There were five of us celebrating my birthday, and it turned out to be such a wonderful evening…read more The restaurant has a beautiful atmosphere, and the staff was welcoming and attentive throughout our visit. I ordered the spaghetti and meatballs, which were absolutely delicious, along with a side of Brussels sprouts, which was kind of random. I have to admit, it was a long day before dinner, so some of the finer details are a little fuzzy--but I do remember enjoying a dirty martini, which is my go-to cocktail anytime I'm at a nice restaurant. By the end of the meal, we were all completely stuffed from all the delicious carbs. To top it all off, the staff surprised me with a birthday ice cream dessert. You can't go wrong with a free birthday dessert. Between the great food, excellent service, and spending the night with wonderful friends, I couldn't have asked for a better birthday celebration. I'll definitely be back to explore more of the menu.

I visited for lunch with coworkers and hadn't done any research so I wasn't sure what to expect but…read morewas very pleasantly surprised. The decor is cute, the staff were friendly and attentive and the food was good. It's a little on the pricey side but there isn't much in DTSP that isn't so that is to be expected. I will definitely be adding it to the rotation when I am working DT.

Four of us came for dinner. Our first time at Gratzzi Italian Grille. The restaurant is quaint and…read morecrowded. We had reservations and were seated immediately. Our friends decided we should start with the Cavatelli Bada Bing entree as a shareable appetizer. It is prepared table-side. Whatch out for the flame! Everything about this is entirely phenomenal. The padana parmesan, vodka sauce, and Cavatelli, created a creamy masterpiece of a flavorful meal. Bravo! For my entree I ordered the Rigatonnaci Alla Vodka. Another perfect blend of flavors. I am not one for spicy food and was happy the sausage mild. The pancetta added a nice savory touch. The vodka sauce was just the right amount and consistency. A winner for me. DH ordered the Pappardelle Alfredo with Chicken. Another chart topping mix of flavors. Just looking at the plate you know you're in for a great experience. Chicken was seasoned exceptionally well and perfectly cooked. Pasta was just right too. Everything about it was delicious. Our friends both ordered the Chicken Parmigiana. Both were extremely pleased saying the chicken was juicy and tender. This is their favorite meal. This just might be our go to Italian restaurant.

Wow- Hidden Gem in Downtown St Pete! The bar was full,…read moreeveryone eating at the bar and I got to watch how he handled the rush- Awesomeness! Efficient and non flappable even though the ladies next to me were having a " My man... complaining session" Ok back to the food - I had the Veal Chop Saltimbocca and the way it was laying on a layer of fresh spinach allowing the juices to drip was delicious!!!!! Fresh cut Veggies ( Zucchini & Squash) perfectly cooked! The Espresso Martini was a great night cap!

This is a must-visit spot for Sunday brunch, and if it's your birthday, you should absolutely…read morecelebrate here. They let you choose between a free meal or a complimentary dessert, and I wasn't about to pass up a free meal! They also offer unlimited mimosas for just $20. I have to give a shout-out to our server, who somehow managed to carry around those tiny glasses filled to the brim without spilling a single drop. I don't know how she did it! They really need to switch to taller champagne flutes because those little glasses were working against her. There were four of us celebrating the start of my birthday weekend, and brunch was the perfect way to kick it off. My husband ordered the hash, which he absolutely loved. My girlfriend had the avocado toast, and it looked delicious. As for me... I have to laugh because I honestly can't remember exactly what I ordered. I do remember it was served on toasted bread with an egg on top, and I asked them to add mortadella, which was a fantastic choice. I almost forgot, but they did come with a small portion of rosemary potatoes. I seriously could've just ordered a large bowl of those, absolutely delicious. The food was delicious, the mimosas kept flowing, and the birthday perk was the icing on the cake. Great food, great service, and a fun atmosphere made for the perfect start to my birthday weekend. I'll definitely be back.

I was very disappointed with my experience at BellaBrava today. I went with a group of 10 friends,…read moreand the amount of complimentary bread they brought to the table was nowhere near enough for a party of our size. The staff insisted that what they served was the equivalent of three loaves, but I even took a picture because it clearly wasn't. When we politely asked for more bread, we were told we would have to pay an additional $5 for each extra basket. It wasn't about the money--it was about the principle and the lack of hospitality. For a restaurant serving a large group, this felt incredibly cheap and unwelcoming. Good customer service is about making guests feel valued, especially when they bring a large party. Unfortunately, this experience left us feeling like we were being nickel-and-dimed instead. Very disappointing.

When it comes to Italian food in St Petersburg, there is always a place to go. Just march down…read moreCentral Avenue and you can find a few places on one block. It depends on what you want. And the competition is there since many will claim to be home-made and fresh. Each will have their own style and recommendations. Nothing is formal. This is casual. And, depending on the time of day you go, the crowd will be different. As for Matteo you cannot miss it. It is on the corner of a block right next to a bar and clubs called Cock Tail...It is hard to miss. That place is open to everyone no matter what you might think. And the drinks are good. So, it is no surprise that rights next to it is Matteo. And that is a good thing to know. Make your reservation and you can get in (or sit outside) and have a good Italian meal. I tis everything you might imagine and nothing fancy or over done. The place to start is with an appetizer. There is a good variety to have. As for dinner, we selected several options and decided to share what we each had. Very typical of Italians if you ate at someone's house. You share your meals while having an extensive conversation. (Of course, a glass of wine does help.) It was a delightful meal. The team there is perfect. They can answer questions and make suggestions. The food is fresh and freshly made. As for the price, it is fine and as you would suggest. Overall, I will go back and bring some friends. It is a good place to have a good dinner and experience the crowd that are there. Best, after dinner, just step next door and get an evening cocktail (literally). You do not have to go far to have a good evening. Ciao...

