Diners' Choice: Italian restaurants in Tampa / Central Florida West

OpenTable

Updated 05 October 2026

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Italian cuisine in Tampa / Central Florida West? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyses more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favourites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Quality Foods Market

5.0

5 (586)

$50 and over

Italian

Tampa

About the restaurant

Consistently ranked among the top dining experiences on OpenTable in Tampa and West-Central Florida, Quality Foods Market offers an intimate, chef-driven Italian experience.

Chef Christopher Houp prepares every entrée personally, with a menu that changes daily based on the finest ingredients from Italy and beyond. With only a handful of tables, guests are welcomed into an unrushed, European-style experience centered on precision, hospitality, and a 500+ bottle international wine program curated tableside.

Our menu changes daily and is not posted in advance. Each evening reflects the best ingredients available, with a focus on house-made pastas, thoughtfully composed seasonal dishes, and a rotating selection of premium meats and seafood.

Guests are invited to enjoy the experience as presented. Those with serious allergies are encouraged to contact us in advance.

Top review

Kathy

Dined 5 days ago

Chef Chris & Emily, his wife and staff, Victoria & Stephanie surpassed our expectations for tonight’s dinner! It will be remembered for a long time! The perfect meatball in Pomodora sauce, homemade bread with garlic butter, an Insane Tagliatelle Alfredo with parmigiano and veal scallopine!! All paired with 3 different Chiantis. We’re in heaven!! Dessert will be enjoyed tomorrow for breakfast! Thank you so much for an exquisite dining experience.

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La Dolce Vita Authentic Italian Cuisine

5.0

5 (548)

$31 to $50

Italian

Sarasota

About the restaurant

For Valentine’s Day, we are offering a special prix-fixe menu at $95 per person. You can see the menu in the appropriate section.

We welcome our guests to an authentic Italian restaurant: here we offer traditional cuisine, with a modern take on northern and southern Italian recipes. Mauro, the chef, and his wife Tina, have an huge amount of experience behind them.
Mauro is from Naples, Tina was born in a little sicilian town near by Enna.
He began to learn everything about the southern cuisine by his experience in Naples since he was a child, from “Polipetti alla Luciana” to “Paccheri ai frutti di mare”. Furthermore he moved in Milan and he had the chance to learn the northern cuisine, from “Risotto ai funghi porcini” to “Polenta grigliata”, one of his favourite specialties!
From an ancient sicilian tradition, Tina learnt everything about the desserts by her grandmother and her mother, from “Millefoglie” to “Cannoli cake”.
We hope you enjoyed reading about us.

Top review

donna

Dined 5 days ago

Found this restaurant by accident and I am very happy we did. Initially was a suspicion it was going to be a disappointment since from outside just a strip mall location. But from the moment created by the server to the wine recommendation this was amazing. We had the signature dish with prawns which was very floral with being overwhelming. Reminded me of several family owned restaurants in Italy.

Pietro's Italian Restaurant

5.0

5 (939)

$31 to $50

Italian

Sarasota

About the restaurant

Italian Restaurant& wine bar in Sarasota. Where you are a stranger only once.
His philosophy served him well with his previous Sarasota businesses. Café Gabbiano located on Siesta Key was originated by the Migliaccio family in 2003 where is four sons grew in and out of the restaurant business.
A second venture in downtown Sarasota was opened and designed by Pietro in 2012 named Casantica, a small old house converted to a quaint homey restaurant. Both restaurants are now under new ownership.
Now, this small intimate place is where I can have fun serving and meeting new friends. Benvenuti.

Top review

Sahil

Dined on 13 Oct 2026

Lovely experience. Staff and chef are wonderful and they dote on you!

Caffe Paradiso - Tampa

4.9

4.9 (1413)

$30 and under

Italian

Tampa

About the restaurant

Caffé Paradiso voted best Italian resturant in Tampa is known for it's great home made regional dishes excellent service and reasonably priced wine list, also preparing special dishes at your request.

Top review

Maria

Dined 3 days ago

Good food and great staff! If you’re ever in Tampa you should definitely visit. Paolo and his staff are awesome!

Apulia Osteria Italiana

5.0

5 (585)

$31 to $50

Italian

Rotonda

About the restaurant

Apulia Osteria Italiana is located in Placida, Florida just a few miles away from the beautiful Island of Boca Grande and Manasota key just 20 minutes from Port Charlotte and Venice.
The warm hospitality and the professionalism you will receive at Apulia will make you feel welcome throuout your entire visit. Chef Dario Leo along with his staff will make sure you will be delighted with superb food and great service.
You will enjoy dishes from his native region " Apulia" also called "The hill of the boot", specialties such as Orecchiette with Rapini, Fritto misto di Paranza ( seafood) , Burrata, Baked Snapper, Beef Braciole, Pasticciotto Leccese and so many other dishes from all over Italy such as Ossobuco, Risotti, Gnocchi, Branzino, Ravioli, Tiramisu, Gelati and so much more......

