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    Piccola Italia Bistro

    4.5 (416 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 8:00 PM

    Piccola Italia Bistro Photos

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    PICCOLA ITALIA BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual

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    Recommended Reviews - Piccola Italia Bistro

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    Gigi G.

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

    Kendall N.

    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.

    Burrata

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

    Meatballs
    Rachal C.

    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

    Outside
    Emily D.

    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!

    Tiramisu
    Katie G.

    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.

    Roger L.

    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.

    Devon G.

    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.

    Amanda W.

    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!

    Jay G.

    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!

    Gnocci and veal ($69)

    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

    Short rib gnocchi (special)

    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.

    Bolognese
    Hillary R.

    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!!!!

    Caprese salad

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    5 months ago

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

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    Piccola Italia Bistro Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Piccola Italia Bistro

    Do you need to make a reservation for a party of 4 on Saturday evening?

    Definitely make a reservation, they only have 8 or so tables and it fills fast.

    We tried to go last night and it appears they may be permanently closed, can anyone confirm?

    They are open but the owner occasionally closes for vacation etc. since he is the only one there and does everything, when he leaves it shuts down.

    Does anyone know if this restaurant offers corkage if we bring our own bottle, and if so how much?

    You can bring your own and there's no corkage fee!

    Does anyone know if they are on vacation?

    Yes, William will be back in two weeks I believe. Maybe 3. Can't wait for him to be back.

    I reserved a slot for the cooking class but I didn't write down what time it starts. Do any of you remember what time you had to be there? Thanks!

    5pm start

    How did anyone get a hold of them for the cooking class? I've called three days in a row now multiple times throughout the day and I can't get through

    I believe the restaurant is closed this month for their summer vacation. They have a sign at the door.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Piccola Italia Bistro

    Chef William cares so much about the food he cooks and not only does it show in presentation, but you can taste it!

    Mentioned in 34 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Epicurean Theatre

    Epicurean Theatre

    4.6
    (7 reviews)
    3.5 mi
    $$$

    My husband and I had the most incredible date night at the Epicurean Theatre! We attended the…read more"Dinner with a Master Chef" class on Friday, July 18th 2014. Our instructor was celebrity chef, Whitney Miller, winner of Master Chef (season 1). The Epicurean Theatre is a gorgeous and very modern culinary classroom in the Epicurean Hotel in South Tampa. The culinary classroom has a kitchen in the front of the theatre for the instructor/ chef and stadium-style seating for the students. (If you want a seat near the front of the class arrive early!) Flat screen televisions are located in the front corners of the classroom to display close-ups of the food as it is being prepared. The layout of the classroom allows participants to eat and drink while watching a cooking presentation. After the chef completes each course of the meal the Epicurean's wait staff serves the dish. Whitney Miller was so charming and entertaining throughout our class. I loved her stories about growing up in Mississippi and being a contestant on the Master Chef. Her menu in our class included some of her favorite Southern dishes: First Course: Arugula Salad with Grilled Figs, Homemade Buttermilk Ricotta Cheese, Crispy Prosciutto and a Citrus Vinaigrette (Wine Pairing: Schiopetto Pinot Grigio) Second Course: BBQ Shrimp and Cheese Grits (Wine Pairing: Black Bird Rose) Third Course: White Chocolate Bread Pudding (Wine Pairing: Rosa Regale) Everything was so delicious and I cannot wait to make these dishes at my home! Confession: I probably won't make my own ricotta cheese for the arugula salad because who has time for that?! We received so many great cooking tips from the class and I plan on purchasing Whitney's cookbook so I can introduce my husband to more Southern cooking. If you are interested in taking a class at the Epicurean Theatre I highly recommend it! They offer a variety of classes from cupcakes to cooking to wine or even speaking a foreign language. They even offer brew bus tours! The classes range from $45-$125. Our Master Chef class cost $65 per person which wasn't a bad deal in my opinion considering we received a two hour demonstration from a celebrity chef, a three course meal, and three wine tastings. Can't wait to take my next class at the Epicurean Theatre!

