There were five of us celebrating my birthday, and it turned out to be such a wonderful evening. 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. read more

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I visited for lunch with coworkers and hadn't done any research so I wasn't sure what to expect but was 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. read more

Taverna Costale - Smoked Pancetta Burrata - Bars Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

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Made a same-day reservation for Friday at 6pm for 2 people with no problem. Showed up and were sat immediately. Inside of the restaurant is pretty cool and has a modern but dim vibe. We ordered the Cast Iron Focaccia, Snapper Crudo, and both got the Rigatoni Tartufo as our entrees. The Snapper Crudo was decent. It was refreshing overall. One random comment is I wish the cucumbers were cut more thin. The Focaccia bread was good but not an average focaccia. The olive oil & vinegar was a unique add that I enjoyed since the focaccia alone wasn't show stopping. The Rigatoni Tartufo was underwhelming. I was so excited about it but it was rich and didn't have a flavor I loved. I was disappointed in the dish and wouldn't order it again. Overall, service was good and the meal itself was fine. I won't rush to come back, but I have also definitely had worse meals in my life. read more

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Nice location, attentive excellent service, beautiful interior. We recommend: Focaccia skillet Meatballs are wonderful for appetizer and meals Rigatonis and Salmon read more

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The atmosphere here is fantastic. I sat at the bar, which gave me a great view of what was happening outside while still enjoying the indoor vibe. The service was excellent--bartenders were attentive and really on top of everything. My pasta wasn't quite my favorite, as the garlic flavor was a bit overpowering, but the mussels were incredible. Overall, most of the food smelled amazing. read more

Taverna Costale - Rigatoni Tartufo and broccolini - Bars Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

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This is the second time we tried this restaurant. I would say the second time was much better because we didn't order the pasta. The crab cake appetizer was really good, the focaccia bread is a must-have warm and yummy, we had the steak and tuna tartare appetizer, and the beet salad all perfect! They have a variety of specialty cocktails that are very good. Let's get to the parking, it's difficult because they closed down the street, so you either have to park in the garage or search around and around the block. The atmosphere is OK the chairs aren't the most comfortable and it's not so inviting. It opens up into a business area so you look out into a enclosed environment on one side and the street on the other if you're lucky enough to get a street Table ask for one! Service was really good. It was New Year's Eve and they really tried hard! read more

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Was trying to find a restaurant for Saturday night & stumbled upon this place. We were able to get seated in the bar area, however the dining area was filled mostly. We started with some appetizers, the meatballs were great would recommend that. The drinks were very good as well. My lobster pasta was delicious, the noodles were cooked perfectly & the sauce had a lot of flavor. I did feel like the lobster was a little dry but besides that everything was good! read more

Taverna Costale - Lobster pasta - Bars Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

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Can't really say enough about this spot... did not even know it was there but went with a group of 9 for a friend's birthday and it was absolutely fantastic. From the service to our focaccia app and the filet I had was really great, cooked perfectly. The creme brǔlée, I will say wasn't as crispy on top as we'd have liked, but the flavor made up for it. Overall, they were very accommodating and the food was great. Definitely will be on my return list! read more

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Really enjoyed our dinner here last night. It's a very swank but chill restaurant right across the street from all the central ave mayhem. Drinks - Skinny marg and glass of Pinot noir - one of the best skinny margs I've had. Appetizer was the octopus. It was good, the sauce was a bit lacking in flavor. Entrees - lobster rigatoni and crusted pork loin special. Both of these were amazing with incredible flavor. Dessert - pistachio cake, lemon cream brûlée and vanilla gelato, espresso for me and a tequila espresso martini for the wife. These were the highlight of the night. Knocked it right out the park and a great way to end a good meal. Server was very nice and efficient. He disappeared for about 15 mins after the main course was done but otherwise all good. We will be back. read more

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A really good night out spot for dinner with friends. We came here with friends for my wife's birthday and really enjoyed it. There were quite a few tables with large groups and everyone was very lively, perhaps not the best if you wanted a more intimate setting. We thoroughly enjoyed all our food and drinks. I believe I got one of their bourbon drinks, which I ended up ordering another. We got bread and oil, muscles, and bruschetta with pork belly as appetizers. Absolutely no complaints on that, other than perhaps the small dipping items on the oil plate were a bit small for a group to share. I ended up order the pork shank, which I thought was the best item out of all of our orders. My wife loved it as well. Overall a great place with great food to start a night out. read more

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Food was great. It was a bit loud as there was a live band on the street outside (first Friday of the month regular thing). Great service from Olivia. Saw so many other delicious looking options come out to surrounding tables but the swordfish piccata hit the spot for me read more