Top review

CharlesGold

Dined 2 days ago

Saturday was Chef Leo’s offering his special featured lasagna. Chef Leo enjoys an incredible culinary history over his career. One of best lasagna dinners I have ever tasted. Our guest had a filet that was grilled perfectly and extremely tender. Apulia is a wonderful dining experience and I would highly recommend this Italian restaurant to anyone who wants to experience an incredible menu. It’s worth a drive to Placida Fl. to enjoy wonderfully prepared food.

Dolce Italia

4.9

4.9 (845)

$31 to $50

Italian

Sarasota

About the restaurant

PLEASE NOTE: We offer limited reservations on the OpenTable platform. To see our full availability please go to our website dolceitaliarestaurant.com or our Google business page. On the website or Google business page you can also book parties from 7 to 10 people. To book a party larger than 10, please contact the restaurant directly at 941-921-7007.

Dolce Italia was established in 2010 by Tiziana Di Costanzo who came from Ischia, an island in the Gulf of Naples. Using a combination of classic Italian dishes, family recipes passed down for generations, and warm hospitality, Dolce Italia has built a reputation in Sarasota as a destination for anyone seeking great food and ambiance. In 2015 Matthew joined as manager of the front of house and is now the owner of Dolce Italia. The kitchen staff trained by Tiziana from the beginning are still with the restaurant with Maria being the capocuoco.

Top review

Georgina

Dined 2 days ago

We always love dinner at Dolce Vita! Matthew and the staff are always friendly and helpful and the food is terrific!

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Popular dish

Cannoli

Maestrale

4.9

4.9 (211)

$31 to $50

Italian

Gulf Gate Estates

About the restaurant

IMPORTANT: We use both Opentable and the Toast reservation system, to avoid confusion you can reserve on Opentable up to 4 people, for 6 and up you can reserve on google or our website using toast, and you can always call us! This way we avoid double bookings. Thank you for your understanding!

Maestrale is the wind that blows from the north to south over the Italian peninsula mainly on the coast. Everything in our restaurant carries the personal touch of family. Our dishes and drinks are rooted in Puglia, the southern Italian region where our story begins. We've adapted traditional cuisine for local tastes while preserving rare, unique recipes passed down from our grandparents. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, perfect for family gatherings, romantic evenings, or special occasions. Classic, elegant, and cozy, just like dining at home. When you come in make sure to check our specials on the board that the chef prepares fresh daily, and call us for any requests.

Top review

Ann

Dined on 14 Oct 2026

As always the food was well prepared, delicious and professionally served, with a smile & a bit of humor. Never disappointed @ Maestrale!

Massimo's Eclectic Fine Dining

4.9

4.9 (1167)

$31 to $50

Italian

Palm Harbor

About the restaurant

Join Chef Massimo for an artful blend of Italian and Mediterranean cuisines paired with an award winning wine list and full bar.
Appetizers range from Hudson Valley Grade-A Foie Gras, Pistachio coated Pan Seared Duck and Brie to Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes and rice flour battered calamari. A rich, creamy lobster bisque is a favorite among customers.
Other specialties include Veal Cognac in a creamy truffle sauce, veal chop, sweetbreads, risotto and Chilean Sea Bass.
Last, but not least, are the homemade delectable desserts.
Complementing his efforts in the kitchen is the gracious, knowledgeable and efficient staff.
Tables at the casually elegant restaurant are dressed with crisp table linens, and candles. Cascading fountains decorate the walls.

Top review

Laura

Dined 2 days ago

Definitely a special occasion restaurant. Went there for my son's birthday last night. Got 2 appetizers, 3 lobster bisques, 3 entrees: Elk chop, filet mignon, and the special of halibut. Everything was delicious, perfectly prepared and presented. Got 3 desserts: 2 creme brulees, limoncello cake. They also gave my son a birthday dessert of cheesecake square with a candle! No singing luckily. Our server (Betty?) was great, attentive but not overbearing. I would definitely recommend this restaurant for a special occasion as it was expensive. Worth it though.

Casa Cosenza Italian Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (1118)

$31 to $50

Italian

Safety Harbor

About the restaurant

In our cooking we use only the finest ingredients imported from Italy, and all our dishes are made fresh to order because we are dedicated to sharing with you what real Italian food tastes like.

Patio seating is available for party sizes of 2-4 guests!

Top review

Bill

Dined on 16 Oct 2026

One of our favorite places to dine. The food is amazing and so fresh

Tiramisu

4.8

4.8 (1130)

$30 and under

Italian

South Bradenton

About the restaurant

At Tiramisu of Bradenton, owners Luca and Monica welcome you like family, sharing authentic Italian recipes passed down through generations. Enjoy homemade pasta, classic dishes, and a great selection of wines in a warm, intimate setting. A true Italian experience in the heart of Bradenton—where great food and genuine hospitality come together.

Top review

Daniel

Dined 5 days ago

Food was fantastic and the service was great , very professional.

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Popular dish

Lasagna Bolognese

Popular dish

Tagliatelle Bolognese

Popular dish

Spaghetti Puttanesca

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