CrowdSavings

Tucked away on Bayshore Blvd, the Cellini restaurant is one of the best kept secrets in South Tampa. Opened just over 10 years ago, the family-run Italian restaurant has become a firm favorite with the locals and the reason for a drive with those further afield.

As Groupocity.com’s web content developer I don’t usually make personal endorsements, but I was lucky enough to discover Cellini when I first moved to Tampa 10 years ago, and I’ve been an ardent fan ever since. I honestly can’t rate the food highly enough.

Perhaps it’s the family’s southern Italian ancestry, or perhaps it’s that they are exceptional chiefs with a passion and understanding of perfect Italian cuisine. It’s probably a combination of both, but Cellini offers the finest and most authentic Italian cooking this side of Rome.

The lunch menu features light, fresh dishes utilizing simple ingredients to create delicious insalate, antipasti, and paninis, and hearty, pasta-based pietanze and pizzas. For dinner the choice is even wider but the emphasis on freshness, simplicity and abundance of flavor remains at the heart of the beautifully prepared food. Vibrant salads and appetizers, rustic pastas, true Italian pizzas and masterpiece entrées all vie for top billing, but the truth is they are all truly exceptional and worthy of acclaim. And of course there’s an excellent wine list to fully compliment the outstanding menu.

The staff are equally as praiseworthy; being friendly, polite and expert at helping you choose a meal you’ll savor for a long, long time. And lastly, if you think this five-star dining will cost you a small fortune, think again. The prices are ridiculously low – way under many restaurants I could mention – with a meal for the family costing what you’d pay for a meal for two elsewhere.

Do yourself a favor and get acquainted with Cellini – you’ll be very glad you did.