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The service was great, we went at lunch and the server knew we were having a conversation so she attended us very well for that situation. Food was OK. It would probably be great to most people., but I like a little bit more flavor in my food. Nice ambience I'm sure it's great in the evening as well. Great place for a business lunch or for meeting friends.. It looks like a cool hip restaurant and maybe it's OK for people, but I thought the food was average. read more

This would have been a 4 star review if we didn't get food poisoning. To be fair, we ate there on NYE. Not that it makes it OK, but maybe gives context. Something was cross contaminated. Our server was friendly and great despite the busy atmosphere. Our dirty martini, the mussels, and tallow french fries were really good. All things I'd order again. Now for our entrees, we started having some issues. My husband's strip steak and another person in our groups filet oscar both came out overcooked. It was sent back and remade correctly. The strip was tough and didn't have much flavor. The side salad was ok, but there were some tiny tomatoes that had a bad flavor. This is the dish we think we got food poisoning from. I called the restaurant to let them know but they said no one else had reported any issues. I got the pork shank, which looked great but was bland and way under salted and the polenta was cold. My friend got the chicken thigh marsala, which was the favorite dish of the table. Creamy and indulgent. She was disappointed her potatoes weren't crispy, but a great dish overall. read more

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Taverna Costale in St Pete consistently delivers outstanding cuisine, and our latest meal there was no exception. The mussels were, in my opinion, the best I've enjoyed in years. We chose the Pork Osso Bucco and the Crab and Shrimp Spaghettini for dinner, both of which were expertly prepared. The espresso martini was a highlight, and the Chocolate Flourless Cake, not pictured, was a decadent delight. Whether it's a weekday or weekend, the drive from the Tampa area is well worth it. Service tonight from San was great. read more

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Had a really nice dining experience at Taverna Costale. The ambience is beautiful and upscale without feeling over the top, which made the evening feel special. We ordered the Chicken Marsala, which was excellent. The portion size was just right and the flavors were well balanced. For sides, we had the crispy Brussels sprouts and roasted asparagus. Both were good, though there were a couple of small issues. The asparagus could have used a bit more salt, and while the Brussels sprouts were very well done, I didn't expect cheese on them and would have preferred being asked. We finished with tiramisu, which was decent but not particularly memorable. Drinks were good and complemented the meal well. The standout of the evening was our waitress. I unfortunately don't remember her name, but her service was exceptional. She was warm, attentive, honest, and seemed to genuinely care about our experience. She checked in just the right amount and made us feel very comfortable. Overall, a lovely experience. Great atmosphere, good food with minor tweaks needed, and outstanding service. read more

Taverna Costale - Chicken Marsala and a side of Asparagus - Bars Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

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Had an amazing experience at Taverna Costale! I went recently for a work function and it delivered on food, service and ambiance. My food was outstanding- for my entree I got the Rigatoni Tartufo, which was rich, creamy, earthy-goodness. The truffle/Parmesan combo is elite, and Taverna Costale nailed it with this dish. And I can't forget about the Tartufo e Prosciutto Pizza- as a truffle lover- this exceeded expectations! The Prosciutto was salty, meaty and tender, and the truffle complimented it perfectly. Our service was great, too! Our waiter was knowledgeable and kind. The vibe was upscale, but not stuffy. LOVE Taverna Costale! read more

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I walked over from my hotel for lunch, and was so pleasantly surprised that they served me the carpaccio, even though it wasn't on the menu yet! I had a wonderful experience with my server and bartender, Sean, and 10 out of 10, I'll be back. read more

Taverna Costale - Bars Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

Expresso Milagro is my jam & they have it! Absolutely delish! Sat at the bar. Def a boys club vibe. The bartender is great! Def will be back. My gal pal got the Old Fashion on happy hour. Extensive happy hour food menu read more

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Stopped in for lunch with a few colleagues on a Friday. Very tasty and in a great location, walkable from many nearby offices. Definitely not a a budget lunch, but the portion I had for the Mezzo E Mezzo was good. I was satisfied and would return again. Wasn't crowded at all, but I elect folks were either WFH or salary offline for the upcoming holiday. read more

Taverna Costale - Bars Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

Came here for happy hour on a Tuesday and had a great time! Happy hour is unfortunately only at the bar, so not ideal if there are no spots open. My friend and I got lucky and there were 2 spots open at the end. However, they have an outdoor bar as well, so the window was open which made it SO HOT inside. Besides that, our food and drinks were very pleasant. We each got a gin cocktail from the HH menu and split the mussels and tuna wontons. I then got a pizza from the regular menu as HH ended at 6. My pizza was delicious! I loved the deeper crust. Overall, I would come back here for happy hour! But I would try to sit away from the window read more

