the path to this beautiful discovery. This place was popping, all of the tables were full, however there was a booth available in the bar, which had my name written all over it. I started out with a pinot noir that was recommended to me by my server, it was fantastic. I love when the servers know their menu and are comfortable sharing their honest opinion - with confidence.. These servers know what they're talking about and they get a big thumbs up for that. The food I ate (and LOVED).... well, I am a harsh judge when it comes to scallops. They have to be "jumbo".. I mean really jumbo, the searing must be done to perfection, I even look for presentation. I am a dork when it comes to scallops, but in honesty.. these are the things that make for a perfect scallop. Pane Rustica hit every nail on the head and blew me away! Although I fell in love at first bite with these scallops, I must give a shout out to the short ribs, because they were unbelievable as well. So tender and full of flavor!! MMmmmm!!! I can't wait for another opportunity to get over there for another meal... I'm very curious and interested to see what they have to offer on the lunch menu, but I've yet to make it there during the day. When I do I will be updating this review, promise! Their dinner menu is very impressive and there are many different things I yearn to try - they also have a seasonal menu which is going to make it even harder on me next time, the anxiety is building! This is the type of spot that you can close your eyes and point to a random meal on the menu and know you're getting something incredible. I'm soooo looking forward to eating and enjoying the little pieces of heaven Pane Rustica whips up for their guests!! read more

We reserved the back room for a girls' night out. There is a flat screen TV in the room that has a relaxing picture on it and if I remember correctly, it scrolls through other scenery pictures. It was very private and had frosted glass doors that they closed to keep our noise from disturbing the other restaurant goers. The appetizers were pretty tasty so I ordered what most others ordered for a main entree "Pene Rustica" Pene pasta with a tomato sauce. I could tell the sauce was freshly maid, however I wasn't super impressed with the flavor. It seemed kind of bland. All in all, it was ok, but I'll probably try another Italian place the next time. read more

Highly recommend the Meyer's Short Ribs - simply delicious, boneless, not too hard, not too soft, not too fatty, not to lean. Also liked the Roasted Mushroom medley flatbread pizza - tasty combination of cheeses with mushroom and tomatoes. The fennel seared Snapper was ok, a little bit too much lemon flavor, it came with polenta which I thought was excellent. For dessert, recommend the expresso cookie sundae. Don't recommend the chocolate decadence, it's basically a frozen block of chocolate, too rich for my taste. Nicely decorated interior, not too loud, spacious, we were able to be seated right away for a party of 3 on a friday night. Pleasant, professional waiter service. Bit pricey, is the only reason i'm giving a 4 instead of a 5 star. read more

BY Far my favorite lunch spot in Tampa. I have been quite a few times now and have never left disappointed. My family came in town over the holidays and we brought them here. My SIL loved the burger, which I am glad she ordered as I was introduced to the Pane burger. One of the best burgers I have ever had in my life. The roast beef sandwich is insane. I have no idea how they pack so much flavor into tender and rare roast beef. I am bummed they got rid of their olive loaf bread though. Cocktail time - hello Moscow Mule. I had my very first one here and now I am obsessed. In fact, I am the proud owner of two Moscow Mule copper mugs so I can make this at home! I have yet to go here for dinner but was told that we must go soon. My family was very impressed with Pane and it is a must visit while in South Tampa. read more

Fun and DELICIOUS! This place is amazing! It offers both a fun happy hour vibe by the bar and on the other side of the restaurant very large table for families and kids to enjoy plenty of room for all the food you're going to want to order! I HIGHLY rec the butternut squash Chicken Salad! read more

Pane Rustica - Amazing Sangria! & the food speaks for itself - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Instead of bread and oil, you get bread and hummus. You've sold me. Hummus for life. I came for my birthday dinner and the chef created the most delicious vegan meal for me by just asking what I liked. It was that special attention that made me a customer for life. Since my meal wasn't on the menu I don't think it's fair I describe all of the delicious-ness of it and tempt you with something that isn't on the menu. My family got a plethora of things so they could share, which is what you should do too. They ordered three of the flatbreads and everyone agreed those were the best. I'm pretty sure the ones they got were all specials and one margarita type but I can vouch for those because they made me salivate. Even though I'm not a meat eater I will brake for mussels. It's not the mussels themselves that make me want to order all the mussels they have but the broth. It's all about the broth. And Pane Rustica nailed it. I ordered more bread to dip in the broth. Not vegetarian but worth every bite. The restaurant itself is great, very romantic feeling with low lighting and plush seating. We are always seated by the kitchen which is pretty open and it smells amazing. Another tip, make a reservation, we just call when we leave the house and are seated right away but I've seen longer waits on the weekends. read more

This is definitely a favorite of mine in Tampa. You can make it more formal with a sit down experience, our keep it casual and just order at the counter. The pizza is a great option, just be careful as to which kind you order - sometimes it can be a little greasy. The smoked turkey sandwich is amazing! The tomato and sweet onion jam are the perfect compliment to an already perfect sandwich! I always get it on the sliced wheat bread - so so good. I also love the house wine. It is surprisingly smooth for a house offering. read more

