The pasta is terrific, and the sauce was perfect. Full of flavor, served with fresh basil. And you have to try the bruschetta, best I’ve had in Tampa. Ask for Andrew, he is very attentive and gives good insight into the menu.
If you like Italian food, this is a must!
Michael Glinter
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February 18, 2024
A Mixed Experience at La Terrazza – Ambiance Shines, Food Falls Short
Upon entering this restaurant, I was struck by how cozy and charming this restaurant was. The maitre d was straight from Italy, and was very attentive to getting us seated right away so we could enjoy the evening with our friends and family. We were then greeted by Andrew, who was truly amazing as a waiter. He added the personality and energy that our group needed to get our dinner off to a great start. However, the key to any restaurant is the FOOD.
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Starter - Bruschetta Rustica – We were off to a good start with this classic appetizer elevated to a higher level, delivering an amazing flavor profile and freshness beyond most restaurants. It was a perfect mix of Golden toasted bread, crisp on the outside and delightfully soft within, adorned with a mosaic of chopped tomatoes, fragrant basil leaves, and finely minced garlic, all delicately bathed in the luscious embrace of extra virgin olive oil.
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Next Dinner: What could go wrong?
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We were told that none of the pasta was made in-house except for a couple of the ravioli dishes, which made me quite skeptical. I have been to a number of Italian restaurants in Tampa that serve fresh, homemade pasta. However, I get it; it's a time-consuming process.
--
Scaloppine alla Ortolana - First and foremost, the Veal Scaloppine arrived with an eggplant mozzarella garnish on top of an underwhelming portion of veal. I noticed with all the dishes that everything was SUPER thin. They pounded down all the chicken to make very thin slices. With the veal, they cut corners by having only small medalions. It was supposed to be a light tomato oregano sauce without any discernible flavor. The sauce fell flat, lacking depth and complexity. It seemed as though the oregano was an afterthought, and the soft tasted like a jar of Ragu. The accompanying vegetables and potatoes were also disappointingly bland, lacking freshness and flavor. It was evident that little attention was paid to seasoning or enhancing the natural taste of the produce.
--
Chicken Parmesan - To start with, the chicken itself was a major letdown. It was super thin and pounded down; it was practically nonexistent, resembling more of a sad, flattened cutlet than a substantial piece of poultry. Not only was the chicken thin, but it was also devoid of any flavor or seasoning, leaving me wondering if it had been seasoned at all before hitting the pan. Given that it was flattened so much, it was not moist at all. Accompanying this sorry excuse for chicken was a bed of spaghetti that tasted like it had been plucked straight from a cheap, store-bought carton. And let's not forget the pasta sauce – or should I say, the insult masquerading as sauce. It tasted like a generic jar of Ragu straight off the grocery store shelf, devoid of any depth, richness, or homemade charm. It lacked the vibrant flavors of fresh tomatoes, herbs, and spices, leaving me wondering if any effort had been put into its preparation at all.
--
The veal scaloppine was a mere shadow of what it should have been. Instead of the promised tender and succulent cut, what arrived at my table was a thin, overcooked piece of meat that resembled more a chicken cutlet than a veal. The thinness of the meat contributed to its dry and chewy texture, making it a struggle to enjoy even a single bite. Adding insult to injury was the Marsala sauce, which I can only describe as a soupy disaster. Instead of delicately coating the scaloppine and mushrooms, the sauce drowned the dish, turning it into a soggy mess. The Marsala sauce lacked the richness and depth of flavor that is characteristic of this traditional Italian sauce, tasting more like a diluted broth than a savory enhancement.
--
Overall, the ambiance and service were amazing. However, while the start of the dinner was hopeful, it quickly slid to the depths of a restaurant that had lost its luster.
Parv Sibal
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February 03, 2024
I really had high hopes for this restaurant. After reading so many good reviews & seeing the ratings.
We made reservation for 7:30pm for a Friday evening. Arrived right about 7:30pm. Still ended up waiting for over 20 mins. Finally the table we got seemed was a gray area. All the servers just kept walking by. We had to wave to get someone’s attention.
Food took about a good 45 mins to come. Didn’t mind waiting since I was expecting a tasty meal. But, the food was nothing more than just another average Italian restaurant.
Not sure if it was just a bad day to go there or we were expecting too much from a 4.8 star restaurant to have a good service & food.
We left disappointed!
Elana Hinton
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April 03, 2024
Such a cute and intimate gem in the heart of ybor. Lots of options with friendly staff and relaxing music. We enjoyed our dinner. Wish we had space to try the tiramisu.
Martin Thomas
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April 21, 2024
OUTSTANDING!!!
finally I’ve found an Italian restaurant which is not ‘American Italian’!
As a Brit living here it’s a huge difference believe me!
