Piccola Italia Bistro

Reviews

• Shuné D.

  star star star star star 10 June 2026

  I was never disappointed by a meal here. This is one of the few Italian restaurants in this general area that's owned and ran by an Italian family. The food is made to perfection. The space inside, however, is very limited with only a few tables available. Parking is extremely limited also, therefore, come at your own risk (or wait until the spot opens up). On one of my visits, I was lucky enough to witness a very cute moment of listening to the chef singing (very beautifully) to Italian music playing in the background.
  
  I love the minimalistic, rustic Italian-themed look of the place. Very clean in appearance. If there are spaces available, you can choose where to sit and will be presented with a menu right away at the table.  They usually run lunch specials during the days they are open. This is in addition to their staple menu items. They're willing to answer any questions you have about the food on their menu. Of the dishes I've had so far, the portions are fairly large. I could easily make 2 to 3 meals out of my entrées.
  
  I've had an overall good experience eating here.

• Brian N.

  star star star star star_border 9 June 2026

  This is a small hole in the wall with a different strange vibe and a peculiar simple menu.
  
  The one thing I can tell you is the food is GOOD. It's true authentic, I ordered take out and I could barely understand the gentleman and his Italian accent but our chicken parm was fantastic, the pasta was fresh and the sauce was legitimate. I would love to go back and try another dish but for authentic Italian, something which is hard to find in Tampa, this is your spot.

• Adam W.

  star star star star star 7 June 2026

  I never wrote a yelp review before but this place has a special place in my heart. In 2017 I found this place while looking for Italian food for lunch with my mother. We're from Sarasota but unfortunately were in Tampa because she was being treated for lung cancer at Moffit Cancer Center. Despite the unfortunate situation we fell in love with chef William's food and went every chance we got which was often with my mother constantly at the hospital. In a time in my life filled with sorrow, I remember fondly the times with my mother raving over William's dishes such as the bolognese, tortellini, and carbonara. Honestly some of the best food I've ever had and the prices were cheap in our opinion. My mother past in late 2017 which made it hard for me to go back to my favorite Italian restaurant for awhile but I have since went back and the food was as good as ever. Not quite the same without my eating companion. Thank you chef William for providing me with these fond memories hope to see you soon might have to get into one of those cooking classes one day.
  
  -Adam

• Maggie K.

  star star star star star 5 June 2026

  Woah, talk about a hole-in-the-wall, hidden gem! In the Tampa area, It doesn't get more authentic Italian than Piccola. Seriously, the one waiter doesn't really even know English. Although, as long as you can muster up an Italian accent or just point to an item on their tiny menu, you're golden! The menu is limited to pasta, soups, and a couple salads, but it's not an issue for me at all. Even though I wasn't feeling a heavy pasta dish and opted for the burrata caprese salad, I was very, very satisfied with it. The ingredients were plentiful and FRESH! And luckily for me, my brothers let me taste some of their pasta dishes which were also to die for! Love supporting this small business! And no corkage fee! Amazing.

• Matt S.

  star star star star star 23 May 2026

  F the haters!! This place is top notch and the owner is nothing but smiles every time I come in. I've never experienced anything close to the other reviews so don't let them deter you. Pasta dishes are on point as well as the eggplant app. Just mind your business and eat the food and it's a very welcoming environment.