Tucked along Central Ave, Matteo Trattoria & Pizzeria delivers the kind of cozy Italian experience…read morethat feels both neighborhood-casual and quietly impressive. The atmosphere immediately sets the tone. Warm lighting, the aroma of simmering tomato sauce, and the hum of conversation make the space feel lively without being overwhelming. It's the type of place where you can settle in for a long dinner and a glass of wine without feeling rushed. The real highlight, though, is the food. The pasta tasted unmistakably fresh, with that perfect tender bite you only get from house-made noodles. The sauce was rich and balanced, clinging to every fold of pasta and finished with a generous dusting of parmesan that brought everything together beautifully. Service was attentive and welcoming throughout the meal, striking that ideal balance of being present without hovering. St. Pete has no shortage of Italian spots, but Matteo manages to stand out with its combination of authentic flavors, comforting ambiance, and genuinely well-executed dishes. If you're craving fresh pasta and a relaxed dinner on Central, this is absolutely a place worth visiting.

Bavaros never lets me down!…read more I love they have nice wines , by the glass, on happy hour. Not just your basic cab. This time I, of course, had to start with a cup of the tomato basil soup, which is always delicious but then I opted for their spring special: A peach and prosciutto pie with creamy burrata and hot honey, topped with arugula. This baby was full of deliciousness and layers of flavor. Service is always wonderful as well

I really wanted to like Bavaro's, but my experience was disappointing. For starters, the pizza was…read moreunderwhelming. There was an excessive amount of crust on my pizza, it felt like nearly half the pizza was plain crust which made it not very satisfying. I got the whipped limoncello pizza, I did like the flavor combination, it is a more unique pizza. Our server was not attentive at all. It took awhile to be greeted, then he seemed rushed to take our order, dropped the food off and never checked on us again. Not even for basics like red pepper and parmesan, or a table touch to make sure everything turned out well. It so happened my beer glass had a crack in it, I had to try and grab his attention while he came to the table next to us to chat multiple times completely ignoring our existence. Finally got his attention for a new glass, and he still didn't ask how anything was or check if we needed anything. In fact, he rushed off before I could even mention I wanted red pepper flakes too. I completely understand the server may have been busy or had a long night, and glasses break. However nothing really went well for us here and I don't feel the need to go back.

I'm visiting my best friend and she lives across the street from this place. She loves this place…read moreso much. We had to stop here to get dessert and a drink. I got the reposado espresso tequila and it was absolutely delicious especially for the price like you will never get better prices for Italian food and especially drinks. Then here this is the best place for Italian and drink drinks in the Saint Pete area. The worst Italian restaurant in the area is Olivia that place is the most terrible restaurant I've ever had their food and their drinks are horrible.

Really enjoyed my experience here. The food was delicious, everything tasted fresh and the…read moreatmosphere was very nice. I ordered the porcini pasta and it was honestly amazing, the mushrooms gave it such a rich flavor and the pasta tasted so fresh that it genuinely felt homemade, even though I didn't ask is it was. The only thing I would say is that the service felt a little rushed at times, like everything was moving very fast. Other than that, it was a great experience. I definitely want to come back to try more dishes and drinks because everything coming out of the kitchen looked amazing.

Made a reservation for dinner after my recent bodybuilding competition, so you already know I was…read moreready for some good food! We started with the burrata appetizer and a Caesar salad with an extra fried soft boiled egg. Both were excellent. The burrata was so fresh and the eggs on the Caesar salad were perfect. Next, my husband and I split the pepperoni pizza with a side of the Calabrian chili oil (order a side of this oil! It's a must) and the chicken Parmesan entree. Both were so delicious. Highly recommend. Service started off great! Our server was so sweet and got our drinks and took our order so quickly, but then we never saw her again and had to flag her down for our check at the end. I think they may have just been short staffed. Ambiance here never misses though. This place just feels cozy even when it's busy. We had a great experience overall and we will of course be back to this local gem again!

This was such a great brunch experience! Came in on a Sunday morning. While the restaurant was…read morecrowded, we really didn't have a weight to get a table. Our waitress was so sweet with us and answered all of our silly questions that we had about the menu. She was very patient during all of that. We decided to split some entrées and that was definitely a good choice. There's so much on the menu that sounds delicious. I'm a sucker for anything that has pimento cheese on it. So the breakfast sandwich was perfect. The breakfast pizza was also made very well, with a great crust. Luckily for me, I had leftovers and ate the rest of the pizza for a midnight snack. The perfect meal! I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone moving forward.

Exceptional customer service the food is authentic italian we return often for girls nite outread more

We wanted to try this place out because of the reviews and the pictures of the good looks…read moredelicious. Our try was a month ago. We walked in and no one acknowledge us. After a few minutes we left. Then after a couple of weeks later we went back. Saturday night before 7pm just 2 of us with no reservations. The kid(host) seated us right away. Then this is where everything kinda Spiral downhill. The service was slow so we put in our dinner right away. We asked for the wine menu and didn't NOT order because it was overpriced. Will go to another place to have drinks. We ordered Lasagna ($38) and spaghetti with meatballs ($28) not sure on the price but it was way overpriced for pasta and waited way too long for our food. All I have to say is that I was disappointed.