Simple dishes executed superbly with a homely feel and excellent service
Can’t wait to return!
Our Address
1727 E 7th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605, USA
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The pasta is terrific, and the sauce was perfect. Full of flavor, served with fresh basil. And you have to try the bruschetta, best I’ve had in Tampa. Ask for Andrew, he is very attentive and gives good insight into the menu. If you like Italian food, this is a must!
A Mixed Experience at La Terrazza – Ambiance Shines, Food Falls Short Upon entering this restaurant, I was struck by how cozy and charming this restaurant was. The maitre d was straight from Italy, and was very attentive to getting us seated right away so we could enjoy the evening with our friends and family. We were then greeted by Andrew, who was truly amazing as a waiter. He added the personality and energy that our group needed to get our dinner off to a great start. However, the key to any restaurant is the FOOD. - Starter - Bruschetta Rustica – We were off to a good start with this classic appetizer elevated to a higher level, delivering an amazing flavor profile and freshness beyond most restaurants. It was a perfect mix of Golden toasted bread, crisp on the outside and delightfully soft within, adorned with a mosaic of chopped tomatoes, fragrant basil leaves, and finely minced garlic, all delicately bathed in the luscious embrace of extra virgin olive oil. -- Next Dinner: What could go wrong? -- We were told that none of the pasta was made in-house except for a couple of the ravioli dishes, which made me quite skeptical. I have been to a number of Italian restaurants in Tampa that serve fresh, homemade pasta. However, I get it; it's a time-consuming process. -- Scaloppine alla Ortolana - First and foremost, the Veal Scaloppine arrived with an eggplant mozzarella garnish on top of an underwhelming portion of veal. I noticed with all the dishes that everything was SUPER thin. They pounded down all the chicken to make very thin slices. With the veal, they cut corners by having only small medalions. It was supposed to be a light tomato oregano sauce without any discernible flavor. The sauce fell flat, lacking depth and complexity. It seemed as though the oregano was an afterthought, and the soft tasted like a jar of Ragu. The accompanying vegetables and potatoes were also disappointingly bland, lacking freshness and flavor. It was evident that little attention was paid to seasoning or enhancing the natural taste of the produce. -- Chicken Parmesan - To start with, the chicken itself was a major letdown. It was super thin and pounded down; it was practically nonexistent, resembling more of a sad, flattened cutlet than a substantial piece of poultry. Not only was the chicken thin, but it was also devoid of any flavor or seasoning, leaving me wondering if it had been seasoned at all before hitting the pan. Given that it was flattened so much, it was not moist at all. Accompanying this sorry excuse for chicken was a bed of spaghetti that tasted like it had been plucked straight from a cheap, store-bought carton. And let's not forget the pasta sauce – or should I say, the insult masquerading as sauce. It tasted like a generic jar of Ragu straight off the grocery store shelf, devoid of any depth, richness, or homemade charm. It lacked the vibrant flavors of fresh tomatoes, herbs, and spices, leaving me wondering if any effort had been put into its preparation at all. -- The veal scaloppine was a mere shadow of what it should have been. Instead of the promised tender and succulent cut, what arrived at my table was a thin, overcooked piece of meat that resembled more a chicken cutlet than a veal. The thinness of the meat contributed to its dry and chewy texture, making it a struggle to enjoy even a single bite. Adding insult to injury was the Marsala sauce, which I can only describe as a soupy disaster. Instead of delicately coating the scaloppine and mushrooms, the sauce drowned the dish, turning it into a soggy mess. The Marsala sauce lacked the richness and depth of flavor that is characteristic of this traditional Italian sauce, tasting more like a diluted broth than a savory enhancement. -- Overall, the ambiance and service were amazing. However, while the start of the dinner was hopeful, it quickly slid to the depths of a restaurant that had lost its luster.
I really had high hopes for this restaurant. After reading so many good reviews & seeing the ratings. We made reservation for 7:30pm for a Friday evening. Arrived right about 7:30pm. Still ended up waiting for over 20 mins. Finally the table we got seemed was a gray area. All the servers just kept walking by. We had to wave to get someone’s attention. Food took about a good 45 mins to come. Didn’t mind waiting since I was expecting a tasty meal. But, the food was nothing more than just another average Italian restaurant. Not sure if it was just a bad day to go there or we were expecting too much from a 4.8 star restaurant to have a good service & food. We left disappointed!
Such a cute and intimate gem in the heart of ybor. Lots of options with friendly staff and relaxing music. We enjoyed our dinner. Wish we had space to try the tiramisu.
OUTSTANDING!!! finally I’ve found an Italian restaurant which is not ‘American Italian’! As a Brit living here it’s a huge difference believe me! Simple dishes executed superbly with a homely feel and excellent service Can’t wait to return!