Jay Luigi — Restaurant in Tampa

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Jay Luigi’s new location in Soho, and it was an unforgettable experience. From the moment you walk in, the restaurant transports you straight to Italy. The design is absolutely stunning, with unique touches like a petrified olive tree from Italy and beautiful Murano glass chandeliers, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere that feels both elegant and welcoming.

The food was just as impressive. I started with the crispy artichokes, which were fried to perfection- light, crispy, and incredibly flavorful. The Calabrian aioli served alongside them added a wonderful spicy kick that really elevated the dish. For my main, I had the sliced steak, which was tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned. Each bite was rich and flavorful, making it one of the best steaks I’ve had in a while.

The Luca salad was a delightful surprise, with a vibrant mix of kale, romaine, and radicchio, complemented by the crunch of marcona almonds and the sweetness of dried black cherries. The cashew-balsamic dressing brought everything together with a perfectly balanced touch of richness and acidity.

For dessert, the limoncello cake was a dream. Light, refreshing, and not too sweet, it had just the right amount of zesty lemon to leave a lasting impression. And to cap it all off, I tried the pistachio espresso martini, which was an absolutely unique twist on the classic. The pistachio flavor blended so smoothly with the espresso, making it a creamy and indulgent finish to the meal.

The combination of incredible food, stunning design, and the warm, welcoming atmosphere makes Jay Luigi a must-visit in Soho. Whether you're there for a special occasion or a casual night out, this place truly delivers on every level....

Jay Luigi, more like Just Lazy.

Entering the parking lot, the valet was a welcoming start to the evening.

After getting seated and originally serving our simple appetizer and drinks without a problem. The moment we received our entrees, it became a different story. My wife's pasta was nothing less than bland and disappointing. Apart from that, I asked for a thick crust pizza and ended up receiving the incorrect order and what looked like an overgrown crunchy tortilla with toppings. Through and through a terrible food experience and really just lacking what Italian cuisine should be about, fresh FLAVORFUL food that has you craving for more.

To end the night, my wife and I played a game of 'How long will it take to get the check?'. I had drank all the water and other beverages, in addition to stacking all the food in the center of the table, waiting to be checked on. Roughly 20 mins after all drinking and eating was finalized, we were asked if we were in need of anything else (not even a busy night because our waiter/waitress had time to have casual chats with other employees and joke around).

We will never come back here. If you come here, just order the bread and oil, then get your check. The other 50 minutes you would have spent in this place would have been a waste of time.

I strongly advise that if you are looking for a restaurant that has BETTER Italian food and BETTER service, just go to Olive Garden and spend half as much money and leave infinitely more happy (Which is true and honestly sad for such a trendy food...

Food:

Daily bread 5/5- light and airy, amazing flavor, warm. The sides are a MUST. So incredibly delicious we ordered 2 rounds. Second round is only $1.

Cacio e Pepe 5/5- Al dente pasta with incredibly seasoned bliss in every bite. I added Italian sausage. Not too saucy, which I like. Came with just the right amount of Parmesan on top.

Spicy vodka pasta-5/5 al dente pasta was not too spicy in the first few bites but the heat builds up. It’s was incredible! The grilled chicken was better than the breaded one in my opinion but both are yummy.

Service:

5/5 incredible service. Frequently came up to ask about the food but not too many times where we felt constantly interrupted. We asked about the menu and our waiter explained it happily and thoroughly. The owner came to talk to us and he was extremely nice. We told him it was my parents anniversary and he surprised us with a dessert. Very unexpected and nice of him.

Atmosphere: beautifully designed restaurant with ample natural light. The music was not blaring so we could talk at a normal level which is nice. We were the first and only ones there for a while so it’s hard to judge the atmosphere correctly considering we went at 4pm on a Tuesday. I’m sure it’s a little livelier at a busier time. It was a chill but cutie date spot. Okay to dress up or dress...