Friends brought me here to celebrate another friend, and it was such a lovely experience! 1. I was obsessed with the view--whether the curtains were down during sunset or opened afterward, the atmosphere was beautiful. 2. Jason is the BEST! Not only was his service outstanding, but he also shared so many interesting behind-the-scenes stories about the restaurant. 3. There are so many great options on the menu that one visit definitely isn't enough to find your favorite. You'll need to come back and try more! 4. Before leaving, I made a wish in the garden. Now I have another reason to return: to try more dishes once my wish comes true--hopefully soon! Definitely a place for a special celebration. read more

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Updating my experience this evening from 5 star to one as we were attempting to celebrate my mother's birthday. I have been visiting the 1905 restaurants and their family of brands for over 25 years. I've been to the Columbia so many times that I could probably draw you the layout from memory. That history and loyalty is exactly why yesterday's experience was so disappointing. Yesterday, we were celebrating my mother's 64th birthday, and I chose Casa Santo Stefano because of the superior service I've received in the past, the excellent quality of the food, and because my company,, typically books Casa Santo Stefano for events and has never given me reason to doubt the brand. Unfortunately, my experience with my family yesterday was more than disappointing. Valerio dropped the ball in so many ways at our table. We repeatedly went without water, at times for more than 10 minutes, and I was constantly looking around for him. My mother's Moscow Mule took approximately 20 minutes to arrive. When I jokingly asked if he had gone to Moscow to get it, he told me they "didn't have any cups." That was difficult to believe when the drink was clearly sitting there long enough for the cup to become heavily sweated and the ice to melt. I also began noticing that Valerio seemed far more attentive to a table of 10 young women who had just arrived. He was taking their photos, laughing with them and engaging with them, while our table was repeatedly forgotten. The situation with dessert was particularly upsetting because it was my mother's birthday. Valerio asked whether we had seen a dessert menu, and I told him we had not. As I got up to speak with the manager, a kids' ice cream dessert was brought to our table instead. We wanted to look at the dessert menu, order a few things, and have the restaurant sing Happy Birthday to my mother. That simple experience was completely missed, and it was something we had genuinely been looking forward to. On top of everything, the air conditioning was not functioning properly in the restaurant, which made an already uncomfortable experience even more difficult. I appreciate the manager Ty, giving my mother a box of cookies and a handwritten card from the staff as we were leaving. Unfortunately, by that point, the damage had already been done. What bothered me most was that Valerio never seemed to appreciate the significance of the occasion, never apologized for the repeated service issues, and ultimately dropped off the check and walked away. I simply do not understand how this happened, particularly on a day when the restaurant was not even especially busy. I believe Valerio needs additional training and guidance, particularly in the level of hospitality and attentiveness expected from a restaurant carrying the 1905 Family of Restaurants name. I want to emphasize that I am not writing this because I have turned my back on the brand. Quite the opposite. I am writing because I have been loyal to this brand for more than two decades, I genuinely believe in what the 1905 Family of Restaurants represents, and yesterday's experience fell so far below that standard that I feel compelled to say something. My mother's 64th birthday only happens once, and unfortunately, instead of leaving with another wonderful 1905 memory, we left disappointed. I sincerely hope this feedback is taken seriously, not simply as a complaint about one server, but as an opportunity to make sure another family celebrating an important occasion does not have the same experience. read more

Casa Santo Stefano - Gnocchi Special - Sicilian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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A must go to in Ybor City. Electric vide meets old world style Sciliano cooking. Friendly staff, extensive wine list. Kitchen and pizza oven is an open pit concept so you feel that you are part of the cooking! read more

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I had a great experience going to Casa Santa Stefano for lunch. Our waitress was helpful and attentive. The complementary focaccia bread that they brought out was so fresh, with a crisp exterior but a soft pillowy interior. I ordered the cartocciata meatballs which apparently used to be on their upstairs rooftop bar menu but is now added to the restaurant menu. It was like a meatball sub but in calzone form. It was great and the waitress brought extra tomato sauce to go with it which was nice. The only thing that could've been changed in my opinion was having chips as the side. It was a very carb heavy meal and super filling, but maybe I could've asked to switch the side out so that's on me. Overall, enjoyed lunch at Casa Santo Stefano and would love to check out the rooftop bar sometime! read more