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Another delicious couple of appetizers and drinks here during a progressive dinner night. I hadn't yet tried their tuna carpaccio and it was phenomenal! read more

Taverna Costale - Tuna appetizer - Bars Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

Service was not at all what anyone would expect. Terrible. Food was rushed and cut small pieces to make space for clumped together pasta. The Broccoli Rabi I swear was one stem cut into tiny pieces. The Orecchiette was all clumped together and the sausage was like meat for a burger. Then the cherry tomatoes were near to existence since there were 2 small enough to confuse you was a tini tiny red pepper. I know it's Grand Prix weekend; but even people who work downtown after work shouldn't be sitting outside for 2 hours for 2 cocktails the burrata app and my meal being terrible. I ended up at Publix purchasing a pub sub. It will take me a long time to come back to the place I felt safe sitting myself at a bar since moving to St. Pete. That's if I come back. read more

Is one of my favorite restaurants in Saint Pete downtown . Is always consistent and the server Jayden is a must have, her suggestion are always perfect making dinner an excellent experience. I have no bad comments about this place 3 times there 0ctopus, focaccia bread and the pasta it just tastes fantastic. Dessert pistachio cake , yummy read more

Great service and amazing food! We had fish and pizza at an Italian restaurant and regret it not a bit!

This is one of my go-to's in St. Pete. Convenient location, tasty menu and great service. When the weather cooperates the outdoor bar seating is quintessential Florida street dining. The service is always terrific. Sean and Adam are almost clairvoyant in their timing but never to the point of disrupting conversation. They have a way of making you feel like a regular even if you may not be. Highly recommend! read more

This restaurant has a lot going for it: the food is inventive and delicious; the service is spot-on good; and the ambiance is comfortable and chic. My husband got the pork chop which was HUGE! He said it was delicious. I got the lamb lollipops which were very tender and flavorful. Dessert was Lemoncello Crème Brûlée and the warm apple tart with ice cream. Both were very good though I thought the apples could have been softer and I wish they gave more ice cream with it. Price is moderate and I would definitely return to this restaurant when we are back in St. Pete. read more

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Pros: -The location is downtown and walkable to other bars, restaurants, and music venues like Jannus Live. -The food is delicious. We liked the Caesar salad, octopus started, and the lobster rigatoni (which had lots of lobster meat in it!) Cons: -The service is VERY slow, even when the restaurant isn't busy. I actually had to walk over to the bar to get water because our waiter was nowhere to be found. And we had to ask him for our check several times at the end of the meal; he just disappeared! -While this feels like a nice restaurant, it oddly has a reputation of being family-friendly. There were kids EVERYWHERE, which is not conducive to a romantic meal. There was even a guy changing a kid's diaper not even in the bathroom, just outside the restaurant! Ew! read more

Taverna Costale - Octopus appetizer - Bars Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

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Went here for a business lunch. The waiter was super accommodating and the food was very good. I had the meatballs and a small salad. The ambience is really lovely. It's right on Central Avenue so the parking is a bit challenging, but I would definitely recommend this place. read more

Delightful surprise. We just came to town and the Taverna Costale is nearby. We didn't expect an outstanding meal, but we were delighted. The scampi special appetizer is heavenly the rich garlic butter sauce with capers is a wrinkle we will try to copy. The lobster ravioli has a little piquancy. Delightful! And I love the cioppino! Lovely slivers of fennel add a delightful bouquet. And, to too it off, a sauternes! Excellent read more

TBH I wish I had taken pictures of my mail because the food was absolutely fantastic, I'm writing this review a few weeks after the fact, but I definitely recall having the pesto linguine dish and it was out of this world. The staff is amazing and it's a definite recommendation. I will be back. read more

Stopped in here on a Friday night for happy hour at 6 PM. We sat in the bar but they had plenty tables available. We each had a glass of wine and then had the lump crabcake and the meatballs. Both were super delicious and came out pretty fast. Would love to come back here and sit down in the actual restaurant area and have dinner. read more

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We randomly stumbled upon this place as we stayed in St Pete for the weekend. We didn't expect it to be so good! Every dish we had today was wonderful. I highly recommend the pork chop. Also, don't sleep on meatballs, they were delicious! A very pleasant discovery that was 100% worth it read more

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Stopped in for lunch with my mom on Saturday afternoon. Sat at one of the high tops near the bar since they were playing football. My mom and I both ordered the half portion of Bucatini E Polpetti which came with a chopped side salad and house focaccia. The pasta was delicious and I loved the meatball and ricotta with it. Took home Limoncello Cake which was my favorite and Salted Caramel Cheesecake. read more

