Omg. First of all, if you consider Olive Garden or Carrabba's good Italian, please skip this place. This restaurant is a gem. The chef is your Italian waiter. Make reservations and try everything. It's by far the best Italian I've had in Tampa. Be sure to leave room for dessert. Actually, even if you feel like you're about to explode, have an appetizer, entree and tiramisu for dessert.

Absolutely phenomenal, frankly best Italian food we’ve eaten in America and we came across this spot by accident. Seems like a hole in the wall spot until you sit down and the intimate vibe just takes over. The chef is a true artist focused on delivering fantastic dishes. We had the burrata salad, lamb chop risotto, shrimp tortellini and cannoli. All amazing but the risotto was another level, BYOB which we love. Also large portions everything was worth it, can’t wait to visit again!

Probably one of the best kept secrets in Tampa! Chef William is amazing and the food is fantastic. The standard menu is very good and very affordable, specials are a bit pricier but delicious. We had the rack of lamb w/mushroom risotto and butternut squash ravioli, and the tiramisu and tres leches cake for desert. BYOB as well so hit total wine for a good bottle beforehand

I just had the most beautiful experience at Piccola Italia ! The pesto was a symphony of complimentary flavors and the salmon was just as fresh. It made me feel special and showed me what a truly beautiful dining experience is like. The Limoncello cake was tear inducing as it was the most moist and sumptuous cake I had ever eaten ( and my father is a pastry chef). Please do yourself a favor and go !!

Very small when you go in. You probably wonder do I stay or leave, I mean is just 6 table place but then you decided to stay and now not sure what to order. I normally don't go to too many real Italian places. After asking you what do you like in your meal this is what the dishes came out like. Absolutely flavorful. Enjoy it very much!! I'm glad for trying something new.

I recently had the pleasure of dining at a small, privately rented restaurant named Piccola Italia Bistro, and I must say it offers the most exquisite Italian cuisine I've ever tasted. This hidden gem will transport you to the streets of Italy with its charming ambiance and authentic/non pretentious flavors. Piccola Italia Bistro boasts an impressive hand selected menu based on what’s fresh and available. From their pastas to their succulent meat and seafood dishes, every bite is a celebration of authentic Italian cuisine. One standout dish is their Amatriciana pasta , which is better than any version I’ve ever had even in Rome. The chef at Piccola Italia Bistro pays meticulous attention to detail, using only the finest, freshest ingredients to craft their dishes. He’s also just a great guy and is incredibly personable. The flavors are expertly balanced, allowing each ingredient to shine. For those seeking a taste of the sea, I highly recommend their Grouper Pasta or Lobster Ravioli. What sets Piccola Italia Bistro apart is the option to rent out the restaurant privately, creating an intimate and personalized dining experience. Whether it's a romantic date night or a special gathering with loved ones, the restaurant's warm ambience will create a truly remarkable experience. To secure a reservation at Piccola Italia Bistro, I recommend reaching out to them in advance, as their popularity is well-deserved and their pricing/no corkage fee makes this gem accessible to all. Treat yourself and mangia!

Great one man operation Byob Chef William is an amazing cook Make sure to start with buratta salad Mushroom risotto Short rib bolognase and rabbit gnocchi...all absolutely delicious Tiramisu and cannolis ( and maybe a little lemoncello) to finish a perfect meal will want you coming back for more

We have been searching for authentic Italian dining and this is IT! Truly enjoyed our dinner and will definitely be back. Reservations are a must so plan ahead. 💕🇮🇹

Hands down the best Italian restaurant I found so far! Everything we tried was so good we could have eaten the plates! Chef William is also very pleasant to talk to. Will definitely be back!

If you want, authentic Italian cuisine, this is a place for you! Truly home-cooked meal in Tampa. Homemade pasta is a must try with a variety of options. Hidden Gem!!!

Found this gem a couple of years ago and each time I visit I’m so impressed with every dish! sooooooo good! The daily menu is amazing, but I recommend going with one of the many specials! Last visit there were 3 of us. We each ordered from the specials. A Pork, a Beef and a seafood pasta special …. we had trouble choosing which was the best!!! All so good! Bring your own wine as there is no corkage fee and no alcohol… just the most delicious Italian food!

An overall incredible dining experience. Authentic Italian in more ways than the food, but the food! We had a reservation with a group and shared appetizers family style- burrata caprese salad, smoked salmon salad and fried artichokes. All delicious. For dinner, we all ordered from the specials menu, although we got our toddler the amatriciana which he devoured. My husband ordered the short ribs and I ordered the diavolo shrimp fettuccine. Both were outstanding but the short ribs were on another level. We are particular about Italian and pasta as we make our own at home but these dishes blew our minds. Dessert was also incredible. We ordered tiramisu and cannolis. The cannolis were the best I’ve ever had by a long shot. Would highly recommend for an authentic Italian meal while in the Tampa area! So note, it is BYOB!

Fast, delicious, huge portions. I will definitely be coming back! I got the spaghetti carbonara and it was fantastic.

Ok, so here is the story, I ordered 3 entrees to go for me, my wife, and her friend and when I arrived I met the owner and his wife (lovely people!) and I commented on one of the wine bottles he had up on the counter. I told him my wife and I had went to Italy for our honeymoon and that that type of wine was amazing and then he forced me to take the bottle home with me. Free of charge. I had never walked in the door their before and left with a bottle in hand. He refused payment but I made sure to tip him very well. I’m so excited to eat there again, excellent bolognese and carbonara, a true Italian restaurant. Thank you so much for the bottle!!!!

