MAKE A RESERVATION....You will need it. Piccola is a very small place. A few tables. And you need the reservation to get in as people do go all the time. The chef is the owner and even takes the order. The assistant cleans, and serves and handles the rest. Like stepping into an Italian family kitchen to see what is on the table for the night. And with the special menu of the evening, it is like you are stepping into the kitchen. With a reservation for 6 we were lucky to have the table. It is a BYOB so bring what you might want to go with the meals. A red wine is a good idea. As for the specials, it was varied. There are many options to have that are not on the menu. Even that is small. The chef does tell you what was the specials. He answers the questions and does describe what he is thinking. For 6 of us this gave us good options. Several were ordered, and some traditional was selected. We started with appetizers. Tomatoes and mozzarella was always a way to start. Classic. Mixed with a green salad and some extra cheese it is a good way to go. Garlic bread was a complement. We also had the rice balls stuffed with a small meatball combo. This is typical in certain regions of Italy, and each are different. It had a special sauce to top it and more bread. The sauce was good enough as a dipping sauce for the bread without the rice ball. As we ate the apps we drank the wines. Truly typical for an Italian meal. When the entrees came out it was time to shift things around. These entrees were a good size and freshly cooked. You can see the chef in the kitchen cooking each meal. This is a home kitchen. We had a few specials. One was the duck on the couscous. With the frech sauce and herbs it was amazing. It is not how you expect to have duck. It was definitely not Chinese. This was a fresh duck cooked and aged so that the flavor was ideal. The portion was large and the aroma amazing. Also had to have a very traditional pasta carbonara - pasta mixed in a garlic cream sauce with onions and pieces of bacon. A bit of peper and grated cheese helps. It is an old simple idea what what is always made in a family. There was also pasta bolognese, and even a pasta with sliced rib steak in a mushroom cream sauce. Very different. Once the meal was finished had to have espresso and dessert. The espresso was made the old way in a pot I still have on a the shelf and use. As for the dessert, we did have a lemon cake and a cake made with pistachio that was ground and had flavor that was not expected as a cream in a cake. It was exceptional. As the waitress mentioned, these cakes come from a bakery in Italy and are delivered. The taste and sweetness are typical of Italy and not of the US. Very Italian. The food is great. It is fresh, tasty, has a flavor and style that is unique to the chef. He can make a great meal that you will enjoy. It is typical but with a twist. The portions are a good size. The price is perfect. Bring your own wine and step inside. It is like being in someone;s kitchen. And make that reservation! read more

Piccola Italia Bistro - Traditional Carbonara. (and a meatball) - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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We've been coming here for a long time under william's ownership and we always loved his style of cooking. Today we learned that he is taking a break. A whole new menu but didn't include any of william's classics. No duck salad, no clam linguini or spicy seafood pasta or any other williams items on the menu. The pastas we ordered (seafood with sundried tomatoes and gnocci with lamb) werent bad but not even close to what we had before. Disappointing. Sadly I dont think we'll be back until william come back. Also, the pastas we ordered (under specials menu--did not have a price, but each pasta was $50 each which I think its very high for pasta we had) read more

The atmosphere, the Owners, the FOOD! I feel grateful to have found this gem, but am scared of when it becomes too well known! Perfect if you just wanna go solo mio or bring family. It feels like home. There is parking. It is BYOB. RESERVATIONS ARE A MUST! Also, when you go, they'll give you another menu of the specials! read more

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This place is such a gem! The food was phenomenal! My family is from Sicily and I felt like I was eating my dad's cooking. The owner is super friendly and welcoming. It's a very small place so a reservation is a must! Will be back for sure! read more

