Bavaro's Pizza Napoletana & Pastaria — Restaurant in Clearwater

Bavaro's Pizza Napoletana & Pastaria in Clearwater, Florida, is more than just a restaurant; it's a culinary journey to the heart of Italy. As the first traditional Neapolitan Pizzeria in the Tampa area, Bavaro's has established itself as a beacon of authenticity and excellence since its inception in 2009. Now, with five locations across the region, including the newest gem in Clearwater, Bavaro's continues to delight and enchant diners with its Chef-prepared cuisine and inviting ambiance.

Our recent visit to Bavaro's was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment we stepped through the door, we were greeted with warmth and hospitality that made us feel right at home. The scent of freshly baked Neapolitan crust wafted through the air, teasing our senses and setting the stage for a memorable dining experience.

We started our culinary adventure with the Meatballs with Whipped Ricotta, a dish that surpassed all expectations. Nestled in a simple Marzano tomato-based sauce, the meatballs were tender, flavorful, and perfectly complemented by the velvety ricotta. Each bite was a symphony of taste, transporting us to the streets of Naples with its authenticity and finesse.

Next up was the pizza, a true masterpiece crafted in Bavaro's wood-fired oven. Opting for the "Wild Funghi" pizza with an extra topping of fennel sausage, we were treated to a medley of fresh ingredients bursting with flavor. The traditional Neapolitan crust provided the perfect canvas for the earthy cremini, portobello, and oyster mushrooms, while the garlic confit and thyme olive oil added a delightful aromatic touch.

For my wife, the Rigatoni al Funghi proved to be a revelation. The combination of rigatoni noodles, tender chicken, and a decadent sundried tomato crema, infused with truffle oil and topped with fried basil, was a symphony of flavors that left her craving for more.

As we dined, the ambiance of Bavaro's transported us to a charming trattoria in Old Napoli. The kitchen area behind glass added to the excitement, allowing us to witness the culinary magic firsthand. The Italian music playing in the background further enhanced the atmosphere, creating a romantic setting that was perfect for our 42nd anniversary celebration.

Speaking of which, swayed our decision to indulge in the chef-prepared Tiramisu. It was the icing on the cake of our experience. Served with two small dessert spoons, it was a sweet finale that added an extra touch of romance to our celebration.

In conclusion, Bavaro's Pizza Napoletana & Pastaria is a culinary gem that deserves to be experienced by all. Whether you're celebrating Valentine's Day, an anniversary, or simply craving authentic Italian cuisine, Bavaro's is the place to be. With its outstanding Chef-prepared dishes, inviting ambiance, and impeccable service, it's no wonder Bavaro's has become a beloved institution in the Tampa Bay area. Don't miss the chance to embark on your own culinary journey at Bavaro's – it's an experience you won't...

My fiance and I went to Bavaros as we have been there previously and had a great experience. Very good food. However, on this evening, I was interogated by the tall woman at the door. I believe her name was Tierra. I was on a business call when we arrived at the restaurant so my fiance put our name on the waiting list with Tierra. My fiance came out of the restaurant as I was getting off my phone call. She said it would be ten minutes so I suggested we go have a cocktail at the bar. My fiance made her way to the restroom in the rear of the restaurant as I was making my way to the bar before I was hunted down and stopped by the guard (Tierra) at the door. She said, "Can I help you?" I told her we were on the list waiting for a table and that my fiance was going to the restroom and I was going to go up to the bar. She said, "You have to put your name on the list". I told her at least five times (no exaggeration) that my fiance put our name on the list and I gave her the name. She continued rambling saying, "You have to check in", while she was staring at the tablet used for check-ins. I felt like I was being interrogated. It was so ridiculous and insulting. I'm guessing they have people come in from the beach and use their restrooms, but both my fiance were nicely dressed to go out to dinner. She continued badgering me aout checking in. I asked her if I have to ask permission to go to the bar or the bathroom. Again, she said you have to check in. I'm, thinking, "Am, I on candid camera?" Is this a joke?" I finally had enough and I said, "I am going to the bathroom and you can figure it out". What bothered me is that she was so belittling and patronizing and made me feel like we didn't belong or we were not welcome there. I was so freaking irriated I wanted to get the hell out of there but I wasn't going to let Tierra run us away. It was truly shocking how rude she was. On a positive not, we ended up sitting at the bar and Zack, the bartender, gave us amazing service and the food was again outstanding. Best pasta I have probably had anywhere. I hate giving them a 1 star because Zack and the food were both fantastic but Tierra made me feel so discriminated against and worthless. Not how you should treat hard working people who just want to have a nice dinner out after a rough...

I'm a pizza connoisseur & somewhat a pizza chef myself. Always on the look out for a great pizza spot, but this place was quite a let down. Service was great, atmosphere was pretty relaxing & authentic. Bruschetta appetizer was good, but bruschetta is hard to mess up, it did have a nice twist to a traditional dish. Main course! The pizza! I got the tre carne which is supposed to be a meat pizza, but it was a sad disappointment, cheese didn't go up to the crust, was lucky if I got one piece of meat in a bite, each slice was one bite then giant crust, and was utterly flavorless. Red Sauce was bland, same with the white sauce on on my wife's wild fungi pizza. Hers also had very little cheese & had a complete lack of any flavor whatsoever. We dressed them up with oregano & mounds of parmesan to make them edible, but again, complete disappointment. TOO MUCH CRUST not enough pizza. I would recommend sending out some type of dipping sauces to accommodate all the extra crust which essentially just gets wasted because it's inedible being as flavorless as it is & if you're trying to cut corners, at least dipping sauces are cheaper than cheese & toppings.......

They could have a great thing going, good service & surroundings, but nothing makes up for the lack of flavor or toppings. The oven seemed to cook pretty well, but it's hard to pay tribute to that when the chef put garbage in from the beginning. Any cook or foody knows cooking & preparing the food to be cooked are two different sets of skills & tasks. One can ruin the other, obvious set of circumstances here.

Do better from the start & creation of the pizza.

NOTE My tre carne pizza did not look like the one in the review...