La Terrazza Ristorante Italiano

This is definitely a hidden gem in the heart of Ybor's 7th Ave. The space is very tiny so make sure to make reservations if you don't want to chance it. We were welcomed by the owner himself and all of the staff were very personable and welcoming.

They serve some authentic Italian dishes, and I ended up sharing a Chicken Parm special as it was such a large portion. The chicken was pounded out very thin and it was breaded well. It also wasn't greasy like some versions of this dish can be. The accompanying spaghetti was also the perfect texture and paired well with the chicken. A great sit-down restaurant option if you find yourself in Ybor.

A Mixed Experience at La Terrazza Restaurant: Ambiance Shines, Food Falls short
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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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Michael Glinter has traveled to 68 countries and 36 states to get the flavor of some amazing foods. His view on reviews is simple - Taste, Presentation, and Service. He believes telling the reader a positive and negative unbiased look at the restaurant is essential.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

Choosing this place was on the fly. My party and I were not prepared with this spot. The lobster ravioli is probably one of my most favorite pasta dishes I have ever had hands down! The quality is top notch! I loved my tiramisu! Light and fluffy. My wife got the beef tenderloin and it was solid. The cheesecake just tasted like any other cheesecake. This is a must go back!

We came there on a busy Saturday night with no reservation luckily they had one open for us. We ordered the bruschetta for appetizer and it was great! I ordered the pesto pasta with chicken and it was soo good!

Visited on a Thursday evening before a show at the local Stageworks theatre.

Started with a glass of Nicholas Cab. Wine and Bruschetta was 5 stars. Nothing short of perfection.

The salad was such a unique combination of flavors- greens, asparagus, olives, sun dried tomatoes. Super fresh. Amazing dressing. The parm slab on top was unique and delicious. I would def order this again.

We ordered bolognese our favorite pasta dish. It was a complete miss. The pasta was undercooked and not fully drained so the typically meaty dense sauce was a runny sloppy mess. Had we not been on a time limit, I would have sent it back.

I hate leaving a 3 star review for a local restaurant. We really enjoyed ourselves and the staff was attentive. We will go back soon and give this another try in hopes to bump up the stars. I truly feel this was just a fluke situation. Stay tuned.

Had this restaurant in our sights since before we even got to Tampa. Being an Italian I am very critical of Italian restaurants especially red tomato sauce so I don't really order that when at Italian restaurants. I usually always look for pesto pasta and thank goodness they had it! It was a big portion size and plenty of pesto sauce, even extra left over to dip my bread in. it was very filling, I could've gotten away with taking left overs to go but I was just enjoying it way too much. My boyfriend had the chicken parm that also was a hearty dish size with a big chicken breast and plenty of pasta. The atmosphere was calming, and intimate with low lighting and warm tones.

Abbiamo mangiato benissimo in questo ristorante italiano autentico.
Qui troverete la vera cucina italiana.
Torneremo sicuramente

Wow. Pretentious server, mediocre food. Not impressed with this (apparent) "mainstay" of the neighborhood.

Great little Italian restaurant. Authentic and delicious. I went with some Italian friends and didn't expect much. Oh boy to my surprise I was happy to discover a true Italian restaurant- new to me but not new to Tampa. We were not very hungry so only tried the special dish of the day, fresh tortellini with mushrooms ( amazing) and fresh ravioli with ricotta and tomato sauce. Portions are nice and prices are decent.

The best, freshest, most authentic Italian restaurant and food I have eaten in awhile!

The customer service was excellent, the food well cooked and didn't take too long and the menu selection is varied and interesting.

A smallish restaurant which is a great place for a date night.

I actually found the prices to be reasonable without breaking the bank.

All in all, I believe I found my new favorite Italian to go!

Oh, make sure you call ahead for reservations! As mentioned, it's a smaller restaurant and while walk-ins are welcomed, if it's a special occasion, I wouldn't chance it without a reservation.