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I had one bite and I was like, "okay yeah this might be my new favorite Italian restaurant." First off, I agree with a lot of other people saying you need a reservation because I thought even though I tried going at a random time (4:00 on a Friday), all the tables were reserved. We got lucky and they made a bit of space for us, but next time I know I'll only be making reservations for here. I got the pesto pasta with chicken, and my partner got the venison pasta that was one of the specials that day. We both immediately thought it was some of the best pasta we've ever had! I especially loved the smoked salmon and chicken, both were so, so flavorful. For dessert we got the tiramisu and cannoli, the cannoli filling was perfect and just really hit the spot for me. Service was super friendly, and all the food came out shockingly fast. Overall, I already love this place and will definitely be back soon! read more

Me-this is one of the best Italian meals I've had in years My wife-except for Rome Me- noo ... I didn't say that. We didn't really do fine dining in Rome and this was better than anything we ate. It's not Spiaggia, or trying to be Michelin style, but just amazing food. Pappardelle with veal pounded thin, mushrooms, and I think some truffle in the sauce. Mixed green salad with burrata. With only 16 seats, we got takeout. Me and grandpa split the dish and didn't finish it. I think it was 46$. Salad for three came with 4 burrata ( is there a plural form) which was less I think grandpa said $25 but that's a guess either way. I can't believe how affordable this was. In Jupiter Fl where I live it would have been 50% more and not nearly as good. Sorry Jupiter-your rent is too high. I can't believe our Airbnb is a block away. read more

Piccola Italia Bistro - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Probably one of the best meals I've had in Tampa. Little place - maybe 5 tables in it. read more

Piccola Italia Bistro - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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We went there last night. The food was absolutely amazing. Felt like we were back in Italy. Definitely will go again. read more

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Amazing food, thoughtful specials, BYOB, and service by the chef himself make a reservation! read more

Piccola Italia Bistro - Burrata - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Say it with me: phe nom inal . This is my family's must go to Italian restaurant in the Tampa Bay Area, but be warned - you absolutely need a reservation. It's always packed and there's always people being turned away due to it being full! It is BYOW (bring your own wine), so come prepared if you're looking to enjoy a glass of vino with your pasta. Highly highly recommend read more

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The best restaurant I've ever had in my life. Small and intimate location. Must call and get a reservation well ahead of time! You bring your own wine, which we loved being able to do! The owner made an announcement to the whole room and read off all the specials. After our first course (crab cakes) we were already planning our next reservation. Everything we had was absolutely delicious and I'm so ready to go back! read more

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Wow! This might be the best food I've ever had in Tampa. Everything tasted so fresh and authentic. We had the caprese salad with burrata, carbonara, tortellini, baked ziti, and cannolis. Every single dish was 10/10. Can't wait to go back and try other menu items. Definitely need to make a reservation in advance!! And BYOW. The portion sizes were healthy, we brought home a few boxes! read more

Every dish is perfect! One man show. No place like it. I recommend the owner write the specials down and print it out to give to people at the table so we can see all them! read more

This place is serving up authentic Italian cuisine at a very fair price. It's not a fancy or big place, but the food is incredibly delicious. The drinks- it's BYOB! Yes, you can bring your own alcohol and there is no corking fee. The restaurant does not have a liquor license. The food- the menu consists of traditional pasta dishes, but there are always specials, too. I went with a party of 5 and every person loved their meal. The food is homemade, authentic, and truly delicious. The dessert- all desserts are homemade so I tried to tiramisu, which was one of the best I've had in my life. Trust me, this Italian girl has tried a lotttt of tiramisu. Overall, the food was amazing and priced great. The only negative thing I have to say is the temperate. I was hot because they had a swamp cooler, not normal AC. I want to return for the pasta making class. read more