    I went to a great event here called Cupcakes and Cocktails held by Chef Beth Lukens, who owns and…read moreoperates the local company Cloud 9 Confections. Everything about this event was fun. Just like you see on cooking shows, Beth stood in front of the 3-tiered seating area, with a camera on her, and a camera overhead showing inside the pot she was cooking in. Beth is an experienced baker, and I loved that in addition to demonstrating how to make the Bourbon Chocolate Pecan cupcake, she also gave us helpful tips for substitutions and shortcuts. In addition to cupcakes, the event included 3 cocktails, specially designed to compliment the cupcakes we would be taking home. Pumpkin Prosecco - made of champagne and pureed pumpkin, Hard Apple Cider - made with gin, cider, and fresh crushed grapes, and a Bourbon Cocktail - but after the first two drinks, I have no recollection of what went into this last one. It was great, though! :-) Roger, the bartender from the hotel restaurant Élevage, came in each time to explain his concoction, which was really a nice personal touch. After Beth demonstrated how to make the first cupcake, all the participants went down to group stations where we got to frost our own cupcakes. She had all the different cupcakes lined up for us, as well as the different bags of frosting. First we did our own Bourbon Chocolate Pecan cupcake - by scooping out the inside to fill it with pecan filling, then frosting it with a thick bourbon chocolate buttercream, and sprinkling roasted pecans on top. Next was the Hard Apple Cider cupcakes with cinnamon buttercream. And finally we did the Pumpkin Spice cupcake, with a sweet cream cheese frosting. I have to admit, there was a LOT of taste-testing the frosting, even after the cupcakes were all frosted. Beth even provided plastic cupcake containers, so our 6 masterpieces (2 of each flavor) could travel in safety and comfort. I would definitely do another event here - it was very well organized, and in addition to the promised take home cupcakes, we were also provided with recipes on how to make the different cupcakes and frosting. The only thing that wasn't cool, and wasn't mentioned ahead of time, is that you had to pay $5 for valet, which also meant tipping too. I think the Epicurean Hotel needs to include this in the cost of the class, or let people self-park in the spots they have available for the wine store or bakery. Other than the parking, an A+ event from start to finish. Support local small businesses and go check out Beth's webpage, too - yum!

    Photos
    #Teamwork (10-20-16)
    #Teamwork (10-20-16)
    BBQ Shrimp and Cheese Grits
    BBQ Shrimp and Cheese Grits
    Cupcakes and cocktails 10/19/2017

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    Cupcakes and cocktails 10/19/2017
    Appetitbyalisa

    Appetitbyalisa

    5.0
    (6 reviews)
    3.0 mi

    How many good things can I condense into one review about Chef Alisa and her husband, Alex? I…read morereached out to Alisa by simply searching for a 'private/personal chef' on Google. She was one of the first few chefs in the Houston area that popped up on my screen and I decided to do some more "research;" and by "research," I mean I searched for her on social media platforms to see pictures of her dishes before contacting her...Come on, we're all guilty of it. lol To my pleasant surprise, Chef Alisa was one of the winners on The Food Network's "Supermarket Stakeout" which I thought was a pretty cool thing to have on her resume. :) So of course, naturally, I contacted her to check out her prices and menu. Now, by no means am I accustomed to having a personal chef in our home, but to celebrate a special occasion, I thought it would be a fun experience and a great "date night" for my husband and I. My review is strictly based off of my first experience having a chef come to my home to cook for me and the communication between Chef Alisa and I throughout the whole process. From the very beginning of getting into contact with Chef Alisa, she was extremely prompt in her e-mail responses and very transparent about her rate and any additional costs. After reviewing other chefs in Houston, I decided that I wanted Chef Alisa as our private chef to celebrate a special occasion with my husband, and after that, she sent me a menu with several delicious selections for each course (i.e., appetizer, salad, main dishes, desserts). I think choosing just one option from each course was the hardest part about this whole process, I wanted to try them all. During the selection process, I e-mailed Alisa back and forth a few times asking if I could make small changes here and there (e.g., sub an appetizer, or add a protein), and each time I heard back from her, she was timely in her responses and tactfully offered her professional recommendations. What I liked about Chef Alisa was that she was helpful and respected any accommodations or changes I wanted to make to the final menu. To give you an idea of some of the changes, I asked for, Chef Alisa recommended an appetizer, a salad, main dish and dessert; whereas, my husband doesn't like salad, so I asked if we could have two hot appetizers instead. Chef Alisa was accommodating and made two hot appetizers for us to replace the salad and added a protein to one of the dishes she normally serves as a main entree. While at the store, she even accommodated when I wanted her to change one of the proteins (last minute). Her ability to be flexible and accommodate her clients made her really pleasant to work with. After making my selections, I had to pay 50% of the total cost to Alisa to secure the date and then on the day of, I would pay the rest as well as any additional costs (e.g., groceries). Additionally, Alisa asked for a picture of my kitchen so that she could work her way around the kitchen with ease on the day of her arrival. On the day of, Alisa and her husband Alex (her "sous chef") came over about 3 hours before I wanted our meal served (appetizers by 6:15pm), and she started to cook up a storm as if my kitchen was her kitchen all along. I got to know them as a couple while she was cooking and Alex was prepping and it really felt like I was just chatting with friends. They're a really sociable couple and Alisa's food turned out amazing. The entire meal was served perfectly well-timed, and they were attentive to our needs. The icing on the cake was that there were no dishes for me to do at the end of the night! They left our kitchen cleaner than it was before they came over. :) If you're looking for a fun date night or even a get-together with friends, hiring Chef Alisa for a special occasion will be a treat.

    Alisa G. and her team helped me host a wonderful 12-person birthday dinner celebration for my wife…read more She made my first private chef experience fantastic and, because of that, it will not be my last. She presented, at our request, a Mediterranean-themed dinner with appetizer, entree with side, and desert. Every dish she served was delicious and her team took exceptional care of us and our guests. It was all very much appreciated. I highly recommend Alisa G and look forward to using her services the next time an opportunity arises.

    Photos
    Appetitbyalisa
    Appetitbyalisa
    Appetitbyalisa

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    Piccola Italia Bistro - italian - Updated July 2026

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