The food is amazing! I've all over Italy, and this place is as good as the best restaurant I've found in Italy, and better than most. It's a little hole-in-the-wall in an old strip mall, but Chef William is talented, and his food never disappoints.

One of my favorites if you want more authentic Italian food, you have to go to Italy. I can’t say enough good things about this place. I don’t even look at the menu. I just tell the chef to make me whatever he wants. It’s always amazing parking is a little bit tricky, but worth it get there early because there’s not a whole lot of seats at the place and then get filled up quick.

Spectacular food and lovely chef We have dined in and had him cater an event. Everyone was blown away by the quality.

I thoroughly enjoyed the food at this trattoria! The chef is from abruzzo… a hidden gem that is authentic- Italian-food! (I was born in Italy and very picky!) The place is very small . You should call ahead and make a reservation.

Amazing. Best Italian food I have ever had outside of Italy. Amazing and fresh. Chef William is talented and incredible. We will be back. And you can BYOB of wine or beer

You cannot go wrong eating at this little Italian restaurant. Words are not enough to describe what you feel when authentic flavors hit your soul. Pesto Pasta was my choice while my wife had the Amatriciana, I should have ordered both just for me, very tasty and delicious. Next we had Tiramisu and Limoncello Cake, again we were surprised. So far my favorite Italian spot.

This place is truly a hidden treasure. The best Italian we’ve ever had, and some of the best food we’ve ever had. Chef William is a genius. A very special experience.

Liked the food a lot! A little hole in the wall - one guy waiting on the tables and one guy cooking. Food was good! Better than a LOT of the other Italian options in town. Not fancy but went for an early dinner and it hit the spot!

This place is a true hidden gem, by far the best Italian food I’ve ever had. Everything you order is amazing and unlike anything you’ve had before. My personal favorite is the gnocchi with truffle sauce. The chef, William, always has different specials and can customize your dish to fit your taste. Highly recommended! Oh and make reservations because it’s very small and always full.

A unique and authentic Italian restaurant. Don't listen to the one star reviews. Don't expect this to be like Olive Garden. You will spend 3 hours or more here. The food is made from scratch and takes time there are only a couple of people working. You're not going to eat and get out. You should enjoy this experience. The chef is great and is very frank about his process. Don't complain because everything wasn't on your schedule or the food to your liking. This place is BYOB. Enjoy life here and pretend you're in Italy.

My family and I made reservations. Yes the restaurant is small yet cozy. The chef introduced the specials and we selected two of them. Delicious, fresh and served hot. The only downfall was the server. He lacked knowledge of restaurant service procedure and personality skills. Unfortunately,I will not return for this reason.

I’m reluctant to review this place, because it’s small and already hard to get a reservation. But to be fair, I’ll go ahead and announce, this is the best Italian in Tampa. Sure, there are fancier, prettier places. Piccola is simple and rustic. Like eating in your Italian friend’s 1st generation grandmother’s kitchen (trust me, I grew up with plenty of these). If it’s really, really good, fresh pasta-centric Italian food you seek, look no further and get here. I’m pretty sure we’ve tried every well-recommended Italian place with 30 minutes, and we were in shock the first time we tried this place. It’s 2 guys making this incredible culinary magic. I honestly don’t know how they pull it off. They’re hysterical, and friendly once you get to know them and don’t annoy them, and they cook and serve the Italian food you didn’t yet know you crave. Try them and you’ll see what I mean; you’ll be making reservations a week in advance, every week. If I could pick only one Italian place to eat in Tampa ever again, this would be it, no hesitation. Every appetizer and dish we’ve tried has been exceptional, they come to the table steaming hot direct from the pan about 20 feet away, and the portions are great. I grew up eating Italian at friend’s parents homes in Brooklyn and in Little Italy, with friends and family “in the know”, and Piccola is right there with any of them. Don’t take my table!

Fantastic Italian! Best I've had in the U.S.

Our second dinner here, and it was as amazing as the first time! Every dish is a combination of flavors that doesn’t taste “familiar “…like the food tastes everywhere else! Will lays it down, so make a reservation, drive the smallest car you have, take a bottle or two of wine and plan to spend a 1 1/2 - 2 hrs and have a fantastic meal.

Do you ever have food so good you want to tell everyone you know so they can understand the heaven you just experienced? That is what happened when I ate at Piccola. This restaurant is unassuming from the outside and super tiny inside, so you have to make a reservation. It’s BYOB so you can bring a bottle of wine and they will provide glasses and a corkscrew, no additional charge. There’s a set menu but also daily specials and the chef will go over the menu with you. I am vegetarian and the chef was so helpful in pointing out menu items I could eat. I had the artichoke appetizer, tortellini entree, and limoncello dessert. I also brought home tiramisu for my husband. Everything was unreal. I will dream about this food. And it really makes the experience that you can see the kitchen and the passion that the chef has in preparing and presenting the food. This is authentic Italian and is honestly the best I’ve ever had. I can’t wait to go back!

Easily the best Italian food in tampa. It’s bring your own wine but no corkage fee. The pistacchio ricotta cake is AMAZING. Cannot beat the price. Also, make a reservation.

Came to get take out this evening after work since we have heard how amazing this restaurant is and how delicious their food is. 5 stars!! Next time will try their dining experience and make a reservation. il cibo era delizioso grazie al talentuoso chef

We enjoyed the authentic Italian cuisine and the fact that we were able to bring in our own bottle of wine. Our only suggestion would be to serve great bread -- (Jameson bread comes to mind) with butter for the table. The linguini and calamari was excellent, along with the pesto and smoked trout. We loved the caprese and artichoke appetizers.

Great food and good service. This is original Italian food