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Hidden Gem! Secret Hole in the Wall! Call this one man operation what you want but be assured that William does a creative and fresh Italian kitchen in the couple of hundred square feet he has to work with. Ambiance - Seriously? Came here on a quiet Sunday afternoon and were one of two groups in the restaurant. Maybe the 6 wood table and 20 or so red plastic chairs add to the old world charm, but lower your expectations and enjoy the Italian photos and view of the kitchen. It does have the look and feel of a small Italian bistro. Just imagine a view of the Mediterranean in place of the busy MLK outside. Pro Tip1 - Make reservations as space is limited. Service - William does almost all of it himself, from cooking, to serving, to answering the phone. He often has one helper (a relative?) but is essentially a one man operation. That being said, service is efficient, the food comes out quickly, and water carafes are plentiful. Food - That's what you're here for and you won't be disappointed. William has 10 pastas (all $14.95) a few appetizers, and no salads on the menu. The one salad available is Caprese, and it's good. His specials can number from 3 to 10 depending on the day and take good mental notes as he will rattle them off quickly. They all sound incredible, and it's tough to choose. Pro Tip2 - Make sure you ask the price of the specials as they can be 2X to 3X the price of the 10 regular pastas. Braised Short Ribs on Pappardelle (special $39.95)- An incredible boneless short rib that is fork tender over pappardelle smothered in a red bolognese-like sauce. This is definitely a hearty plate that "meat-lovers" will relish. Perfectly al dente pasta in a rich hearty sauce. Be prepared to share or take some home. Anglio E Olio - Spaghetti pasta with scallions, sesame seeds and red peppers. More delicious than I expected with quite a pop from the peppers. I couldn't stop eating this ... Cannoli - Comes in pairs but we were able to order one for half the price. Crunchy exterior and creamy cheesy interior. There were chocolate sprinkles and I would have preferred shaved chocolate or even chips. The sprinkling of powdered sugar was done evenly and not just dumped on, which I appreciated. Pro Tip3 - Bring cash to avoid the credit card fee... The newest addition to my "Favorite Hole in the Wall" restaurants list and worth a trip to Tampa just for the food. read more

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This place is amazing! It is an intimate setting and authentic, like making a home cooked meal in a wonderful restaurant setting. Parking was easy, and everything was unique! read more

Realmente fue muy bueno , el sabor delicioso, la atencion esmerada , nos gusto mucho y regresaremos con toda la familia

Very cute, unassuming little shop! I loved the ambiance but definitely make sure you make a reservation. Perfect amount of food options. Pasta was filling and fair price. Not a lot of parking but also not a huge place, so again, just make sure to make reservations! read more

Piccola Italia Bistro - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

An Italian dream. This little hidden gem is absolutely delicious. The owner and his mother are the main chefs and waiters. This has to be the most amazing and authentic Italian food I've ever ever had in the US. I love the intimacy of having such a small location. Definitely have to make reservations in advance because he only takes about a certain amount, but you can get food to go which we have done and it's still amazing. You must visit this place! My Italian husband even says this reminds of his family back in Italy. read more

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Wonderful food and such a special experience. The owner takes your order than cooks your food. How he does it, is amazing. It's BYOB so bring you wine and enjoy! read more

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First time at this place, and it was a weird experience. He seemed intoxicated but I was trying to be open minded... I was too open minded and got swindled I ordered the 14.95 bolognese with $3.95 meatballs, which I could see the pricing for on the menu. Then asked for the special which was Gnocci and veal (no pricing to see). He charged me about $69 (lol) dollars for the Gnocci and veal alone. My total was $88 for both meals. Everything was already boxed up and wrapped up, so I assumed these were massive portions, but when I got home and looked I was blown away. I feel like I got completely ripped off, jerked (not in a good way), and worked in the worst way possible. The pictures aren't doing the portion sizes justice, these were tiny, definitely not worth $88 read more

Piccola Italia Bistro - Gnocci and veal ($69) - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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This is my favorite Italian restaurant in Tampa! I've gone here countless times (in restaurant and takeout) and it's amazing and so flavorful every time. It's small but romantic and a true Italian experience. It's BYOW so don't forget to stop to grab some wine on the way there in you want any. read more

Piccola Italia Bistro - Short rib gnocchi (special) - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