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This place has everything: good, ambiance, great service, and parking! Went to CSS while in Tampa for business, and we couldn't have made a better choice. Went showed up about an hour before closing, but weren't rushed. We were so lucky to have Jason as our server. He had great recommendations on the menu, so many facts and stories about the restaurant and local area, and even closed out our service with a few jokes. Highly recommend, and I can't wait to go back. read more

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I ordered the roasted gnocchi and it was delicious. My server, Brittany, was super attentive and brought out complimentary focaccia bread, which was also amazing. The light fixtures and design style a regal for sure. read more

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Had a lovely anniversary dinner here. We shared the crab meat pizza as an appetizer. It was good, but I think like a drizzle of some chili oil would have made it incredible. The pollo marsala and pasta alla norma were very good as well. Portion sizes were larger than expected, so I brought about half of my pasta home. We also split a pitcher of the Sicilian Sunrise, which was good and not overly sweet. Parking was easy to find in the (free) lot across the street. Our server was attentive but not intrusive, and the food came out at a great pace for us to enjoy time away from the kids. read more

Casa Santo Stefano - Pasta alla norma, pollo marsala - Sicilian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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4.8* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4* Service: 5* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $40 01/30/2026 We stopped in here for a quick drink at the bar with friends while waiting for our table at Columbia on a previous trip and immediately wanted to come back to try it for dinner. We were able to do it tonight and share the experience with our son who lives in the area. Wow - this definitely rises to the top tier of restaurants in the area that we would love to go back to on a future trip! Absolutely everything that we ordered was top-notch quality and delicious! We started by sharing the Arancini al Burro (see picture) along with the Toasted Gnocchi (see picture). Both looked great on the plate and were even better once dipped heavily in the sauce and tasted! For our main courses, my wife ordered the Casarecce "Rinaldi" (see picture) and my son and I shared the Veal Scaloppine Milanesa (see picture) with 3 added Large Meatballs (see picture). Richard, our server, recommended the additional meatballs and it was a great call. As we always do, we shared tastes of all of the dishes and all of us raved about all of them If you found this review helpful, please Share, Follow & Like. read more

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Just celebrated my father's 100th birthday at Casa Santo Stefano....Let's just say this went over the top. My father walked in (he payed gold on Tuesday) had his cocktails and talked to everyone. The team was excellent. Even the Chef came out to meet and talk with him. This was like a truly family affair for a luncheon. The teams even told himself to come back for his next birthday when he turns 101! Have the bar open and I shall be there. On another note, everything it great. Thank you for the great lunch as always. read more

We went here for a Friday night date night and we were not disappointed! We had a reservation for 830pm but got there a little early and they still sat us down prior to our reservation time. The atmosphere felt formal but also rustic in the sense that they kept a lot of the charm from the original cigar building making it feel industrial but also classy with the additions of chandelier lightings and the pillars added. The staff were friendly and our server was very chatty and offered recommendations and was able to answer questions we had about ingredients in some of the dishes we ordered. We wanted to sample a few things so we ordered the Calamari, Gambino Shrimp, Meatballs Della Nana, and Ravioli Di Ricotta. The Calamari was good, but could have been a bit crispier. The Gambino Shrimp was Amazing! The butter sauce it is served in should be a side dish on its own. The mix of ingredients made it lush and reminded me of lobster tail soaked in butter. We ended up pouring the remaining sauce on top of the Calamari. The Ravioli was a perfect size to split and had just enough filling in comparison to pasta. The Meatballs were huge and moist. I think that we will absolutely be back in the future! read more