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The food was good! But the service was pretty average. It was my birthday and we had both written it in the reservation and the server had looked at my ID, but no mention of it all dinner. The burrata and the shrimp/crab spaghettini were amazing. The focaccia and rigatoni were pretty meh. The focaccia was pretty flavorless and tasted like a Hawaiian roll. It seems like the serving staff were just spread pretty thin and it made for a disappointing birthday dinner. $150 for two people read more

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I have never been here before, I stopped and had breakfast this morning on the sidewalk. Waitress could not have been better, took care of my friend and I as well as my dog. Sweet girl. A nice quiet morning downtown. The food was good. I did walk inside to see what it looked like inside, very nicely done inside. But it was breakfast. A little pricey for breakfast, no coffee , no juice , just water pretty much bacon , 2 eggs and toast with sausage. $35 and she deserved the tip, gave her $10. But $35 for basic breakfast is nuts. In the end I paid $45. There are many places downtown that serve breakfast that are just as good with a for less money. The cost is the only complaint I have. read more

Stopped in for an appetizer and drink. Ordered a martini and basically got charged $4 for the lemon peel added to my drink. They itemized it as a "twist". Mussels had a staple in it. Terrible rude service to top it off. Sorry - never going back. Very disappointing. Do better. read more

I have heard really great things about this restaurant so I was excited to try it. Highly recommend making a reservation in advance. The atmosphere is lively and the service is attentive. However, the menu and the food did not blow me away. We started with the mussels and the focaccia bread. The mussels were small and the sauce didn't have a ton of flavor - they were fresh though. The focaccia bread was okay, nothing special. I tried the prosciutto truffle pizza for my entree and was underwhelmed. It was not bad, but there was nothing outstanding about it. read more

Taverna Costale - Mussels - Bars Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

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I came here to write a review about Taverna Costale, which I had only been to once before, to find I had already written one and got the same exact things the last time I went (poor memory on my part)! The first time, the service wasn't the best so I didn't give it a high rating. I figured it might be because it was on a Sunday on a holiday weekend, maybe a fluke. I was right. My husband and I went back to Taverna Costale last night (a Saturday night), and even though the restaurant was busy, the service was excellent!! Our waitress couldn't have been more attentive and friendly. We were seated in one of the circular, romantic booths, which we loved as it felt almost like a secluded dining experience. (I think you can now book these booths online in advance, if you're a party of 2). They have a great wine selection, including some Italian varietals that are harder to find here! The food is the one thing that has been consistently incredible. Their foccaccia is definitely tied with the best I've had in St. Pete. So soft and fluffy, served with delicious olive oil and butter. I recommend you pair it with the Mediterranean salad, which is light and bright with a nice brunch. The roasted peppers and tomatoes really elevate it. The salsiccia e broccolini pasta is fantastic. Amazing textures and a delicious flavor, not too heavy. They will pre-split any pastas you'd like to share, which I appreciate. Lastly, I tried their cioppino again this time. It was as amazing as it looks!! Choc full of frutti di mare: mussels, clams, squid, shrimp, and fish in a savory broth with crusty (but not too hard) bread. There was still barely any fish unit, but I was OK with that, since it was so filling with the other seafood, including nice pieces of squid and shrimp (not just clams and mussels). Glad I gave it another shot! My husband got the pork shank, not pictured, which was INSANELY good. So tender, I couldn't stop stealing bites. We were way too stuffed at the end for dessert. But we will absolutely be back to try it next time! read more

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We stopped by for a quick happy hour bite and enjoyed the meatballs and truffle fries. If you've never tried this combo you must absolutely stop here to do so. We sat at the bar and had a few cocktails and enjoyed the breeze from the open windows. The staff was nice and services was quick. The cocktails were A+. read more

Taverna Costale - Martini and Menu - Bars Near Me - St. Petersburg, Florida

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A cozy table for three by the window. Service was very good. Thank you Olivia. Olivia showed us the perfect amount of attention, not bugging us but available when appropriate. The meatball appetizer was tasty with fresh tomato sauce and ricotta. The double cut pork chop was frankly the best I've ever had. The cook was perfect and the romesco sauce accentuated the taste of the pork. Don't forget the crispy brussels. Slightly sweet and salty and cooked well. I'm not generally a fan of brussel sprouts, but I'd eat these over and over. Topping of the meal was dessert, salted caramel cheesecake that calmed my sweet tooth craving. Well done Taverna Costale! read more