My pasta dish was just like I was in Rome. The food came out piping hot. Very authentic. The cannoli was outstanding with a hard shell. Will be back. BYOB read more

Absolutely adore this place. I literally just went here after a long day of work and I'm not so fun doctors appointment. I left the doctors nearby and was starving and saw them nearby and figured I have to try it. Hands down all around the best experience, I could've asked for. A lot of their tables are reserved for the evening and I was by myself, but they took off one of the reserved signs and let me sit and eat. The service was wonderful. The ambience is cute. I feel like the photos do not do the place justice. It is much more quaint and unique then the vibes the photos show. It was extremely reasonably priced and was a very good portion. I let my husband know and he actually asked me to get him in order to go before I left. I will 1000% be back!!!! read more

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This is a cute, tiny restaurant in West Tampa where you can get authentic Italian pasta dishes. You do need to plan ahead and make reservations, as they have very limited capacity, and they fill up even on weeknights. I was able to get a last minute reservation, but it was for 5 o'clock. I was warned that the table was reserved at 7, so we needed to be done with our meal by then. That was fine with me as I have two young kids who can't tolerate a long meal anyway. However, while the owner stated that he didn't want to rush me, he certainly made me feel rushed. I got to the restaurant first, but I was late because of traffic and road construction. The owner was even more upset by my late arrival, and he really only began to warm up to me after I ordered for my whole family in advance so he knew he could control the timing and get us out before 7PM. They do not serve wine, but if you bring your own bottle, they have corkscrews and basic wine glasses (no decanter). We started with a caprese salad. It was not the standard caprese salad but had a generous amount of arugula. The mozzarella was really good and creamy. For our mains, my husband had the lobster ravioli in vodka sauce (a weekly special). He thought the sauce was a little salty but he also said the ravioli was tasty with very mild lobster. My kids shared fettucine bolognese with meatballs. I had the spaghetti puttanesca with sausage. It was very tasty. Serving sizes were huge, and we ended up bringing home a lot of leftovers. We ended up finishing up so early that the owner said we had time for dessert. We were too full. Maybe another time. read more

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We went for a friends birthday, so we had the place to ourselves. The owner was very attentive and cooked everything himself....he had only one other person to help serve. He had a nice menu and also offered many specials. All the food, from appetizers to dessert, was delicious and plentiful and veryvauthentic. I would highly recommend it! read more

Incredible dining experience! I felt like I was transported to a cozy bistro in Italy for the evening. The staff went above and beyond - they even chilled our wine in the freezer for us so it was ready when we were. We will be back! read more

Awesome hole in the wall authentic Italian spot in Tampa! The place is small so make sure you have a reservation, and always ask to hear the specials before you decide. We started with the caprese which was really good on their toast. I then had a short rib pasta for my meal but also tried some of the lasagna and the beef bolognese. I absolutely loved the short rib, pasta, and the sauce on my dish, and also enjoyed the other plates that I tried. I would definitely come back when I'm in the Tampa area! read more

Piccola Italia Bistro - Short rib - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

The food is authentic and delicious!! We ate the bolognese and a short rib special dish with pasta and everything was perfect. The pasta was al dente. Make a reservation or do carry out -- it's a lovely meal. read more

Super tiny place, call to make a reservation! Everyone's food was so tasty. Really authentic. Bring your own wine! read more

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Amazing food! We had the arincini to start and was cooked perfectly, I had the daily special of lamb on the saffron risotto. I think this is the best risotto I've ever had. My boyfriend has the ravioli which he also said was great. Only downside is the parking lot and that we weren't aware this was bring your own beverage. Now that we know it will be better but fantastic authentic food. read more