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**GOAT ALERT** - Pizza Parlor Giant Italian Salad What a great hidden gem way over at the end of Ybor. I have been to Columbia Restaurant a few blocks here from a bunch. Finally decided to give Casa Santo Stefano a shot. Holy smokes, I should have been coming here more. I was blown away by the cocktails and the food. The couple next to me ordered the Pizza Parlor Giant Italian Salad. They go the regular order for $16. It was a giant mound of food. Like going to a buffet and seeing how high you can get food onto your plate. I decided I would like to try the $9 side salad version. Even this size was plenty large enough. I freaking loved it. It tastes similar to the Columbia Restaurant 1905 Table side salad. This is a must order. The first cocktail I tried was the $18 Fumari (Old Fashioned). Right on point with 1 giant ice cube. Smelled like great care was taken in making the drink exactly perfect. The next cocktail I tried was the $16 espresso martini. The one here is made with real espresso, not out of a can, and it tastes so much better this way. There's a special type of rim and just a different tasting espresso than the standard one at most restaurants. I liked it. And the last cocktails I tried was off the menu, but just a $14 dirty martini. It was so good I ordered 2. I love it when these drinks are made correctly. For my entree I had the $18 Hot Honey Pizza. I loved the crust, I love hot honey, not the most packed pizza with toppings though. I will definitely be back to try other food items. This is a great place to start the night as the cocktails were 10/10 superb. And that salad is to die for. Super small bar area, but it was jam packed all night. read more

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You know that rush you get, the first time you go somewhere that hadn't been on your radar for some reason-and you immediately fall in love? Yes! This was one of those places. A fun lunch with friends left me crushing hard on Stefano. I'm all twirly and giddy!. I mean, they had me at free parking. Yes! In Ybor! And there are two lots-right by the restaurant! Swoon! Then there's the decor-a modern take on traditional, OG Tampa. It was bright, light, colorful, somewhat industrial, true to the Gonzmart brand. It's very Ybor-but with a fresh spin. I could just sit here and soak up the atmosphere (and cocktails-the limonata is refreshing and fun)-but let's talk food! It starts with a very tasty bread service. I could do that all day, too. But you can't fill up-this menu is too good. I seriously considered the grouper. It had to be great. But at the last second, I went with chicken Marsala. WOW!!!! I was blown away with how good it is-a generous portion-smothered in perfectly balanced sauce. I scraped some of that off-but good gravy, it's tasty! This is a dish I rarely order anywhere-and like the rest of this experience, I fell hard for it. I know I'll need to try more items during what I expect to be many, many future visits-but I have revisit this entree often. We were there for lunch on a Saturday. No waiting with a reservation. It was bustling but not chaotic. The vibe was vibrant but relaxed. I almost felt like I was on vacation-such sunny energy. I'm breathless (and hungry) just telling you all of this. I know Stefano will go into regular rotation. So much to eat, drink, photograph! And did I mention free parking?! Delicious! See you there! read more

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Did a walk in for lunch and was greeted by a very lovely hostess and beautifully appointed restaurant with a large open kitchen. As soon as we were seated we were greeted by our server Lilli and she advised us of Specials and brought water. Then it took my colleague (Just returned from a tour In Italy) and I on an unforgettable food journey from the Mussels and Fried Artichokes to my main (Chicken Parm) to the Affogato. This is a dining experience that cannot be explained and it must be experienced. The earthy fresh flavors and care to not over season or salt food is a credit to the chefs. The artichoke brought memories back as a child as this was a favorite dish in our Italian household in St Louis. Pasta was Al Dente to perfection and chicken moist and lightly dusted(not some frozen chicken patty). Sauce was just like home. I can't wait to return. A must while in Tampa. read more

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Amazing service today at Casa Santo Stefano! We tried the famous salad, eggplant side dish, abs split the pollo Marsala. Everything was so amazing! The salad dressing was yummy, eggplant had an awesome mix of flavors and the sauce on the Marsala was epic! They brought our entree out already split up which was really nice. The ambiance is super cool- Like old world Spain and so charming. This is a great place to enjoy an evening anytime! read more

Casa Santo Stefano - Pollo Marsala split - Sicilian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Wow wow and wow I would definitely mark this as a must eat spot. The Sicilian drink was amazing, refreshing and with tequila and sparkling wine it really did transport me to the ocean The Cesar salad wasn't my favorite on this trip, but don't get me wrong it was not bad at all. But the spaghetti bolognese holllly molly. I mean the portion was gigantic The flavors damnnnnnn. It really feels like Nona was back there making the sauce I will come back again and again. The venue is clean. Service great. My server Gianmarco was attentive and great. Give that guy a raise read more

