★★★★★
One of the best Italian restaurants in Tampa. The veal Marsala was outstanding and the service was warm and attentive. We'll definitely be back.
Italian Restaurants · Carrollwood · Tampa
Esposito's Italian Restaurant
And Bar
01
The place
Esposito's Italian Restaurant And Bar is a family-owned Italian restaurant at 14306 N Dale Mabry Hwy in the Carrollwood neighborhood of Tampa, Florida. The kitchen serves classic Southern Italian dishes including house-made pasta, brick-oven pizza, veal, chicken parmigiana, and seafood. The dining room features a full bar with Italian wines and craft cocktails. Esposito's offers dine-in, takeout, and curbside pickup, and accepts reservations for parties of all sizes. There is a free on-site parking lot in front of the restaurant. Children are welcome and the menu includes vegetarian and gluten-free options on request. The restaurant holds a 4.6-star rating on Google with 1,705 reviews.
Tucked into the Carrollwood stretch of North Dale Mabry Highway, Esposito's Italian Restaurant And Bar is the kind of neighborhood Italian spot Tampa locals send out-of-towners to. The dining room is warm and unfussy, the staff treats regulars like family, and the kitchen turns out the Southern Italian classics — red sauce, garlic, fresh basil — that built a generation of New York-style Italian-American cooking.
Order the chicken parmigiana, veal Marsala, or eggplant rollatini if you want the dishes that show up most often in the reviews. Pasta dishes anchor the menu, brick-oven pizzas come out blistered and bubbling, and seafood favorites like shrimp scampi and linguine with clams hold their own. Save room for tiramisu or cannoli, and pair dinner with a glass from the Italian-leaning wine list at the full bar.
Diners who want to compare Carrollwood's red-sauce tradition with a more contemporary take on Italian cooking can head across town to Rocca in Tampa Heights, where the kitchen turns out handmade pastas, wood-fired dishes, and mozzarella pulled tableside.
Across the bay in Westshore, Trattoria Pasquale offers a quieter counterpoint with slow-cooked risotto, homemade gnocchi, and fresh seafood in a candle-lit trattoria setting.
For a different regional accent on Italian cooking, Osteria Natalina in South Tampa serves Rimini-style coastal dishes built around fresh seafood and the owner's mother's original recipes.
Another South Tampa option in the same family-owned vein is The Brother Trattoria in Palma Ceia, where the kitchen makes fresh pasta and gnocchi in-house daily alongside wood-fired pizzas.
Reservations are recommended on weekend nights, especially for groups of four or more. There is a free on-site parking lot in front of the restaurant. The restaurant is family-friendly with a children's menu, and takeout and curbside pickup are available by phone for guests who want Esposito's at home. Delivery may be available through third-party apps — check the restaurant's website or call to confirm current options.
Menu items, pricing, and service options are subject to change; confirm details via the official website at espositositaliantampa.com or by phone.
Family-owned Italian restaurant in Carrollwood
Pasta dishes and brick-oven pizza
Full bar with Italian wines and cocktails
Reservations accepted
What to expect
The vibe is relaxed neighborhood Italian — booths and tables under warm lighting, a conversational hum rather than a roar, and servers who recognize regulars by name. Dress is casual; jeans and a button-down fit right in. Weeknights move quickly, but Friday and Saturday after 6:30pm typically see a 20–30 minute wait without a reservation, so booking ahead is the move for groups of four or more. Expect generous portions meant for sharing and bread to the table; ask your server about vegetarian or gluten-free options, which the kitchen may be able to accommodate on request.
Then come for the photos
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The shop, in frames
Sponsored · Florida Hidden Spots
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What people are saying
★★★★★
Family-run feel, generous portions, and the chicken parmigiana is a must. The bread that comes to the table is dangerous — we asked for a second basket.
★★★★★
Great neighborhood spot in Carrollwood. Reservations are smart on weekends. The linguine with clams and the tiramisu were both excellent.
★★★★★
Came for our anniversary and were treated like family. The eggplant rollatini was the best I've had in Tampa, and the cannoli at the end was perfect.
★★★★★
Solid Southern Italian. The pizza came out blistered and the penne alla vodka had real depth. Service was attentive without hovering.
★★★★★
Cozy neighborhood feel and consistent food. The lasagna was hearty and the Caesar salad was a generous portion. We'll keep coming back.
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Frequently asked
Does Esposito's Italian Restaurant And Bar take reservations?
Yes — Esposito's accepts reservations and they're recommended for weekend dinners and parties of four or more. Call (813) 769-9098 or book through the official website.
Is Esposito's Italian Restaurant And Bar dog/pet friendly?
Service animals are welcome inside the restaurant. There is no dedicated outdoor patio for pets, so well-behaved dogs are best left at home for a sit-down meal.
Where do I park near Esposito's Italian Restaurant And Bar?
There is a free on-site parking lot directly in front of the restaurant at 14306 N Dale Mabry Hwy, with additional spaces in the surrounding shopping plaza.
What are the most popular dishes at Esposito's Italian Restaurant And Bar?
The most frequently mentioned dishes in Google reviews are the chicken parmigiana, veal Marsala, eggplant rollatini, linguine with clams, and the brick-oven Margherita pizza.
What are Esposito's Italian Restaurant And Bar's hours?
Esposito's is open daily from 4pm: Mon–Thu 4–10pm; Fri–Sat 4–11pm; Sun 4–9pm. Hours can vary on holidays — confirm by phone at (813) 769-9098.
Does Esposito's Italian Restaurant And Bar offer takeout or delivery?
Yes — Esposito's offers takeout and curbside pickup ordered by phone at (813) 769-9098. Delivery may be available through third-party apps; check the restaurant's website or call to confirm current options.
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Closest spots by distance
Other places to fold into the same trip — measured straight-line from Esposito's Italian Restaurant And Bar.
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From Instagram
@espositositaliantampa