Piccola Italia Bistro - Lamb and saffron risotto - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER!!!! May not look like much, but this place is a hidden gem!! Always delicious, authentic and fresh Italian food, not a chain- the owner does the cooking, and he's actually Italian! HOUSE MADE PASTAS!!!! They also have pasta making classes! Pro tip: do NOT decide to order something off the menu-- wait for the owner to come to your table to tell you the specials-- and they change EVERY DAY!!!! Tiramisu Limoncello cake Puttanesca (if you like it) Caprese salad Fresh Coffee Everything is delicious- you literally can't make a bad decision here. I think you can also bring your own wine. read more

Piccola is the greatest when it comes to Tampa Italian dining. The owner is also the chef, the server, and the prep so it's a one-man show which is always a green flag for me in todays day where owners have no heart in the product that gets made. The food is not only extremely delicious but the prices are very cheap. Pasta will be generously portioned, served fresh and steaming hot, and only runs $15 a plate. Don't let the online menu fool you, there are daily specials for starters and entrees and there's a wide selection for vegetarian/pescatarian usually. Honestly, I just moved back from Chicago where Italian dining reigns supreme and had been a little bummed about the scene. Lots of Italian in this city is okay but you pay a lot for food that just feels ordinary. So it was very refreshing for me to find this place that had somehow flown under my radar for years. A couple things I'll note, non are negative but you just should be aware to maximize your experience: -there's 4-5 tables, so a reservation should be made over the phone. They don't take them online. -be ready to hear the specials bc they're given verbally and it's usually a pretty big list. -the owner running the show is very, very Italian. Which means he will always be honest and straightforward but to me this is part of the charm. -it's byob, but this is a plus for me since I don't have to buy an $80 wine that runs $15 at total wine. read more

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Small intimate environment. Food excellent and very welcoming owners. I suggest calling ahead of time as reservations recommended. BYOB alcohol not available. read more

They have fantastic nightly specials Fresh pasta and seafood. Awesome food and very attentive staff. read more

Still one of the best Pasta experiences I.n Tampa. The Amatriciana pasta with side of meatballs is my choice always. My wife loves the pesto. The bolognese is also Delicious. And of course always save space for the Limoncello cake or cannolis. read more

Piccola Italia Bistro - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Piccola has done it again. We ordered takeout this time around to have a lovely meal in the middle of our tax day. Their special was short rib pappardelle (we got 2 of these) and I tried their regular-menu primavera pasta, but added sausage. Total including credit card fee was about $101. But WOW! Flavors were even deeper and more delicious than our first visit! Short rib was incredibly seasoned, the meat sauce was so bold -- no other Italian restaurant in Tampa Bay can touch it!! The primavera pasta was just as interesting and delicious, with sooo many toppings and an avocado cream sauce that was unique. Takeout serving sizes: HUUUGEEEE! I still have about 3 servings left of my primavera pasta for the work week ahead (heck yessss). Best Italian restaurant in miles. GO! read more

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So glad we found this little (picolla) spot! Ordered the pescatore special. I'll definitely be back again and again and again.... read more

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The food here is absolutely incredible! I was cooking scallops at home and called to see if the owner could prepare a risotto to pair with them. Not only was he happy to accommodate, but he also asked for my preferences and customized it perfectly. The risotto turned out amazing and complemented our scallops beautifully. We also ordered a dish with an avocado crème sauce, which was just as impressive--rich, flavorful, and expertly balanced. If you love authentic Italian cuisine, this place is a must-try. 10/10 recommend! read more

Piccola Italia Bistro - Risotto - Italian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

This is 4.5 stars because the chef's specials change weekly and prepared while you can watch from one of the six tables. This is also a BYOB The place is tiny so make a reservation. It's is only the chef i and a helper running the show. Don't bother looking at the one page menu. The chef will come out at rattle off about 10 specials which all sound amazing. I had lasagna and my husband had ravioli with vodka sauce. Both were delicious, portions are large, a make great left overs. From the outside not much to see it is in a tiny strip of store front property. There is a store next door which I am still trying to figure out what exactly it is. Will definitely be back for date night. I would not recommend bringing children since it is a small place. read more