FRAMMI — Restaurant in Tampa

Date night during the day! I would like to share an experience with you. One that many of us would love to experience. So tired of hearing about COVID and the lack of originality, rudeness and poor quality in dining experiences, my husband Joseph and I checked the cellphone for new places to eat nearby our New Tampa home. Hungry not only for food but for an experience to fill a void we had been neglecting. Chain, chain, boring, wait? What is this? An Italian restaurant within a few miles of us. Prices were good and the menu was creative. Yes, food for the American palate and Italian fare done correctly. When I say correctly, I mean it is not your over salted, chain joint stuff that made Chef-Boy-Rd so famous. To reiterate: if you are looking for Mueller’s noodles with Ragu sauce dumped on top served from a microwave stay home and be happy. This is a true Italian restaurant with food cooked for you from the start by a family from Italy. To make it fast would be a disservice and cheat you of all the character that makes us all drool when we think of how the ingredients meld together in the line of steaming hot pots on the stove. The dishes are lovingly crafted following strict guidelines to retain authenticity. This is Italian, Primi, Secondi, Dolci. It matters so please don’t ask for “spaghetti on the side”. It’s not going to happen. Order instead from the burger menu and you will be more than pleased with your choice. As we were seated in the small but pristine dining room, we could hear Italian conversation from the open kitchen. Luca and Erika, the owners, were entertaining a customer with vibrant conversation and lots of laughter. We were given a menu; one side tasty burger house fare and the back side was Italian. Once we placed our orders we enjoyed reminiscing about our honeymoon in Venice, Florence, and Rome. We missed traveling due to all the shutdowns. Of course, after all the touristy things of Italy you remember the food, the wine, the conversation and above all the feeling of belonging to something more. Memories of Grandmas kitchen will never leave you and in this little gem of a restaurant Joe and I were transported back to days of cobblestones and lemons. Joe and I like to order our first choice and split both plates so we can talk about what we like or do not like and why. Our food was delivered very hot. Plates were well proportioned and inviting. Upon my first bite I found the taste hangs in your mouth like velvet when you bite into a dish of Salmone. The Salmon is smoked, and the herbs tease your tastebuds. Joe had a Philly Cheesesteak; the bun was grilled with a texture only found on open grills, the meat and onions grilled together filling out the bread without overdoing it. Seasoned fries finished the meal. Our glasses were never empty and as we leaned back in satisfaction, we were asked how we enjoyed the meal. Once it was known we were open to conversation we were entreated to stories of Italy and family. This is what we have been looking for. We have been kept in our homes away from family, needing to feel close to people. We were enjoying our time so much with our new community that we needed to order the tiramisu and that did not disappoint. Probably the best I have ever eaten and that is coming from a girl who knows her way about a dessert cart. So, I ask you please to do yourself a favor and take the time to stop by and have dinner with our new friends in New Tampa, The FRAMMI 17631 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa. Make some time to enjoy your food and your life with friends and family both new and old. Sincerely, Joe and...

This is an update from my first review that is a ways down the page. My daughter, now for a second time and my wife for the first time went to Frammi for Mother’s Day. My daughter, of course, had her favorite bacon burger and it was wonderful again a perfectly cooked half pound burger piled up with fries cooked just right. By the way the person that referred to this restaurant is a “$13 burger joint“ apparently can’t read or hasn’t been there.The burger prices with fries, start at $10 and there’s an entire other side of the menu that is rich with Italian and other classic dinners. The chef has been encouraging me to try his carbonara which I think he feels is one of his most personalized dishes. I did and it was wonderful between the homemade noodles, the buttery garlic sauce the Pancetta and the cream it was just wonderful, not much more to say. My wife tried the plate of three steak tacos. They were so big she barely ate one and a half of them and brought them home. I was fortunate enough to sample one at home and it was filled with tender chopped steak and a terrific mélange of a roasted red peppers and onions. Of course separate portions of salsa and sour cream came with the meal. It was a hit with all of us. So leaving there for now my second time I can only say not many restaurants in this area see me more than twice but this is one of the only two or three in the new Tampa area that will continue to see me and my family for a long time. Besides a great chef the staff is very attentive and friendly which makes for a very pleasant and casual dining experience. I can’t wait to go again and try some of the southern Italian dishes that are on the menu. Thanks again Frammi!!! My daughter and I went there for the first time since the name change because I have been told her previous menu as Oakley‘s was very good and then a good portion of it I’ve been retained. I had planned on getting just a good old fat burger and some fries but I ended up getting a Philly cheesesteak and my daughter got a big old burger and fries. First of all let me say that the food and the service was first class. It’s obvious that the chef, and I assume owner, are very proud of his restaurant. He took the time to come over and talk to me and my daughter and to let us know all the pastas are made in house as well as of course all the sauces and the desserts. Obviously you can’t judge entire menu by one item but when that one item is prepared expertly and exactly how are you ask for it I have a feeling that will represent everything you get here and I will be back both in person and for takeout. Part of The menu is about the same as the previous restaurant and the prices are very reasonable for the quality and quality of food did you it was so good I sent a picture of it to my wife who was in a class and she had me bring her home a hamburger and fries for supper. I’m sure the hamburgers are close to half a pound before cooking. The waitress was exceptionally friendly and helpful as well as the chef. When I went my daughter and I were the only customers and a couple others came in while we were there. I would also recommend that like any good restaurant if you go there to enjoy the meal don’t be in a hurry. The chef obviously takes pride in what he does no matter if it yeah A perfect basic burger or a very intricate Italian Vongole or dessert. I understand most of the sides are also homemade. So for simple or not so simple for American or Italian this will have to be one of my top spots in the future.. Highly recommend it. And I don’t do...

Stepping into Frammi in Tampa was a fantastic experience. We were warmly greeted by the owner and head chef with genuine warmth; it felt as though I was being welcomed home after a long journey. He showed us to our table, and after we explained we had never been here, informed us that everything is fresh and hand made, which would later be discovered in the absolute delectability of each dish. This immediate sense of belonging was just the beginning of a stimulating tasteful dining experience.

At the helm of Frammi's kitchen is a chef whose credentials read like a chef who would have worked for Gordan Ramsey. With 15 years of culinary mastery honed in Italy itself, the chef brings not just recipes, but the soul of Italian cooking to Tampa. It's rare to find such authenticity and passion in the kitchen, and it's this combination that sets Frammi apart as a gem in the culinary landscape.

The emphasis on cleanliness and hygiene was evident in the pristine condition of the kitchen, visible as a testament to the restaurant's commitment to excellence and safety. This attention to detail extends beyond the kitchen, creating a soothing atmosphere that blends comfort with a touch of elegance, making it the perfect backdrop for a culinary journey.

The menu at Frammi is a celebration of Italian flavors, each dish crafted with care and presented as a work of art. The fried calamari was a revelation, tender and crispy in every bite, embodying the perfect marriage of texture and taste. The eggplant Parmesan transported me to the cobblestone streets of Italy, with layers of perfectly cooked eggplant, rich tomato sauce, and molten cheese that melded together in a symphony of flavors. But the crowning jewel of the evening was undoubtedly the tiramisu. Each spoonful was a cloud of creamy, coffee-infused delight, a sweet testament to the chef's skill and creativity.

Frammi is not just a restaurant; a culinary delight that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone in Tampa craving authentic Italian food. The combination of a formally trained chef, friendly staff, clean kitchen, and soothing atmosphere makes Frammi a must-visit destination. Whether you're a connoisseur of Italian cuisine or simply looking for a meal that touches your soul, Frammi promises an experience that's not just...