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Haven't eaten here in a while and enjoyed I love the ambience, however, ordering drinks from the bar was very slow and it seemed like to me the appetizers and the portions with the entrées have substantially been minimized. I really did expect that the chicken Parmesan would be better than what it was seemed very limited portions. Possibly this is due to tariffs or food costs not sure and thought that the turimisu martini was made fresh they ran out couldn't order a second one. read more

Only coming to Ybor for beer, literally, in the past I had no clue about Casa Santo Stefano or Columbia which are owned by the same people. I thought it would be this small cozy place, and, well, it's not. The place is huge. The decor is amazing. Reservations are more than suggested. From start to finish the meal was amazing. My main of Merluzzo Pesto Siciliano was perfect. The MEATBALLS DELLA NANA - Blend of pork and beef meatballs gently braised in house-made tomato sauce, Pecorino Romano cheese and INSALATA DI CESARE - Romaine lettuce with classic Caesar dressing, garlic croutons, shaved pecorino Romano to start were great. Yet, the real surprise was the portion sizing and pricing. Extremely generous portions at very fair prices. Go by the dollar here and you will be taking a lot home. There is a private parking lot right across from the entrance though I Ubered here. Though I definitely will be back I also need to try Columbia too! read more

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My friends and I like to get together for lunch at places where we can get good food and drinks and not feel rushed. This is one of those places. This was the first time a couple of us dined here but our one friend has been here several times. They open early for lunch so we got in at 1130am which was great because we wanted to be able to be out of Ybor before things got too busy for the Knight parade. My friend secured a nice half circle booth so we could sit like "the Rat Pack." The restaurant is beautiful, old school Mediterranean charm with new school sensibilities (ie. Great big windows with lots of light.) Us newbies tried the Limonata to start. Tart and deliciously refreshing. We later moved on to wines bybthe glass. They have a very good selection of wine by the glass. Bread is brought to the table so you have something to nibble on while trying to determine what to order. I was debating between the artichoke appetizer and the vegetable pizza and I went with the pizza and a side portuon of the Pizza Parlor salad, which is close to the Columbia's 1905 salad but slightly different and very delicious. Why are salads in restaurants so much better than salads at home? The pizza was charred perfectly and had a great mix of veggies. I went home with some leftover for later. I do not think one could go wrong with anything on the menu. I definitely want to come back, especially on a weekend night when the roof top bar is open! Also, I forgot to mention there are a lot of parking lots owned by the Columbia and Casa Santo Stefano so if they aren't too busy you can get free parking (always a plus!) read more

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My wife and I have been to the Cafe Santo Stefano a few times, the food is good or we wouldn't go back, the restaurant is wide open and a bit noisy but I am writing this because the Hostess asked us if we would mind sitting next to a wedding party of 6 or 7 women, I thought that was very kind, her consideration because it is usually just inside or out or we are just put at a table for lunch or dinner In this day and age I am impressed by such small bits of kindness? read more

My friend and I came here for desserts The lemon vanilla cake is my favorite and my friend enjoyed hers as well. We were given a very nice slice for each of us . I also had a cappuccino with my cake. The ambiance was very nice. We were able to talk and catch up and the overall cleanliness of the restaurant. read more

Casa Santo Stefano - Torte al Limone - Sicilian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Such an incredible Sicilian restaurant! Everyone that works there is Sicilian too, so you know the food is authentic! I recommend their artichokes, veal, and eggplant parm, it was very tasty and filling. Our waiters name was Valerio, he was super nice! He brought my friend and I complimentary bread that was absolutely delicious! We were stuffed by the end of the night, no room for dessert! I'm sure their dessert options are epic though! read more

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Best pizza outside of Italy. I get the cheese pizza and it is so delicious and they never mess it up. Sometimes this restaurant gets crowded because it's so good. This pizza is actually on par with the stuff in Italy. The service is always great and I never wait long for my food. read more

