La Terrazza Restaurant — Restaurant in Tampa

A Mixed Experience at La Terrazza – Ambiance Shines, Food Falls Short

Upon entering this restaurant, I was struck by how cozy and charming this restaurant was. The maitre d was straight from Italy, and was very attentive to getting us seated right away so we could enjoy the evening with our friends and family. We were then greeted by Andrew, who was truly amazing as a waiter. He added the personality and energy that our group needed to get our dinner off to a great start. However, the key to any restaurant is the FOOD. Starter - Bruschetta Rustica – We were off to a good start with this classic appetizer elevated to a higher level, delivering an amazing flavor profile and freshness beyond most restaurants. It was a perfect mix of Golden toasted bread, crisp on the outside and delightfully soft within, adorned with a mosaic of chopped tomatoes, fragrant basil leaves, and finely minced garlic, all delicately bathed in the luscious embrace of extra virgin olive oil.

Next Dinner: What could go wrong?

We were told that none of the pasta was made in-house except for a couple of the ravioli dishes, which made me quite skeptical. I have been to a number of Italian restaurants in Tampa that serve fresh, homemade pasta. However, I get it; it's a time-consuming process.

Scaloppine alla Ortolana - First and foremost, the Veal Scaloppine arrived with an eggplant mozzarella garnish on top of an underwhelming portion of veal. I noticed with all the dishes that everything was SUPER thin. They pounded down all the chicken to make very thin slices. With the veal, they cut corners by having only small medalions. It was supposed to be a light tomato oregano sauce without any discernible flavor. The sauce fell flat, lacking depth and complexity. It seemed as though the oregano was an afterthought, and the soft tasted like a jar of Ragu. The accompanying vegetables and potatoes were also disappointingly bland, lacking freshness and flavor. It was evident that little attention was paid to seasoning or enhancing the natural taste of the produce.

Chicken Parmesan - To start with, the chicken itself was a major letdown. It was super thin and pounded down; it was practically nonexistent, resembling more of a sad, flattened cutlet than a substantial piece of poultry. Not only was the chicken thin, but it was also devoid of any flavor or seasoning, leaving me wondering if it had been seasoned at all before hitting the pan. Given that it was flattened so much, it was not moist at all. Accompanying this sorry excuse for chicken was a bed of spaghetti that tasted like it had been plucked straight from a cheap, store-bought carton. And let's not forget the pasta sauce – or should I say, the insult masquerading as sauce. It tasted like a generic jar of Ragu straight off the grocery store shelf, devoid of any depth, richness, or homemade charm. It lacked the vibrant flavors of fresh tomatoes, herbs, and spices, leaving me wondering if any effort had been put into its preparation at all.

The veal scaloppine was a mere shadow of what it should have been. Instead of the promised tender and succulent cut, what arrived at my table was a thin, overcooked piece of meat that resembled more a chicken cutlet than a veal. The thinness of the meat contributed to its dry and chewy texture, making it a struggle to enjoy even a single bite. Adding insult to injury was the Marsala sauce, which I can only describe as a soupy disaster. Instead of delicately coating the scaloppine and mushrooms, the sauce drowned the dish, turning it into a soggy mess. The Marsala sauce lacked the richness and depth of flavor that is characteristic of this traditional Italian sauce, tasting more like a diluted broth than a savory enhancement.

Overall, the ambiance and service were amazing. However, while the start of the dinner was hopeful, it quickly slid to the depths of a restaurant that had...

This was a hard experience. It started so great... The food was really good. Not the best Italian I've ever had but pretty tasty for sure until I found a piece of plastic in my ravioli. Not a deal breaker for me but the way they handled it was super irritating. We called the waitress over to tell her and show her the plastic and she pretty much was like... "Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sure it's just the plastic from them making the ravioli" like... Oh I'm sorry but it's not a big deal kinda thing. She offered to remove the rest of my dish and I agreed and she did not offer to bring anything else and just walked away. The other waiter came and pretty much said sorry that happened but "no big deal it's just the plastic they use to make the ravioli" again.... He asked if we wanted any desert (never clarifying if he was offering to comp a desert or for us to purchase more food). After quite some time I was wondering if they were going to bring the check. The woman came back and again asked if we wanted to get desert, we declined again. She eventually brought the full check out and told us to have a good night. So we paid 50 bucks for a meal that I found plastic in and they basically acted like it's no big deal. I'm not one to expect things for free but I feel that this was handled really poorly. Even just a clear offer to send us home with a free desert or comp half the dishor bring a couple more ravioli for me to finish up or something would have just made me feel a lot better about having plastic in my food. It definitely impacted the experience for both me and my partner and we felt really wierd about it. We have definitely had experiences where things were not right or something was just off at restaurants before and the manager or someone does a much better job of attempting to "resurrect" the situation.definitely was not the case here. It was a shame but... What can you do? Just sharing my experience. I wanted to give less stars because I really felt off put but the food was good and I'm sure that's not a common occurrence so I wanted to try to be "fair" but honest at...

This Italian restaurant delivers everything you dream of in a classic Italian dining experience: warm hospitality, timeless recipes, and bold, beautiful flavors that feel like they came straight from Nonna’s kitchen.

We began with the antipasto board, an elegant spread of cured meats, marinated olives, roasted peppers, and sharp cheeses — all paired perfectly with fresh focaccia and a drizzle of olive oil. The fried calamari was light and crispy, served with a lemon aioli that was an unexpected but delightful twist.

For mains, I went with the pappardelle alla bolognese, and it was nothing short of spectacular — wide ribbons of handmade pasta coated in a rich, slow-simmered meat sauce that was hearty, deeply flavorful, and perfectly balanced. My guest had the veal marsala, tender and bathed in a silky mushroom wine sauce that had us both reaching for more bites.

We shared a bottle of Montepulciano recommended by our server — robust and smooth, it paired beautifully with the meal. And for dessert, the limoncello tiramisu was a refreshing spin on a classic, light with a citrusy brightness that ended the meal on a perfect note.

The ambiance was inviting and elegant without being stuffy, with soft lighting, classic Italian music, and attentive service that made us feel genuinely welcome.

Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or just in the mood for incredible Italian fare, this restaurant is a five-star standout. Authentic, delicious, and full of...