Pia's Trattoria — Restaurant in Saint Petersburg

Wow! An excellent Italian meal at this cool spot in Gulfport.

The restaurant occupies a former house along Beach Blvd. There are several rooms set up for dining, a small bar at the front, a couple of private rooms with large tables for big parties, 8 tables in the "wine room", plus outside seating on the patio. Decor is Tuscan, lots of dripped-wax candelabras, earth tones, exposed stone, beams and plenty of greenery. Very inviting - not to mention the aromatic smells wafting from the kitchen!

I'm always a little nervous when a server commits the order to memory instead of writing it down, but our server Jenissa, executed ours perfectly. She described the specials, kept the meal moving with glasses full and was welcoming, charming and fun (and accurate). Thank you!

For appetizers, we tried Carpaccio and Formaggio e Pane. Carpaccio was excellent - super thin slices of beef, balsamic-marinated mushrooms and a few dollops of truffle & black pepper aioli and thin shaves of parmigiano/reggiano cheese. The aioli makes the dish; it's much better than the squeeze of lemon juice which is the usual garnish for carpaccio.

The Formaggio e Penne is a plate of several types of olives, served with slices of parmigiano/reggiano cheese and grilled focaccia. A nice blend of different olives - some tart, some spicy. Yum!

Entrees were veal parmigiana, eggplant parmigiana and osso bucco.

Veal is the classic prep, although not pounded as thin as usual. Lightly breaded and pan fried, the veal is tender, moist and scrumptious! It's served over a few stalks of asparagus, and a mound of house-made linguini with pomodoro sauce and topped with melted mozzarella and parmigiano cheese. I LOVE veal parm and this is definitely one of my favorite renditions.

Eggplant parm consists of layers of thinly sliced, breaded and pan-fried eggplant. It's baked then broiled and served in a cast iron skillet, brimming with pomodoro sauce topped with the melted mozarella and parmigiano cheese. The eggplant is sweet, with plenty of garlic to season. The contrast between the garlic, sweet sauce and savory eggplant is the perfect balance.

Last but not least, the osso bucco. The pork shank is slow cooked, falling-off-the bone tender, juicy, moist and perfectly spiced, served with the pan jus. It's served over a bed of creamy, rich saffron risotto, plus a few stalks of steamed asparagus. My mouth is watering just thinking about this one.

There are plenty of other things on this menu to try, will definitely be back. If it's authentic Italian you're looking for, head down to Gulfport - Pia's is the place....

Pia’s Trattoria – La Dolce Vita in Gulfport

📍 Gulfport, St. Petersburg 💡 A true taste of Italy in the quirky, arty hamlet of Gulfport. If Fellini had designed a restaurant, this might be it.

From the moment you step into Pia’s Trattoria, you’re no longer in Florida—you’re in a sun-drenched Italian piazza where time slows, and every meal is a celebration. The ambient glow of candlelight flickers against rustic brick walls, the scent of garlic and fresh basil dances through the air, and the sound of a mandolin might just be drifting in from the courtyard. Benvenuti!

The Feast

Start with the Bruschetta—a perfect balance of crunch and succulence, kissed with the kind of ripe tomatoes that belong in a Tuscan summer. The Caprese Salad? Bellissimo. Creamy mozzarella, fragrant basil, and tomatoes so fresh you’d think they were plucked that morning from a Nonna’s garden.

Then, the Lasagna arrives. And let’s be clear—this isn’t just lasagna. This is an event. Layer upon layer of rich, slow-simmered ragù, velvety béchamel, and sheets of pasta so delicate they might have been hand-rolled by the gods of Bologna themselves. Each bite melts on the tongue, leaving you sighing in pure contentment.

Finish with the Tiramisu—a dessert that doesn’t just end the meal; it elevates it. Silky mascarpone, espresso-soaked ladyfingers, and a dusting of cocoa so luxurious it should come with its own passport stamp from Milan.

The Atmosphere

Two charming restaurants sit side by side, both sharing the same menu and a devotion to Italian authenticity. No matter where you sit, the ambiance is pure Mediterranean romance—soft lighting, weathered wood, and character in every corner. Want to dine under the stars? Ask for the courtyard. It’s alfresco dining at its finest, where a gentle Gulfport breeze and twinkling lights create an experience straight out of a Roman holiday.

The Experience

The staff? Efficient, warm, and effortlessly charming—just as they should be. Live musicians often add to the magic, strumming Italian melodies that transport you to the cobbled streets of Florence. And yes, Pia’s is pricey, but some things in life are worth it. If your budget allows for indulgence, treat yourself.

La Regola (The Rule)

Want a table? Book at least two weeks in advance. No, seriously—do it. Pia’s is no secret, and those who hesitate will find themselves peering longingly from the sidewalk.

So, if you dream of Italy but find yourself in Gulfport, Pia’s Trattoria awaits. Mangia, drink in the atmosphere, and let yourself be transported....

Such a disappointment - we were rushed throughout our whole meal by our server and the entire restaurant seemed to want to go home. I've eaten at Pia's for years and the food is always excellent and has a nice staff, but I had the worst restaurant service of my life this past Sunday at Pia's (2/4/2023). The restaurant booked us for an 8:15 pm reservation inside and our waitress was curt, forgetful, and constantly hurrying us through most of our meal.

She rudely removed plates from under people who were still eating without asking, she would just toss things carelessly on the table, and she never shared information about the main menu or dessert specials. Literally no conversation or banter, and no care.

The highlight of our terrible service during the meal was being handed the bill right along with our desserts. We never asked for the bill, and she never asked if we wanted anything else before got the bill. She just gave it to us.

At one point, she had my elderly mother-in-law hold out a heavy plate of pasta so she could grate cheese from where she was standing. That's right, this waitress couldn't be bothered to walk around the corner of the table to where the plate was sitting.... she gave the bare minimum effort.

We weren't there long after closing time yet as we walked out the doors, the entire staff were on their cell phones looking bored, the bright lights were on and intense cleaning was happening as we walked through to exit. The ambiance was gone for most of our meal. We were not among guests but with staff clearing tables and scurrying around cleaning.

Also, we weren't a walk-in–we were a reservation. We wanted to come in at 7 but they told us 8:15 was the only time they had. Don't schedule guests at 8:15 if you can't provide basic service and manners. We would have preferred not to have gone if this was the case.

Considering this is an upscale restaurant and for the prices we paid, it's laughable how bad our experience was. We spent a lot of money. Despite the food being delicious the bad mood and atmosphere ruined even our delicious meal. Just a bummer.

On the fence if I'll ever go...