We came here for a friend's birthday today, and Drew was our server. He was wonderful! His wine service skills and food recommendations were top notch, and he was very attentive. I've been here many times but never left a review until now. The food was excellent as always. The arancini are delicious and the meatballs taste like my grandmother would make. What's also nice is that, like the sister restaurant, Columbia, parking is free and ample, which is important in Ybor. read more

Our family dined there for lunch and everything was amazing! Kids ordered pizza and spaghetti from the kids menu and they loved it. Both had a really good flavor. My husband and I had the Prince Edward Island mussels and the pasta bolognese. Both were very tasty. The meat sauce in the pasta was so good! For dessert, the kids meals came with fruit or gelato. Kids had vanilla gelato with chocolate chips - they loved it. Our waiter told us about the tiramisu so we had to try it and it was definitely worth it! Our waiter, Jason, was so awesome too! He was giving us fun facts about the restaurant (used to be a macaroni factory!) and historic facts about the area/town. He was attentive and super friendly and even threw in a few 'dad jokes' which the kids enjoyed. My young daughter was even like "our waiter is so nice!" Definitely recommend this place! read more

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It had a comfortable atmosphere and friendly service. Overall the experience was good-- some things could be better; others were great. Grapefruit basil smash mocktail (2/5) -- It was good at first but it got watery after a few sips so I wouldn't recommend. Tiramisu (3/5) -- It was a big size and had a good balance of flavors. Toasted gnocchi (4/5) -- I've never had toasted gnocchi so I'm not sure if it's possible to make it crispier because that's what I expected. I enjoyed it overall. Even without the sauce, the gnocchi tasted delicious on its own. Meatballs (5/5) -- The meat was perfectly blended and I could've had many more of these. read more

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I came here for an early lunch and let me start by saying the inside is beautiful! They have a rooftop on the second floor with a bar and cigar lounge, which is definitely a nice touch. There is a dedicated parking lot for parking that is for the Columbia and Casa Santo Stefano. Parking in ybor is always a pain so it's nice they have free parking. They did bring focaccia bread to the table for free, the ravioli was delicious! The Barrata salad was also a hit. I highly recommend getting the Arancini as a starter that was very flavorful. The service was spot on. I will definitely be back with my family for dinner! I definitely recommend this spot in Ybor if you were looking for some good Italian food! read more

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Ate there last night and STILL thinking about how amazing the food was! Can't wait to go back. Our server, Carlos, was absolutely a gem. He gave great recommendations and was so personable. The burrata appetizer is delicious. The gnocchi was possibly the best I've ever had, so full of flavor in every bite! Fantastic espresso martini too! Highly recommend. Send like reservations are preferred and maybe even necessary during peak dining hours. read more

Casa Santo Stefano - Even the restroom was nice! - Sicilian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Came here for a brunch. We made a reservation a few days ahead. Service was absolutely exceptional! It's very hard to find a place with truly amazing server. Vince was above and beyond! Ambience is wonderful! Traditional, family style but at the same time romantic and cozy. Food was great and also price was very affordable. We had a salad to start with two mocktails. We also got complimentary bread, which was wonderful! Pizza was excellent as well as linguine with clams. We absolutely loved it and excited to try it for the dinner time. read more

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We came here on a Tuesday night for a friend's birthday dinner. Parking was easy in the lot across the street. The service was amazing from start to finish, and they really made her feel special on her birthday! The restaurant was beautiful inside, decorated warm and comfortable, yet upscale. I liked how the kitchen was open so you could see the chefs at work. The food was everything I was hoping for and more! The foccacia bread was soft and pillowy. The arrancini appetizer was so flavorful and the red sauce was slightly sweet but balanced. For dinner, I decided on the gnocchi dish, which came with a white cream sauce. The gnocchi with the vegetables and grilled chicken was amazing!! We were all so full, but had to get some gelato for dessert. All in all, an amazing experience! read more

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A little off the beaten path of Ybor which is an area not for the faint of heart. We started out with drinks on the rooftop which is cigar friendly with nice sunset views. Service was excellent from the bar despite there being a private event at the same time. The bartenders Sean and Jack were outstanding. We ended up staying for dinner which was amazing. Some of the best Italian we've had. And the focaccia bread was superb! Overall an excellent place that is worth the slight distance away from the heart of Tampa. read more