This is seriously my favorite place in Tampa to go for dinner. Like seriously, I could never give up this restaurant. I love going for both dinner and lunch. Lunch is a more casual order at the counter type deal and dinner is a sit down/menu/waiter. It's amazing how they transform the place for dinner. The lights go dim and there's live music on the weekends. For lunch I usually get the Pane Rustica salad - which comes with a huge piece of soft warm bread and a goat cheese spread. For dinner I ALWAYS order the short ribs. I'm a short ribs fan and these babies are up there with my top 3 favorite order. They are so tender and fall right apart and melt in your mouth. They come with some kind of mashed potato, but I always look on the 'specials' and see if they have any special kind of potato. They usually have a mashed sweet potato with something flavorful whipped in like truffle oil or saffron. DELISH! Also, they have the best crushed ice in their drinks. It's the little things that count! This place is both romantic and some place to take the family. Either you can sit on the intimate tables on the side or in one of their bigger tables in the middle. They also have a back room for private parties and a bar area for a more casual atmosphere. read more

Went here for a dinner service and while the food was good. It didn't meet my expectations overall for the price. Our waiter was nice, and the ambiance seemed like a really nice place to have a date night. The food on the other hand was average to many other restaurants in the area. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't special. If you pay $20 or more per dinner there is a certain amount of expectation. The crab cakes I ordered were okay, but the pizza my friend order was better. The dinner really fell short when the waiter made an error on the dessert. We came for a friend's birthday, and the waiter thought they comped a dessert for free. But he was wrong. The manger had to come over to explain the situation, but it was handle quite awkwardly. The dessert ended did getting paid for the end by us. The dessert was very good though. It was a double chocolate chip cookie with vanilla ice cream, but for $9 it sure better be a high quality one. I think the highlight night was they fact we were all able to leave with fresh baked bread. So if you do try this place for dinner come towards the end of the night, apparently you will end-up with free bread to bring home. read more

I was so excited to try this place and I was a bit let down. However, I can definitely see the appeal to this place. The decor and ambience was actually nicer that one would expect for being located on a strip mall. I actually really liked their open kitchen design and service was better than average. They gave us a little baguette and hummus while we waited. The bread was nice and warm with a crispy crust and soft dense center. The hummus was also good. Food...maybe it was an off night for them, but it was Friday. My friend had the hanger steak that everyone on yelp, as well as our waitress raved about. Everything was cooked to perfection, but the sauce fell a little flat and was off in some way: like it needed a little sweet or something tangy to it. I had one of their specials. It was spaghetti with red snapper, shrimp, grape tomatoes, and lemon butter sauce. Again, something was off seasoning wise, but everything was cooked perfectly. My fish had a nice crisp sear on the outside and it flaked nicely. The shrimp were big and juicy. It lacked a few more pinches of salt and maybe a wedge of lemon. For dessert, I decided to try their gelato. I decided on two flavors that I thought would pair well: bacio (chocolate hazelnut) and peanut butter. I was right; it was way more memorable than my meal. Overall the experience was good, so I'm really giving them 3.5 stars. If they could brighten up their flavors a bit more, they would have gotten 4, which is sad since the quality is definitely there. Like I said earlier, maybe it was an off day. So, I would come back to try something else, just not anytime soon since I have a few more bookmarks to knock off my list before I go back to NYC. read more

Bad Management... This place has been (& is) a neighborhood staple, food is amazing and bar staff has always been great. I go here often, living right down the road... have hosted numerous friends' birthday parties, holiday get togethers, take my family when they're in town & go by myself at time to the bar. The past few years I have also ordered catering for my holiday charity party I host. The service and treatment that I received from the management team today was HORRIFIC!!! I'm not one to leave bad reviews, especially when I'm of a fan of the restaurant - but his actions have to hold some accountability on the establishment. I tried calling earlier in the week to make a reservation for another friends birthday, they were not accepting being it's Sunday & for lunch as well as the day after Gasparilla (one of their busiest days) - understood, but disappointed being we love it here... I then get passed to someone else to talk about their private room. He told me the room/table holds 16 - which was perfect as there was 14 of us (+ presents) and the min. was $250, which I said could easily be met, being I spend at least $50 alone when I go (for lunch & a glass or two of wine). The question I had was if payment could be split on several cards OR had to be on one (which would have been fine, I could use the double reward points). He was unsure about this, but took my name, time of reservation & said he'd confirm on the card question & call me back to confirm. FF to today, Friday. Being busy with work & friends coming in from out of town, I realize I never received a call back... so I call to make sure all is confirmed & good to go. I speak with Brian, the manager, who said it was not... I explained what happened on Tues with the call & he said, maybe they called I said, no - no VM's, no missed calls... etc. but they could not accommodate, min. would be $500 (which still would have been fine) - they'd have to have a set menu (which I did not know) & didn't have staff to work the room (I'm sure anyone would have loved to make more money if offered, but hey). All of that, thus far was fine... I told him, this was sad to hear, being we were excited & I know had to contact 14 people to let them Pane Rustica dropped the ball & find a new venue. Well he apparently didn't like my choose of words as went extremely HOSTILE, yelling/talking over me, changing his story of someone would have called to we would never accept this, etc. & then calling me a flat out LIAR pretty much... I am APPALLED at the way I was treated, when just trying to provide business & that he could not handle this manner in a professional way. I did inform him, I'd be leaving this review as again NO ONE (especially a paying customer & one that frequents) should be treated with the DISRESPECT the way I was. Very UNPROFESSIONAL & CLASSLESS. I wanted to make sure this message was relayed to the Owners, that is also why I'm leaving this review. read more

Similar to a Le Pain Quotidien but not as pricey. Fresh gourmet sandwiches and breads. Farmhouse feel, organic and vegetarian options. Eat in or pick up lunch to pack with you for the beach. We took home a loaf of free bread they were offering on the counter too! read more