Craving Italian food?
Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top Italian spots around Tampa, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to meet your needs.
People in the Tampa area usually spend more in the winter at restaurants than any other season of the year, according to data on local business transactions from Womply, a software provider that helps small businesses get more customers. Daily spending at Tampa-area restaurants grew to $1,620 per business in the winter of last year, 7% higher than the average for the rest of the year.
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1. Armani's
First on the list is Armani's. Located at 2900 Bayport Drive, Floor 14, the wine bar, lounge and Italian spot is the highest-rated Italian restaurant in Tampa, boasting four stars out of 219 reviews on Yelp.
Located on the top floor of the Grand Hyatt, this spot offers views of Tampa Bay and a menu created by New Orleans chef Jonathan. Expect to find classic Italian dishes like wild mushroom risotto, chicken parmigiana, veal piccata and spaghetti carbonara which comes with truffle cream sauce, aged parmesan and fava beans. Top off your meal with the tiramisu.
2. Pane Rustica
Next is Bayshore Beautiful's Pane Rustica, situated at 3225 S. MacDill Ave. With 4.5 stars out of 424 reviews on Yelp, the bakery and Italian spot has proved to be a local favorite.
Start off with the acorn squash stuffed with chicken salad or the watermelon salad with feta, almond and arugula. Also, try pastas like the gnocchi with spicy sausage and the nimon burger with blackberry jam and Brie on focaccia.
3. Osteria Natalina
Bayshore Beautiful's Osteria Natalina, located at 3215 S. MacDill Ave., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the Italian spot 4.5 stars out of 342 reviews.
The menu features a Caesar salad, yellowfin tuna carpaccio and lobster stuffed ravioli. Got a sweet tooth? Save room for desserts like cannoli, mascarpone gelato and tiramisu.
4. Due Amici
Due Amici, a bar and Italian spot that offers pizza and more in Historic Ybor, is another go-to, with four stars out of 211 Yelp reviews. Head over to 1724 E. Seventh Ave. to see for yourself.
This pizzeria and sports bar got its start in Staten Island and claims to "serve some of the best Italian pasta this side of Italy," according to the specialities section of its Yelp profile.
Yelpers' favorite pizzas include the buffalo chicken, white and the Margherita. Besides a variety of pizzas, the menu also features wings, garlic knots and panini sandwiches.
This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