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Today was our second visit in the past 30 days, which is quite rare for me but my friends really enjoy the place, and I was happy to go again today for a birthday celebration. Now, if a place isn't good, I generally don't go back, but that is not the case here. It is very good and bordering on excellent. We had a fantastic server today (Dom) who could not have been more attentive or patient. We were there for a good 1 hr 45 min with a table of 5 and never felt rushed at all. Since I was eating a combination lunch/dinner mid afternoon, I went big with a dish called Linguine Frutti di Mare "Buster Agliano" and the menu description says it all "The ultimate linguine Fruitti di Mare, with lobster, littleneck clams, mussels, squid and shrimp with fresh garlic, splash of white wine, simmered in a spicy red sauce". Yeah, I finished it too. It's not cheap at all, but considering I could have easily taken half home and its all I'm going to eat the rest of the day, I am fine with it. They brought a wonderful focaccia bread while our entrees were prepared. Just delicious and one piece was quite enough. Others ordered a pizza, big enough for 2, while another guest had them make a vegan dish for her that was not on the menu, but was amazing. Overall, I fully enjoyed this place. I love the brick exterior and inside is quite elegant. There is an outdoor deck that we checked out, but it was too hot to stay more than a few minutes. read more

Casa Santo Stefano - Linguine Frutti di Mare "Buster Agliano" - Sicilian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Great ambiance and open concept kitchen. The server was attentive and very knowledgeable about this history of the restaurant. It was fun learning about it. The kitchen tiles are made from Sicilian volcanic ash, and were hand painted. The food was mediocre at best. The house made pomodoro sauce was too acidic and bland, along with the chicken. The pasta is house made, but too dense for my liking. The best thing was the Sicilian cab by the glass. We tried the Caesar salad which also lacked a little flavor, but it was nice and fresh. Just passing through town and figured we would try this place. It was alright, but not sure I'd choose to return next time. read more

Very well located with ample parking. The establishment is well laid out. Service is great The wine list need a little upkeep. Food was delicious. Not bad if you are craving Italian! read more

Casa Santo Stefano - Arancini - Sicilian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Second time here, this time with some new friends. Had a reservation for 4 on a Monday evening at 6. Arrived early and stood by bar with cocktails from Sophia. Time came to sit and Taylor A. took over as our server. She gave us some history of the restaurant, was friendly, attentive and unbelievable when dinner was over and she said we were her "first table". We dined on mussels, meatball and burrata appetizers. Moved onto entrees of pork chops, linguine and clam sauce, chicken marsala and bolognese. Desserts were limone torte, cannoli and tiramasu with espressos. The entire experience of food and service was outstanding. Enjoy! read more

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Last night was my 7th or 8th visit to Casa Santo Stefano since they've opened 4.5 years ago ~ one of only two restaurants I truly love in Ybor City. I'll be honest, I'm not usually a fan of Ybor, but this place keeps drawing me back for all the right reasons. Our server, Carlos V., was attentive, kind, and never made us feel rushed. He took good care of our table and added to the overall relaxed atmosphere of the evening. I enjoyed a refreshing Lemon Drop Martini, followed by an Espresso Martini, and ended the night with the Kettle One Blueberry Lemon Spritz, which were all delicious! I usually stick with my go-to: the seabass with broccolini (though the grouper is equally phenomenal). Both are consistently prepared to perfection. A friend ordered the white pizza topped with spicy peppers, another one ordered fried calamari ~ absolutely delicious, and the eggplant appetizer was another hit. We also tried the gnocchi with shrimp, which was flavorful. It was an early birthday celebration for 1 of our friends, and Carlos kindly brought out a complimentary dessert. While it wasn't our favorite, the gesture was appreciated. One thing I truly value about Casa Santo Stefano is how accommodating they are when it comes to splitting checks. Sadly many restaurants in Tampa limit payment methods or force even splits now (regardless of what each guest orders), Casa makes it easy and stress-free ~ something that goes a long way in making guests feel welcome. The space itself is beautiful and spacious. We initially had a rooftop reservation, but it was closed for a private event. The team seated us downstairs, and we were more than happy. The décor feels authentic and warm, and it brought back wonderful memories of my recent trip to Italy and truly made my heart happy! read more

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Came here on a rainy Friday night at the end of February. My parents had raved about this place in Tampa and wanted me to try it. So, i went out of my way to visit here and had very high expectations. My expectations were surpassed and then some! To start, I sat at the pasta bar with no wait. There was a 30 minute wait for a table. My server, Aleksandra. was excellent. She greeted me promptly soon after I sat down and was very professional and well spoken. I showed her a food picture my mom took when she and my dad were here back then, and Aleksandra knew the dish right away. She was on top of everything! The ambiance of the restaurant is very lively. It gets crowded in here, but I still felt very comfortable and had enough space for myself. The theme of the restaurant feels historic, reflecting the influence of the surrounding Ybor District. From the pasta bar, I was able to see the line cooks prepare all the pasta dishes from scratch, and it was very mesmerizing to watch. Food is the most important. And they absolutely nailed my squid ink pasta ($36). The pasta was incredible - cooked al dente, flavorful, and perfectly coated in the right amount of sauce. All the components were perfectly balanced from the squid ink noodles, tomatoes, olives, and the squid. The squid was a generous portion as well, and I was very happy about that. That was absolutely the best squid ink pasta i've had anywhere in the world! For dessert, I got the affogato ($10). This was divine - one of my favorite desserts i've ordered in a restaurant anywhere. It wasn't too sweet, yet it was decadent, creamy, with the hit of espresso. I particularly liked the chopped almonds and chocolate garnish. It was presented magnificently as result. For being the first restaurant I tried in Tampa, I was blown away. It had set the bar for Tampa's food scene very high, and whether or not that's a good thing or not doesn't really matter. Since this place is relatively affordable, I'll be coming back and back again whenever I'm in town! 10/10 from the food, service, and overall experience. read more

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Chicken parm was pretty good, would eat it again and would probably recommend. The pasta was al-dente, cooked perfectly and the sauce tasted authentic and uncomplicated. Simple dish but executed well. The tiramisu was definitely the highlight, I've never met a tiramisu I didn't love but this one was top 5. Our waiter was very attentive, funny and polite. The atmosphere was nice and clean but it was also loud, very loud and it was a Tuesday night so I can't imagine what it must be like on a Friday or Saturday. They gave me complimentary almond lemon crinkle cookies, never had them before but loved them. read more

Andrew the server was great! Attentive and accommodating! The food was good...the saving dish was the Rinaldo with spicy red sauce added in. The Vongole was a huge disappointment with a lot of grit from the clams. It was a check done type place for us. We love Sicily and had high hopes. The decor has Sicilian feel but can be spruced up a bit. read more

Casa Santo Stefano - Casarecce "Rinaldi" with spicy red sauce added - Sicilian Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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We came with a party of 18 and were seated in 2 tables. Our waitres was attentive and served us very well. I split the enormous pizza parlor salad which was dlicious. Then ordered the swordfish in a Livornese sauce and sustituted angel hair pasta for the brocolini,no extra charge. Had the Sicilian Pinot Noir and finished with an outstanding pistachio cheesecake. Enzo, the Sicilian, was a treat in explaining the restaurant. read more

We came to Casa Santos Stefano for Mother's Day and it was amazing! We love how the restaurant was set up and how friendly the staff was. We made a reservation which I recommend if it's there in a holiday. But I believe if you walked in, you probably would've still been seated within 30 to 45 minutes. Next time we come, we will like to have the table at sit next to the open kitchen because that set up was really nice! The food was really good. We love the mussels and they give you plenty of muscle mussels!! the Sears I had was pretty good but next time I'll get the other fish dish that have more flavor to it. I didn't get a chance to take a picture of my sister's food, but she had a pizza that was really good and the server told us that it took a longer than it should've because the chef wanted to remake it because it wasn't up to their standards. That shows a lot about how they run their business! I'll definitely be back here for more Sicilian food and bring other others. read more

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